最新美国发明专利第2011-04-05期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US07918899B2	Variably crosslinked tissue Non-glutaraldehyde fixation of an organ or a prosthesis for implantation in a mammal is based upon carbodiimide treatment. A solution containing a sterilizing agent, such as EDC, in combination with a coupling enhancer, such as Sulfo-NHS, and a high concentration of a diamine cross linking agent is used. As a result, only minimal surface reduction occurs during fixation, and the resultant products show a dramatic increase in resistance to calcification.
US07918898B2	Artificial joint with locking mechanism An artificial joint including a main body and a lower portion adapted to pivotally engage the main body about a control axis while having a locking means that is integral with the lower portion. An upper portion adapted to pivotally engage the main body about a flexing axis and has an engagement means adapted to engage and disengage the locking means upon the pivoting rotation of the upper portion relative the main body. A biasing means is adapted to engage both the main body and the lower portion thereby biasing the locking means to engage the engagement means, and at least one stopping surface adapted to limit motion between the main body and the lower portion. The locking means is activated when a load is imposed on the artificial joint and passes through a line posterior to the control axis, and is de-activated when the load passes through a line anterior to the control axis.
US07918894B2	Kinematic total wrist arthroplasty An implant system and apparatus configured to permit motion of the wrist in at least one physiological direction, as well as in a dart thrower's motion, and constrain motion of the wrist in at least one non-physiological direction are provided. The implant according to one embodiment includes a distal component and proximal component. Each of the distal and proximal components includes a primary articulating portion and a secondary articulating portion. Primary and secondary articulating portions include at least one component having either a substantially convex or a substantially concave shape. The secondary articulating portion is configured to be radially and volarly disposed in relation to the primary articulating portion.
US07918893B2	Hinged orthopaedic prosthesis An orthopaedic prosthesis includes a tibial bearing, a femoral component, and a hinge post coupled to the tibial bearing and the femoral component. The hinge post includes a medial and lateral axle. A pair of bushings are coupled to the axles and received in an internal chamber of the femoral component. The prosthesis may also include a plug received in the internal chamber and positioned to secure the hinge post to the femoral component. The femoral component is configured to rotate about an axis defined by the axles. In some embodiments, the femoral component may include a housing and a patella bearing separate from the housing.
US07918891B1	Systems and methods for spinal fusion A system and method for spinal fusion comprising a spinal fusion implant of non-bone construction releasably coupled to an insertion instrument dimensioned to introduce the spinal fusion implant into any of a variety of spinal target sites.
US07918887B2	Body parameter detecting sensor and method for detecting body parameters A method for detecting biometric parameters includes the steps of performing a bone graft procedure on a vertebra of a spine, providing a biometric sensor at the vertebra, and measuring a biometric parameter at the vertebra with the sensor. The sensor is capable of measuring parameters in an adjacent surrounding including pressure, tension, shear, relative position, and vascular flow. Data relating to the biometric parameter is transmitted to an external source and the data are analyzed to evaluate a biometric condition of the vertebra. A set of the sensors can be placed on transverse processes of the vertebra.
US07918884B2	Stent for treatment of bifurcated lesions A stent includes a lattice defining a substantially cylindrical configuration having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and a middle portion between the proximal end and the distal end. The lattice being moveable from a crimped state to an expanded state, and a plurality of adjacent hoops. Each hoop has a plurality of adjacent loops. Additionally, the stent further includes a plurality of bridges connecting adjacent hoops and a plurality of extensions on the lattice. Each of the hoops and bridges define a cell. The proximal end portion and the distal end portion of the lattice have at least one cell respectively and the middle portion of the lattice has at least one cell. The plurality of extensions are on the middle portion of the lattice. The plurality of extensions are cantilevered projections from the bridges and/or hoops of the lattice. The plurality of extensions are movably deformable in a direction away from the lattice, for example, at least some of the extensions are movably deformable in a direction away from the bridges and at least some of the extensions are movably deformable in a direction away from the hoops.
US07918883B2	Non-invasive heating of implanted vascular treatment device One embodiment of the present invention involves employing, in a vascular treatment device, a material which has a magnetic susceptibility which is heat sensitive. The vascular treatment device can then be heated remotely and non-invasively using an applied magnetic field, to a preselected temperature at which the vascular treatment device becomes substantially non-magnetically susceptible.
US07918878B2	Minimally invasive surgical system A minimally invasive surgical system for implanting pedicle screw assemblies to be connected by a spinal rod is disclosed. In one form, the system includes a plurality of holding mechanisms for the pedicle screw assemblies, each holding mechanism for being inserted through an incision and configured to receive tools along an axis thereof for driving a screw anchor of the pedicle screw assembly into a vertebra and securing the spinal rod thereto and a rod inserter that is configured to adjustably hold the rod and insert the rod through a common incision with one of the holding mechanism for being fed into position in an initial direction that is transverse to the axes of the holding mechanisms.
US07918876B2	Spinal implant adjustment device An adjustable spinal implant (10) is provided for use in connecting elongate members (12) as well as vertebral spacers such as corpectomy devices, intervertebral fusion devices, and other prostheses. The implant (10) may have fittings (80) on either end comprising fixed (100) or articulating (200) jaws, endplates, or other engagement structures. The implant (10) comprises a housing (40) with an internal rotor (60); an extending shaft (20); and a locking collar (70). The extending shaft (20) has an external helical groove (23) that meshes with an internal helical groove (63) on rotor (20). Length adjustment occurs by transforming axial movement of the extending shaft (20) into a rotary movement of the rotor (60) via helical engagement. The locking collar (70) comprises protrusion (73) engaging grooves (63) of rotor (60), thus providing a simple, positive locking mechanism without requiring the surgeon to apply excessive force to lock the length.
US07918874B2	Devices for introduction into a body along a substantially straight guide to form a predefined curved configuration, and methods employing same A device for introduction into a body in a straight configuration and assuming within the body a predefined curved configuration, includes an elongated element formed from a number of segments interconnected so as to form effective hinges therebetween. When the elongated element is confined to a straight state, the effective hinges transfer compressive forces from each segment to the next so that the elongated element can be pushed to advance it through a conduit. When the elongated element is not confined to a straight state, the effective hinges allow deflection of each segment relative to adjacent segments until abutment surfaces of the segments come into abutment, thereby defining a fully flexed state of the elongated element with a predefined curved configuration. The device can be produced with a wide range of two-dimensional and three-dimensional curved forms, and has both medical and non-medical applications.
US07918873B2	Surgical staple A generally U-shaped surgical staple comprises a base 10 and a pair of generally “L”-shaped legs 12 extending substantially perpendicularly from opposite ends of the base respectively. The legs 12 in use of the staple are bent through approximately 90° relative to the base. To effect a greater compression of the stapled tissue the legs include a penetrative portion 16 adjacent the tip and a compressive structure 30 which, due to its increased height relative to that of the penetrative portion, spreads the compressive forces of the staple further along the length of the incision being closed. The compressive portion also provides a depth stop to avoid the tip penetrating too deeply into the tissue in which it is deployed.
US07918869B2	Methods and apparatus for performing endoluminal gastroplasty The present invention provides methods and apparatus for endoluminally performing gastroplasty. In one variation, the apparatus comprises a sizing tube, and a steerable guide that may be reversibly disposed within the sizing tube. In another variation, the sizing tube and steerable guide are integrated into a single device. In one method of utilizing the apparatus, a pouch is endoluminally formed within a patient's stomach, thereby partitioning or reducing the stomach and restricting the flow of food therethrough. The pouch may form a Vertical Banded Gastroplasty or Magenstrasse and Mill in an endoluminal fashion. Advantageously, the sizing tube or steerable guide may be used to properly size the endoluminal pouch.
US07918868B2	Method and apparatus for meniscal repair An apparatus for suturing tissue includes first and second needles. A first structure associated with the first needle is adapted and configured to pass a leading portion of the suture from a near side of a tissue to a far side of the tissue. A second structure cooperates with the second needle to capture and secure the suture. Proximal movement of the apparatus after the suture is captured moves the suture from the far side of the tissue to the near side of the tissue.
US07918864B2	Apparatus for endoscopic repair of the lower esophageal sphincter The present invention includes a method and apparatus for adhering tissue to one another. In an embodiment of the present invention the two tissues to be joined, for example the lower esophagus and the fundus of the stomach, are first placed adjacent to one another. Next a first restraint is placed near the outside surface of one of the tissues and a second restraint is placed near the outside surface of the other tissue. An irritant is then placed between the two adjacent tissues. The restraints, and consequently the tissue surfaces, are then drawn together. As the touching irritated tissue surfaces heal they will become bonded to one another and their need for the mechanical fastening of the restraints, to secure them together, will be diminished.
US07918863B2	Minimally invasive surgical stabilization devices and methods The various embodiments of the present inventions provide stabilization devices and methods for use of the stabilization devices with minimally invasive gynecological procedures such as methods of preventing pregnancy by inserting intrafallopian contraceptive devices into the fallopian tubes.
US07918857B2	Minimally invasive bone anchor extensions Methods and devices are provided for facilitating delivery and implanting of a bone anchor into bone. In one exemplary embodiment, a bone anchor extension is provided for coupling to a bone anchor to facilitate delivery and implanting of the bone anchor in bone. The bone anchor extension can have a generally elongate configuration that allows it to extend from a skin incision in a patient to a site proximate a patient's spine, and it can include a lumen extending therethrough between proximal and distal ends thereof. A distal end of the bone anchor extension can be adapted to engage a bone anchor, such as a bone screw. Various techniques are provided for locking the distal end of the bone anchor extension into engagement with a bone anchor.
US07918856B2	Guided reamer system for reshaping bone A guided reamer (10) has a central cannulation (12, 12a) adapted to receive a drill pin (14) secured in a manner which is axially aligned with the stem (22) of the bulbus bone joint (20). The reamer (10)has a profile cutting form (24) with cutting teeth (40) formed therein for cutting a form of a defined profile. The reamer (10) has a circumferential rim (34) having rim cutting teeth (36) disposed to cut to an outside of the rim and an inside of the rim, having face cutting teeth (37) adapted to cut an annular channel into bone and a plurality of planing teeth (52) radially disposed on an internal surface adjacent an axial end boss (44). The cannulation (12, 12a) is supported at the apex of the cutting form (24) and is formed in a guide assembly (70, 70′) affixed to the apex. The guide assembly (70, 70′) is adapted for imparting rotation to the reamer (12). The reamer (10) is adapted to be supported by a cannulated reamer handle (74) having a bayonet locking device (76) capable of locking the handle (74) to the guide assembly (70, 70′) of the cannulated reamer (10) and a corresponding central cannulation (86), permitting the drill pin (14) to pass at least part way therethrough.
US07918855B2	Spinal interspace shaper A device and method for use in a vertebral spine to prepare a space between adjacent vertebral bodies to receive an implant. The device includes a shaft, and a mounting member at one end of the shaft. A working end is mounted on the mounting member and is coupled to a drive mechanism adjacent to the working end. The drive mechanism is operable to move the upper and lower cutters of the working end to create surfaces having predetermined contours in the end plate region of the adjacent vertebral bodies. A guard provides protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebral bodies for the working end of the bone removal device through a passageway.
US07918854B2	Non-destructive tissue repair and regeneration A surgical stent made of biocompatible material for implantation in human tissue to enable blood and nutrients to flow from an area of vascular tissue to an area of tissue with little or no vasculature.
US07918850B2	Lesion assessment by pacing Monitoring intracardiac ablation progress in near real time is accomplished by evaluating capture of a pacing signal while ablation energy is concurrently directed to a target site. Sufficiency of ablation is indicated by failure of signal capture at a maximum predetermined pacing voltage. A common electrode in a cardiac catheter is simultaneously used to test pacing capture and to deliver ablation energy.
US07918848B2	Tissue welding and cutting apparatus and method A surgical apparatus and methods for severing and welding tissue, in particular blood vessels, include a pair of relatively movable jaws at a distal end of an elongated shaft. A first heating element on one of the jaws is adapted to heat up to a first temperature and form a welded region within the tissue, while a second heating element on one of the jaws is adapted to heat up to a second temperature and sever the tissue within the welded region. A force-limiting mechanism is provided to limit the pressure applied to the tissue by the jaws to ensure that the tissue is severed and the ends effectively welded within a short amount of time.
US07918847B2	Method and associated system for the interventional treatment of atrial fibrillation A method for treatment of atrial fibrillation includes utilizing mathematical analysis, e.g., logistic regression, on a collection of variables selected from the group including effective refractory period, wavelength, tissue area, tissue weight, maximum tissue width, minimum tissue width, and average tissue width to design a set of lesions that would make an atria fibrillation-proof. Preferably, the most preferred variables are tissue area, effective refractory period, and conduction velocity. This is preferably an electrophysiologically-customized procedure that is preferably minimally invasive, which could include transvenous or port access, either off or on bypass to create the set of lesions that render an atria fibrillation-proof based on the mathematical analysis of selected variables. Long linear lesions are created from a variety of energy sources as well as surgical techniques. Preferably, there are fixation and marking mechanisms utilized.
US07918845B2	Endoluminal tool deployment system Systems, devices and methods are provided for endoscopic procedures involving tissue manipulations beyond the capabilities of traditional endoscopic instruments. Embodiments of the systems include an elongated main body having a scope therethrough and at least one steerable tool arm which extends from the distal end of the main body. In preferred embodiments, the system includes two tool arms, each arm steerable to form a curve laterally outward which then bends laterally inward so that the arms form an angular shape. In addition, end effectors extend from the distal ends of each tool arm for use in manipulation of tissue. The angular shape brings the end effectors together in view of the scope for cooperative movements which are continuously visible by the surgeon. In addition, the tool arms may be steerable in any additional direction and may be rotateable to allow grasping, elevation and more complex manipulation of tissue.
US07918842B2	Medical device with controlled reservoir opening Implantable medical devices are provided for controlled release of drugs. In one embodiment, the device comprises a support structure; two or more discrete reservoirs provided in spaced positions across at least one surface of the support structure; and a release system loaded in each of the reservoirs, the release system including drug molecules dispersed in a degradable matrix material, wherein release of the drug molecules from the reservoir is controlled by in vivo disintegration of the matrix material. In another embodiment, the device comprises a support structure; two or more discrete reservoirs provided in spaced positions across at least one surface of the support structure; and a release system loaded in each of the reservoirs, the release system including drug molecules dispersed in a non-degradable matrix material, wherein release of the drug molecules from the reservoir is controlled by in vivo diffusion of the drug molecules from the matrix material.
US07918841B2	Devices and methods for nasoenteric intubation This invention relates to the placement of nasogastric tubes. Specifically, the present invention relates to devices, methods, and kits for assisting intubation and insertion.
US07918839B2	Absorbent article including barrier leg cuff structure and an elastically stretchable side panel An absorbent article includes a barrier cuff strip extending in a longitudinal direction from the front waist region to the back waist region along the topsheet. The barrier cuff strip has a distal edge attached to the topsheet at a cuff end bond region. The barrier cuff has an outer bond edge spaced longitudinally from an inner bond edge. The disposable absorbent article includes a side panel that extends laterally beyond a side of the chassis and is joined to the chassis at a panel joint region extending between an outer panel joint edge and an inner panel joint edge. The longitudinal distance from the lateral axis to the inner panel joint edge is at least about ¼ of a longitudinal distance from the lateral axis to the inner bond edge of the cuff end bond region.
US07918836B2	Ostomy bag with irrigation system The ostomy bag comprises an outer chamber comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, and an inner chamber. The inner chamber may comprise a one-way valve that limits the back flow of the bodily wastes from the lower portion of the bag to the upper portion. The one-way valve may comprise a biasing member and the biasing member may have a length that is longer then the length of the bottom of the inner chamber walls. The bag may comprise an irrigation system that provides for the flushing of both the inner and the outer chambers simultaneously. The irrigation tube of the irrigation system may comprise slits along the portion of the irrigation tube that resides within the inner chamber and the lower portion of the outer chamber.
US07918834B2	Drop counter A liquid flow control system for use with infusion sets of the type comprising a liquid supply, a drip chamber 8 downstream of the liquid supply for forming liquid drops and a flexible tube 7 connecting the drip chamber with an injection needle, the system comprising a drop sensor 4 adapted for being arranged adjacent the drip chamber for sensing the passage of drops through the drip chamber, a valve 19 adapted for controlling the flow of the liquid through the tube, valve activating means for activating the valve, electrical circuits for registering the rate of drop formation and controlling the valve activating means, and a battery for powering the drop sensor, the electrical circuits and the valve activating means, the drop sensor, the valve, the valve activating means, the electrical circuits and the battery being mounted on or in a common housing having housing attachment means for releasably attaching the housing to the flexible tube.
US07918832B2	Drive mechanisms suitable for use in drug delivery devices A drive mechanism for use in a drug delivery device comprising an epicyclic gearbox. This drive mechanism includes a housing having a helical thread; a piston rod having a non-circular cross section and an external helical thread; a dose dial sleeve, which is threadedly engaged with the housing and being rotatable with respect to the housing; and a drive sleeve, located between the housing and the piston rod, which is threadedly engaged with the piston rod.
US07918831B2	Catheter assembly having protective sheath Devices and methods are disclosed for a catheterization process, particularly useful for self-performed catheterizations. A catheter is enclosed in a sheath made from a gas-permeable material. This sheath maximizes gas permeability to prevent air build-up at the distal end of the sheath, resulting in easy self-catheterization for even those with limited manual dexterity.
US07918829B2	Catheter clip for securing a catheter hub to a patient A spring-loaded clip for removably attaching a catheter hub to the skin of a patient. The clip includes first and second needle members pivotably connected on a common axis and closable with their respective arcuate needle elements interlocked within the skin of a patient. A bias spring urges the first and second needle elements into a preferred position, preferably the closed position. Each needle member includes a lever for use in opening and closing the clip and also includes a grasping element for capturing a catheter hub as the clip closes. Preferably, the needle elements are curved through about 120°, are sharpened to a point at a first end, and are joined to a pivot element at the opposite end. No separate conventional suturing of a catheter hub to a patient is required.
US07918828B2	Medical securing device Device for securing a line such as a medical tube, a catheter, diagnostic wires etc., the device including a line retaining part and a base part, the line retaining part having at least one groove for accommodating a line, the groove being designed with flexible retaining means, the base part including fixing means, where the line retaining part and the base part are provided with complementary locking means.
US07918827B2	Seal assembly for surgical access device Seal assemblies are provided, comprising a seal holder including a cylindrical wall portion having a tapered distal portion, wherein the cylindrical wall portion defines a central passage. The seal assembly comprises a ball seal supported in the central passage of the seal holder. The ball seal includes a distal aperture and a proximal aperture, wherein the distal and/or proximal aperture is dimensioned for substantial sealed reception with a surgical instrument. The ball seal is adapted for angular movement relative to a central longitudinal axis of the seal holder upon angulation of the surgical instrument, whereby the ball seal substantially maintains the seal with the surgical instrument. The seal assembly comprises a seal cover defining an aperture formed in a transverse wall thereof. The seal cover is configured for connection with the seal holder for maintaining the ball seal within the central passage of the seal holder.
US07918819B2	Variable curve catheter Disclosed is a deflectable tip guiding device, such as a catheter, that enables a physician, or other health care personnel, to vary the radius of curvature of the tip of the device. In one embodiment, a guiding device includes an elongate body and a deflectable distal tip. An elongate stiffener tube is coupled to the body for longitudinal movement relative thereto and has a distal end spaced a variable distance from the distal end of the tip, thereby serving as a fulcrum for the tip. Longitudinal movement of the stiffener tube relative to the body varies the distance between the distal ends of the tip and tube, which in turn causes a corresponding increase or decrease in the radius of curvature of the tip.
US07918818B2	Micro-dialysis probe A micro-dialysis probe extending longitudinally between a proximal probe opening and a distal probe tip and having a supply line and a drainage line for a drip-feed solution. A tube may be provided for supporting the drainage line. A dialysis section, wherein the flow channel for the drip-feed solution experiences an inversion, is formed generally between the supply line and the drainage line, in the vicinity of the distal probe tip. The supply line and the drainage line are respectively arranged substantially side by side and together form the probe shaft of the micro-dialysis probe.
US07918817B2	Splittable multiple catheter assembly A multiple catheter assembly (100) including a first catheter (110) constructed from a first material and having a first proximal end region (112), a first distal end region (114) terminating in a first distal tip (116), and an outer surface (120) defining at least a first lumen (122) extending longitudinally therethrough between a first distal (118) and a first proximal (111) opening. The first proximal end region (112) is integrally connected to an extension tube (320) constructed from a second material. A second catheter (130) is constructed from the first material and having a second proximal end region (132), a second distal end region (134) terminating in a second distal tip (136), and a second outer surface (140) defining at least a second lumen (142) extending longitudinally therethrough between a second distal (138) and a second proximal (131) opening. The second proximal end region (132) is integrally connected to an extension tube (350) constructed from the second material. The first lumen (122) and the second lumen (142) are independent from each other for facilitating simultaneous flow in opposite directions. The outer surfaces (120, 140) of the first and second catheters are releasably joined for allowing the first and second distal tips (116, 136) to be at least partially longitudinally split from each other.
US07918816B2	Method and apparatus for delivering an agent to the abdomen A method and apparatus for treating gas for delivery into a body cavity, body space or body surface of an animal. The apparatus comprises a housing defining a chamber having an entry port and an exit port. One or more agents are released into the gas stream that flows through the chamber so that the gas stream carries the agent to the animal. Also shown, for use with, or without, the chamber, is an agent chamber adapted to be coupled to at least one structure defining at least one fluid flow path extending at least a portion of the distance between an insufflation device and the body cavity, body space or body surface.
US07918815B2	Draining bodily fluids with a stent A stent for assisting urinary release in a male patient includes a first segment, a second segment, and a connecting member disposed between the first and second segments. The first segment includes a multi-winged malecot. When the stent is properly positioned within the patient's urinary system, the first segment is located on one side of the external sphincter with the multi-winged malecot located within the bladder to inhibit migration of the stent, and the second segment is located on the other side of the external sphincter and also tends to inhibit migration of the stent. The connecting segment is sized to extend through the external sphincter to couple the first and second segments together while not interfering with the normal operation of the external sphincter.
US07918811B2	Support device for a joint Support devices for joints of the human body are disclosed. A support device for an ankle includes a main body having a medial portion and a lateral portion disposed about the ankle, and an interior surface; at least one of a medial support member disposed in a cavity in the medial portion of said main body and a lateral support member disposed in a cavity in the lateral portion of said main body; a strap disposed on a proximal portion of said main body, said strap having fastening means adapted to create a first level of pressure in the front of the lower leg immediately proximal to the ankle and a second level of pressure in the rear of the lower leg immediately proximal to the ankle; and one or more proprioceptive members disposed on the interior surface of said main body.
US07918809B2	Orthopaedic brace having a range of motion hinge with an adjustable-length strut An orthopaedic brace includes a strut length adjustment assembly to change the operable length of the strut for sizing the brace on a patient without the need for special tools or cutting of the strut. The adjustment assembly includes a biased adjustment mechanism that coacts with a plurality of notches in the strut to variably set/position the strut relative to the adjustment assembly to set the struts length. Each upper and lower strut preferably includes a strut length adjustment assembly to independently set the length of each strut. The strut length adjustment assembly retains a strut and includes a strap retention mechanism that is configured to releasably engage the strap.
US07918807B2	System, method and computer instructions for assessing alertness of an operator of an image review system Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method and computer instructions for assessing alertness of an operator of an image review system. In an embodiment, such a system includes: an input module configured to allow alertness data to be input; an alertness assessment module configured to evaluate alertness based on the alertness data; and an output module configured to output information based on the evaluation made by the alertness assessment module. In certain embodiments, the input module may input alertness data from: a three-dimensional coordinate tracking system; a brain wave monitoring device; an eye movement monitoring device; a video recording device; and/or an eye closure monitoring device, for example. In certain embodiments, the alertness assessment module may evaluate alertness data using: a Psychomotor Vigilance Performance Task; the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale; and/or a Visual Analogue Sleepiness Scale, for example.
US07918805B2	Phlebotomy needle with shape memory alloy flashback sensor A phlebotomy device includes a needle defining a lumen and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The distal end portion includes a sharpened tip configured to pierce tissue. The phlebotomy device further includes a sensor disposed at least partially within the lumen. The sensor has a first state and a second state and is configured to transition from the first state to the second state upon exposure to blood at physiological temperature.
US07918802B2	Positioning system for a nerve stimulator needle A target nerve or nerve plexus registration point is located utilizing a nerve stimulator needle positioned in a bore of a carrier. The carrier is configured with an electrically nonconductive smooth curved surface at a distal end of the bore. The needle tip is fixed in an operative cutaneous electrode position and the smooth curved surface of the carrier is forced against and compresses the epidermis, corium and subcutaneous tissue and traverses cutaneous surfaces to locate a target nerve or nerve plexus without physical penetration by the needle tip. The needle is then inserted at the located point, with or without the needle path being guided by the bore. In another embodiment, a subcutaneous portion of carrier is introduced and is pivoted about its introduction point to locate the target nerve.
US07918800B1	Aneurysm sensing devices and delivery systems A system for gaining access to an interventional site within vasculature through a vessel wall or other structure such as that of a medical device. An apparatus is provided to accomplish a sealed worksite as are sensor delivery systems including sealable sensor devices that are adapted to be placed at the interventional site.
US07918799B2	Method and interface for cooling electronics that generate heat A method and interface for cooling electronics that generate heat are provided. The interface includes a housing having tubing (i) therein to transfer heat from liquid flowing in the tubing and (ii) extending therefrom and configured to engage a pump. The tubing forms a closed circulation path. The interface further includes an electrical connection member configured to provide electrical connection through the housing and to the electronics.
US07918797B2	Ultrasound diagnostic system and method for forming multiple receiving scan lines Embodiments of the present invention may provide an ultrasound imaging system and method for forming multiple receiving scan lines from one original receiving scan line. Ultrasound signals reflected from one original receiving scan line are converted into analog signals having a center frequency. The analog signals are converted into digital data. The digital data are coarsely delayed, wherein the coarsely delayed data are extracted at a rate of n-times of the center frequency. Data of the multiple receiving scan lines are formed by performing fine delay and interpolation. For the interpolation, parts of the extracted data are selected at a rate of n-times of the center frequency and the multiple receiving scan lines.
US07918796B2	Volumetric measurement and visual feedback of tissues Apparatus and methods for assessing tissue characteristics such as the dimensions and volume of an osteolytic lesion are disclosed. The apparatus may utilize ultrasound to provide visual and volumetric feedback related to a lesion or other tissue. Further the apparatus may be utilized to determine whether the lesion has been completely removed and filled with the appropriate amount of graft material.
US07918794B2	Method and system for determining total body fat, and method and system for determining body composition A method of determining the total body fat of a person comprising measuring a subcutaneous fat thickness at four points on the person's body, located in the right anterior part of the left mid-thigh, in the left anterior part of the right mid-thigh, in the right dorsal part navel level and in the left dorsal part at navel level, respectively, and determining a first estimate of the person's total body fat as a function of these measurements.
US07918792B2	Surgical retractor for use with minimally invasive spinal stabilization systems and methods of minimally invasive surgery A surgical retractor for use with a spinal stabilization system including a plurality of bone anchors and a plurality of anchor extensions. The surgical retractor includes a frame positionable between a first anchor extension connected to a first bone anchor implanted in a first vertebra and a second anchor extension connected to a second bone anchor implanted in a second vertebra and a first retractor blade connectable to the frame for retracting tissue between the first anchor extension and the second anchor extension.
US07918787B2	Tissue visualization and manipulation systems Tissue visualization and manipulation systems are described herein. Such a system may include a deployment catheter and an attached imaging hood deployable into an expanded configuration. In use, the imaging hood is placed against or adjacent to a region of tissue to be imaged in a body lumen that is normally filled with an opaque bodily fluid such as blood. A translucent or transparent fluid, such as saline, can be pumped into the imaging hood until the fluid displaces any blood, thereby leaving a clear region of tissue to be imaged via an imaging element in the deployment catheter. Additionally, any number of therapeutic tools can also be passed through the deployment catheter and into the imaging hood for treating the tissue region of interest.
US07918786B2	Capsule type medical device system, and capsule type medical device This capsule type medical device system includes: a position detection device 4 which detects the position within the living body of a capsule type medical device 2 which can be ingested to within the living body; an electrode 5 which is provided in the vicinity of the outer surface of the capsule type medical device 2, and which applies an electrical stimulus to living body tissue; and a control device 6 which controls the electric current which flows to the electrode 5; and the control device 6 controls the electric current which flows to the electrode 5 based upon positional information which is detected by the position detection device 4.
US07918783B2	Endoscope working channel with multiple functionality Endoscopic instrument assemblies and methods for making and using the same. An example endoscopic instrument assembly includes an endoscope having a working channel and an endoscopic instrument slidably disposed in the working channel. The inside surface of the working channel and the outside surface of the endoscopic instrument each have a non-circular cross-sectional shape along at least a portion of their respective lengths.
US07918778B2	Gynecological brachytherapy applicator and system A vaginal brachytherapy applicator is versatile to different anatomies and more comfortable to the patient than prior applicators. An inflatable balloon on a shaft may be inelastic or elastic. In one embodiment the shaft is rotatable relative to the balloon for enabling a ring or band of dose delivery, for versatility in radiation placement. Alternatively, the source can be rotated and pulled back within a stationary shaft. An adjustment is provided for reducing the length of balloon that inflates, to accommodate different anatomies and positions. Although isotope radiation sources can be used in the applicator, an electronic source is preferred, and the system and method include procedures for using the applicator with an electronic source.
US07918775B2	Method and device for creating a hinge-like bendable zone in a sheet of paper, paperboard, cardboard or foil In a method for producing a hinge-like bend line (3a,b, 4a,b or 5a,b) in a sheet (1) of paper, paperboard, cardboard or foil, particularly a brochure cover, by rotatively driven tools (7.1, 7.2), the bending line (3a,b, 4a,b or 5a,b) is produced by roll bending without scoring the material in the form of a scoring bead. The roll bending is preferably realized by the cooperation of a tool edge (12a) of a first rotary tool member (8.1) with a conical outside surface (11a) of a second rotary tool member (9.1). The roll bending process lowers the bending resistance of the sheet (1) in the region of the bending point (3a,b, 4a,b or 5a,b), wherein the sheet (1) is simultaneously pre-bent in a certain direction along the bending point (3a,b, 4a,b), e.g., in order to take into account the position of the brochure cover on the book block at the spine edges (the sheet is pre-bent inward in a U-shaped fashion).
US07918773B2	Physical therapy rehabilitation apparatus An exercise device, comprising an elongate member which has a pair of end regions with a pair of opposed end portions. Each end portion has a body wherein each body has one of a pair of opposed first end faces and at least a pair of first weighted segments. Each of the weighted segments is removably attachable to the elongate member and/or a corresponding end portion in an operative position. Each first weighted segment also has a second end face which abuts the first end face in the operative position. Each body has a first exterior surface region including and anchor portion for attaching thereto at least one elongate resilient portion at one end of the resilient portion and to a fixed object at the opposing end. A method for using the device is also provided.
US07918771B2	Weightlifting system with omni directional weight arms A weightlifting system includes a weight arm system which may include various arm systems such as an incline arm system or a decline arm system. The weight arm system includes a weight arm mounted to a bracket assembly through an omni directional pivot system to permit the weight arm to pivot about a first axis and a second axis. The first axis is defined along the length of the bracket assembly while the second axis is transverse thereto. The combination of the movement about the first and second axis relative the bracket assembly permits the novel omni directional movement.
US07918768B2	Man—machine interface improvement A pedal assembly for a bicycle, including a pedal, a crank arm having an axis of rotation of the crank arm, and a variable attachment device that attaches the pedal to the crank arm at an angle of inclination with respect to the axis of rotation of the crank arm, wherein the variable attachment device enables changing the angle of inclination with respect to the axis of rotation of the crank arm without disassembly of the pedal from the crank arm.
US07918764B2	Panel-type frame structure for a recreational structure A recreational structure comprises a rebounding-surface frame forming a closed shape, and at least one panel disposed between the rebounding-surface frame and a support surface. The at least one comprises a horizontal edge, and at least a portion of the top horizontal edge of at the least one panel is coupled to at least a portion of the rebounding-surface frame. In one exemplary embodiment, at least a first and a second panel each comprise first and second vertical edges and a horizontal edge. The first vertical edge of the first panel is coupled to a second vertical edge of the second panel. At least a portion of the top horizontal edge of at least one of the first and second panels is coupled to at least a portion of the rebounding-surface frame.
US07918759B2	Split serial-parallel hybrid dual-power drive system A split serial-parallel hybrid dual-power drive system, comprised of two or more than two separation drive systems allowing independent operation to respectively drive the load, or all loads driven individually are incorporated in a common frame to drive land, surface, underwater transportation means or aircraft, industrial machines and equipment or any other load drive by rotational kinetic energy.
US07918755B2	Eccentric tensioning device An eccentric tensioning device for tensioning a traction means is provided. The eccentric tensioning device includes a track roller device having a running disk and a rolling bearing, a work eccentric for supporting the track roller device, the work eccentric being supported on an adjustment eccentric, a single torsion spring for pretensioning the work eccentric, and a fixing device for securing the work eccentric in a mounting position in which the torsion spring is located in a pretensioned state. The fixing device is positionable on a flange surface upon which the eccentric tensioning device is mountable during attachment, in which the running disk is forced radially relative to the rotating axis of the rolling bearing against the associated traction means under effect of the work eccentric, and a free switching path is traversed through an axial play being overcome against an axial force applied solely by the torsion spring.
US07918754B2	Hydraulic tensioner A hydraulic tensioner comprises a plunger, and a plunger-accommodating hole in a tensioner housing, together forming a high pressure oil chamber. A plunger-biasing spring is provided in the high pressure oil chamber between the plunger and the bottom of the plunger-accommodating hole. An oil storage chamber is formed inside the plunger, and a check valve unit is press-fit in the rear end of the plunger to allow flow from the oil storage chamber to the high pressure oil chamber while blocking reverse flow of oil.
US07918751B1	Method of rating golf balls A golf ball analysis and rating method is provided to test and report golf ball characteristics of distance, spin, balance, feel, durability and price compared to other golf ball models wherein a set of golf balls of like model from the same manufacturer are shot-tested using a plurality of golf shots with a driver, an iron, and a wedge to obtain distance and spin data, balance tested to obtain data to rate balance, compression and cover hardness tested to obtain data to rate feel, durability tested to obtain date to rate durability, and price data is obtained to rate price. The data are analyzed and ratings corresponding to average values for each of the characteristics are assigned.
US07918745B2	Golf club head with alignment system A golf club head is disclosed. The golf club head includes a first body member and a second body member. The first body member includes a strike face and a top portion. The second body member is coupled to the first body member and extends away from the first body member in a direction opposite the strike face. At least a top portion of the second body member is camouflaged. A preferred method of camouflage is color differentiation, wherein the second body member is darker than the first body member. Specific color values and club head geometries are also disclosed and claimed. The club head may include a body member and a weight member such as a bar that extends rearward from the body member. A cover may be included to camouflage the weight member. A separate core member and high visibility sight lines may also be provided.
US07918744B1	Removable golf-ball aligning device A removable golf-ball aligning device (RGAD) (10) that is designed to allow a golfer, especially when putting, to align a golf ball to travel in a straight trajectory. The RGAD (10) is designed to be attached to the bill (186) of a golf cap (182) or a golf visor (184) and is comprised of three major elements: a bill attachment member (12), a panel (30) and a means (46) for attaching the panel (30) to the bill attachment member (12). The panel (30) is made of a transparent material (56) and includes a lower section (36) that terminates with a lower straight edge (32). The lower section is coated with a non-glare coating (60) that can consist of a non-glare paint (62) or a black non-glare tape (64).
US07918742B2	Motor drive feedback control for a child motion device A child motion device includes a motor, a drive system coupled to the motor to produce movement along a motion path having reciprocating strokes, and a sensor responsive to the movement to generate feedback information indicative of the movement. The child motion device further includes a motor control circuit coupled to the sensor to determine, based on the feedback information, when to apply power to the motor during each reciprocating stroke. In some cases, the feedback information is indicative of a position of the motor such that the motor control circuit applies the power to the motor for a duration of time that begins after an end of each reciprocating stroke.
US07918741B2	Linear motor driven waterslide ride and method A waterslide amusement ride having in a portion thereof, a linear induction motor to efficiently and effectively affect the motion of a vehicle sliding on the ride. The linear induction motor comprises linear induction motor units embedded below a sliding surface, and a reaction plate mounted to the bottom of the vehicle. Depending on the configuration of the linear induction motor units and the reaction plate, the linear induction motor drive can be used to accelerate the vehicle, decelerate the vehicle, maintain the speed of the vehicle up an uphill section, or rotate the vehicle.
US07918731B2	Game machine audio control using a backend server A system and method for providing centralized control of the audio output for one or more gaming machines in a casino gaming network are disclosed herein. The system comprises one or more noise level detectors positioned in a casino gaming floor environment to obtain noise level data. The system also includes a system server connected to the one or more noise level detectors to receive the obtained noise level data and to determine the appropriate audio output for one or more gaming machines. The system also includes an audio hub positioned within each gaming machine and connected to the system server, wherein each audio hub receives audio instructions from the system server and adjusts the audio output for one or more gaming machines.
US07918730B2	Trajectory-based 3-D games of chance for video gaming machines Trajectory-based games of chance are described that may be implemented on a video gaming machine. In a trajectory-based game of chance, a trajectory of a game object may be generated in a 3-D gaming environment. A wager may be made on an aspect of the game object's trajectory in the gaming environment such as a termination location for the trajectory of the game object. The aspect of the game object's trajectory may occur according to a known probability. Hence, an award for the trajectory-based game of chance may be proportional to the probability of the aspect of the game object's trajectory occurring.
US07918728B2	Personal gaming device and method of presenting a game A game is presented to a player via a personal gaming device of the invention. In one embodiment, the gaming device includes a display screen, a processing unit including a processor and a memory, and a wireless communication interface associated with the processing unit. Game code is stored at the gaming device. A player pre-purchases game play, and information enabling the game device to present the game is provided, such as via a smart card, to the gaming device for use by the game code. The information may comprise game outcome information. The outcomes of played games are verified against stored information regarding the purchased games. Activation information is transmitted to the gaming device to enable operation of the device.
US07918720B2	Extension attachment for a bulk material container To increase the capacity of an extension attachment for a bulk material container comprising a frame (32) and a plurality of flaps (33, 34) linked to the frame (32), which are capable of swivelling and, in a swivelled-out position, surround an internal space (31) of the extension attachment, the internal surface (28) facing the internal space (31) of at least of one of the flaps (33) has a concave shape in the swivelled-out position.
US07918717B2	Machine for cleaning fowl and method of use thereof A machine for cleaning fowl by removal of residual viscera and bacteria the machine comprising a wand with brushing tendrils attached to a tip, wherein the tip has exits for spraying cleaning fluid there from. The tip is attached to a rotating hollow shaft into which the cleaning fluid is introduced. Fowl are secured to hangers and the hangers are transported on a track to and around the machine. While passing around the machine, the wand is inserted into the fowl for cleaning thereof. The wand rides on a fixed cam comprising timed upward and downward guide tracks which transmit upward and downward movement to the wand, thereby inserting it into, and removing it from, the carcass of a fowl.
US07918714B2	Methods for treating wafers on assembly carriers A method and a device for treating wafers on assembly carriers is disclosed. A wafer to be treated can be fixed on a liquid film that is located between the front side of the wafer and the assembly carrier by freezing of the film.
US07918713B2	Tribological surface and lapping method and system therefor A conditioning process including the steps of: (a) providing a system including: (i) a workpiece having a metal working surface; (ii) a contact surface, disposed generally opposite the working surface, the contact surface including an organic, polymeric material and (iii) a plurality of particles, including abrasive particles, the plurality of particles disposed between the contact surface and the working surface, and (b) treating the workpiece so as to: (i) effect an at least partially elastic interaction between the contact surface and the abrasive particles such that at least a portion of the abrasive particles penetrate the working surface, and (ii) incorporate organic particles into the metal working surface, thereby producing a modified working surface, wherein the treating of the workpiece includes a lapping process including: (i) exerting a load on the contact surface and the metal working surface, and (ii) applying a relative motion between the metal working surface and the contact surface.
US07918704B2	Organic electroluminescent display panel and method for fabricating same An organic electroluminescent display panel comprises a substrate, an anti-reflective layer, a light-shielding layer, a transistor and an organic light emitting diode. A method for fabricating said organic electroluminescent display panel comprises forming the anti-reflective layer on the substrate; forming the light-shielding layer with a first region and a second region on the anti-reflective layer; and then, removing at least part of the light-shielding layer to expose at least part of anti-reflective layer in the first region. After that, the transistor is formed above the light-shielding layer in the second region, and the organic light emitting diode is formed above the anti-reflective layer in the first region.
US07918702B2	Large area LED array and method for its manufacture A method for manufacturing a large area LED array, comprising providing two stacks (21) of electrodes (26), each electrode arranged in a meander pattern (4) on a substrate (3), at least two U-turns (7) on one side of the meander each being connected to a LED mounting surface (8) to form a row (9) of mounting surfaces, arranging the stacks so that rows and columns of mounting surfaces intersect each other at a plurality of intersection points (24), and mounting LEDs (22) at these intersection points. The substrate material is then removed, and the stacks are stretched in two directions thereby separating said intersection points (24) from each other. According to the invention, the LEDs can be mounted to the LED mounting surfaces when these are still located close to each other, preferably adjacent to each other enabling a simple and cost efficient mounting process. Further, the size of the substrates on which the conducting layer is formed can be limited. This further increases the cost effectiveness of the process.
US07918701B2	Buoyancy and rescue device There is described herein an apparatus for providing buoyancy and/or facilitating rescue of a person or object. The apparatus includes a tubular sleeve for securing the apparatus around at least a portion of a person or an object wherein longitudinal extension of the sleeve causes the diameter of the sleeve to contract radially to grip the person or object or a portion thereof and wherein longitudinal compression of the sleeve causes the diameter of the sleeve to expand. The apparatus may further include a structure coupled to the tubular sleeve for attaching the apparatus to rescue equipment and/or for providing a handle and/or at least one flotation device coupled to the tubular sleeve.
US07918698B2	Boat with a peripheral float, particularly inflatable life raft The invention relates to a boat (1) with a general contour defined by a periphery of predetermined shape and comprising a float (2) closed on itself along the periphery and formed by at least one floating tube (3); this tube is longer than this periphery and extends locally within the periphery towards the inside (INT) of the boat and has a curved portion (5) with a concavity turned towards the outside (EXT) and defining a re-entrant zone (7); a tent fabric (15) is fixed, along the periphery defining the general contour of the boat, to the tube except for the portion (5) defining the re-entrant zone (7).
US07918697B2	Watercraft and method for the operation of a watercraft A watercraft (1) includes at least two oar handles (3a, 3b) which are designated to be actuated by a passenger of the watercraft in order to propel the same. A considerably expanded functionality is achieved in such a way that the oar handles (3a, 3b) are connected to a control unit which controls at least one power-actuated driving motor (6a, 6b; 7; 16a, 16b; 26a, 26b) of the watercraft depending on the actuation of the oar handles (3a, 3b).
US07918693B2	Electrical terminal screw apparatus An electrical terminal screw apparatus for the purpose of connection of electrical conductors having a housing with a shaft in which is provided a screw and featuring a screw head and shaft which are adjusted relative to one another in such a way that during revolution of the screw in a first angle range there is a minimal torsional moment and maximum torsional moment in a second rotational angle range.
US07918689B2	Reduced size multi-pin male plug connector Receptacle connectors and male plug connectors having a reduced size in at least one direction can be provided. One example reduces height by not including a center contact tab or tongue, but instead places contacts on an insulator that is adjacent to a bottom portion of the receptacle. Another example may reduce width by reducing contact pitch, and may use a particular shape of contact to achieve god signal quality. Receptacle connectors and male plug connectors can also provide support for one or more new high-speed communication standards, such as USB 3.0 and DisplayPort. Methods can provide one or more standardized connector components to speed connector design and manufacture of new electronic devices such as media players, thus reducing their time to market.
US07918688B2	Electrical connector with terminal soldering pattern An electrical connector has an insulative housing, a plurality of terminals and a metal shell. The terminals are mounted through the insulative housing and each terminal has a mounting section, a contacting section and a soldering section. The soldering sections of all the terminals are arranged in triangular patterns. Each soldering section is located in a tip of one triangular pattern. Distances between one soldering section and adjacent soldering sections are substantially identical. The triangular patterns of the soldering section stabilize the impedance of the operating electrical connector. Therefore, the electrical connector is stable and reliable.
US07918684B2	Shield-type communication socket A shield-type communication socket includes a housing; a first terminal seat, having a plurality of first terminals; a printed circuit board (PCB), having a plurality of first openings and a plurality of second openings; a plurality of IDC terminals; a second terminal seat; a terminal pressing member; a first pressing cover, rotatably pivoted on one side of the housing; and a second pressing cover, rotatably pivoted on another side of the housing. With the above structure, a cable can be easily accommodated in the communication socket and the plurality of IDC terminals and the plurality of first terminals are securely electrically connected.
US07918683B1	Connector assemblies and daughter card assemblies configured to engage each other along a side interface A connector assembly including a connector that has a mating surface with an array of connector terminals thereon. The mating surface interfaces with a side surface of a daughter card assembly when the daughter card assembly is moved to an engaged position. The array of connector terminals are configured to engage an array of card terminals of the daughter card assembly. The connector assembly also includes a guide assembly that has a guide channel and a cam member that slidably engages the guide channel to direct the daughter card assembly to an offset position. In the offset position, the side and mating surfaces form a non-orthogonal angle with respect to each other. The guide channel is configured to permit the daughter card assembly to be rotated about an axis of rotation so that the daughter card assembly moves from the offset position to the engaged position.
US07918681B2	Electrical connector An electrical connector includes a base having a through hole, a cover body slidably located on the base, a plurality of pins received in the base, a pushing piece installed on the upper surface of the cover body and having an opening, and a driving device for pushing the cover body and the base to have a relative motion. The cover body has a receiving hole that passes through the upper surface and the lower surface of the cover body. The driving device is received in the through hole, the opening, and the receiving hole. The driving device has an upper blocking portion and a lower blocking portion. The pushing piece, the cover body, and the base are located between the upper blocking portion and the lower blocking portion, in order to prevent the cover body from warping to cause the driving device being operated abnormally.
US07918679B2	Test and burn-in socket for integrated circuits (ICs) Disclosed herein is a test and burn-in socket for integrated circuits. The socket includes a socket body (37). A lead guide (36) is provided under the socket body. A slide (35) is mounted to the socket body to move horizontally. A plurality of slide springs (39) is elastically supported between the slide and the socket body, thus allowing the slide to smoothly restore an original position thereof. A contact guide (31) is provided above the slide to guide positions of upper contact terminals of contacts. An IC guide (30) is provided above the contact guide to guide a position of an IC. A cover (21) is provided to move vertically from the socket body (37). A latch (29) presses the IC. The socket also includes the contacts (33).
US07918678B2	Connector assemblies having guide rails with latch assemblies A connector assembly for mating with a pluggable module includes a receptacle assembly for receiving the pluggable module and an interface electrical connector defining a back of the receptacle assembly. The interface electrical connector is configured to mate with the pluggable module. A guide rail defines a side of the receptacle assembly. The guide rail is configured to guide the pluggable module within the receptacle assembly. The guide rail has a rail body having a cavity and the rail body having a side wall opening open to the cavity. A latch assembly is received in the cavity. The latch assembly includes a latch movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. The latch is configured to extend through the side wall opening to engage the pluggable module when the latch is in the latched position. The latch assembly further includes an actuator that forces the latch from the latched position to the unlatched position.
US07918677B2	Female connector for self-locking connector system The invention relates to a female connector (1) for a connector system (2) that couples first and second signal transmission conductor means. The connector system comprises a self-locking system of the push-pull type, some elements of which are secured to the female connector (1). The female connector (1) comprises a tubular body (10) housing an insert (11) equipped to accept each of the ends of the first signal conducting means. The elements (12) of the self-locking system that are secured to the female connector are formed on said insert (11). The invention also relates to a male connector (3).
US07918676B2	Connector with a connection detecting function and with a force multiplying member First and second connector housings (10, 40) are connected by displacing a force multiplying member (24). The first housing (10) includes a pair of detection terminals (13) and a shorting member (19). The shorting member (19) is displaced between a shorting position where the detection terminals (13) are shorted and a releasing position where the detection terminals (13) are released from a shorted state. The force multiplying member (24) includes a pressing surface (29) that is parallel to a displacing direction of the force multiplying member (24). The pressing surface (29) displaces the shorting member (19) to the shorting position in a partly connected state where the two housings (10, 40) have not reached a completely connected state while displacing the shorting member (19) to the releasing position when the two housings (10, 40) reach the completely connected state.
US07918674B2	System for protecting the engagable elements of a connector A protection system for a connector that comprises two connector elements (1, 2) provided with open ends that are mutually engagable one in the other along an engagement direction, the system comprising first and second shutters (11, 21), each connected to a respective one of the open ends via a laterally-offset hinge (12, 22) of axis parallel to the engagement direction, in such a manner that each shutter can be pivoted between a position in which it shuts the corresponding open end and a position in which it disengages it, the shutters having respective front faces provided with means (17, 27) enabling them to be constrained to pivot together about the hinge axis, and the hinge of the first shutter being mounted on the corresponding end so as to be movable in translation parallel to the engagement direction between a position in which the shutter is flush with the open end and a position in which it is set back from the open end.
US07918672B1	Battery connector A battery connector has an insulating housing, a plurality of terminals mounted to the insulating housing, and a supporting member fixing the insulating housing on the PCB. The insulating housing has a rectangular base, a recess formed at a rear of the base for receiving the supporting member. The recess has a first recess and a pair of second recesses extended downward from two opposite ends of the first recess. The supporting member has a horizontal beam accommodated in the first recess, a pair of connecting slices extended downwards from ends of the horizontal beam and accommodated in the second recesses, a pair of fixing slices extended downward from a bottom of each connecting slice. Free ends of the fixing slices are protruded opposite to each other to form protrusions inserted into the PCB for fixing the battery connector firmly on the printed circuit board.
US07918663B2	Injection molding nozzle wedge seal An injection molding apparatus includes an injection molding nozzle having a nozzle body defining a channel for flow of molding material and a nozzle tip coupled to the nozzle body. The nozzle tip is shaped to define a converging gap with a mold component into which the nozzle tip is inserted during use. A seal piece having a wedge or wedge-like portion is disposed between the nozzle tip and the mold component Pressure of molding material acting on a surface of the wedge portion wedges the wedge portion into the converging gap.
US07918662B2	Integrated apparatus having kneading part and injecting part An apparatus having a kneading part for performing kneading of a material and an injecting part for performing injection of the material in an injection molding operation with the kneaded material. The kneading part and the injecting part are connected together. The injecting part includes a weighing screw channel portion for weighing the material and a retention screw channel portion that is formed adjacently to the weighing screw channel portion. The injecting part has an injection screw shaft defining differently shaped channels that form a material retention space for retaining the material fed continuously quantitatively from the kneading part. Thereby, the material fed continuously quantitatively from the kneading part can be securely retained in the injecting part where intermittent operation is performed.
US07918658B2	Non symmetrical key coupling contact and scroll compressor having same A scroll compressor includes a movable scroll compressor body and a fixed scroll compressor body that are arranged for relative orbital movement relative to one another to facilitate compression of refrigerant. To guide the orbital movement, a Oldham key coupling is provided that may include four keys spaced in separate quadrants for guiding movement of the scroll compressor body along a linear translational path along a lateral axis. Additionally, running clearances may be unequally and non-symmetrically arranged so as to prevent unwanted rotation of one of the scroll compressor bodies and thereby prevent unwanted edge loading.
US07918651B2	Fan and impeller thereof An impeller includes a hub, a plurality of first blades, and a plurality of second blades. The first blades are disposed around the hub. The second blades are disposed between the first blades. The lengths of the second blades are shorter than those of the first blades. The impeller can avoid the airflow reflux and have good airflow efficiency.
US07918647B1	Turbine airfoil with flow blocking insert An airfoil used in a turbine of a gas turbine engine, the airfoil having a blocker insert formed within the serpentine cooling passage of the airfoil. The blocker insert forms a cooling air passage between the serpentine passage within the blade and the outer surface of the blocker insert. The blocker insert is formed of a carbon/carbon composite material and is cast into the airfoil when the airfoil is formed. A ceramic layer is applied over the blocker insert to produce a composite insert prior to casting the airfoil. The ceramic layer on the insert is then leached off to form the finished airfoil with the reduced size cooling air passage within the airfoil. The blocker insert can be formed with a cooling air passage therein in order to provide additional cooling for the finished airfoil.
US07918646B2	High efficiency turbine with variable attack angle foils A high-efficiency turbine generates energy from a fluid flow, such as wind or water currents. The turbine has a central axis with a plurality of foils rotatable about the central axis in a general paddlewheel arrangement. Each of the foils has a foil axis parallel to the length of the foil and the central axis, and is rotatable about its foil axis. During operation of the turbine, each foil assumes an attack angle to the direction of the fluid flow with the attack angle dynamically controlled about the foil axis as the foil rotates about the central axis so as to maximize the foil's moment about the central axis.
US07918645B2	Torque converter with brazed turbine The invention broadly comprises a torque converter including: a core ring; a turbine blade connected to the ring and having a perimeter with a segment facing an outer surface of the ring and disposed proximate the outer surface; and joining material fixedly connecting less than the entirety of the segment to the outer surface. The segment is fixedly connected to reduce resonance in the turbine. In some aspects, the ring includes an inner surface oppositely disposed from the outer surface and an open path between the surfaces. The present invention broadly comprises a notched turbine blade and a core ring with a discontinuity in an outer surface arranged to block capillary action for flowable joining material disposed in an interface between a turbine blade installed on the ring and the outer surface. The invention also broadly comprises a method for controlling resonance of a turbine in a torque converter.
US07918640B2	Position correcting apparatus, vacuum processing equipment and position correcting method A technology to resolve positional deviations without using a transport robot. An object to be transported placed on a holding stand is rotated, so as to make an error angle α to be zero; and thereafter, a temporarily placing portion is made to move obliquely to move for an error distance in a horizontal component, thereby locating the center of the object to be transported on the central axis line of the holding stand; and the object to be transported is placed on holding stand. In a case where an orientation of a notch is definite, the holding stand is further rotated by a desired amount. Without using the transport robot, it is possible to resolve an error angle and an error distance.
US07918635B2	Bookbinding machine A book binding machine for producing printed products, such as books, magazines or brochures, includes individually driven processing stations, such as a book spine processing station, a glue application station, a cover feeder and a pressing station, which are connected by a transport system that has a multiplicity of clamps for clamping-in book blocks. The clamps are driven individually, in particular by linear motors or servomotors, and are guided on a guide track.
US07918632B2	Wind turbine nacelle A nacelle for a wind turbine, the nacelle having a first height in its installed position and a second height in its transported position, the first height being higher than the second height, comprising a bottom part having a bottom face and two opposite side faces defining a space and a width of the bottom part and a top part. In the transported position, the top part extends inside the width or outside the width in order to cover at least part of the space. The invention also relates to a transportation kit and a transport method.
US07918630B2	Material cutting machine and method A material cutting machine has a tool mount support mounted for reciprocal movement and a tool mount supported by the tool mount support. A driver, such as a pneumatic cylinder, selectively advances and retracts the tool mount support. A control system is operatively coupled to the driver for setting the advancement force of the tool mount support when a tool supported by said tool mount contacts a workpiece, such as the edge or surface of a moving strip. In this way, the depth of cut of the tool is controlled by tool advancement force rather than by accurate positioning of the tool. In one embodiment, the tool mount support may have a head and a base and a resilient member resiliently coupling the head to the base to provide a damped resilience. With this embodiment, a transient spike in the reaction force which may result, for example, from a hard spot in the material, causes the tool to momentarily deflect. Swing links may maintain the lateral positioning of the tool whenever it momentarily retreats due to a reaction force spike. A guide for the tool mount may be pivotably mounted to a frame so that a rake angle of a tool supported by the tool mount may be varied.
US07918629B2	Ez key registration assembly A locating system and method for accurately positioning key blanks with respect to a key cutter where the key head is clamped between opposing jaws with the key blade working edges projecting therefrom, the key head is provided with shaped recesses having at least a partially specifically shaped edge wall and wherein at least one jaw member is provided with a projection having a correspondingly shaped sidewall, the pin being positioned with respect to the clamp such that when the key blank head is abutted against the pin with the key blank edge configuration mating to the pin sidewall configuration, the key blade will project from the jaw in a proper position for engagement by either the bitting follower or bitting cutter respectively.
US07918623B2	Cabled mat system with removable blocks A mat system includes a surface and at least first and second mat units. Each mat unit includes a respective plurality of blocks interlinked by respective cables that pass through the blocks. Each mat unit includes cable loops along at least one side section thereof. The first and second mat units are positioned on the surface in proximity to each other with cable loops of the first mat unit extending toward the second mat unit and cable loops of the second mat unit extending toward the first mat unit. A plurality of interconnecting blocks are positioned between the first mat unit and the second mat unit. Each interconnecting block includes an underside with downwardly open channels formed therein. The cable loops of the first and second mat units are positioned within the channels of the interconnecting blocks to cover the cable loops. The interconnecting blocks and the blocks forming the first and second mat units are sized, shaped and positioned such that upper surfaces thereof form a substantially continuous surface.
US07918622B2	Portable perimeter defense system A portable perimeter defense system is provided that is configured for preventing unwanted intrusions by vehicles or other heavy and fast-moving vehicles into a protected area while also providing requisite ballistic resistance capabilities. The defense system includes individual modular barriers that can be readily transported to a point of use and can be secured in place without requiring heavy equipment or power sources, such as electricity. This can be readily achieved with as few as one person. The modular barriers include a front plate configured to provide exceptional ballistic protection in the direction of impact and to provide an impact surface capable of withstanding impact. When circumstances warrant a double row portable perimeter defense system, a bracing system is provided to render parallel rows of barriers cooperative to prevent aft tilting of the impacted forward barriers. The bracing system transfers an impact force against the forward barrier rearward and downward toward a base plate of the rearward barrier. A method of protecting an area with a portable perimeter defense system and method of installing a portable perimeter defense system is also provided.
US07918621B2	Applicator and tube dispenser for low and high viscosity adhesive components A tube dispenser for adhesive compositions and adhesive components is equipped with a sponge applicator device. The tube includes an upper neck body which is cylindrical with exterior threads so that the sponge applicator device may be attached. The sponge applicator device has a rigid cap portion with interior threads, a cylindrical top end having a longitudinal channel, an absorbent, porous applicator material covering the external opening of the longitudinal channel, and a lance centered within the threaded cap and coaxial with the longitudinal channel. The porous applicator material may be affixed to the external opening of the top end with an adhesive, or held in place by a snap ring.
US07918617B2	Vane driving device using a blade as a gear rotation stopping means A vane driving device includes: a board having an opening; a blade changing an area of the opening, having a cam slot, and being elastically deformable; and a drive member transmitting a drive force from a drive source to the blade, and having a drive pin engaging the cam slot. The drive member is stopped by contacting the drive pin with at least one of end portions of the cam slot, when the blade is located in a fully opened state or in a small aperture state.
US07918615B2	Aperture-ring-and-shutter device An aperture-ring-and-shutter device includes a base unit, a shutter unit, and a diaphragm unit. The base unit includes a base having an optical opening along an optical axis. The shutter unit includes a shutter sheet, a shutter-driving element disposed on the base, and a toggling element actuated by the shutter-driving element. The toggling element has a guide bar utilized to rotate the shutter sheet. The shutter-driving element switches the toggling element between an opening location and a covering location. The guide bar of the toggling element forces the shutter sheet to expose or cover the optical opening of the base unit. The diaphragm unit includes an aperture plate, a diaphragm-driving element, and a toggled element pushed by the diaphragm-driving element. The aperture plate has an aperture less than the optical opening of the base unit. The toggled element has a guide pin utilized to rotate the aperture plate.
US07918612B1	Method and apparatus for mechanically splicing optic fibers A method and apparatus for mechanically splicing a pair of optic fibers or optic cables, the mechanical splice comprising: a ferrule having an axial capillary bore, the capillary bore configured to enclose the optic fibers at both ends of the ferrule; and cured epoxy disposed to secure together the ends of the optic fibers and to secure the optic fibers to an inside surface of the capillary bore, the ferrule optionally enclosed in a metal tube.
US07918608B2	Multi-row thrust ball bearing with unsymmetrical load distribution An axial bearing arrangement has at least two rolling-contact bearings (1, 2), each of which includes one outer ring (3, 4) and at least one inner ring (5, 6). The inner rings (5, 6) are axially fixedly mounted on a shaft (7). The outer ring (8) of a first bearing (1) is axially slideably located on a casing (9) by at least one elastically deformable tensioning element (8). The outer ring (4) of a second bearing (2) is axially slideably located on the casing (9) and engageable against at least one stop (10) of the casing (9), when moved in the axial direction.
US07918606B2	Rolling bearing A rolling bearing assembly has an inner race, an outer race and a plurality of rolling elements interposed between respective raceway surfaces of the inner and outer races. A stationary raceway member, which is one of the inner and outer races that are a raceway member and which is non-rotatable, is provided with a stepped face continued with the corresponding raceway surface and located in a direction away from the rolling elements, and is also provided with a gap defining piece having a tip held in face-to-face relation to the stepped face with a gap intervening between it and the stepped face and defining a flow path between a peripheral wall thereof and the stationary raceway member; there being provided a grease reservoir communicated with the flow path.
US07918598B2	LED light fixture An LED light fixture system includes an LED module having a plurality of LEDs attached thereto and directed inwardly toward a secondary optic. The LED module is releasably attached to an interior surface of a peripheral frame. The frame includes an openable portion positioned to allow the LED module to be inserted or removed through an opening created when the openable portion is in an open position. The openable portion is movable from the open position to a closed position and provides an electrical connection between the LEDs attached to the LED module and a source of electrical current when the openable portion is in the closed position.
US07918596B2	Warning light A warning light and warning light assembly are disclosed. The warning light includes a housing including a base and a translucent cover. The warning light includes one or more light emitting diodes within the housing, each of the light emitting diodes operable to emit light substantially along an optical output axis. The warning light also includes a reflector within the housing, the reflector including a reflective surface having a curve section disposed substantially perpendicular to the optical output axis of at least one of the one or more light emitting diodes.
US07918590B1	Composite lens plate A composite lens plate is applied in a light emitting diode (LED) lighting device having a plurality of LEDs. The composite lens plate includes a plurality of refractive elements. The refractive elements are one-to-one corresponding to the LEDs and guide light emitted by the corresponding LEDs. Each refractive element has a refractive property. The refractive elements are classified into at least two types of lenses according to the refractive property. Lenses of the same type have substantially the same refractive property, and the refractive property of lenses of one type is different from the refractive property of lenses of another type.
US07918582B2	Signal light using phosphor coated LEDs An improved signal light and method for making an improved signal light is disclosed. For example, the improved signal light includes a housing, at least one outer lens and at least one or more second type of light emitting diodes (LEDs) deployed in the housing. The at least one or more second type of LEDs includes a pump, a phosphor and a filter having a cutoff point less than or equal to 540 nanometers (nm). The at least one or more second type of LEDs also has a pump peak wavelength less than or equal to 430 nm and has a phosphor with a peak wavelength greater than 575 nm.
US07918570B2	Vehicular interior rearview information mirror system An interior rearview information mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror housing and a reflective element, and includes an information display operable to display information for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle. The information display is disposed in the mirror housing rearward of the reflective element, and information displayed by the information display is viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle viewing through the reflective element when the information display is displaying information. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes a forward facing camera having a forward field of view in the direction of forward travel of the equipped vehicle, and the forward facing camera views through the windshield of the equipped vehicle when the interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle.
US07918569B2	High definition vehicular mirror A vehicle mirror assembly having a housing or base member, a mirror lens and a bezel member. The mirror lens is provided in the shape of a portion of an end of an ellipsoid and has a varying radius of curvature. The center portion of the lens has a smaller radius of curvature than the outer portions along the major axis of the lens creating an improved field of view of the reflected image. The bezel is positioned over the intersection of the housing and mirror lens.
US07918564B2	Cooling system A cooling system for a projector is provided and disposed in the projector. When a sensing temperature of the projector sensed by a thermal sensor of the cooling system is higher than a maximum temperature, a control module controls a fan to increase a rotation speed. When the sensing temperature of the projector sensed by the thermal sensor is lower than a minimum temperature, the control module controls the fan to decrease the rotation speed. As a result, the temperature of the projector is maintained within a proper range.
US07918563B2	System and method for utilizing a scanning beam to display an image A method includes generating a plurality of beams that each illuminate a separate portion of a spatial light modulator. The spatial light modulator has a first dimension of a first length and a second dimension of a second length. Each of the beams spans a portion of the first length of the first dimension and a portion of the second length of the second dimension. The method also includes scrolling the plurality of beams along the second dimension of the spatial light modulator while maintaining at least a first gap between each of the plurality of beams.
US07918561B2	Projection display device in which position of the light source is shifted toward projection optical system side An optical system (light guiding optical system) for guiding G-light and R-light to liquid crystal panels is protruded in an opposite direction from projection optical system with regard to an optical axis of a light source. A space is created between an optical engine and a wall surface, and air stream for suction fan is thus secured. A distance (H1) between the optical engine and the wall surface can be reduced to, for example, a thickness of an external housing of the projector. Since a unit comprising the light source and a suction fan is retracted in a direction of the projection optical system than a protruded portion of the light guiding optical system, a distance (H2) from an end edge of the optical engine to a projection light emitting position can be reduced.
US07918559B2	Choroid and retinal imaging and treatment system The invention provides an apparatus, a device, and methods for imaging vasculature in a subject as well as an apparatus, a device and methods for treating abnormal vasculature in a subject.
US07918557B2	Fundus camera A fundus camera includes an illumination unit which includes an optical element configured to irradiate an eye fundus with visible light from a position conjugate with an anterior eye portion of an eye to be examined, and an imaging unit configured to take an image of the eye fundus with light which is emitted from the illumination unit and reflected from the eye fundus, wherein the illumination unit includes a blue LED chip and a fluorescent member that is excited by light emitted from the blue LED chip and emits fluorescence, and the fluorescent member is irradiated again with apart of the light reflected by the optical element.
US07918555B2	Methods and lenses for correction of chromatic aberration The subject invention provides lenses, and methods for designing and manufacturing these lenses, with reduced chromatic aberration. Advantageously, these lenses are specifically designed to correct chromatic aberration that results as multichromatic light passes through the lenses.
US07918553B2	Recording apparatus This invention relates to a recording apparatus, comprising an opening delivering a recording medium after completion of recording and a cover capable of closing the opening in moving pivotally and a holding rib formed at the cover for holding a rear end as well as both sides of the delivered recording medium. The holding rib comes to be exposed when the cover is opened.
US07918550B2	Membrane divided foam for use in an ink jet cartridge Embodiment of the invention provide an ink jet cartridge for an ink jet printing device. In one embodiment, an ink jet cartridge can include a cartridge body operable to store ink jet printer ink for dispensing from the cartridge. The cartridge can further include at least one dispensing outlet operable to permit ink to be dispensed from the cartridge body. In addition, the cartridge can include a first foam portion positioned adjacent to the at least one dispensing outlet and operable to retain ink within the cartridge body until dispensed from the cartridge body. The cartridge can also include a second foam portion. Furthermore, the cartridge can include at least one membrane disposed between the first foam portion and the second foam portion, wherein the at least one membrane is operable to inhibit ink flow between the first foam portion and the second foam portion.
US07918548B2	Ink cartridges An ink cartridge includes a case which includes a first case member. The first case member includes a first wall, and the first wall includes an air intake portion extending from the first wall in a predetermined direction. The case also includes a second case member which is connected to the first case member, and the first case member and the second case member define an ink chamber therein. The second case member includes a second wall which is opposite to the first wall, and a support member connected to an interior surface of the second wall. The ink cartridge also includes a movable member which is connected to the support member.
US07918543B2	Liquid jet head and an actuator apparatus A liquid jet head includes a flow passage forming substrate formed of a crystal substrate provided with a pressure generating chamber communicating with nozzle openings, and a piezoelectric element including a lower electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode, which are provided on the flow passage forming substrate to change pressure in the pressure generating chamber. The piezoelectric layer has a thickness of 5 μm or less and is formed of perovskite type crystals, and the distance between a diffraction peak position A of an X-ray derived from a surface (220) of the flow passage forming substrate and a diffraction peak position B of an X-ray derived from a surface (100) of the piezoelectric layer is within the range of 2θ=25.487±0.1°.
US07918537B2	Inkjet printhead integrated circuit comprising a multilayered substrate An inkjet printhead integrated circuit including a multilayered substrate having drive circuitry and a plurality of nozzle arrangements. Each nozzle arrangement includes: a floor having an ink inlet defined therein; a roof spaced apart from the floor; sidewalls extending between the roof and the floor so as to define a nozzle chamber; and a heater element suspended in the chamber and connected to the drive circuitry. When actuation energy is supplied to the heater element from the drive circuitry, a vapor bubble is formed in ink contained in the nozzle chamber resulting in ejection of ink via the ink ejection port.
US07918535B2	Printhead having interconnected and sealed modules A printhead is provided having a plurality of printing fluid ejection nozzle modules each having one or more printing fluid channels interconnected at respective complementary female and male end portions of the modules, a connector connected to the female or male end portion of one of the modules for communicating printing fluid from a fluid supply to the nozzles of all of the modules via the interconnected channels, and a sealing member connected to the female or male end portion of another one of the modules. The sealing member has female and male portions complementary to the female and male end portions of the modules and for sealing the channels of the connected module.
US07918534B2	Droplet ejection head having a liquid ejection energy driving device, method of producing the same and droplet ejection apparatus The present invention provides a droplet ejection head having a liquid ejection energy driving device to eject a liquid from a nozzle, the droplet ejection head including: a nozzle plate provided with a nozzle to eject liquid droplets; a tetrahedral amorphous carbon film provided on the nozzle plate; and a water-repellent film provided on the tetrahedral amorphous carbon film.
US07918531B2	Ink-jet recording apparatus and method of cleaning recording head of ink-jet recording apparatus An ink-jet recording apparatus, including: a recording head including ink chambers each provided for each of inks of mutually different colors and nozzles each communicating with either of the ink chambers, the recording head performing recording by ejecting, from each of the nozzles, a corresponding one of the inks which corresponds to said each of the nozzles; an ink suction device including a cap arranged to fluid-tightly cover a nozzle surface of the recording head in which the nozzles are formed, the ink suction device sucking the inks from the nozzles utilizing the cap; and a control device for controlling the ink-jet recording apparatus, the control device including an initial-cleaning-operation executing portion which executes, upon initial working of the apparatus, an initial cleaning operation including: controlling the ink suction device to execute an initial ink sucking action wherein the inks are sucked from the nozzles; and controlling the recording head to execute (a) an all-nozzle-ink-ejecting action for all of the nozzles to eject the corresponding one of the inks from each of all of the nozzles at a plurality of shots and (b) a partial-nozzle-ink-ejecting action for at least one specific nozzle among the nozzles to eject the corresponding one of the inks from each of the at least one specific nozzle at a plurality of shots.
US07918529B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus and method for adjusting positions of nozzle rows A liquid ejecting apparatus comprises a moving unit that moves by receiving a moving force, and a plurality of nozzle rows for ejecting liquid onto a medium, wherein each of the nozzle rows is adjusted in its position on the moving unit, taking a nozzle row that is arranged on a side close to a line of action of the moving force as a reference.
US07918525B2	Nozzle arrangement with sealing structure and thermal actuator A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printer. the nozzle arrangement comprising a substrate assembly defining an inlet channel; a nozzle chamber wall and a roof wall collectively positioned on the substrate assembly to define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the inlet channel, the roof wall defining an ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber; a thermal actuator mounted to the substrate assembly and extending into the nozzle chamber to terminate in a free end, the thermal actuator comprising a pair of actuating members spaced apart to form a gap, one of the actuating members being connected to an electrical supply; a heat sink assembly positioned in the gap between the pair of actuating members; and a sealing structure provided between an end of the thermal actuator mounted to the substrate and an end of the thermal actuator terminating in the nozzle chamber, the sealing structure permitting movement of the thermal actuator therein and inhibiting fluid leakage from the nozzle chamber via surface tension.
US07918524B2	Printhead integrated circuit having sensing and test circuitry A printhead IC is provided having ejection nozzles, drive circuitry for sending drive pulses to resistive heaters of the nozzles to cause ejection from the nozzles, sensing circuitry being activated to sense the temperature of the printhead IC and adjust the profile of the sent drive pulses in accordance with the sensed temperature and being de-activated after a period of use, and test circuitry for selectively disabling the resistive heaters when they receive the drive pulses while comparing the resistance of the resistive heaters against a predetermined threshold to assess whether the resistive heaters are defective.
US07918520B2	Liquid drop expelling head and image forming device provided therewith There is provided a liquid drop expelling head including: a driving element generating a pressure wave at a liquid within a pressure chamber, and expelling a liquid drop from a nozzle which communicates with the pressure chamber; and a control section applying a driving waveform based on image information to the driving element, and controlling a preparatory waveform, which vibrates a meniscus of the nozzle, on the basis of one of a liquid drop expulsion standby time and a liquid drop amount of a first drop at a time of starting expulsion again.
US07918513B2	Vehicle wheel The invention concerns a vehicle wheel, in particular for passenger vehicles and motorcycles, comprising a rim for receiving a tire and a spoke unit or a wheel disc connecting the rim to the hub. The rim is made of plastic material and the spoke unit or the wheel disc of metal. The rim is connected to the spoke unit or wheel disc by form-closure and/or by force-closure of the material. The invention aims at enabling the wheel disc to be accurately positioned relative to the rim base and at providing a wheel with an attractive design. Therefore, the spoke unit, or the wheel disc are connected via at least one connecting element guided through the rim base and the connecting element is housed in the spoke unit or the wheel disc so as to be completely covered by a tire or by the spoke unit or the wheel disc.
US07918512B2	Automotive machine for producing carriageways In an automotive machine (1) for producing carriageways by stabilizing insufficiently stable soils or by recycling road surfaces, with a machine chassis (4) supported by a running gear (2), a working drum (20) mounted to pivot in relation to the machine chassis (4), the shaft of which is mounted in pivoting arms (42) and runs transversely to the direction of travel, a cover (28) surrounding the working drum (20), a combustion engine (32) supported by the machine chassis with at least one output shaft (34) for the drive power required for driving the working drum, whereby at least one mechanical power transmission device (36) transfers the drive power from the output shaft (34) to the working drum (20), it is intended that the combustion engine (32) is arranged in a fixed manner at the machine chassis (4) between the pivoting arms (42) and that the at least one mechanical power transmission device (36), together with the working drum (20) mounted in the pivoting arms, can pivot about the axis of the output shaft (34) of the combustion engine (32).
US07918505B2	Rocking device A rocking device with a seat unit such as a chair, crib or cot, or attachment mechanisms for same with a motion generator comprising a profiled track defining a closed undulating path and a track follower, to interact with the track whilst one or other is rotated, thereby creating relative displacement between the seat unit and a base unit to simulate the motion of a vehicle. The device has mechanisms to decouple the relative displacement between the seat and the base from any rotational movement of the chair. The device is particularly effective at inducing sleep and restfulness in children. The invention also includes profiled tracks, and method for producing them from recording motion experienced by passengers in moving vehicles.
US07918501B1	Vehicle safety seat A vehicle seat with that is movable in response to a collision that automatically shifts the position of an individual sitting the seat while having minimal change in the space behind the seat.
US07918499B2	Dual function lift handle for infant seat carrier An infant swing has a base member supported by hanger members for reciprocal movement. The base member is formed with an upwardly extending mounting protrusion that nests into a mating receiver structure formed on the bottom of the seat carrier. A latch mechanism carried by the seat carrier is selectively operable to disengage a pivoted, spring-loaded latch member mounted on the base member mounting protrusion. The seat carrier is formed with a pivoted lift handle that provides a dual lift function, including the normal lift function associated with the lift handle being raised into the upright operative position. The lift handle is formed with grip openings adjacent the pivot connection of the lift handle such that the grip handles are rotated for access when the lift handle is lowered to the folded position to enable the seat carrier to be lifted by grasping the two transversely spaced grip openings.
US07918495B2	Director's chair A director's chair comprises outer frames, connecting units, seat supporting units and back supporting units. The outer frame in square shape comprises with a pair of horizontal units and a pair of vertical units. A seat-supporting-unit connected piece setting under the top right angle of the horizontal unit. A stopper is set inside of each front and rear vertical unit. The connecting units which are pivotally crisscrossed with each other form an arc-shaped and an up-side-down arc-shaped connecting structure. The front protruding end of the seat supporting unit is curved. The back supporting unit comprises a supporting unit and a fitting seat wherein a concave is inside and a movable piece is at the bottom of the fitting seat.
US07918492B2	Vehicle door belt and cam articulating mechanism A vehicle door articulating mechanism including an articulating hinge assembly having a hinge arm pivotally mounted to a vehicle structure at one end thereof, a vehicle door pivotally mounted via first and second hinge mounts to the hinge arm at an opposite end of the hinge arm, a first cam mounted to the first hinge mount at one end of the hinge arm, a second cam mounted to the second hinge mount at an opposite end of the hinge arm, and a belt encircling both first and second cams. The hinge arm is disposed at first and second angular positions when the vehicle door is respectively disposed in closed and opened positions. The vehicle door articulating mechanism allows the door to articulate away independent of an adjacent vehicle door during initial and continued opening of vehicle door.
US07918486B2	Connector seal comprising rachet teeth A connector seal device for connecting a branch pipe to a transverse opening of a main pipe, including a hollow elastomer insert of a first material and a pipe union of a harder second material. The elastomer insert may include a flexible support collar, a sealing wall region with a tapered inside surface having first locking ring zones, and an outside surface adapted to fit the transverse opening. The pipe union may include an engagement end with a tapered outside surface having second locking ring zones. The pipe union may include a socket end adapted to cooperate with the branch pipe. When the elastomer insert is inserted into the transverse opening and the pipe union is pushed into the elastomer insert, the first and second locking ring zones engage in the manner of ratchet teeth to press the elastomer insert against the transverse opening.
US07918485B2	Security system using conductive and non-conductive regions Disclosed is an item, for example a document, including a substrate having thereon a multiplicity of separate printed markings, wherein the printed markings include both conductive printed markings and substantially non-conductive printed markings. The different conductive and substantially non-conductive regions on the substrate can be detected, for example by measuring the resistance or current of each printed marking. The pattern of different conductive and substantially non-conductive regions can be used as a security pattern of authenticity that cannot be replicated by standard office equipment, and/or can be used to encrypt information in binary code form in the item. A system for forming and detecting the different printed markings is also described.
US07918477B2	Snowboard binding accessory A snowboard binding accessory comprising a binding interface and snowboard interface, wherein the binding interface comprises a platform, and the snowboard interface comprises first and second discs. The platform is attached to a snowboard strap binding, and the first and second discs are fixedly attached to a snowboard. The platform comprises a circular recess that fits over the first disc. The second disc provides a rotating surface for the platform. The first disc comprises a channel that extends around the perimeter of the disc. Notches extend from the top surface of the first disc to the channel, and knobs extend horizontally from the side walls of the platform into the recess. To position the platform on the snowboard interface, the knobs are lined up with the notches, and the first disc is inserted into the recess. The knobs move horizontally within the channel, thereby allowing the platform to rotate.
US07918476B1	Stowable hitch A hitch assembly comprises housing that includes a generally cylindrical socket with an inner diameter and a slot along an outer periphery of the socket. A hitch ball includes a base that is selectively received within the socket. The base includes a radial groove that generally aligns with the slot. A sliding member selectively engages the slot and the radial groove to retain the hitch ball within the socket.
US07918475B2	Quick disconnect hitch Embodiments described herein relate to methods and structures that can be used to quickly disconnect a trailer from a tractor. One embodiment provides a quick disconnect hitch that links a tractor and a trailer. The quick disconnect hitch comprises a tongue attached to the tractor and a body insertable into the tongue. An extension is attached to and projects away from the body. The extension is connectable with the trailer. A pair of lugs is disposed on the body. The lugs are movable between a connected position where the trailer moves responsive to movement of the tractor and a disconnected position where the trailer moves independently of the tractor. A detent is disposed on each of the pair of lugs. A pair of slots is disposed on the tongue. Each of the pair of slots is configured to accept the detent. Each detent is disposed in each of the pair of slots when the lugs are in the connected position, and each detent is dislocated from each of the pair of slots when the lugs are in the disconnected position.
US07918472B2	Dual-lever compression suspension system A dual-lever compression system comprising a shock absorber, a first lever, and a second lever. The shock absorber first end is pivotally coupled to a frame. The shock absorber second end is pivotally coupled to a first lever first end and the first lever second end is coupled to the frame. The second lever first end is pivotally coupled to the shock absorber second end and the second lever second end is coupled to a swing- arm. The compression performance control provided by embodiments of the dual-lever compression system is directly related to the incorporation of dual levers coupled to the shock absorber; that is, the first lever and the second lever. Angles, position, and pivotal rotations of the dual levers provide for controlled shock absorption. Compression performance of two connecting points between the rigid frame regions where by a first lever pivotally couples to one point of a rigid frame and pivotally couples to the impact point of the shock absorber, with the base mount of the shock absorber pivotally coupled to a second point of the rigid frame. The second lever completes the system, where a first end of the second lever is pivotally coupled to the first lever or the shock absorber impact point. A second end of the second lever is pivotally coupled to a swing-arm or wheel region. The dual lever assembly manipulates the shock absorber force tension which in return produces increased suspension performance.
US07918467B2	Folding mechanism of a stroller A foldable stroller includes a rear composite supporting member interposed between and pivoted to two rear supporting rod parts of a frame; the rear composite supporting member can be expanded to hold the stroller in an in-use position, and it can be compressed so as to reduce the width of the stroller when the stroller is not-in-use; the stroller further includes a composite fixing member, which will fix the rear composite supporting member automatically when the rear composite supporting member is moved to the expanded position; the stroller frame has two front supporting rod parts, which each include an upper rod, and a lower rod pivoted to the upper rod; the stroller can be reduced in its height by making the lower rods of the front supporting rod parts become close to the upper rods.
US07918464B2	Gasket package A gasket assembly includes a one-piece gasket that has a mounting end, for mounting to an associated enclosure body, and a pipe engaging end, for receiving an associated pipe. An intermediate section is located between the mounting end and the pipe engaging end. A mounting element is of one piece with one of the mounting end, the pipe engaging end and the intermediate section. A clamping member is used with the gasket. The clamping member is looped to assume an annular configuration. A retaining member extends through an aperture located in the mounting element and through the clamping member for retaining the clamping member to the gasket in a transport position of the gasket assembly.
US07918458B2	Article capturing game machine To enabling actions that meet even diversified display patterns such as a prize hooked on a prize drop hole. An article housing section for storing articles, an article capturing section for capturing an article in the article housing section, lifting device for moving the article capturing section up and down, control device for controlling the movement of the article capturing section by the lifting device, and detection device for detecting that the article capturing section being moved downward by the lifting device strikes against any object including the article in the article housing section are provided. The control device performs control for operating the lifting device to continue to move the article capturing section downward even after the control device receives a detection signal from the detection device, and after the continued downward movement, stopping the downward movement of the article capturing section.
US07918457B2	Ball-shaped puzzle The invention relates to a ball-shaped puzzle comprising a spherical support element (1; 31) and a plurality of movable puzzle elements (16; 33) which all have substantially the same size and shape, the movable puzzle elements (16; 33) being slidably engaged in a trajectory (2; 32) on the outside of the spherical support element (1; 31), the trajectory (2; 32) defining a plurality of predetermined positions on the outside of the spherical support element (1; 31) between which the puzzle elements (16; 33) are movable. The spherical support element (1; 31) comprises a core and a plurality of trajectory forming elements (15; 45-46) which form the trajectory (2; 32), the trajectory forming elements (15; 45-46) being fixed onto the core (13; 43-44) by a snap-fitting arrangement (40-41).
US07918455B2	Chip with insert including an electronic microchip The chip, in the general shape of a disk, of the type with a body obtained by multiple injection molding of plastics material, includes a core 14 obtained by a first plastics material injection molding operation having a central portion 24 defining the central portion of the body of said chip and a peripheral portion 31 defining, by means of radial projections 18, at least a portion of the edge of the body of the chip. The core 14 incorporates an insert 26 including a contactless electronic microchip identification device 27 that during the first injection molding operation is buried in the central portion 24 and retained at its periphery by projections or fingers attached to the injection-molding mold and defining apertures 36 in the core. The chip body includes a covering layer around the peripheral portion 31 of the core 14 obtained by a second plastics material injection molding operation to produce, with the core, the whole of the edge and the peripheral annular portion of the body of the chip. A decorated label is fixed to each face of the chip.The chip may be used as a gaming chip or a casino chip.
US07918454B2	Interactive bottle game An entertaining and romantic game comprises actions and adventures of different categories that are placed in a bottle and spun. Some actions or adventures are pre-printed whereas others are created by the players, thereby personalizing the game.
US07918452B2	Sheet width aligning device, sheet transport device and image forming apparatus A sheet width aligning device includes two width aligning members which respectively contact widthwise ends of a sheet to regulate a widthwise position of the sheet. A first detector detects one widthwise end of the sheet and a second detector detects the other widthwise end of the sheet. A moving mechanism moves the first and second detectors located at initial positions at outer sides of the sheet towards the center of the sheet in the widthwise directions. A determining section determines the positions of the width aligning members based on a detection timing, at which the first detector detected the one widthwise end, and a detection timing, at which the second detector detected the other widthwise end. A driving mechanism drives the width aligning members to move to the positions determined by the determining section.
US07918448B2	Sheet supplying device and image forming system A sheet supplying device, including a sheet stacking member which can stack various sized sheets, a side edge alignment member which moves perpendicular to a sheet supplying direction and aligns at least one of side edges of the stacked sheets placed on the sheet stacking member, and an auxiliary side edge alignment member which is provided on the side edge alignment member and ejects in a moving direction of the side edge alignment member and which aligns stacked sheets whose width is narrower than that of the stacked sheets which are to be aligned by the side edge alignment member.
US07918445B2	Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus A sheet feeding device to feed a sheet in a sheet stack into a sheet feeding path is provided. the sheet feeding device includes a feed roller configured to contact the sheet stack and feed the sheet in a feeding direction, a guide member, having a guide surface, which is configured to contact a side of the sheet fed by the feeding roller, to guide the sheet being fed along a guiding direction, and a shifting unit to shift the feed roller in a direction toward the guide surface before the feed roller is rotated.
US07918441B2	Sheet finisher, image forming apparatus using the same, and sheet finishing method A sheet finisher of the invention includes: a fold unit that forms a fold line with a fold rollers; a roller unit that moves a first roller and a second roller along the fold line while pressing the fold line; a drive unit that moves the roller unit along the fold line from a standby position separate from an end of the sheet bundle; a drive motor that separates the first and the second rollers in a thickness direction at the standby position; and a nipping unit that places the sheet bundle on a first nip plate, and nips it by the first and the second nip plates. Both positions of the nip of the fold rollers and a nip of the first and second rollers are disposed to be substantially coincident with a position on an imaginary plane extending from a surface of the first nip plate.
US07918440B2	Support device for securing workpieces Workpieces of large dimensions, typically body pressings or fuselage panels, are supported and secured for machining by a device capable of movement in a vertical direction and adaptable thus to the particular geometry of the workpiece. The vertical movement is produced by a rod of which the top end carries a head incorporating a pivotable fixture mechanism, equipped with a suction cup connected to a source of negative pressure by way of a suction duct and activated to clamp the work once the head is in position.
US07918436B2	Valve element opening/closing device A valve element opening/closing device may include a main body, an inflow pipe, an outflow pipe, a valve element, and a drive part for driving the valve element to open and close a flow passage. The drive part may include a linearly moving mechanism part for driving the valve element, which may include a rotary power transmission member, a linearly moving member for moving the valve element, a turning prevention mechanism, and an urging member for urging the valve element in a closing direction. The turning prevention mechanism may include a shaft turnably supporting the rotary power transmission member, and a shaft hole formed in the linearly moving member that is supported by the shaft, and the shaft is engaged with the shaft hole to prevent turning of the linearly moving member.
US07918432B2	Conical washer spring support This invention relates to a support or hanger utilizing a conical spring washer or set of conical spring washer displaying variable load characteristics. When installed, both types (support or hanger) allow for small movements in pipe, ductwork or equipment (PDE), thus, allowing for the thermal growth of PDE. Conventionally, helical coil spring supports are chosen to meet the load capacities of PDE but are reluctantly used because of their large size. By using conical spring washer s, the size of the support is substantially reduced making it a more useable device. A smaller, more compact design proves to increase the support/hanger's application making it more stable to place under piping and even under reciprocating motion equipment like generators and pumps. For small displacements, it is found that this invention behaves in the same manor as a conventional helical coil spring support under the same applied loads.
US07918428B2	Supporting apparatus of display device A supporting apparatus of a display device is provided that includes a fixing unit, one or more sliding units, and a device connecting part. The fixing unit may be fixed to a mounting position. The sliding units may be rotatably connected to the fixing unit. The device connecting part may be rotatable relative to the sliding unit and may be coupled with the display device. The sliding unit may include a first sliding member rotatable relative to the fixing unit, and a second sliding member slidable relative to the first sliding member.
US07918427B2	Computer dock station A computer dock station includes a bracket covered with a cover member and having a fence at one side and upright pivot pins on the inside, and a locking mechanism, which includes a motive member, two follower members pivoted to the two opposite ends of the motive member and respectively coupled with the respective sliding slot to the upright pivot pins, two clamps respectively mounted on the follower members outside the bracket, and a screw rod threaded through the motive member and pivoted to the bracket and rotatable to move the motive member and to further turn the follower members about the respective upright pivot pins for adjusting the position of the clamps.
US07918425B2	Universal antenna mount A universal antenna mount featuring a first bracket with a concave face between right and left tangs, a reversible second bracket with a concave face and a generally convex opposite face between right and left tangs, and at least one fastener extending through the right tangs of the first and second brackets and at least one fastener extending through the left tangs of the first and second brackets.
US07918422B2	Transformable intravenous pole An intravenous (IV) pole system for supporting medical equipment having a base with legs, a mast engaged to the base, and a lifting mechanism including a gas spring engaged to the base and the mast. Each of the legs includes at least one wheel. The lifting mechanism is constructed to position the legs in an extended configuration and a retracted configuration. The lifting mechanism is further constructed to raise the legs and wheels relative to the base and relative to a surface. The lifting mechanism is configured to position the wheels proximate to the mast in the retracted configuration.
US07918420B2	System and methods for simultaneous momentum dumping and orbit control The present system and methods enable simultaneous momentum dumping and orbit control of a spacecraft, such as a geostationary satellite. Control equations according to the present system and methods generate accurate station-keeping commands quickly and efficiently, reducing the number of maneuvers needed to maintain station and allowing station -keeping maneuvers to be performed with a single burn. Additional benefits include increased efficiency in propellant usage, and extension of the satellite's lifespan. The present system and methods also enable tighter orbit control, reduction in transients and number of station-keeping thrusters aboard the satellite. The present methods also eliminate the need for the thrusters to point through the center of mass of the satellite, which in turn reduces the need for dedicated station-keeping thrusters. The present methods also facilitate completely autonomous orbit control and control using Attitude Control Systems (ACS).
US07918417B2	Undercarriage with anticrash and antiresonance skids for a rotary wing aircraft, and an aircraft An undercarriage (2) having anticrash and antiresonance skids (6) for a rotary wing aircraft (1), the undercarriage including in particular: two landing skids (6) that are elastically deformable in the event of a normal landing; front and rear transverse elements (7, 8) likewise elastically deformable in the event of a normal landing; assembly elements (9, 14) for assembling the transverse elements to a force take-up structure (5) of the aircraft (1); and a connection system (10) suitable for absorbing the energy of a crash landing by controlled plastic deformation and including at least one pair of buckling struts (11) arranged so as to deform in the plastic range by buckling, together with a fastener member (14) of the assembly elements for providing statically-redundant assembly between a structure (5) of the aircraft (1) and a respective one of the front and/or rear elements (7, 8).
US07918415B2	Convertible aircraft operating method The invention relates to a convertible aircraft operating method. According to the invention, the aircraft comprises: a fuselage, standard fixed wings which are equipped with ailerons, a tail unit with flight-control surfaces, engines, a rotor with blades, a transmission which is placed between the engines and the rotor and which is equipped with rotor clutch and braking means, a landing gear, means for transition from helicopter mode to autogyro mode and vice versa, and means for direct or reverse transition from autogyro/helicopter mode to aeroplane mode. The lift for a range of low speeds is produced by means of the rotor, while the lift for a range of high speeds is produced by means of the wings. In addition, the lift for a range of intermediate speeds can be produced using the wings and the rotor in autogyro mode simultaneously, and take-off and landing can be performed in autogyro mode or in helicopter mode with the engines coupled to the rotor. The aircraft comprises a hybrid helicopter/autogyro/aeroplane aircraft and, as such, can perform the direct or reverse transition to aeroplane mode from both helicopter mode and autogyro mode.
US07918408B2	Hand-held showerhead structure A hand-held showerhead structure includes a handle portion, a water-outlet base, and a rotary member. The rotary member includes an outlet valve and is mounted on the water-outlet base in a rotationally adjustable manner, which is turned by a user to adjust to a desired water-spraying mode. A plurality of annular chambers is defined between a middle cover and a lower cover of the outlet valve. A plurality of arc-shaped flow-guide ribs distributed radially and separated from one another is protruded from a top wall of the lower cover opposing to an annular chamber in an outer peripheral area. A plurality of open-ended arc-shaped flow-guide channels is accordingly defined between the flow-guide ribs. Moreover, a plurality of outlet holes is arranged in flow-guiding directions of the flow-guide channels. Therefore, the showerhead positioned in such a water-spraying mode is capable of achieving a uniform water-spraying effect at a larger spraying area.
US07918403B2	Semiconductor integrated circuit device There are provided an operational amplifier (A1), a capacitor (C1) capable of transmitting an input signal to an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier, and a feedback path (B11) disposed between an output terminal and the inverting input terminal in the operational amplifier, and a reference voltage is supplied to a non-inverting input terminal. There is provided an input/output stabilizing circuit (B13) for changing a threshold voltage of the operational amplifier, and adding a micro signal input to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier, thereby carrying out an input/output stabilizing control in response to a signal output from the operational amplifier. In response to the signal output from the operational amplifier, the threshold voltage of the operational amplifier is changed and the micro signal is added to the signal input to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifiers so that the input/output stabilizing control is carried out. By the control, the influence of a noise is eliminated and an enhancement in a noise resistance of a receiver circuit is achieved.
US07918401B2	Multi-level hierarchical radio-frequency communication system Portable measuring devices which communicate by low power transceivers through a communication controller with a printer device collect weight and size data on articles to be shipped. The collected weight and size data are combined with origin and destination data, and labels are printed bearing pertinent shipping and routing information in machine readable format. The labels are attached to the articles to be shipped and accompany the articles to their respective destinations. At transfer points the labels are read by scanner devices which also communicate by low power transceiver links with the communication controller. The wireless linking of the scanner devices promotes human safety by the absence of cords which could cause entanglement of an operator in mechanized conveying equipment. The communication controllers at each stage of the shipping process have the capability of transferring received and updated status information on the shipped articles to a central data station.
US07918397B2	Indicia reading system A method of reading indicia comprising the steps of: displaying a plurality of information data bearing indicia seriatim on a display; reading and decoding the displayed plurality of information data bearing indicia utilizing an indicia reader; and establishing a relationship of data provided in the plurality of information data bearing indicia utilizing a portion of the data provided in each of the plurality of information data bearing indicia.
US07918395B2	Electronic product identification and price display system employing electronic-ink display labels having a stacked architecture for visually displaying the price and/or promotional information for said consumer product, remotely updated by one or more remote activator modules installed within the retail environment An electronic product identification price display system for installation in a retail environment storing a plurality of consumer products on shelves. The system includes a plurality of remote activator modules installed within the retail environment, and a plurality of remotely-updateable electronic-ink labels applied to consumer products stored in the retail environment. Each remote activator module sends and transmits electromagnetic signals within the space of the retail environment. Each electronic-ink label employs an addressable display assembly including a layer of electronic ink including a bi-stable non-volatile imaging material. The device 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 transmitting structure transmits signals from the antenna structure to the remote activator modules. A signal receiving structure receives electromagnetic signals from the remote activator modules, using the antenna structure. An on-board battery power structure, operably connected to the integrated circuit structure, supplies electrical power to the integrated circuit structure. The electronic-ink label applied to each consumer product displays graphical indicia representing the price and/or promotional information for the consumer product, that is remotely updated by one or more remote activator modules installed within the retail environment.
US07918389B2	Method and system for tracking unfinished ceramic structures during manufacture A system and method is provided for tracking unfinished ceramic structures moved by a conveyor system through manufacturing loops which preserves both identification and manufacturing information during manufacture, and in particular during mark-obliterating steps. The method includes loading the marked, unfinished ceramic structure at a selected position on the conveyor system; relaying the identification mark and the selected position of the unfinished ceramic structure on the conveyor system; conveying the unfinished ceramic structure through a mark-obliterating manufacturing step, and then identifying the ceramic structure relaying and processing information relating to its position on the conveyor system. The ceramic structure is then re-marked with a second mark after completing all mark-obliterating steps of manufacturing, such as firing and contouring. Both the first and second marks include the combination of a machine-readable and human-readable component, such as the combination of a two-dimensional bar code and an alpha-numeric code.
US07918386B2	Cash letter print verification A printed cash letter includes a machine-readable identifier, such as a barcode, identifying the cash letter. Upon printing, information from the identifier is read and stored in a first record. To determine whether the cash letter is a duplicate, a check presentment module compares information from the identifier with information in the first record. If information identifying the cash letter already exists in the first record, the cash letter is a duplicate. To verify cash letter printing, information identifying multiple cash letters to be printed is stored in a second record. Upon printing a portion of the cash letters, information read from identifiers on the printed cash letters is compared with information in the second record. If the second record includes information regarding a cash letter not identified in the information scanned from the barcodes, then the check presentment module identifies the cash letter as having not been printed.
US07918382B2	Method for attaching a porous metal layer to a metal substrate A method for attaching a porous metal layer to a dense metal substrate, wherein the method is particularly useful in forming orthopedic implants such as femoral knee components, femoral hip components, and/or acetabular cups. The method, in one embodiment thereof, comprises providing a solid metal substrate; providing a porous metal structure; contouring a surface of the porous metal structure; placing the porous structure against the substrate such that the contoured surface of the porous metal structure is disposed against the substrate, thereby forming an assembly; applying heat and pressure to the assembly in conjunction with thermal expansion of the substrate in order to metallurgically bond the porous structure and the substrate; and removing mass from the substrate after the porous structure is bonded to the substrate, thereby finish processing the assembly.
US07918380B1	Method and apparatus for manufacturing welded tapered tubes A tapered tube manufacturing apparatus and method of operation comprises an entry station adapted to receive a tapered tube having an open, longitudinal seam with spaced longitudinal edges extending the length of the tapered tube. A feed line section moves the tapered tube from the entry section into a welding station while maintaining the longitudinal seam coincident with a pass center line which defines a direction of movement of the tapered tube through the entry station, the feed line section and the welding station. A pair of squeeze rolls in the welding station move the tapered tube through the welding station where the edges of the seam are heated, squeezing the open seam closed for welding the edges of the seam together, and then move the welded tapered tube into a cooling and transition station while maintaining the welded seam coincident with the pass center line. A pair of sizing rolls move the welded tapered tube from the cooling and transition station and through the sizing station so that a centerline extending longitudinally through the center of the welded tapered tube is coincident with the direction of movement of the welded tapered tube through the sizing station and the welded tapered tube is squeezed so that all cross sections of the welded tapered tube that are perpendicular to the centerline at any point along the length of tube, have the same shape.
US07918379B2	Process for working metal material and structures In a first step, friction stir welding is performed, while supplying a filler into a joining portion, in order to prevent the coarsening of crystal grains of metal materials in a subsequent fusion processing. Then, a fusion processing such as MIG welding is performed. The filler to be added to the joining portion includes a substance that does not chemically react with the metal materials and has a melting point higher than a melting point of the metal materials and a substance in which a misfit with the metal materials is within ±15%. As a result, the coarsening of crystal grains by the fusion processing is inhibited and the joint strength can be increased.
US07918376B1	Articulated surgical instrument One example of a surgical instrument may include a handle, an end effector, and a shaft that connects the handle to the end effector, where the shaft includes an articulated region. At least one feeder belt may extend through the lumen of the shaft into the end effector, where at least one feeder belt may include at least one staple frangibly connected thereto.
US07918374B2	Portable fastener driving device The present invention includes various embodiments directed to apparatus and methods surrounding a fastener device. In particular embodiments, the fastener device is a quick charging and discharging device that includes a solenoid, a fastener striker, a flash capacitor, and a control circuit. Other novel features of the fastener device exist. In particular embodiments, the present invention also includes apparatus and methods related to deforming staples for securing conduit and the like, and staple insulation and insulated staples that may be discharged by the fastener device. The insulation may be provided in an ordinary staple strip for use in the fastener device. Each insulation form may include deformation voids to assist the adaptation of the insulation about a target object that is being secured by the insulated staple.
US07918372B2	Apparatus for controlling the lateral offset of webs of material The present disclosure relates an apparatus for controlling the lateral offset of webs of material. The apparatus can include a support structure for supporting a roll and a mechanism for lifting the web of material off the roll. The support structure can include a fixed portion and at least one movable portion. The roll is preferably journaled to first mountings, the first mountings being attached to the movable portion of the support structure, so that the roll can be moved together with the first mountings. A potential advantage of this design is that the journal bearing of the roll on a respective shaft can be configured more easily and given smaller dimensions. According to a further aspect of the disclosure, the lifting mechanism can include at least two single rollers, rotatably journaled to two lateral supports. Such single rollers are advantageously arranged along a circular-arc plane. The web of material can thus be deflected with as large a radius as possible. This can reduce undesirable back-sway of the sagging portion of the web of material as a result of the intermittent operation. The end portions of the circular-arc plane can also extend tangentially to the provided direction of travel of the web of material, thereby potentially resulting in crease-free deflection of the web of material.
US07918367B2	Apparatus and method for monitoring bulk tank cryogenic systems A system for monitoring and controlling the delivery of CO2 from a bulk storage tank to at least one gas-driven pump is disclosed. By monitoring certain conditions, the flow of CO2 can be quickly and easily terminated if necessary, thereby reducing or eliminating undesirable consequences of CO2 gas flow in abnormal operational scenarios. The invention is particularly well suited for deployment in conjunction with beverage dispensing machines and can be configured to shut down the flow of CO2 if a drop in pressure occurs due to a leak in the system or if a syrup delivery system runs out of product.
US07918366B2	Multiple drop weight printhead and methods of fabrication and use A printhead includes a chamber layer and at least two orifice layers. A first orifice layer is disposed on the chamber layer, and a second orifice layer is disposed on the first orifice layer. The second orifice layer has at least one counterbore formed therein. A first nozzle is formed through both orifice layers and produces droplets of a first drop weight. A second nozzle is formed through the first orifice layer, coincident with the counterbore, and produces droplets of a second drop weight that is different than the first drop weight. In one embodiment, the printhead is used in a stand-alone fluid-dispensing device.
US07918365B2	Bottle display and dispenser device and method A dispenser for storing and dispensing containers has a housing with an inlet opening for loading containers into the dispenser, and an outlet opening for dispensing containers. The dispenser has a passageway connecting the inlet opening to the outlet opening that includes at least one inclined ramp that the containers roll along. The dispenser has a loading mechanism positioned adjacent the inlet opening that is aligned relative to the passageway. The loading mechanism has a contact surface for receiving a container to be loaded into the passageway and maintains the container in a predetermined alignment with the passageway. Movement of the loading mechanism causes the contact surface to urge the container towards the passageway while substantially maintaining alignment of the container with the passageway.
US07918364B2	Disposable teacup shape paper cup holder A paper cup holder having a disposable teacup shape for a cup is provided. The paper cup holder includes inner and outer lining portions, finger portions, intermediate supporting portions, first and second half crossing cuts, and fastening portions. The inner lining portion wraps around the cup. The outer lining portion is provided around the inner lining portion, and the outer lining portion is configured to wrap around the inner lining portion so as to shield heat from the cup, and wherein the out lining portion comprises first and second edges. The finger hole portions accept one or two fingers. The intermediate supporting surface is provided between the finger hole portions.
US07918362B2	Transparent, portable secure container for consumer products not legally purchased by minors A transparent, portable secure container is configured to accommodate a standard retail package for a consumer product not legally purchased by minors. The container comprises a plurality of panels, a hinge and a lock. Some of the panels are joined to form the container, such that the container conforms to outside dimensions of the standard retail package. One of the panels is coupled to the container via the hinge to form a door. The lock secures the container by locking the door in a closed position. The panels are formed of a lightweight, durable structural material, such that the container is portable. At least one of the panels is transparent, such that the container provides an interior view when the door is in the closed position.
US07918361B2	Lid storage and washing container A device for containing plastic container lids for use in an automatic dishwasher or for storage. The device includes an open lattice structure having a top, bottom, back and side walls and a removable door. The lattice members preferably have convex outer surfaces and substantially planar interior surfaces and are configured to maximize water penetration into the device during a wash cycle. Longitudinally-oriented lattice members include projections and grooves that assist in retaining lids in position and maintaining separation between adjacent lids. Concentric circular members may be provided on the sides of the device.
US07918357B2	Media storage container A media storage container has a latch that is movable between latched, unlatched, and storage positions. The latch is disposed inside the outer periphery of the container when the latch is in the storage position. A method of using the container includes the steps of moving the latch to the storage position for shipping the container and moving the latch from the storage position to the open position while the container is loaded with media.
US07918354B2	Container lifter being able to lift two 40 feet containers The invention is a container lifter which is able to lift two 40 foot containers at a time. It includes two sets of the crane main lifting mechanisms with the wire rope winding systems being separate. Pulleys arranged at the crane upper frame cooperate with two lifting pulley groups arranged on the carrier. The first crane lifting mechanism and the second crane lifting mechanism are equipped with a barrel, a crane lifting mechanism motor, a brake and a crane lifting reduction gear box respectively The two sets of the crane lifting mechanisms are synchronously operated. By using the container lifter of the invention, the efficiency of the load and unload is increased, high repayment is obtained with less increasing the equipment cost, the larger beneficial result is occurred, also it has the wider applicable prospect.
US07918351B2	Quick-assembly shelf mechanism for optical media A point of purchase display structure (300) is described incorporating one or more shelves (132) for supporting items, wherein the display structure in a partially assembled configuration is a generally flat structure, and may be converted to a finished structure by movement of an inner slide (150) within an outer sleeve (100).
US07918347B2	Cleaning apparatus The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus (1) for removing solid matter from a liquid, especially for a coolant-lubricant circuit (35). Said cleaning apparatus (1) comprises a hollow cylindrical filter member (2) that separates a crude chamber (6) from a pure chamber (7), an inlet (8) which is located on the crude side and is connected to the crude chamber (6), an outlet (9) which is located on the pure side and is connected to the pure chamber (7), a backwashing device (10) for backwashing the filter member (2) segment by segment, and a discharge mechanism (12) for removing clean solid matter from the crude chamber (6). In order to make it easier to remove clean solid matter from the crude chamber (6), the filter member (2) surrounds the crude chamber (6) while the pure chamber (7) surrounds the filter member (2), and the discharge mechanism (12) is equipped with a screw conveyor (13) which feeds the clean solid matter to a discharge port (14).
US07918346B2	Vibrating screen tensioning apparatus and method A tensioning apparatus for tensioning a screen in a vibrating screen separator of the type having a box structure defined by two opposing spaced-apart upright side walls separated by at least one screen bed support structure. Included is an actuator support mounted to an exterior surface of a side wall of a box structure for pivotally securing the stationary end of an actuator thereto. The actuator includes a movable end that is cyclically movable from a first releasing position adjacent the sidewall, to a second engaging position, transversely spaced apart from the side wall, responsive to a track follower moving along a track inclined transversely to the side wall of the box. A clamp rail assembly is fixed to the movable end of the actuator to engage and tension a screen responsive to transverse movement of the movable end of the actuator.
US07918341B2	Wafer container with staggered wall structure A wafer container comprising a base and a cover that nest together. The base includes a staggered wall structure composed of inner and outer walls. The staggered wall structure is arranged so that forces from side impacts are absorbed principally by outer wall segments. A rib on the cover restrains the outer wall segments from flexing beyond the inner wall diameter. Reference tabs on the base facilitate alignment of the base to the cover.
US07918335B1	Electromagnetic shielding carrying case for contactless smartcards and personal articles An electromagnetic shielding carrying case comprising a substantially rigid first and second shielding member hingedly connected to one another and each having an inner and outer surface. Each shielding member comprises a card pocket assembly affixed to their respective inner surfaces into which a plurality of contactless smartcards or regular wallet-sized cards can be slidably inserted and removed. A paper currency pocket is disposed along the outer surfaces of first and second shielding members, and a releasable locking means keeps the first shielding member pivoted closed over top of the second shielding member so the case cannot accidentally open, and shields contactless smartcards contained inside the card pocket assemblies from being powered up by an RFID reader, while also preventing the cards from sliding out of the case.
US07918323B2	Magnetic resistor control assembly A magnetic resistor control assembly for a body training machine comprises a main shaft; a rotor, a stator, an adjusting unit, a sliding block set and a controller. An inner disk and an outer disk clamp of the stator clamping the adjusting unit. The sliding block set has guide tracks, an outer lateral wall of each guide track having a track trench. A lower middle portion of the sliding block set has a round hole; the roller being installed and rollable in the guide track; and the retaining rod of the roller is placed within the track trench. A controller is installed at an outer side of the stator; the controller having a transfer pin which displace in the straight grooves. When the transfer pin drives the sliding block set to move in the straight grooves, the gap between permanent magnets and the magnetic isolation ring is changed.
US07918321B2	Control system for elevators A control system for elevators is provided with a landing call registration device provided at each of landing floors so as to be operable thereat, a landing call automatic registration portion for setting that one of the landing floors at which the landing call registration device is operated as a car call floor and registering a car call to stop one of cars at the car call floor, a response selection portion for selecting that one of elevator apparatuses which responds to a registered car call as a selected elevator, a passenger traveling time period calculation portion for setting that one of elevator doorways of the selected elevator which is provided at the car call floor as a selected doorway and calculating a passenger traveling time period corresponding to the selected doorway, and an opening/closing control portion for controlling the opening/closing operation of the selected doorway based on information from the selected elevator and information from the passenger traveling time period calculation portion. When the selected doorway is already in a door-open state at the time of registration of the car call, the opening/closing control portion continues to hold the selected doorway in the door-open state until the passenger traveling time period elapses after registration of the car call.
US07918315B2	Differential transmission with cleaning feature A limited slip differential transmission of the closed type in which a pressurized lubricant is fed to the rotating gears and a series of limited slip clutch plates. The clutch plates are engaged by pressurized control fluid. A valve assembly having a spool valve is responsive to engagement pressure to permit discharge of a portion of pressurized fluid from the clutch plates to a sump chamber and the transmission to purge debris that may have accumulated in the clutch plates. The spool valve is arranged so that fluid is passed only during an intermediate movement of the valve to minimize any pressure loss from the lubricating fluid for the transmission and limited slip clutches.
US07918308B2	Sound and vibration transmission pad and system The present invention is directed to a pad and sound transmission system which is adapted to directly transmit audible sound waves into the body at high intensity levels. In one embodiment, the subject invention includes a back pad and a seat pad. Each pad includes a speaker module having an acoustic speaker disposed within the pad and surrounded by a plurality of different layers.
US07918307B2	Accelerated weight drop for use as a seismic energy source and a method of operation thereof The present invention provides an accelerated weight drop for use as a seismic energy source, a method for operating an accelerated weight drop for use as a seismic energy source, and a seismic survey system including the accelerated weight drop. The accelerated weight drop, among other elements, may include a striker positionable over a surface, a compressed gas spring configured to drive the striker toward the surface thus creating seismic waves within the surface, and a cushioning means positioned proximate the compressed gas spring for dissipating reflected energy. In this embodiment the striker is slidably coupled to the compressed gas spring.
US07918302B2	Seat apparatus A seat apparatus includes a seat adapted to be arranged on a floor of a vehicle, a motor driving the seat to move, and a control unit supplying electric power to the motor by controlling a duty ratio with duty cycle control. The control unit determines an initial start-up time in which the duty ratio is defined as a first duty ratio over a period between the time the motor is started up after being powered by the control unit and the time before the seat driven by the motor starts moving. The control unit reduces the duty ratio when the initial start-up time elapses and sets the duty ratio to a second duty ratio smaller than the first duty ratio when the seat starts moving.
US07918299B2	Rear suspension of snow vehicle A rear suspension of a snow vehicle is provided with a slide rail which guides a track belt. The slide rail is made of metal and formed by extrusion. A bent portion is provided on an end of the slide rail to extend to a tip end thereof with a position toward the end being a starting point of bending. A projection, to which one end side of a torque arm supporting a vehicle body is connected, is arranged toward the end of the slide rail so as to project upwards. The projection includes a bracket provided separately from the slide rail and the starting point of bending is positioned in a length range of the projection.
US07918298B2	Bi-directional ice-particle spray generating device for snow vehicles A bi-directional ice-particle spray generating device for use on snow vehicles is disclosed which is primarily constructed of multi-strand wire rope. The use of wire rope as a spring member allows for 360 degree flexibility to enable the design to be compatible with reverse-gear-equipped snow vehicles. A replaceable wear point or points is integral in the design for added durability.
US07918297B2	Body and front axle bearing for a motor vehicle A motor vehicle chassis and a water-cooled internal combustion engine attached thereto has a cooling system comprising coolant-conducting pipes least one radiator element, and a coolant pump produces forced flow in the cooling circuit. A portion of the cooling pipe system as a distributor pipe module is attached to the vehicle's axle support.
US07918291B2	Spring preloaded bearing assembly and well drilling equipment comprising same A well drilling head comprises a housing and a bearing assembly. The housing has a sidewall structure defining a central bore. The bearing assembly includes an outer barrel, an inner barrel, bearing units and a preload force exerting member. The outer barrel has a central bore and the inner barrel is removably seated within the housing central bore. The bearing units are coupled between the barrels for providing concentric alignment of the barrels and allowing rotation therebetween. A first one of the bearing units is configured for carrying loads exerted radially between the barrels and a second one of the bearing units is configured for carrying loads exerted longitudinally between the barrels. The preload force exerting member maintains force on the longitudinal load carrying bearing unit and said barrels thereby preloading the longitudinal load carrying bearing unit.
US07918289B2	Method of completing a well with sand screens A method for drilling and completing a wellbore that includes drilling a wellbore through a subterranean formation with a wellbore fluid, the wellbore fluid comprising: a base fluid; and micronized weighting agent; and disposing a sand screen in an interval of the wellbore with the wellbore fluid is disclosed.
US07918288B2	Drill bits with enclosed fluid slots and method Core drill bits with long crown heights are described herein. The core drill bits have a series of slots or openings that are not located at the tip of the crown and are therefore enclosed in the body of the crown. The slots may be staggered and/or stepped throughout the crown. As the cutting portion of the drill bit erodes through normal use, the fluid/debris notches at the tip of the bit are eliminated. As the erosion progresses, the slots become exposed and then they function as fluid/debris ways. This configuration allows the crown height to be extended and lengthened without substantially reducing the structural integrity of the drill bit.
US07918281B2	Method of treating flow conduits and vessels with foamed composition The annular surface between the tubing and casing of an oil or gas well as well as flow conduits and vessels may be contacted with a foamed treatment composition containing a gas, a foaming agent and a treatment agent. The treatment agent may be an inhibitor or removal agent for scales, corrosion, salts, paraffins or asphaltenes. The foam, upon destabilization, renders a thin film of concentrated treatment agent on the external surfaces of the tubing, inside the casing and in the perforations of the oil or gas well or on the flow conduits or vessels.
US07918276B2	System and method for creating a gravel pack A technique is provided for forming a gravel pack at a well zone. A completion assembly is positioned in a wellbore and cooperates with a service tool engaging the completion assembly. The completion assembly comprises a completion assembly central bore. A return is located radially outward of the central bore at a specific well zone or zones and comprises a flow path for returning a carrier fluid. The location of the return allows flow of the returning carrier fluid to remain outside of the completion assembly central bore at a specific well zone or zones.
US07918271B2	Method and apparatus to provide electrical connection in a wellhead for a downhole electrical device Wellhead assembly and method for providing a power connection to a downhole electrical device, such as a heater. Pressure-containing wellhead body members enclose a vertical wellbore and support therein an isolated tubing hanger and a grounding tubing hanger. The isolated tubing hanger suspends a conducting tubing string, while the grounding tubing hanger suspends a grounding tubing string concentrically spaced from the conducting tubing string. The isolated tubing hanger has an outer housing, an inner electrically conducting portion supported by the outer housing operative to provide electrical connection with, and suspend, the conducting tubing string, and insulation between the housing and conducting portion to electrically isolate the housing portion. Hot electrical connection is made for electrical connection to the conducting portion of the isolated tubing hanger or the conducting tubing string. Electrical isolation seals and electrically isolates the hot electrical connection from the wellhead body members. Grounding connection is provided to a wellhead body member. A source of current provides a first connection to the hot electrical connection and a second connection to the grounding connection.
US07918266B2	Heat exchanger An evaporator 1 includes a refrigerant inlet header section 5 and a refrigerant outlet header section 6 which are arranged in the front-rear direction, a refrigerant circulation passage for establishing fluid communication between the header sections 5 and 6. First ends of the header sections 5 and 6 are closed with a first cap 19 and the second ends thereof are closed with a second cap 18. A refrigerant inlet 37 and a refrigerant outlet are formed in the first cap 19. A pipe joint member 21, having a refrigerant inflow port 45 communicating with the refrigerant inlet 37 and a refrigerant outflow port 46 communicating with the refrigerant outlet 38, is joined to the first cap 19. Mating concave portions 19a and 19b are formed on the first cap 19. Mating convex portions 21a and 21b which project toward the first cap 19 and which are to be fitted into the mating concave portions 19a and 19b, respectively, are formed on the pipe joint member 21. The second cap 18 has no mating concave portions into which the mating convex portions 21a, 21b are fitted. The evaporator (1) to which the heat exchanger of the present invention is applied can prevent erroneous attachment of the pipe joint member during manufacture thereof.
US07918254B2	Method and apparatus for creating designs on surfaces A method for creating a design on a surface comprising providing a template to overlay the surface upon which the design is to be created, forming a pattern of the design on the template for the design which is to be created on the surface, placing the template with the pattern of the design thereon on the surface, with a tool, tracing the pattern of the design on the template to form an impression on the surface below the template and removing the template leaving the impression of the design on the surface.
US07918253B2	Veneer slicer A method and apparatus for converting a flitch into sheets of veneer. The method and apparatus include providing a drive mechanism which causes relative motion of a knife in contact with the flitch. The relative motion is relatively slower during one part of the cutting stroke and is relatively faster during another part of the cutting stroke.
US07918247B2	Garden hose with backbone An improved garden hose including an elongated generally cylindrical inner core being made of a first material, the inner core having an integrally formed backbone being made of a second material. The second material has a higher durometer than the first material.
US07918244B2	Microfluidic bubble logic devices Fluid-based no-moving part logic devices are constructed from complex sequences of micro- and nanofluidic channels, on-demand bubble/droplet modulators and generators for programming the devices, and micro- and nanofluidic droplet/bubble memory elements for storage and retrieval of biological or chemical elements. The input sequence of bubbles/droplets encodes information, with the output being another sequence of bubbles/droplets or on-chip chemical synthesis. For performing a set of reactions/tasks or process control, the modulators can be used to program the device by producing a precisely timed sequence of bubbles/droplets, resulting in a cascade of logic operations within the micro- or nanofluidic channel sequence, utilizing the generated droplets/bubbles as a control. The devices are based on the principle of minimum energy interfaces formed between the two fluid phases enclosed inside precise channel geometries. Various devices, including logic gates, non-volatile bistable memory, ring oscillators, bubble synchronizers, analysis chips, and printers have been designed.
US07918242B2	Processing solution supply system, processing solution supply method and recording medium for storing processing solution supply control program A processing solution pressurized at a constant pressure is supplied to improve processing accuracy. A controller receives a pressure signal indicating a measured pressure exerted on a processing solution from a pressure sensor, and controls an electropneumatic regulator on the basis of the pressure signal so that pressure on the discharge side of the electropneumatic regulator is constant. The controller decides whether the processing solution contained in a processing solution tank has been depleted on the basis of a difference between a desired pressure and the pressure measured by the pressure sensor, and switches pressurizing shut-off valves accordingly.
US07918238B2	Flow controller and its regulation method A mass flow controller arranged to perform mass flow test operation in the controller itself by incorporating a test tank. The mass flow controller is provided, in a channel (6) for feeding fluid, with a means (8) for detecting the mass flow rate of fluid flowing through the channel and outputting a flow rate signal, and a mechanism (10) for controlling the mass flow rate by varying the valve opening by a valve drive signal.
US07918231B2	Tobacco articles and methods Some embodiments of a tobacco article may include tobacco disposed in a porous matrix. The tobacco article may provide tobacco, tobacco constituents, or both tobacco and tobacco constituents to the consumer's mouth in the form of particles, liquid, or vapor so as to provide tobacco satisfaction to the consumer. In some circumstances, the tobacco may be integrally molded with a plastic material so that at least a portion of the tobacco is disposed in pores of the matrix.
US07918229B2	Method and device to inactivate and kill cells and organisms that are undesirable A method, means, and apparatus to prevent and treat infections and disorders using germicidal light to inactivate and/or kill the organisms or cells that cause infections and other disorders. The method of treatment comprises irradiating the area to be treated using electromagnetic radiation of a germicidal nature. The method utilizes a previously unrecognized ability of germicidal light to penetrate the skin, nails, and other membranes sufficiently to successfully treat and prevent disorders. The electromagnetic radiation damages the organisms and cells that cause disorders such as skin and nail infections and renders them substantially incapable of reproducing. Without the ability to replicate the organism cannot continue to infest the skin and nails. The damage inflicted can also be sufficient to kill the organism outright. An infection is thereby prevented (if organisms are present, but infection has not yet begun), and the infection is cured if the infection already exists.
US07918228B2	Musculoskeletal repositioning device Musculoskeletal repositioning devices are described. The devices are worn in the mouth and cause the lower jaw of the wearer to move into an active optimal position that relieves stress on the temporomandibular joint, causing increased muscular strength and decreased muscular tension. The devices have ramps on their upper surfaces which contact the upper posterior teeth and lingual anatomy and cause the jaw to reposition from a passive bite position to an active optimal bite position. A casting device for forming a musculoskeletal repositioning device and a method for using the casting device are also described.
US07918226B2	Method and system for detecting breathing tube occlusion A method for identifying an occlusion in a breathing tube of a ventilator system is disclosed herein. The method includes obtaining data related to a respiratory signal, transferring the data to a processor, and implementing the processor to evaluate the data in a manner adapted to automatically identify the presence of an occlusion in the breathing tube. A corresponding ventilator system is also disclosed.
US07918224B2	Breathing air filtration system A nasal air filtration device includes a pair of either planar or concave-convex filters, a support structure incorporating a pair of generally annular bases or sleeves for supporting the filters, and a bridge that couples the bases or sleeves to maintain them in a desired spaced-apart relation and to determine a desired angular relationship. The support structure is insertable into the nasal cavities to position the filters within corresponding nasal cavities. Flexible rims maintain the support structure and the filters in spaced-apart relation to the surrounding nasal wall. The rims conform to surrounding nasal tissue to form seals. The rims can be selectively inclined to facilitate insertion and resist accidental removal. In certain embodiments the device is combined with a filter that covers the mouth to provide an air filtration system.
US07918217B2	Exhaust gas check valve Exhaust gas check valve with a movable valve element held by a plurality of return springs, an exhaust gas through-opening closable by the valve element, and a stop element delimiting the stroke of the valve element; in order to improve the service life of the check valve, damping means are provided in the check valve for bringing about a comparatively gentle breaking of the valve element when at the end of its stroke it approaches that position in which the check valve is fully open, the damping means comprising spring elements holding the stop element, and/or a gas space which, when the check valve is open, is defined and at least almost closed by the valve element and the stop element.
US07918216B2	Exhaust gas recirculation device The invention relates to an exhaust gas recirculation device (5) for an internal combustion engine (1), especially in a motor vehicle, said device comprising an exhaust gas recirculation line (6) and an exhaust gas cooler (7) which is built into the exhaust gas recirculation line (6) and connected to a cooling circuit (8) operating by means of a liquid coolant. The exhaust gas recirculation cooler (7) comprises a cooler housing (9) which comprises at least one exhaust gas inlet (10), an exhaust gas outlet (11), a coolant inlet (12) and a coolant outlet (13), and through which a coolant flows. In order to be able to improve the adjustment of the cooling power, the exhaust gas recirculation cooler (7) contains, in the cooler housing (9) thereof, a first cooling tube arrangement (14) and a second cooling tube arrangement (15) which enables a larger heating flow between the exhaust gas and the coolant than the first cooling tube arrangement (14).
US07918208B2	Fuel supply apparatus A movable portion is movable from a closed position, in which the movable portion is in contact with a valve element, to an opened position so as to supply fuel from a fuel portion to a compression chamber through a fuel passage. A drive control unit supplies of a small driving current, which is sufficient to maintain the movable portion at the closed position, to a coil portion so as to move the movable portion from the opened position to the closed position. The drive control unit switches the supply of the small driving current to supply of the large driving current in the course of the movement of the movable portion to the closed position by supplying the small driving current.
US07918206B2	Device for reducing soot emissions in a vehicle combustion engine An internal combustion engine includes a combustion chamber, at least one intake port for directing intake air into the combustion chamber with no/low swirling; a piston with piston bowl, an injector with plurality of orifices arranged to inject fuel with high injection pressure to form spray plumes, each of the plurality of orifices having a central axis oriented at a positive spray angle sufficient to cause the spray/flame to impinge on a piston outer bowl section and a curvilinear shape of the outer bowl section is such that a reflection angle of the impingement of the central axis is positive during at least start of injection in order to increase balance between vertical upwardly directed and tangential movements of the spray/flame and to preserve mixing energy late in the combustion cycle for increased soot oxidation.
US07918204B2	Mounting bracket In one implementation, a bracket includes a body having a first connection feature and a second connection feature each adapted to retain a separate portion of a component. The first connection feature is rotationally misaligned relative to the second connection feature so that a portion of the component is received in a first direction in the first opening and then the component is moved in a second direction to receive another portion in the second opening. In one form, the connection features include openings that are arranged such that one portion of the component is first slidably received in the first opening, and then the component is rotated generally about the portion received in the first opening so that another portion of the component can be received in the second opening.
US07918203B2	Motor oil heating system, product and method A motor oil heating system for a vehicle comprising one or more solar panels comprised of one or more photovoltaic cells; one or more heaters thermally coupled to the motor oil, wherein the solar panels are electrically coupled to the heaters and power the heaters based on a voltage generated by the solar panel such that the heaters warm the engine oil.
US07918201B2	Variable valve mechanism for engine A variable valve mechanism for an engine includes: a rocker shaft; a first rocker arm rotatably supported by the rocker shaft, for transmitting displacement of a first cam to a valve; a second rocker arm rotatably supported by the rocker shaft, for transmitting a displacement of a second cam to the valve; and a switching mechanism for switching a transmitting state and a non-transmitting state. The first rocker arm has a pair of first arm portions and a recess portion in which an upper end of the valve is inserted at an end portion of each of the first arm portions. The second rocker arm has a second arm portion disposed between the first arm portions. The first rocker arm is restricted from movement in an axis direction of the rocker shaft when an inner sidewall of the recess portion is in contact with the upper end of the valve. The second rocker arm is restricted from movement in the axis direction when the second arm portion is in contact with the first rocker arm.
US07918200B2	Sheet steel rocker arm A rocker arm (1) made of thin-walled sheet steel which rocker arm is intended for a suspended arrangement together with other like rocker arms under a girder-like carrier (2) of a valve train of an internal combustion engine, the rocker arm having an inverted U-shaped profile, a support (7) for a gas exchange valve is formed on one end (6) of an underside (5) of a crossbar (4) of the rocker arm, an upper side (9) of the crossbar (4) is stamped in the region of the support (7) by a stamping and extrusion molding method toward the underside (5), so that an M-like cross-section with a longitudinal channel (10) formed on the upper side (9) is obtained and at its other end (11), the rocker arm (1) has a fork-shaped, open configuration and merges into a region (12) which is angularly bent towards the underside (5) and on which a roller (13) forming a cam contacting surface is arranged, said rocker arm (1) of this type possesses, among other things, an excellent stiffness, is simple to manufacture and has a small design height requirement.
US07918196B2	Vertical type engine A vertical type engine includes: an engine body having a crank chamber and a cylinder bore; and a timing transmission chamber provided above the engine body and housing a timing transmission device that connects between a crankshaft and a cam shaft which are vertically placed, respectively, wherein a generator driven by the crankshaft is placed above the timing transmission device, and a breather chamber communicating with the crank chamber and an intake silencer box is provided between the generator and the crank chamber placed below the generator on the side opposite from the cam shaft with respect to the crankshaft. Hence, a vertical type engine that includes a breather chamber dedicated for gas-liquid separation and is compact can be achieved.
US07918194B2	Cooling device for vehicle A cooling device for a vehicle is provided at a vehicle comprising an engine control unit which stops an engine due to establishment of engine stoppage conditions and restarts the engine due to establishment of engine restart conditions. The cooling device for a vehicle is able to cool a coolant within a heat exchanger for cooling by cooling wind, which is guided from an exterior of the vehicle, passing through the heat exchanger for cooling. Cooling by driving force of either one of an electric motor or the engine can be selected in accordance with preset conditions.
US07918189B2	Cattle handling system and method of installing same A cattle handling system comprises a plurality of stall dividers positioned side by side and extending generally parallel to each other. Brackets for mounting the stall dividers are connected directly to a concrete slab and allow for connection of the stall dividers to the brackets in a one man operation without the need for embedding vertical members in the slab. The position of the brackets are located on the concrete slab by use of a mounting jig. The brackets may have a vertical adjustment allowing for an increase or decrease in the working height of the stall dividers.
US07918185B2	Animal-herd management using distributed sensor networks Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a herd of animals. Each of multiple sensors are attached to one of the animals and is in peer-to-peer communication with another of the sensors to define a dynamically network arrangement of sensors. A base station is in communication with at least one of the sensors to access the networked arrangement of sensors. A central system is in communication with the base station and has instructions to monitor a position of the herd with data collected by the sensors.
US07918184B2	Liquid reservoir and bird feeder incorporating the same A bird feeder generally in the form of hopper feeder (10) that is coupled with water reservoir (40). The hopper feeder (10) generally includes pole mount (12), hanger (14), seed silo (16), which is seated on platform (18), perches (19), roof (20), and lid (22). Silo (16) receives and holds bird seed, which is dispensed to the birds by way of feeding stations, such as feeding stations (24). Birds may alight on platform (18) adjacent to feeding stations (24) to feed on perches (19). Hopper (10) further provides drinking water to visiting birds, which is dispensed by water reservoir (40).
US07918177B2	Boat docking apparatus A boat docking unit for small boats secures a boat to a dock structure without use of ropes, anchors or fenders. The unit has a pair of docking arms each having an elongated tubular housing, a telescoping member capable of telescoping movement within the housing. A pair of compression springs mounted in the housing in contact with the telescoping member dampens the wave force so as to restrict yaw of the boat docked at the pier. The docking arms pivotally secure the boat to the dock structure allowing a limited pitch motion of the boat.
US07918171B2	Threading device of sewing machine A threading device of a sewing machine is provided. The threading device includes a threading hook which moves forward to enter an eye of a needle to catch a needle thread, and moves rearward with the needle thread being caught to insert the needle thread through the eye, a threading shaft which holds the threading hook, an operating member which is operated to move the threading shaft, a threading operation mechanism which transmits the movement of the threading shaft to the threading hook to move the threading hook back and forth, and a restricting device which makes the threading operation mechanism inoperable when the spreader mechanism is attached to the sewing machine main body, and makes the threading operation mechanism operable when the spreader mechanism is detached from the sewing machine main body.
US07918170B2	Servo driven quilter A quilting machine has at least one needle and looper set for forming chain-stitched patterns on a thick multilayered material such as a mattress ticking, preferably a panel of the continuous web clamped stationary on a frame. The stitch forming elements are mounted on separate heads that move independently transversely relative to the panel on a bridge that moves longitudinally relative to the panel. The bridge is longitudinally moved by a servo and the heads are transversely moved on the bridge by separate linear servos. The needle and looper are each driven by a linear servo having an armature to which the element is directly fixed to reciprocate without intervening mechanical linkage assemblies. A controller drives the servos to chain-stitch patterns, differentially move the heads transversely to account for transverse needle deflection and to phase the needle and looper to compensate for longitudinal needle deflection. The controller determines or predicts needle deflection, either based on stored empirically determined data or optical sensing, and generates deflection compensation signals to drive the servos.
US07918169B2	Magnetic fabric retaining device A device for use with an embroidery machine to hold an item or material to be embroidered between upper and lower hooping members, with the hooping members being secured to one another by use of a magnetic force, preferably with rare earth magnets, is disclosed. The magnets provide a solid, secure mating arrangement between the upper and lower hooping members as well as providing proper alignment of the hooping members. A ridge may be formed in at least one hooping member to securely retain the item or material to be embroidered. One hooping member has interchangeable arms for attaching the mating hooping members to different brands of embroidery machines.
US07918167B2	Extremely rapid reversible barrier and formation method Barriers and methods of obstructing apertures. One embodiment provides a temporary barrier that includes a bag, a fluid source, and a shear thickening fluid. The bag is made of fabric and can expand (e.g. inflate) via the fluid source which is in communication with the bag. The shear thickening fluid permeates the fabric of the bag and has two states. In the first state the shear thickening fluid allows the fabric to be flexible. In the second state the shear thickening fluid causes the fabric to be inflexible. To cause the shear thickening fluid to transition to the second state a shear must be present in the shear thickening fluid. A material that is capable of reacting to form a gas may be in communication with the fluid source to provide a gas to expand the bag. A deflation valve may also be included in the barrier.
US07918161B2	Printing unit having a tubular blanket-changing throw-off configuration allowing the passage of a web of paper and corresponding printing press A printing unit for printing a web of paper is provided. The printing unit includes a frame and an upper printing group and a lower printing group. The printing unit has at least one throw-on configuration and a blanket-changing throw-off configuration. The blanket cylinders are capable of each receiving at least one tubular blanket. The frame has, in at least one lateral wall, at least one opening to allow the passage of the tubular blankets. In the blanket-changing throw-off configuration, the blanket cylinder of the upper printing group has been moved upwards relative to the position which it occupies in the throw-on configuration and the blanket cylinder of the lower printing group has been moved downwards relative to the position which it occupies in the throw-on configuration, so that an adequate space is provided between the blanket cylinders to allow a web of paper printed by another printing unit to pass between them.
US07918156B2	Cold beverage dispenser The invention presents a cold beverage dispenser which uses a heat exchanger to cool incoming water with a very cold closed loop of chilled coolant. Under control of a control system, the cooled water from the heat exchanger is mixed with uncooled in put water to regulate its temperature, then (if desired) carbonated. The regulated temperature water, optionally carbonated, is mixed with a liquid concentrate and dispensed at one or more dispensing stations. Preferably, the temperature, carbonation and strength of the dispensed beverage is controllable by the consumer.
US07918154B2	Pressure booster In a pressure booster having a cylinder mechanism, a floating mechanism is disposed between pistons and a piston rod, the floating mechanism being capable of absorbing offset (off centered) loads that are imposed on the pistons from the piston rod. The floating mechanism is constituted from swing bolts connected to both ends of the piston rod, support plates mounted onto end surfaces of the pistons and which swingably support the swing bolts therein, and fixing plates disposed between the ends of the piston rod and the support plates.
US07918149B1	Machine slide tool assembly and a drive mechanism therefor A machine slide tool assembly and a drive mechanism that includes a slide plate slideably mounted on guide members connected between opposed end supports and which slide plate is reciprocally driven by a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a piston and cylinder arrangement disposed between the opposed end supports wherein a piston is displaceable within the cylinder by fluid pressure alternatively acting on the opposed ends of the piston, and which piston includes a gear wheel rotatably journaled thereto which is disposed in meshing relationship with a gear rack connected to the slide plate whereby the reciprocating motion of the piston is transmitted to the slide plate for enhancing the linear displacement of the slide plate relative to the linear displacement of the piston within its cylinder.
US07918148B2	Wire stripping knife A wire stripping knife comprises a handle having one end provided with a hanging portion to be hung to a desired position, and the other end fixed with a blade. The end of the handle, which is fixed with the blade, is pivoted with a clamping member. One end of the clamping member, which is adjacent to the blade, is provided with different-sized stripping notches. The handle and the clamping member each are provided with engaging portions for mutual engagement. The distal end of the blade is formed with a cutting surface vertical to the cutting edge for cooperating with a guiding plate at one end of the clamping member to strip off the insulation more quickly with high safety.
US07918147B2	Removal device for pour top spouts A removal device for removing an internal seal from a pour top spout, which includes a body having a curved central portion disposed between a first end portion and a second end portion that forms an included angle of less then one hundred and eighty degrees therebetween. At least a portion of the body has a cross section substantially formed in a shape of a closed plane curve and the outer surface of the body is dimensioned to fit within the opening of the ring of the internal seal of the pour top spout along the entire length of the body.
US07918146B2	Multi-path rotary wing aircraft gearbox A multi-path split torque gearbox system provides a multiple of three stage torque split power gear trains modules that each transmits torque from a high-speed engine to a main rotor shaft (36). The first stage bevel gear arrangement (30,32) provides a compact packaging arrangement that facilitates various engine mounting locations in all axes. At the second stage, quill shaft assemblies (40) provide equal load balance. At the third stage, each quill shaft assembly includes a multiple of pinion gears (48) in meshing engagement with the final output gear (28). Each torque split modules transfer the power from the high speed input shaft into a multiple of meshing engagements with the final output gear to provide significant torque transfer desired in a single rotor heavy lift rotary wing aircraft embodiment within a compact housing package.
US07918145B1	Combination shift and brake lever arrangement for a bicycle A combination shift and brake lever arrangement for a bicycle, includes a single lever. A braking arrangement mounts the single lever for movement in a first pivoting direction to perform a braking operation, and a first shifting arrangement mounts the single lever for movement in a second different pivoting direction. A shift control mechanism controls shifting of gears of the bicycle in a first shifting direction upon movement of the single lever in the second pivoting direction. A second shifting arrangement mounts at least a portion of a reverse shifting lever for linear movement in a first linear direction. A reverse control changes over the shift control mechanism to control shifting of the gears of the bicycle in a second opposite shifting direction upon linear movement of the at least a portion of the reverse shifting lever in the first linear direction.
US07918143B2	Platform balance The present disclosure is directed to a platform balance that is suitable for transmitting forces and moments in a plurality of directions. The platform balance is adapted to support a test specimen, such as a large vehicle, in a test environment such as a wind tunnel. The platform balance includes a frame support and at least three spaced-apart transducers coupled to the frame support. Each of the transducers is sensitive about two orthogonal sensed axes. The transducers cooperate to provide signals indicative of forces and moments with respect to at least two orthogonal axes. Each transducer includes a transducer body having a support coupled to a sensor body along an axis of compliance. The sensor body is adapted to deflect about the two orthogonal sensed axes where the sensed axes are mutually orthogonal to the axis of compliance.
US07918137B2	Method for temperature compensation of a piezoresistive gaged metal diaphragm There is described a temperature compensation scheme for a pressure sensitive metal diaphragm transducer. The transducer employs a Wheatstone bridge fabricated from p-type piezoresistors. The Wheatstone bridge is glassed directly onto the metal diaphragm. As the temperature of operation increases, the diaphragm exhibits a temperature variation of the Modulus of Elasticity. The Modulus of the metal diaphragm decreases with increasing temperature. Because of this, the same pressure applied to the metal diaphragm causes it to deflect further, which in turns causes increased strain applied to the bridge. Because of this effect, the sensitivity of the transducer increases with increasing temperature. A resistor is now placed in series with the Wheatstone bridge. The resistor is in series with the biasing voltage and because the TCS of the diaphragm is of an opposite sign, the series resistor has an even higher TCR in series with the bridge. In this manner, the bridge voltage is made to decrease with increasing temperature. Due to the fact that the bridge voltage decreases with increasing temperature the change in voltage compensates for the change in the Modulus of the metal diaphragm and therefore provides an accurate output at all temperatures.
US07918129B2	Diagnostic systems for cooling systems for internal combustion engines A control system for an engine system includes a temperature sensor and a diagnostic module. The temperature sensor measures an outlet temperature at an outlet of a cooling system. The diagnostic module estimates the cooling fluid temperature, determines the cooling performance based on the outlet temperature and the cooling fluid temperature, and selectively diagnoses a fault in the cooling system based on the cooling performance and a predetermined threshold.
US07918128B2	Fuel injector with electric shield A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is provided. The fuel injector is equipped with a fuel pressure sensor, a sensor circuit such as an amplifier, and a valve actuator such as a piezoelectric actuator. The fuel injector also includes a conductive shield which is disposed between the sensor circuit and actuator drive terminals to supply electric power to the actuator and works to shield the sensor circuit from electric noises arising from the drive terminals, thereby minimizing the addition of the noises to an output of the fuel pressure sensor, as being processed in the sensor circuit, and ensuring the accuracy in determining the pressure of fuel based on the output of the fuel pressure sensor.
US07918127B2	Test method for the determination of an oil separation tendency of lubricating greases and test device for carrying out the same The invention relates to a test method and a test device for the determination of an oil separation tendency of lubricating greases under pressure load. In the method, a predetermined test pressure is applied to a test volume (2) filled with lubricating grease (27) over a predetermined test period (32), the lubricating grease (27) of the test volume (2) is contacted with an oil absorption or oil separation element (11), and the change of the test volume (2) is detected on the basis of an absorption or separation of oil (29) separated from the lubricating grease (27) by the oil absorption or oil separation element (11) at the end of the test period (32). To be able to estimate the oil separation tendency of lubricating grease more exactly, in the method according to the invention, the time history of the change of the test volume (2) representative of the oil separation is detected over the test period (32).
US07918125B2	Methods and devices to test diffusion rates of ocular drug delivery systems Methods of detecting the discharge and uptake rates of ophthalmic lenses containing pharmaceutical agents are disclosed herein.
US07918120B2	Die cushion control device A die cushion controller controls an ascending/descending speed of a die cushion pad based on a preset pressure pattern and positional pattern. A position/pressure control switching unit constantly monitors and compares a first speed command signal υpc corresponding to a pressure deviation signal ep and a second speed command signal υhc corresponding to a position deviation signal eh, and selects a smaller one of the speed command signals to be sent to a speed control unit.
US07918118B2	Method of using an electromagnetic forming machine to hem a plurality of panels to form a panel assembly A method of using an electromagnetic forming machine to hem a panel assembly includes providing an inner panel and an outer panel. The outer panel has a plurality of flanges and a plurality of relief areas. An electric forming machine is provided having a coil for discharging electric energy to generate a magnetic field. The inner panel is positioned such that portions of the outer edge of the inner panel are aligned with the flanges of the outer panel to form a loose assembly of panels. The loose assembly of panels is positioned proximate the electromagnetic forming machine such that the coil surrounds the flanges and is disposed substantially coplanar with a plane formed by the relief areas. The electromagnetic forming machine is activated to generate a magnetic field causing the flanges to bend over.
US07918117B2	Fastener shield device for locks A lock assembly including a housing, a fastener that has a head, a lock member that is movable between a first position and a second position, and a barrier that is movably disposed within the housing. The barrier is displaceable between a first position at which the barrier at least partially covers the fastener head, and a second position at which the fastener head is generally accessible. The barrier is coupled with the lock member such that the barrier displaces from the barrier first and second positions when the lock member displaces between the lock member first and second positions.
US07918116B2	Deadbolt lock knob restrictor A deadbolt knob restrictor used to prevent the rotation of the inside knob on the deadbolt lock. The restrictor includes a ring member designed to fit between the cover plate located on the inside surface of the door. Attached to the ring member are two perpendicularly aligned support arms with a pin-style hinge formed on their distal ends. Attached to the hinge is an L-shaped latch. Formed on the latch is a cam surface which presses against a spring loaded piston disposed between the cam surface and the support arm. The latch includes a long leg that may be disposed transversely over the ring member, and a short leg that may be placed adjacent to the wide surface of the deadbolt lock's turn knob to prevent its rotation. During assembly, the ring member is placed under the locks inside cover plate. During use the piston forcibly holds the latch in a locked or unlocked position against the turn knob. The latch may be rotated in the opposite direction so that the turn knob is free to rotate to the unlock position.
US07918106B2	Refrigeration system A refrigerant circuit (15) is provided with a low-pressure stage oil separator (26) for separating refrigerating machine oil out of refrigerant discharged from a low-pressure stage compressor (21) and returning it to the suction side of the low-pressure stage compressor (21), and a high-pressure stage oil separator (36) for separating refrigerating machine oil out of refrigerant discharged from a high-pressure stage compressor (31) and returning it to the suction side of the high-pressure stage compressor (31). The efficiency of oil separation of the low-pressure stage oil separator (26) is set lower than that of the high-pressure stage oil separator (36).
US07918105B2	Ice making device and refrigerator having the same An ice making device that is capable of more easily and conveniently separating ice from ice trays through a simple manipulation and a refrigerator having the same are disclosed. The ice making device includes a support frame for rotatably supporting at least one ice tray, at least one manipulation button mounted to the support frame such that the manipulation button can be moved forward and backward, and an interlocking unit for rotating the ice tray with respect to the support frame according to the movement of the manipulation button.
US07918103B1	Air flow comfort system This is a device to provide airflow comfort to an individual while sleeping. It will be comprised in part by air flow that is provided by a fan. The air flow may be cooled. The air that is provided escapes through a series of holes on the top of the device.
US07918101B2	Outdoor unit of air conditioner A front panel constituted by a synthetic resin molded product is used with respect to a base panel, side panels, and a top panel which are formed of a metal, first retaining means for the side panels and second retaining means for the top panel are provided on the front panel to effect fixation.
US07918100B2	Vehicular HVAC control systems and methods Method for controlling a HVAC system in a vehicular compartment includes monitoring temperature of an occupant in the compartment from a location apart from the occupant, and controlling the HVAC system based on the monitored temperature. Occupant temperature may be monitored by infrared sensors, each arranged in an orientation to receive electromagnetic radiation from one or more seating locations in which occupants are likely to be situated. The temperature in each seating location is independently monitored. The HVAC system is controllable for each seating location based on the monitored temperature in that area. When monitoring of temperature in an area in which a driver of the vehicle is likely to be situated indicates presence of the driver, and no other areas indicate presence of a human occupant, the HVAC system is controllable such that all heat or air-conditioning provided by the HVAC system is directed to the driver.
US07918096B2	Refrigeration system In a refrigerant circuit (11), a compressor (20) and an expander (30) are provided separately. An expander casing (34) is connected to a delivery pipe (26) of the compressor (20) and high pressure refrigerant passes through the inside of the expander casing (34). Therefore, the compressor casing (24) and the expander casing (34) are equalized in their internal pressure. An oil distribution pipe (41) for connection of an oil sump (27) of the compressor (20) and an oil sump (37) of the expander (30) is provided with an oil regulating valve (52). The oil regulating valve (52) is controlled in response to a signal outputted from an oil level sensor (51). When the oil regulating valve (52) is opened, the oil sump (27) within the compressor casing (24) and the oil sump (37) within the expander casing (34) fluidly communicate with each other whereby refrigeration oil travels through the oil distribution pipe (41).
US07918093B2	Mobile unit for cryogenic treatment According to various embodiments, a portable cryogenic treatment system comprises a transportable housing. The transportable housing comprises a plurality of side walls, a front wall, a rear wall, a ceiling and a floor. The transportable housing includes a cryogenic liquid source and a cryogenic treatment chamber in fluid communication with the cryogenic liquid source. The cryogenic treatment chamber is configured to treat a treat able object using a cryogenic liquid.
US07918090B2	Method and apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine In a control device for an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger with a variable turbo flow rate, and an intake valve provided with a variable valve mechanism, mirror cycle operation is performed. The control device includes a device which calculates an intake air quantity per unit time and an intake air quantity per cycle on the basis of torque required to the internal combustion engine. The turbocharger is controlled so that, with the calculated intake air quantity per unit time, supercharging pressure is further increased in a range in which the ratio of exhaust pressure to supercharging pressure is equal to or less than a predetermined value. A further device, which controls the variable valve mechanism on the basis of the supercharging pressure and the calculated intake air quantity per cycle.
US07918087B1	System for relocating and converting potential energy of water without dams A water energy conversion system for convening the potential energy of water to electrical or mechanical energy, takes water at an inlet (105) from a higher elevation source, through a conduit (110) to a lower location. Then a riser (120) conveys the water up to nearly the same elevation it had at the inlet. The riser acts as a “virtual dam”, delivering the water with nearly the same head as a dam. The water from the riser is delivered to an energy converter (100) which comprises a loop raceway (130) which constrains and guides a plurality of carriage and disc assemblies (135) connected in a continuous train by links (155). An inlet (125) at the top of the energy converter receives the water where it falls downward through a jacket (140) that is constrained by the raceway (140).
US07918086B2	System and method for determining a NOx storage capacity of catalytic device Performance characteristics of a catalytic device are determined based on a particle size of a particulate component of the catalytic device. In this way, aging of a catalytic device can be accounted for in the calculation of performance characteristics.
US07918083B2	Method of controlling air intake flow of an internal combustion engine, in particular for regenerating a nitric oxide adsorber There is described a method of controlling air intake flow of an internal combustion engine (1), the method including the steps of calculating a reference airflow (AREF) as the sum of a feed-forward contribution (AFF), calculated as a function of the reference air/fuel ratio ((A/F)REF) to be obtained in the combustion chamber, and a feed-back contribution (AFB), calculated as a function of the oxygen concentration (% O2) of the exhaust gas; and closed-loop controlling the air intake flow of the engine so that it equals the reference airflow (AREF).
US07918082B2	Method and device intended for desulfation of a nitric oxide trap and regeneration of a particle filter A method is intended for desulfation of a nitric oxide trap (22) and regeneration of a particle filter (24) arranged in an exhaust line (20) for treating exhaust gas from an internal-combustion engine (10), notably a Diesel engine. The saturation rate of the trap and the clogging rate of the filter are evaluated and, as soon as one of the rates reaches a threshold value, the fuel/air ratio of the exhaust gas is increased without it reaching a fuel/air ratio of 1, then desulfation of trap (22) is performed in association with regeneration of particle filter (24).
US07918080B2	Steerable multi-linked device having a modular link assembly A steerable multi-linked device. The device includes a first multi-linked mechanism and a second multi-linked mechanism. At least one of the first and second multi-linked mechanisms is steerable and includes a modular link assembly at an end thereof. The modular link assembly includes a base, and a tip removably connected to the base.
US07918073B2	Floral easel The present invention relates to an erectable and/or collapsible floral easel for holding a floral object, and more particularly but not by way of limitation, to an erectable or collapsible floral easel for holding a floral object. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a floral easel for holding and/or supporting a floral object. In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to methods of shipping a floral easel, methods of using a floral easel, methods of storing a floral easel, and methods of placing a floral object on a floral easel.
US07918071B2	Seal integrity for mailpiece envelopes A method, system and article for producing an envelope having improved seal integrity. A method includes the steps of: disposing at least one material at the interface of the adhesive seal between the flap and the body portion of the envelope, which material radiates thermal energy when combined with an activating agent. The envelope is then sealed by closing the flap onto the body portion of the envelope and combining the material with the activating agent at the sealing interface so as to change the thermal energy radiated therefrom. The seal is then inspected to determine whether the thermal energy radiated from the activated material has changed thereby confirming that a seal has been produced between the flap and body portion of the envelope. The system and article are directed to the various modules of a mailpiece fabrication system employed to produce the mailpiece including an inspection module for confirming that a seal has been formed.
US07918069B2	Baler with wrapping arrangement for enveloping a bale with an enveloping material Providing in conjunction with a large round baler is a wrapping arrangement for enveloping a large round bale with an enveloping material. The wrapping arrangement includes a propulsion element, preferably a propulsion roll, that withdraws the enveloping material from a supply, preferably in the form of a roll, and a clutch arrangement effectively connected to the propulsion element. The clutch arrangement is arranged to maintain the force acting upon the enveloping material generally at a constant level once the enveloping material is grasped by the bale during the wrapping process.
US07918067B2	Grating system with enhanced see-through characteristics A grating system provides enhanced see through characteristics and typically includes longitudinal deep bars, axial crossbars, axial filler bars between the crossbars and longitudinal joining bars which join the crossbars and filler bars to one another. The deep bars are part of a first subassembly and the other bars are part of a second subassembly which may be lowered to join the two subassemblies to one another. The crossbars and filler bars are seated on the deep bars with the crossbars typically within upwardly opening notches formed in the deep bars. The joining bars are typically above and aligned with the deep bars. The upper surfaces of the crossbars and filler bars are usually substantially flush with one another. The grating system is configured to support vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
US07918066B1	Concrete vapor barrier integrity system The present invention provides a device and method to maintain the integrity of a vapor barrier for use with concrete slab on grade construction. In accordance with the present invention an apparatus to repair a punctured concrete slab vapor barrier includes a substantially planar concrete slab vapor barrier patch having a resealable aperture to receive a removable, substantially upright support. The patch is secured to the existing vapor barrier and the concrete is poured and substantially set. The support is removed and the malleable concrete flows, causing the engagement of the resealable aperture, thereby repairing the punctured vapor barrier.
US07918065B2	Fastening member and external wall construction structure using the same A fastening member which can fix with sufficient strength siding boards whose lateral joint portions are disposed in a portion where no vertical member is provided and prevent displacement in the vertical direction, is capable of ensuring a ventilation space without using furring strips and has excellent durability, and an external wall construction structure using the same are provided. A fastening member 1 has a long fixing plate portion 11 which is fixed to at least one vertical member 21. On the front surface of the long fixing plate portion 11, a first fastening portion 12 for supporting and engaging the upper end portion in the lateral joint portions 39 of a siding board 3 and the lower end portion of the siding board thereabove, a vertical rising portion 13 for preventing displacement disposed in the lateral joint portions below the first fastening portion 12, and a second fastening portion 14 for engaging the upper end portion of the siding board in the portion other than the lateral joint portions 39 and supporting and engaging the lower end portion are provided. Each fastening portion is provided with a ventilating spacer between itself and the long fixing plate portion 11, thereby ensuring a sufficient ventilation space.
US07918061B2	Modular basement air circulation and finishing system A seamless wall finishing system has a plurality of wall panels which are spaced apart from an exterior wall. The spacing creates an air gap which provides an airflow passage between the exterior wall and the second surface of the wall panels. The wall panels have a mold resistant non-organic thread or yarn wall covering which is adhered to a central portion of a first surface of each of the wall panels. The wall panels define a pair of uncovered areas on opposite sides of each of the plurality of wall panels. A vertically extending seam is created between adjacent wall panels which is filled with a seam tape made from the mold resistant nylon yarn wall covering. An air circulation system is provided for circulating air behind the wall panels. A method of assembling the modular basement wall finishing system is also provided.
US07918060B2	Under-plank for watertight balcony sub-floor system The present invention relates to a watertight sub-floor system for balcony or roof, in the form of a semi-rigid rollable plank of corrugated polymeric type installed in juxtaposition to form a waterproof flooring between boards and beams. Under-plank are unwrapped and cut at a desired length to avoid transverse junction with respect to water flow. Under-planks overlap parallel to water flow without loss of sealing. The corrugated under-plank has a design of crests and dips, crests widened and sloping to make possible the receiving of screws from deck board, thereby permitting the descent of water trickling from around the damaging screwing of the under-plank, and dips which bear no perforations from screwing and merely allow water to run off to protect wood structures of patios, balconies or terraces against moisture causing premature rot and to protect objects (bike, mowers . . . ) under a deck.
US07918059B2	Pedestal for ballast block decking A deck system and pedestal for use in forming an elevated surface are provided. The pedestal for supports blocks, pavers, tiles, or panels a spaced distance above an underlying surface. The pedestal has a base, a reinforcement wall, a support, and a coupler with a flange. The base is at a lower end of the pedestal and has a plate extending outward from a post. The reinforcement wall extends between the plate and the post and has a first eyelet formed therein. The support is located at an upper end of the pedestal for supporting the blocks, pavers, tiles, or panels thereon. It is adjustably mounted relative to the base for altering an overall height of the pedestal. The coupler, having a flange is adjustably located between the support and the base for further altering the overall height of the pedestal. A plurality of spaced-apart second eyelets extend through the flange.
US07918057B2	Modular floor tile system with sliding lock The present invention provides floor tiles and modular floors. The floor tiles may include a locking system that allows adjacent tiles to interlock, while also permitting a predetermined amount of lateral sliding relative to one another. The modular tiles may be injection molded, and a minor change in the mold facilitates variation to the amount of lateral slide allowed between interlocked tiles. The floor tiles may also provide three layers of traction, providing more sure footing than previous flooring systems. In addition, the floor tiles may comprise a two-tier suspension system that yields a flex or spring-like effect.
US07918055B2	Construction spacer The present invention is related to spacers that can create fluid flow space at a variety of structural interfaces, particularly in building construction. The spacers of the present invention include unique hinges that can physically couple one panel of the spacer to another panel of the spacer in a manner that substantially distortionally separates the two panels. Preferred embodiments include a folded hinge having at least two folds. The spacers of the present invention also include unique panel dimples that help control the rigidity of the panel. In preferred embodiments, elongated dimples are used to help control rigidity.
US07918051B2	Tomato growing system A plant growing kit, primarily for growing climbing plants such as tomatoes, is contained in a flat box approximately the shape of a pizza box. In preferred embodiments three legs are included, broken down into sections in the box and directable into a sturdy tripod, over which a flexible vine-attachment element, such as a wire or thin tubular member or plastic coil, is assembled preferably in a tapered helical configuration. Also in the box is a basket, in flattened condition but erectable into a deep configuration and with provision for attachment to the legs, near their bottom ends, the basket being configured to contain a bag of soil, which may remain in the bag. The consumer provides drainage holes in the bag and an opening at top for the plants to grow and to climb up on the tripod and vine-attachment element. With a water-catching saucer under the bag and basket, the directed plant growing assembly can be placed in any desired location, including inside a building.
US07918050B2	Method and apparatus for extermination of pests An extermination device for exterminating pests includes a holder, trigger mechanism and a resilient ring mounted on the holder. When a pest actuates the trigger mechanism, the ring is released from the holder onto the pest, thereby killing the pest in a humane manner. A cover may be provided to protect the trigger mechanism from dirt and animals larger than target pest size. A loading device having a tapering body adapted to allow a resilient ring to be expanded from the narrow end to the wide end of the tapering body, wherein the wide end includes a formation adapted to engage with a holder of an extermination device.
US07918048B2	Moon clip server A revolver cartridge assembly storing device, that sequentially delivers cartridge assemblies to a consistent point for extraction. The device consists of a guide rail suspended by its ends on a mainframe which is mounted to a user's torso. The cartridge assemblies sit on said guide rail where they are propelled by a means of force to either a left or right extraction point. There they may be freely retrieved to augment the reloading of the revolver.
US07918045B2	Wristband with slotted identity tag A cushioned wristband includes a carrier having a multi-layered band portion and a strap sewn to the back of the band portion of the carrier. The band has a surface with loop material and the strap has a surface of hook material, the hook and loop surfaces being intended to secure the band in place as it is wrapped about a patient's appendage. The strap is appropriately sized to insert through one or both of two cinch slots of a self-laminating hang tag which may be printed with patient information and separated from a sheetlet or page sized business form processed through a printer for imaging of patient information thereon. The band portion of the carrier includes a cushioned layer of soft foamy or spongy material for contacting a patient's skin to thereby substantially eliminate any possibility for abrasion, rash, or other irritation or injury to the patient through wearing of the wristband.
US07918044B2	Tensioned fabric trade show display A portable display apparatus is disclosed, which includes a flexible frame and a tensioned fabric having a perimeter hem, such that the tensioned fabric is maintained by the flexible frame and integrated with the perimeter hem in order for the tensioned fabric to expand with the flexible frame to produce a display area and reduce with the flexible frame for ease of transport.
US07918043B2	Scent releasing picture changer An aroma visual message carrier is shaped into a card device for carrying multisensory messages to deliver two interchangeable images with a scent releasing mechanism linked to the very act of image change by a recipient. The carrier comprises an image changing frame including a still image member with a first image printed on it and a sliding image member with a second image print partially interlaced with the still image member so that a manual sliding action of the still image member brings the two images interchangeably fade in and out laterally through each other. The still image member has a deposit of scent material formed rearward of its visual side, and the sliding image member has at least one rough surface area on its visual side directly facing the scent deposit of the still image member to scratch and release the scent material to ambiance for the recipient to smell and see a creation of multisensory messages of the images and scent on the spot and; a medium holder adapted to be folded rearward of the visual side of the still image member of the image changing frame. The medium holder has a planar pocket for storing an electronic medium, which may be accessed at a later time through an electronic player to present data supplementary to the multisensory messages.
US07918040B2	Drier installation for drying web A drier installation (1) for drying web (2), more particularly paper, which installation is provided for drying a maximum web width, the installation (1) comprises gas-heated radiant elements (3) for radiating the web, arranged according to at least one row (4) stretching out in the transversal (5) direction over the substantially entire maximum web width. The installation (1) comprises at least a transversal convective system (7, 36) equipped with suction and blowing devices (8) for sucking at least part of the combustion products produced by the radiant elements (3) by means of a suction duct (13) and for blowing this pa o the combustion products towards the web (2) by means of a blowing duct (14). Both suction (13) and blowing (14) ducts stretch out in the transversal (5) direction of the web (2). The convective system (7, 36 comprising at least a mixing device (12, 22, 28, 37, 46) installed opposite of the passing web (2) in relation to corresponding suction (13) and blowing (14) ducts and arranged so as to suck and/or blow the combustion products. The drier installation as subject of the present invention is characterized in that the vector average of the projections (V1, V2, V3, V5, V6, V7, V8) in a plane (P1) perpendicular to the web ( ) and stretching out in the transversal (5) direction of the web (2), has component (V4) parallel to the web (2) that is smaller than the maximum web width of the web (2), the vectors representing the respective trajectories of the different jets of sucked and/or blown combustion products.
US07918036B2	Surface shape measuring apparatus and surface shape measuring method In a surface shape measurement device that measures the surface shape of a sample (W1, W2) by moving a probe (16, 26) in a sliding fashion along the surface of the sample (W1, W2) and thereby detecting the amount of displacement of the probe (16, 26) caused by irregularities on the surface, an initial amount of displacement is detected which is the amount of displacement of the probe (16, 26) when the probe is first placed in contact with a measurement start point on the surface of the sample (W1, W2), and the amount of displacement of the probe (16, 26), detected as it is moved in a sliding fashion along the surface, is compared with the initial amount of displacement to determine whether the probe (16, 26) has reached a measurement end point.
US07918033B2	Method for correcting the measured values of a coordinate measuring machine, and coordinate measuring machine A coordinate measuring machine has a probe head, a calibrating body and an apparatus for recording and correcting measured values obtained by the probe head. A mechanical flexibility at predetermined points on the surface of the calibrating body is determined. The mechanical flexibility is stored in the apparatus in the form of a data record. The calibrating body is scanned point by point by means of the probe head in order to obtain the measured values. Thereafter, the probe head is calibrated by correcting the measured values using the data record. A similar approach can also be used on workpieces having a known mechanical flexibility.
US07918032B2	Ruler with abrasive edge A ruler has a body with a forward surface and a side surface defining a straight line. An elongate member having an abrasive outer edge is positioned along the side surface. The abrasive edge assists in sharpening a cutting tool moved along the edge.
US07918029B2	Attachment comb for a hair clipper An attachment comb for a hair clipper includes a base portion constructed and arranged for releasably engaging the hair clipper, and a plurality of teeth extending from the base portion, each of the teeth including a body portion defined between an upper peripheral edge and a lower peripheral edge, a proximal end adjacent the base portion and a distal end opposite thereof, wherein the body portion includes at least one formation for retaining hair.
US07918027B2	Razor head The present invention relates to razor heads and further to razors which include razor heads as defined. In one aspect of the invention the razor heads comprise at least one blade defining a plurality of cutting edges. The cutting edges are arranged to intercept at at least one point at which at least one angle of less than ninety degrees (90°) is formed between the cutting edges. This arrangement enables the cutting edges to impart cutting, sliding and rotary action onto hair being shaved.
US07918020B2	Method for manufacturing electroconductive material-filled throughhole substrate Disclosed is a method for manufacturing an electroconductive material-filled throughhole substrate that is free from any void part in the electroconductive material filled into the throughholes. The method comprises forming an electroconductive base layer on one side of a core substrate having throughholes, and precipitating and growing an electroconductive material from one direction within the throughholes by electroplating using the electroconductive base layer as a seed layer to fill the electroconductive material into the throughholes without forming any void part and thus to manufacture an electroconductive material-filled throughhole substrate.
US07918015B2	Method for making a thin film resistor A process for making a fluid ejector head for a micro-fluid ejection device. In one embodiment, the process comprises depositing a thin film resistive layer on a substrate to provide a plurality of thin film heaters. The thin film resistive layer comprises a tantalum-aluminum-nitride material consisting essentially of AlN, TaN, and TaAl alloys, and containing from about 30 to about 70 atomic % tantalum, from about 10 to about 40 atomic % aluminum and from about 5 to about 30 atomic % nitrogen.
US07918014B2	Method of manufacturing a CPP structure with enhanced GMR ratio A CPP-GMR spin valve having a CoFe/NiFe composite free layer is disclosed in which Fe content of the CoFe layer ranges from 20 to 70 atomic % and Ni content in the NiFe layer varies from 85 to 100 atomic % to maintain low Hc and λS values. A small positive magnetostriction value in a Co75Fe25 layer is used to offset a negative magnetostriction value in a Ni90Fe10 layer. The CoFe layer is deposited on a sensor stack in which a seed layer, AFM layer, pinned layer, and non-magnetic spacer layer are sequentially formed on a substrate. After a NiFe layer and capping layer are sequentially deposited on the CoFe layer, the sensor stack is patterned to give a sensor element with top and bottom surfaces and a sidewall connecting the top and bottom surfaces. Thereafter, a dielectric layer is formed adjacent to the sidewalls.
US07918013B1	System for manufacturing a group of head gimbal assemblies (HGAs) A system and method for the production level screening of low flying magnetic heads in the manufacture of disk drive head disk assemblies (HDAs) is disclosed. A test disk is provided and has a plurality of bumps extending from at least one surface thereof to a predetermined height between 2 and 12 nanometers. The test disk is rotated to fly a head of a head gimbal assembly selected from the group adjacent the surface of the test disk. An interaction of the head with one or more of the plurality of bumps may be sensed and the head gimbal assembly may be screened out from the group in response to the sensing of the interaction.
US07918011B2	Method for providing radiopaque nitinol alloys for medical devices A radiopaque nitinol medical device such as a stent for use with or implantation in a body lumen is disclosed. The stent is made from a superelastic alloy such as nickel-titanium or nitinol, and includes a ternary element selected from the group of chemical elements consisting of iridium, platinum, gold, rhenium, tungsten, palladium, rhodium, tantalum, silver, ruthenium, or hafnium. The added ternary element improves the radiopacity of the nitinol stent comparable to that of a stainless steel stent of the same and strut pattern coated with a thin layer of gold. The nitinol stent has improved radioplacity yet retains its superelastic and shape memory behavior and further maintains a thin strut/wall thickness for high flexibility.
US07918010B2	Method for making a radiopharmaceutical pig A pharmaceutical pig is used to transport a syringe containing a liquid radiopharmaceutical from a radiopharmacy to a medical facility for administration to a patient. The pharmaceutical pig includes an elongate polymer cap that is removably attached to an elongate polymer base. The elongate polymer cap includes a cap shell that completely encloses a cap shielding element and the elongate polymer base includes a base shell that completely encloses a base shielding element. Preferably the polymer utilized for the cap shell and the base shell is polycarbonate resin, e.g., LEXAN®. An inner liner is not utilized and the cap shielding element and the base shielding element, which are preferably, but not necessarily, made of lead, are completely sealed and unexposed.
US07918008B2	Method of manufacturing column and bed of machine tool A technique of easy manufacture of a column and a bed of a machine tool in a short time is provided by having an assembly structure of sheet metal members. A column body of the machine tool is constituted by combining a front member with a rear member 130 and mounting a side cover. Its inside is reinforced by a plurality of ribs 150, 160. Each of the members is made by precision laser machining of sheet plate materials. The column body is assembled by inserting projection portions provided on one member into slits formed on the other member.
US07917997B2	Device for attaching a tool to harness Device for a portable engine powered tool that is carried by a hook secured to a harness or a strap in order to reduce the loads on the operator. The tool is attached to the hook by a loop (19) placed close to the center of gravity for the tool to facilitate the control of the operator.
US07917994B2	Hinge for a glass door The present invention is to provide a hinge suitable for a glass door, having a roller actuating by a spring member and cooperating with a cylindrical surface and slots on the cylindrical surface to hold the glass door in the opened and closed positions, and to make the fluent opening and closing movement of the glass door.
US07917993B2	Dual display type portable computer and control method for the same A dual display type portable computer can include a first unit having a first display module and a second unit rotatably coupled to the first unit having a second display module. At least one hinge unit can couple the first unit and the second unit with each other. The hinge unit can be coupled to corresponding positions of the first unit and the second unit to enable the first display module and the second display module to overlap each other or to be unfolded until they are placed in an equal plane. Preferably, at least one of the first display module and the second display module has a touch screen function. Preferably, the touch screen function can selectively change a language of a keyboard image. The first display module and the second display module can display different images or divided portions of one integrated image.
US07917992B2	Gutter cleaning vacuum system including a novel hinged vacuum manifold assembly In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides a lightweight, maneuverable, thin-walled, transparent apparatus for use with a heavy-duty vacuum system for quickly and easily collecting and storing large volumes of bulky debris, thereby reducing the time needed for cleanup. The present invention also provides an improved vacuum manifold assembly that may be used in conjunction with various gas and electric blower/vacuum motors, both novel and conventional. The present invention further provides various gutter cleaning and other tools that may be used in conjunction with such a vacuum system. The gutter cleaning vacuum system including the improved hinged vacuum manifold assembly of the present invention has sufficient power and is designed such that the various gutter cleaning and other tools are effective, suction-wise, at great distances from the unit, such that an operator may use the gutter cleaning and other tools at great distances over his/her head, for example.
US07917989B2	Mop system, wringer device and mop The invention relates to a mop (1) comprising a mop-head plate (2) for a mop cover (3). The mop-head plate (2) comprises a first connector (4), which can be connected to at least one second connector (5) of a wringer device (6) in order to wring out the mop cover (3). The invention also relates to a wringer device (6) for a mop (1) comprising a mop-head plate (2) for a mop cover (3), said plate having two folding mop-head plate parts (7, 8). Said wringer device (6) comprises a funnel-shaped wringer compartment (22). The mop cover (3) can be introduced into said compartment from above and compressed by actuating the wringer device, when the mop-head plate parts (7, 8) are in an essentially vertical position and said cover is partially detached and suspended from said parts. The opposing transversal surfaces (10, 11) of the mop-head plate parts (7, 8) form compression surfaces. The wringer device (6) comprises a lever unit (23) with the second connector (5), said lever unit consisting of an actuating lever (24) and a pressure lever (25) that is connected to the actuating lever (24). The pressure lever (25) forms the second connector (5) and can be connected to the first connector (4).
US07917987B2	Air-injection type tool for scrubbing off the dirt on a body The present invention discloses an air-injection type tool for scrubbing off the dirt on a body including: an air-retaining body 2 formed of an elastic material expandable in an air-injection manner, the air-retaining body 2 having a scrubbing towel 40 encompassed on the external surface thereof; a disc-like support body 4 disposed at the inside of the air-retaining body 2 and having a cylindrical coupling protrusion 6 formed at the top central portion thereof, the cylindrical coupling protrusion 6 having a piston A reciprocated therein such that the air generated by the reciprocating motion of the piston A is sent to the air-retaining body 2; and a cover body 12 adapted to be pressurized by a handle 18 screw-coupled with the coupling protrusion 6 of the support body 4 thus to come into close contact with the support body 4 such that the air-retaining body 2 is kept airtight.
US07917985B2	Wipes with hair and large particle pick-up capabilities Wipes capable of picking up hair and other large particles, and methods of making same, are provided. A wipe includes a layer of netting material bonded to a substrate, and subsequently stretched via ring rolls such that strands of the netting material break and extend outwardly from the substrate to form teeth. The wipe may be impregnated with one or more chemical ingredients, such as cleaning solutions, soaps, antiseptics, surfactants, tackifying agents, antimicrobial agents, detergents, bleaches, polishes, and facial cleansers. The wipe may be electrostatically charged.
US07917981B1	Methods of making adjustable air cushion insoles and resulting products An inflatable inner sole for footwear has a flexible, inflatable enclosure with an inflation system that may includes an on-board air pump and a pressure relief valve. The inflatable enclosure may include a plurality of chambers that are independently adjustable by selectively adding or removing a gas from each chamber. The inflatable enclosure may also include a pressure gauge and an improved pressure relief valve sleeve with a spring seat. The inflatable enclosure may be formed with one or both of first and second sheets formed as contoured prefabricated sheets. Alternatively, the sheets may be flat sheets. A recess is formed in the sheets so that the recess extends out of a plane of intersection between the first and second sheets. The recess may be formed by causing a portion of the first and second sheets to bend out of the plane of intersection of the first and second sheets.
US07917980B2	Mattress design A mattress embodying a foam encasement surrounding individually wrapped coils and lacking a barrier separating upholstery layers from the coil assembly. Border material is affixed to sidewalls forming the foam encasement and the upholstery layer is tacked to a base of the foam encasement.
US07917975B2	Controlled motion bed-frame positioning assembly Our invention is related to a pop-up bed frame. Aspects of our invention include a bed-frame positioning assembly for raising and lowering an upper frame in a controlled manner. A bed-frame positioning assembly generally includes a set of scissor arms that is operatively coupled to a biasing member. Force exerted on the set of scissor arms by the biasing member either opens or closes the set of scissor arms, thereby either raising or lowering an upper frame coupled thereto.
US07921466B2	Method of using an atomic force microscope and microscope The invention relates to a method of using an atomic force microscope and to a microscope. The inventive method comprises the following steps consisting in at least performing bimodal excitation of a microlever (M) which is disposed on a sample and analysing at least: the variation in the oscillation amplitude (Ai) of an output signal (Ai cos(ωit−φi)) that is representative of the response from the microlever (M) to the excitation of one of the natural vibration modes thereof, in order to obtain topographic information in relation to the sample; and to the variation in the phase (φj) of an output signal (Aj cos(ωjt−φj)) that is representative of the response from the microlever (M) to the excitation of another natural vibration mode thereof, in order to obtain compositional information in relation to the sample. The inventive microscope is adapted to be used with the aforementioned method.
US07921465B2	Nanotip repair and characterization using field ion microscopy A system (100) for characterizing surfaces can include a nanotip microscope (104) in a first pressure envelope (102) at a first pressure with an electrically conductive nanotip (110) mounted thereon for characterizing a sample surface. The system can also include an ion imaging system (122, 124, 128) within a second pressure envelope (120) at a second pressure. The second pressure can less than or equal to the first pressure and the pressure envelopes (102, 120) can be separated by a pressure limiting aperture (PLA) (132). The system can further include gas sources (116, 118) for introducing into the first pressure envelope (102) at least one gas, and a voltage supply (114) coupled to the nanotip (110) for generating an electric field between the nanotip (114) and the PLA (132). In the system, the electric field repels and ionizes molecules or atoms of the gas in proximity to the nanotip (110) and the ion imaging system (122, 124, 128) collects at least a portion the repelled and ionized molecules or atoms traversing the PLA (132) to image the nanotip (110).
US07921463B2	Methods and apparatus for providing an insertion and integrity protection system associated with a wireless communication platform Embodiments of methods and apparatus for providing an insertion and integrity protection system associated with a wireless communication platform are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07921461B1	System and method for rootkit detection and cure A system, method and computer program product for system for detecting a rootkit on a computer having an operating system, including a native application in ring 0 which, when the operating system is in a trusted state upon a reboot of the computer, after loading of the boot drivers but before loading of non-boot drivers, generates a first snapshot for selected files of the operating system and for a registry; the first snapshot being stored on a persistent storage medium of the computer; a second snapshot for the selected files and for the registry generated by the ordinary application after the loading of the non-boot drivers, generating; means for comparing the second snapshot with the first snapshot; and upon detecting, in the comparing step, one of a masked file and a masked registry branch, means for informing a user of possible rootkit presence on the computer.
US07921457B2	Distributed subscriber management system A distributed subscriber management system and method that controls access to a network preventing unauthorized traffic through the access network and providing centralized access control between user networks are disclosed. The controlled access is provided through the use of one of several technologies including user authentication, using PAP, CHAP, RADIUS, TACACS+. The method includes the steps of receiving a connection request from a user located on one of the User Networks; interrogating the user for userid and password information; encrypting the userid and password information; transmitting the encrypted information, via the access network, to an authentication server attached to one of a plurality of external networks; decrypting the information at the authentication server; and transmitting an authentication message from the authentication server of the external network to the access control node via the access network. Additionally, the method includes the step of challenging all data leaving the access control node.
US07921456B2	E-mail based user authentication E-mail based user authentication is described herein. A user can access resources of a service provider by submitting only an e-mail address to which the user has access. The service provider generates an authentication ticket corresponding to the user's login request, and transmits the authentication ticket to the e-mail service provider indicated by the submitted e-mail address. The e-mail service provider processes the authentication ticket, and enables either approval or denial of the authentication ticket, whether by explicit user action or by automated processing.
US07921454B2	System and method for user password protection A system and method are disclosed for protecting a password assigned to a user, the method comprising: providing a password entry screen having a virtual keyboard, the virtual keyboard including a plurality of character keys arranged in a non-QWERTY format; authenticating the user if a password submitted by the user accessing the password entry screen matches a user password retrieved from a password database; and denying access to the user if the submitted password does not match the retrieved user password. The system comprises a storage module and a computer program for performing the method.
US07921452B2	Defining consistent access control policies A method of defining policies for controlling access to resources of a system. Authorization requirements for the system are modeled to obtain a model expressing each of a plurality of access control policies as a constraint. From the model is generated a single policy set in an authorization markup language that captures the requirements. This method can be used to define role-based access control policies in a format that can be adapted for input to a variety of access control mechanisms. This generative approach to access control design allows maintenance to be performed at the requirements level.
US07921440B1	Method and system for managing television viewing habits Methods and systems for monitoring and budgeting television viewing in order to influence and manage television-viewing habits in a manner that promotes self-monitoring. Example embodiments provide a Content Viewer Control System (“CVCS”), which enables devices and systems connected to a head-end, such as through a standard set-top box or a media center, to track and potentially control differing aspects of television viewing according to a viewing budget. For example, the CVCS can allow tracking and control over what content is viewed according to a variety of criteria, during which time periods, and for what duration on an individual or on a per-location basis, and/or based upon other configurable parameters. In summary, the CVCS receives notification of content as potential viewing events, compares a potential viewing event to stored viewing budget “allocations,” and reconciles the potential viewing event against the viewing budget. In one example embodiment, the CVCS comprises an interface to the content display and control components, a viewing event tracker component, and a viewing event reconciler engine. The viewing event tracker receives notification of content to be viewed (a potential viewing event), extracts pertinent information, and forwards the extracted information to the viewing event reconciler engine. The viewing event reconciler engine reconciles the forwarded information against budget data and/or rules and sends content control instructions to the interface. The CVCS optionally contains a data repository with the viewing budget or interfaces to an external data repository.
US07921439B2	Data storage means Apparatus in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention includes a data storage cartridge and/or a receiver configured to receive the cartridge in facilitation of data transfer to and/or from the cartridge. The cartridge and the receiver each include respective connector portions configured to connect when the cartridge is inserted into the receiver. The cartridge and/or the receiver also include guide features configured to facilitate alignment of the connector portions for connection as the cartridge is inserted into the receiver.
US07921438B2	Chucking mechanism, brushless motor having the chucking mechanism, and disk driving apparatus having the brushless motor A claw member includes at a radially inward surface thereof a protrusion inclined surface in order to minimize deformation occurring in an axial direction to an elastic member which is a coil spring. The protrusion inclined surface is preferably inclined, when a tip portion of the claw member is at an axially lowest point, to be substantially perpendicular to the central axis, or such that the further radially inward a portion thereof is the axially lower the portion is. By virtue of such configuration, the protrusion inclined surface minimizes deformation occurring to the elastic member in the axial direction.
US07921436B2	Optical device integrated head An optical device integrated head having high light utilizing efficiency by decreasing the propagation loss caused from an optical source to a recording medium, conducting by mounting according to compact active alignment method for efficiently guiding a light generated from a laser device to the top end of a head, in which a light source device mounted on a submount has a mirror portion having an inclinated surface to at least a portion of one edge thereof for reflecting an output light from the optical source device at the inclinated surface, a structural member including a lens structure for further allowing a light to pass through the submount, and an optical waveguide disposed passing through a slider for mounting the submount, and the optical source and the slider are positioned by using active alignment of light in a chip-on carrier structure having the optical source device mounted on the submount.
US07921433B2	Method and system for providing version control of parameters in a command-based API using java serialization A technique for determining whether a server host supports the functions in a command sent by a client host. The client host formulates a command including a command object that contains parameter objects. The parameter objects, which represent the functions, are serialized, e.g., using the Java serialization command, and communicated to the server host. The server host attempts to deserialize the parameter objects. If it is successful, it is concluded that the server host supports the functions represented by the parameter objects. Or, it is concluded that the server host is incompatible with the functions represented by one or more parameter objects that cannot be deserialized. The server host may be a storage server, and the functions may be storage-related, such as a copy type to be performed.
US07921432B2	Managed application execution application programming interface and schema Managed application programming interfaces (APIs), schemas and procedures receives a managed API call from an application, and maps the managed API call to an unmanaged API call. Managed data types and managed data objects of the managed API call are mapped to corresponding unmanaged data types and data objects. A request resulting from the unmanaged API call is dispatched to and interpreted by an unmanaged programming language interpreter, which executes the request in an unmanaged programming language. An unmanaged response to the request is mapped to a corresponding managed response, which is provided to the managed application.
US07921431B2	N-port virtualization driver-based application programming interface and split driver implementation An API in an NPIV-compatible SAN is disclosed that includes functions for creating a vlink, replicating driver software for managing the vlink, monitoring resources in an HBA, or removing a target so that resources can be freed up for other vlinks. The API is part of a driver that communicates with a host OS and also communicates with an HBA to establish the vlinks between the host OS and FC devices. To create vlinks, an “add” function in the API is called by the OS. In addition, when a new vlink is created, a single version of an HBA interface function block is maintained in the driver, but a discovery function block, SCSI bus function block, and I/O function block are all duplicated, forming one logical vlink driver for each vlink. To obtain HBA resource information, a resource monitoring functions in the API may be called by the OS.
US07921425B2	Techniques for allocating computing resources to applications in an embedded system Techniques for allocating computing resources to tasks include receiving first data and second data. The first data indicates a limit for unblocked execution by a processor of a set of at least one task that includes instructions for the processor. The second data indicates a maximum use of the processor by the set. It is determined whether a particular set of at least one task has exceeded the limit for unblocked execution based on the first data. If it is determined that the particular set has exceeded the limit, then execution of the particular set by the processor is blocked for a yield time interval based on the second data. These techniques can guarantee that no time-critical tasks of an embedded system on a specific-purpose device are starved for processor time by tasks of foreign applications also executed by the processor.
US07921424B2	Systems and methods for the repartitioning of data Various embodiments of the present invention are directed toward extending a federation of servers and balancing the data load of said federation of servers, in order to improve accessibility and scope of the system by moving the first backup data structure on the second server to the new server, creating a second data structure on the new server, and creating a second backup data structure for the second data structure on the second server. To balance the load, certain embodiments employ a method comprising suspending writes to the selected logical partitions, copying selected logical partitions to the new physical partition, redirecting reads and writes to the logical partitions in the new physical partition, and removing the original selected logical partitions. Alternative embodiments for balancing data load comprise the substitute steps of creating a temporary replication stream for the selected logical partitions to the new physical partition, copying selected logical partitions to the new physical partition, deconflicting inconsistencies in the logical partitions on the new physical partition, redirecting reads and writes for the selected logical partitions to the logical partitions in the new physical partition, and removing the original selected logical partitions that were copied to the new physical partition.
US07921422B2	Method, apparatus and computer program product for borrowed-virtual-time scheduling A scheduling mechanism that fairly allocates a resource to a number of schedulable elements, of which some are latency-sensitive, is disclosed. Each element's use of the resource is tracked by determining the element's virtual time. An active element is selected from the elements that are ready to use the resource by determining the element that has the smallest effective virtual time. The effective virtual time is the element's actual virtual time modified by a borrowed virtual time value. When an element has a short-term need for the resource, it can borrow the privilege to run by borrowing virtual time. As the element uses the resource, it consumes virtual time according to its weight. When the elements are scheduled for the resource, the ready element having the smallest virtual time is selected. The invention enforces long-term fairness to each element while allowing latency-sensitive elements to be preferably selected.
US07921421B2	Program version management taking into account system stability A method of managing program versions by acquiring information about a program supplied via a network, comparing the program of a latest version with the program of a currently used version, and deciding whether or not to perform or prompt an update of the program includes determining whether or not to perform or prompt the update of the program in response to importance of modifications to be made from the program of the currently used version to the program of the latest version.
US07921420B2	Systems and methods for updating imaging device drivers on one or more computer systems In an exemplary method, an imaging device that is logically connected to at least one host computer system receives installation of a firmware upgrade. The firmware upgrade includes at least one new feature that is not accessible to the host(s) without a driver upgrade. The firmware upgrade includes the driver upgrade and/or driver upgrade information. In response to receiving installation of the firmware upgrade, the imaging device identifies the host(s) to which it is logically connected. The imaging device sends the driver upgrade and/or the driver upgrade information to the host(s).
US07921419B2	Method and mechanism for managing incompatible changes in a distributed system A method and mechanism for managing data to resolve incompatibilities between different versions of data is disclosed. According to one approach, incompatibilities to private data is managed using group/member dependent key(s)/link(s), static shared data is managed using group/member dependent key(s)/link(s), and dynamic shared data is managed using data transformation function(s).
US07921415B1	Externally loaded browser interpreter for non-native language support An interpreter program is described that may be loaded from an external resource when needed by a host. In one implementation, the interpreter program is written in a first language and is capable of interpreting a second language. A program, written in the second language, is provided as data to the interpreter program. The interpreter program may then execute the program.
US07921414B2	Method and system for compiling a source code A method and system for compiling a source code, the source code is written in a source-code-human-language. The method comprises associating a plurality of identifiers to a grammar analyzer. The grammar analyzer comprises an analyzer that corresponds to each identifier. The plurality of identifiers is arranged in a predefined-sequence. Further, the plurality of analyzers in the grammar analyzer is arranged in the predefined-sequence. Also, the method comprises tokenizing the source code in response to associating the plurality of identifiers.
US07921412B1	Application monitor system and method A system and method for monitoring an application is provided. The system comprises a first module operable to read application values stored in a memory area by the application, a second module in communication with the first module and operable to request the first module to read the application values, the second module further operable to receive the application values from the first module, and a third module in communication with the second module, the third module operable to display the application values. A system for non-intrusively monitoring variables during operation of an application is also provided.
US07921410B1	Analyzing and application or service latency A method for analyzing a latency of a transaction performance is provided. The method includes receiving first transaction latency data which includes a transaction latency of a transaction and a first plurality of latency components that contribute to the transaction latency, receiving a definition of normality for the transaction latency, determining whether the transaction latency is normal or abnormal based at least on the definition of normality, upon the determining that the transaction latency is abnormal, determining whether there is a sufficient amount of the first transaction latency data based on a predefined criterion, upon the determining that the amount of the first transaction latency data is sufficient, computing a normal latency for each of the first plurality of latency components; and ranking the first plurality of latency components based on a degree of abnormality of each of the first plurality of latency components, which is based on the computed normal latency for the each latency component.
US07921409B2	Managed add-in framework proxy generation A Managed Add-in Framework (MAF) proxy generation tool comprises a library analyzer module operable for taking as input either a type library or managed software code assembly of the existing host application, and a proxy code generation module. Also, an additional input XML file that describes changes that a user would like to be made may be received by the tool and data acquired form the inspection of the additional input XML file and the inspection of the other inputs is merged and used to create the code of the proxy to the host object model. The proxy to the host's object model conforms to requirements of the MAF.
US07921407B2	System and method for supporting multiple alternative methods for executing transactions Transaction code written by the programmer may be translated, replaced or transformed into a code that is configured to implement transactions according to any of various techniques. A compiler may replace programmer written transaction code into code allowing multiple compatible transaction implementation techniques to be used in the same program, and at the same time. A programmer may write transaction code once using familiar coding styles, but the transaction to be effected according to one of a number of compatible alternative implementation techniques. The compiler may enable the implementation of multiple, alternative transactional memory schemes. The particular technique implemented for each transaction may not be decided until runtime. At runtime, any of the various implemented techniques may be used to effect the transaction and if a first technique fails or is inappropriate for a particular transaction, one or more other techniques may be attempted.
US07921403B2	Controlling impedance and thickness variations for multilayer electronic structures Impedance control, and the uniformity of electrical and mechanical characteristics in electronic packaging are becoming more important as chip and bus speeds increase and manufacturing processes evolve. Current state of the art design and manufacture processes inherently introduce physical dielectric thickness variations into PCB cross sections. These thickness variations between the ground reference plane(s) and the signal layer(s) inject undesirable characteristic impedance variations and undesirable mechanical variations in thickness and surface topology. Therefore a process of generating equalization data and a design structure for multilayer electronic structures is presented.
US07921396B2	Data aligner in reconfigurable computing environment A data aligner in a reconfigurable computing environment is disclosed. Embodiments employ hardware macros in field configurable gate arrays (FPGAs) to minimize the number of configurable logic blocks (CLBs) needed to shift bytes of data. The alignment mechanism allows flexibility, scalability, configurability, and reduced costs as compared to application specific integrated circuits.
US07921390B2	Method and system for creating, viewing, editing, and sharing output from a design checking system Existing text output from a design rule checker is put in appropriate input format, and automatically displayed as text within a design tool using existing design tool capabilities, such as highlighting, zooming, and drawing box-regions. A graphical display of the output of the rule checker includes the informative text. Design rule violations are listed in a manner in which they can be individually selected. The output is displayed on a unique software program layer within the design tool so as to not effect or make any permanent changes to the original design file. The layers can be safely deleted when no longer in use.
US07921388B2	Wordline booster design structure and method of operating a wordine booster circuit The invention relates to a wordline booster circuit, especially an SRAM-wordline booster circuit, comprising a driving element (20) for shifting a voltage level of a charge storage element (50) for storing a charge necessary to generate a boosted voltage (Vb), a feedback element (30) for controlling the switching state of a charging element (40), wherein the charging element (40) is actively switchable between a turned-off state during a first time interval and a turned-on state during a second time interval, and an output port (14) for supplying the boost voltage to at least one wordline-driver circuit (100) of a memory device (200). The invention relates also to an operation method for such a wordline booster circuit as well as a memory array implementation on an integrated circuit, especially an SRAM memory array, with a wordline booster circuit.
US07921387B2	Computational efficiency in photolithographic process simulation Photolithographic process simulation is described in which fast computation of resultant intensity for a large number of process variations and/or target depths (var,zt) is achieved by computation of a set of partial intensity functions independent of (var,zt) using a mask transmittance function, a plurality of illumination system modes, and a plurality of preselected basis spatial functions independent of (var,zt). Subsequently, for each of many different (var,zt) combinations, expansion coefficients are computed for which the preselected basis spatial functions, when weighted by those expansion coefficients, characterize a point response of a projection-processing system determined for that (var, zt) combination. The resultant intensity for that (var,zt) combination is then computed as a sum of the partial intensity functions weighted according to corresponding products of those expansion coefficients. Prediction of a mask transmittance function as a function of illumination incidence angle for a regional cluster of source emitters is also described.
US07921381B2	Method and apparatus for displaying test data In one embodiment, a plurality of test data entries are successively displayed via a graphical user interface (GUI), with each of the test data entries including at least a test result identifier and a corresponding test result. For at least one of the test data entries, a user-selectable mechanism is provided via the GUI. When the user-selectable mechanism is selected, statistical data based on multiple executions of a test identified by a particular one of the test data entries is caused to be displayed via the GUI. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US07921376B2	Method and apparatus for providing a three-dimensional task gallery computer interface The present invention provides a three-dimensional user interface for a computer system that allows a user to combine and store a group of windows as a task. The image of each task can be positioned within a three-dimensional environment such that the user may utilize spatial memory in order remember where a particular task is located.
US07921373B2	Display screen management apparatus A display screen management unit is provided which can reduce a screen resource required to switch screens and simultaneously display a pre-transition screen and a post-transition screen. A screen control section requests a screen discard determination section to determine whether or not a currently displayed screen is to be discarded. The screen discard determination section compares currently displayed screen information with switching target screen information, and when the currently displayed screen is completely hidden by the switching target screen, determines that the currently displayed screen is to be discarded. The screen control section discards a screen resource for the screen determined to be discarded, from a screen resource saving section. The screen control section generates a screen resource for the switching target screen, and saves the screen resource into the screen resource saving section. The screen control section causes a display section to display the saved screen resource.
US07921372B2	System and method for pinning tabs in a tabbed browser The techniques and mechanisms described herein are directed to a method for pinning a tab in a tabbed browser. Briefly stated, browsing software is configured to recognize a “pin” event, such as a hot key, a menu selection, and the like. Upon recognizing the pin event, the browsing software splits a display screen into a pinned window and a tabbed window. The tabbed window displays one or more open tabs and the content of the currently in focus tab. The pinned window may display content that was previously displayed within one of the tabs in the tabbed window or may display new content. The browsing software may configure the navigation of the pinned window differently than the navigation for the tabs in the tabbed window.
US07921371B1	System and method of interactive, multi-objective visualization A system and method of multi-objective visualization utilize a multiple-objective optimizer approach to multi-objective optimization and specifically utilize a method for exploring and visualizing Pareto surfaces for any number of dimensions using an interactive graphical user interface. The general solution is to maintain all natural problem objectives separately and use a special multiple-objective optimizer to solve the problem. In this case there is no single solution point. Rather, the solution is a hyper dimensional surface in an objective space with various surface points representing different tradeoffs between objectives.
US07921369B2	Mood-based organization and display of instant messenger buddy lists A mood state may be modeled using mood information for a content selection (e.g., a digitally-encoded song) and/or by using mood information determined by how a user is interacting with a media player. For example, a playlist engine on a host may determine that a particular song is associated with an uplifting mood, thus determining that a user who has selected that particular song currently is in an uplifting mood, and correspondingly may select additional songs and advertisements consistent with, or responsive to, the uplifting mood. Mood information also may be used to present a mood state of users (e.g., co-users) in a network for display in a graphical user interface (GUI). For example, a user's screen name appearing in an America Online (AOL) Instant Messenger's Buddy List may indicate a determined user's mood, such as “happy”, “sad”, “silly”, or “angry.”
US07921368B2	Method and system for sensing and communicating updated status information for remote users accessible through an instant messaging system A method and system for providing a local user of an instant messaging system with updated status information regarding one or more remote users that provides indication to a local user of whether an instant messaging status message has been recently updated. The disclosed system provides a “new status message” visual indication when a status message for a remote user has recently changed. A timer may be employed to determine how long a new status message visual indication is provided after the status message has changed. The status message itself may be obtained by various specific techniques, such as hovering the cursor over a graphical object for a remote user associated with the new status indication, hovering over the new status indication itself, or clicking through the new status indication or associated graphical object, or through some other appropriate technique.
US07921367B2	Application generator for data transformation applications A utility is provided for generating applications for a variety of data conversion or handling application environments. A user can use a graphical user interface to purpose application adaptable modules to define a desired application. In one implementation, the user interface (1500) includes a node tree panel (1502) and a process assembly panel (1504). The node tree panel (1502) lists tool sets (1508) including transformations, maps and input-output tools. These tools can then be assembled together with identified data sources and then elements using the assembly panel (1504) to define an application. In this manner, an application is generated from a number of generic modules simply by linking the modules to perform a purpose of the desired application. In this manner, an application is generated from a number of generic modules simply by linking the modules to perform a purpose of the desired application.
US07921365B2	System and method for browsing tabbed-heterogeneous windows The techniques and mechanisms described herein are directed to a method for managing multiple content windows. The content windows may host a web browser, a shell view, a word processing application, and the like. A set of content windows are grouped into a frame in a manner such that a taskbar shows one item for the set of content windows. Each content window is associated with a tab for the frame. A content-specific menu may be associated with each tab. The content-specific menu includes a set of commands based on the heterogeneous content hosted in the content window. The set of commands provide functionality to the heterogeneous content.
US07921363B1	Applying data thinning processing to a data set for visualization To visualize data, an input data set having a plurality of data items is received, and data thinning processing is applied to identify data items of the input data set to deselect from visualizing in a visualization screen. Identifying the data items to deselect is based at least on density of the data items, and on deselection of attributes of the input data set to reduce a number of the attributes to be visualized. After applying the data thinning processing, the data set is presented for display in the visualization screen.
US07921360B1	Content-restricted editing A system and method are disclosed to restrict editing in a tag-delimited, multi-formatted document comprising parsing the multi-formatted document, identifying a plurality of tags responsive to the parsing, generating a revised document based on the multi-formatted document, inserting one or more restriction tags into the revised document delimiting non-editable content defined by one or more of the plurality of tags, and restricting edit functions of a page editor responsive to the page editor reading the one or more restriction tags.
US07921358B2	Automatic package conformance validation Systems and methods for automatic package conformance validation are described. A package is a logical entity that specifies multiple datastreams for use by an application to render pages and resources associated with one or more documents. In one aspect, the systems and methods automatically validate conformance of the package in view of one or more package and document specifications. The specification(s) identify sets of criteria that delineate structural and markup conformance for the package and fixed payload(s) that specify the document(s), resources, etc. The systems and methods validate package and fixed payload(s), and notify a user of whether the package, documents, and/or associated resources passed or failed respective ones of the conformance criteria,
US07921356B2	Method, system and computer readable medium for addressing handling from a computer program A method, system and computer readable medium for providing for providing a function item, such as a key, button, icon, or menu, tied to a user operation in a computer, whereby a single click on the function item in a window or program on a computer screen, or one single selection in a menu in a program, initiates retrieval of name and addresses and/or other person or company related information, while the user works simultaneously in another program, e.g., a word processor. The click on the function item initiates a program connected to the button to search a database or file available on or through the computer, containing the person, company or address related data, in order to look up data corresponding to what the user types, or partly typed, e.g., name and/or address in the word processor, the correct data from the database, data related to the typed data, e.g., the name of the person, company, or the traditional or electronic address, or other person, or company, or address related data, and alternatively the persons, companies, or addresses, are displayed and possibly entered into the word processor, if such related data exists.
US07921353B1	Method and system for providing client-server injection framework using asynchronous JavaScript and XML A method and system for dynamically loading content to a portion of a native global page on a client at runtime includes receiving a request at the client for the content for the portion of the native global page. The request identifies the portion of the native global page requesting the content and a type of resource required from a server. The request, identifying a server side resource to service the request, is forwarded from the client to the server. In response to the request, the client receives the identified server side resource that includes a plurality of components. The plurality of components is parsed at the client to verify the components are received in a required sequence. When it is determined that the plurality of components are received in the required sequence, a first set of components are selected from the received plurality of components and injected into a region for the portion of the native global page. A second set of components are selected from the received plurality of components and integrated into the native global page, such that the integrated components when executed are executed in the global scope of the native global page.
US07921343B2	Testing system, testing system control method, and test apparatus A testing system including a plurality of test applying portions that operate a test device for outputting an output signal; a plurality of testing portions that test the output signal of the test device; and a switch portion that switches the output signal between the test applying portions and the testing portions. The testing portions each have a test information portion that outputs test item information which includes a test capability of the testing portion, and have a test performing portion which is selected under the test item information that receives the output signal from the test applying portion through the switch portion, and performs a test under a designated test item.
US07921341B2	System and method for reproducing memory error An information processing apparatus includes a nonvolatile memory area having a storage area, and a main controller configured to store an access pattern to a main memory in the nonvolatile memory area, to end the storage of the access pattern when an error is detected in the main memory, and to access the main memory based on the access pattern stored in the nonvolatile memory area. The main controller includes a main memory control unit configured to access the main memory based on the access pattern; a nonvolatile memory control unit configured to store a data of the access pattern in the nonvolatile memory area; and a main control unit configured to transfer the access pattern for the main memory to the main memory control unit and the nonvolatile memory control unit.
US07921339B2	Flash storage device with data correction function A flash controller performs a data correction function while executing a copy back procedure for a flash memory, and the flash memory includes at least one memory unit and a page buffer. The flash controller contains: a transmission buffer, an error correction unit, a correction information register, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor reads out a data from, the page buffer and stores the data into the transmission buffer after producing a read instruction of page copy to the flash memory. The microprocessor controls the error correction unit to check and correct the data in the transmission buffer and calculate a check result. The microprocessor produces a different program command to record the corrected data into the memory unit according to the data error quantity of the check result. Thereby, the present invention can achieve the purpose of improving the flash controller in reliability and access efficiency.
US07921334B2	Program and method for error determination, and electronic apparatus There is provided an error determination program executed by an information processor included in an electronic apparatus that includes a device installation section capable of installing any one of a plurality of devices having different formats, a host controller acting as an intermediary between the information processor and the device installed in the device installation section, and a storage circuit storing an error determination information table that includes a plurality of pieces of error determination information for determining a presence or absence of any error in a plurality of responses to a plurality of commands from the devices installable in the device installation section, by associating the pieces of error determination information with a combination of the formats of the installable devices and the commands executable by the devices. The program includes instructing the host controller to issue a desired command in the commands executable by the device installed in the device installation section to the installed device; acquiring the error determination information associated with the combination of the format of the installed device and the desired command from the error determination information table; acquiring response content information regarding a content of a response to the desired command from the installed device from the host controller; and determining the presence or absence of any error in the response based on the error determination information and the response content information.
US07921329B2	Worker thread corruption detection and remediation A thread has a corruption detection mechanism that compares a beginning state of a function with an ending state to determine any inconsistencies. Based on the type of inconsistency, a remedial action may be taken, such as ignoring the inconsistency, cleaning up the inconsistency, and terminating the thread with an exception. The analysis may also include analyzing various states after function execution to find problems such as incomplete transactions. Such a thread may be useful in an operating system as well as a multi-threaded application environment.
US07921328B1	Checkpoint consolidation for multiple data streams A mirror destination storage server receives mirror update data streams from several mirror source storage servers. Data received from each mirror is cached and periodic checkpoints are queued, but the data is not committed to long-term storage at the mirror destination storage server immediately. Instead, the data remains in cache memory until a trigger event causes the cache to be flushed to a mass storage device. The trigger event is asynchronous with respect to packets of at least one of the data streams. In one embodiment, the trigger event is asynchronous with respect to packets of all of the data streams.
US07921313B2	Scheduling processor voltages and frequencies based on performance prediction and power constraints A power management system schedules the voltage and frequency of processors in a data processing system based on two criteria. The first criterion is a prediction of the performance that the work currently running on the processor will experience at the different frequencies that are available. The second criterion is a system-wide constraint on the total power budget allocated to processors. Based on these criteria, low-level code sets the frequency and voltage of the processors in the system to match what the operating system is currently running on them.
US07921309B1	Systems and methods for determining and managing the power remaining in a handheld electronic device Portable user devices, such as electronic book reader devices, may have a limited power supply. Power management techniques, such as current sensing, dynamic voltage measurement, and/or power state control may be used to manage power usage of such user devices.
US07921306B2	Method and system for distributing power to networked devices One embodiment disclosed relates to a system for power distribution to network devices. The system includes a plurality of network switches each having an internal power supply and a plurality of ports for connecting to the network devices and an external power supply having a plurality of output ports for connecting to the network switches. The external power supply communicates power available to the network switches. Each network switch determines amounts and priority levels of power for the network devices connected thereto, sums together the amounts at each priority level, determines additional amounts and priority levels of power required beyond the internal power supply capability, and sends a power request to the external power supply. The external power supply allocates power to the network switches depending on the power requests received.
US07921304B2	Securing data set images Accessing a data set with secret and non-secret data. A method includes accessing a data set image. The data set image comprises secret data. The data set image is derived from an authorized data set associated with a master key that authorizes access to the secret data. The master key is not provided with the data set image. The method further comprises restoring the data set image to a computing system to create a degraded data set. Data in the degraded data set other than the secret data is accessed without restoring the master key.
US07921300B2	Apparatus and method for secure hash algorithm An x86-compatible microprocessor that executes an application program fetched from memory, including a single, atomic hash instruction directing the x86-compatible microprocessor to perform the hash operation. The single, atomic hash instruction has an opcode field and a repeat prefix field. The opcode field prescribes that the x86-compatible microprocessor accomplish the hash operation. The repeat prefix field is coupled to the opcode field and indicates that the hash operation prescribed by the single, atomic hash instruction is to be accomplished on one or more message blocks. The x86-compatible microprocessor has a hash unit that is configured to execute a plurality of hash computations on each of the one or more message blocks to generate a corresponding intermediate hash value, where a last intermediate hash value that is computed for a last message block after processing all previous message blocks includes a message digest corresponding to the one or more message blocks.
US07921299B1	Partner sandboxing in a shared multi-tenant billing system The present invention relates to a system and methodology for interacting with a Subscription Platform Service (SPS) and providing data security between entities that employ such service. The system includes a component that receives a request to access an object by an entity, and a data store that stores security information on classes of the objects. A verification component employs the security information to determine whether the entity has permission to call an Application Programming Interface (API) for the object and/or operate on the object, wherein the verification component exposes the object if permission exists or masks the object if permission does not exist.
US07921295B2	Service mobility management system using XML security and the method thereof A system for managing service mobility using an extensible Markup Language (XML) electronic signature. A mobility interface stops and stores the operation of a service being currently performed. Before the service is moved, a service serializer serializes service state information and converts it into an XML form which is attachable to an electronic signature. An XML security manager creates an XML electronic signature for the Manifest file of the Java ARchive (JAR) file of a service bundle, attaches the serialized service state information to the XML electronic signature, and records it. A service installer transmits the signed JAR file to an Open Service Gateway initiative (OSGi) framework that has requested that the service be moved.
US07921294B2	Verification of encryption key Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture in which a non-reversible signature of a symmetric cryptographic key is computed, wherein the symmetric cryptographic key is used to symmetrically encrypt data at rest in a storage device. The non-reversible signature is stored in association with the symmetrically encrypted data at rest in the storage device. The non-reversible signature is used to determine validity of a cryptographic key provided by a host for accessing the symmetrically encrypted data at rest in the storage device.
US07921291B2	Method and communication system for releasing a data processing unit The invention relates to a method and a communication system for releasing a data processing unit used for processing project data of a selected project. In order to obtain project-related release of a data processing unit (90), a client requests a user right for the data processing unit (90) used for processing the project data that is part of a predetermined project. A first signature (I) is verified as to the correctness thereof. The data processing unit (90) is released to process the project data that is part of the selected project only if the verification process has established that the first signature (I) is correct.
US07921289B2	Secure compartmented mode knowledge management portal A layered defense-in-depth knowledge-based data management comprises a reception zone for authenticating a user for access to the system and an operations zone for adjudicating on a user level access to data objects stored in the system database. In addition, the data management comprises a security zone for issuing certificates of accessibility for defined users and a screening zone to interrogate data packets during processing thereof. The first line of defense is firewall protection and packet filtering preceding the reception zone.
US07921288B1	System and method for providing different levels of key security for controlling access to secured items With files secured by encryption techniques, keys are often required to gain access to the secured files. Techniques for providing and using multiple levels of keystores for securing the keys are disclosed. The keystores store keys that are needed by users in order to access secured files. The different levels of keystores offer compromises between security and flexibility/ease of use.
US07921287B2	Application level access privilege to a storage area on a computer device An application's access to storage is limited on a per application basis. The application is granted access to a portion of the storage. The application may manipulate that portion of the storage by creating distinct file structures within that portion, modifying, reading and writing files contained therein. The application is denied access to the storage area outside the granted portion. Similarly, other applications stored in the storage area follow a similar paradigm. In one embodiment, the storage area is a hierarchical file structure and applications are stored as children in the file structure. The applications, however, are mapped to indicate each are stored at the root of the file structure to prevent access to other areas of the file structure. In another embodiment, the file structure supports a shared directory that multiple applications are mapped to, also as a root directory but to another drive.
US07921286B2	Computer initialization for secure kernel Dynamic Root of Trust for Measurement (DRTM) mechanisms can be initiated, not by CPU-manufacturer-specific instructions, but by the execution of code in System Management Mode (SMM) that can modify the values stored in specific Platform Configuration Registers (PCRs) of a Trusted Platform Module (TPM). The SMM code can be verified prior to execution and it can be trusted based on the secure mechanisms used to update such code. The SMM code can restore a known, trusted state of the computing device and can initiate the measuring of subsequently executed code. In such a manner the Trusted Computing Base (TCB) can be limited.
US07921278B2	Early exit processing of iterative refinement algorithm using register dependency disable An “early exit” of an iterative refinement algorithm is implemented by effectively disabling read after write dependency stalls of newer instructions, as well as disabling the register write enable of these instructions, for the remainder of the algorithm, in addition to disabling the register write enable of these instructions. By doing so, the latency of the algorithm is reduced and the performance is increased without the complexity and potential poor performance of compare and branch instructions that might otherwise be required.
US07921275B2	Method for enabling direct prefetching of data during asychronous memory move operation While an asynchronous memory move (AMM) operation is ongoing, a prefetch request for data from the source effective address or the destination effective address triggers cache injection by the AMM mover of relevant data from the stream of data being moved in the physical memory. The memory controller forwards the first prefetched line to the prefetch engine and L1 cache, the next cache lines in the sequence of data to the L2 cache, and a subsequent set of cache lines to the L3 cache. The memory controller then forwards the remaining data to the destination memory location. Quick access to prefetch data is enabled by buffering the stream of data in the upper caches rather than placing all the moved data within the memory. Also, the memory controller places moved data into only a subset of the available cache lines of the upper level cache.
US07921272B2	Monitoring patterns of processes accessing addresses in a storage device to determine access parameters to apply Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for monitoring patterns of processes accessing addresses in a storage device to determine access parameters to apply. Processes accessing addresses of data in a storage device are monitored. The processes are granted access to the addresses according to first access parameters that indicate how to arbitrate access by processes to the addresses. A condition occurring in response to a pattern of processes accessing addresses is detected. A determination is made of one of the processes in the pattern and the address accessed by the determined process. Indication is made that second access parameters apply for the determined address. The second access parameters are used to grant access to the determined address for subsequent accesses of the indicated address.
US07921266B2	System and method of accessing memory within an information handling system A system and method of accessing memory within an information handling system are disclosed. In one form, a method of accessing memory can include detecting a first operating value of a first memory access node accessible to a first processor, and initiating operation of the first memory access node to a first data rate value. The method can also include initiating operation of a second memory access node to a second data rate value. In one form, the second data rate value can be different from the first data rate value. The method can also include enabling a first application access to either the first memory access node or the second memory access node via an operating system enabled by the processor.
US07921265B2	Data access method, channel adapter, and data access control device In an LSI implemented by a DMA chip, a BCC check block performs BCC check of cache data each time the cache data is read. In response to a check result indicating whether or not the check is completed, a CM read block turns on a BCC check bit and a BCC error bit of a data-transfer-end notification. Further, an FCC check block performs FCC check of the cache data. In response to a check result indicating whether or not the check is completed, the CM read block turns on an FCC check bit and an FCC error bit of the data-transfer-end notification. When data transfer is finished, the CM read block sends the data-transfer-end notification to a CPU via a descriptor block.
US07921264B2	Dual-mode memory chip for high capacity memory subsystem A dual-mode memory chip supports a first operation mode in which received data access commands contain chip select data to identify the chip addressed by the command, and control logic in the memory chip determines whether the command is addressed to the chip, and a second operation mode in which the received data access command addresses a set of multiple chips. Preferably, the first mode supports a daisy-chained configuration of memory chips. Preferably the second mode supports a hierarchical interleaved memory subsystem, in which each addressable set of chips is configured as a tree, command and write data being propagated down the tree, the number of chips increasing at each succeeding level of the tree.
US07921263B2	System and method for performing masked store operations in a processor A system and method for accelerated handling of masked store operations in a processor or processor-based system/chip are described. A set of instructions that support a store operation under a per-byte predicate mask is provided. The invention accelerates the handling of small transfers at arbitrary alignments, such as those used by xDSL modems to deal with ATM cells or Reed Solomon codewords.
US07921262B1	System and method for dynamic storage device expansion support in a storage virtualization environment It has been discovered that systems, methods, apparatus and software can accommodate the addition or removal of available physical storage (storage “expansion”) in a storage virtualization environment while virtual storage devices remain online and generally available to users. When a change to the available storage has occurred, new storage device geometry and configuration information reflecting the change is obtained and/or calculated. This new information is used to update mapping information used by virtualization software and/or to update information used by an operating system to manage storage devices. Such updating occurs while some or all of the virtual storage devices associated with the physical storage devices remain available to users. In some cases, I/O operations targeting a physical device are held, in a manner transparent to a user, while updating occurs.
US07921261B2	Reserving a global address space A method of operating a data processing system includes each of multiple tasks within a parallel job executing on multiple nodes of the data processing system issuing a respective system call to request reservation, without allocation of backing storage in physical memory, of a global address space defined by a range of effective addresses as global shared memory accessible to all of the multiple tasks within the parallel job. At least two of the tasks within the parallel job allocate global address spaces including a same effective address.
US07921259B2	Content network global replacement policy This invention is related to content delivery systems and methods. In one aspect of the invention, a content provider controls a replacement process operating at an edge server. The edge server services content providers and has a data store for storing content associated with respective ones of the content providers. A content provider sets a replacement policy at the edge server that controls the movement of content associated with the content provider, into and out of the data store. In another aspect of the invention, a content delivery system includes a content server storing content files, an edge server having cache memory for storing content files, and a replacement policy module for managing content stored within the cache memory. The replacement policy module can store portions of the content files at the content server within the cache memory, as a function of a replacement policy set by a content owner.
US07921258B1	Nonvolatile disk cache for data security Described is a technology by which a secondary nonvolatile storage (e.g., a flash memory device) maintains a copy of the changes made to a hard drive after a data backup operation. The backup changes are combinable with backed up data to recreate a hard drive state, whereby changes after the last backup are not lost, e.g., if the hard drive fails. The backup change data may maintain the changes at the block (e.g., allocation unit) level corresponding to hard drive blocks, or at the file level, corresponding to files or parts of files on the hard drive. The backup changes may be filtered, so that only certain data (e.g., user data) are maintained as backup change data. Read requests can be satisfied by reading data from the backup change data, or from a performance (e.g., disk) cache that may also reside on the nonvolatile storage.
US07921256B2	Memory module and memory module system A memory module and a memory module system are provided. The memory module system includes a plurality of memory modules each module comprising a plurality of memory blocks and a plurality of corresponding routers each storing a channel identification (ID) and a module ID corresponding to one or more memory blocks; and a controller configured to access the memory modules. During initialization, the controller reads and stores the channel ID and the module ID from each of the routers. The controller outputs a channel ID and a module ID that correspond to one or more memory blocks to be accessed.
US07921255B2	Duplicate SD interface memory card controller A memory controller for a memory card such as an SD card with an additional host interface such as a USB interface comprises a duplicate SD interface. Embodiments with two SD interfaces may also comprise a card reader controller chip that can be turned off by the memory controller when the USB interface is not needed. Incorporation of the additional SD interface in the controller allows for an economical or off the shelf card reader controller to be employed.
US07921251B2	Globally unique transaction identifiers In one embodiment of the present invention, a method includes identifying a transaction from a first processor to a second processor of a system with a transaction identifier. The transaction identifier may have a value that is less than or equal to a maximum number of outstanding transactions between the two processors. In such manner, a transaction field for the transaction identifier may be limited to n bits, where the maximum number of outstanding transactions is less than or equal to 2n. In various embodiments, such a transaction identifier combined with a source identifier and a home node identifier may form a globally unique transaction identifier.
US07921250B2	Method to switch the lock-bits combination used to lock a page table entry upon receiving system reset exceptions A method, system, and computer instructions for changing the lock-bits combination used to lock a resource upon receiving a system reset exception. The present invention forces the software to use different lock-bits combinations based on the number of occurrences of system reset exceptions. When a system reset exception is received, a system reset exception bit value in a special purpose register is updated based on the history of system reset exception occurrences. Based on the updated value in the system reset exception bit, the lock-bits combination for locking a resource is changed to allow the data processing system to reuse the resource with bad lock-bits. In this manner, the deadlocked resource is resolved, and a processor is not able to obtain an indefinitely held lock on system resources caused by system reset exceptions.
US07921247B1	Sharing a dynamically located memory block between components executing in different processor modes in an extensible firmware interface environment A block of memory is allocated from a volatile memory device, such as a main system random access memory. The memory block is allocated dynamically and has a dynamically assigned memory address. The memory address of the memory block is shared between a master component executing within an EFI environment and one or more slave components executing within the same and/or different processing modes, such as a system management mode. The memory address is used by the master component to access the memory block and also used by the slave components to access the memory block.
US07921246B2	Automatically identifying available storage components A method for automatically identifying available storage components within a storage system, which are appropriate for storing consumer data in compliance with specified service level objectives (SLOs), including discovering available storage components; identifying and assigning service levels provided by each available storage component, wherein identifying and assigning service levels provided by each available storage component, includes classifying the available storage components based on their type of technology, and determining the SLO relevant capabilities of the available storage components; and storing resultant mapping of service levels to available storage components in a metadata repository.
US07921244B2	Data sharing and transfer systems and methods A communication system may include one or more communication interfaces, a controller, and a storage unit. The communication interface(s) may be configured to be coupled to first and second computing devices. The controller is configured to establish a communication channel between the first and second computing devices. The first and second communication interfaces are coupled with the controller, and the controller is further configured to receive from at least one of the first and second computing devices a communication command communicated in a first format consistent with an external storage device protocol. The storage unit is coupled with the controller and contains a set of instructions recognizable and executable by the first and second computing devices for converting communication requests from at least one of the first and second computing devices to the communication command. The controller is configured to be recognizable by at least one of the first and second computing devices as a storage device controller.
US07921242B1	Fibre channel elastic FIFO delay controller and loop delay method having a FIFO threshold transmission word adjuster for controlling data transmission rate In a circuit coupled to a port of a network having a loop architecture, a read/write pointer controller provides a read and a write pointer to track transmission words stored in a FIFO array. The read/write pointer controller also provides a FIFO level indicator to track the total number of transmission words in the FIFO array. A dynamic threshold controller tracks transmission word insertions and deletions in the FIFO array for a predetermined period of time and provides a threshold level adjustment signal based on the tracked transmission word insertions and deletions and a transmission word threshold level. A FIFO level adjuster provides transmission word insert and delete commands and adjusts the threshold level of the FIFO array in response to the threshold level adjustment signal.
US07921238B2	USB host system and method for transferring transfer data A USB host system includes: a USB host module having a USB host function for performing USB transfer to/from a USB device; a different-function module having a predetermined function using transfer data that is to be an object of the USB transfer; at least one shared memory shared between the USB host module and the different-function module; and at least one dedicated memory exclusively used by the USB host module. At least part of management data for performing the USB transfer is stored in the dedicated memory.
US07921237B1	Preserving data integrity of DMA descriptors A storage system includes a host computer coupled to a device to transfer a DMA descriptor between the host and the device. An integrity manager manages the integrity of the DMA descriptor between the host computer and the device. The integrity manager embeds a host-side DMA descriptor integrity value in the DMA descriptor and the device transfers the DMA descriptor to a device memory. The device generates a device-side DMA descriptor integrity value and compares it to the host-side DMA descriptor integrity value to determine if the descriptor is corrupted.
US07921235B2	Identifying a cable with a connection location The illustrative embodiments provide a cable management system, a computer program product, a cable, a method for manufacturing a cable, and a method for guiding a user in identifying a connection location for a cable of interest. A processor, in a data processing system, receives a cable identification from the cable of interest. The processor then matches at least one connection location with the cable of interest based on the cable identification. Responsive to matching the at least one connection location with the cable of interest, the processor activates an indicator that identifies the at least one connection location for connecting the cable of interest.
US07921232B2	System using internet application for automatically monitoring image-forming device and sharing collected device information among departments within a company A method and system for monitoring, controlling and diagnosing operation of a machine such as a business office machine including a facsimile machine, a copier, and a printer. When the speed of communication between the remote device and machine is not urgent, a connectionless mode of communication may be used. The form of connectionless communication is an electronic mail message transmitted over the Internet. However, when a condition needs urgent action, a direct connection is used for communication such as communication via a telephone or ISDN line. The information obtained from the machine is stored in one or more data bases within a company and information of the machine is shared between a service department, engineering and design department, manufacturing department, and marketing department. As communication over the Internet via electronic mail is not secure, the connectionless-mode messages transmitted using Internet electronic mail are encrypted.
US07921225B2	Routing messages in a client server environment over multiple networks A messaging system, method, and computer program product is disclosed, including a client device having stored therein a client application, which is adapted to be executed by the client device, a server having stored therein a server application, which is adapted to be executed by the server, a plurality of wireless networks, each of which is adapted to communicate messages between the client device and the server, and support one or more wireless network protocols, a protocol gateway encapsulating a fundamental network protocol, which underlies each of the one or more wireless network protocols, means for communicating a message between the client application and the server application, over a selected wireless network protocol through the protocol gateway, independent of the selected wireless network protocol, and a message router for routing the message between the protocol gateway and the server, the message router including means for authenticating an origin of the message, wherein the authenticating means authenticates the origin before the message is routed by the message router, and a database, which is accessible by the message router and adapted to store information relating to routing and authentication of the message. Moreover, the present invention features methods of communicating such messages over wireless networks efficiently, without requiring significant bandwidth, a valuable resource in wireless networks.
US07921221B2	Method and apparatus for obtaining digital objects in a communication network With techniques for obtaining digital objects (e.g., songs or video clips) from information providers in data communication networks (e.g., the Internet), the digital objects typically being sent through channels (e.g., Internet radio channels or Internet TV channels), end-users gain several advantages over prior techniques. For example, end-users may easily locate desired digital objects, need not be connected during object capture, can be connected through a low speed connection, need not have a high capacity computer, can receive supplemental information associated with the digital objects, can quickly scan a vast number of digital objects having been sent earlier, need not have storage space for the digital objects available during object capture, can easily navigate through a multitude of digital object channels, can easily obtain objects with a certain desired quality and/or format, can legally obtain digital objects at no cost and can prove that the digital objects were actually obtained legally.
US07921220B2	Reducing occurrences of two-phase commits in a multi-node computing system Techniques are disclosed for reducing the number of two-phase commits required to perform atomic transactions in a multi-node system. By monitoring atomic operations that require two-phase commit protocols, a system may identify when it would be beneficial to consolidate data onto single (or at least fewer) compute node(s). In doing so, a less compute intensive commit protocol, such as a one-phase commit protocol may be used. Moreover, in situations where data consolidation is not available, the data may be migrated to compute nodes having a closer proximity. Thus, in such cases, network response times for two-phase commits required for an atomic operation may be reduced, thereby increasing the performance of a multi-node system.
US07921219B2	Maintaining protocol adjacency state with forwarding failure In one embodiment, a method generally includes establishing a routing protocol peer relationship and a Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) session with a neighbor node, receiving a DOWN BFD event signal from the neighbor node, and maintaining a routing protocol adjacency down state following successful exchange of routing protocol packets with the neighbor node. An apparatus for maintaining protocol adjacency state with a forwarding failure is also disclosed.
US07921211B2	Agile network protocol for secure communications using secure domain names A secure domain name service for a computer network is disclosed that includes a portal connected to a computer network, such as the Internet, and a domain name database connected to the computer network through the portal. The portal authenticates a query for a secure computer network address, and the domain name database stores secure computer network addresses for the computer network. Each secure computer network address is based on a non-standard top-level domain name, such as .scom, .sorg, .snet, .snet, .sedu, .smil and .sint.
US07921210B1	Policy system throttling and load balancing A method and system to control call admissions into data networks is disclosed. A network device has a port to receive a pre-authentication request associated with a call and a status memory to store system status information. A processor in the device is configured to determine if the pre-authentication request can be granted based upon the system status information. The method receives a pre-authentication request associated with a call and accesses system status information. The method then determines if the request can be granted.
US07921206B2	Visibility and control of wireless sensor networks A computer implemented technique framework, prototype tool and associated methods that provide a high degree of visibility and control over the in-field execution of software in a minimally intrusive manner wherein developer-defined correctness tests and validation logic are embedded into the sensor node itself, making in-field software testing autonomous without necessitating continuous developer participation.
US07921205B2	Website load testing using a plurality of remotely operating agents distributed over a wide area Website load testing using agents is disclosed. An address of a website and a window of time in which to perform a load test are received. The address and the window of time are distributed to a plurality of remotely operating agents, distributed over a wide area. Each agent in the plurality is to access the website at the received address during the window of time to load test the website. Data from the plurality of agents is received upon passage of the window of time, describing a load placed upon the website by the plurality of agents. The received data describing the load placed upon the website is presented. Alternatively, a script may be used to load test a website, the script a series of commands to be executed across the website as a simulation of a transaction, the script to be executed in the window of time.
US07921204B2	Message testing based on a determinate message classification and minimized resource consumption A system and method are disclosed for routing a message through a plurality of test methods. The method includes: receiving a message; applying a first test method to the message; updating a state of the message based on the first test method; and determining a second test method to be applied to the message based on the state.
US07921203B2	Specifying associations among attributes of entities in Specifying associations among attributes of entities in a data center, the data center comprising a facility that houses computers and equipment supporting computer operations, the entities including the computers and the equipment, some attributes associated with a resource domain, the resource domain composed of a physical characteristic shared by some of the computers and equipment, including inducing, by a management module within the data center, a change in a value of a first attribute of a first entity; monitoring, by the management module within the data center, a change in a value of a second attribute of a second entity; determining whether the monitored change in the second attribute correlates with the induced change in the first attribute; and, if the monitored change in the second attribute correlates with the induced change in the first attribute, specifying an association among the first attribute, the second attribute, and the resource domain.
US07921197B2	Dynamic configuration of virtual machines A computer implemented method for configuring virtual internal networks for testing is provided. The method includes deploying a virtual firewall and deploying a public switch enabling access to an external local area network through a first interface of the virtual firewall. A private switch enabling access to a plurality of virtual machines through a second interface of the virtual firewall is provided. The plurality of virtual machines define a private network behind the firewall. A network address is assigned to the virtual firewall and a private address is assigned to each of the virtual machines. The plurality of virtual machines are then tested through a test launcher in communication with the public switch.
US07921196B2	Adaptive file delivery with transparency capability system and method An adaptive file delivery system and method transmits a data file, such as an audio-video file, over a network or collection of networks in segments, each segment transmitted during a different time period. Each time period has a transmission portion to transmit its associated file segment and a wait portion in which no further interaction with the network occurs regarding the transmitted segment. In some implementations, the duration of the transmission portion of each time period is sufficient to reach a steady-state throughput condition, which allows the traffic load status of the network or networks to be determined from rate measurements of file segment transmissions. The duration of the wait portion of each time period is at least long enough to limit the average rate of file segment transmission to adapt to network traffic load variations while causing the entire file to be delivered in a predetermined delivery deadline.
US07921194B2	Method and system for remote access to universal plug and play devices A method for remote access to one or more Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) resources in a network is provided. An access policy for discovery of a UPnP resource in the network is maintained. Upon receiving a remote discovery request from a remote requester over a communication link, the access policy is consulted and it is determined if the resource is discoverable. If the resource is discoverable, then resource information is provided to the requester over the communication link.
US07921190B2	Method and system for interactively configuring a network device A method and system for interactively configuring a network device is disclosed. A computer based method interactively configures a network device such as a router. A document is displayed to a user of a client computer, which is coupled to the network device via a network. The document contains a configuration for the network device in a text format. The user edits the document to make a change in the configuration of the network device. The change in the configuration is sent to the network device. The change can be sent without sending the entire configuration.
US07921188B2	Computer system partitioning using data transfer routing mechanism A computer system is described having a plurality of resources which includes a plurality of processors, a distributed point-to-point transmission infrastructure for interconnecting the plurality of processors, and a partitioning processor for configuring the plurality of resources into at least one partition. Each partition comprises a subset of the plurality of resources. The partitioning processor is operable to configure the resources by enabling at least one link between at least one of the plurality of processors and at least one other one of the plurality of processors according to a previously specified partitioning schema. The link(s) so enabled corresponds to a portion of the point-to-point transmission infrastructure.
US07921185B2	System and method for managing switch and information handling system SAS protocol communication An SAS domain map is automatically generated at an SAS concentrator switch by a virtual mapping device that presents itself as a target for discovery by SAS devices interfaced with the concentrator, such as information handling systems and storage devices. During the SAS protocol discovery process, the virtual mapping device generates the SAS domain map by acquiring the device name and the device port for each concentrator port that interfaces with a device. A management application running on the concentrator applies the SAS domain map to provide network functions, such as zoning or diagnostics.
US07921184B2	System and method for performing flash crowd caching of dynamically generated objects in a data communication network The present invention is directed towards a “flash crowd” technique for handling situations where the cache receives additional requests, e.g.,. nearly simultaneous requests, for the same object during the time the server is processing and returning the response object for a first requester. Once all such nearly simultaneous requests are responded to by the cache, the object is flushed from the cache, with no additional expire time or invalidation action needed. This technique of the present invention enables data to be cached and served for very small amounts of time for objects that would otherwise be considered non-cacheable. As such, this technique yields a significant improvement in applications that serve fast changing data to a large volume of concurrent users, such, for example, as real time stock quotes, or a fast evolving news story.
US07921178B2	Device, system, and method of accessing storage Device, system, and method of accessing storage. For example, a server includes: a Solid-State Drive (SSD) to store data; a memory mapper to map at least a portion of a storage space of the SSD into a memory space of the server; and a network adapter to receive a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) read command incoming from a client device, to map one or more parameters of the SCSI read command into an area of the memory space of the server from which data is requested to be read by the client device, said area corresponding to a storage area of the SSD, and to issue a Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) write command to copy data directly to the client device from said area of the memory space corresponding to the SSD.
US07921172B2	Apparatus, system, and method for wireless presyncing of data An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for wireless presyncing of data. A scan module scans a partial email stored on a mobile electronic device. The partial email comprises subject text, address data, and a specified quantity of message text. A complete version of the partial email resides on a server. The server is in communication with the mobile electronic device over a wireless network. A download module determines if the partial email satisfies a priority policy. In addition, the download module downloads the complete email to the mobile electronic device if the partial email satisfies the priority policy.
US07921170B2	Method for virtual electronic mail address generation and usage A method and system creates virtual email identifications and dynamically map the virtual email-ids to the real email identities. A virtual email identify will be described in a specific fixed syntax that is easy for the users to remember and implement. The virtual email-id is dynamically mapped to one or more real email-ids by using a database of employees or other personnel maintained by the organization. The database can have various configurations that will be a function of the organization of the entity and the relationships of the persons in the entity.
US07921167B2	Virtual electronic card based networking The computer implemented method and system disclosed herein enables online networking based on exchange of virtual electronic cards between a plurality of users. An online networking environment is provided to a user. The user creates a personal profile in the online networking environment. Further, the user may create a company profile or link with an existing company profile. A virtual electronic card of the user is automatically created in the online networking environment. The virtual electronic card is one of a personal electronic card and a company electronic card. A personal contact network of the user is established in the online networking environment by exchanging personal electronic cards between the user and the plurality of users. Further, a company contact network of the company of the user is established by exchanging company electronic cards between the company of the user and a plurality of companies.
US07921166B2	Methods and systems for accessing email A system is provided that prints email messages. The system includes a document surrogate that represents one or more email messages and a multifunction device that at least one of prints, scans, emails, faxes, and copies one or more documents. The multifunction device includes a scanning element that scans the document surrogate and electronically encodes information contained therein, a retrieval component that retrieves the one or more emails based at least in part upon information contained in the document surrogate; and a printing element that prints the one or more emails retrieved. The information is associated with at least one of the location, content, and status of the one or more email messages.
US07921164B2	Method and apparatus for stopping output of a correspondence Method and apparatus for stopping output of a correspondence are provided. A correspondence is created and it is determined whether an automatic flag is defined in the user settings for the correspondence and if the automatic flag is set. If it is determined that the automatic flag is not defined in the user settings, it is determined whether an automatic flag is defined in customizing for the correspondence. If the automatic flag is not set in the user settings or the automatic flag is not defined in the customizing, the correspondence is stored in a storage area and output is initiated. The correspondence is then rendered.
US07921163B1	Routing and displaying messages for multiple concurrent instant messaging sessions involving a single online identity Routing and displaying instant messages includes receiving a first request to establish a first instant messaging session associated with an instant messaging online identity assigned to a user using a first instant messaging controller. The first instant messaging session is established in response to the first request, where the first instant messaging session includes a first state. A second request from the user is received to establish a second instant messaging session associated with the instant messaging online identity assigned to the user using a second instant messaging controller that differs from the first instant messaging controller. The second instant messaging session is established in response to the second request, where the second instant messaging session includes a second state. An instant message designated for the instant messaging online identity assigned to the user is received and a determination is made on where to route the instant message based on routing criteria. The routing criteria includes the first state of the first instant messaging session and the second state of the second instant messaging session. The instant message is routed based on the determination of where to route to the instant message.
US07921160B2	Initiating instant messaging (IM) chat sessions from email messages Systems and methods for integrating instant messaging (IM) services and email services are described. In one embodiment, among others, an email message is received and an IM chat session is automatically initiated from the email message. In some embodiments, the initiation of the IM chat session may be subject to certain programmable criteria.
US07921159B1	Countering spam that uses disguised characters Computer-implemented methods, apparati, and computer-readable media for countering spam that disguises characters within an electronic message (1). A method embodiment of the present invention comprises locating (36) portions of an electronic message (1) where the difference between foreground color and background color is negligible; deleting (37) from the electronic message (1) foreground characters from said portions, to form a redacted electronic message; and forwarding (33) the redacted electronic message to a spam filter (23).
US07921158B2	Using a list management server for conferencing in an IMS environment The present invention uses a list management server for specifying conference participants in an IMS environment. More specifically, a conference list can be established for a standard list management server. The conference list can be a group list that is identified with a unique public URI. The group list can include multiple members, where each member can be identified by a member URI. Members can be specific participants associated with a user specific URI and/or can be a group of participants. When the conference is initiated, a new communication session can be instantiated and a conferencing application execute. After session instantiation, participants included in the conference list can join the session.
US07921157B2	Duplicating digital streams for digital conferencing using switching technologies Using switching technologies to duplicate packets of a digital stream (e.g., digital video stream) sent from one workstation to multiple recipient workstations, where the switching technologies enable the multiple streams sent from the switch to the recipient workstations to be generated from a single digital stream sent from the sending workstation to the switch. Data units, such as video data units, may be transmitted by using a switch to enable receipt of a stream of data units including a payload portion and an attribute portion from at least two conferencing participants. The switch is used to duplicate at least a subportion of the payload portion of a data unit within the stream of data units, and to enable access to the duplicated subportion of the data unit by two or more conferencing participants.
US07921156B1	Methods and apparatus for inserting content into conversations in on-line and digital environments Content is inserted into conversations hosted on a takeoff site using creatives that provide lures and links to other material that users engaged in the conversation might find helpful and relevant. Such insertions are made in a contextually meaningful fashion through the use of a matching and decision process that determines best candidate creatives and an appropriate time and place for their insertion into the conversation.
US07921153B2	Methods and apparatuses for selectively displaying information to an invited participant In one embodiment, methods and apparatuses are provided for allowing an invited participant to access a customized web page; programming a first content for the invited participant; displaying the first content on the customized web page to the invited participant; and automatically displaying a second content to the invited participant based on displaying the first content to the invited participant.
US07921152B2	Method and system for providing user control over receipt of cookies from e-commerce applications A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product are presented for processing cookies that are transmitted from a server through a proxy server to a client that is operated by a user. The proxy server detects that a response message from the server for the client has an associated cookie. The proxy server extracts a domain identifier associated with the server from the response message, and the proxy server retrieves a set of parameters that contain domain identifiers that are associated with indications of whether to block transmission of cookies from servers associated with the domain identifiers. The proxy server then processes the cookie in the response message in accordance with the retrieved set of parameters and the extracted domain identifier, either blocking or not blocking cookies from the identified domain. Blocked cookies are cached for subsequent use. Multiple sets of parameters may be configured by the user.
US07921149B2	Division and square root arithmetic unit A division and square root arithmetic unit carries out a division operation of a higher radix and a square root extraction operation of a lower radix. A certain bit number (determined on the basis of a radix of an operation) of data selected from upper bits of the output of a carry save adder and the output of the adder are input to convert the data into twos complement representation data, and the twos complement representation data is shifted a certain bit number (determined on the basis of the radix of the operation) to use the shifted data for a partial remainder of the next digit. Hence, a large number of parts such as registers of a divisor and a partially extracted square root can be commonly used in a divider and a square root extractor to realize an effective and high performance arithmetic unit.
US07921145B2	Extending a repetition period of a random sequence A method is provided for extending a sequence repetition period of a random number generator in systems based on the availability of random sequences. The method includes performing RNS arithmetic operations to express a random number in a sequence as RNS residue values. Each generated random number has a value between zero and n!−1. The method also includes converting each of the RNS residue values to a relatively prime base number system so that each of the RNS residue values includes at least one digit. The method further includes generating an arbitrary permutation ordering of output sequence numbers using a select combination of digits associated with each of the RNS residue values. The arbitrary permutation ordering is applied to a cyclic structure having n elements. Each of the n elements has an associated output sequence number.
US07921141B2	Mechanism for supporting indexed tagged content in a general purpose data store A schema identifies a field in a document as a key field. Using an XML schema, the key field can be identified by attaching a property to the element or attribute to be used as a key field (if the XML schema standard is modified to support properties). Otherwise, attributes can be used to identify the element or attribute that is to be a key field. Fields can be primary keys, secondary keys, or foreign keys, as supported by data stores. The data store can analyze the schema to determine which fields are key fields. The key fields can be duplicated in the native format of the data store for use in indexing, searching, and other data store functions on the documents. The documents themselves can be stored as objects, into which the data store cannot reach, or can be stored in the native format of the data store, as desired.
US07921139B2	System for sequentially opening and displaying files in a directory A system for sequentially opening and displaying files in a directory, including a processor, at least one directory including a plurality of electronic files, software executing on the processor for receiving a request to open and display a first one of the plurality of electronic files, software executing on the processor for receiving a next file request, and software executing on the processor for opening a next file in the at least one directory upon receiving the next file request.
US07921137B2	Methods and systems for providing semantic primitives Methods and systems consistent with certain aspects of the present invention may manage the generation, modification, and publication of documents. In one aspect, a computer-implemented method is disclosed for managing documents implemented in a business processing chain. The method may include receiving a request from a first computing entity to generate a document for electronic publication and determining, by a second computing entity, a first object to be included in the document. The method may also include analyzing, by the second computing entity, a first semantic primitive associated with the first object, the first semantic primitive reflecting a class describing a characteristic of the first object and being stored in a document definition associated with the document. Further, the method may include generating, by the second computing entity, a first document model based on a result of the analysis, wherein the first document model and document definition are used to publish the document.
US07921135B2	Method and system for collecting online merchandising data A method and system for automating electronic merchandising and product recommendation by creating a third party merchandising product database populated with data obtained directly at the point of sale. According to one embodiment, collection or direct importation of such data from an existing physical source or a product or merchandising database, which can be complex and costly, is not required. As a result, the cost of creating a usable merchandising system and database is reduced.
US07921131B2	Method using a hierarchy of servers for query processing of column chunks in a distributed column chunk data store An improved system and method for query processing in a distributed column chunk data store is provided. A distributed column chunk data store may be provided by multiple storage servers operably coupled to a network. A storage server provided may include a database engine for partitioning a data table into the column chunks for distributing across multiple storage servers, a storage shared memory for storing the column chunks during processing of semantic operations performed on the column chunks, and a storage services manager for striping column chunks of a partitioned data table across multiple storage servers. Query processing may be performed by storage servers or query processing servers operably coupled by a network to storage servers in the column chunk data store. To do so, a hierarchy of servers may be dynamically determined to process execution steps of a query transformed for distributed processing.
US07921129B2	Evaluating queries against in-memory objects without serialization At least one implementation described herein relates to evaluating queries structured according to a first format against one or more objects structured according to a second, different format without serializing the object. Typically, evaluating an XML (eXtensible Markup Language) query against a CLR (Common Language Runtime) object required serializing the CLR object and deriving an XML construct from the serialized data. The query is then be evaluated against the XML construct. In the described implementations, significant system resources are realized by creating an infoset model that maps properties of an object to an object infoset. The query is then evaluated using the infoset to locate object values and, thus, no serialization is required. Dynamically generated IL is used and re-used to efficiently perform subsequent evaluation steps on similar queries.
US07921128B2	Method and system for merging disparate virtual universes entities A migration tool for merging disparate virtual universes by selecting a source region or source account, selecting a destination edge or destination account, retrieving and storing virtual universe information for the source region or account, inserting the virtual universe resources of the source region or account into the destination region or account, activating the inserted resources, and deleting the source resources from the source region or account.
US07921126B2	Patent summarization systems and methods Methods for patent summarization are disclosed. A digital file comprising an issued patent document or a published application is acquired. At least one claim string is acquired from the digital file. Multiple elements are acquired from the claim string. A part-of relationship architecture among a portion of the elements is generated according to the claim string. At least one is-a relationship for at least one of the elements is generated according to the claim string. At least one association relationship for at least one of the elements is generated according to the claim string. The part-of relationship architecture, as-is relationship and association relationship are displayed.
US07921120B2	Method and system for image recognition using a similarity inverse matrix A method and system for recognizing images are described. Embodiments of the invention apply techniques of the Levenshtein algorithm for matching or searching one-dimensional strings for comparing graphical contents of 2D images.
US07921117B2	Method and system for adaptive prefetching A cache server (18) may prefetch one or more web pages (30) from an origin server (16) prior to those web pages being requested by a user (13). The cache server determines which web pages to prefetch based on a graph (42) associated with a prefetch module (40) associated with the cache server. The graph represents all or a portion of the web pages at the origin server using one or more nodes (130) and one or more links (100) connecting the nodes. Each link has an associated transaction weight (102) and user weight (104). The transaction weight represents the importance of the link and associated web page to the origin server and may be used to control the prefetching of web pages by the cache server. The user weight may be used to change a priority (46) associated with a request (22) for a web page. The user weight and transaction weight may change based on criteria (50) associated with the origin server.
US07921112B2	Data management system and method to host applications and manage storage, finding and retrieval of typed items with support for tagging, connections, and situated queries A data management method to host applications and manage storage, finding and retrieval of typed items with support for tagging, connections, and situated queries is provided.
US07921107B2	System for generating query suggestions using a network of users and advertisers A system is described for generating query suggestions using a network of users and advertisers. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store a data representing a network comprising query items linked to advertisement items via link items, wherein each link item comprises a weight representing the strength of the relationship between each query item and advertisement item, a search query item, and a relevance value for each query item. The processor may be operatively connected to the memory and the interface and may identify the data representing the network and receive a search query item. The processor may calculate a relevance value for each additional query item in the network based on its relationship to the received search query item. The processor may then suggest the query items with the highest relevance values to the user via the interface.
US07921106B2	Group-by attribute value in search results Search results are ranked by applying sub-relevancies within a search result list. This permits search result lists to be further refined into more manageable relevant groupings from a user's perspective. The sub-relevancies or ‘group-by’ parameters are derived from search result attributes. Attribute values from the attributes are employed in a ranking scheme to group the search results based on attribute value relevancy. The grouped search results can then be displayed to users via a search result page. In one instance users can select which attribute value is used to group the search result list. Ranking processes are based on object ranking algorithms that consider each attribute value as an object type. Some instances provide for search result list group condensing based on relevancy of the attribute values as well. A top-k instance can be employed to limit the search results to control the amount of time required for processing groupings.
US07921105B2	Bioitem searcher, bioitem search terminal, bioitem search method, and program According to one aspect of the present invention, a bio-item searching apparatus searches for a target bio-item with a keyword input by a user. In the bio-item searching apparatus, the storage device stores a bio-item literature set having a literature in which the bio-item name is described for each of bio-items. The control device searches each of the bio-item literature sets with the keyword to acquire the number (Nh) of literatures including the keyword for each of the bio-items, selects the bio-item in which the number-of-literatures Nh is 1 or larger as a candidate bio-item, creates, for each of the candidate bio-items, a number-of-literatures table constituted by any one or both of a) the number-of-literatures Nh, and b) the number of literatures each not including the keyword and including the bio-item name (the number of literatures in the bio-item literature set of the bio-item—Nh), calculates a correlation score between the bio-item and the keyword based on statistical calculation by using the number-of-literatures table for each of the candidate bio-items, and outputs the candidate bio-items to the output device based on the correlation score.
US07921101B2	Index maintenance for operations involving indexed XML data A method and system are provided for maintaining an XML index in response to piece-wise modifications on indexed XML documents. The database server that manages the XML index determines which nodes are involved in the piece-wise modifications, and updates the XML index based on only those nodes. Index entries for nodes not involved in the piece-wise modifications remain unchanged.
US07921096B2	Emergency facility information system and methods A system for providing telecommunications equipment information and customer information that includes a display and a processor. The display displays a graphical user interface that allows a user to access the equipment information and the customer information. The graphical user interface includes at least one input area that allows a user to input search criteria, related to at least one of equipment data and customer data, to initiate a search. The graphical user interface also includes at least one results area that displays a result of the search, the result including at least one of the equipment information and the customer information related to the search criteria. The processor implements the search for at least one of the equipment information and the customer information in response to the input search criteria.
US07921092B2	Topic-focused search result summaries Techniques for automatically generating and displaying topic-focused summaries for search results are disclosed. Users can “peek” inside a search result to see document excerpts that pertain specifically to a user-selected topic. Thus, a user can view the aspects of a document that are most interesting prior to deciding whether to retrieve the complete document. For each search result, a user can select from among several different available summaries, each of which focuses on a different topic of the document to which that search result refers. According to one aspect, key concepts are automatically identified in a document. For each such key concept, contextual snippets that pertain to that key concept are automatically selected. The key concepts are displayed to the user at search time. A summary that contains the contextual snippets that pertain to a user-selected key concept is displayed in response to the user's selection of that key concept.
US07921091B2	System and method for providing a natural language interface to a database A system and method for providing a natural language interface to a database or the Internet. The method provides a response from a database to a natural language query. The method comprises receiving a user query, extracting key data from the user query, submitting the extracted key data to a data base search engine to retrieve a top n pages from the data base, processing of the top n pages through a natural language dialog engine and providing a response based on processing the top n pages.
US07921087B2	Method for query processing of column chunks in a distributed column chunk data store An improved system and method for query processing in a distributed column chunk data store is provided. A distributed column chunk data store may be provided by multiple storage servers operably coupled to a network. A storage server provided may include a database engine for partitioning a data table into the column chunks for distributing across multiple storage servers, a storage shared memory for storing the column chunks during processing of semantic operations performed on the column chunks, and a storage services manager for striping column chunks of a partitioned data table across multiple storage servers. Query processing may be performed by storage servers or query processing servers operably coupled by a network to storage servers in the column chunk data store. To do so, a hierarchy of servers may be dynamically determined to process execution steps of a query transformed for distributed processing.
US07921086B1	Deterministic space management in deduplication applications Deterministic space management queries are answered in a deduplication context. A block subkey data structure comprises a subkey (a subset of the bits of a corresponding hash key identifying a block) and refcount (an indication of the total number of objects that reference a given block) for each block in a deduplication store. For each object, an object subkey data structure is maintained. An object subkey data structure comprises a list of subkeys corresponding to blocks referenced by that object. To answer a space management query concerning a given object set, a corresponding object set subkey data structure is created, comprising an entry for each block referenced by at least one object in the object set. Each entry comprises a subkey identifying that block and an object set refcount for that block. The data structures are utilized to efficiently answer space management queries.
US07921082B2	File recovery under linux operating system Methods and systems for recovering data utilize a command line interface of a data-processing system, run by an operating system such as Linux, Unix, DOS, Windows, Mac and the like, to recover and manage inadvertently deleted data. Desired data such as files, folders, and the like can be initially identified from a command line interface. The desired data can then be automatically saved in a memory location of the data-processing system, in response to identifying the desired data from the command line interface. The data can then be automatically recovered from the memory location of the data-processing system for display within the command line interface, if the desired data is inadvertently deleted. Additionally, a user can be permitted to specify a plurality of recycling rules presented through a graphical user interface dialog or other graphical user interface device.
US07921079B2	Auditing of wireless network node databases Synchronizing database files of a central node with database files of a local node in which the central node is coupled to the local node via a communication link. The communication link performance being continuously monitored via a periodic signal sent back and forth between the central node and local node. Information indicative of the files of the central database are integrated with the monitoring signal portion sent from the central node to the local node and a determination is made whether the files integrated with the monitoring signal corresponds with files of the local database via indications in the monitoring signal portion returned from the local node.
US07921074B2	Information processing system and information processing method An information processing system includes a recognition portion that recognizes a document shown in a given space, a detection portion that detects an event occurring in the given space, and an index-giving portion that gives information on the event detected by the detection portion to the information on the document recognized by the recognition portion, as an index for search.
US07921072B2	Methods and apparatus for mapping source schemas to a target schema using schema embedding Methods and apparatus are provided for mapping XML source documents to target documents using schema embeddings. According to one aspect of the invention, one or more edges in the one or more source schemas are mapped to one or more paths in at least one target schema. The disclosed mapping techniques ensure that (i) one or more source documents that conform to one or more of the source schemas can be recovered from one or more target documents that conform to the at least one target schema, if a mapping exists between the one or more of the source schemas and the at least one target schema; (ii) queries on one or more source documents that conform to one or more of the source schemas in a given query language can be answered on one or more target documents that conform to the at least one target schema; and (iii) the one or more target documents conform to a target schema.
US07921070B2	Method and apparatus for identifying message field names The invention includes a method and apparatus for identifying a field name. The method includes a receiving a message comprising a plurality of fields, each field having a field name, and processing each of a plurality of characters of the received message for identifying the field names, where each character is processed using a plurality of associated arrays. A current character extracted from the received message id processed using a current array selected from the plurality of arrays. The current array used for processing the current character is adapted for identifying one of: (1) one of the plurality of field names or (2) an identifier for identifying a next array for processing the next character extracted from the received message.
US07921065B2	Ontology system for context-aware, method thereof, and recording medium storing the same Provided are an ontology system, a method for managing the ontology system, and a recording medium storing the same. The ontology system includes: a context broker unit for receiving context information from a sensing device and verifying a validity of the received context information; a context managing unit for controlling to generate an ontology structure by transforming the verified context information from the context broker unit to ontology web language (OWL) data and processing the OWL data; a rule-based inference engine unit for transforming the processed context information from the context managing unit to semantic web rule language (SWRL) data and processing the SWRL data through an inference process; a learning managing unit for processing the processed context information from the context managing unit through learning; and a database for storing the context information processed at the context managing unit, the rule-based engine unit, and the learning managing unit.
US07921063B1	Evaluating electronic mail messages based on probabilistic analysis A computer system can evaluate electronic messages based on probabilistic analysis, including Bayesian analysis. In one embodiment, a data processing system comprises logic configured for perform training a probabilistic filter using first properties of one or more first network resource identifiers obtained from a whitelist; training the probabilistic filter using second properties of one or more second network resource identifiers obtained from a blocklist; testing third properties of a third network resource identifier using the probabilistic filter, resulting in creating a probability output; and adding the third network resource identifier to the blocklist when the probability output is greater than a specified threshold. The blocklist can be communicated to messaging gateways in the field for local use in evaluating messages that contain spam or other threats.
US07921062B2	Dynamic allocation of postal security devices A system for dynamically allocating one or more postal security devices (PSDs), includes an indicia pool utilizing PSDs for generating indicia, a download pool for refreshing PSD funds, and a means for allocating the one or more PSDs among the indicia pool and download pool according to indicia generating requirements and funding amounts within the one or more PSDs.
US07921061B2	System and method for simultaneous price optimization and asset allocation to maximize manufacturing profits Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention provide for a system and method for simultaneous price optimization and asset allocation to maximize manufacturing profits. In one embodiment, a set of price points for the item and a set of expected demand values for each price point are determined. A supply-side constraint which models inventory, replenishment, and capacities associated with replenishment and a joining constraint, which requires that the set of expected demand values be equal to a planned supply of the item, are determined. A demand-side constraint is determined. Further, an objective function to maximize profits is determined, based on the set of price points, the set of expected demand values, and subject to the supply-side, joining, and demand-side constraints. Based on the objective function, an optimal price profile for the item is provided.
US07921059B2	Licensing upsell A licensing system provides for various versions of an application within a software product. A license type is identified from a product key that is associated with the software product. The license type may correspond to a hybrid license. When the license type is a hybrid license, an application state is determined for any applications included in the software product. A use experience for the applications is provided according to the application state when the application state is determined. For applications that are provided as upgradeable versions, an upgrade may be obtained by simply obtaining a new product key that is associated with the upgraded versions of the applications.
US07921053B2	Method and system for conducting electronic auctions with multi-parameter price equalization bidding An auction is conducted by obtaining, from a buyer, information associated with a product to be purchased using an auction, where the buyer purchases the product from a winning bidder. The obtained information associated with the product is made available to at least a first bidder and a second bidder. A first bid that includes a first price and a first non-price information is received from the first bidder. A second bid that includes a second price and a second non-price information is received, from the second bidder. Non-price information is associated with (1) a description of a particular product a given bidder will provide in the event the given bidder wins the auction and/or (2) delivery of a product by the given bidder in the event the given bidder wins the auction. A first comparison value is generated based at least in part on the first price and the first non-price information. A second comparison value is generated based at least in part on the second price and the second non-price information. The first comparison value and the second comparison value are compared and the winning bidder of the auction is selected based at least in part on the comparison.
US07921048B2	Financial planning and counseling system projecting user cash flow A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for generating an online, web-enabled financial model accessible over the Internet. A service level agreement that defines a level of financial management desired by a user is provided. A user is prompted to input financial information relative to the user. The financial information is stored in a database. A prospective cash flow of the user is aggregated over a predetermined amount of time based on the service level agreement and the financial information. The prospective cash flow is then output to the user. As an option, the user may be allowed to re-input the financial information if the prospective cash flow is deemed unacceptable by the user. A risk analysis may be executed if the prospective cash flow is deemed acceptable by the user. Further, advice based on the financial information may be output if the prospective cash flow is deemed acceptable to the user.
US07921047B2	Business system simulator Users of a simulator gain skills for investing using a simulator. The simulator simulates a business system that conducts a market transaction. The simulator selects a set of factors from a plurality of sets; selects a current factor from the selected set; and determines a price in accordance with the current factor. The simulator further updates a financial position of the user of the simulator in response to a transaction; and performs the transaction in accordance with the price and an input from the user. The input from the user corresponds in content to an input to the business system. Consequently, the user develops skill in specifying market transactions to be conducted by reviewing changes in the user's financial position. The simulator may include a simulated competitor having a financial position affected by transactions according to a strategy of the competitor selected from a set of stored strategies.
US07921045B1	Method for offering insurance products without a complete audit of a potential purchaser A system and method are provided that identify and assess potential areas of exposure for insurance underwriting purposes and allows for the reduction or potential elimination of extensive analysis of such areas of exposure by insurance companies, and also allows for immediate underwriting of risk in reliance of the system's results. The system employs methodologies for use to determine compliance with laws, such as tax laws and retirement and welfare laws in international Class 35, and printed insurance application forms, investigative questionnaires and instructions manuals in international Class 16. In another aspect, the present invention is a system and method for measuring the adequacy of the security required under the fiduciary prudence and prohibited transaction provisions of The Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, (ERISA), for loans made to a plan participant from the plan, which are secured by the participant's remaining account balance in the plan.
US07921043B2	Intelligent reconciliation of database transfer errors A method and mechanism identify various discrepancies that commonly arise when downloading transactional data from one database to another, and provide an ordered sequence of user interface tools to correct each type of discrepancy.
US07921042B2	Computer processes for identifying related items and generating personalized item recommendations A computer-implemented service analyzes purchase histories and/or other types of behavioral data of users on an aggregated basis to detect and quantify associations between particular items represented in an electronic catalog. The detected associations are stored in a mapping structure that maps items to related items, and is used to recommend items to users of the electronic catalog.
US07921041B1	System and method for allowing a vehicle owner to obtain a vehicle repair estimate An Internet-based (web-based) system and method for allowing a vehicle owner to obtain a fair repair estimate for a vehicle. The system and method allows information relating to the vehicle to be repaired and the components of the vehicle to be repaired or replaced to be entered by the vehicle owner into the user interface of a repair estimating website. Geographic location information may also be provided to facilitate the preparation of a more accurate estimate. The system and method retrieves necessary information from one or more databases and provides the information to one or more software applications that are used to quickly generate an electronic repair estimate. Various options may be selected to customize the repair estimate and to allow for other actions.
US07921037B2	Personalized messaging determined from detected content Personalized messages can be generated according to contents detected in communications between parties to a commercial transaction. The information streams between parties is monitored; spoken keywords, images, video or textual data are detected by pattern recognition, voice recognition or text matching. One or more subjects of the communication detected from recognized keywords, images, video or text data are used to generate a personalized message to one or more participants according to the detected subjects.
US07921036B1	Method and system for dynamically targeting content based on automatic demographics and behavior analysis The present invention is a method and system for selectively executing content on a display based on the automatic recognition of predefined characteristics, including visually perceptible attributes, such as the demographic profile of people identified automatically using a sequence of image frames from a video stream. The present invention detects the images of the individual or the people from captured images. The present invention automatically extracts visually perceptible attributes, including demographic information, local behavior analysis, and emotional status, of the individual or the people from the images in real time. The visually perceptible attributes further comprise height, skin color, hair color, the number of people in the scene, time spent by the people, and whether a person looked at the display. A targeted media is selected from a set of media pools, according to the automatically-extracted, visually perceptible attributes and the feedback from the people.
US07921035B2	Parked webpage domain name suggestions Systems and methods of the present invention allow for providing suggested domain names on parked webpages. A parked webpage is placed on a website associated with an original domain name. A domain name module generates suggested domain names based on the properties of the original domain name (e.g. WHOIS records). Suggested domain names are displayed on the parked webpage. A user may visit the parked webpage with the intention to check if the original domain name is available for registration. The original domain name is already registered, but the user may notice an appealing domain name among the suggested domain names. Then the user may register, purchase, or backorder it. The invention may be used as a marketing technique for registration, sale, or resale of the domain names.
US07921022B2	Multi-passenger multi-route travel planning Multiple passenger multiple route travel queries are solved using travel planning systems that receive multiple, individual queries to produce individual solutions that meet joint travel requirements. The multiple, individual sub-queries are merged to produce joint solutions for the passenger groups.
US07921019B2	Unique identity trading charms for a secure controlled internet communication system A method and product for the establishment and continued use of a secure online communication network between known and intentional acquaintances utilizing unique individual encoded exchanged objects, purchased by a purchaser and given to individuals known by the consumer, comprising a key object used to establish a closed network by the purchaser or host, and a plurality of exchanged token objects given to members or friends to whom an offer to join the closed network is extended, each exchanged token object containing a unique code required to log into the closed network, wherein communication may be held between the host and their friends without intrusion by persons outside the closed network.
US07921017B2	Systems and methods for voice control of a medical device The invention is generally directed to systems and methods for medical care, and more particularly to systems and methods for voice control of a medical device. A first embodiment includes a voice controlled surgical system, such as a phacoemulsification system, a microphone coupled to the surgical system, and a voice controlled computer interface coupled with the surgical system. The voice controlled interface is configured to receive a request to invoke a voice command via the microphone, to listen for a voice command upon receipt of a valid request to invoke a voice command, and to forward a valid voice command upon receipt of the valid voice command to the surgical system for execution.
US07921014B2	System and method for supporting text-to-speech A system for generating high-quality synthesized text-to-speech includes a learning data generating unit, a frequency data generating unit, and a setting unit. The learning data generating unit recognizes inputted speech, and then generates first learning data in which wordings of phrases are associated with readings thereof. The frequency data generating unit generates, based on the first learning data, frequency data indicating appearance frequencies of both wordings and readings of phrases. The setting unit sets the thus generated frequency data for a language processing unit in order to approximate outputted speech of text-to-speech to the inputted speech. Furthermore, the language processing unit generates, from a wording of text, a reading corresponding to the wording, on the basis of the appearance frequencies.
US07921008B2	Methods and apparatus for voice activity detection A method for detecting voice activity comprises pre-processing a first frame in an audio frame sequence, receiving a subsequent frame as a current frame, calculating weighted linear prediction energy of the current frame based on Nth-order linear prediction coefficients, determining whether the current frame contains a noise or speech, if a speech is indicated, performing linear prediction analysis on the current frame to derive new Nth-order linear prediction coefficients and updating the coefficients with the derived one; if a nose is indicated and not the last frame, repeating the calculating and determining process. The corresponding device comprises a component for storing Nth-order linear prediction coefficients, a component for performing linear prediction analysis, a component for computing weighted linear prediction energy and a component for determining whether the current frame contains speech or noise based on calculated weighted linear prediction energy.
US07921005B2	Method for selecting conductors of an overhead power transmission line Methods for selecting a conductor configuration of an overhead power transmission line tension section between two dead-end towers when the conductor configuration includes at least two different types of conductors. Geographical profile information and overhead power transmission line preferences are used along with predetermined selection rules when selecting the appropriate conductor configuration. Some examples of overhead power transmission line preferences include electrical characteristics and conductor sag between towers, while examples of selection rules include conductor costs and conductor tension.
US07921004B2	Methods and apparatus for analyzing transmission lines with decoupling of connectors and other circuit elements Methods and apparatus are provided for analyzing transmission lines with decoupling of connectors and other circuit elements. According to one aspect of the invention, circuits with one or more parasitic elements are analyzed by partitioning at least one of the parasitic elements in a transverse manner; identifying a plurality of subcircuits each comprised of partitioned circuit elements from the plurality of transmission lines and one or more parasitic elements in a given path; wherein each of the subcircuits is associated with a path in the circuit; performing a waveform relaxation analysis between each of the subcircuits; and repeating the step of performing the waveform relaxation analysis using waveforms determined in a previous iteration until convergence to a resultant waveform has occurred. The circuit can optionally further comprise one or more transmission lines which would also be partitioned in a transverse manner.
US07921003B2	System and method for simulating shallow water effects on arbitrary surfaces A system and method for shallow water simulation may provide a framework for solving General Shallow Wave Equations (GSWE) to efficiently simulate 3D fluid effects on arbitrary surfaces using a height field representation. The height field representation may include height columns constructed along surface normals, which may be dependent on a condition of boundary cells adjacent to fluid cells and/or artificial viscosity effects. The framework may provide implicit schemes for solving for the effects of external forces applied to the fluid, including gravity and surface tension, and explicit schemes for solving for advection effects. The system and method may be implemented on general-purpose CPU(s) and/or GPU(s) and may be capable of simulating a variety of fluid effects including: waves, rivulets and streams, drops, and capillary events. In some embodiments, the system and method may achieve real-time fluid control and fluid shape design through user-interaction (e.g., in a graphical painting application).
US07921000B2	Maintenance support system for construction machine A maintenance support system for a construction machine calculates the cumulative load of every component corresponding with the driving and working conditions of the construction machine by a load calculation means after simulating the driving and working conditions on the basis of production operating conditions by an operation simulation means, and forecasts the lifespan of the respective components by a lifespan calculation means on the basis of the cumulative load. Hence, a more accurate maintenance schedule can be established in comparison with a case where which component is to be maintained is determined on the basis of only the operating time.
US07920997B2	Electric power distribution interruption risk assessment calculator Based on common weather conditions, novel methods are disclosed for the prediction of electrical power distribution interruptions and for interruption risk assessment based on immediate weather conditions. Daily, hourly, and bi-hourly weather data are used to predict the number of interruptions and to normalize reliability indices for weather. Common weather conditions include, but are not limited to, rain, wind, temperature, lightning, humidity, barometric pressure, snow, and ice. These conditions do not occur simultaneously at any one place, and the range of combinations is great, therefore the invention allows broad application of the disclosed methods.
US07920991B2	Characterizing the capacity region in multi-channel, multi-radio mesh networks A method of characterizing a capacity region in a multi-channel, multi-radio mesh network of nodes interconnected by links. The method includes: (a) modeling the network by determining one or more link-flow feasibility constraints; (b) obtaining a feasible upper-capacity bound by solving an optimization problem using the one or more link-flow feasibility constraints as necessary conditions; and (c) using an algorithm adapted to provide a feasible lower-capacity bound by (i) receiving the solution to the optimization problem as input, (ii) allocating channels to links to meet a demand vector that satisfies the one or more link-flow feasibility constraints, and (iii) scheduling flows along the allocated channels. The upper- and lower-capacity bounds define the capacity region.
US07920984B2	Measurement of vertical track modulus using space curves An on-board, non-contact measurement system and method is disclosed for measuring track quality, vertical track stiffness and vertical track modulus for a portion of track underlying the rail vehicle. The system comprises two or more position sensors for determining the position profile of the track and a computation system for determining the vertical displacement of the track.
US07920978B2	Method for detecting noise events in systems with time variable operating points A circuit for detecting noise events in a system with time variable operating points is provided. A first voltage, which is averaged over time, is compared to a second voltage. A signal is generated to instruct circuits within a processor to initiate actions to keep a voltage from drooping further.
US07920977B2	Noncontact measurement method of currents on superconductive wires connected in parallel A noncontact method for measuring currents flowing through superconductive wires connected in parallel is provided. The method includes arranging hall sensors for measuring voltage levels based on magnetic fields generated around the superconductive wires, setting a matrix relation between the measured voltage values, values of currents flowing through the superconductive wires, and a variable matrix having variables defining relations between the voltage values and the current values, applying predetermined current levels to the superconductive wires a number of times and measuring voltage values through the hall sensors, substituting the predetermined current values and the measured voltage values into the matrix relation to calculate the variables of the variable matrix, and substituting the calculated variable matrix and unknown voltage values, measured by the hall sensors when unknown currents flow through the superconductive wires, into the matrix relation to calculate values of the unknown currents flowing through the superconductive wires.
US07920971B2	Quantification schemes for quantifying nucleic acids Method and apparatus, including computer program products, implement techniques for quantifying a target nucleic acid (target) in a test sample. The techniques include providing a target and a defined initial amount of an internal control nucleic acid (control) different from the target; amplifying the target and control in a common amplification process; measuring a quantity indicating the amount of amplification product for the target and for the control in relation to a parameter representing the progress of the amplification; determining a characteristic value of the progress parameter for the target based on measurement results related to the amount of target amplification product; possibly determining a characteristic value of the progress parameter for the control based on measurement results related to the amount of control amplification product; and quantifying the original amount of target according to a predefined or selected quantification scheme using at least the characteristic value for the target.
US07920969B2	System for and method of determining a host vehicle lane change A tracking system adapted for use with communicatively coupled traveling host and remote vehicles, includes a locator device configured to determine sets of current position, and trail coordinates for each of the vehicles. The preferred system further includes sensors operable to determine a condition value for each vehicle at each of said set of coordinates, and a controller configured to determine a congruent path between the vehicles, and a congruent path divergence by the host vehicle, and cause the transmission of an alert of the divergence from the host vehicle to the remote vehicle using vehicle-to-vehicle communication.
US07920968B2	Generating human-centric directions in mapping systems Digital mapping techniques are disclosed that provide visually-oriented information to the user, such as driving directions that include visual data points along the way of the driving route, thereby improving the user experience. The user may preview the route associated with the driving directions, where the preview is based on, for example, at least one of satellite images, storefront images, and heuristics and/or business listings. The visually-oriented information can be presented to the user in a textual, graphical, or verbal format, or some combination thereof.
US07920962B2	System and method for coordinating movement of mobile drive units A method for moving one or more mobile drive units within a workspace includes receiving, from a first mobile drive unit, a reservation request requesting use of a first path segment to move in a first direction. The method further includes determining that a second mobile drive unit is currently located on the first path segment and determining whether the second mobile drive unit is moving in the first direction. Additionally, the method includes transmitting a reservation response indicating that the reservation request is denied, in response to determining that the second mobile drive unit is not moving in the first direction. The method also includes transmitting a reservation response indicating that the reservation request is granted, in response to determining that the second mobile drive unit is moving in the first direction.
US07920953B2	Four-wheel drive vehicle running control device The running control device according to the present invention has an operation stability control unit which calculates a control lateral acceleration from the actual lateral acceleration measured by the lateral acceleration sensor and the estimated lateral acceleration calculated by the estimated lateral acceleration calculation unit and which carries out a control of drive power distribution transmitted from the engine to the front wheels and the rear wheels based on the calculated control lateral acceleration. If either the estimated lateral acceleration or the control lateral acceleration differs from the actual lateral acceleration by not less than a predetermined value, the operation stability control unit carries out a control to reduce the drive power distributed to the front wheels or the rear wheels.
US07920952B2	Turning control apparatus for vehicle A turning control apparatus for a vehicle to improve turning ability and to avoid degradation of acceleration ability is provided. The turning control apparatus comprises a first yaw controller for adjusting at least one of driving torque of a left wheel and a right wheel; a second yaw controller for adjusting a speeds difference between a front wheel and a rear wheel; and an integrated yaw controller for controlling yaw momentum of the vehicle by managing the first and second yaw controller, wherein when the yaw of the vehicle should be reduced, the integrated yaw controller controls the first yaw controller so as to decrease the driving torque of a inside wheel, which is one of the right and left wheel and is near to a center axis of turning, and the second yaw controller so as to decrease the speeds difference between the front and rear wheel.
US07920951B2	Method and control system for applying defined clamping forces Disclosed are a method and a control system for applying defined clamping forces in a brake that is electrically operable by an actuator and includes a first friction surface (friction lining) and a second friction surface (brake disc). In the method, a correlation exists between the actuator position and the clamping force, and values of the clamping force as well as of the actuator position are determined. In order to improve the control quality when implementing the method, the nominal value (Fnominal) and the actual value (Fmeas) of the clamping force are filtered in each one low-pass filter (9, 10) of nth order, whose limit frequency is determined from a correlation between the actual value (nactual) of the actuator speed and the filtered value (FnominalFilt) of the clamping force, and that the filtered values (FnominalFilt, FmeasFilt) of the clamping force are transformed by means of a predefined characteristic curve into a nominal value (φnominal) and an actual value (φactual) of the actuator position.
US07920947B2	Apparatus and method providing a propulsion safeing sub-system in an agricultural windrower Apparatus and a method for monitoring the performance of control algorithms, providing a safeing subsystem for a vehicle, particularly an agricultural windrower, for determining when a controlled system such as the propulsion system is no longer tracking a reference input signal sufficiently well. An appropriate action can then be executed, such as outputting a fault signal and/or shutting down the controlled system. An exponentially decaying integrator can be used to monitor the tracking errors.
US07920941B2	Dust detection method and apparatus for cleaning robot A dust detection method and apparatus of a cleaning robot. The dust detection method involves acquiring a floor image as a current floor image of a predetermined place at a current location of the cleaning robot in the predetermined place; obtaining a difference image between the current floor image and a background image selected from a feature map consisting of a plurality of floor images of the predetermined place; and detecting a dusty area based on the difference image and adjusting a cleaning power of the cleaning robot.
US07920940B2	Portable data storage cartridge comprising a first information storage medium and a second information storage medium A portable data storage cartridge comprising a housing, a first information storage medium removeably disposed within the housing, a holographic data storage medium disposed within the housing, wherein the housing is formed to include an aperture, and wherein the holographic data storage medium is disposed adjacent the aperture.
US07920938B2	Concept for monitoring the manufacture of objects consisting of multiple material layers The manufacture of an object consisting of multiple material layers successively built up one upon the other can be monitored in an advantageous manner in that after the application of a material layer, a height profile of a circumference of the object is established, such that after the application of each material layer, a comparison with a reference information can be used for evaluating whether the preceding production step delivered a result which enables to draw the conclusion of a faultless application of the material layer.
US07920937B2	Mechanical component having at least one fluid transport circuit and method for designing same in strata A mechanical part useful in various fields of application including plastic and metal processing is produced using a computer-aided design process including a preliminary break-down of the body of the part into elementary strata, followed by manufacture of the elementary strata, and reconstruction of the part. During break-down of the part, at least one fluid transport circuit, which is designed and modeled beforehand, is broken down into elementary chambers (20) in accordance with the break-down of the part. The elementary chambers are produced in the elementary strata (7i) forming the part during manufacture of the strata, and the fluid transport circuit is reconstructed during superposition and assembly of the strata.
US07920934B2	Manufacturing system and controller, controlling method, controlling system, and control program for the manufacturing system A manufacturing system, located at a manufacturing system site, includes a discharger for discharging a liquid material having fluidity onto a substrate, communication means for transmitting and receiving data through a communication line, and monitoring means for monitoring the state of the discharger and for outputting data obtained by the monitoring through the communication means. The communication means provides communication between the monitoring means at the manufacturing system site and a server located outside of the manufacturing system site. The monitoring means receives a control command from the server through the communication means.
US07920930B2	Process for rapidly controlling a process variable without overshoot using a time domain polynomial feedback controller A method for controlling a process variable as it approaches a predetermined value (setpoint) so that the setpoint is not exceeded. The method employs a time domain polynomial equation in a feedback configuration and utilizes a controller that acts as an On/Off controller until the process variable approaches setpoint. As the process variable approaches setpoint, the controller acts as a fast responding analog controller thereby “tailoring” a control variable to precisely bring the process variable to the setpoint without exceeding or overshooting the setpoint.
US07920929B2	On-demand auto-tuner for a plant control system A method to automatically tune control systems, the method comprising selecting a target loop transfer function for at least one plant subsystem in response to an input excitation, selecting at least one fit-error criterion for a plant subsystem transfer function, and automatically inputting the input excitation and tuning the plant subsystem transfer function to the target loop transfer function. The tuning includes automatically selecting a bandwidth of the plant subsystem transfer function from a plurality of bandwidths determined in accordance with limits of the plant subsystem, inputting the input excitation to the plant subsystem, determining the fit-error of the plant subsystem transfer function to the target loop transfer function in response to the input excitation, and continuing the selecting of a bandwidth in accordance with the fit-error criterion.

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