最新美国发明专利第2012-01-24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
US08100924B2	Surgical implant A surgical implant suitable for treatment of hernias is provided. The implant comprises a mesh having a residual maximum mass density of 50 g/m2. The mesh comprises strands forming spaces and the strands comprise filaments forming pores. The spaces and pores are sized to minimise foreign body mass for implantation and to encourage integration of the implant. The mesh may be delivered using Dual Phase Technology™ for ease of handling, cutting and placement. The Dual Phase Technology™ may include encapsulation or coating with hydrogel.
US08100923B2	Suture locking device and methods The present invention relates to devices and methods for securing a pair of suture lengths together or for using a single strand of suture to secure tissue(s) together at an operative site in a patient without necessarily tying a knot. The suture lock device may include a suturing securing device having an outer body member having a lumen extending therethrough, the lumen defining a suture path through the outer body, an inner wedge member axially insertable into the outer body member to secure a portion of a suture between the wedge and the interior surface of the lock member, an outer tube carrying the outer body member at the distal end of the outer tube, the outer tube carrying the wedge proximal to the outer body member, and a pusher member slidable within the outer tube to push the wedge into the lock member.
US08100922B2	Curved needle suturing tool A needle delivery device is described and includes generally, a needle made of a shape memory alloy pre-formed in an unconstrained configuration, such as, for example, an arc or a curved needle. The needle delivery device also includes a needle delivery guide, a suturing guide and a positioning member. The needle has an eye at its leading tip for holding suture material. The needle delivery guide has a needle channel for passage of the needle therethrough. The needle channel is configured to hold the needle in a constrained configuration, for example, in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the needle channel. The suturing guide is pivotally connected to the delivery guide. The positioning member moves the suturing guide between an extended position and a collapsed position, wherein, in the extended position, the suturing guide is configured to stabilize the tissue and guide the needle in its unconstrained configuration and to enable access by, for example, a grasper or other tool, to the suture material.
US08100918B2	Apparatus for deployment of micro-coil using a catheter The apparatus for deployment of a therapeutic device such as a micro-coil detachably mounts the therapeutic device to a distal portion of a pusher member. In one embodiment, the therapeutic device is detachably mounted to the distal portion of the pusher member by a tubular collar that can be heated by a heater such as an electrical resistance coil to expand the collar and release and deploy the therapeutic device. The apparatus for deployment of a therapeutic device such as a micro-coil may also provide for a pusher member and a connector fiber for securing the therapeutic device to the pusher member. The connector fiber passes through a heater within the distal portion of the pusher member, for heating and breaking the connector fiber to release the therapeutic device when a desired placement of the therapeutic device within the vasculature is achieved.
US08100917B2	Methods and instrumentation for distraction of a disc space Methods and instrumentation for surgical procedures relating to preparation of vertebral bodies and a disc space for insertion of spinal implants is disclosed. One instrument is a shim having a blade and a shaft having a first end connected with the blade. The blade is inserted into a distracted disc space to maintain distraction during subsequent procedures. Another instrument is a driver for driving the blade of the shim into the distracted disc space. Various methods contemplate the use of these instruments to maintain disc space distraction during disc space preparation for receiving an implant.
US08100916B2	Instrument for inserting, adjusting and removing a surgical implant An instrument for inserting, adjusting and engaging an implant, such as a polyaxial screw of a spinal fixation system, includes at least one retractable tab for engaging a corresponding recess on the implant and a shaft that moves relative to the retractable tab. The movable shaft selectively moves the tab between an expanded position for engaging the recess and a retracted position out of engagement with the recess. The shaft selectively engages a portion of the implant to rigidify the implant after the retractable tab engages the recess. The axially extending shaft may be disposed within an axially extending passageway of a body assembly. A rotatable collar surrounding the body assembly is coupled to the shaft for moving the shaft relative to the retractable tab.
US08100915B2	Orthopedic implant rod reduction tool set and method A tool set for implanting a rod in a human spine in conjunction with bone screws. The tool set includes a pair of end guide tools that receive opposite ends of the rod in channels and under manipulation by a surgeon facilitate transport of the rod toward the bone screws attached to the guide tools. Intermediate guide tools having guiding pass through slots are utilized to guide intermediate locations along the rod toward associated bone screws. An attachment structure operably connects the guide tools to the bone screws. The guide tools each include a lower guide and advancement structure to allow a closure top with mating structure to be rotated and driven downward against the rod and to cooperate with similar structure in the bone screw to seat and lock the rod therein. A method utilizing the tool set allows a surgeon to percutaneously implant the rod in the patient.
US08100914B2	Method and apparatus for the treatment of the intervertebral disc annulus The present invention provides methods and devices for treating the annulus of an intervertebral disc. The methods and devices can employ an expandable treatment device which is deployed at least partially in the subannular space. Fixation devices and methods are also disclosed, which help to secure the treatment device in place.
US08100912B2	Surgical sagittal saw with quick release indexing head and low blade-slap coupling assembly A surgical sagittal saw with a head that is able to index, rotate, relative to the longitudinal axis of the saw housing. The head has a neck that extends into an open distal end of the housing. A biasing assembly holds the head and neck sub-assembly in the open distal end of the housing. The biasing assembly is rotatable relative to the housing. A separate lock mechanism selectively holds the head in a fixed orientation around the saw housing longitudinal axis.
US08100910B2	Intramedullary interlocking fixation devices for the distal radius Methods and devices for treating fractures in or adjacent the wrist and distal forearm employ an intramedullary interlocking fixation rod (i.e, it interlocks the distal and proximal fracture fragments together) to stabilize the skeletal structure in a manner which can inhibit the amount of collapse or loss in skeletal length exhibited by a patient with a distal radius fracture.
US08100908B2	Thermal cautery devices with improved heating profiles Thermal cautery and thermal ligating devices improved by the addition of a thermally conductive plate proximate the resistive heating element used in those devices.
US08100906B2	Electrosurgical instrument The invention relates to an electrosurgical instrument for cutting and/or coagulating a tissue to be treated, comprising at least one cutting electrode for conducting a high-frequency (“HF”) current through the tissue for carrying out a cutting process and comprising power supply devices for supplying the HF current at least to the cutting electrode. The design of the electrosurgical instrument is improved so that the cutting process can be carried out with an increased reliability while prolonging the serviceable life of the cutting electrode at the same time. To this end, the cutting electrode is mounted on the electrosurgical instrument in a manner that enables it to rotate about a rotation axis and comprises at least one cutting area which is provided in the form of a helical curve or similar three-dimensional curve running around the rotation axis and which is arranged in such a manner that when the cutting electrode rotates about the rotation axis it is active over its length in sections on the tissue when a section falls below a defined minimum distance from the tissue and/or is located within a defined window area.
US08100904B2	Treatment tool for endoscope A treatment tool for an endoscope includes a flexible sheath, with a transparent portion near a distal end thereof, which is inserted into and ejected from a treatment tool insertion channel of the endoscope, a rod-shaped treatment piece arranged into the flexible sheath, an operation wire arranged inside the flexible sheath with a distal end thereof being connected with the rod-shaped treatment piece such that the rod-shaped treatment piece is projected back and forth from the distal end of the flexible sheath by operating the operation wire, and a mobile indicator formed at the rod-shaped treatment piece or a portion of the operation wire near the distal end thereof to move along with movement of the rod-shaped treatment piece and to be visually recognized through the transparent portion of the flexible sheath from an outside of the flexible sheath.
US08100903B2	Sphincterotome improvement A sphincterotome comprising a tensioning mechanism to adjust relative tension between a filament and shaft thereof. In one embodiment, the tensioning mechanism adjusts relative tension and or length at a connection of the sphincterotome handle assembly to one or both of the shaft and filament. In another embodiment, the tensioning mechanism adjusts relative tension and or length where it is disposed along the filament.
US08100901B2	Ablation probe with echogenic insulative sheath Tissue ablation probes are provided. Each tissue ablation probe comprises an electrically conductive probe shaft, at least one tissue ablation electrode carried by a distal end of the probe shaft, and an electrically insulative outer sheath disposed on the probe shaft. The sheath is at least partially composed of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and another material comprising condensed-phase particles interspersed throughout the PEEK to increase the echogenicity of the outer sheath. The durability of the PEEK allows the sheath to be formed as thinly as possible, thereby minimizing the diameter of the ablation probe, while the inclusion of condensed-phase particles within the PEEK does not significantly degrade the durability of the sheath.
US08100900B2	System for delivering therapy The system of the preferred embodiments includes a first rotational element, a second rotational element, and a therapeutic source coupled to the rotational elements. The system permits simultaneous attachment to and movement around a surface of tissue, preferably during an ablation procedure (either during lesion creation or between lesion creation events), or during any other suitable procedure. The therapeutic source functions to translate along the path of tissue and deliver therapy as the first and second rotational elements rotate and roll along the path of tissue. The therapeutic source preferably delivers contiguous doses of therapy along the path of tissue. The system is preferably designed for delivering therapy to tissue and, more specifically, for delivering therapy to cardiac tissue. The system, however, may be alternatively used in any suitable environment and for any suitable reason.
US08100899B2	Combined endocardial and epicardial magnetically coupled ablation device A device for automatically aligning bipolar electrodes on opposing sides of operative tissue is provided for performing minimally invasive RF ablation. The device includes complementary magnetic electrode assemblies, each having a permanent magnet mechanically coupled to and electrically insulated from an electrical conductor. When positioned on opposing sides of tissue such as an atrial wall, the complementary assemblies automatically align their respective electrical conductors through mutual magnetic attraction to complete an electrical circuit. Each electrical conductor may provide an alignable elongated transmitting element adjacent to a magnetic coupling surface to allow for ablation of linear segments of tissue. Each electrode assembly includes mechanical linkage for coupling to an intracorporeal positioning device and a wire receiving terminal for connection to an external generator.
US08100898B2	System and method for return electrode monitoring A system for determining probability of tissue damage is disclosed. The system includes an electrosurgical generator adapted to generate an electrosurgical current and a plurality of return electrodes adhered to a patient and adapted to couple to the electrosurgical generator. Each of the return electrodes includes an impedance sensor attached thereto. The system also includes a current monitor connected in series with each of the plurality of the return electrodes to measure the electrosurgical current passing therethrough and a processor coupled to each of the current monitors. The processor is configured to calculate a cooling factor and a heating factor for each of the plurality of the return electrodes. The processor further configured to determine probability of tissue damage for each of the plurality of the return electrodes as a function of the cooling factor and the heating factor.
US08100893B2	Laser catheter calibrator A catheter assembly is disclosed according to one embodiment of the invention. The assembly includes a catheter body, a housing and a detector. The catheter includes a distal tip, a proximal end, and a fiber optic extending between the proximal end and the distal tip. The housing may include a channel adapted to support at least a portion of the distal tip of the catheter. The may be detector disposed within the housing so as to be spaced a fixed distance from the distal tip of the catheter. Methods for providing and calibrating a catheter supported within housing are also disclosed according to other embodiments of the invention.
US08100891B2	Medical appliance with magnetic adjustment apparatus A medical appliance with an adjustment apparatus, such that cleaning of the medical appliance, constructed with the adjustment apparatus, can be carried out reliably and simply. The medical appliance includes a first setting device disposed at an outer side on a housing of the appliance, and a second setting device disposed in the interior of the appliance. The second setting device is designed to actuate a setting element for adjustment of a controllable and/or regulatable device. The first setting device and the second setting device each comprise magnet elements, by which the first setting device cooperates with the second setting device in such a way that the one setting device actuates the other setting device for the transmission of adjustments, the cooperation of the setting devices being achieved by way of a magnetic coupling.
US08100887B2	Enclosure-based reduced pressure treatment system A reduced pressure treatment appliance is provided for enclosing and providing reduced pressure treatment to a portion of a body of a patient. The reduced pressure treatment appliance may be used to treat wounds and other conditions, such as lymphedema, varicose veins, venous insufficiency and stasis, and other infirmities. In some embodiments, the appliance includes an enclosure that encloses the portion of the body to be treated for purposes of applying a reduced pressure to the enclosed portion of the body. In other embodiments, the wound treatment appliance also includes a vacuum system to supply reduced pressure to the portion of the body to be treated in the volume under the enclosure. Finally, methods are provided for using various embodiments of the treatment appliance.
US08100886B2	Aspirator assembly An assembly structured to aspirate nasal cavity of individuals including, but not limited to, children. A hand held and hand operative casing includes a negative pressure source preferably battery operated, and a cover assembly removably connected to the casing and structured to at least partially define a receiving chamber. An inlet assembly is formed in the casing and communicates with the negative pressure source at least partially by means of a path of fluid flow. A container is removably disposed within the receiving chamber in a predetermined, operative orientation sufficient to receive and collect a predetermined portion or phase of the aspirated fluid, such as mucus is removed from the nasal cavity. The path of fluid flow is disposed, dimensioned and structured to restrict passage of the heavier, predetermined portion or phase of the aspirated fluid thereby facilitating its collection within the container, which is disposable along with the collected aspirated fluid after use.
US08100881B2	Flexible medical device for clot removal from small vessels A medical device and method of applying said medical device to deliver drugs and to remove thrombus or soft tissue clots from vascular or other lumens in a patient is presented. The medical device generally comprises an elongated tubular delivery member having a proximal portion and a distal portion that differ in rigidity and a leak-free connector that is in contact with the proximal portion of the delivery member and is compatible for use with fibrinolytic agents and application of a vacuum. The delivery member includes a metal core made out of multiple shaped-wire strands and a polymer overlay disposed about the core. The wire strands, which have both an A-side and a B-side, are helically wound to form a polygonal shaped lumen whose inner diameter is defined by the A-side of the strands.
US08100880B2	Automated therapy system and method An automated therapy system having an infusion catheter; a sensor adapted to sense a patient parameter; and a controller communicating with the sensor and programmed to control flow output from the infusion catheter into a patient based on the patient parameter without removing fluid from the patient. The invention also includes a method of controlling infusion of a fluid to a patient. The method includes the following steps: monitoring a patient parameter with a sensor to generate a sensor signal; providing the sensor signal to a controller; and adjusting fluid flow to the patient based on the sensor signal without removing fluid from the patient.
US08100873B2	System and method for collecting exudates A reduced pressure treatment system includes a porous pad positioned at a tissue site and a canister having a collection chamber, an inlet, and an outlet. The inlet is fluidly connected to the porous pad. A reduced pressure source is fluidly connected to the outlet of the canister to such that fluid from the tissue site may be drawn into the collection chamber. A hydrophobic filter is positioned adjacent the outlet to prevent liquid from exiting the collection chamber through the outlet. A baffle is positioned within the canister to create a tortuous path between the inlet and the outlet to prevent premature blocking of the hydrophobic filter.
US08100866B2	Needleless access port valves Needleless access port valves are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to needleless access port valves having a pliant valve housing interacting with an inlet connector assembly. The pliant valve housing has an integrally formed valve stem and one or more ports. The valve stem cooperates with a nozzle on the inlet connector assembly to form a slip port, which can open when exerted by force to permit flow or closes when the force is removed.
US08100860B2	Device and method for treating vulnerable plaque A device and method is provided for localized agent delivery through a coronary vessel. In one configuration, the device includes an elongated member having a first and second end with a tip and an aperture positioned near the second end. An injection lumen places the first end of the elongated member in fluid communication with the aperture, permitting fluids such as contrast agent or therapeutic agents to be delivered therebetween. In an exemplary method, the device is tracked through a bend in the coronary anatomy, forcing the tip of the device toward the greater curve and through the vessel wall. The aperture may advanced to the desired location and agents may be delivered through the device into target tissue or space. Other configurations and embodiments of the device and method are presented.
US08100858B2	Protective device for an injection needle Protective devices for injection needles or infusion needles that include a needle holder at a proximal end of the needle, on whose shaft a protective element for the needle tip can be positioned and moved, are herein disclosed. The protective element is configured to block the needle tip following an injection to prevent accidental contact therewith. The protective element may be positioned on the shaft in a ready to use position inside a grip part or middle retaining portion, which is also used to activate the protective element over the needle following the injection.
US08100857B2	Method and apparatus for indicating or covering a percutaneous puncture site Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying and deploying a protective cover about a percutaneous puncture site formed by a hypodermic needle. In the preferred embodiment, a marking agent or puncture site covering, the latter of which preferably takes the form of a bandage, is releasably secured upon either the needle hub of the hypodermic needle or on a sliding member or sleeve axially moveable along the length of said needle that forms a marking or detaches therefrom once compressed about the puncture site.
US08100855B2	Methods and devices for eluting agents to a vessel Systems, devices and methods for eluting an agent at a treatment site are disclosed. The devices include an expandable frame and at least one membrane. The membrane may carry an agent to elute at the treatment site. The membrane may allow blood flow at the treatment site during agent delivery.
US08100853B2	Methodology for drug delivery device with sliding valve Drug delivery devices adapted to receive liquid medication vials to fill a reservoir, utilize sliding through valves that are closed except when driven by force of liquid medication pushed by a plunger to an open position to feed the medication via needle to a patient or via a connection to an IV port. The devices have multiple seals and automatically close up when pressure on the plunger is released. The methodology is also included.
US08100850B2	Pyloric valve devices and methods A pyloric valve is provided for inhibiting the flow of chyme through the pyloric region of the gastrointestinal tract. The pyloric valve includes a blocking portion having at least one axially-aligned annular flange defining a central opening and a support having a rim and a support surface. The support may be disposed in a nested position wherein the support surface is disposed within the central opening and an inverted position wherein the support surface is disposed away from the central opening. The pyloric valve may further include a sleeve that may have a beveled distal end. The pyloric valve may be constructed of silicon. Also provided are methods of inserting and removing the pyloric valve, which each include a step of manipulating the support between its inverted and nested positions. Insertion and removal systems are also provided for use with the pyloric valve.
US08100847B2	Protective skin cover A protective skin covering has at least three distinct layers that can be worn on multiple parts of the human body. An inner layer substantially surrounds an area over which a protective skin covering is to be worn, and is constructed of soft, non-abrasive fabric. A middle layer provides padding to protect a wearer against impact with foreign objects. An outer layer is a durable, flexible, material (such as, for example, nylon or other similar material) that protects the middle layer, protects the skin of the wearer, resists wear and tear, and provides a surface for decorative designs or other attractive features.
US08100838B2	Variable stiffness guidewire systems A variable-stiffness guidewire system which comprises an elongated flexible guidewire. The guidewire has a body and a guidewire head coupled to the body. The guidewire head is slidably moveable with respect to a guidewire collar of the body to adjust a stiffness of the guidewire. A tool is utilized with the guidewire to engage the guidewire head and move the guidewire head a desired distance from the guidewire collar to achieve a desired stiffness. The tool has a first mechanism that is configured to selectively deploy an insert to be positioned between the guidewire head and the guidewire collar. The insert maintains the desired stiffness of the guidewire.
US08100835B2	Arterial pulse decomposition analysis for vital signs determination Determining physiological life signs, with a sensor that is in contact with the surface of a patient's skin at point proximate an artery, and measuring arterial blood vessel displacement and/or blood pressure changes. A data stream of measurements of is collected and a set of parameters from the collected data, a number of physiological life signs parameters, is extracted from the data. The physiological life signs that can be extracted include heart rate, breathing rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure.
US08100834B2	Method and system for monitoring oxygenation levels of a compartment for detecting conditions of a compartment syndrome A method and system for continually monitoring oxygenation levels in real-time in compartments of an animal limb, such as in a human leg or a human thigh or a forearm, can be used to assist in the diagnosis of a compartment syndrome. The method and system can include one or more near infrared compartment sensors in which each sensor can be provided with a compartment alignment mechanism and a central scan depth marker so that each sensor may be precisely positioned over a compartment of a living organism. The method and system can include a device for displaying oxygenation levels corresponding to respective compartment sensors that are measuring oxygenation levels of a compartment of interest. The method and system can also monitor the relationship between blood pressure and oxygenation levels and activate alarms based on predetermined conditions relating to the oxygenation levels or blood pressure or both.
US08100832B2	Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus A transmission wave corresponding to an FM continuous wave having been subjected to an FM modulation processing is transmitted from a transmitting transducer. A pre-amplifier generates a reception RF signal and outputs the reception RF signal to a receiving mixer. The receiving mixer applies orthogonal detection to the reception RF signal to generate a complex signal. A reference signal supplied to each mixer in the receiving mixer is generated based on an FM continuous wave output from an FM modulator. The FM continuous wave output from the FM modulator is delayed by a delay circuit, and one signal is directly supplied to a mixer whereas the other signal is supplied to a mixer via a π/2 shift circuit. The delay circuit applies a delay processing in accordance with a depth of a target position within a living organism to the FM continuous wave.
US08100829B2	System and method for providing a health score for a patient A system and method for providing an indicator of a patient's health. The system may include a data module receiving data relating to a patient's health, the data including subjective data, a conversion module generating an output from the data, the output representing the patient's health, and a display module displaying the output and a standard output for a user to compare with the output. A method of providing a customizable system for generating an indicator of a patient's health, the method including providing a system including a data module, a conversion module generating an output via a first algorithm, and a display module displaying the output and a standard output generated by a second algorithm, and customizing at least one of the first and second algorithms according to preferences of a user.
US08100826B2	Apparatus and methods relating to expanded dynamic range imaging endoscope systems The apparatus and methods herein provide quantitatively controllable light sources and expanded dynamic range endoscopy systems that can improve the quality of images and the ability of users to distinguish desired features when viewing tissues by providing methods and apparatus that improve the dynamic range of images from endoscopes, in particular for example with endoscopes that have dynamic range limited because of small image sensors and small pixel electron well capacity, and other optical system constraints. The apparatus and methods herein, for example, combine light sources with quantitatively variable spectral output and quantitatively variable wavelength dependent intensity distribution with image sensors and controllers to create an expanded dynamic range endoscopy system. By digitally combining illumination data from the digitally controllable light source with the digital image data from the image sensor the system synthesizes expanded dynamic range images whose dynamic range exceeds the dynamic range of the image sensor alone thus providing greatly enhanced information content in the acquired images.
US08100820B2	Implantable device for treatment of ventricular dilation A device and method for reducing ventricular dilation by placing one or more cardiac bridges into vessels extending along a length of the ventricle. Each cardiac bridge preferably includes a pair of anchors and a bridge member secured therebetween. The tension in the bridge member is increased to compress the ventricle and thereby reduce the dilation. In another embodiment, the bridge member is tensioned to reshape the left ventricle for reducing tension on the chordae tendinae in the heart to improve valve function.
US08100819B2	Electroactive polymer based artificial sphincters and artificial muscle patches Provided are artificial muscle patches, which are adapted to be implanted adjacent a patient's heart, and artificial sphincter cuffs, which are adapted to be implanted around a body lumen, such as the urethra, the anal canal, or the lower esophagus. The devices of the present invention comprise: (a) one or more electroactive polymer actuators; and (b) a control unit for electrically controlling the one or more electroactive polymer actuators to expand or contract the devices.
US08100803B2	Hydraulic clutch control mechanism for a multi-mode hybrid transmission An electrically variable transmission (EVT) selectively establishes various EVT modes and a neutral mode. The EVT includes a source of pressurized fluid, fluid-actuated clutches, various solenoid-actuated valves including trim valves and blocking valves adapted to control a flow of pressurized fluid to the clutches to establish the transmission operating modes, and an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU actuates different combinations of the solenoid-actuated valves to establish the different transmission modes. The solenoid-actuated valves are configured in such a manner as to provide the EVT with one or more default operating modes in the event the ECU temporarily loses electrical power. Depending on the particular configuration, the default modes can be the neutral mode alone, or the neutral mode combined with one or more of the EVT modes, with the EVT modes enabled by providing one or both of the blocking valves with a latching feature.
US08100801B2	8-speed hybrid transmission The hybrid transmission has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The hybrid transmission includes a motor/generator, three planetary gear sets, five torque-transmitting devices, one fixed interconnection, three external gear sets and a final drive gear set. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is continuously connected to one of the planetary gear members and an output member that is continuously connected with one of the external gear sets. The five torque-transmitting devices provide interconnections between various planetary and external gear members, the input shaft, and the transmission housing, and are operated in combinations of three to establish eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio.
US08100800B2	Integrated motor cooling/clutch backfill system for use in a hybrid transmission A fluid is supplied to a housing of a hybrid transmission. An overall system line pressure is elevated to induce leakage of the fluid through a control system. The leaked fluid is flowed through at least one backfill passage to the housing of the hybrid transmission. The leaked fluid is flowed over the motors disposed within the housing to cool the motors. The fluid that is flowed over the motors is collected to create a head pressure within the housing. The head pressure forces the collected fluid upwards within the transmission housing and into clutches that are disposed therein.
US08100799B2	Method and system for controlling power inverters in electric drives of vehicles with two-mode transmissions Methods and systems for driving an automobile are provided. The system includes a prime mover power source and a two-mode, compound-split, electro-mechanical transmission, including first and second motors, coupled to the prime mover power source, a power inverter coupled to the first and second motors, and a processor coupled to the first and second motors and the power inverter. The processor is configured to modify a signal controlling the power inverter utilizing a first voltage distortion compensation method if a modulation index of the signal is less than a first modulation index value and modify the signal utilizing a second voltage distortion compensation method if the modulation index is at least equal to the first modulation index value.
US08100797B2	Method for forming a tilting zone on a transverse element for a push belt for a continuously variable transmission A method for forming a convex tilting zone (23) at a main body-surface (11) of a transverse element for application in a push belt for a continuously variable transmission comprises the step of applying a die (30) that is placed against the main body surface (11) under pressure. However, the die (30) is pressed against the main body surface (11) just outside of an area where the tilting zone (23) needs to be formed. By applying the die (30), a recessed area (27) is arranged in the main body surface (11), wherein retraction of the material of the transverse element takes place along an upper edge (28) of this area (27). A retraction area that is obtained in this manner is suitable to function as tilting zone (23). An important advantage of the application of the described method is that the pressure that is exerted on the die (30) may be considerably lower than the pressure that is required during conventional processes for forming a tilting zone (23).
US08100795B2	Riveted sprocket assembly A riveted sprocket assembly that includes a sprocket carrier having a plurality of carrier arms and a plurality of sprockets attached to the carrier arms by rivets. First and second rivet heads of the rivets are countersunk into the carrier arms on one face and into the sprocket on the other face. The second rivet head is formed on the sprocket on the front face of the sprocket carrier. To prevent the riveting tool from damaging the sprocket during the riveting process, the rivet holes of the sprockets include a clearance portion around the second rivet head. This results in the sprocket having three-stepped rivet holes: a small diameter for the rivet shaft, an intermediate diameter for the rivet head and a larger diameter for the riveting tool. To minimize weight, the carrier arms narrow in a central region between radially inner and radially outer rivet holes on the carrier arms.
US08100794B2	Power transmission chain and power transmission apparatus When disposing pins of different shapes at random, pins of small involute base circle radius are made not to be arranged contiguously, pins of relatively small length are made not to be arranged contiguously, and pins of relatively outward offset are made not to be arranged contiguously.
US08100792B2	Hydraulic auto-tensioner A hydraulic auto-tensioner includes a high-pressure oil chamber and a low-pressure oil chamber, and oil (L) in the high-pressure oil chamber passes through a clearance (G) between a cylinder (17) and a piston portion (18) of a plunger and leaks into the low-pressure oil chamber from an end of the clearance (G) near an end surface of the cylinder (17). A recessed groove (40) is provided in an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder (17) by a conical surface (41) having a groove angle of 5 to 15 degrees from the end of the clearance (G), a throttle portion (45) projecting onto the piston portion (18) side is provided further toward the end surface side of the cylinder than the groove (40) in the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder (17), and a throttle gap (A) larger than the clearance (G) is formed between the throttle portion (45) and the piston portion (18).
US08100791B2	Continuously variable transmission A continuously variable transmission in which a sliding member is prevented from inclining is provided. The continuously variable transmission has a first oil passage provided in a movable sheave, and a second oil passage provided in a primary shaft supporting the movable sheave and connected in series to the first oil passage. A working oil is discharged from a hydraulic chamber via the first and second oil passages. The working oil is more difficult to discharge from the second oil passage than the first oil passage.
US08100789B2	Anti-slip sheaves for continuously variable transmissions A sheave for use in a continuously variable transmission comprises a truncated, substantially conical portion having an inner radius, an outer radius and a contact surface extending between the inner radius and the outer radius. The contact surface of the sheave may include a plurality of concentric step features such that the contact surface is graduated between the inner radius and the outer radius. Each step feature may include a rise portion and a pitch portion. The rise portion of each step feature and the pitch portion of each step feature may extend in a circumferential direction on the contact surface.
US08100786B2	Tennis-game scorekeeping system and method A system of 8 loops (300) of elastic material and a method for keeping score or determining the winner of a tie-break during a tennis game using the 8 loops is disclosed. Of the 8 loops, 4 are to be affixed to a left shaft and 4 are to be affixed to a right shaft of an assembly with at least two shafts. The loops (300) of elastic material are affixed under light tension so that they can be moved easily by the player or spectator and then stay in place once positioned. The loops (300) are marked contrastingly so that they can be easily distinguished for keeping score as necessary. Each point is marked by positioning one of the eight loops in an upwards or downwards direction, an improvement over prior-art which called for a single marker being placed over a specific figure. Several embodiments of the present invention are described.
US08100777B1	Corner assembly for use with pool tables A pool table corner assembly for forming a corner pocket including a pair of adjacent rail members, a corner casting member, and a pocket member. Each rail member includes a supporting flange portion, a recessed portion, and a generally horizontal top surface. The corner casting member includes an overhanging mounting flange for mating with the recessed portion of each rail member thereby allowing the upper surface of the corner casting member to lie flush with the top surface of each rail member, and a recessed portion extending along at least a portion of its inner wall for receiving a lip portion associated with the pocket member, the lip portion having a top surface which lies flush with the upper surface of the corner casting member. In another embodiment, the corner casting member includes at least one spike member for engaging the supporting flange portion of the corresponding rail member.
US08100776B2	Single rider teeter-totter A safer, more user-friendly spring-balance single-rider teeter-totter includes manual adjustments for both the vertical position of the spring, which adjusts the rest height of the seat, and the horizontal position of the spring from the pivot, which adjusts the counterbalance resistance. A safety cover may be provided for the spring or other counterbalance mechanism.
US08100773B2	Joint A joint whose number of parts is reduced and whose production process is simplified. The joint has spherical bodies (29a-29d), a circular cylindrical inner hub (20) in which hemispherical receiving sections (22a-22d) for receiving the spherical bodies (29a-29d) are formed in curved surfaces, and an outer hub (10) that has a receiving section (17) for receiving the inner hub (20) and also has longitudinal grooves (12a-12d) integrally formed with the receiving section (17) and in which the spherical bodies (29a-29d) received in the receiving sections (22a-22d) are received.
US08100772B2	Joystick thumb cushion A cushioned attachment (30) for a user-manipulatable actuator (12) of a controller device (10) provides extra support and comfort for the user (60). A preferred embodiment is a joystick thumb cushion that fits over a conventional joystick actuator of a video game controller.
US08100763B2	Gaming method and system with average bet bonus enhancement A method and system for facilitating the play of a wagering game with a bonus game. Examples include keeping track of a number, which is increased based on wagers and optionally decreased based on other criteria providing a measure dependent on a player's average wager during play sessions. Examples provide a regular or base wagering game, provide a bonus play trigger, and when triggered, provide a bonus round with bonus play prize. Examples further provide a bonus play prize enhancement based on the value of the number maintained by the invention.
US08100762B2	Wagering game adaptive on-screen user volume control A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and an audio channel coupled to an adaptive on-screen user volume control. The volume control comprises a user setting and a master setting, wherein the user volume setting is operable to adjust the system volume over a limited volume range near the master volume setting, and wherein the master volume is operable to change over time based on user volume settings.
US08100757B2	Game-based apparatus, system, and method for lifestyle goal achievement An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed in which players achieve various lifestyle goals through interactive game-playing. A plurality of game elements is provided, wherein information regarding an activity in pursuit of a lifestyle improvement goal is displayed on a surface of each game element. A game framework is provided, comprising a spatial representation of an actual accomplishment by a player of the activity in pursuit of the lifestyle improvement goal. A journal is also provided, comprising a written representation of the actual accomplishment by the player of the activity in pursuit of the lifestyle improvement goal. A timing device may also be provided that times the actual accomplishment of the activity in pursuit of a lifestyle improvement goal by the player, according to a timing criterion that comprises at least one of a lower time limit and an upper time limit.
US08100756B2	Dynamic problem solving for games A system that facilitates enhancing a game, game play or playability of a game may include an experience component, a game component and an alteration component. The experience component can collect a portion of data related to a game in which the portion of data indicates at least one of a tip or a tactic for the game. The game component can dynamically incorporate the portion of data into the game during game play to enhance playability of such game for a user with assistance provided by at least one of the tip or the tactic. The alteration component may alter the game during game play.
US08100755B2	Method, apparatus, and program product for distributing random number generation on a gaming network Methods, apparatus, and program products are disclosed for providing distributed RNG calculation capability. Generally, gaming machines cooperate on a gaming network to calculate a result for a RNG algorithm. A preferred system uses peer machines to perform partial RNG calculations, but server machines may also be used. One method calculates a first partial RNG calculation at a first peer machine using a seed value. The first peer machine transmits results of the first partial calculation to a second peer machine, which completes the RNG calculation. Some algorithms may include a step of combining partial results from two or more gaming machines. A preferred system uses a RNG state tracker and a seed tracker operating on a RNG master machine. This machine initializes a partial RNG with a seed value, and then tracks the state of the partial RNG using results from the completed calculation obtained over the network.
US08100748B2	Gaming device having a predetermined result poker game An interactive poker game which provides a predetermined outcome to a player. The gaming device initially displays a plurality of individual sets or hands of face down playing cards. The gaming device determines, based on the obtained predetermined game outcome, one or more playing cards to display to the player for one or more of the individual hands of playing cards. The gaming device then enables the player to select one of the individual poker hands to play as the player's active poker hand. The gaming device determines which playing cards must be provided to the actively played poker hand to provide the player the selected predetermined game outcome. The active poker hand is provided any determined cards which when combined with any previously revealed playing cards in the player selected poker hands results in a poker hand with an associated payout equal to the payout associated with the predetermined game outcome. The gaming device determines, preferably randomly, and displays one or more playing cards for each of the non-selected hands of playing cards and provides the predetermined game outcome to the player.
US08100746B2	Indoor air quality systems and methods An indoor air quality system and method for a building. In an embodiment, the system includes a plurality of exhaust fans and a plurality of controllers. The exhaust fans each have a predetermined exhaust rate. The controllers are configured to monitor an actual volume of air exhausted by the indoor air quality system, and to automatically operate the exhaust fans to exhaust a desired volume of air during a time period. In an embodiment, the method includes setting parameters in a plurality of controllers, communicating to the controllers an operating state of the fans, determining a time at which to energize the fans such that the volume of air to exchange during the time period is exchanged during the time period, and energizing the fans at the determined time.
US08100744B2	Corner sander A corner sander base including a sanding surface, the corner sander base for sanding proximate interior wallboard corners, the corner sander base including a first member and a second member connected together at a longitudinally oriented juncture where they form a tip, one side of the members defining a sanding surface. Each member further includes a planar forward section which in the radial direction originates at the juncture and terminates at a longitudinally oriented transition wherein a forward angle is the angle subtended between the planar forward sections in the radial plane. Each member further includes a planar rear section originating at the transition and connected to the forward section at the transition wherein a rear angle is the angle subtended between the planar rear sections in the radial plane and wherein the forward and rear angles selected to more aggressively sand the areas at the rear sections and less aggressively sand the area at the tip and forward section.
US08100742B2	Grinding method for wafer having crystal orientation A grinding method for a wafer having a mark indicating the crystal orientation. The grinding method includes a first grinding step for grinding the upper surface of the wafer by rotating a chuck table holding the wafer thereon, rotating a grinding ring, positioning the grinding ring so that the grinding ring is passed through the center of the wafer, and feeding the grinding ring in a direction perpendicular to the chuck table; a wafer positioning step for positioning the upper surface of an outer circumferential portion of the wafer directly below the locus of rotation of the grinding ring; and a second grinding step for grinding the upper surface of the wafer by first stopping the rotation of the chuck table so that the mark indicating the crystal orientation of the wafer held on the chuck table is pointed in a predetermined direction, next feeding the grinding ring in the direction perpendicular to the chuck table, and next relatively moving the chuck table and the grinding ring in parallel.
US08100740B2	Corner saw A cutting apparatus for cutting corner pieces formed of stone or other materials for use as building faces or for cutting flat pieces is disclosed herein. The cutting apparatus includes a frame with a first and a second conveyor operatively attached to the frame. The first and the second conveyors are configured to carry a workpiece from a first end of the frame to the second end of the frame. The first conveyor is disposed at an angle of about 45 degrees to a ground surface supporting the cutting apparatus. The second conveyor is disposed at an angle of about 45 degrees to the ground surface supporting the cutting apparatus, wherein the second conveyor is positioned perpendicularly to the first conveyor so as to form a V-shaped channel therewith. The cutting apparatus further includes a first cutting blade operatively attached to the frame and positioned generally parallel to the first conveyor and a second cutting blade operatively attached to the frame and positioned generally parallel to the second conveyor.
US08100727B2	Multistage capacitive crosstalk compensation arrangement Methods and systems for providing crosstalk compensation in a jack are disclosed. According to one method, the crosstalk compensation is adapted to compensate for undesired crosstalk generated at a capacitive coupling located at a plug inserted within the jack. The method includes positioning a first capacitive coupling a first time delay away from the capacitive coupling of the plug, the first capacitive coupling having a greater magnitude and an opposite polarity as compared to the capacitive coupling of the plug. The method also includes positioning a second capacitive coupling at a second time delay from the first capacitive coupling, the second time delay corresponding to an average time delay that optimizes near end crosstalk. The second capacitive coupling has generally the same overall magnitude but an opposite polarity as compared to the first capacitive coupling, and includes two capacitive elements spaced at different time delays from the first capacitive coupling.
US08100723B2	Battery contact springs A battery contact spring with a spring body manufactured as a flexible wire part is disclosed. The battery contact spring has a first contact head section for contacting a first battery; a second contact head section for contacting a second battery, and at least one first spiral spring section that extends between a spring foot area and the first contact head section and which flexibly supports the first contact head section. The spring body is designed in such a way that a coil end of the first spiral spring section opposite the spring foot area crosses over into the first contact head section and attached to this first head section is a connection bridge that crosses over into the second contact head section.
US08100721B2	Coaxial connector A coaxial connector including a first element, two metal joints, a first metal shell, a second metal shell, an elastic fixing member, and a pair of metal fixings. The first element includes a circuit substrate, a signal input terminal, a signal output terminal, and a grounding terminal and is sandwiched between the pair of the metal fixings. The elastic fixing member embraces the pair of the metal fixings. One end of each of the two metal joints contacts with the signal input terminal and the signal output terminal of the first element, respectively, and the other end thereof contacts with a signal terminal of the first metal shell and the second metal shell, respectively. The pair of the metal fixings each contacts with the inner conductor of the first metal shell and the second metal shell. The coaxial connector is applicable to different thicknesses of substrates, and is easy to assemble and disassemble.
US08100720B2	Electrical connector featured with USB/eSATA interfaces An electrical connector includes an insulative housing defining a mating cavity, a tongue portion forwards extending into the mating cavity and defining thereon first and second faces opposite to each other, and first and second sets of contacts retained to the housing. The first set of contacts includes pairs of differential pairs and grounding contacts arranged at opposite sides of the differential pairs, and each of the differential pairs defines a first contacting section disposed in the first face and a soldering section. The second set of contacts each defines a deflectable cantilevered beam accessible from the second face. At least one of the grounding contacts defines a main section retained in the tongue portion and further extending into the mating cavity along the tongue portion, and the main section is disposed in a plane perpendicular to the first face.
US08100717B2	Connector with integral seal A connector is provided comprising a tubular connector body with a mating end, an end face at the mating end, an outer diameter, and a center axis. A circular groove in the end face defines a ring with a sealing surface, and a coupling member mates with the sealing surface. The coupling member has a mating end configured to connect with a separate device.
US08100714B2	Connector and electronic device using same A connector is latched to a circuit board, the connector comprises a main body. The main body comprises two opposite ends, each end of the main body having a securing protrusion protruding therefrom, the securing protrusion for latching the connector to the circuit board.
US08100712B2	RJ-45 connector A Registered Jack-45 (RJ-45) connector matching a connector with two light emitting diodes includes a main body forming two light guide posts. Each light guide post includes a first end facing a corresponding light emitting diode, and a second end opposite to the first end. The light guide posts transmit light emitted by the light emitting diodes from the first ends to the second ends of the light guide posts.
US08100706B2	Back plug-in connector device A back plug-in connector device having a floating structure, comprises: a body chassis, a cover and a support plate on which a connector is mounted. The support plate is sandwiched by the body chassis and the cover so as to constitute the floating structure.
US08100703B2	Electrical connector with abutting ribs against PCB An electrical connector includes a plurality of terminals with tail portions and an insulating housing defining a mounting face and a mating face opposite to the mounting face. The insulating housing includes a plurality of parallel first walls extending in a first direction and a plurality of parallel second walls extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and unitarily intersecting with the first walls to construe a plurality of passageway to receive the terminals. The tail portions of the terminals extend beyond two outermost first walls in the second direction. A pair of first ribs extends from one second wall away from the mounting face and the ribs do not exceed the outermost first walls in the second direction.
US08100702B2	Receptacle connector A receptacle connector for receiving a complementary plug includes an insulative housing (100), a number of contacts (200) received in the housing, a metallic shell (300) partially covering the housing and a pair of fixing members (400) assembled between the housing and the shell. The housing has a pair of end walls (103) including a top wall and a bottom wall, a rear wall (104), a pair of side walls (102), and a receiving space (105) defined therebetween for receiving the complementary plug. The rear wall defines a number of receiving channels (113). The top wall defines a top surface (117) and a plurality of receiving slots (111) opened on the top surface. Each contact includes a retention portion (201), a contact portion (202) and a tail portion (205). The top wall forms a protrusion (112) protruded in each receiving slot, and each contact portion has a free end (204) abutting against the protrusion and being capable of moving in the receiving slot when the contact portion is engaged with and deflected by the complementary plug.
US08100700B2	Low profile electrical connector terminal and method of mounting terminal on printed circuit board An electrical connector assembly comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) having opposite upper and lower surfaces, an insulating housing having opposite top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of terminals disposed on a bottom surface thereof. Each terminal defines a fusible member disposed thereon. The insulating housing can place the terminal on the upper surface of the PCB and is removed from the terminals after the terminals are soldered on the PCB through the fusible members.
US08100699B1	Connector assembly having a connector extender module A connector assembly includes an electrical connector having a mating end configured to be mated to a mating connector and a mounting end. The electrical connector holds contacts with pins extending from the mounting end. The connector assembly also includes a connector extender module coupled to the mounting end. The connector extender module having a holder extending between a connector end and board end, with the mounting end of the electrical connector being mounted to the connector end and the board end being configured to be mounted to a circuit board. The holder has channels extending between the connector end and the board end. The connector extender module also includes terminals arranged within the channels that receive the pins. The terminals have tails configured to be terminated to the circuit board.
US08100696B2	Self-rescuer training device A training device for a self-rescuer is improved such that practical breathing parameters will become established. A granular filling of a material (7) is used that binds water molecules and generated heat of adsorption or heat of absorption in the process instead of an oxygen-releasing chemical.
US08100695B2	Simulator for medical training with detachable self-sealing hollow member Simulator for medical training having at least a detachable, fluid-tight hollow member comprising: at least a portion (1; 25) made of a self-sealing material; an opening (2; 17) to fill said hollow member with a fluid, said opening (2, 17) being provided with closure means (4; 26) or being connected (8) to closure means; fastening means (4,5; 28) to detachably fasten said hollow member to said simulator. The portion made of self-sealing material allows multiple punctures before having to be replaced.
US08100694B2	Infrared aimpoint detection system An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to an infrared weapon aimpoint and triggering detection system that includes an IRED that is modulated in two modes for training and evaluating first responders who are required to enter buildings and raid houses. The IRED mode is either an aiming mode or a triggered mode. The triggered mode is initiated for a short period when the weapon is fired as sensed by a recoil sensing mechanism. An IRED detector and controller sense and process the signal, and may provide output to an instructor, evaluator or a target controller to control the behavior of a target.
US08100692B2	Dental framework A method of preparing a dental framework or mathematical model thereof by creating a replica of a patient's mouth or a framework to be inserted into the patient's mouth, electronically scanning the replica or framework, electronically determining a surface model of a dental framework and manufacturing the framework.
US08100683B2	Needle-to-needle electrospinning The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for coating a medical device. The method includes providing an electrospinning apparatus and simultaneously electrospinning at least one solution onto a first surface and an opposing second surface. The apparatus comprises a first spinneret and a second spinneret. An energy source is electrically coupled to the first spinneret and the second spinneret. The first spinneret and second spinneret comprise a reservoir and an orifice fluidly coupled to the reservoir. The first spinneret orifice is located substantially opposite the second spinneret orifice.
US08100682B2	System for injection molding A method of and system for injection molding is shown. The method can include the positioning one or more metal components in a mold, aligning a film for transferring an image from the film onto a surface of a plastic component, injecting a material into the mold to form the plastic component such that the metal component will be embedded in the plastic component and transferring the image from the film onto the surface of the plastic component that has the embedded metal component. The method can also include the removing the transferred image from the metal component if at least a portion of the transferred image adheres to the metal component.
US08100679B2	Center mechanism of tire vulcanizer and control method for the same A center mechanism of a tire vulcanizer is provided with a screwing mechanism provided with a screw shaft and a screw nut screwed onto the screw shaft, a motor for rotating the screw shaft so as to raise and lower an upper ring body, an inverter for controlling the motor, and a mechanical brake for retaining a predetermined position of the upper ring body so that a bladder retains a shaping state. Within a time range from start of a closing action of the upper die to contact between the upper die and the upper ring body, an operation of the mechanical brake is released and position control of the upper ring body by the inverter is started, and at least after the release of the operation of the mechanical brake, a position of the upper ring body is controlled by the inverter. By such a configuration, even when there is an erroneous operation of the brake or incorrect setting, it is possible to prevent damage and breakage of constituent parts and have a simple structure.
US08100673B2	Cooling fan A cooling fan (1) includes a fan housing (10), a stator (20), a rotor (30) and a bearing assembly (40). A tube (111) extends upwardly from a central portion of the fan housing. The stator is mounted around the tube. The bearing assembly includes a ball bearing (333) and a sleeve bearing (335) received in two ends of the tube, respectively. The rotor has a shaft (336) extending into and roratably supported by the bearing assembly. An elastic element (332) is arranged on the ball bearing to provide a pressing force on the ball bearing toward the sleeve bearing. An oil retaining element (339) is arranged around a bottom end of the shaft and spaced from the shaft. The oil retaining element is attached to the sleeve bearing to provide oil for the sleeve bearing.
US08100671B2	Tandem supersonic ejectors for the repressurization of an off gas Low pressure off gases such as from dry gas seals may be recompressed to a higher pressure using multiple tandem supersonic ejectors in which upstream ejectors operate at a higher nozzle exit Mach number than down stream ejectors and all ejectors are operated at exit Mach numbers greater than 1.
US08100669B2	Micro-pump and micro-pump system A micro-pump for atomizing and including a main-housing, a nozzle plate, at least an actuator, and a liquid transport pipe is provided. The main-housing has a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, an air inlet, and a micro-droplet outlet. The nozzle plate is assembled to the main-housing and has at least one nozzle. The nozzle plate divides the interior of the main-housing into a first chamber and a second chamber. The nozzle and the liquid inlet are connected with the first chamber. The air inlet, the liquid outlet, and the micro-droplet outlet are connected with the second chamber. The actuator is disposed on at least one of the main-housing or the nozzle plate. The actuator drives the nozzle plate, so that liquid is filled into the first chamber and sprayed out through the nozzle into the second chamber. The liquid transport pipe connects the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet.
US08100667B2	Turbomachinery disc A turbomachinery disc, (e.g. a fan) has a primary axis of rotation and an axial flow direction X parallel to the primary axis of rotation. The disc has an annular diaphragm extending from proximate a blade land to a free inner radius. The diaphragm is asymmetrical about a plane (P) perpendicular to the primary axis of rotation.
US08100663B2	Rotor blade for a wind power plant The invention concerns a rotor blade of a wind power installation and a wind power installation. One advantage of the present invention is to provide a rotor blade having a rotor blade profile, and a wind power installation, which has better efficiency than hitherto. A rotor blade of a wind power installation, wherein the rotor blade has a thickness reserve approximately in the range of between 15% and 40%, preferably in the range of between about 23% and 28%, and wherein the greatest profile thickness is between about 20% and 45%, preferably between about 32% and 36%.
US08100660B2	Wind turbine blade load sensor A wind turbine rotor blade root load sensor includes an insert secured within a root portion of a wind turbine rotor blade and including an internal bore. The sensor also includes a carrier member fixedly connected to the internal bore of the insert so that loads can be transmitted therebetween. The sensor further includes a sensing element supported by the carrier member within the internal bore of the insert. The sensing element is positioned to detect loads applied to the wind turbine rotor blade and transferred through the insert and the carrier member.
US08100659B2	HP turbine vane airfoil profile A two-stage high pressure turbine includes a second stage vane having an airfoil with a profile substantially in accordance with at least an intermediate portion of the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 2. The X and Y values are distances, which when smoothly connected by an appropriate continuing curve, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The profile sections at each distance Z are joined smoothly to one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
US08100650B2	Cyclical wave energy converter Systems and methods use cyclical propellers with dynamic blade angle control to extract power from waves. A control system for such implementations can adapt pitching schedules for the blades of the cyclical propellers for efficient energy extraction and/or to control reactive forces. The cyclical propellers may be installed on the floor of a body of water or other liquid, on a submarine, or on a surface float, and blades may extend vertically or horizontally depending on the character of the waves. Several cyclical propellers can be combined into a single unit operated to minimize net reactive force or torque, to propel the unit horizontally or vertically, and/or to stabilize the unit. Such units can be installed with minimal or no moorings.
US08100648B2	Submersible rotor design An improved rotor blade used in combination with a submersible electrical generator comprises a rotor base with width BW, a leading edge, a tip, and a trailing edge. The leading edge and the trailing edge are defined as elliptical curves having a radius of 8.0 BW. The rotor has a surface area profile substantially in accordance with the Cartesian coordinate values X and Y set forth in Table I. The rotor blade can be functionally connected to a rotor shaft through a pivotal support axial which allows the pitch of the blade to be set and maintained. The pitch is set to harness the kinetic energy of flowing water for generating electricity.
US08100645B2	Axial flow impeller A low noise axial flow impeller has a multi cellular form of construction comprising a multiplicity of individual axial flow channels disposed in a circumferential and radial array with respect to the axis of rotation. This increases the “blade passing frequency” as compared to a conventional impeller and since higher frequencies have lower energy for a given flow output the total amplitude of the noise generated can be reduced. For high total flow area coupled with low structural weight the channels are arranged in tessellating rings of equal numbers of channels, with channel cross sections based on hexagons (or truncated hexagons in the case of the channels in the innermost and outermost rings). In another embodiment each channel also extends from a respective channel inlet to a respective channel outlet which is offset from the respective inlet in the radial direction of the impeller, and involves an increase in the internal dimension of the respective channel in the direction radial to the axis of rotation, thus assisting deceleration and compression of the air or other medium being conveyed as it flows through the channels.
US08100639B2	Actuating rod end connector An improved actuating rod end connector is connected with an actuating rod that extends from a turbocharger assembly actuator mechanism. The rod end connector has a body with an opening at one longitudinal end, and the actuator rod is disposed through the opening. An adjustment member is rotatably disposed within the body and has a threaded inside cavity in communication with the opening. The inside cavity is threadably engaged with a threaded outside surface of the actuator rod. The body includes an actuator rod opening disposed therethrough adjacent the adjustment member to receive a section of the actuator rod therein to facilitate contacting the actuator rod disposed within the body from outside of the rod end connector. An attachment opening is disposed through the body to facilitate attachment of the rod end connector with a linkage member, e.g., a linkage member connected with a movable member of the turbocharger.
US08100633B2	Cooling air manifold splash plates and gas turbines engine systems involving such splash plates Cooling air manifold splash plates and gas turbine engine systems involving such splash plates are provided. In this regard, a representative cooling air manifold splash plates includes: a base having an aperture; and an air deflector supported by the base, the air deflector being positioned relative to the base to receive, from the aperture, a radial flow of gas turbine engine cooling air, the air deflector being operative to redirect at least some of the air received circumferentially.
US08100632B2	Cooling system for a turbomachine An embodiment of the present invention may provide an integrated cooling system for multiple compartments of a turbomachine. The cooling system, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, may provide the following benefits to the user. Improvement on the combined cycle efficiency and an increase in the power output. This may result from reducing the exhaust dilution losses and reducing the parasitic load by requiring fewer air circulation devices. The present invention may also benefit the user by reducing the installation and start-up costs of the cooling system by requiring fewer air circulation devices and integrating the cooling systems. The present invention may circulate a cooling fluid through an integrated cooling circuit, which may be in fluid communication with each compartment of the multiple compartment of the turbomachine.
US08100631B2	Fluid-type absorption dynamometer having an enhanced power range A fluid-type absorption dynamometer that includes a rotary impeller and one or more of a variety of features that enhance the shaft-horsepower range for which the dynamometer can be used. One of these features is a variable restriction intake that allows a user to adjust the flow of fluid to the impeller. Other features are a unique impeller shroud and shroud guide that are each movable relative to the impeller to allow a user to adjust flow characteristics at the exhaust and blade regions of the impeller. Yet another feature is a set of exhaust baffles that facilitate an increase in the range of shaft power ratings of the device and the reduction of deleterious vibration and noise. The dynamometer also includes impeller blades having a unique configuration.
US08100629B2	Turbomachine casing with treatment, a compressor, and a turbomachine including such a casing A casing supporting a series of stationary vanes between which there are disposed series of moving blades movable in rotation about a longitudinal axis in which the radially outer ends of the moving blades being close to the inside face of the casing is disclosed. The casing includes, at least over an annulus situated facing one of the series of moving blades, at least one casing treatment zone facing towards the blades and including a surface relief disturbance in the form of a groove of closed outline. The invention is applicable to controlling rotating separation in a turbomachine compressor.
US08100624B2	Sack truck The present invention relates to a sack truck (1) comprising a main frame (2), a number of handles (3), a number of wheels (4) and a first foot plate (5), where the handles (3) are connected at an upper end of the main frame (2), and the wheels (4) and the first foot plate (5) are connected at a lower end of the main frame (2), wherein the main frame (2) comprises a first and a second frame part (9, 10), which are arranged to engage at a displacement arrangement allowing a displacement of the first frame part (9) in relation to the second frame part (10).
US08100623B2	Recycle container transfer vehicle A wheeled vehicle such as a truck or trailer is disclosed including an apparatus thereon which may be connected to a recycle container so that the recycle container may be lifted from the ground onto the vehicle and then transported to a processing site. Once at the processing site, the apparatus causes the refuse container to be pivotally moved with respect to the vehicle so that the contents of the container are dumped from the container without the removal of the container from the vehicle.
US08100621B2	Discharge hopper and method of discharging shaft trays filled with rod-shaped products A discharge hopper for a tray discharge station for serially discharging shaft trays filled with rod-shaped products includes a conveying element for carrying away the products flowing from the shaft trays and a connecting device for coupling the shaft trays to be emptied to the conveying element. The connecting device is arranged substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the conveying element to form a channel for the product flow and includes an opening for passage of the products from the shaft tray into the channel. In the region of the connecting device there is provided a closure unit to open and close the opening. The closure device is coupled to a movable actuating element so that the closure device can be opened and closed shaft by shaft in relation to the shaft tray to be emptied.
US08100620B2	Vacuum processing apparatus A vacuum processing apparatus includes vacuum processing vessels each having a processing chamber with a pressure-reduced interior space, a vacuum transfer vessel which is coupled to the vacuum vessels disposed therearound and which has a low-pressure interior space in which a to-be-processed workpiece is conveyed, an atmospheric air transfer vessel which is coupled to the front side of the vacuum transfer vessel and which includes on its front face side cassette tables mounting thereon a cassette with the workpiece received therein for conveying the workpiece in an interior space under an atmospheric pressure, a position-aligning machine disposed within the atmospheric air transfer vessel at one of right and left ends for adjusting a position of the workpiece, and an adjuster disposed between lower part of this machine and a floor face for adjusting the supply of a fluid being fed to the vacuum processing vessels.
US08100608B2	Retaining wall A retaining wall, in particular a retaining wall (24) inclined against a soil backfill, composed of individual shaped blocks (20, 21, 22, 23), the shaped blocks (20, 21, 22, 23) being arranged one above the other in layers (30) and the shaped blocks (20, 21, 22, 23) of adjacent layers (30) each engaging in a form-fitting manner with one another in the region of upper sides (25) and lower sides (26) of the shaped blocks (20, 21, 22, 23). Provision is made according to the invention for upper sides (25) and lower sides (26) of the shaped blocks (20, 21, 22, 23) to be designed and/or oriented in such a way that when lateral pressure is exerted transversely to an imaginary longitudinal axis of the retaining wall (24), individual layers (30) can be displaced in the corresponding direction. In order to produce the form-fitting engagement transversely to the longitudinal axis of the retaining wall, provision is preferably made for the shaped blocks (20, 21, 22, 23) to be provided in the region of the upper side (25) and the lower side (26) with respective form-fitting means, in particular projections and/or offsets and/or oblique faces (31).
US08100607B2	Rock anchor The invention relates to a rock anchor including an elongate, hydraulically inflatable anchor tube made of a ductile material and defining a closed leading end, a trailing end, and a tube cavity extending between the ends. The rock anchor of the invention includes an end cap on a trailing end of the tube, defining a feed aperture in communication with the tube cavity for pressure feeding a liquid substance into the tube cavity for inflating the tube. The end cap includes pressure indicator means configured for indicating when, as a result of pressure feeding of a liquid substance into the tube cavity, a predetermined installation pressure is reached in the tube cavity. The pressure indicator means typically includes a pressure indicator formation displaceable under pressure in the tube cavity, with such displacement being visible from the outside of the end cap.
US08100604B1	Passive capillary wicking device A wicking device is an elongated tubular assembly having opposing ends and formed of an elongated, porous, tubular, heat resistant, metallic core suggestedly of interwoven resilient wire, a wicking layer of glass fiber yarns extending generally longitudinally along the outer surface of the metallic core, at least substantially surrounding the metallic core, and an exterior of interwoven glass fiber yarns forming an elongated tubular outer jacket running the length of the device surrounding the wicking layer of glass fiber yarns and the metallic core. The assembly is stripped of organic materials following assembly as part of the manufacturing process, preferably by heating the assembly.
US08100603B2	Roller drum assembly for packing a surface A roller drum assembly includes a roller drum for rotationally engaging a surface, a frame connected to the roller drum for manually controlling movement of the assembly, a tank mounted on the frame for retaining a liquid, and conduits mounted on the frame for directing the liquid from the tank to the roller drum, and further includes a wand mounted on the frame and in communication with the tank, for ejecting the liquid onto selected surfaces spaced from the roller drum assembly.
US08100602B2	Apparatus for installing elongate seal strips A machine or apparatus for installing resilient or elastomeric strip seals of indefinite length in expansion joints in, for example, highways and bridges. The machine includes an open, upper frame connected to a lower frame supported at its four corners by four freely rotating wheels. A pair of clamping pistons on the lower frame includes rollers which are adjusted to engage one face of the expansion joint. A toothed wheel or blade rotates about an inclined axis and is powered by a motor through a speed reducing gearbox. The toothed wheel engages the seal and forces it into a channel on the side of the expansion joint opposite to the side engaged by the rollers.
US08100601B2	Connection arrangement, especially between a feed roller and a gearbox of a field chopper A connection arrangement between a feed roller and a gearbox of a field chopper has a first shaft (25) with a central bore (26) that is rotatingly supported around an axis of rotation D, in a gearbox housing (30). A second shaft (32) is connected to a feed roller. The second shaft (32) is rotatingly supported around the axis of rotation D. The second shaft (32) has a central bore (33) that is aligned with the central bore (26) of the first shaft (25). A connecting journal (37) rests in the central bore (26) of one of the two shafts (25). The connecting journal (37) is form-fittingly connected to the central bore for torque transmission. It is axially displaceable along the axis of rotation D between a connected position where it is inserted into the central bore (33) of the other of the two shafts (32), and a released position, where it is pulled out of the central bore (33) of the other of the two shafts (32). The connecting journal (37) is form-fittingly connected, in the connected position, to the other of the two shafts (32).
US08100596B2	Thermal sublimation imaging apparatus and thermal sublimation printer using the same A thermal sublimation imaging apparatus and a thermal sublimation printer using the same are described. A print head of the thermal sublimation imaging apparatus is fixed, a platen capable of contacting or separating from the fixed print head is lifted up to contact the fixed print head, and an elastic component is used in conjunction to provide a pressure for printing. The platen lays flat in paper feed/reverse mode, and presses downwardly to drive a paper pickup plate to fetch paper. These actions are achieved by a stepper motor together with a sensor through a worm shaft, a worm gear, and at least a gear. Therefore, the number and the cost of the gears are reduced, and the time for switching the printing action is greatly reduced since the switching can be implemented within a very small rotation angle.
US08100594B2	Data input arrangement with a shaped interface A data input arrangement may include a first array of input keys defining a first shape extending across a first typing surface thereof; and a second array of input keys defining a second shape extending across a second typing surface thereof. The first and second arrays are contiguous with one another so that the first and second shapes create a non-linear surface extending across the data input arrangement. The non-linear surface enables users to tactilely locate individual keys of the first and second arrays.
US08100593B2	Speed reducing mechanism, drive device, and optical instrument A speed reducing mechanism includes: a driven member; and a decelerating member transmitting a drive force from an actuator to the driven member. The driven member includes an engagement pin. The decelerating member includes: a teeth portion engaging a rotor pinion portion serving as the drive force from the actuator; and a cam slot engaging the engagement pin. The decelerating member is rotatably supported and is formed into a sheet shape thinner than a face width of the rotor pinion portion.
US08100591B2	Dual loop camera stabilization systems and methods A method for stabilizing a camera platform includes generating a first signal from a platform sensor, such as a gyro sensor, on the camera platform indicative of a change in angular position of the camera platform. The first signal is added to a control signal provided from a camera platform position controller, typically operated by the camera operator. A first correction value based on the sum of the first signal and the control signal is calculated. A second correction value is calculated based on a signal from an encoder associated with a motor linked to the camera platform. Adding the first correction value and the second correction value provides a motor control signal which is amplified and used to control the motor.
US08100590B2	Maintenance mechanism for lighting equipment in a closed space of high radiation activity The main objective of the present invention is to provide maintenance mechanism for lighting equipment in a closed space of high radiation activity, which comprises a passage, a lamp base, a multi-section slide rail, a lighting handle, a stainless steel fixation plate, a lead glass lamp guard and a convex lead plug. On the top side of the passage there is a multi-section slide rail with the lamp base attached to move the lamp. The maintenance hole at the end of the passage has a convex lead plug and a stainless steel fixation plate. When the hole closes, the convex lead plug is locked to the lead plug positioning screw under the stainless steel fixation plate; while the maintenance hole opens, on the top right and top left of the stainless steel fixation plate there is a L-shaped short iron plate and a L-shaped long iron plate respectively. On the L-shaped long iron plate there is an axial screw as the axis for the convex lead plug to move and rotate. On the L-shaped short iron plate there is a lead plug positioning screw for the convex lead plug after being pulled out to have temporary fixation. At the radiation space end of the passage there is a semi-circular lead glass lamp guard for the shielding wall to be fixed without moving with the lighting equipment.
US08100587B2	Bearing arrangement An outer ring for a rolling element bearing has three mounting pads on its outer surface. The inner surface of the ring is arranged to be non-circular, with its effective radius being at a minimum at the three points midway between adjacent pairs of mounting pads. This provides a preload on the rolling elements of the bearing in use, preventing skidding, but because the ring is not supported between the pads it can still flex under loads. The ring may be oriented in use so that transient loads are directed through one of the mounting pads.
US08100586B2	Fiber optic sensing device and method for monitoring foil bearings A rotary machine includes a rotary component disposed to rotate with respect to a stationary component. A foil bearing is disposed between the stationary component and the rotary component and configured to rotatably support the rotary component. A fiber optic sensing system including one or more fiber optic sensors is disposed in the foil bearing and configured to detect one or more parameters related to the foil bearing.
US08100578B2	Helical ribbon mixing gear The invention relates to a helical ribbon mixing gear with a mixing vessel (1), the inside of which is axially symmetrical, and a motor-driven central agitator axis (2) with laterally extending agitator anus (30, 31, 32) to which at least one sloping helical ribbon (4) with a circular inclination in a direction of rotation (D) is attached, an outer edge of the helical ribbon (40) being positioned near to a mixing vessel wall (10), an outer tooth profile (50-52) being formed at the wall-sided edge of the helical ribbon (40), with a radial profile depth (T) which is smaller than a radially adjacent ribbon width (B), and with a circular tooth spacing (W) of one to ten times the profile depth (T).
US08100575B2	One-way see-through illumination system A one-way see-through illumination system is constructed from a light guide panel, a front-illuminable image film, and a light injector. The light injector injects light into the light guide panel at a suitable angle for total internal reflection of the injected light at the surfaces of the light guide panel. The image film includes a half-toned front-illuminable image pattern that extracts light from the light guide panel. When active, light from the light guide panel front illuminates the image pattern for viewing by a front-side view, while a back-side viewer can see through the image pattern.
US08100570B2	LED lens mounting device A headlight for a vehicle has a lens, a mounting frame, an LED on an LED board. The LED board is mounted on a heat sink. The heat sink has a first adjustment slot and a second adjustment slot. Each of the slots is dimensioned and disposed to closely cooperate with an eccenter adjustment device mounted on one of the LED module or an LED module carrier, said eccenters being adjustable on a fulcrum such that adjustment of one of the eccenters adjusts one of a first position or a second position of the LED module within a plane normal to an optical axis of a lens mounted in a fixed position relative to the LED module carrier.
US08100567B2	Light-emitting devices and related systems Light-emitting devices can include a package that supports one or more light-emitting die (e.g., light-emitting diode die, laser diode die) and which can ensure mechanically stability, can facilitate electrical and/or thermal coupling with light-emitting die, and can manipulate the manner by which light generated by the die is emitted out of the light-emitting device. The package can also facilitate the integration of the light-emitting devices in various components and systems. For example, suitable packages may facilitate the use of light-emitting devices in components and systems such as light-emitting panel assemblies, LCD back lighting, general lighting, decorative or display lighting, automotive lighting, and other types of lighting components and systems.
US08100566B2	Light fixture with adjustable and fixable mount A light fixture has a bracket adapted to be fixed to a wall or ceiling surface and having a leg formed with a leg hole, and a bolt fixed in the fixture housing and projecting therefrom along an axis through the leg hole. A ring engageable over an outer profiled end of the bolt can fit complementarily therewith. An annular disk fits over the ring, has a back face turned toward and engageable around the ring with the leg, and is formed with a radially extending threaded bore holding a radial screw engageable radially inward with the ring to rotationally lock the disk on the ring. The disk and leg fit are locked together so they cannot relatively rotate. An axial screw engaged through the disk and ring with the bolt engages axially inward with the disk to press the disk against the leg and the leg against the housing.
US08100565B2	Recessed luminaire In an embodiment, a luminaire may include a housing that includes a support panel, a rotation ring supported by the support panel where the rotation ring is infinitely adjustable with a range of adjustments with respect to the support panel, a rotation drive unit configured to rotate the rotation ring with respect to the support panel, an aiming frame supported by the rotation ring, a tray system pivotally mounted to the aiming frame and configured to receive the bulb, and a tray drive configured to rotate the tray system about the pivotal mounting, whereby, in operation the rotational and angular orientation of the bulb may be adjusted while the bulb is on.
US08100563B2	Reflector assembly for a luminaire The present invention relates to a reflector assembly for a luminaire where the reflector assembly comprises an anti-static member disposed between a lamp of the luminaire and a reflector body. In various aspects the anti-static member may be glass, plastic or other transparent or translucent materials and the reflector may be substantially sealed from the atmosphere by the anti-static member or the anti-static member in cooperation with a cover of the reflector assembly.
US08100562B2	Device and system for an optical element holder A supporting structure is disclosed for both securing optical elements for providing optimal cooling of the optical elements and the light source.
US08100561B2	Light source unit A light source unit includes a light source element; an optical-waveguide-formed element in which an optical waveguide is formed; a prism for turning back a light flux emitted from the light source and guiding the light flux toward an incident end of the optical waveguide; and a coupling optical system formed on the prism or provided as a separated body from the prism, for coupling the light flux emitted from the light source onto the optical waveguide.
US08100554B2	Light source holder and bulb using same A light source holder includes a spherical surface and a number of recessed portions. The recessed portions are defined in the spherical surface and arranged substantially evenly over the spherical surface. Each of the recessed portions comprises a plurality of inner surfaces. The inner surface of each recessed portion comprises a bottom surface and a lateral reflective surface. The bottom surface is capable of having a solid-state light source arranged thereon. The lateral reflective surface is adjacent to the bottom surface and configured for reflecting light emitted from the solid-state light source and outputting the light from the recessed portion.
US08100552B2	Multiple light-source illuminating system A method and apparatus is provided for a multiple light-source illuminating device, the design and construction of which is derived from the lighting requirements of a specific lighting application. The resulting illuminating device (16) provides illumination according to the principles of lighting practice for the optimal performance of visual tasks. Coupling with sensors (21) and logical control (20) allows illumination intensity and spectrum to be varied according to changing user needs. The illuminating device includes multiple discrete light emitting components of different spatial intensity distribution and color spectrum mounted in specific orientations such that the application oriented combined lighting effect is created. The control is provided via a differentiated power supply (19) capable of affecting the current, voltage and duty cycle determining the relative contribution of each light source effecting a different spatial intensity distribution and color spectrum.
US08100550B2	Method and system for controlling light fixtures A system and method for controlling a plurality of light fixtures to create light and music, including a processor having a memory. Software is loaded in the memory and is executable by the processor to operate a plurality of light fixtures and at least one music speaker. At least one DMX controller is operable by the software to control the color of at least one of the plurality of light fixtures, the at least one light fixture controllable by the DMX controller including an LED light engine. The system and method generates light and sound displays by operating the lights in synchronization with music played through the music speaker. The color of at least one of the plurality of light fixtures is altered in synchronization with the music by the DMX controller. Also disclosed is a light fixture suitable for use in the light and music displays.
US08100546B2	Rotating fiber optic sculpture A sculpted decorative object, such as a Christmas tree, is shown which has a motor driven vertical drive shaft and three rotating sections. Rotation of the vertical drive shaft and an associated drive gear causes relative rotation of a driven gear and, in turn, a respective rotating section of the object about the axis of the drive shaft. A fiber optic bundle is mounted within each rotating section of the object. Each bundle contains several fiber optic strands which terminate at a LED light source at one end and at a light emitting element at an opposite end. Each LED light source is supplied from a common electrical source by means of a series of wiper contacts and rotatable contact rings carried by respective stationary and rotating portions of the sculpted object.
US08100545B2	Wireless convenience lighting system and method of making same A wireless convenience lighting system, comprises a base unit, the base unit connectable to an AC power supply, the base unit having a transmitter structure emitting at least one signal indicating one of an AC power loss or the AC power on, a remote lighting unit having a light source, and auxiliary power supply and a receiver structure, the receiver structure receiving the signal from the base unit, the base unit wirelessly activating the light source of the remote lighting unit when the AC power is lost.
US08100542B2	Electro-optic device and electronic apparatus An electro-optic device includes an electro-optic panel and a light-shielding section. The light-shielding section formed on a side of a light exiting surface of the electro-optic panel and includes an inclined surface inclined toward a side opposite to the light exiting surface.
US08100540B2	Light array projection and sensing system A low cost, light projection and sensing system that projects an image onto a display surface using an array of light emitters. Further, the device has an integral sensing capability of the display surface using light sensors. Both the emitters and sensors are coupled to a control unit. Whereby, the device can modify the light-projected image and sensor view region with its control unit. The device can also project an animated overlaid image or large tiled image of photographic resolution. In operation, the device can determine the position and range of a remote object, along with illuminating its touch sensitive housing with a projected image.
US08100539B2	3D imaging system employing electronically tunable liquid crystal lens A system for photographing an object and generating a three-dimensional display of the object without the need for the observer to wear special glasses employs a camera having an electronically tunable liquid crystal lens in which the focal plane of the lens may be adjusted by controlling the voltage on the lens. An operator of the camera focuses the camera on the scene to be imaged and the camera records a series of images at closely spaced focal lengths by varying the voltage applied to the lens between the images. The digitally recorded images are then used to generate a display on a multilayer transparent display substrate with pixel addressing capabilities. Each of the recorded images at the differing focal lengths are displayed on one of the layers of the display screen, with the closest focal length recorded being displayed on the top screen, the one most proximate to the observer, and with successive images on other screens. A three-dimensional image is produced.
US08100535B2	Stress birefringence compensation in polarizing beamsplitters and systems using same An optical system is provided. The optical system comprises a first polarizing beamsplitter (PBS), a first reflecting image-forming device, and a first quarter-wave retarding element. An optical system is also provided that comprises an image-forming device, a reflective polarizing layer, at least a first birefringent element disposed on an optical path between the image-forming device and the polarizing layer, and a quarter-wave retarding element. Further provided is an optical system comprising a color combiner unit, at least two polarizing beamsplitters (PBSs), and a first quarter-wave retarding element. The present application also provides methods of compensating for birefringence in an image projection system.
US08100533B2	Apparatus and method for screening for glaucoma using visually evoked potentials A pattern VEP system for screening for glaucoma and other optic nerve related diseases/deficiencies. The system combines high contrast and low contrast testing. The low contrast testing allows for highly sensitive glaucoma testing and the high contrast allows for a sensitive test of the central vision. The system also includes a narrowly tailored method of rejecting corrupted data allowing the system to selectively salvage useful portions of a signal. The system also provides a method of data modeling to locate the N75-P100-N135 complex in a waveform and determine if it falls within the normal range.
US08100532B2	Eye and body movement tracking for testing and/or training The eye movement, body movement, and/or physiological performance of a subject may tracked while the subject performs a task, such as participating in an activity or sport. The collected data may then be used to identify correlations between the subject's eyesight and the subject's body movement exists and/or physiology. Such a correlation may be analyzed (e.g., over time) to determine any delays or gaps in the subject's ability to track an object, such as a ball, while participating in a sport or other activity. Further, a subject's performance may be compared to data collected from other individuals. The eye movement, body movement, and/or physiological performance data may be used to test and/or train the visual and cognitive abilities of an individual.
US08100526B2	Eyeglass-type image display device and an eyeglass frame used therefor An eyeglass-type image display device mounted on an eyeglass frame and has a display element for displaying an image and a light guiding unit for guiding the image light of the image displayed on the display element 15 is provided, wherein at least the light guiding unit is disposed on a limb unit so as to be displaceable to a first position where the light guiding unit is evacuated from the front of one eyeball of the user and to the second position where the light guiding unit extends to the front of the eyeball and the image light exits therethrough toward the eyeball, thereby enabling compact and light-weight structure, reduction in cost, and further enabling the user to wear the eyeglass frame for a long time without feeling that the eyeglass frame is heavy.
US08100520B2	Inkjet printhead and method of removing bubbles in the same An inkjet printhead includes an ink flow channel including a pressure chamber, a nozzle to communicate with the pressure chamber, an actuator to provide a driving force to eject ink from the pressure chamber, and a plurality of electrodes, a lower voltage is applied to an electrode closer to the nozzle as compared to an electrode farther from the nozzle to form a non-uniform electric field in the ink flow channel, and a method of removing bubbles in the inkjet printhead.
US08100519B2	Liquid discharging head, liquid discharging apparatus, and bubble removing method for the liquid discharging apparatus A liquid discharging head includes a head chip including a plurality of energy generating elements configured to discharge liquid, and liquid chambers provided around the energy generating elements, and a common passage member configured to define a common passage communicating with all the liquid chambers. Liquid is discharged from the liquid chambers by driving the energy generating elements so as to apply a discharging force to the liquid. N-number of common passage members (N≧2) are provided, and each includes an inlet for supplying the liquid to the common passage and an outlet for ejecting the liquid from the common passage. The inlet of the first common passage member is connected to a liquid supply member. The inlet of the N-th common passage member is connected to the liquid supply member via an opening-closing valve and to the outlet of the (N−1)-th common passage member.
US08100511B2	Heater of an inkjet printhead and method of manufacturing the heater A heater of a thermal inkjet printhead. The heater is formed of tantalum aluminum oxynitride (Ta—Al—ON), wherein the tantalum aluminum oxynitride is formed of about 30 to about 60 atomic % tantalum, about 10 to about 30 atomic % aluminum, about 5 to about 30 atomic % oxygen, and about 5 to about 30 atomic % nitrogen.
US08100510B2	Inkjet printhead system and method using laser-based heating An inkjet nozzle array includes a plurality of nozzles. Each nozzle includes a chamber having an input aperture adapted to receive ink into the chamber and an output aperture through which ink is ejected from the chamber. Each chamber further includes a window adapted to receive electromagnetic radiation and operable to heat ink in the chamber responsive to the electromagnetic radiation and eject an ink droplet through the output aperture.
US08100505B2	Liquid ejecting head and manufacturing dimension control method A liquid ejecting head includes a substrate, a nozzle forming member for forming on a principal surface of the substrate a nozzle comprising a flow passage of liquid and an orifice for ejecting the liquid, and a dummy pattern. The dummy pattern has substantially the same dimension as at least a part of the nozzle and is formed so that a cross-section of the dummy pattern is exposed at an end surface of the nozzle forming member.
US08100504B2	Inkjet recording apparatus and inkjet recording method The present invention aims to obtain a highly reliable inkjet recording apparatus using a nozzle plate which is excellent not only in ink repellency at the initial stage of the lifetime thereof but also excellent in mechanical durability against wiping, and the like. For this end, the present invention provides an inkjet recording apparatus which is equipped with at least an ink flying unit configured to fly an inkjet recording ink by applying an impulse to the inkjet recording ink to form an image, wherein the nozzle plate surface of an inkjet head in the ink flying unit has an ink repellent layer containing a silicone resin; and the inkjet recording ink contains at least a pigment, water, a fluorochemical surfactant, and a nonionic surfactant.
US08100497B2	Handheld image translation device Systems, apparatuses, and methods for a handheld image translation device are described herein. The handheld image translation device may include an image capture module to capture surface images of a medium and a positioning module to determine positioning information based at least in part on navigational measurements and/or the captured surface images. A print module of the handheld image translation device may cause print forming substances to be deposited based at least in part on the positioning information. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08100496B2	Signaling module, liquid container, recording apparatus, and control method An ink tank receives data signals from a printer and an LED provided on the ink tank is driven on the basis of the received data signals. The LED is driven in an inactive time period that is different from the time period in which the date signals are input to the ink tank.
US08100483B2	Machine and track assembly for use therewith A track assembly for a machine includes a track having inner track seals, a rotatable track engaging element such as an idler or drive sprocket and a contact interface for protecting the seals during guiding the track about the rotatable element. The contact interface may include sacrificial wear material on the rotatable element and sacrificial wear material on corresponding track links. The contact interface may have a configuration based on a location of the seals, and is adapted to inhibit wear of the track links in regions adjacent the seals. In another aspect, the contact interface is a guide interface.
US08100482B2	Brake hydraulic pressure control apparatus for vehicle A brake hydraulic pressure control apparatus for a vehicle includes anti-skid control means for executing an anti-skid control including a pressure reducing control and a pressure increasing control for one of front wheels at which an anti-skid control start condition is established, yaw moment control means for executing a yaw moment control, while the anti-skid control has been executed only for a first front wheel, for a second front wheel, wheel cylinder pressure estimated value calculating means, pressure difference estimated value calculating means, pressure increasing control means, and the pressure difference estimated value calculating means including pressure difference at specific time calculating means for calculating a pressure difference estimated value at specific time on the basis of a pressure difference estimated value at the first front wheel and a wheel cylinder pressure difference between the wheel cylinder pressure estimated values at the second front wheel and the first front wheel.
US08100481B2	Self-propelled machine for cutting or milling, in particular a machine for working deposits by surface mining The invention relates to a self-propelled machine for cutting or milling, which has a chassis (1), which is carried by track-laying units or wheels and which has a cutting or milling arrangement (2) and an arrangement (8) for adjusting the height of the chassis to set the depth of cutting or milling. The driver's station is decoupled from the shaking movements or vibrations from the arrangement (2) for cutting or milling which are transmitted to the chassis, and from the vibrations from the internal combustion engine for driving the machine. This decoupling is accomplished by having the height-adjusting arrangement (8) form a system which connects the track-laying units or wheels to the chassis not rigidly but in such a way that they are able to move.
US08100477B2	Synchronizing device for an office chair The synchronizing device comprises a seat carrier for carrying a seat of said office chair, a seat arm to be connected to a chair column of said office chair, said seat carrier being pivotable in relation to said seat arm about a transverse axis, a backrest arm connected to said seat arm and to said seat carrier such as to be pivotable about a transverse axis, a spring adapted to counter a synchronized movement of said seat carrier and backrest arm, and a sliding member extending substantially in a longitudinal direction of said seat and being articulated to said seat arm, said seat carrier being slidable in relation to said sliding member substantially in said longitudinal direction of said seat.
US08100475B2	Rocker lounge A lounge has a foot-operated mechanism for propelling the lounge with a rocking motion. The lounge has a frame with at least one arcuate runner contacting the floor. A user-supporting surface is attached to the frame with portions of the surface adapted to support different body regions of the user, particular the body regions proximate to the user's knees, neck and buttocks. The user-supporting surface may be configured so that the user's buttocks are at a lower elevation than the user's knees and neck. A foot pedal is connected by a linkage assembly to an actuating member that contacts the ground. By pushing against the pedal, the user can impart a rocking motion to the lounge. The lounge may be folded along portions of the frame for compact, convenient storage.
US08100472B2	Vehicle active head restraint system with a locking linkage A vehicle seat is provided with a frame providing structure for a seat back within a vehicle. An active head restraint system is supported by the frame for moving to an extended position when the active head restraint system is activated. The active head restraint system has a linkage to lock in the extended position. A head restraint is oriented above the seat back of the frame. The head restraint is moveable relative to the frame by the active head restraint system to the extended position to provide support to the head of the occupant during an impact condition.
US08100471B2	Adjustable seat ramp utilizing active material actuation An adjustable seat ramp adapted for use with a seat base and defining a first angle of inclination, includes a structure translatably disposed within or integrally formed with the base and presenting a first position, and further includes an actuator employing a shape memory material element and configured to cause the structure to translate to a second position, wherein a second angle of inclination is defined.
US08100470B1	Child chair having engaging assembly for seat A child chair includes a seat and a frame. The seat is detachably mounted on the frame by using an engaging assembly. The engaging assembly includes an engaging device and a coupling device. The engaging device is movably mounted on the seat. The coupling device is mounted on the frame and coupled with the engaging device on the seat. The engaging device is cooperated with the coupling device between a locking position and a release position relative to the seat.
US08100469B2	Collapsible chair with curved back support This invention is a backrest for collapsible or foldable chairs that provides ample and comfortable back support for a seated person. The backrest consists of a Collapsible Back Support Curve that, when incorporated properly into a collapsible chair, is easy to set-up, collapse, store and transport, and it is visually appealing and durable. The invention is incorporated into collapsible chairs by shaping the chair back-rest support members in parallel gradual curves that force a membrane taught between them, evenly along their length, when in an open (non-collapsed) position. The invention, although a stationary part of a chair without complicated moveable parts, is designed to fit people of different heights and different back-arch preferences.
US08100467B2	Vehicle roof having roof opening system A vehicle roof is proposed having a roof opening system (12) which comprises a cover element (16) by means of which a roof opening (14) can be optionally closed or at least partially opened and which interacts, in the closed position, with a separating device which surrounds the roof opening (14) and separates a wet area from a dry area, wherein the cover element (14) comprises, on both sides with respect to a longitudinal central plane of the vehicle, a front, driven sliding element (24) which lies in the dry area and is guided in a first guide device (30), and a rear sliding element (28) which lies in the wet area and is guided in a second guide device (32). According to the invention, the rear sliding elements (28) are actively driven by means of a drive device (46) in a coupling-free fashion with respect to the front sliding elements (24), so that said rear sliding elements (28) move in the second guide devices (32).
US08100466B2	Vehicle roof having a modular, multishell structure A vehicle roof for a passenger car, the vehicle roof having a modular, multishell structure, the vehicle roof including a variably configurable functional shell for providing stiffness to the vehicle roof and configured to be directly attached to a body shell of the vehicle and for variable accommodation of functional elements; an outside roof skin configured to be fixed to an outside surface of the functional shell with a fixing means; and at least one inside lining element configured to be fixed to an inside surface of the functional shell.
US08100465B2	Trailer rear door frame with angled rear sill A rear frame of a trailer has an elongated horizontal sill having a closed cross-section which is rigid in bending and in torsion. The elongated horizontal sill is formed of a fantail and a base plate attached to an underside of the fantail. The base plate has front and rear sections that are not notched as notching of the sill can weaken it. The front section is horizontal and the rear section is angled upwardly relative to the horizontal front section at a predetermined angle of approximately 22 degrees. The angling of the base plate provides a specialized geometry for accommodating a tuck-under lift gate. The sill also has minimal vertical dimensions to aid in the non-interference with legs of the tuck-under lift gate.
US08100464B2	Vehicle substructure A vehicle substructure includes a side member inner that becomes a pillar member, a rear side member, and a side member outer. The vehicle substructure includes, for example, a partition as a load transmitting member that is inserted between the side member inner and the rear side member and comes into contact with the wall surface of the side member outer facing a vehicle compartment. It is preferable that the partition have a laminated structure including members and the like. Further, it is more preferable that the vehicle substructure include reinforcing members.
US08100463B2	Integrated brackets for vehicle instrument panels An integrated bracket for attaching multiple components to a vehicle instrument panel reinforcement includes a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion. The first attachment portion is configured to receive a first component and the second attachment portion is configured to receive a second component. The integrated bracket also includes at least one flange for attaching the integrated bracket to an instrument panel reinforcement.
US08100460B2	Extendable air control dam for vehicle An air dam is attached to the underside of a vehicle and extends downwardly into proximity with the road surface and potential interference with curbs or like obstructions extending above the road surface. A panel assembly includes a top wall attached to the underside of the motor vehicle, forward and rearward walls depending from the top wall, and a bottom wall. These walls cooperate to define an interior space, and the forward and rearward walls have serially arranged pleats connected by living hinges by which the panel assembly can adjusted in height by flexing the living hinges to provide an extended position of the panel assembly in which the bottom wall is positioned further below the underside of the motor vehicle and a withdrawn position in which the bottom wall is withdrawn upwardly closer to the underside of the motor vehicle to avoid potential interference with curb or like obstructions.
US08100457B2	Seat system for the interior of a motor vehicle A seat system for the interior of a motor vehicle, such as a driver's cab of a truck, has a vehicle seat that is movable from a home position, set on a seat support on the vehicle, into at least one further position. The vehicle seat is separable from the seat support and has a roller element device by which the vehicle seat can be moved into a position separated from the seat support. The seat support can include at least one coupling element for a connection line, with the coupling element being connectable to a coupling element on the vehicle seat.
US08100452B1	Scoop for bagging sand A scoop for filling bags has a channel shaped member open at its forward and rear ends with an open top extending through forward and rear portions between the forward and rear ends. The forward portion has a flat bottom with two sides tapering inward from the front to the rear portion. The rear portion transitions from the flat bottom and the two sides of the forward portion to an open-top arcuate cross-section at the rear end suitable for being inserted into an open end of a bag. Forward and rear handles extend across the open top at the respective forward and rear portions with ends fastened to the two sides.
US08100447B2	Shovel with multiple blade faces A shoveling implement includes an elongate handle which may be pivotally attached to a shovelhead having at least two blade faces. The shovelhead may be configured so that the blade faces always remain at a fixed angle to the ground, or may be designed as a combination scoop and pusher shovel, with either blade being utilized by rotating the handle 180 degrees.
US08100444B2	Bumper system for a motor vehicle A bumper system for a motor vehicle includes, but is not limited to, a bumper cross member, which is fixed to a stiff frame of the motor vehicle, a pliable bumper shell, a compressible structure which is formed between an upper area of the shell and the cross member and one support section which supports the lower area of the shell, which, together with a crash box holding the cross member is anchored to the flange plates of the frame.
US08100443B2	Safety knob Rotary knob or handle 1 for opening and/or closing doors, gates or windows, comprising a first part 2 designed to operate a closing mechanism by rotation around a rotation axis X, a second part 3 which is rotatable around substantially the same axis X, a connecting part 5, which is coupled to said second part 3 in rotation around said axis X. The connecting part 5 is movable with respect to the first part 2 along said axis X, between a first position and a second position. In said first position of the connecting part 5, the connecting part 5, and with it the second part 3, are substantially freely rotatable around said axis X with respect to said first part 2. In said second position of the connecting part 5, the connecting part 5 and the second part 3 are rotationally coupled by a dog clutch to said first part 2. The rotary knob or handle 1 is provided with several push buttons 4 on said second part 3, arranged at an angle with respect to said rotation axis X. Any one of said at least two push buttons, when pushed, displaces said connecting part 5 from said first position towards said second position, closing the dog clutch and enabling the operation of the closing mechanism through rotation of the second part 3.
US08100442B2	Rotary lock mechanism A rotary lock mechanism disclosed includes a housing, a linear latch, and a rotary latch. The linear latch is disposed next to the housing and slides corresponding to the housing. The rotary latch is pivoted at a side of the housing, which faces the position structure. The rotary latch includes a dual-angle ramp disposed facing the linear latch. The linear latch may touch the dual-angle ramp to rotate the rotary latch when the linear latch slides corresponding to the housing.
US08100440B2	Battery cover latch mechanism A battery cover latch mechanism is provided including a cover member having a pivoting assembly formed thereon, and a housing member. The housing member defines a mounting section. The pivoting assembly is configured to be either pivotably mounted within the mounting section when the cover member is rotated relative to the housing member at an angle less than 90 degrees, or detached from the mounting section when the cover member is rotated relative to the housing member at an angle equal to 90 degrees.
US08100439B2	Device for fixing a door or flap The present invention relates to a device for fixing a door or flap, in particular a door or flap of a refrigerator and/or freezer, in the closed position, wherein the device includes a spring element and a holding element, in particular a closing cam, which are arranged such that in the closed position of the door or flap they cooperate such that separating the spring element and the holding element from each other only is possible by applying force, wherein the spring element is a leaf spring.
US08100437B2	Marine riser assembly A marine riser assembly having a first tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of first axially spaced formations, a second tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of second axially spaced formations thereon, a segmented ring in surrounding relationship to the first and second tubular members, the segmented ring having an inner surface with a plurality of formations engageable with the formations on the first and second tubular members, the engageable formations serving to urge the first and second tubular members toward each other when the segmented ring is subjected to radially inwardly directed compressive forces, a sleeve in surrounding relationship to force the engageable formations together and a seal assembly for sealing against external and internal pressure.
US08100436B2	Data support with an optically variable structure The invention relates to a security element with an optically variable structure, which has an embossed structure and a coating, wherein the embossed structure and the coating are combined such that at least parts of the coating are completely visible upon perpendicular viewing, but are concealed upon oblique viewing. This embossed structure has nonlinear embossed elements, which are combined with the coating such that when changing the viewing direction different pieces of information become visible.
US08100434B2	Frame structure for vehicle and vehicle A frame structure for a vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, a pair of occupant seats, and a center pipe. The vehicle body frame has a front-rear direction. The pair of occupant seats includes a driver's seat and a passenger seat and are arranged side by side in a vehicle width direction substantially orthogonal to the front-rear direction. The center pipe extends in the front-rear direction and is arranged substantially on a center line of a vehicle body so as to pass through positions between the driver's seat and the passenger seat in the vehicle body frame.
US08100431B2	Front passenger seat airbag apparatus A split-opening portion is formed by two transverse breakable portions that extend substantially along the transverse direction of a vehicle, two front-rear breakable portions that extend substantially along the front-rear direction of the vehicle and are connected to the transverse breakable portions, and a middle breakable portion that is located between the two transverse breakable portions and extends substantially along the transverse direction of the vehicle. The middle breakable portion is connected to the front-rear breakable portions. In a front passenger seat airbag apparatus, the split-opening portion is broken by pressing force of an inflated airbag so that door portions are separated from the door adjacent portion, and the door support portions are pivoted together with the door portions about hinge portions serving as fulcrums. The breaking strengths of parts of the split-opening portion are varied such that is broken in the order of the transverse breakable portions, the front-rear breakable portions, and the middle breakable portion.
US08100430B2	Convertible hand truck A multi-mode hand truck is convertible to assume a hand-truck mode, a reclined load-assist mode, and a push-cart mode.
US08100429B2	Three dimensional folding stroller with infant carrier attachment and one hand actuated seat recline A three-dimensional folding stroller featuring movable infant carrier mounts for securing an infant carrier to the stroller. The infant carrier mounts move between a first position, where the infant carrier may be secured to the stroller, and a second position that facilitates folding. The stroller also features a reclinable seatback support that is operable by one hand.
US08100427B2	Pin box assembly for trailer A pin box assembly is provided for a trailer. The pin box assembly includes a first section having a trailer attachment point, a second section carrying a king pin and a pivot connecting the first and second sections together. In addition the pin box assembly includes a shock absorber having a first end connected to the first section and a second end connected to the second sections. Still further, the pin box assembly includes an air spring connected between the first and second sections.
US08100423B2	Connector piece for the articulated connection of components located in the suspension of a vehicle A connector piece for the articulated connection of structural elements of a chassis of a motor vehicle. The connector piece has a main body, formed from at least one metal sheet, which has at least one bearing or joint and includes a housing connected to the main body and an inner part which is fitted within an inside space of the housing and can move relative to the housing. The housing comprises a housing portion that surrounds the inside space and includes at least two sheet-metal strips that are arranged adjacent one another, in a longitudinal direction, and are bent between their ends, in opposite directions transverse to the longitudinal direction, such that the metal strips partially surround the inside space on different sides.
US08100421B2	Vehicle having multiple operational modes A vehicle includes a deck, an aft running gear attached to the deck, a steering assembly, a flexible joint attaching the steering assembly to the deck, such that the steering assembly is pivotable about the flexible joint with respect to the deck between a rider-standing mode and a rider-sitting mode, and a brake assembly attached to the deck.
US08100418B2	Folding seat A folding seat comprising a base and a back hinged thereto, in which the base comprises an open topped container defining an inner storage space, in which in a first arrangement the back is folded onto the base, and a closed container is formed, and in which in a second arrangement the back is unfolded from the base and a seating or lying platform is formed.
US08100416B1	Utility push cart A utility push cart comprising an elongated frame extending vertically behind a power lawn tool, where the power lawn tool rests against the elongated frame, a top bar attached to a top portion of the elongated frame and protruding horizontally from the elongated frame, a wheel connected to a bottom end of the elongated frame, an upper cage fastened below the top bar against the elongated frame, where the upper cage straps around a motor of the power lawn tool, a lower cage fastened below the upper cage along the elongated frame, where the lower cage straps a tube from the power lawn tool against the elongated frame, and a carrying means behind the elongated frame to support a mulch bag connected to the power lawn tool wherein the carrying means prevents a user from tripping over the mulch bag during use.
US08100414B2	Chuck apparatus A piston is displaced by a pressure fluid supplied to a chuck body, whereupon a pair of first and second fingers that constitute a gripping member are operated to open and close along a base body. Further, a shaft-shaped bobbin is inserted through the interior of the first and second fingers, and a coil is wound around a small diameter portion of the bobbin. Accompanying opening/closing operations of the first and second fingers, an opening/closing amount thereof is detected based on a change in impedance of the coil.
US08100413B2	Workpiece vacuum chuck head A workpiece vacuum chuck head, which serves to vacuum-chuck a light, minute workpiece and to release and place the vacuum-chucked workpiece on a workpiece placement surface, includes a base section, a workpiece vacuum chuck section, and a follower mechanism section for connecting together the base section and the workpiece vacuum chuck section. These sections form an integral structure. The base section has an attachment surface for attaching the workpiece vacuum chuck head to a head drive mechanism. The workpiece vacuum chuck section has a workpiece vacuum chuck surface and a negative-pressure chamber, which opens at the workpiece vacuum chuck surface via a suction hole. The follower mechanism section has a structure that is easily elastically deformable, and is appropriately deformed in a three-dimensional space so as to cause the workpiece vacuum chuck surface to follow an inclination of the workpiece placement surface.
US08100412B2	Sealing device A sealing device (1) for providing a seal between a steering gear casing and a front wall sheet of a body of a motor vehicle around a steering shaft feed through lumen 21, the sealing device comprises a base body (2) to be connected to the steering gear casing and a foamed ring-shaped sealing body (3) which extends from a front area of the base body (2) and which comprises a far end designed and arranged to rest against the front wall sheet. The foamed sealing body (3) is directly foam-molded to the base body (2), to securely bond it to the base body (2) in a desired relative position.
US08100410B2	Sealing ring interposed between the block and the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, having a composite structure A sealing ring is set between the engine block of an internal-combustion engine and a cylinder head fixed to the engine block, within a seat set concentrically around a cylinder of the engine. The sealing ring has a composite structure, with an external hollow annular body made of superelastic material, and an internal hollow annular body including a shape-memory alloy.
US08100408B2	Sealing element A sealing element is provided for placement between first and second components, wherein the first component includes a cylindrical cavity with a step-shaped shoulder which narrows the cavity, and the second component is a cylindrical component for placement in the cavity. The sealing element comprises a stiffening body with a L-shaped longitudinal cut surface, with the first leg of the L shape being provided extending between the jackets of the cavity and of the second component, and the second leg being provided essentially in the region of the shoulder extending between the two components and at least in partial regions for touching the shoulder and the end side of the second component. The sealing element also comprises a sealing body which is made integrally continuous with a first sealing region for contact with the peripheral surface of the outside jacket of the second component and with a second sealing region for contact with an annularly peripheral region on the end surface of the shoulder of the first component.
US08100407B2	Packing cartridges and pressure-dampening elements for plunger-type pumps A package cartridge is provided for use in the maintenance of a packing bore for a plunger-type pump. According to one aspect, a packing cartridge includes: a generally-cylindrical sleeve adapted to be at least partially positioned in the packing bore, a first abutment ring positioned in the sleeve, and a second abutment ring positioned in the sleeve and co-axially spaced apart from the first abutment ring. Telescoping structures are operatively positioned between the first abutment ring and the second abutment ring. According to another aspect, a structure forming a circumferential pressure-ring groove is provided. A pressure ring is positioned in the pressure-ring groove, the pressure ring having at least one smaller external dimension than an internal dimension of the pressure-ring groove, whereby at least one clearance is provided between the pressure-ring groove and the pressure ring. These aspects can be advantageously practiced together.
US08100404B2	Leaf seal arrangement In order to provide simpler manufacture and lift up and blow down control, leaf elements are provided which have profile edges arranged to associate with each other in order to create a ring carousel, either about the front or rear edge of a leaf seal arrangement. In such circumstances gas flow through the leaf seal arrangement encounters the profile edge in order to adjust leaf section position for appropriate sealing efficiency.
US08100401B1	Multi-mode wheel and pointer indicators A game system including a progressive bonus apparatus connected to a plurality of individual game units. In an exemplary embodiment, the progressive bonus apparatus receives score contributions from each game unit to increase a progressive score. When players achieve a predetermined result on a game unit, they receive an award based on the progressive score. Each game unit connected to the progressive bonus apparatus may take the form of a game with a rotating wheel.
US08100399B1	Paper guide support extension attachments A printing device has at least one printing engine, at least one media path adjacent the printing engine, and a paper tray adjacent the media path. The paper tray stores media and supplies the media to the media path. Further, at least one sheet guide is attached to the paper tray, and at least one rectangular member is attached to the sheet guide. The rectangular member has a sheet guide opening, and the sheet guide opening attaches to the sheet guide. The rectangular member has a first planar surface that is coplanar with a second planar surface of the sheet guide. Also, the first planar surface is at least twice the two-dimensional size of the second planar surface. The first planar surface and the second planar surface contact media stored within the paper tray.
US08100394B2	Method and device for affixing a marking ribbon to a book or a brochure A marking ribbon (2) is affixed to a book block (3) in that a partial book block (10; 10.1 . . . 3) with at least one sheet (8.3) has the marking ribbon (2) is placed on the top sheet (8.3) before at least one other sheet (8.4) is deposited on the partial book block (10; 10.1 . . . 3) with the marking ribbon (2) placed thereon during the additional gathering. The gathered book block (12) with the marking ribbon (2) is subsequently bound and trimmed on three sides at the non-bound edges.
US08100393B2	Sawtooth jog for multi-copy/multi-set output A method of positioning copy or subsets for the easy insertion of tabs thereinto that includes creating a shingled boundary between subsets, with the top sheets of all subsets in the same position, but with the rest of each subset progressively offset so that the last page of the upper subset is significantly offset from the top sheet of the next subset in sawtooth fashion. As a result, the subsets can then be separated from one side more easily and tabs or other pages can be manually inserted with minimal difficulty.
US08100389B2	Pneumatic actuator for vibration damping device and vibration damping device using the same A pneumatic actuator for use in a vibration damping device comprising: a base housing; an elastic wall member being fastened fluid-tightly to the base housing to form a working air chamber therebetween; and an urging member positioned within the working air chamber for exerting urging force on an output portion provided to the elastic wall member, such that the output portion is actuated to undergo displacement in opposition to the urging member through change in an air pressure in the working air chamber from an outside. At least one of opposing faces of the base housing and the elastic wall member on the working air chamber side thereof has a plurality of rib portions which extend from an inner circumferential side thereof towards an outer circumferential side thereof. A vibration damping device equipped with the pneumatic actuator is also disclosed.
US08100388B2	Electromagnetic active engine mount apparatus An electromagnetic active engine mount apparatus includes a sub-channel through which working fluid flows is formed in the central portion of an electromagnetic drive so as to be able to cool heat generated from the coil of a solenoid section of the electromagnetic drive by repetitive operation of a vibrating member. Thus, the electromagnetic active engine mount apparatus can inhibit the heat generated from the coil to thus prevent thermal damage to various components formed of rubber, and provide improvement of its durability, reduction of its size, and simplification of its structure.
US08100385B2	Humidifier In a humidifier including a hollow fiber membrane bundle housed in a case, the hollow fiber membranes exchange water therethrough between the first and second gases flowing inside and outside the hollow fiber membrane to humidify one of the first and second gases having the water content lower than the other, and an annular mesh member throttles a part near the gas outlet of the second gas to provide a space between the part and the gas outlet of the second gas to easily discharge the second gas.
US08100384B1	Carburetor system A carburetor for increasing the efficiency and horse power of an internal combustion engine. The carburetor generally includes a body including a throat extending therethrough, a deflector plate extending inwardly towards a cross-sectional center within the throat, a venturi member extending within the throat downstream of the deflector plate and including a channel fluidly connected thereof, and a throttle plate disposed within the throat downstream of the venturi member. The deflector plate is directed towards the channel to redirect at least a portion of an air stream entering the throat through the channel to mix with a fuel stream injected within the channel. A water supply line injects a hot water stream within the throat downstream of the venturi member, wherein the hot water stream mixes with the fuel stream to atomize the fuel stream for vaporization within the internal combustion engine.
US08100378B1	Coupling system for vertically engaging support columns for concrete multi floor construction A vertical column coupling providing a means for creating entire concrete forms for constructing the ceiling and floors of multistory buildings utilizing a plurality of pipe columns and supported form slabs that are erected to a desired height and in horizontal alignment. Additionally the present invention provides for the ability to pour concrete in one continuous pour from the top and easy disassembly and removal of the device after said poured concrete has dried.
US08100376B2	Supporting bracket A supporting bracket includes a fixed member having a stopping tab thereon, a moveable member pivotally connected to the fixed member, a back plate having a first end pivotally connected to the fixed member and an opposite second end, and a locking unit connected to the moveable member. A plurality of slots is defined in the second end. When the supporting bracket is applied to an object thereon, the back plate is rotated up relative to the fixed member, the moveable member is rotated up relative to the fixed member, the locking unit is inserted into a slot of the back plate, and the object is supported on the back plate in a tilted manner with a bottom of the object sandwiched between the stopping tab and the back plate.
US08100372B2	Display mount for corner installations The invention provides a corner mount apparatus for a flat screen display that is installable on either the left-wall or right-wall of a corner. The corner mount system includes a wall bracket having a first side edge and a second side edge. A first angled surface extends at an angle from the first side edge, and it includes at least one opening. The wall bracket also has a securing region with at least one hole. The corner mount system may further include an interface member. The interface member has a tapered opening defined by opposed flanges. The interface member has an aperture that is aligned with the opening of the first angled surface of the wall bracket. A fastener is received by the aperture and the opening to couple the interface member to the wall bracket. The corner mount system also includes a support arm assembly for supporting the flat screen display. The support arm assembly includes a connector, a first arm and a flat screen display bracket. The connector is slidably received by the tapered opening of the interface member to couple the support arm assembly to the interface member and wall bracket.
US08100370B1	Bag mouth holder and opener A device for keeping lawn waste or other flexible refuse bags open while filling. The device is made of a resilient and flexible material so that it can be squeezed and easily inserted into the top opening of a refuse bag. The size of the device is proportional to the interior circumference of the opening of the bag so that the device expands when released securing itself within the opening of the bag. The shape of the device is that of a rectangular perimeter of a hyperbolic paraboloid or saddle, having segments that grip the interior corners of the bag when the device is released into position. Once the bag is filled with waste it can be squeezed again, allowing for the removal of the device from the bag and the preparing of the device for insertion into another bag.
US08100365B2	Intelligent ballistic parachute system that performs pre-activation and/or post-activation actions An aircraft, the aircraft including a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute that is coupled to the aircraft. The aircraft determines if a pre-activation action needs to be performed before activation of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute. The aircraft also receives a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute activation request. The aircraft then issues a command to perform the pre-activation action and then activates the deployment of the whole-aircraft ballistic parachute. The aircraft then issues a command to perform a post-activation action.
US08100364B2	Anti-icing piccolo tube standoff A standoff structure for an anti-icing piccolo tube wherein a flexible structure is formed from support ribs, a support bar and a diverter bar for supporting the piccolo tube within the slat or other aircraft leading edge, and for diverting hot gas from the piccolo tube across the inner surface of the slat or other aircraft leading edge.
US08100363B2	Hatch equipped with at least one locking socket capable of being actuated on each side of the hatch A hatch provided with at least one locking socket, equipped with a first actuator to urge a flexible linear pulling member, connected to the socket, in an unlocking direction, by abutting against a stop member secured to the member, at a distance from a second member end of the member, in which the actuator can be controlled from a first side of the hatch, and equipped with second actuator to urge the member in the unlocking direction, the second actuator being connected to the second end and being controllable from a second side of the hatch.
US08100359B2	Intercept system for falling bombs An intercept system for destroying a falling bomb includes a packable structure including a compressed expandable net of break resistant cords, a radio altimeter and a deployment mechanism for expanding and deploying the net below a falling bomb. The system also includes an explosive charge and a detonator for detonating the explosive charge when the detonator comes into contact with a bomb. A shoulder fired missile launcher propels the packable structure into the air below a falling bomb. The structure also includes a timer, responsive to the radio altimeter to detonate the explosive charge if a bomb is not encountered within a pre-selected amount of time.
US08100357B2	Method and structure for cutting off web material in winding machine Disclosed are a method and a structure for cutting off web in a winding machine. The winding machine includes an upper winding roller having a circumferential surface close to and below which a cut-off mechanism is arranged. The cut-off mechanism includes a pivot shaft having an outer circumferential surface and at least one pinch arm having a connecting end mounted to the outer circumferential surface of the pivot shaft and a web engagement end extending outward from the outer circumferential surface of the pivot shaft and forming at least one suction opening. At least one cutting blade is provided on the web engagement end of the pinch arm at a location immediately by the suction opening. When the pinch arm is driven to rotate the web engagement end to an engagement position where the web engagement end opposes the upper winding roller, the suction opening of the web engagement end sucks and holds a web material passing therethrough, whereby the web material is subjected to a pulling force induced by a roll of paper formed in a winding nip and is thus stretched to have the cutting blade set in tight engagement with the web material to cut off the web material.
US08100351B2	Method and device for grinding hot, wet raw material The invention relates to a method and a device for grinding hot, wet raw material.The invention is particularly suitable for the cement industry and the grinding and simultaneous drying of cement clinker, slag and aggregates. In order to achieve a throughput increase and energy saving, as well as an improvement in the product quality, particularly with mixed cements, there is a simultaneous grinding and drying through a controlled supply of a cooling gas in the upper mill part with a relatively high hot gas inlet temperature in the lower mill part. The cooling gas supplies ensures a predetermined gas-product temperature downstream of the classifier and replaces or significantly reduces the disadvantageous cooling water injection.
US08100350B2	Injector An injector includes a valve body, a needle valve, and a thermal expansion member. The valve body includes an internal space and a bottom portion having a nozzle hole. One end side of the space is covered with the bottom portion. The needle valve is accommodated in the space such that a fuel passage leading to the hole is formed between an inner surface of the valve body and an outer surface of the needle valve. The passage is opened or closed with respect to the hole by movement of the needle valve, so fuel injection is started or stopped. The inner surface of the bottom portion is opposed to a one end surface of the needle valve. The member is attached on the one end surface. The member is made of a material having a larger coefficient of thermal expansion than a material of the needle valve.
US08100349B2	Fuel injection device A piston can reciprocate in a piston guide cylinder in an axial direction and has a cavity on a piezo driver side thereof. If the piezo driver is energized, a tip of a projecting section of a pushing member pushes a bottom wall of the piston defining the cavity. If fuel pressure of a pressure control chamber increases via a pressurization chamber and a communication passage due to pressurization by the piston, a needle moves in a valve-opening direction against a first compression coil spring. Since the piston has the cavity, a movable mass of the piston is reduced while securing axial length of a sliding section. Thus, fuel leak from the sliding section between the piston and the piston guide cylinder can be suppressed, and an inertial resistance caused in the piston can be reduced.
US08100348B2	Device for generating microspheres from a fluid, method of injecting at least one first fluid into a second fluid, and an injection plate A device for generating microspheres from a fluid includes an injection plate with at least one defined injection channel having on an inlet side an inflow opening for receiving the fluid and on an outlet side an outflow opening for delivering microspheres formed from the fluid. The device includes feed elements for carrying fluid through the injection channel and is in open communication, on a side wall thereof, with at least one secondary channel at least at the position of a break-up point where at least during operation a flow of fluid in the injection channel breaks up into separate parts. The secondary channel includes in use an auxiliary fluid at least at the position of a break-up point.
US08100344B2	Fuel injector with fuel pressure sensor A fuel injector which may be employed in injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector includes an injector body and a head body formed to be separate from the injector body. The head body has installed therein a fuel pressure sensor working to measure the pressure of fuel in the fuel injector and is joined detachably to the injector body. The fuel injector alternatively includes an injector body and a fuel pressure-sensing unit equipped with a fuel pressure sensor. The fuel pressure-sensing unit is installed detachably on the injector body. This structure provides enhanced productivity of the fuel injector and facilitate the ease of replacement of the fuel pressure sensor.
US08100342B1	Shallow flangeway rail seal A rail seal for sealing the gap between a rail and a concrete panel in a railroad crossing so as to provide a generally even or level surface for vehicular or pedestrian traffic while still providing an appropriate rail structure for receiving and guiding the train wheels along the tracks is provided. More particularly, the upper surface of the rail seal is formed with a recessed portion or flangeway for receiving the flanged-end of a train. The flangeway or recessed portion, however, is formed so that the surface of the flangeway lies in a plane above the bottom of the rail head but below the upper surface of the rail head, thereby providing a “shallow” flangeway. The provision of a “shallow” flangeway helps to reduce the risks associated with vehicular and/or other pedestrian traffic that must access or cross the railroad tracks. Specifically, the shallow flangeway helps to prevent the heels of pedestrian shoes or the smaller width bicycle, stroller or wheelchair wheels from becoming trapped in the gaps typically associated with railroad crossing structures.
US08100341B1	Solar power augmented heat shield systems A dual air cavity roof has a continuous upper cavity which is cooled by fans, while the lower cavity is generally sealed. Preferably the cavities are separated by a radiant barrier. The fans are preferably powered by one or more photovoltaic cells that are also disposed on the roof. The roof can be pre-cooled with cooler night air and fans only activated when necessary to remove heat from the solar load on the upper cavity. When it is desirable to remove heat, the fan speed is optimized in each zone of the roof to enhance the natural convective flow to the optimum level. A radiant barrier can also cover the roof substrate, which is optionally an existing roof that is in need of repair. The roof structure is preferably assembled in parallel modules using insulating support brackets that support the outer surface and the barrier that separates the upper and lower cavity.
US08100340B2	Process for decoding machine readable coded data A process for decoding machine readable coded data is provided. The coded data has a plurality of layouts which each have order n (at least two) rotational symmetry and encode a codeword of a sequence of n symbols distributed at n locations about a center of rotational symmetry of the respective layout such that decoding the symbols at each of the n orientations of the layout produces n representations of the codeword. Each representation is a different cyclic shift of the codeword and is indicative of the degree of rotation of the layout. The process includes acquiring an image which includes the coded data with an image sensor, transmitting the acquired image to a computer system, and at the computer system, identifying a layout from the acquired image, decoding the identified layout to determine a codeword representation, and determining a degree of rotation of the layout from the determined representation.
US08100337B2	Double interface communication electronic module, in particular for a chip card The invention concerns an electronic module (11) with double communication interface, in particular for a chip card, the said module comprising firstly a substrate (27) provided with an electrical contact terminal block (17) allowing functioning by contact with the contacts of a reader, and secondly comprising an antenna comprising at least one turn (13) and whose terminals are connected to the terminals of a microelectronic chip situated on one face of the module (11).This module (11) is characterised in that the antenna turns (13) are situated substantially outside the area covered by the electrical contacts (17), so that the electrical contacts of the terminal block do not constitute electromagnetic shielding for the signals intended for the antenna.The invention applies in particular to the production of chip cards with double communication interface with contact and without contact.
US08100336B2	Method of unblocking a locked application using a personal identification number The invention relates to a method of securing applications on a chip card which is disposed in a digital appliance. A count is made of the number of times a personal identification number of a chip card application is input erroneously. When this number reaches a threshold, the application or the chip card is blocked. The erroneous input count and unblocking the chip card or the application is restarted when the personal identification number of the chip card is input. In this way, PIN-secured applications offer a high level of security without requiring the storing of additional unblocking data.
US08100333B2	Transaction product with camera A transaction product includes a digital camera assembly, a housing and an account identifier. The digital camera assembly includes a lens assembly, an image sensor aligned with the lens assembly, and a memory electrically coupled with the image sensor. The digital camera assembly is configured to capture images through the lens assembly using the image sensor and to digitally store the captured images to the memory. The housing substantially encloses the image sensor and the memory. The account identifier links the transaction product to an account or record and is machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal such that value can be added to or deducted from the account or record using the account identifier. Other product, cards, assemblies and associated methods are also disclosed.
US08100326B2	System and method of voting via an interactive television system A computer implemented method includes receiving, at a server of an internet protocol television (IPTV) network, a voting selection from a set-top box device. The voting selection is associated with video content that is received at the set-top box device via the IPTV network. The computer implemented method includes adding the voting selection to a tally of votes related to the video content when a voting status indicates that a previous vote has not been received from the set-top box device. The computer implemented method also includes changing the voting status to indicate that a vote has been received from the set-top box device after adding the voting selection to the tally of votes.
US08100324B1	Systems and methods for facilitating replacement of computer-based value-bearing items The exemplary embodiment of the present invention will provide computer systems and methods for facilitating replacement of computer-based value-bearing items.
US08100323B1	Apparatus and method for verifying components of an ATM An automated banking machine is provided which may comprise a trusted platform (TP) including a trusted platform module (TPM) in a computer of the machine. Through use of the TP, the machine may perform cryptographic functions for use in enabling the machine to perform transaction functions for users. The machine may be operative to use the TP to securely store secret keys, or other critical information in sealed storage on a data store of the machine. The TP may also be used to measure, attest, and verify transaction function devices, hardware devices, firmware, software, and/or other components of the machine prior to enabling the machine to function in an enabled mode. The TP may also be used to establish secure communication between components of the machine. The TP may also be used to perform key transfers between the machine and a host banking system.
US08100322B1	Systems, apparatus, and methods for obtaining satisfaction ratings for online purchases Systems, apparatus, and methods are disclosed for collecting and combining consumer satisfaction ratings for online purchases. Users may be prompted for purchase satisfaction after an expected delivery date. Information from one or more user responses may then be compiled and used to rate online vendors.
US08100310B2	Variable compression surgical fastener apparatus A surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising a fastener supporting portion and a retainer supporting portion. The fastener supporting portion includes a first row of first surgical fasteners and a second row of second surgical fasteners. The retainer supporting portion includes a first row of first retainers and a second row of second retainers, the first fasteners engagable with the first retainers and the second fasteners engagable with the second retainers. The fasteners and retainers are configured so when engaged a first distance between at least one of the first fastener backspans and respective first retainer backspan is different than a second distance between at least one of the second fastener backspans and respective second retainer backspan.
US08100309B2	Surgical instrument with articulating tool assembly A surgical stapling instrument including a handle portion, a body portion, an articulating tool assembly and an articulation mechanism is disclosed. The body portion extends distally from the handle portion. The articulation mechanism includes an articulation link for articulating the tool assembly, an articulation knob operatively coupled to the articulation link, wherein rotational motion of the articulation knob is translated into axial motion of the articulation link thereby articulating the articulating tool assembly.
US08100307B2	Oxygen bottle carrier for use with X-frame ambulance cots A device is disclosed for detachably coupling an oxygen bottle to an ambulance cot such that they are transportable together as a unit. The device fits between a pair of support legs of the cot, and is adjustable to accommodate oxygen bottles of various sizes.
US08100304B2	Method and apparatus for multi-positional locking holster A device including a rotational locking piece. The rotational locking piece includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is rotationally connected to the second portion. The first portion can be locked in relation to the second portion by a locking device. The locking device includes a locking member having a locking portion. A holster is connected to the rotational locking device. The rotational locking piece locks the holster in a many positions and the locking portion prevents the first portion from rotating when it is inserted in a locking groove formed on the first portion.
US08100299B2	Counter-mounted viscous liquid dispenser and mounting system The present invention provides an in-counter viscous liquid dispensing system. The features of the viscous liquid dispensing system include a quick mounting reservoir assembly that allows an installer to install the reservoir assembly in any orientation of the reservoir assembly to the counter mounted parts of the system. Other features include a mounting system which allows an installer to install the in-counter dispensing system with out the need to work both above and below the counter top.
US08100296B2	System and method of providing individual quantities of custom colored sealing compound A system and method for providing custom colored sealant are generally provided with a dispensing container, containing a quantity of sealant base solution. A nozzle, is shaped and sized to be removably secured with an open end portion of the dispensing container. A supplemental container is provided that contains a quantity of sealant thickener. A transfer pipette may be provided for selectively transferring a coloring agent to the dispensing container. The coloring agent may be mixed with the sealant base solution by agitating the dispensing container, until a desired color is attained. The sealant thickener may then added and mixed by similar agitation of the dispensing container. The nozzle is then coupled with the dispensing container and the custom-colored sealant is ready to be dispensed.
US08100295B2	Dispensing assembly with removably attachable accessories A dispensing assembly comprises a syringe and at least one accessory, such as a mixer or a closure cap. The syringe defines a first fastening area with a first pair of retaining elements, and the accessory defines a second fastening area with a second pair of retaining elements. The accessory has a housing with two mutually opposite, compressible housing portions. These housing portions are offset in relation to the second pair of retaining elements along the circumference of the housing. The fastening areas are configured such that the accessory is capable to be slipped-on the syringe and removable therefrom without a twisting motion, by applying pressure to the compressible housing portions.
US08100290B2	Spooled adhesive bandage dispenser A spooled adhesive bandage dispenser includes a case, a replaceable cartridge and an activation wheel. The cartridge is disposed within the case and includes a bandage roll and a waste core. The bandage roll includes a strip of bandage packages sealed between two strips of packaging. The activation wheel is at least partially exposed outside the case. By rotating the activation wheel, the packaging strips are pulled apart and the bandage package is forced out of the case through a slot. At the same time, the packaging strips are wound around the waste core. When the bandage roll is gone, the entire cartridge may be replaced.
US08100287B2	Caps for drinking vessels The present invention provides a cap for covering the open top of a drinking vessel. The cap includes a substantially rigid cover disk assembly dimensioned to span across and substantially cover the open top of the drinking vessel, and a flexible tubular membrane that extends from a bottom side of the cover disk assembly. The membrane is adapted to be rolled down a side wall of the drinking vessel to thereby removably secure the cap thereto. Identifying indicia can be printed on the top side of the cover disk assembly. The beverage within the drinking vessel can be consumed using a drinking straw. When properly deployed, the cap inhibits the introduction of unwanted matter into the drinking vessel.
US08100286B2	Tie system for plastic containers A tie system for plastic containers intended to provide greater rigidity and stability, wherein each tie comprises a central bar having two ends with clasps that fit with protuberances existing in the container.
US08100283B2	Dunnage structure made with multiple ply partitions A dunnage structure comprising a partition matrix made up of folded partitions, each of the partitions having two plies fused together in select locations. The partitions may be made by folding a partition blank and securing a portion of the folded partition blank to itself in predetermined locations. Passages extend through portions of the partitions to allow multiple partitions to be secured together using connectors.
US08100281B2	Orthopaedic instrument sterilization case A sterilization case assembly including a plurality of sterilization cases having a first sterilization case and a second sterilization case. The second sterilization case is stacked upon the first sterilization case in a vertical direction. The second sterilization case is offset from the first sterilization case in a direction transverse to the vertical direction. In another embodiment, the second sterilization case is configured for both stacking offset from the first sterilization case in a direction transverse to the vertical direction and stacking inline from the first sterilization case in a direction transverse to the vertical direction.
US08100277B1	Peelable seal for an opening in a container neck A peelable seal having one or more layers for sealing containers by heat sealing may include a stiffening structure, a foil portion, and a sealant structure. The stiffening structure of the seal includes an outer periphery or overhanging portion which extends beyond the rim of a neck of a container thereby allowing the peelable seal to be loosened from the container by flicking the overhanging portion of the peelable seal with a portion of the hand and without the need to pinch the seal.
US08100272B1	Painting tool cleaning mount assembly and method A painting tool cleaning mount assembly includes a central member and a plurality of legs attached to and extending downwardly from the central member to support the central member on a support surface. Each of the legs includes a vertically orientated paint roll receiving stanchion for receiving a paint roller. A plurality of hooks is attached to the central member. The hooks are extendable through apertures in handles of paintbrushes to removably hang the paint brushes from the central member. The central member is positionable in a dishwasher to clean the paint rollers and the paint brushes.
US08100268B2	Chutes for sorting and inspection apparatus A chute for inspection and sorting apparatus is disclosed. It comprises two sections; a first, upper section (6) and a lower, grooved section (2). The first section has a smooth, normally polished surface which allows product pieces thereon to move laterally as well as downwards. In the lower section (2) product pieces are restricted in their lateral movement by the grooves (12) and move into alignment with the grooves before being discharged into the inspection zone (22) of the apparatus. If the apparatus is for inspection only, then the product pieces continue to a collection receptacle. If the apparatus is for sorting, then an ejector (26) is included which acts in response to signals from the inspection station to eject selected pieces from the product stream. Those are deflected into a reject receptacle (28) while the remainder proceed into the collection receptacle (24).
US08100258B2	Fishing tackle organizer and carrier This invention provides a portable or fixed device for organizing and transporting items utilized by fisherman, hobbyists, tradesmen and the like. It comprises a main compartment containing a plurality of trays in which the items are organized and stored, and side and top compartments for organizing and storing items that are less suitable for storage in trays, such as elongated items and tools. The trays are held in the main compartment by a plurality of removable elastic cords which span the open front of the main compartment at such heights as to engage each tray at a point along its height. Trays can be removed by displacing the cords. Elastic cords also are provided to hold items in the side compartments. A cutting or work board can be is mounted on the back of the device, and slip-resistant surfaces can be installed on the top and the bottom. Handles can be provided for carrying the device, or the device can be built into the structure of a boat, a vehicle, or a fixed structure.
US08100252B2	Object repositioning system In one embodiment, an object repositioning system configured for use in association with a conveyor includes opposed gates positioned over the conveyor and oriented in an initial partially-closed position in which the gates define an opening through which objects conveyed by the conveyor can pass that is narrower than a width of the conveyor, a locking mechanism configured to lock the gates in the initial partially-closed position, and an actuation mechanism configured to release the locking mechanism to enable the gates to pivot when an object conveyed by the conveyor contacts both of the gates at the same time.
US08100251B2	Bill handling device A highly secure bill handling device that can essentially prevent bill removal includes a bill container for storing a bill inserted through a bill insertion slot, an exit through which the bill container projects out of a housing, an openable/closable shutter for closing the exit, a shutter drive module for opening and closing the shutter, a lock member movably supported between a locked position where the shutter is not allowed to open and an unlocked position where the shutter is allowed to open, and a lock member moving module for moving the lock member between the locked position and the unlocked position.
US08100242B2	Bicycle wheel hub The present invention provides a bicycle wheel hub that generally includes an axle, an input sprocket, an output shell, a one-way clutch and a locking mechanism. The one-way clutch operatively connects the input sprocket and the output shell and is configured to drive the output shell in a first direction. The locking mechanism is configured to operatively connect the output shell and the input sprocket to drive the output shell in a second direction to operate the bicycle wheel hub in a fixed drive mode. The locking mechanism is configured to operatively disconnect the output shell and the input sprocket to operate the bicycle wheel hub in a freewheel drive mode.
US08100239B2	Clutch device and methods Some embodiments of a clutch system may drive an output member to rotate at a first speed when the opposing clutch surfaces are engaged and to rotate at a second speed when the clutch surfaces are shifted to a disengaged position. In particular embodiments, the multi-speed clutch system may employ an eddy current drive system that causes the output portion to rotate even when the opposing clutch surfaces are disengaged.
US08100238B2	Magnetorheological clutch A magnetorheological clutch includes a primary part, a secondary part and a magnet for the generation of a magnetic field. The primary part and the secondary part are rotatable relative to one another around an axis of rotation of the clutch, with the primary part being rotationally fixedly connected to at least one disk. The disk is surrounded by coupling gaps in which a magnetorheological medium is arranged. The thickness of the at least one disk along the coupling gap has a value of approximately 0.4 mm to approximately 1 mm, with the at least one disk being formed along the coupling gaps without material interruptions.
US08100236B2	Shock absorber having self pumping unit A shock absorber, in which external gas is sucked by movement of a piston rod to obtain compressed gas, which is used for inhibiting the “lag” phenomenon. A piston valve is connected to one end of a piston rod received in an inner shell and moved between rebound and compression strokes, an inner space of the inner shell being divided into a rebound chamber and a compression chamber by the piston valve. A reservoir chamber is provided in an outer shell outside of the inner shell to supply oil to the compression chamber in the rebound stroke and to recover oil in the compression stroke. The shock absorber has a high pressure tank with a high pressure chamber installed outside of the outer shell, and a self pumping unit for sucking gas and pumping it into the high pressure chamber using energy generated by movement of the piston rod.
US08100232B2	Actuating device for a brake The invention relates to an actuation device for a brake (40, 41, 42, 43, 50), for applying an output force (FA) to means (40, 41, 42, 43, 50) which generate braking force, depending on an input parameter (FE), comprising a lever (1) and a force generator (7) which brings a force (FFeder) to bear on the lever (1) at an effective angle (α), relative to the longitudinal axis of the lever (1). Furthermore, an alternative actuating device for a brake is given, which permits a significant reduction of the power and energy requirements relative to direct-acting actuating devices. The above is achieved by means of a low-friction actuation characteristic as a result of the construction features of the actuating device and/or the selection of materials used. A preferred field of application is in electrically-driven braking systems on commercial vehicles.
US08100231B2	Self-locking descender with disengageable handle A self-locking comprising a pulley in the form of a rotary cam, a brake shoe, and an actuating handle of a mechanism with an interruptible mechanical link between the pulley and handle after an intermediate position has been passed causing disengagement of the pulley and automatic return of the cam to a locking position. The mechanism comprises a selector with a pushbutton coupled with an operating means designed to occupy an active position or an inactive position to respectively disable or enable said disengagement of the pulley.
US08100229B2	Oil flow passage arrangement of automatic transmission First and second oil flow passages are defined in a wall portion of a transmission casing. The first oil flow passage has an open end exposed to an interior of the casing. The second oil passage is connected to the first oil passage through a connection opening defined by the first oil passage. A separate pipe member has a predetermined end portion that is inserted into the first oil passage from the open end of the same. The predetermined end portion comprises a cylindrical portion having a fixed length; an end opening defined by an end of the cylindrical portion and exposed to the first oil passage; and an orifice opening defined by a side wall of the cylindrical portion. The orifice opening is blocked by an inner wall of the first oil passage when the connection opening takes a first position relative to the open end of the first oil passage, and exposed to the second oil passage when the connection opening takes a second position relative to the open end of the first oil passage. The second position is closer to the open end of the first oil passage than the first position is.
US08100226B2	Porous nonwoven scrims in acoustical panels An acoustical building panel and method of manufacturing it are disclosed. Embodiments of the panel include a porous nonwoven scrim, a coating deposited on the scrim, a base mat, and an adhesive deposited on either the base mat or the scrim in a discrete form such as in droplets. Embodiments of the method of manufacture include steps of perforating the base mat, applying the adhesive to the base mat in the discrete form, laminating the scrim onto the base mat, and applying the coating to the scrim surface.
US08100223B2	Systems and methods for determining an absolute position of a motor in an active front steering system of a vehicle Systems and methods for determining an absolute position of a motor of an active front steering system of the vehicle are provided. In particular, the systems and methods accurately determine an absolute position of the motor upon startup of the active front steering system.
US08100221B2	Engine-off power steering system A center-closed power steering system provides power steering assistance in engine-off conditions for reduced fuel consumption. The power steering system includes a hydraulic pump mechanically driven by the engine, a high pressure accumulator, a steering gearbox fluidly connected to the accumulator, and a center closed valve mechanically connected to a driver-operated steering wheel. The valve is configured to selectively control flow of pressurized fluid from the accumulator to the steering gearbox to provide power steering assistance. The inner shaft of the rotary center-closed valve is provided with a cavity with V-shaped notches on the transition surfaces on lands configured to sealingly engage the inner surface of the valve outer sleeve, in order to provide a smooth transition in flow for power steering assistance, and a better driver feel.
US08100219B2	Device for orientating rear wheels A device for orientating rear wheels of a vehicle, including: a rear axle fitted with two orientable wheels; an actuator including: a body with a lubricated guide bearing and an actuating member that can move relative to the body, guided by the bearing, and the movements of which orientate the wheels about the vertical of the rear axle; a temperature sensor; and a control circuit for the actuator, configured to lock movements of the actuating member when the temperature determined by the temperature sensor is below a predetermined threshold value.
US08100217B2	Vehicle with hand control system The subject of the present invention is a vehicle that includes a hand control system that allows for vehicle acceleration and braking by using hand controls. The hand controls are electronically connected to vehicle controllers, which electronically control the propulsion system and brake system. The hand controls do not mechanically manipulate the accelerator and brake pedals and so can be easily removed from the vehicle.
US08100216B2	Hybrid drivetrain with waste heat energy conversion into electricity A thermal-to-electrical conversion system converts internal combustion engine exhaust heat into useful electrical energy in a hybrid vehicle system. The converted energy is sent to an energy-storage control system via a DC-DC converter. High power-density storage medium (e.g. ultracapacitors) is used in the designated “short-cycle” hybrid design to maximize transfer efficiency and capacity while minimizing weight. An upconversion circuit within the control system allows high use of the storage capacity. Employed in a lightweight vehicle platform, the system addresses the most significant barriers to achieving high transportation efficiency-mass and combustion energy loss to waste heat.
US08100211B2	Electrochemical accumulator and vehicle comprising an electrochemical accumulator An electrochemical accumulator includes a plurality of electrochemical cells, each of which has a casing. The accumulator also includes a cover, a housing which is closed by the cover, an electrolyte in the housing, and at least one connecting pole for making electrical contact with the accumulator, where the connecting pole is electrically connected to a group of the electrochemical cells. The accumulator also includes a cooling air area for holding cooling air for cooling the cells and a degassing area for holding a gas which emerges from the cells in the event of a defect. The cooling air area and the degassing area are separated from one another in a gas-tight manner and the cooling air area and the degassing area are passed out of the housing independently of one another. The cooling air area has channels which are guided on the casings of the cells outside the cells.
US08100208B2	Drive system for driving a vehicle wheel A drive system driving a vehicle wheel at various speeds. The drive system generally includes a transmission assembly configured to drive the vehicle wheel in a forward direction and a motor rotatable in a first direction and a second direction and configured to drive the transmission assembly. The transmission assembly is configured to operate in a first operating mode when the motor is rotating in the first direction to provide at least one first wheel speed in the forward direction. The transmission assembly is configured to operate in a second operating mode when the motor is rotating in the second direction to provide at least one second wheel speed in the forward direction.
US08100207B2	Power output apparatus, hybrid vehicle having the same, and method of controlling the power output apparatus The hybrid vehicle transfers power between the two motors, releases a coupling between one of the motors and the drive shaft, adjusts the rotation speed of one of the motors which is released from the coupling to the drive shaft by the transmission so as to enable drive source element connection, and connects the clutch as well as cranks the engine by either one or the other motor when the engine is started while the clutch is released, the engine is stopped, both the motors are coupled to the drive shaft as well as at least one of the motors is caused to output power.
US08100206B2	Hybrid vehicle recharging system and method of operation A system and method for recharging a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The system includes a controller that schedules the recharging of the vehicles on local electrical distribution networks. The system arranges the schedule to minimize the demand loading on the local distribution network to more efficiently operate power plants providing electrical power to the distribution networks. A system for collecting charges associated with the recharging of plug-in hybrid vehicles is also disclosed providing for prepaid utility accounts.
US08100205B2	Robotic system and method of use A robotic system that can have a body and four flippers is described. Any or all of the flippers can be rotated. The flippers can have self-cleaning tracks. The tracks can be driven or passive. The robotic system can be controlled by, and send audio and/or video to and/or from, a remote operator control module. The methods of using and making the robotic system are also described.
US08100202B2	Fixed cutter bit with backup cutter elements on secondary blades In an embodiment, a drill bit for drilling a borehole comprises a bit body having a bit axis and a bit face. In addition, the drill bit comprises a primary blade extending radially along the bit face. Further, the drill bit comprises a plurality of primary cutter elements mounted to the primary blade. The primary blade is free of backup cutter elements. Still further, the drill bit comprises a secondary blade extending radially along the bit face. Moreover, the drill bit comprises a plurality of primary cutter elements mounted to the secondary blade. In addition, the drill bit comprises a first plurality of backup cutter elements mounted to the secondary blade in a first backup row that trails the primary row. Further, the drill bit comprises a second plurality of backup cutter elements mounted to the secondary blade in a second backup row that trails the first backup row.
US08100199B2	Continuous fluid circulation valve for well drilling Fluid circulation valve (10) is provided for use with a well drilling operation, so that a drill joint may be added to or removed from the drill string while continuously circulating fluid into the well. Valve housing (12, 18) has a central flow path therein, a housing side port (87), and upper and lower threaded connectors for engagement with the drill joint and the drill string, respectively. A rotatable ball (30) is positioned within the flow path in the valve housing and a port (87) in the ball is in fluid communication with the housing side port (15) when the ball is closed. A coupling (60) is provided for engaging the valve housing and sealing between an interior of the valve housing and the radially external flow line, which passes fluid into the well when a drill joint is being connecting to the upper end of the valve.
US08100198B2	Cuttings treatment and reuse A method for treating drill cuttings including depositing drill cuttings in a desalinization cell, the desalinization cell having a high end, a low end, and a cuttings pad. The method further includes washing the drill cuttings in the desalinization cell with a liquid phase and removing a cuttings runoff from the drill cuttings. Also, a method for treating drill cuttings including depositing drill cuttings in a desalinator, the desalinator having a geometric structure having a perforated side. The method further includes adding a liquid phase to the desalinator through the perforated side, washing the drill cuttings in the desalinator with the liquid phase, and producing desalinated drill cuttings and a cuttings runoff.
US08100197B2	Method and device for the production of bores A method and a device for the production of a bore with a special shape, for example a bore which deviates from a cylindrical shape or a bore with an undercut. First, a first bore portion is produced using an oscillatingly driven tool, the first bore portion having a shape deviating from a cylinder and having at least one projection projecting from the wall face of the first bore portion towards the bore center. Subsequently, when a bore with an undercut is to be produced, the tool is then at least partially rotated about its longitudinal axis, in order to produce a second bore portion which has a larger cross section than the first bore portion.
US08100195B2	Motor cooling radiators for use in downhole environments Example motor cooling radiators for use in downhole environments are disclosed. A disclosed example radiator comprises a cylindrical housing having an annular passageway. The housing defines an inlet at a first end of the housing and an outlet at a second opposite end of the housing. A channel is arranged within the annular passageway of the housing along a spiral path to transport the first liquid and to define a spiral flow passageway between the inlet and the outlet for the second liquid. In operation, the first liquid does not contact the second liquid and heat is transferred between the first and second liquids as the second liquid flows in the spiral passageway.
US08100192B2	Adjustable packer wheel seeding system and method In one embodiment, a seeding implement includes a frame configured to couple to a tool bar, a parallel linkage coupled to the frame, and a ground engaging tool extending from a shank, wherein the shank is coupled to the parallel linkage. The implement also includes a packer wheel configured to control a position of the ground engaging tool, wherein the packer wheel is positioned directly behind the ground engaging tool when the ground engaging tool is engaging a soil region. Further, the implement includes an adjustment mechanism configured to shift the packer wheel rearwardly upon the ground engaging tool encountering an obstruction and to shift the packer wheel forwardly after the obstruction has been passed by the ground engaging tool.
US08100191B2	Vapour explosion chamber A method and apparatus is disclosed for ejecting material. The ejected material is ejected as liquid and liquid vapour via an explosive process which can provide a very fast ejection as well as an ejection which has a large throw.
US08100187B2	Multipurpose tubular running tool A tubular running tool includes a mandrel assembly having an upper mandrel, a lower mandrel and a mid-mandrel, wherein the upper mandrel, the lower mandrel and the mid-mandrel rotate in unison; the lower mandrel having a tubular gripping portion; a slip disposed with the tubular gripping portion; the mid-mandrel forming a bore between a top end and a bottom end, the top end forming a slip-joint with the upper mandrel; and an actuator mechanism disposed with the mid-mandrel, the actuator mechanism comprising a compensation actuator and a slip actuator; wherein the compensation actuator functionally connects the upper mandrel and the lower mandrel to affect axial movement of the lower mandrel relative to the upper mandrel and the slip actuator moves the slip into gripping engagement with a tubular.
US08100184B2	Collection and lift modules for use in a wellbore A system for a gas-producing wellbore comprises a collection module disposed about a gas-production conduit in the wellbore, the collection module comprising a collection chamber disposed about the gas-production conduit. The system further comprises one or more lift modules for applying a differential between pressure of gas in the gas-production conduit and pressure of the wellbore.
US08100181B2	Surface controlled subsurface safety valve having integral pack-off A safety valve apparatus has a housing with a bore and a projection in the bore. A flapper rotatably disposed on the housing is movable relative to the bore between opened and closed positions, and a packing element disposed on the housing is compressible to engage an inner conduit wall surrounding the housing. An upper sleeve disposed within the bore above the projection is hydraulically movable from a first position to a second position via the hydraulic communication with a port in the projection. The first sleeve when moved to the second position compresses the packing element. A piston disposed in the housing hydraulically communicates with the port and couples to a second sleeve disposed within the bore below the projection. The second sleeve conceals the piston and is hydraulically movable via the hydraulic communication of the port with the piston to open and close the flapper.
US08100180B2	Method of servicing a wellbore with a sealant composition comprising solid latex A method of servicing a wellbore comprising placing a sealant composition comprising solid latex into the wellbore.
US08100166B2	Continuous casting plant and method of operating a continuous casting plant A continuous casting installation, which has a vertically oriented strand guide arranged below a mold, wherein a drive for driving the cast strand and bending it into the horizontal direction are arranged below the strand guide. A drive that serves exclusively for driving the cast strand is installed below the lower end of the strand guide, and a drive that serves exclusively for bending the cast strand is installed below the drive for driving the cast strand. The drive that serves exclusively for driving the cast strand is installed at least partially in a cassette, which is detachably mounted in the continuous casting installation. The continuous casting installation also has a cooling chamber, and the cassette with the drive that serves exclusively for driving the cast strand is installed in the cooling chamber.
US08100163B2	Apparatus and method for controlling barrier movement An apparatus for controlling the movement of a barrier is provided. The apparatus includes a governor with a preload member. The preload member provides a preload force that releasably and magnetically couples the preload member to the governor. The preload member is configured and arranged to provide a sufficient holding force to the governor in order to hold the barrier in place. The governor is configured and arranged to, upon the preload force being selectively decoupled from the preload member, allow for the downward movement of the barrier while also forming and applying an intentional braking force to the barrier to slow the downward movement of the barrier.
US08100162B2	Guiding device for a device for producing fiber preforms by the TFP process for composite components A guiding device for a device for producing fibre preforms by the TFP process, the guiding device guiding the fibre strand. The guiding device has an opening with a variable cross-section for leading through the fibre strand, wherein the guiding device is fitted in the region of a sewing head of the TFP process device. The width of the fibre strands to be laid and attached can be increased, for example in portions of the path curve with small radii of curvature, so that undesired local thickenings are avoided in these portions of the path curve. An open-loop and closed-loop control device undertakes the path control of the sewing head and the control of the variation of the cross-sectional geometry of the guiding device. Existing devices for producing fibre preforms for composite components by the TFP process can be retrofitted with the guiding device.
US08100160B2	Method for transferring a transfer layer from a carrier film, film transfer apparatus and covering surface for a film transfer apparatus A film transfer apparatus includes an application unit, a transfer unit downstream of the application unit, and at least one third unit for further processing a printing material with a transfer layer applied. In the prior art, if contact pressure is exerted on coated printing material again in a following nip, the adhesive layer under the transfer layer can be pressed out. A blanket can then be contaminated with adhesive, ink itself can be contaminated and parts of the transfer layer can be detached from the coated sheet. In order to avoid pressing out the adhesive, measured values in the transfer unit are compared with corresponding values in the third unit. At least one controlled variable in the units can then be readjusted on the basis of a difference, to at least reduce the quantity of adhesive squeezed out. A transfer method and a covering surface are also provided.
US08100156B2	Cylindrical cutter with helical cutting line A cylindrical cutter for machining wood, wooden materials and plastics, has at least one helical cutting edge, wherein a helix angle λs of the at least one cutting edge is in a range of 70° to close to 90°, a rake angle γr of the at least one cutting edge between a tool orthogonal plane Po and a rake face Aγ—measured in a tool reference plane Pr—is at least 5°, and a wedge angle βr between the rake face Aγ and a flank Aα—measured in the tool reference plane Pr—is 45° to 65°.
US08100155B2	End piece for the filling of a tank The filling end piece comprises a duct having an insertion aperture and a sleeve moveable with respect to the duct. The sleeve is adapted to adopt a withdrawn position when not urged and an advanced position when it is urged by a movement of insertion of a spout of large diameter. The end piece comprises an obstacle for countering the filling by a small spout. The end piece comprises an end of travel abutment for a small spout, fixed with respect to the duct and projecting inwardly, the abutment being distinct from and upstream of the obstacle in the duct.
US08100147B2	Particle-measuring system and particle-measuring method The present invention provides a particle measuring system which is provided in a processing system 40 which generates an atmosphere obtained by exhausting air or a gas in a processing chamber 48 by a vacuum pump 98 and applies a process concerning semiconductor manufacture to a wafer W in the atmosphere, attached to an exhaust pipe 90 which connects an exhaust opening 86 of the processing chamber 48 with the vacuum pump 98, and measures the number of the particles in the exhaust gas, and a measuring method thereof, the system and method providing a processing system and a cleaning method which terminate etching process by determining an end point based on the number of the particles in the exhaust gas and perform cleaning of unnecessary films.
US08100146B2	Flexible valve assemblies principally for automatic swimming pool cleaners Flexible valves principally (although not necessarily exclusively) for automatic swimming pool cleaners are addressed. The valves have generally parabolic closure regions and do not present linear transverse cross-sections to water flowing through them. The closure regions may extend substantially below the transverse center lines of the valves, which additionally may include teeth at or near hinges of the closure regions. Including the hinges reduces likelihood of undesired wear at or near the outlets of the valves.
US08100145B2	LIFD valve assembly An LIFD valve assembly has a pressure balance device a pressure balance slide of which is urged in the opening direction by a pressure downstream of a metering aperture and in the closing direction by a control pressure preferably corresponding to the highest load pressure of a plurality of consumers, and a load pressure downstream of the metering aperture is reportable to a line via the pressure balance device, and a load-maintaining device that can be put in a closing position, in which position a pressure medium flow path from a consumer to the metering aperture is blocked. The pressure balance slide is embodied in divided fashion, with an upper part and a lower part, wherein the latter is guided on the upper part, and determines the pressure balance device throttle cross section with a pressure balance control edge and embodies a closing body of the load-maintaining device.
US08100143B2	Multi-way valve with fan-shaped flow channel sealing pair An oil and gas collection and transmission system for petroleum, chemical industry, and so on, includes a multi-way valve with a fan-shaped flow channel sealing pair to measure production of an individual well to obtain the dynamic production data of an oil well. The multi-way valve with fan-shaped flow channel sealing pair includes a floating gating ring that is applied with contact specific pressure by an elastic component and an upper porous plane body form a gating plane sealing pair; a plurality of fan-shaped flow channel oil inlet holes are annularly and uniformly distributed on a mating surface of the upper porous plane body; the floating gating ring is configured such that it changes gradually from the upper fan-shaped flow channel to the lower round-shaped flow channel; and the inner part of the middle rotary spool is used as a public flow-guide passage.
US08100142B2	Bleed-type electromagnetic valve A bleed solenoid valve that includes a valve main body that is hollow and formed with an input port, an output port, and a discharge port; a flow-changing part that is accommodated inside the valve main body and formed with a first flow path and a second flow path, a valve shaft that is accommodated inside the flow-changing part; and a solenoid part that moves the valve shaft in the axial direction.
US08100141B2	Water supply control assembly with automatic shut-off and duty cycle reset A water supply control assembly is disclosed for cutting off the supply of water to a house or building in the event of excessive water consumption. In one embodiment, a valve is secured to a distribution conduit in fluid communication with a pressurized source of fluid. A water flow sensing unit is secured between the inlet port and the flow discharge port. A magnet is mounted therein to a displaceable member and moved into and out of magnetic field coupling proximity to a timing reed switch in response to the onset and termination of pressurized water flow through the water flow sensing unit. A controller is coupled to the timing reed switch in order to actuate the valve to a water shut-off condition in response to the continuous flow of pressurized water for an elapsed flow time in excess of a preset duty cycle limit.
US08100127B2	Catheter guiding flexible connector A flexible connector couples the inlet end of a tracheotomy tube inner cannula to an outlet port of an in-line catheter. The catheter exit end of the connector is adapted to be serially coupled in pneumatic communication with the inlet end of the tracheotomy tube inner cannula and also to guide the downstream tip of the catheter into the inlet end of the inner cannula in response to pushing of the catheter upstream of the catheter outlet port. Thus, the in-line catheter can be inserted into the tracheotomy tube inner cannula with little likelihood of having to compress or “flip” the connector or disconnect the connector from the tracheotomy tube and the patient from the ventilator circuit.
US08100125B2	Venturi geometry design for flow-generator patient circuit Provided is a universal interface adapted for providing continuous positive airway pressure to a patient when the interface is used with a standard ventilator. The interface is configured to operate at a supply pressure no greater than about 120 centimeters of H2O in order to deliver pressure to the patient of up to about 15 cm of H2O at a flow rate of up to about 12 liters/minute. The universal interface may comprise an interface body having a space pair of breathing passageways intersecting a corresponding of supply passageways. Each one of the breathing passageways is comprised of a patient passageway and an exhalation passageway. Each one of the supply passageways includes a jet venturi having a taper portion. Each one of the exhalation passageways includes a taper portion which tapers outwardly along a direction from the patient passageway toward the exhalation passageway.
US08100124B2	Device with a respirator and a humidifier A device with a respirator (1) and with a humidifier (11) for breathing gas. Breathing gas humidification is adapted to the different operating states of the respirator (1). A connection (13) is provided for bidirectional data transmission between the control and operating unit (8) of the respirator (1) and the control and operating unit (9) of the humidifier (11).
US08100122B2	Solar roof tracker A solar tracking system for mounting on a roof having one or more rooftop planar surfaces includes an array of solar tracking assemblies for at least one of the one or more rooftop planar surfaces, each array of solar tracking assemblies mountable at substantially the same orientation on the rooftop planar surface, each solar tracking assembly including a mounting structure, a steering mechanism, and one or more energy converting units that convert solar energy into electrical energy, the steering mechanism supported at least in part by the mounting structure and the one or more energy converting units steered by the steering mechanism; a drive mechanism that drives multiple steering mechanisms of the array of solar tracking assemblies; and a control processor that controls the drive mechanism so that the one or more energy converting units follow the sun.
US08100120B2	Electric air gun A bullet feed portion reciprocates and is positioned in a firing position where a bullet housing chamber is opposed to a bullet feed port, and in a non-firing position where the bullet feed port is closed. A gas flow path guides compressed gas to the bullet feed port in an inner barrel. A valve is biased to close the gas flow path. A firing action mechanism has a movable body that can be freely reciprocated along the inner barrel. The firing action mechanism moves the bullet feed portion to a firing position and moves the valve to a non-biasing direction. A power transmission unit transforms motor force into the locomotion of a movable body. When trigger is pulled, the motor moves the movable body toward the bullet feed port to feed a bullet into the bullet feed portion, and actuate the firing action mechanism.
US08100115B2	Method for operating a spark ignition engine In a method for operating a spark ignition engine, wherein the inlet valves of the spark ignition engine are closed very early or very late, and a combustion air flow which is supplied to the spark ignition engine is compressed by means of a charger, and, under full load operation, the inlet valves are closed either early or late to avoid knocking of the engine, a partial flow of re-circulated exhaust gas is supplied to the combustion air flow supplied to the engine also during full load engine operation.
US08100114B2	Fuel vaporizer for fuel injected engines Free heat from an exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine or an electric heater supplies heat to a vaporizer. Gasoline is converted from fluid to vapor in the vaporizer and sent directly to the fuel injectors. Water fog may be added to the air intake manifold. One embodiment adds a catalyst to the vaporizer to convert gasoline to propane vapor. Fuel efficiency from 30 to 43 miles per gallon has been tested.
US08100113B2	Fuel pump layout structure in motorcycle A fuel pump layout structure in a motorcycle, including an engine, a fuel pump for the supplying fuel to the engine, a frame for supporting the engine and the fuel pump, and a rear suspension damper disposed behind the frame with a swing arm being swingably suspended from the rear suspension damper, wherein said fuel pump is disposed on one side of said rear suspension damper.
US08100112B2	Fuel-supply quantity estimating apparatus and fuel injection system A variation waveform of fuel pressure is obtained by use of a fuel pressure sensor which detects pressure of fuel supplied to an injector. A quantity of fuel supplied to the injector is estimated based on a waveform of the detected pressure that is greater than a reference value due to a fuel pumping, in the obtained variation waveform. Especially, in a case that the fuel pressure sensor is provided to each of a plurality of injectors, it is desirable to obtain the variation waveform based on the output of the fuel pressure sensor provided to a cylinder in which no fuel injection is currently performed.
US08100110B2	Fuel injector with selectable intensification A system for selectively intensifying fuel for injection utilizing a fuel injector having an intensifier piston connected to a drain and a pressurized fuel source. The intensifier piston includes a control chamber co-axially positioned opposite from an intensification chamber, and a pressurization chamber co-axially positioned between the control chamber and the intensification chamber. The control chamber selectively fluidly communicates with the pressurized fuel source and the drain. The intensification chamber fluidly communicates with the pressurized fuel source and the pressurization chamber fluidly communicates with the pressurized fuel source and a nozzle assembly.
US08100109B2	Control device for in-cylinder injection internal combustion engine A control device is for an in-cylinder injection engine that makes fuel have high pressure through a high pressure pump to supply fuel to an injector and then injects fuel directly into a cylinder from the injector. The control device includes a fuel pressure detecting device for detecting pressure of fuel supplied to the injector, a target fuel pressure setting device for setting a target fuel pressure according to an engine operating state, a fuel pressure control device for feedback-controlling a fuel discharge amount from the pump such that fuel pressure detected by the detecting device accords with the target fuel pressure, a stop predicting device for determining whether the engine is about to stop, and a target fuel pressure gradual change device for decreasing the target fuel pressure gradually to a final target fuel pressure lower than normal, when it is determined that the engine is about to stop.
US08100107B2	Method and system for engine control Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust emissions by adjusting a fuel injection into an engine cylinder from a plurality of fuel injectors based on the fuel type of the injected fuel and further based on the soot load of the engine. Soot generated from direct fuel injection is reduced by decreasing an amount of direct injection into a cylinder as the engine soot load increases.
US08100104B2	Torsion lock encoder device for internal combustion engine An internal combustion engine crankshaft assembly includes a crankshaft having an output device, such as a flywheel or crankshaft damper, fastened to the crankshaft. An electronic engine control device is positioned between the crankshaft and the output device. The electronic engine control device includes a generally planar base which contacts both the output device and the crankshaft. The planar base is coated with a pressure-responsive friction-promoting material which causes the output device to be torsionally locked with respect to the crankshaft.
US08100100B2	Valve cover housing for internal combustion engines A valve cover housing for internal combustion engines. In one embodiment, the valve cover housing includes a conduit for passing a coolant fluid near the valvetrain, and in another embodiment, the housing includes an internal protuberance or other structure that promotes the dripping of oil or another lubricant onto a selected region or component of the valvetrain, such as the valve springs.
US08100098B2	Multi-link engine A multi-link engine has a piston coupled to a crankshaft to move inside an engine cylinder. A piston pin connects the piston to an upper link, which is connected to a lower link by an upper link pin. A crank pin of the crankshaft rotatably supports the lower link thereon. A control link pin connects the lower link to one end of a control link, which is connected at another end to the engine block body by a control shaft. The upper link has an upper link axis that forms an angle with the cylinder axis, as viewed along a crank axis direction of the crankshaft, such that the angle reaches a minimum when a crank angle of the engine is within a range where the bottom end of a piston skirt is positioned below a topmost part of the bottom end of the cylinder liner.
US08100097B2	Multi-link engine A multi-link engine has a piston coupled to a crankshaft to move inside an engine cylinder. A piston pin connects the piston to an upper link, which is connected to a lower link by an upper link pin. A crank pin of the crankshaft rotatably supports the lower link thereon. A control link pin connects the lower link to one end of a control link, which is connected at another end to the engine block body by a control shaft. The crank pin has a center arranged on a straight line joining centers of the upper link pin and the control link pin such that an angle formed between the straight line and a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to a center axis of the cylinder and that passes through an axial center of a crank journal is the same for at top dead center and at bottom dead center.
US08100096B2	Method for automatically controlling an internal combustion engine The invention concerns a method for automatically controlling an internal combustion engine, wherein, in a first controller mode, a charge air temperature controller is set as dominant for a map-controlled thermostatic valve, and, in a second controller mode, a coolant temperature limit controller is set as dominant for the map-controlled thermostatic valve. Upstream of a recooler, a coolant flow is divided into a recooler coolant flow and a bypass coolant flow as a function of the position of the map-controlled thermostatic valve. Downstream of the recooler, the temperature of the charge air cooler coolant flow is determined from the combined fractions of the recooler coolant flow and the bypass coolant flow to control the charge air temperature (TLL) or to control the coolant temperature (TKM).
US08100095B2	Combustion devices for powdered fuels and powdered fuel dispersions An engine includes at least one cylinder, an intake valve, a conduit, a positive displacement powdered fuel dispensing device, and an oxidizing gas source supplying an oxidizing gas to the conduit. The cylinder is defined by a cylinder block having a bore, a cylinder head coupled to the top of the cylinder block, and a piston received in the bore of the cylinder block. The intake valve is communicatively coupled with the cylinder head. The conduit is communicatively coupled with the intake valve. The positive displacement powdered fuel dispensing device is communicatively coupled with the conduit. The positive displacement powdered fuel dispensing device meters a supply of a powdered fuel including a substantially explosible powder such that the intake valve admits a powdered fuel dispersion including the substantially explosible powder dispersed in the oxidizing gas at an explosible ratio such that the powdered fuel dispersion is explosible.
US08100094B2	Radial impulse engine, pump, and compressor systems, and associated methods of operation Radial impulse engine, pump, and compressor systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment of the invention, a radial impulse engine includes first and second movable V-members operably disposed between first and second end wall portions. The first V-member can have a first wall portion with a first distal edge portion and a second wall portion with a first cylindrical surface. The second V-member can have a third wall portion with a second distal edge portion and a fourth wall portion with a second cylindrical surface. In this embodiment, the first distal edge portion of the first wall portion can be configured to slide across the second cylindrical surface of the fourth wall portion, and the second distal edge portion of the third wall portion can be configured to slide across the first cylindrical surface of the second wall portion, when the first V-member pivots about a first pivot axis and the second V-member pivots about a second pivot axis.
US08100093B2	Reformed alcohol power systems Improved alcohol reforming processes and reformed alcohol power systems utilizing those processes are disclosed. In preferred embodiments, the alcohol reforming processes utilize a thermally conductive reforming catalyst that allows efficient, low-temperature reforming of an alcohol fuel to produce a reformate gas mixture comprising hydrogen. The present invention makes possible the efficient utilization of alcohol fuels in an internal combustion engine to generate electrical or mechanical power such as in vehicular applications.
US08100086B2	Method of promoting the reproductive performance of penaeus shrimps A method of improving the reproductive performance of penaeus shrimps comprises a step of treating a fresh diet with sodium alginate and a step of feeding female penaeus shrimps with the treated fresh diet to enhance the breeding ability of female penaeus shrimps, also promote growth and survival of the subsequent larvae of the female penaeus shrimps.
US08100085B2	Liquid bird feeder A liquid hummingbird feeder is provided with a liquid container having a sealable top opening and a bottom opening, a liquid tray adapted to immerse the bottom opening in liquid, and a valve mechanism adapted to close the bottom opening to enable the liquid container to be filled through the sealable top opening.
US08100079B2	High performance planing hull provided with a trim tab system A high performance planing hull, designed in particular for boats with drives of fixed or non-steerable type. The hull comprises an additional volume, which is integrated in the immersed part of the stern of the hull. The additional volume extends substantially in longitudinal direction and is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the hull.
US08100078B2	Steerable hydrofoil The present invention provides a steerable hydrofoil. The apparatus includes at least one steerable hydrofoil panel, at least one body part coupled to the at least one steerable hydrofoil panel to allow the at least one steerable hydrofoil panel to rotate about an axis, and at least one actuator for rotating the at least one steerable hydrofoil panel by a selected angle about the axis.
US08100076B1	Liquefied natural gas processing and transport system A station and transport system for receiving, storing, and transporting liquefied natural gas is disclosed herein. The system can include a transport vessel, a floating liquefied natural gas processing station with a heat exchanger for receiving the dry gas from a pretreatment source and forming liquefied natural gas using a natural gas liquefaction train, a primary quick connect/disconnect device, a secondary emergency disconnect device, and a tertiary emergency disconnect device mounted to a station hull to allow quick connect/disconnect or emergency disconnect of the floating natural gas processing station from the transport vessel. The system can include a soft yoke with at least two telescoping soft yoke mooring arms, a boom, and a jib that form a gangway to safely hold the floating station to the transport vessel and to move personal and loads.
US08100074B2	WET buoyancy engine Technologies such as stealth buoys and underwater gliders need to modify their own buoyancy in order to operate. Strategies such as pumping fluid are typically used to change the device's net volume. This in turn requires a mechanically sophisticated apparatus, increasing the cost of the vehicle while diminishing its reliability. The concept of a buoyancy engine that exploits the enormous volume and pressure changes accompanying the reversible electrochemical interconversion of water to hydrogen and oxygen gases is applied to stealth buoys and underwater gliders.
US08100071B2	Sewing machine with large stitch width A method and device applicable to a sewing machine which has a needle and a gripper with a horizontally positioned lower bobbin for executing a seam with stitches in a sewing material being sewn, for compensating a deficiency in a longitudinal shift of the needle during a stitch being caused by an arcuate movement of the needle when it shifts sideways in a stitch, wherein the method includes the material being advanced by a feeder a length yn in the longitudinal direction of the seam on the basis of the seam setting, and wherein the sewing machine has a control including an algorithm causing the feed motor to set the feeder, so that at each stitch which includes sideways shifts of the needle it advances the sewing material a correction length en in the longitudinal direction of the seam, thereby compensating a corresponding deficiency in the needle's longitudinal shift relative to the material during the stitch being caused by the needle's arcuate sideways movement.
US08100070B2	Flat seam construction A flat seam construction made up of a number of sequentially formed stitches and formed on a portion of one or more stitchable materials is disclosed. Each stitch has two outer threads, formed into first and second outer thread loops, and at least one inner thread, formed into at least one inner thread loop. Each of the inner and outer thread loops transversely penetrate the one or more stitchable materials. Each of the inner and outer thread loops have a bight portion engaging a bottom surface of the one or more stitchable materials. At least one looper thread is formed on the bottom surface, and arranged such that, the at least one looper thread passes between the bottom surface and at least one of the bight portions. At least one decorative thread is visible on a top surface of the seam construction. The at least one decorative thread loops around at least said first outer thread loop at a penetration point thereof.
US08100065B2	Flue dust discharging method and system A dust discharging system for a blast furnace includes a dust collector for collecting flue dust from flue gas produced from the blast furnace, a first discharge conduit connected to the dust collector, a separator connected to the first discharge conduit for separating residual flue gas present in the flue dust, and an airtight tank disposed below the first discharge conduit to receive the flue dust in a dry state separated from the residual flue gas.
US08100064B2	Fuel staging methods for low NOx tangential fired boiler operation A tangential fired boiler includes a circumferential wall defining a combustion zone, the circumferential wall being generally rectangular when viewed along a generally horizontal cross-section. A fireball is disposed within the combustion zone, the fireball rotating about an imaginary axis when viewed along a generally horizontal cross-section. A corner member is disposed proximate to at least one corner of the combustion zone, with a plurality of fuel inlets disposed along the corner member. The plurality of fuel inlets inject fuel into the combustion zone, and at least some of the plurality of fuel inlets inject fuel in a direction which is angled with respect to a normal of the corner member and upstream relative to a direction of rotation of the fireball.
US08100060B2	Dual-purpose table with revolving top This invention relates to the technical area of sports and recreational apparatus, which reveals the dual-purpose and turnover ping-pong table. This dual-purpose table includes the table support and table surface, two sides of which are different tables. The center of short frame on both sides of the table surface hinges the baffle means on the upper end of the table support through the pivot components. Its characteristics lie in that the baffle means on the upper end of table support is equipped with the positioning device for table surface turning over, which has a stand bar that can be turned around. The stand bar can withdraw if the table surface needs turning around so that the table surface turn over. When the table surface has turned around, it can stretch out below the surface and stabilize the table surface. The structure is very simple and convenient for application.
US08100058B2	Monorail sortation system A universal cross belt sorter system (1) consisting of four major components: a monorail track (26), a drive car (20), multiple cross belt cars (24) and system controls. The drive cars (20) pull multiple cross belt cars (24) along the track (26). The cross belt cars (24) are typically loaded with material, which is then discharged into outlets. An outlet may be a chute, a bin, a conveyor, a truck, etc. Sortation systems are typically used to consolidate material according to selected parameters, such as zip code, customer order, to replenish a specific store and many other identifying information. The cross belt cars (24) are loaded with material at induction areas (3). The types or methods of inducting material onto the cross belt cars (24) range from manual to semi-automatic to fully automatic.
US08100057B2	Method for regulating the ink in a printing press The ink in a printing press, in which a stock of material is being printed in an ongoing printing process, is registered. At least one ink is applied to the stock in several inking zones. A measured value, indicating an ink density, is determined for the at least one ink which is being applied to the stock in the printing process and within the printing press. A relation is formed between the measured ink density for a specific ink in a selected ink zone and a measured ink density value determined for the same ink in at least one other inking zone. The relation between the measured ink density values in different inking zones is formed only if the majority of the inking zones of a specific inking unit of the printing press supply one respective measured ink density value for an ink supplied by that inking unit, and when the measured ink density value reaches at least a predetermined fraction of a preset, desired value in the respective inking zone.
US08100056B2	Method for controlling a processing machine for sheet material The invention relates to a method for controlling a machine processing sheet material. The processing machine has at least one printing or coating group and a cylinder that is coupled to a direct drive and is decoupled mechanically from a main drive acting on a gear train of a plurality of sheet transport cylinders and that can be driven in a given way at least relative to the sheet-guiding cylinders. The cylinder having an associated inking group with an inking group roller that can be driven by the main drive and gear train. Printing contact in a contact zone of the cylinder carrying the printing form with an adjacent rubber blanket cylinder is cancelled for cleaning. The inking group roller of the inking group is separated on a drive side from the sheet transport cylinders driven by the main drive and gear train. The inking group roller is coupled on the drive side to the cylinder carrying the printing form. The inking group roller is driven according to a cleaning program stored in a selection menu for an individual cleaning period at an individual rotational speed by the direct drive.
US08100055B2	Developing method for laser sensitive lithographic printing plate A method of developing a laser sensitive lithographic printing plate is described. The plate comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer soluble or dispersible in ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a laser. The plate is exposed with a laser and deactivated under a safe light or in the dark, and then on-press developed with ink and/or fountain solution preferably under white light. Alternatively, the plate is developed off press with ink and/or fountain solution, or with an organic solvent-based or oil-based liquid or paste and/or an aqueous solution, and then mounted on press for lithographic printing.
US08100051B2	Centre arm for holding an upper contact grilling or roasting plate as well as contact grilling or roasting devices with such a centre arm The invention concerns a centre arm for holding an upper contact grilling or roasting plate, the centre arm having a substantially vertical supporting section and a holding section which is arranged pivotably on the vertical supporting section and to which is attached the contact grilling or roasting plate, and in the holding section being arranged a device for weight relief for the upper contact grilling or roasting plate to be fitted on the holding section, the device for weight relief including at least one guide means which is constructed and designed at one end for pivotable mounting and on which is movably arranged a sliding element, a return element arranged on the free end of the guide means and secured by a stop means between the sliding element and the stop means, and also an adjusting device which can be actuated by means of an actuating element for varying the distance between the sliding element and the stop means in the longitudinal direction of the guide means, which is distinguished in that the adjusting device includes a control profile element which has a control profile for bringing about an axial movement of the sliding element in the longitudinal direction of the guide means. Furthermore the invention concerns a contact grilling or roasting device having such a centre arm.
US08100047B2	Slip seal diaphragm for spring brake actuator A brake actuator system of a vehicle comprising a diaphragm design with a hole and sealing element in the center. The design allows for the sealing element to seal and slide on the outer diameter of the center pushrod for the exposed length. This eliminates the need for a fixed joint to permanently attach the diaphragm to the center pushrod, and allows for the pushrod to be attached to the spring piston or a separate fixed plate and reduces stress of the diaphragm at its interface.
US08100040B2	Rotary cutting device The invention relates to a rotary cutting device comprising a rotatable cutting tool and a rotatable anvil roller incorporating a cutting support, wherein a cutting edge, which co-operates with the cutting support, is arranged on the cutting tool for cutting a web of material, and wherein at least one support ring with a support surface is mounted on the cutting tool for supporting the cutting tool relative to the anvil roller. In order to develop the rotary cutting device in such a way as to enable high-tensile materials also to be cut in a reliable and precise manner, it is proposed, in accordance with the invention, that the cutting edge and the cutting support be made of a hard metal at least in the surface regions thereof, and in that the cutting edge be set back relative to the support surface in a radial direction, wherein the radial spacing between the cutting edge and the support surface is formed in dependence on the modulus of elasticity of the support ring in such a manner that the cutting edge virtually touches the cutting support when a bias force is applied.
US08100038B2	Folder for adjustably tensioning a web and method of adjusting web tension as a web is cut A printing press folder is provided. The printing press folder includes a cutting apparatus cutting a moving web to form successive signatures, a first acceleration cylinder and a second acceleration cylinder. The first acceleration cylinder includes a first contacting segment and a first relieved portion circumferentially adjacent to the first contacting segment. The second acceleration cylinder includes a second contacting segment and a second relieved portion circumferentially adjacent to the second contacting segment. The first acceleration cylinder and the second acceleration cylinder grip the web at a gripping location with the first contacting segment and the second contacting segment to create a tension in the web as the web is cut by the cutting apparatus. A method of varying tension in a web in a printing press folder is also provided.
US08100036B2	Ratchet wrench A ratchet wrench includes a handle and a moving jaw. The handle has a pivot portion disposed at a working end of the handle and a fixed jaw integrally extended from the handle. The moving jaw has a pivoting base pivotally coupled to the pivot portion, and a ratchet is installed between the two jaws, and the moving jaw further has a clamp, and the clamp has a plurality of continuously arranged teeth, and the handle has an elastic element for propping the moving jaw, such that the moving jaw can be abutted against the ratchet, and the teeth of the moving jaw are engaged with the teeth of the ratchet.
US08100035B1	Tool with slideable weight A tool (10) includes an elongated shaft (11) having a handle (12) mounted at one end, a working implement (14) mounted to an opposite end, and a sliding weight (16) journalled upon the shaft for movement between the handle and working implement. The working implement includes a handle (41) which is mounted to the end of the shaft and a head (42). The handle has a longitudinal axis LA. The handle head mounting end (44) having two spaced apart flanges (45). Each flange has a central pivot hole (46) and a pull pin hole (47). The head has a central mounting portion (49) and an impact head (51) with an impact surface (52). The central mounting portion includes a central pivot hole (53), which is alignable with the handle flange central pivot hole, and an arcuate series of set pin holes (54), which are alignable with the handle flange set pin holes. A pivot pin (56) extends through the handle flange central pivot holes and head central portion pivot hole. A removable set pin (57) removably extends through the handle flange set pin holes and any one of the set of head set pin holes, depending upon the desired positioning of the head. The head is moveable between a lateral position and a longitudinal position.
US08100034B2	Group transmission for a motor vehicle In a group transmission having a number of countershafts, wherein three input constants are provided on a transmission input shaft for driving a countershaft such that the group transmission is of very short construction, the transmission input shaft is connectable to an intermediate shaft for direct power transmission, with the countershaft being disconnectable in the direct gear in order to avoid drag losses.
US08100031B2	Multi-linked device having a reinforcing member A steerable multi-linked device may include a first multi-linked mechanism and a second multi-linked mechanism. At least one of the first multi-linked mechanism and the second multi-linked mechanism may include a first link, a plurality of intermediate links, a second link movably coupled to a second one of the intermediate links and a reinforcing member. A first one of the intermediate links may be movably coupled to the first link, and the reinforcing member may extend from a first end of a third one of the intermediate links toward a second end of the third one of the intermediate links.
US08100029B2	Control inceptor systems and associated methods Control inceptor systems and associated methods, including inceptors suitable for high-g operations and/or inceptors having a center of rotation located within an operator's grasp region, are disclosed herein. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a control inceptor having a grip coupled to a support. The inceptor is configured so that a center of rotation for movement in at least one plane is located within the grasp region of an operator when an operator grasps the grip. The support is positioned so that when the operator moves the grip (e.g., makes an input movement), the support arcs about the center of rotation.
US08100018B2	Pressure transducers employing radiation hardened electronics There is disclosed a transducer employing radiation hardened electronics. Essentially a sensor assembly is positioned in a front section of a housing where the sensor assembly is coupled to an electronic module via terminals which connect the sensor to the module. The electronic module assembly is surrounded by an internal tungsten housing which is formed from a first tungsten “U” shaped cross-sectional member coupled to a second tungsten “U” shaped cross-sectional enclosure. The two members are coupled together and totally surround the electronic assembly. The members as held together are positioned within the housing by outer shell members to form a complete housing assembly whereby the electronic assembly and its associated terminal pins are totally surrounded by the tungsten holder section and the tungsten enclosure section.
US08100015B2	Ultrasonic inspection apparatus and ultrasonic probe used for same An ultrasonic inspection apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe including an ultrasonic transducer, a position detection device, a drive element selector which is connected to the plurality of piezoelectric elements of the ultrasonic transducer provided so as to select a required piezoelectric element, a signal detection circuit which allows the piezoelectric element selected by the drive element selector to transmit ultrasonic wave to an inspection object through an acoustic transmission medium, which receives reflection echo thereof, and which detects an electric signal of the reflection echo through, a signal processor which generates three-dimensional imaging data inside of the inspection object by processing the electric signal of the detected reflection echo, a position converting circuit which outputs an imaging-start trigger signal to a signal generator in response to a position detection signal, and a display device which displays an imaging result.
US08100012B2	MEMS sensor with cap electrode A MEMS sensor includes a substrate having a MEMS structure movably attached to the substrate, a cap attached to the substrate and encapsulating the MEMS structure, and an electrode formed on the cap that senses movement of the MEMS structure.
US08100004B2	Weather prediction system The invention consists of a barometric pressure sensor, coupled to a processor for recording changes in the pressure over time, this is coupled to a GPS device providing an accurate measurement of the altitude which allows for the barometric pressure measurements to be normalized, typically to mean sea level. Once the measurements have been normalized the effects of the vertical motion of the sensor are effectively removed and the resulting trend shows the absolute atmospheric pressure which can then be used for weather prediction.
US08100001B2	Measuring construction and method for measuring tyre data Measuring construction for measuring use conditions of a tire, configured to be mounted to a support arrangement and provided with a tilting arrangement for tilting and/or adjusting a force on a tire, wherein the tilting arrangement is provided with a measuring instrument that is connected to the tilting arrangement, at least configured and measure forces and/or moments on a tire, a wheel axle supported by the measuring instrument, and at least one actuator for driving the tilting arrangement, wherein the tilting arrangement comprises a foldable construction connected to the at least one actuator.
US08099996B2	Method and system for knock detection This invention relates to a method for knock detection in a combustion engine, in which combustion is controlled by a control unit (2), which comprises the steps of, a) obtaining at least one sensor signal (4, 4′) carrying information of knock intensity related within a combustion chamber of the combustion engine (1); (b) processing the sensor signal (4, 4′) to obtain a knock intensity related detection variable (z1), (c) using said detection variable (z1) in said control unit (2) arranged to avoid a knocking condition in said combustion engine (1), if the value (z1) of said detection variable indicates knock when compared with a threshold value (T) wherein using two different computations/processes for said processing (5, 6) of the at least one sensor signal (4, 4′) to obtain two separate sub-values (y1, y2), and thereafter combining said sub-values (y1, y2) to obtain said detection variable (z1).
US08099995B2	Choked flow isolator for noise reduction in analytical systems An apparatus and a method of making a measurement using the same. The apparatus includes a channel through which a fluid flows, a detector, and a choked flow channel. The detector measures a property of the fluid by generating a signal that depends on that property. The signal generated also depends on a pressure of the fluid in the detector. The choked flow channel receives the fluid at a first pressure after the fluid has been measured by the detector, and then transmits the fluid to a downstream location at a second pressure. The fluid reaches a supersonic velocity at one point in the choked flow channel. The choked flow channel may include a convergent-divergent nozzle or an orifice in a structure located in the choked flow channel.
US08099992B2	Automatic safety click The invention relates to an exchangeable tool for holding in a receiving structure, the tool comprising: a safety device for preventing the tool from accidentally falling out of the receiving structure, which safety device has a tool releasing position and a tool locking position; energizable actuating means for actuating the safety device; and energizing means for energizing the actuating means, and to a method for exchanging such tool from a receiving structure.
US08099989B2	Electromagnetic shape calibration of tubes Articles are often formed from a tubular workpiece in a process which does not usefully shape the ends of the tube. In an embodiment of the invention, tube ends may be mechanically reduced in cross section and then expanded against a secondary forming surface(s) using an electromagnetic force to obtain desired shapes for the tube ends and minimize scrapping of workpiece material.
US08099988B1	Tool-less rekeyable lock cylinder A rekeyable lock cylinder includes a plug assembly and a lock cylinder. The plug assembly includes a plug body, a plurality of key followers, a plurality of racks, and a rack carrier that carriers the plurality of racks. The rack carrier is moveable relative to the plug body between a proximal end and a distal end. A cam follower extends outwardly from the rack carrier. The lock cylinder body includes a cylinder wall with the plug assembly rotatably disposed therein, and has a cam track configured on the cylinder wall at an interior surface to guide the cam follower of the plug assembly. The cam track has a ramp portion configured to longitudinally displace the cam follower and the rack carrier as the plug assembly is rotated relative to the lock cylinder body to facilitate selective disengagement of the plurality of racks from the plurality of key followers.
US08099981B2	Apparatus for preheating batches of glass cullet An apparatus for preheating a batch (12) of glass cullet which is preferably enriched with raw materials for glass production, comprising a bunker (14) preferably having flow ducts for the passage of warm (off)gas. To discharge the preheated batch of glass cullet from the bunker, the apparatus has one or more discharge worms (26), by way of which the batch of glass cullet can be conveyed to at least one outflow opening (28) in the base region of the bunker (14).
US08099975B2	Icemaker for a refrigerator An icemaker having a mold comprising at least one cavity and a cooling system. The cooling system has a first heat exchanger configured to have a medium flow there through. The first heat exchanger is in thermal communication with the mold to reduce the temperature of the mold below a predetermined temperature.
US08099970B2	Refrigerator door opening device and control method thereof A refrigerator including a door opening device to easily open a door and a control method thereof are disclosed. The device opens doors using rotation of a driving motor, returns to an initial state without rotating the driving motor in reverse after opening doors, and opens doors using only forward and reverse rotation of driving motor when doors are sequentially opened. Moreover, position of rotation cam is detected at initial state when power is supplied or during operation to determine whether the device is malfunctioning. In the early time when position of the rotation cam is detected, the driving motor is rotated by force so that malfunction of driving motor due to chattering is prevented. Frequency of opening doors by a door opening signal is determined and the device is driven in a mode so that damage is prevented due to excessive operation.
US08099967B2	Portable rack carrier device and the method of use A unique device for facilitating insertion and retrieval of biological specimens into and from a liquid nitrogen storage tank and a method of using the device is disclosed. The device basically has one U-shaped mainframe body, two handles, one semi-circular switch, four hooks, one rack rod locker, and one cross-shaped sample box holder.
US08099966B2	System and method for controlling an environment in an aircraft using a vortex cooler Disclosed is an air conditioning system for an aircraft which utilizes high pressure bleed air. The bleed air is pressure controlled and introduced into a vortex cooler which can be operated in two modes using a valve. In a first mode, the bleed air is divided into cold and hot streams. The cold stream is directed into the cabin for cooling purposes. The hot stream is released from the aircraft in a manner that it pulls ambient air across a heat exchanger. In a second mode, the bleed air is not divided, but passes through the vortex cooler as a common stream. The second mode is more commonly used in colder ambient air conditions.
US08099965B2	Cold probe for cooling liquids A chilled probe for quickly and conveniently cooling a liquid is positioned to permit a user to insert the probe into the liquid to be cooled. Feedback, in the form of an indication of a representative liquid temperature, is also provided to increase the value of the method and apparatus. Individual sleeves are conveniently provided on a roll to keep the chilled probe from coming into direct contact with the liquid, thereby avoiding contamination between liquid samples being cooled.
US08099963B2	Device for mounting an igniter plug in a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine The present invention relates to a device for mounting an igniter plug in a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine contained in a casing, in which the combustion chamber has an axis YY, the mounting device comprising a hollow shaft, of axis XX, a floating igniter plug sleeve absorbing expansion along an axis perpendicular to the axis XX of the hollow shaft. The device is one which further comprises a hollow shaft sleeve such that the igniter plug sleeve is housed in the hollow shaft sleeve, and means of inclining said hollow shaft sleeve relative to the axis XX. Inclining the hollow shaft sleeve allows the chamber to be inclined relative to the axis XX.
US08099962B2	Mid turbine frame system and radial locator for radially centering a bearing for gas turbine engine A gas turbine engine has a casing component, such as a mid turbine frame system, which includes an outer case surrounding a spoke or strut casing. Load transfer spokes of the spoke casing are detachably connected to the outer case and radially extend between the outer case and an inner case of the spoke casing. A bearing housing is supported by the inner case of the spoke casing. An arrangement for radially centring the bearing within the outer case is provided, the arrangement including at least three radial locators mounted to the outer case.
US08099949B2	Engine exhaust temperature regulation In one example, a method of operating an engine in a vehicle is described. The method comprises delivering a first substance to a cylinder of the engine from a first injector; delivering a second substance to the cylinder of the engine from a second injector, where the second substance has a greater heat of vaporization than the first substance; and increasing injection of the second substance responsive to an exhaust over-temperature condition.
US08099942B2	Methods and systems for output variance and facilitation of maintenance of multiple gas turbine plants A method of operating a power generation system is provided. The system includes a first gas turbine engine that uses at least one of a primary fuel and a secondary fuel, and at least one second gas turbine engine that operates using at least one of a primary and secondary fuel. The method includes supplying primary fuel to at least one of the first and second engines from a common fuel source coupled to the first and second engines, and selectively operating the first engine between a first operational position and a second operational position. The first engine using only secondary fuel in the first operational position and operates using only primary fuel in the second operational position. The method includes supplying the second engine with primary fuel from the common fuel source without flaring the primary fuel.
US08099941B2	Methods and systems for controlling a combustor in turbine engines Methods and systems for controlling a combustor for a gas turbine engine are provided. According to one example embodiment, a system includes an air control assembly associated with at least one air path of a combustor for a gas turbine engine. Additionally, the system also includes at least one sensor for sensing at least one operating parameter of the gas turbine engine. Further, the system also includes a controller operable to receive at least one operating parameter sensed by the at least one sensor, and further operable to selectively control an air control assembly based at least in part on the at least one operating parameter sensed by the at least one sensor.
US08099939B2	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.
US08099938B2	Rear discharge type mower apparatus having a pair of auxiliary plates for directing grass to a discharge opening A rear discharge type mower apparatus includes: a blade housing having a top plate, a front wall and at least one side wall and a first front guide plate and a second front guide plate. Each of the first and second front guide plates are located rearwardly of the front wall and have a shape extending substantially along a rotation path of a corresponding blade. The mower apparatus also includes a first auxiliary plate and a second auxiliary plate. A portion of the second auxiliary plate and the first auxiliary plate extend parallel to each other such that an opening that is opposed to a mowed grass discharge opening is formed by the rearward ends of the linear portion and the first auxiliary plate. The lower edges of the first and second auxiliary plates are closer to the top plate than the corresponding blade.
US08099936B2	Electrically powered flail mower A flail mower assembly includes a deck having a shaft rotatably connected to the deck. A flail drum is connected to the shaft and is co-rotatable with the shaft. A plurality of flail blade assemblies is independently rotatably connected to the flail drum to provide two degrees of freedom-of-rotation of each of the plurality of flail blade assemblies independent of a direction of drum rotation. First and/or second electric motors are connected to the deck and rotatably connected to the shaft. The shaft is rotated by an energized one of the first or second electric motors or both energized simultaneously. A load connected to the first and second electric motors when the first and second electric motors are de-energized reduces a rotational velocity of the flail drum.
US08099932B2	Mandrel for disposing a stretchable wrapper around an object A mandrel (2) comprising a body portion (4) having an outer surface for receiving a stretchable closed wrapper (20), the mandrel having an end (6) adapted for mounting on a self supporting object (18) to be wrapped such that the wrapper can be slid over the mandrel and delivered therefrom onto the outer surface (22) of the object, in which the mandrel includes a portion which engages with the object to allow the mandrel to seat on an end of the object.
US08099930B2	Device and method for positioning of nozzles An inventive device or a method, respectively, for a chamber machine for positioning at least a nozzle (11) and/or a measuring device relative with respect to a bag (9) having a bag mouth should solve the object to simplify or to accelerate, respectively, gassing the bags with protective gas or the injection of liquids or solids, respectively. The inventive device comprises a movable holding device (15) at which the nozzle (11) and/or the measuring device is fixable and which is at least movable between a rest position and an operation position. The holding device (15) positions the nozzle (11) and/or the measuring device in its rest position outside the bag mouth and positions the same in its operation position so that it projects into the bag mouth.
US08099928B2	Tablet filling device A tablet filling device that allows the device to be smaller since a driving range of an arm for holding vials is greatly decreased includes: a tablet supply unit 16; a first vial delivery arm unit 17; and a second vial delivery arm unit 18. The tablet supply unit 16 supplies tablets accommodated in a tablet feeder 21 provided at an outer periphery of a drum 101 as prescribed. The first vial delivery arm unit 17 has an arm 202. The arm 202 is movably mounted in a horizontal direction and may even be lifted in a vertical direction. The first delivery arm unit 17 receives vials 4 at a horizontal first position, accommodates the tablets discharged from the tablet feeder 21 into the vials 4 at a second position and delivers the vials 4 at a third position. The second vial delivery arm unit 18 has an arm 302. The arm 302 is movably mounted in the horizontal direction and may be lifted in the vertical direction. The second vial delivery arm unit 18 receives the vials 4 from the first vial delivery arm unit 17 at the horizontal first position, delivers the vials 4 to a capping unit 20 at the second position and discharges the vials 4 at the third position.
US08099923B2	Roofing shingle with a laying line A roofing shingle with a laying line that facilitates the alignment of an overlying course of shingles with respect an underlying course of shingles is provided. The laying line is located on a front surface of the shingle and has a width such that the laying line is exposed when an edge of another shingle is placed in contacting proximity with the laying line. The shingle may also have a scale and one or more nibs that protrude from the sides of the shingle that assist in aligning the shingles in the second course with the shingles in the underlying course. The shingle may also include nailing zones located on the front surface of the shingles provide a location for fastening the shingles to the roof. A method of laying the shingles of the present invention on a roof is also provided.
US08099913B1	Wheeled truss convertible to a truss with catwalk A wheeled truss that is convertible into a truss with a catwalk. A carriage is removably mounted to the bottom of the truss for transporting the truss to the performance site. The carriage is removed from the truss, inverted and mounted to the top of the truss forming with the truss a catwalk.
US08099908B2	Anti-streak cover for eavestrough An eavestrough cover designed to cover the upper front wall portions of a conventional eavestrough and which has a finish to minimize streaking or staining. The eavestrough cover snaps into position on the eavestrough.
US08099907B2	Method for mounting a drive assembly for door and window frames A method for mounting a drive assembly on a door or window frame, comprising the steps of: mounting at least one actuating member and at least one transmission rod in at least one slot of the frame and mutually fastening the actuating member and the transmission rod by a screw that engages a through hole formed in the transmission rod. The through hole is formed in the transmission rod after mounting the actuating member and the transmission rod in the slot.
US08099906B2	Water deflector and system having multiple water deflectors of this type A water deflector includes a water-diverting area and an attachment area for attachment to a seal profile. The water-diverting area and the attachment area are connected to one another via a connection area, which is elastically deformable in such a way that when force acts on the water-diverting area, it is movable in relation to the attachment area. The water deflector can be used in the area of a door, wherein the water deflector deforms when the door is closed and comes to rest in a cavity between the seal profile and the door outer skin, and assumes its starting shape again when the door is opened.
US08099902B2	Sensor arrangements, systems and method in relation to automatic door openers A sensor arrangement controls opening and closing of a door device. The sensor arrangement is arranged to be mounted in the vicinity of the door device. The sensor arrangement comprises an image-acquiring means, which monitors and acquires images of a field of view that encompasses at least an approach area located adjacent said door device, and a movement detector, which is arranged to process the acquired images in order to detect a movement, which is to result in an opening of the door device. The sensor arrangement also comprises an event generator, which is arranged to process information regarding the door device and said field of view in order to identify at least one event according to predetermined criteria, wherein the event generator in response to an identification of an event creates a recording of the event.
US08099900B2	Method for pest electrocution with disposable container A method and apparatus for electrocution and disposal of pests includes a reusable power source and a low cost disposable portion. The reusable power source includes batteries and a circuit to provide a high voltage and low current signal through external leads to the disposable portion, to electrocute small pests without presenting a risk to humans or pets. The disposable portion is constructed from low cost material, for example, cardboard, and may be packaged for sale in a flat folded state, and easily configured into a container with a floor including conducting surfaces connected to the external leads. In one embodiment, the conducting surfaces are formed of a conducting material formed or glued on the floor of the disposable portion and the conducting material further forms internal leads reaching to a male connector surface configured to cooperate with a female connector of the external leads.
US08099899B2	Highly maneuverable fishing lure A maneuverable fishing lure for attachment to a fishing line includes a lure body including a first end and a second end. An attachment means joins to the fishing line where a retrieval of the fishing line imparts motion on the lure through water. A rudder is pivotally joined to the lure body proximate to the first end. The rudder is pivotal between a first position and a second position about a pivot axis substantially perpendicular to an axis extending through the first end and the second end. With the rudder in the first position, the motion causes the lure to travel through the water in a first direction. With the rudder in the second position, the motion causes the lure to and travel through the water in a second direction. A change in the motion causes the rudder to pivot between the first position and the second position.
US08099897B2	Optical sight An optical sight is provided and may include an optical element, a reticle displayed on the optical element, and a housing. The housing may include a base, a first post extending from the base, a second post extending from the base, and a cross member extending between the first post and the second post to define an opening receiving the optical element therein. The first post and the second post may extend above the opening and away from the base a greater distance than a top surface of the cross member.
US08099895B2	Kinetic firearm trigger A trigger mechanism having a sear block engaging a striker of a firearm, a pivot drop piece supporting the sear block in an over center configuration, a toggle sear supporting the pivot drop piece and engaging a finger piece via a set of sear surfaces, the toggle sear having a toggle sear fly weight, such that when pressure is applied to the finger piece to overcome the sear surfaces friction, the finger piece releases the toggle sear, the pivot piece collapses and allows the sear block to release the cocking piece or striker, wherein during the collapsing motions, movement of the toggle sear is initially damped by kinetic resistance of the fly weight, and later, completion of the collapsing motions are assisted by inertia stored in the fly weight, providing full disengagement of the sear block from the striker.
US08099894B1	Retrieval sock attachable to an associated retaining plate and floor plate of an ammunition magazine A sock secured to an exposed end of an ammunition holding magazine associated with a projectile firing device. The sock includes a heavy duty and frictionally engaging curtain shaped body, such as constructed of a heavy duty silicone. An integrally formed lanyard loop extends from the body, this enabling easy single finger engagement for accomplishing easy and efficient withdrawal of the magazine from a projectile firing device, easy storage and ease of transport.
US08099891B2	Card holder clip The present invention relates to a holder clip (1) for cards, such as identification cards, comprising two holding arms (3, 4) interconnected by a yoke (2) and defining between them a card reception slot (5). In order to be able to hold also cards of various thicknesses with adequate holding force by means of the holder clip (1), the present invention is so conceived that at least one of the two holding arms (3, 4) is provided with at least one contact-pressure pad (6) bulging, at least in certain sections thereof, towards the respective other holding arm (3, 4), said contact-pressure pad (6) consisting of a material that is different from the material of the holding arms (3, 4).
US08099885B1	Simulated flower display A flower display with hydraulically activated plants includes a front portion that is visible to an observer and a first branch, a first plurality of leaves and a first flower disposed on said first branch within the first plurality of leaves and hidden thereby. The display also includes a second branch, a second plurality of leaves and a second flower disposed on said second branch within the second plurality of leaves and hidden thereby. Hydraulic means are provided for elevating the first plurality of leaves to a first level and the first flower to a second level above the first plurality of leaves.
US08099882B2	Iron The invention relates to an iron (1) having a sole (2) on top of which is formed a body (3, 5) defining a handle and a sleeve (4), said body (3, 5) including at least one switch (7, 9) associated with a function such as steam generation, characterised in that the sleeve (4) is mounted so as to be capable of movement relative to the body (3, 5) and in that the switch (7, 9) can be actuated by a mechanical member (10, 14) secured to the sleeve (4).
US08099880B2	Athletic shoe with cushion structures A footwear lower is presented which provides cushion support and lateral stability in a lightweight construction. The lower may include a primary midsole, cushion elements, a rear lower midsole, a directional cradle, and an outsole. The cushions may be located in the between the directional cradle and the rear lower midsole. Various embodiments of cushions are presented and may be consistent with specific types of shoes such as running trainers, trail shoes, general fitness footwear, or basketball shoes. The lower may be consistent with approaches to remediate a wearer's pronation or supination.
US08099879B1	Modular preserver system A modular preserver system for a protective covering. The modular preserver system includes a permeable flexible covering received within the protective covering. An absorbing material is provided within another permeable covering, which is disposed within the permeable flexible covering for retaining moisture withdrawn from the interior surface area of the protective covering. A compact cover may be wrapped over the protective covering adapted to contain any contaminants within the compact cover thereby preventing the contaminants polluting adjacent objects. The modular preserver system may include a flexible strap adapted to modularly carry a pair of protective coverings.
US08099876B1	Azimuth determination system and method therefor An azimuth determination system has a platform. A plurality of gimbals is attached to the platform to allow the platform to rotate about multiple axes. A pair of gryos is attached to the platform. A leveling device is attached to the platform to indicate when the platform is at a desired position. A control device attached to the plurality of gimbals to move the platform to the desired position indicated by the leveling device. An electronics system is to provide power to the azimuth determination system and to determine azimuth by positioning the gyros in a first position with an input axis of the gyros in the horizontal plane and orthogonal to the Earth Rate vector to calculate a first output and rotating the gyros 180° about the vertical to a second position to calculate a second output, the platform is then inverted and an additional set of two readings is taken. The four outputs are combined to produce the azimuth value and a gyro induced bias error. The azimuth value of the autocollimator line of sight is transferred to the laboratory reference mirror.
US08099873B2	Electric-powered cutting machine with blade holding mechanism An electric-powered cutting machine includes a reciprocable plunger held by and protruding outward from a housing; an operation member capable of being pivoted on the housing; and a blade holding mechanism disposed at a tip end portion of the plunger, the blade holding mechanism causing a blade to be detachably attached to the plunger. The operation member includes an operation portion and an abutting portion, wherein a distance from the operation portion to a rotating fulcrum is longer than a distance from the abutting portion to the rotating fulcrum. The blade holding mechanism is biased and is capable of swinging, and the blade holding mechanism includes a rotating member capable of being pressed against a side of the blade, wherein the abutting portion abuts against the rotating member when the operating member swings, and wherein the blade is detachably attached to the plunger by swinging of the rotating member.
US08099870B1	Lock mechanism for spring assisted folding knife The folding knife of the present invention includes a handle having first and second handle members that are maintained in spaced, parallel relation to one another by spacing elements that define a groove therebetween. The blade is pivotally attached to the handle at its tang portion and is movable into and out of the groove between its fully open and fully closed positions. A coil spring, or equivalent, may be interconnected between the tang and handle to provide an assisted opening mechanism. A blade lock includes a user actuated button that passes through an elongated slot formed through one of the handle members and through a circular opening formed through a bias plate that is positioned within the handle, and a plunger element that is spring biased in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the blade.
US08099869B2	Device and method for severing a bead of adhesive of a motor vehicle window pane A device and a method are disclosed for severing a bead of adhesive of a motor vehicle window pane. A cutting wire is firstly introduced into a gap between the window pane and the body flange, the cutting wire then being guided around the bead of adhesive, one first end of said cutting wire preferably being fixed outside the vehicle, preferably to the windshield wiper shaft, the second end of the cutting wire being inserted through the bead of adhesive and fixed to a winding device, and the bead of adhesive is severed by means of the cutting wire by reeling in the cutting wire with the aid of the winding device.
US08099868B1	Disposable blade cartridge utility knife A utility knife having a disposable blade cartridge is presented. The cartridge can include a stem having catches, where the stem can be inserted into an opening of the knife's handle. The cartridge can be releasably attached to the handle by allowing the catches to latch on to a shoulder portion of an opening in the handle. The opening can be defined by the shoulder and a rib that separates the opening from a neighboring opening.
US08099864B2	Tie, tie assembly, and tie attachment device The present invention provides a reinforcing bar tie the enables the connection intersecting reinforcing bars. The invention houses a tie made of an elastic member in a reception space, and extrudes it with an extruding member. At this time, the curved portions provided on both ends of the tie advance while guiding portions of a guiding member push them open, and are guided to an intersecting position of two reinforcing bars. Further, by extruding with the extruding member the tie detaches from the guiding member and winds around the intersection of the two reinforcing bars with a force sufficient to couple the two reinforcing bars together.
US08099863B2	Removing apparatus for removing electrical connector A removing apparatus, for removing an electrical connector from a PCB, comprises a base, a pulling member, a pair of opposite clipping members, a lower supporting member and at least one resilient member. The pulling member connects to the base to be operated to bring the base up and down. The two clipping members pivotally mount to the base. The lower supporting member mounts below the base. The resilient member located between the base and the lower supporting member. When the base moves downwardly, the latch of the clipping member can engage with the electrical connector and pick it up from the PCB, when the base moves back, it is easy and secure to remove the electrical connector from the PCB.
US08099861B2	Current-leveling electroplating/electropolishing electrode A current-leveling electrode for improving electroplating and electrochemical polishing uniformity in the electrochemical plating or electropolishing of metals on a substrate is disclosed. The current-leveling electrode includes a base electrode and at least one sub-electrode carried by the base electrode. The at least one sub-electrode has a width which is less than a width of the base electrode to impart a generally tapered, stepped or convex configuration to the current-leveling electrode.
US08099860B2	Electronic component mounting apparatus The invention prevents reduction of a pickup rate even when a storage tape in use and a new storage tape are connected to each other with a connection tape. A component recognition camera takes an image of an electronic component held by a suction nozzle, and a recognition processing device performs recognition processing. When a positional shifting amount calculated by CPU based on the recognition processing result is more than α, a board recognition camera takes an image of a storage portion of a storage tape storing a next electronic component to be picked up. When a positional shifting amount of the storage portion calculated based on the recognition processing result is more than β, the CPU enables seam passage processing. Based on the image taking of the storage portion by the board recognition camera and the recognition processing by the recognition processing device which are performed each time the storage tape is fed N times, the CPU controls correction of a pickup position.
US08099859B2	Modular assembly The invention is a modular assembly of modular objects for autonomously executing a variety of tasks. The modular assembly consists of a modular object called a platform, one or more modular objects called modules which are mounted to the platform in accordance with a modular assembly system, and a modular bus system for distributing electrical power and electrical signals among the modular objects in the modular assembly. The modular assembly system utilizes modular object fasteners (MOFs) and MOF-accommodating features of modular objects for facilitating the attachment of a plurality of modular objects to one another thereby creating a modular assembly in any one of a variety of configurations, an MOF being activatable when object attachment surfaces associated with two modular objects are superimposed and two object attachment points on the object attachment surfaces coincide.
US08099855B2	Methods for fabricating perpendicular recording heads with controlled separation regions Methods of recording head fabrication are provided to fabricate a region of separation material between a write pole and a shield of a write head that forms a controlled spacing between the write pole and the shield of the write head. The method comprises forming a mask structure having an opening exposing a write pole of the write head and forming separation material above the portions of the write pole exposed by the opening. The method further comprises removing the mask structure and forming a shield of the write head above the separation material. The separation material forms a spacing between the write pole and the shield, which controls the amount of flux from the write pole absorbed by a shield (e.g., a wrap around shield) of the write head.
US08099853B2	Method for manufacturing boundary acoustic wave device A method for manufacturing a boundary acoustic wave device prevents formation of discontinuous portions in a dielectric film without a significant decrease in the thickness of an IDT when the dielectric film is formed by deposition and without deterioration of electrical characteristics. The method includes the steps of forming an IDT on a piezoelectric substrate, forming a lower dielectric film so as to cover the IDT, conducting a planarizing step so as to smooth the rough surface of the lower dielectric film, and forming an upper dielectric film so as to cover the lower dielectric film of which the rough surface is smoothed.
US08099852B2	Method for assembling image capturing device A method for assembling an image capturing device is provided. The image capturing device includes a light-pervious module, an image sensor and a binding material. The image sensor has a light sensing region for converting an imaging light into an electronic signal. The binding material is used for binding articles together and curable by a curing process. Firstly, the light-pervious module and the image sensor together are releasably bound together via the binding material, thereby defining a close space for accommodating the image sensor. Then, a testing process is performed to detect a clean condition of the close space. If particles present in the close space are detected, the light-pervious module is detached from the image sensor, a cleaning process is done to remove the particle, and the light-pervious module and the image sensor are releasably bound together to define the close space again. Afterwards, the binding material is cured.
US08099848B2	Method and device for removing thimbles from anode legs A process for removing in a single step the thimbles attached to the stubs of an anode leg, including the following steps: a) said anode stem leg is placed between a stop device and an attacking device, said stop device surrounding, at least partially, each stub of said anode stem leg and having a stop surface that stops the corresponding thimble from moving forward; b) movement of the attacking device in the direction of the stop device until said anode leg enters into contact with said stop device; c) continuation of the movement of said attack device so that each thimble, blocked by the associated stop surface, is detached from the corresponding stub; f) stop and withdraw of the attacking device; In this process, a stop device is used comprising at least two stop surfaces, separated from one another by an axial distance such that the thimbles blocked by a first stop surface are detached from the stubs before the other thimbles are blocked by the other stop surface.
US08099841B2	Needle board for a needle machine The needle board for a needling machine has a base plate with a plurality of receptacles, and a plurality of needle modules. Each needle module has a carrier plate, which is equipped with a plurality of needles arranged in a predetermined pattern and which is inserted into one of the receptacles in the base plate in such a way that the needles project from the base plate.
US08099838B2	Fastening belt with rotatable drag hooks This invention is about the fastening belt with freely rotatable drag hooks, which includes two drag hooks. The said drag hooks have an upper cover and a bottom cover, with the hook fixed in the front of the drag hooks; one elastic rope to link the two drag hooks, which is made from stretchable material. Two rotatable linker and two ends of elastic rope are fixated inside the rotatable linker. The rotatable linker is connected with the rear rotation of the drag hook. The hook and the elastic rope are linked by the rotatable linker and the drag hook is linked with the rotatable linker. Thus, the drag hook can rotate freely in the elastic rope. The rope does not kink when in use, which not only prolongs the life of elastic ropes, but also reinforce the reliability of the connection between the drag link and the elastic rope.
US08099836B2	Ratchet tie-down A ratcheting tie-down device includes a main body portion having first and second ends, and a rotatable reel located about the second end. A dynamic webbing is extendable from the first end of the main body portion and is windable about the reel. A static webbing is coupled to the main body portion about the second end. The device includes means for attaching at least one end of the dynamic webbing to an object, and means for ratcheting rotation of the reel to wind the dynamic webbing thereon. A lever arm is rotatable relative to the main body portion between a first position and a second position to cause ratcheting rotation of the ratchet wheel. In one example, the lever arm includes at least a pair of independent lever arm rails. In another example, the dynamic webbing travels underneath a guide member prior to being wound about the reel.
US08099830B2	Handle arrangement on a vacuum cleaner hose A handle arrangement on a vacuum cleaner hose has an inner bushing non-rotatably attached to one end of the hose and is inserted in a handle tube and axially fixed therein such that it can rotate. Electrical leads are guided outwards from the hose and the inner bushing in a radial direction through a wall opening of the handle tube and into the cavity of a handle part. The handle part is firmly connected at both ends to the handle tube. The electrical leads are fixed so as to form a length reserve loop in the cavity. A receiving space is provided on the inner bushing, into which electrical leads from the length reserve loop are shifted when relative rotations take place between the hose and the handle tube. The possible rotation angle is delimited by stops according to the lead length available in the length reserve loop.
US08099829B2	Wet type suction cleaners A wet type suction cleaner comprising a tank (10) having an inlet (22) for suction-induced air flow and an outlet leading to a fan for creating the suction: and a float valve assembly (30) including a housing (32) and a float member movable relative to the housing (32) to cause closure of the outlet; wherein the inlet (22) directs the suction air flow to impinge on a part (40) of the housing (32), and the housing (32) has an opening (54) leading to the outlet which opening (54) is at a part of the housing (32) facing away from the inlet (22), the housing (32) further comprising deflecting means (42) for deflecting impinged matter away from the opening (54).
US08099827B2	Device for suction of waste and contaminating substances from the ground The invention relates to a device for suction of waste and contaminating substances from the ground of the type used in machines for cleaning roads and similar, comprising a suction pipe (2) and a recirculation pipe (3), the device comprising: an inlet aperture (2a) of the suction pipe (2a) and an outlet aperture (3a) of the recirculation pipe (3); the outlet aperture (3a) being a slot surrounding the inlet aperture (2a) near the ground; the device further comprising a system for adjustment (12) of the distance from the ground consisting of an articulated quadrilateral (13), a fluid dynamic cylinder (14) and at least one castor (15) in contact with the ground.
US08099826B2	Material recovery system A powdery material removal and recovery system comprises a distribution apparatus (1), a blower unit (2), a vacuum unit (3), a recovered powder receiving hopper (4), a powder sifter (5) and a conveyor (6). The vacuum unit (3) sucks material particles from the surface of boards passing along conveyor (6) below and transfers the material to receiving hopper (4). Air from the blower unit (2) is expelled through a pressure chamber of the distribution apparatus (1) onto the surface of the boards below so that any remaining remnants of particles are dried and dislodged and can then be removed via the outer duct compartments (108, 110). Recovered material deposited into the receiving hopper (4) may then be transferred to the powder sifter (5) for sifting and reuse.
US08099825B2	Motor control for a vacuum cleaner A vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle, an air-filtering dirt receptacle, and a motor. A fan of the vacuum cleaner is configured to be driven by the motor to drive a flow of air that carries dirt from a surface through the nozzle and into the receptacle to clean the surface. A controller of the vacuum cleaner provides a notification to a user of the vacuum cleaner indicative of an excessive amount of dirt in the receptacle when current drawn by the motor drops below a threshold value.
US08099824B2	Squeezing device for a flat-body wiper and cleaning system A squeezing device for a wiping cover of a flat-body wiper, the wiper cover hanging downward and partially detached from a wiper plate of the flat-body wiper in a vertical position of the wiper plate, the wiper plate including a downward facing pressure surface in the vertical position. The squeezing device includes a funnel-shaped squeezing shaft having a counterpressure surface in a lower region of the squeezing shaft. The squeezing shaft is configured to receive the wiper cover and at least a portion of the wiper plate in the vertical position of the wiper plate so that a squeezing pressure of the pressure surface against the counterpressure surface squeezes out the wiper cover. The squeezing shaft includes stabilizing devices configured to stabilize the wiper plate against tipping relative to a first plane from the vertical position. In addition a cleaning system including the squeezing device and a method of squeezing a wiping cover of a flat-body wiper with the squeezing device.
US08099819B2	Toothbrush A toothbrush head in which the fixed ends of the bristles are embedded in a mass of a polyurethane gel material incorporated in the head. Typical nylon materials as used for toothbrush bristles are found to bind with polyurethane gels so that advantageously holders for the bristles need not be used. A moulding process is also provided for making the toothbrush head.
US08099818B2	Window wiping system This invention provides a window wiper of which the movement is not restricted and which is capable of wiping the entire surface of a windowpane, can be manufactured inexpensively, runs smoothly in any desired directions straight, and does not leave unwiped parts behind. The window wiper comprises a sticking unit 10 which sticks fast to a windowpane “W,” a wiping unit 20 which is mounted on the sticking unit 10 and wipes the windowpane “W,” and a running unit 30 which is mounted on the sticking unit 10 so that the former can turn freely. Accordingly, the running unit 30 can change its running direction without changing the posture of the wiping unit 20. Therefore, the corners of a windowpane too can be wiped clean by giving a shape with four corners to the wipe-off unit 22 of the wiping unit 20.
US08099815B2	Gymnasium floor covering storage and cleaning rack The present invention relates to a floor covering storage and dispensing rack including a frame equipped with extendable members having castors. Floor lock anchors are also provided on the frame. Upper frame members of the rack support rollers in spaced relation and a crank or motor is provided to rotate the rollers to wind floor covering onto the rollers for storage. Perforated end caps are provided on the rollers to limit access to moving parts. An elongated cleaning head consisting of a pair of brushes is provided on a frame member. Floor covering passes over at least one brush when the floor covering is retrieved or dispensed to remove dirt prior to storage or reuse.
US08099813B2	Ramp assembly for mobile shelving The present invention relates to a ramp assembly for a mobile shelving system including at least one longitudinal track body having a central channel and transverse edges, said ramp assembly including a plurality of ramp sections disposed on either side of the track body, whereby each ramp section includes a hooked edge adapted to rotatably engage a transverse edge of the track body, the angle of the ramp section being adjustable by way of rotation of the ramp section to thereby accommodate track bodies of different height.
US08099808B1	Stabilizing a patient's knee A leg holder assembly includes a leg support apparatus and a rail attachment mechanism. The leg support apparatus includes a planar support apparatus and a plurality of adjustable arms. The adjustable arms are pivotable. A patient's leg can be received within a space defined between the adjustable arms and rested on the planar support apparatus. The leg support apparatus also includes a support shaft. The rail attachment mechanism includes a body and a plurality of attachment arms. The rail attachment mechanism can be secured to the rail of an operating table by hooking the arms of the rail attachment mechanism over the rail of the operating table. A slot formed within the body of the rail attachment mechanism receives the support shaft and enables the support shaft to be slid into and out of the slot for attachment and detachment of the leg support apparatus to the operating table.
US08099803B2	Method of using clips for retrofit installation of a portable swimming pool barrier fence The installation and removal of a portable but sturdy pool barrier fence uses the hardware installed for attaching a safety pool cover during the pool use season. Multiple rectangular panel frames support a mesh fabric. Spaced anchors mounted in said deck adapted to support a cover or said fence when said cover is removed. The fence has rectangular sections formed by upper, lower and side frame members enclosing the fencing material. Each lower frame member in the fence sections has a centrally located rib extending longitudinally along a top surface thereof. Anchor clips, preferably Z-shaped clips, are located and attached to the deck at the anchors in the deck. Each of the anchor clips has a keyway for engaging a respective rib on the lower frame member of the rectangular fence section to secure the fence to the deck.
US08099801B2	Closet flange system for existing installation A system is provided herein which includes a closet flange insert and at least one spacer to be positioned between the closet flange insert and an installed closet flange. The closet flange insert includes a toilet connecting flange which extends radially outwardly from a through pipe. The through pipe is sized to be inserted into a pipe section of a closet flange. Each spacer includes spaced apart first and second faces, and spaced apart inner and outer edges extending between the first and second faces. The inner edge defines an opening extending through the body, the opening sized to permit passage therethrough of the through pipe of the closet flange insert but not the toilet connecting flange of the closet flange insert. Advantageously, with the subject invention, a system is provided which allows the closet flange insert to be mounted atop an installed closet flange, with one or more spacers therebetween, and with the closet flange insert being flush with surrounding finished flooring.
US08099800B2	Toilet bowl cleaning and/or deodorizing device A device for spraying an inner surface of a toilet bowl with a cleaning and/or deodorizing chemical is disclosed. The device can include a container for the chemical, a sprayer through which the chemical can be sprayed laterally at least halfway around a perimeter of the sprayer, means for attaching the sprayer near a rim of the toilet bowl, a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the container and the sprayer, and a manually operated pump for delivering chemical from the container through the fluid conduit and to the sprayer when the pump is operated. In one version, the pump includes a pump chamber in fluid communication with the container, a discharge conduit in fluid communication with the pump chamber and in fluid communication with the fluid conduit, and a piston that reciprocates in the pump chamber for drawing fluid from the container into the pump chamber and moving fluid from the pump chamber through the discharge conduit and into the fluid conduit. The device can apply chemical around the entire circumference of the inner surface of the toilet bowl.
US08099798B2	Pivotal plate suspension system A pivotal suspension system to support lower-body protective gear which is constructed from pivotally attached plates increasing the wearer's range of motion in hazardous situations.
US08104092B1	Document integrity assurance In some embodiments, techniques for document integrity may include detecting an initiator associated with a key, detecting the end of an HTTP header, determining that no terminator matching the key has been detected, and rejecting the HTTP header. In some embodiments, techniques for document integrity may include generating a key and associating the key with an initiator insertion point and a terminator insertion point.
US08104091B2	System and method for wireless communication network having proximity control based on authorization token A system and method for providing content protection in a wireless network for transmitting uncompressed video data is disclosed. An association request is received from a new device by a domain manger. A proximity control test is conducted to determine whether the new device is located within an acceptable distance from the domain manager. The association request is granted or rejected based at least partly on the result of the proximity control test. An authorization token is transmitted to the new device when the association request is granted.
US08104088B2	Trusted operating environment for malware detection Techniques and apparatuses for scanning a computing device for malware are described. In one implementation, a trusted operating environment, which includes a trusted operating system and a trusted antivirus tool, is embodied on a removable data storage medium. A computing device is then booted from the removable data storage medium using the trusted operating system. The trusted antivirus tool searches the computing device for malware definition updates (e.g., virus signature updates) and uses the trusted operating system to scan the computing device for malware. In another implementation, a computing device is booting from a trusted operating system on a removable device and a trusted antivirus tool on the removable device scans the computing device for malware. The removable device can update its own internal components (e.g., virus signatures and antivirus tool) by searching the computing device or a remote resource for updates and authenticating any updates that are located.
US08104087B2	Systems and methods for automated data anomaly correction in a computer network Systems and methods for correcting an anomaly in a target computer that is part of a network of computers. An anomaly is detected in data stored on a target computer and it is determined what corrective data is needed to correct the anomaly. A donor computer with the corrective data is located and requested to provide the corrective data to the target computer. The corrective data is used to correct the anomaly on the target computer and the target computer may acknowledge receipt of the corrective data. In one embodiment, an arbitrator component receives the requests for the corrective data, passes the requests to potential donor computers, and receives the acknowledgements from the target computers.
US08104086B1	Heuristically detecting spyware/adware registry activity Methods, apparati, and computer-readable media for detecting the presence of malicious computer code in a computer. In a method embodiment, persistence points in an operating system of the computer are examined (31). When a pointer to a temporary directory is found (32) at a persistence point, a declaration is made (34) of a suspicion of malicious code being present in the computer. Second and third method embodiments are used when the computer has a native operating system (14) controlling hardware (11) functions and a user-interface operating system (12) built on top of the native operating system (14). A fourth method embodiment is used when the computer has an operating system comprising a kernel (20) and a user interface (21).
US08104081B2	IP security with seamless roaming and load balancing Described are a method and system for seamless roaming of a mobile node during a VPN session. A VPN session between the mobile node and a current VPN server in a network is established and synchronized with at least one fail-over VPN server in the network. An address change message is sent to the current VPN server and the fail-over VPN servers upon roaming of the mobile node. A fail-over VPN server responds with a reply message and is registered as a current VPN server for continuation of the VPN session. To load balance, a load query message is sent to the current VPN server and the fail-over VPN servers. Reply messages include server performance characteristics of the VPN servers. The VPN session can be transferred from the current VPN server to a fail-over VPN server in response to the server performance characteristics.
US08104079B2	Methods, systems and devices for packet watermarking and efficient provisioning of bandwidth Disclosed herein are methods and systems for transmitting streams of data. The present invention also relates to generating packet watermarks and packet watermark keys. The present invention also relates to a computerized system for packaging data for transmission to a user. The system may utilize computer code to generate a bandwidth rights certificate that may include: at least one cryptographic credential; routing information for the transmission; and, optionally, a digital signature of a certificate owner; a unique identification code of a certificate owner; a certificate validity period; and pricing information for use of bandwidth. The present invention also relates to an electronic method and system for purchasing good and services by establishing an account whereby a customer is credited with a predetermined amount of bandwidth usage, and then charges are assessed against the account in an amount of bandwidth usage which corresponds to the agreed upon purchase value for the selected item.
US08104077B1	System and method for adaptive end-point compliance A security gateway is provided to facilitate end-point compliance of connected clients to insure appropriate security levels are maintained. The gateway operates as a policy enforcement point, and, when necessary, is used to apply and/or provide the required level of compliance for a connection on behalf of a requesting client. In one aspect, a specified level of compliance for a given security feature is facilitated, even if the requesting client is not able to meet that level of compliance at the time of the request. An adaptive end-point compliance model measures the requesting client's current level of compliance for one or more software programs on the client and may either require remediation, for example, when knowing that the remediation server is available and responding, or may provide, via a surrogate connection, the necessary level of compliance when remediation is not possible.
US08104075B2	Trust management systems and methods Systems and methods are presented for facilitating the configuration of a trust management framework for use in conjunction with web services, digital rights management systems, and/or other applications. A method for configuring a trust management framework involves providing graphical user interfaces (GUIs) to a user that prompt the user to define certain aspects of the trust management framework in a self-consistent manner. In one embodiment, a method comprises providing a roles GUI that prompts a user to define roles, a services GUI that prompts the user to define services corresponding to the roles, a principals GUI that prompts the user to define principals, including associating at least one of the roles with a principal, and a nodes GUI that presents role bindings for principals that are designated to function as nodes and that prompts the user to define interactions between nodes.
US08104073B2	Exchange of network access control information using tightly-constrained network access control protocols In general, techniques are described for securely exchanging network access control information. The techniques may be useful in situations where an endpoint device and an access control device perform a tightly-constrained handshake sequence of a network protocol when the endpoint device requests access to a network. The handshake sequence may be constrained in a variety of ways. Due to the constraints of the handshake sequence, the endpoint device and the access control device may be unable to negotiate a set of nonce information during the handshake sequence. For this reason, the access control device uses a previously negotiated set of nonce information and other configuration information associated with the endpoint device as part of a process to determine whether the endpoint device should be allowed to access the protected networks.
US08104070B2	Interest aligned manual image categorization for human interactive proofs A system and method that facilitates and effectuates distinguishing a human from a non-human user. A human interactive proof (HIP) employs images from a large private database of manually categorized images to display as part of a Turing test challenge. The private database contains a sufficient quantity of images, such that the more economical manner to pass the HIP is to employ a human to take the challenge. The owner of the private database makes the database available to the presenter of the HIP due to an alignment of interests between both parties. The HIP is displayed with ads on behalf of the owner of the private database and the presenter of the HIP gains access to a large quantity of private manually categorized images.
US08104064B2	Bi-directional remote control unit and method of using the same A bi-directional communications link between a television set and a remote control unit assists a viewer in controlling the entertainment system. The television set can signal the remote control unit to confirm instruction signal received from the remote control unit. The television can also transmit electronic program guide information to the remote control unit which is displayed on a display device on the remote control unit. The television can send the remote control unit a listing of available sub-channels within a single digital channel. The listing is displayed on the remote's display device, and the viewer can then choose from among the sub-channels.
US08104057B2	Method for setting TV environment through user authentication and apparatus thereof A method and apparatus for setting a TV operation environment for users submitting authorizing passwords. The method of setting a user environment of a television (TV) includes displaying a plurality of icons of Identifications (IDs) for respective users, each of the IDs corresponding to an operation environment for a user. If an ID icon is selected among the displayed icons, a password corresponding to the selected ID icon is authenticated, and if a user is authenticated by the password, a preset operation mode for the user is set.
US08104056B2	Video service blackout events A method is disclosed that includes receiving a command to blackout a full screen version of content at a component of a multimedia content distribution system. The method includes updating a first entry within a control matrix to reflect that the full screen version of the content is to be blacked out. The method also includes automatically updating a second entry within the control matrix to reflect that a picture-in-picture (PIP) version of the content is to be blacked out.
US08104054B2	Methods, systems, and devices for bandwidth conservation Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for conserving bandwidth. A user's bandwidth consumption is monitored and compared to a threshold value. When the user's bandwidth consumption equals or exceeds the threshold value, then behavior is incentivized that reduces the user's bandwidth consumption.
US08104053B2	Optical pickup guide mechanism with edge rail portion A chassis is comprised of a resin material. A main shaft is attached to the chassis and extends in a first direction. A sheet metal frame is attached to the chassis and has an edge rail portion which extends in the first direction. The main shaft and the edge rail portion are adapted to guide the optical pickup in the first direction.
US08104052B2	Slot-in type disk apparatus including a base body and lid forming a chassis sheath provided with a bezel A slot-in type disk apparatus includes a base body and a lid forming a chassis sheath. A front surface of the chassis sheath is provided with a bezel formed with a disk-insertion opening. The bezel includes lid pawls projecting toward the lid from the bezel which is generally parallel to the disk-insertion opening. The bezel also includes steps formed on both sides of the lid pawls. The lid includes lid-side holes which are engaged with the lid pawls, respectively, and includes lid-side projections formed on both sides of the lid-side holes. In a state in which the lid pawls are engaged with the lid-side holes, the lid-side projections abut against the steps.
US08104050B2	Optical disk apparatus having brake pad located near to front end of chassis block Disclosed is a slim-type high speed rotation optical disk apparatus having a turn table for loading an optical disk thereon. As compared with conventional ones, a brake pad is located near to the front end so that the brake pad comes into tight contact with a side of the tray's front portion when the tray is inserted. This reduces the noise and vibration of the optical disk apparatus.
US08104043B2	System and method for dynamic cooperative distributed execution of computer tasks without a centralized controller A system and method is provided for cooperative execution of distributed tasks by networked computers without the use of a centralized controller to coordinate the task execution. Each computer has an execution agent that cooperates with the execution agents of the other computers to carry out the execution of a given sequence of tasks. The execution instructions for the task sequence are provided to a first computer in the selected set of computers for task execution. The first computer processes the instructions and forwards them to its peer computers so that each of them knows the tasks it is to perform in connection with the tasks of the other computers. The computers then executes the tasks assigned to them and use peer-to-peer communications to provide status update to their peer computers to synchronize and coordinate the task execution.
US08104042B2	Load balancing of servers in a cluster A system, method and program product for operating a cluster of servers. A load balancer, separate from the servers, selects servers to handle respective work requests assigned to the cluster based on a load balancing algorithm, and sends the work requests to the selected servers. The load balancer receives a request from another server not currently a member of the cluster. The request requests that the other server become a member of the cluster to handle work requests. In response to the request, the load balancer joins the other server as a member of the cluster to handle some work requests subsequently assigned to the cluster. The other server specifies to the load balancer a load threshold for the other server. The other server specifies to the load balancer a time-out to be used for the other server. The time-out indicates a time allotted for the other server to send a hello message since sending a previous hello message.
US08104041B2	Computer workload redistribution based on prediction from analysis of local resource utilization chronology data The present invention provides for redistributing workloads among computers to optimize resource utilization. Utilization by software workloads of computer resources is monitored to yield utilization data. A utilization chronology is updated using the utilization data. The chronology is analyzed to yield resource utilization predictions. The workloads are redistributed among the resources at least in part as function of said predictions.
US08104033B2	Managing virtual machines based on business priorty According to one embodiment, a method for managing one or more virtual machines includes generating a request for at least one performance characteristic for at least one virtual machine, the at least one virtual machine being associated with a processing group, the processing group including one or more processing modules; receiving a response to the generated request for at least one performance characteristic for the at least one virtual machine; automatically determining whether an increase in the number of processing modules included in the processing group is required, by analyzing the received response to the generated request; and, in response to a determination that an increase in the number of processing modules included in the processing group is required, automatically adding at least one processing module to the processing group.
US08104030B2	Mechanism to restrict parallelization of loops A computer implemented method, computer usable program code, and a system for parallelizing a loop. A parameter that will be used to limit parallelization of the loop is identified to limit parallelization of the loop. The parameter specifies a minimum number of loop iterations that a thread should execute. The parameter can be adjusted based on a parallel performance factor. A parallel performance factor is a factor that influences the performance of parallel code. A number of threads from a plurality of threads is selected for processing iterations of the loop based on the parameter. The number of threads is selected prior to execution of the first iteration of the loop.
US08104023B2	Adding functionality to existing code at exits New code is added to existing object code in order to add new functionality. For example, a call to start a profiler function can be added at the beginning of a Java method and a call to stop the profiler function can be added at the exits of the Java method. A method may have many different exits. To insure that the profiler process is stopped regardless of which exit is performed, the byte code and exception table are modified.
US08104022B2	Automated method for historical analysis of a memory state An automated method for historical analysis of a memory state includes tracking all memory write accesses by an application under test; recording a directed graph having values in a plurality of memory locations, such values being derived from values previously stored in at least one of, (i) the same memory location, and (ii) another memory location, each memory location being updated by a computer operation occurring at a verifiable time; displaying a portion of the graph that led to the update of a user-specified memory location by the application under test; and traversing backward from any node located on the directed graph via an arc utilized to follow the path of events that led to the content of the memory location represented by that node at the time represented by that node.
US08104008B2	Layout design apparatus, layout design method, and computer product A layout design apparatus that limits the maximum wiring density and the maximum edge length of partial regions when determining wiring layout. After determining the wiring layout, the layout design apparatus inserts a dummy into a partial region having a low wiring density and thereby, the minimum wiring density and the minimum edge length of the partial regions are limited. Thus, the respective wiring densities and respective edge lengths of the partial regions are constrained within a constant range and irregularities in the substrate surface after polishing can be suppressed.
US08104006B2	Method and apparatus for thermal analysis Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for performing thermal analysis of an integrated circuit (“IC”) layout that includes numerous circuit modules. In some embodiments, the method initially defines several power dissipation equations that express the temperature dependence of the power dissipation for several circuit modules. In some embodiments, the power dissipation equations express a non-linear relationship between power dissipation and temperature. The method defines a heat flow equation based on the specified power dissipation equations. The method then solves the heat flow equation to identify a temperature distribution for the design layout.
US08104001B2	Automated debugging method for over-constrained circuit verification environment An automated debugging method and system for over-constrained circuit verification environment are described. Useful information related to circuit evaluation and/or over-constrained event is collected and provided. The information may include: clock cycles at which an over-constrained event occurs; identification of a minimum subset of constraints that will cause an over-constrained event to occur; signal ports having an associated signal that can not switch between different signal states; whether a triggering signal event has occurred during the evaluation; indicating whether constraints in the evaluation are realizable, etc. Novel approaches for detecting and obtaining the useful information also are described.
US08104000B2	Method and apparatus for memory abstraction and for word level net list reduction and verification using same A computer implemented representation of a circuit design including memory is abstracted to a smaller netlist by replacing memory with substitute nodes representing selected slots in the memory, segmenting word level nodes, including one or more of the substitute nodes, in the netlist into segmented nodes, finding reduced safe sizes for the segmented nodes and generating an updated data structure representing the circuit design using the reduced safe sizes of the segmented nodes. The correctness of such systems can require reasoning about a much smaller number of memory entries and using nodes having smaller bit widths than exist in the circuit design. As a result, the computational complexity of the verification problem is substantially reduced.
US08103997B2	Method of employing slew dependent pin capacitances to capture interconnect parasitics during timing abstraction of VLSI circuits A method for converting interconnect parasitics of an interconnect network into slew dependent pin capacitances utilizes charge matching between predetermined voltage thresholds. During timing abstraction of a macro, parasitics of interconnects connected to the primary inputs are represented as slew dependent pin capacitances in an abstract model being created. Interconnect model order reduction is employed to speed the process. The generated abstract is subsequently used in place of each occurrence of the macro during chip level hierarchical static timing analysis, leading to an enhanced accuracy of the timing analysis of the logic components driving the abstracts.
US08103996B2	Method and apparatus for thermal analysis of through-silicon via (TSV) Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for performing thermal analysis of an integrated circuit (“IC”) design layout. The IC design layout includes several wiring layers in some embodiments. The IC design layout includes a substrate that has at least one through-silicon via (“TSV”). The method divides the IC design layout into a set of elements. The method identifies a temperature distribution for the IC design layout by using the set of elements. In some embodiments, at least one element includes a metal component and a non-metal component. The non-metal component is silicon in some embodiments, and a dielectric in other embodiments.
US08103992B1	Rapid rerouting based runtime reconfigurable signal probing A computer-implemented method of probing a design under test (DUT) instantiated within a programmable logic device (PLD) can include disabling a clock signal provided to the DUT (340) and generating a partial bitstream specifying a new probe for the DUT (335). The partial bitstream can be merged with configuration data read-back from the PLD to create an updated partial bitstream (360, 365, 370). The updated partial bitstream can be loaded into the PLD (375). The clock signal provided to the PLD can be started and the DUT can continue to operate (380, 385).
US08103990B2	Characterising circuit cell performance variability in response to perturbations in manufacturing process parameters A technique for characterising variation in a performance parameter(s) of circuit cells within a circuit cell library with perturbations in manufacturing process parameters uses a statistical approach whereby the statistical distribution of performance parameter(s) resulting from a joint distribution across manufacturing process parameter space is determined. The perturbation in manufacturing process parameter which results in a characteristic amount of variation is then identified and common sets of such perturbations used to group families of circuit cells together. Families of circuit cells have a correlation in their response to manufacturing process parameter perturbation and this is represented by a correlation matrix. Variation characterising data generated in accordance with the above technique is used to drive electronic design automation tools in integrated circuit design and manufacture.
US08103988B2	Use of breakouts in printed circuit board designs An escape outline is provided to automatically identify escape traces of a breakout. Further, the escape outline can be used to associate desired properties with the identified escape traces and allows special behavior of the automatic and interactive routing routines that operate on the escapes. Still further, an escape outline may be employed to improve the creation of escape traces by automatic routing tools. The use of pseudo-pins for netline optimization also is provided. Breakouts in a printed circuit board design are analyzed, and their respective endpoints are identified. These endpoints are then employed in a netline optimization analysis instead of the pins from which the breakouts originate. In this manner, the endpoints of the breakout are used as pseudo-pins to substitute for the actual pins of a component. Because the netline optimization will then be predicated upon the breakout endpoints rather that the originating pins, the pin configuration will be revised to simplify routing to the breakouts.
US08103986B2	Method and system for representing manufacturing and lithography information for IC routing A mechanism to compress manufacturing awareness into a small representation and to enable the router to consult the representation without performing, or understanding, detailed process analysis, is disclosed.
US08103981B2	Tool for modifying mask design layout An embodiment of the invention provides a tool for modifying a mask design layout to be printed. The tool is executed by a computer system, and includes code for establishing a first level of correction for a mask design layout for a predetermined parametric yield without cost of correction to area of the mask design layout. The tool also includes code for correcting the mask design layout at said first level of correction based on a correction algorithm, the correction algorithm selecting a cell of the mask design layout having an edge placement error (EPE) for each gate feature in the cell. The correction algorithm selects the cell without loss to parametric yield as established by the predetermined parametric yield.
US08103977B2	Semiconductor device and its manufacturing method, semiconductor manufacturing mask, and optical proximity processing method An object of the present invention is to reduce processing time and manufacturing cost for a semiconductor device including a logic circuit. To accomplish the above object, an area (114) for forming a logic circuit includes a first area (114b, 170) which is subjected to optical proximity correction with predetermined accuracy, and a second area (114a, 180) which is subjected to optical proximity correction with accuracy lower than said predetermined accuracy. Especially, the first area (114b, 170) includes a gate interconnection line (172) which acts as a transistor, and the second area (114a, 180) includes a dummy layout pattern (182) which does not act as a transistor.
US08103975B2	Apparatus and methods for optimizing the performance of programmable logic devices using multiple supply voltage A programmable logic device (PLD) includes first and second circuits. The first and second circuits are part of a user's design to be implemented using the PLD's resources. The first circuit is powered by a first supply voltage. The second circuit is powered by a second supply voltage. At least one of the first and second supply voltages is determined by a PLD computer-aided design (CAD) flow used to implement the user's design in the PLD.
US08103972B2	Operator control unit and method for assigning an on-screen display to a softkey button A method and operator control unit is disclosed that uses a screen, softkey buttons and an operating button. If, after a first on-screen display is invoked by briefly pressing a softkey button, the operating button is then pressed while that first on-screen display is displayed on the screen, a user menu is displayed as a second on-screen display on the screen. Then, a softkey button is pressed for a longer length of time while the user menu is displayed, the softkey button pressed in this manner becomes a shortcut on the user menu. The shortcut allows the user to directly invoke said first on-screen display from the user menu. Thus, the operating button provides a user-selected menu of shortcuts that gives the user direct access to predetermined softkey on-screen displays.
US08103970B1	Method and device for providing a multi-level user interface having a dynamic key assignment for a cellularly communicative device A method and system for providing a user interface over a display screen of a cellularly communicative electronic device are disclosed. One such method can include the steps of: (i) concurrently providing on a first display screen, a first menu level providing one or more functional groupings and a second menu level providing one or more choices within at least one of the functional groupings; (ii) permitting a user to advance a cursor freely across the first menu level and the second menu level to select a desired choice within the one or more choices; and (iii) providing at least a second display screen in response to the selection of the desired choice, wherein a dynamic key assignment is displayed for a key included in a device keypad and wherein the dynamic key assignment is a function of the desired choice.
US08103966B2	System and method for visualization of time-based events A method for visual representation of time based events in a target system comprises analyzing content related to occurrence of one or more events in a target system, wherein the content comprises information from which type of an event and time of occurrence of the event may be determined; grouping the events into one or more classes according to one or more predefined attributes; and generating a visual presentation of events occurring in a first time range, wherein the time range is selectable by an independent entity.
US08103965B2	Media content recording and healing statuses An exemplary system includes a content processing subsystem configured to record at least a subset of a media content program and detect a defective portion of the recorded media content program that failed to be properly recorded. The content processing subsystem is further configured to provide a recording status indicator to an output device for presentation to a user, the recording status indicator identifying the defective portion of the recorded media content program. In certain implementations, the content processing subsystem is further configured to heal at least a subset of the defective portion of the recorded media content program and provide a healing status indicator to the output device for presentation to the user, the healing status indicator identifying the healed portion of the recorded media content program.
US08103961B2	Method for integrating user models to interface design Designing user interfaces includes categorizing users, by at least one processor, into a predetermined number of behaviorally distinct groups each specified by behavioral characteristics. The users are re-categorized, by the at least one processor, into the predetermined number of new behaviorally distinct groups each specified by revised behavioral characteristics. The user interfaces are designed, by the at least one processor, based on describing and modeling at least one of the re-categorized users and the new behaviorally distinct groups.
US08103958B2	User-configured management of IM availability status Communicating an Instant Messaging (IM) user's availability status message is managed by a user-defined shortcut command, which is used to generate a user-drafted status response. When the user receives an instant message at an inopportune time, the user inputs the user-defined shortcut command, which results in the user-drafted status response being automatically transmitted to a sender of the instant message that was received at the inopportune time.
US08103956B2	Adaptive technique for sightless accessibility of dynamic web content One aspect of the present invention includes adaptive techniques used to render dynamic web content for accessibility software applications, such as screen readers. In one embodiment, an operation for improving webpage browsing with accessibility software includes detecting if an accessibility software application is in use, tracking the position of user focus on the webpage, and presenting information to the user based on the position of user focus on the webpage. In a further embodiment, additional content is rendered on the webpage to screen reader applications, and is placed at the position of the screen reader focus in response to dynamic content appearing or changing on the webpage. This additional content is read by the screen reader to inform the user of the dynamic content change, and/or enable the user to quickly perform a specific action on the webpage.
US08103952B2	Directed SAX parser for XML documents A method for processing XML documents using a SAX parser, implemented in a two-thread architecture having a main thread and a parsing thread. The parsing procedure is located in a parsing thread, which implements callback functions of a SAX parser and creates and executes the SAX parser. The main thread controls the parsing thread by sending target content to be searched for and wakeup signals to the parsing thread, and receives the content found by the parsing thread for further processing. In the parsing thread, each time a callback function is invoked by the SAX parser, it is determined whether the target content has been found. If it has, the parsing thread sends the found content to the main thread with a wakeup signal, and enters a sleep mode, whereby further parsing is halted until a wakeup signal with additional target content is received from the main thread.
US08103950B2	Structure and method for linking within a website A link structure and method for linking therein. The link structure includes a first page of a website and may include a global page of the website. The first page includes a link that has a default pointer and may have a local pointer, a global pointer, or both. The local pointer points to a local page and the global pointer points to the global page. A local link structure includes the local pointer but not the global pointer. A global link structure includes the global pointer but not the local pointer. A hybrid link structure includes the local pointer and the global pointer. Linking within the link structure may include linking from the link to the local page through the local pointer or linking from the link to the global page through the global pointer.
US08103944B2	Memory architecture for high throughput RS decoding for MediaFLO receivers A system and method for increasing the throughput of a RS decoder in MediaFLO™ receivers. A MAC de-interleaver RAM architecture allowing operation of parallel RS decoders comprises of four equal portioned memory banks, a codeword buffer for data correction, and a higher bit width RAM. The method of increasing throughput of RS decoder by minimizing RAM access and clock frequency includes increasing the bit width of the de-interleaver RAM, using parallel RS decoder cores for decoding received data, partitioning a 4-bank RAM and ECB allocation scheme, and correcting the data using intermediate buffers. The architecture enables on-chip implementation of the MAC de-interleaver RAM and RS decoders with reduced power consumption and provide higher RS decoder throughput.
US08103942B2	Data transmission apparatus, data transmission device, data reception device and data transmission system A data transmission apparatus includes a packet generation section, a frame encoding section, a transmission section, a reception section, a frame decoding section and a packet extraction section. The packet generation section generates a packet upon request. The frame encoding section generates a frame having a predetermined length by dividing the packet or adding dummy data to the packet and generates an error-correcting-code-added frame by adding an error correcting code to the frame. The transmission section transmits the generated error-correcting-code-added frame through a transmission line. The reception section receives the error-correcting-code-added frame. The frame decoding section performs an error detection and an error correction for the error-correcting-code-added frame. The packet extraction section extracts the packet by removing the error correcting code from the error-correcting-code-added frame for which the error detection and the error correction have been performed.
US08103940B2	Programming error correction code into a solid state memory device with varying bits per cell Memory devices that, in a particular embodiment, receive and transmit analog data signals representative of bit patterns of two or more bits such as to facilitate increases in data transfer rates relative to devices communicating data signals indicative of individual bits. Programming error correction code (ECC) and metadata into such memory devices includes storing the ECC and metadata at different bit levels per cell based on an actual error rate of the cells. The ECC and metadata can be stored with the data block at a different bit level than the data block. If the area of memory in which the block of data is stored does not support the desired reliability for the ECC and metadata at a particular bit level, the ECC and metadata can be stored in other areas of the memory array at different bit levels.
US08103939B2	Storage system and data storage method The storage system includes a first memory device configured to store data sent from a host system, a first memory device controller configured to control read/write access of the data from/to the first memory device, an arithmetic circuit unit configured to calculate parity data based on the data, a second memory device configured to store the parity data, a second memory device controller configured to control read/write access of the parity data from/to the second memory device. With this storage system, read access speed of the first memory device is faster than read access speed of the second memory device.
US08103930B2	Apparatus for implementing processor bus speculative data completion A method, and apparatus are provided for implementing processor bus speculative data completion in a computer system. A memory controller in the computer system sends uncorrected data from a memory to a processor bus. The memory controller also applies the uncorrected data to error correcting code (ECC) checking and correcting circuit. When a single bit error (SBE) is detected, corrected data is sent to the processor bus a predefined number of cycles after the uncorrected data.
US08103927B2	Field mounting-type test apparatus and method for testing memory component or module in actual PC environment A field mounting-type test apparatus and method for enhancing competitiveness of a product by simulating various test conditions including a mounting environment for improving quality reliability of a memory device and by minimizing overall loss due to change in a mounting environment thus reducing testing time and cost. The field mounting-type test apparatus includes a mass storage device configured to store logic data simulating a mounting environment of a device under test (DUT) and a tester main frame configured to test the DUT using the logic data.
US08103926B2	Method and apparatus for synthesis of augmented multimode compactors Methods and apparatuses for synthesizing and/or implementing an augmented multimode compactor are described.
US08103922B2	Error detection in precharged logic An integrated circuit is provided with domino logic including a speculative node and a checker node. Precharged circuitry precharges both the speculative node and the checker node. Logic circuitry provides a discharge path for the speculative node and the checker node in dependence upon input signal values. Evaluation control circuitry first couples the speculative node to the logic circuitry and then subsequently couples the checker node to the logic circuitry such that these can be discharged if the input signals to the logic circuitry have appropriate values. Error detection circuitry detects an error when the speculative node and the checker node are not one of both discharged or both undischarged.
US08103921B2	Fully-buffered dual in-line memory module with fault correction A memory system including a first memory, a content addressable memory, a testing module, and a memory controller. The first memory includes first memory cells. The content addressable memory includes second memory cells and is configured to store addresses of selected ones of the first memory cells, store data having the addresses in corresponding ones of the second memory cells, and retrieve the data from the corresponding ones of the second memory cells. The testing module is configured to determine a number of the first memory cells that fail at a first refresh rate. The first refresh rate corresponds to a time period between refreshing the first memory cells. The memory controller is configured to, based on the number of the first memory cells that fail at the first refresh rate, maintain the first refresh rate, and increase the first refresh rate.
US08103918B2	Clock control during self-test of multi port memory A multiport memory is provided with multiple data access paths A, B, each having a respective independent clock signal CLKA, CLKB. During self test operation a duplicate clock enable signal DPCLKTESTEN is used to enable one of these clock signals CLKA, CLKB to be used as a shared clock signal by all data access paths A, B. An external memory adjust signal EMAA. EMAB is used to adjust one of these shared clock signals to form a modified shared clock signal for at least one of the data paths being tested. In this way, worst-case scenarios can be more readily investigated comprising clocks with the same frequency but small differences in phase.
US08103913B2	Application integration testing Application testing is disclosed. A definition of a test to be performed on a subject application is received in a generic form not specific to the subject application. The test is performed by exchanging data with the subject application, as required to perform the test, using a test connector application associated with the subject application to do at least one of (1) convert an input data to be supplied to the subject application during the test from a generic data format not specific to the subject application into an application-specific data format associated with the subject application, if the application-specific data format is different than the generic data format and (2) normalize an output data received from the subject application in the application-specific data format into the generic data format not specific to the subject application, if the application-specific data format is different than the generic data format.
US08103911B2	Method and system for disaster recovery based on journal events pruning in a computing environment A method and system for automated disaster recovery in an information technology computing system including computing resources, is provided. One implementation involves logging system events in a journaling log file, filtering the events of the log file for each resource and storing the filtered log file, reading the filtered log file, and restarting from a backup file by applying the filtered events to a backup file for recovery.
US08103910B2	Local rollback for fault-tolerance in parallel computing systems A control logic device performs a local rollback in a parallel super computing system. The super computing system includes at least one cache memory device. The control logic device determines a local rollback interval. The control logic device runs at least one instruction in the local rollback interval. The control logic device evaluates whether an unrecoverable condition occurs while running the at least one instruction during the local rollback interval. The control logic device checks whether an error occurs during the local rollback. The control logic device restarts the local rollback interval if the error occurs and the unrecoverable condition does not occur during the local rollback interval.
US08103907B2	Power architecture to provide power supply redundancy Systems and methods that provide power redundancy to a computer system without increasing the number of independent power supplies used. A system having N computing modules may have power redundancy using N power supplies, where each of the N power supplies are able to supply more power than required by an associated computing module, and where all but one (N−1) of the power supplies collectively can immediately supply power to any one of the computing modules when the power supply associated with that computing module fails.
US08103905B2	Detecting and recovering from process failures A service is used to process files. The processing of the files is performed by worker services that are assigned to process a portion of the files. Each worker service that is processing a portion of the files is assigned a unique identifier. Using the identifier information, the set of worker services currently active are monitored along with the work assigned to each process. When a worker server determines that a worker service has failed, the work assigned to the failed worker service can be automatically determined and a new worker service can be started to process that work. Any new worker service that is started is assigned a unique identifier, so the work assigned to it can be similarly tracked.
US08103899B2	Nonvolatile memory system A memory system permitting a number of alternative memory blocks to be made ready in order to extend the rewritable life and thereby contributing to enhanced reliability of information storage is to be provided. The memory system is provided with a nonvolatile memory having a plurality of data blocks in predetermined physical address units and a controller for controlling the nonvolatile memory in response to an access request from outside. Each of the data blocks has areas for holding a rewrite count and error check information regarding each data area. The controller, in a read operation on the nonvolatile memory, checks for any error in the area subject to the read according to error check information and, when there is any error, if the rewrite count is greater than a predetermined value, will replace the pertinent data block with another data block or if it is not greater, correct data in the data block pertaining to the error.
US08103895B2	Information processing apparatus and wake-up control method According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes devices including functions of generating wake-up signals, a controller which returns the apparatus to the power-on status in response to wake-up signals, and a first nonvolatile memory which stores information indicating whether the functions are enabled. The devices initializes such that the function is enabled if the information of the first nonvolatile memory has indicated that the function has been enabled when the power supply is started. The controller includes a second nonvolatile memory which stores information indicating devices to which power should be continuously supplied in the power-off status. The controller starts the power supply to the devices indicated that the power supply should be continued by the information of the second nonvolatile memory when the power supply is started, and continues the power supply in the power-off status to devices indicated that the power supply should be continued.
US08103894B2	Power conservation in vertically-striped NUCA caches Embodiments that dynamically conserve power in non-uniform cache access (NUCA) caches are contemplated. Various embodiments comprise a computing device, having one or more processors coupled with one or more NUCA cache elements. The NUCA cache elements may comprise one or more banks of cache memory, wherein ways of the cache are vertically distributed across multiple banks. To conserve power, the computing devices generally turn off groups of banks, in a sequential manner according to different power states, based on the access latencies of the banks. The computing devices may first turn off groups having the greatest access latencies. The computing devices may conserve additional power by turning of more groups of banks according to different power states, continuing to turn off groups with larger access latencies before turning off groups with the smaller access latencies.
US08103890B2	Energy saving method and electronic device with optical disc reproduction apparatus An electronic device for selectively reproducing information. The electronic device includes a display, a power supply for supplying power, a switch, and a processor. The switch is connected to the display and the power supply. The processor is connected to the switch. When the processor identifies that the selected information is audio type, the processor turns off the switch to disconnect an electrical connection between the power supply and the display. A power saving method for reducing the energy consumption of the electronic device is also provided.
US08103885B2	Systems and methods for controlling use of power in a computer system In one embodiment, a power adapter comprises a power supply to output power for powering a powered device. The power adapter outputs information indicative of an amount of power output by the power supply for use by the powered device to control the amount of power used by the powered device.
US08103880B2	Method for communication between computing devices using coded values A system for improved communication system for providing web analytics data between a first computing device and a second, remote computing device preferably encodes frequently requested data into code words, and also provides the remote client with a look-up table and decoding logic. In one embodiment, the present invention also includes a method for updating the local look-up table in the event the table does not have a data value for a given code.
US08103878B2	Control device, update method and control software To update the program, the file is updated by verifying according to a digital signature attached to the file having the program converted whether the file is not dishonestly falsified. To verify the digital signature, a time for verifying the signature can be shortened by verifying not the entire file but only a particularly important part, and an area for temporarily storing the file can be made small. Thus, the control can be performed to update only when the file is valid.
US08103872B2	Contact-less tag with signature, and applications thereof A method, comprising: receiving an encrypted signature from a tag associated with an item; determining a dynamic parameter; obtaining a key based at least in part on the dynamic parameter; decrypting the signature with the key to obtain an identifier; and performing an action related to identification of the item, based on the identifier. Also, a system, comprising: a tag reader configured to receive an encrypted signature from a tag associated with an item; and a processing entity configured to (i) determine a dynamic parameter; (ii) obtain a key based at least in part on the dynamic parameter; (iii) decrypt the signature with the key to obtain an identifier; and (iv) perform an action related to identification of the item, based on the identifier.
US08103871B2	Method and apparatus for pervasive authentication domains Methods and apparatus for enabling a Pervasive Authentication Domain. A Pervasive Authentication Domain allows many registered Pervasive Devices to obtain authentication credentials from a single Personal Authentication Gateway and to use these credentials on behalf of users to enable additional capabilities for the devices. It provides an arrangement for a user to store credentials in one device (the Personal Authentication Gateway), and then make use of those credentials from many authorized Pervasive Devices without re-entering the credentials. It provides a convenient way for a user to share credentials among many devices, particularly when it is not convenient to enter credentials as in a smart wristwatch environment. It further provides an arrangement for disabling access to credentials to devices that appear to be far from the Personal Authentication Gateway as measured by metrics such as communications signal strengths.
US08103864B2	Information processing apparatus and start-up control method According to one embodiment, if start-up of an application is abnormal after starting up the application, the information processing apparatus reports the fact to the basic input/output system (BIOS), and the BIOS locks a system.
US08103863B2	Workflow management to automatically load a blank hardware system with an operating system, products, and service The exemplary embodiments provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing a workflow for assembling a data processing system according to a specific customized software configuration. An installation request from a remote data processing system is received. The installation request comprises an identity associated with the remote data processing system. An order associated with the identity is retrieved. A process configuration based on the order is determined. A system image associated with the process configuration is retrieved, forming an associated system image. The associated system image is transferred to the remote data processing system.
US08103862B2	Self test initialization A system to perform an information handling system (IHS) initialization includes one or more subsystems to receive a command to power on the IHS, initialize a processor cache memory to emulate a random access memory (RAM), determine whether a manufacturing self test is being performed on the IHS, and in response to the manufacturing self test being performed, complete the initialization without a complete memory initialization.
US08103859B2	Information processing apparatus, cache memory controlling apparatus, and memory access order assuring method According to an aspect of the embodiment, when data on a cache RAM is rewritten in a storage processing of one thread, an determination unit searches a fetch port which holds a request of another thread, checks whether a request exists whose processing is completed, whose instruction is a load type instruction, and whose target address corresponds to a target address in a storage processing. When the corresponding request is detected, the determination unit sets a re-execution request flag to all the entries of the fetch port from the next entry of the entry which holds the oldest request to the entry which holds the detected request. When the processing of the oldest request is executed, a re-execution request unit transfers a re-execution request of an instruction to an instruction control unit for the request held in the entry in which the re-execution request flag is set.
US08103852B2	Information handling system including a processor with a bifurcated issue queue An information handling system includes a processor with a bifurcated unified issue queue that may perform unified issue queue VSU store instruction dependency operations. The bifurcated unified issue queue BUIQ maintains VSU store instructions in the form of internal operations data. The BUIQ includes a unified issue queue UIQ 0 and a unified issue queue UIQ 1. The BUIQ may manage a particular VSU store instruction from one UIQ to determine data dependencies and employ the other UIQ to determine address dependencies of that particular VSU store instruction. The UIQs employ a dependency matrix including a dependency array. The dependency array data maintains both data and address dependency information. The particular VSU store instruction issues to execution units such as VSUs for data dependency information and load store units (LSUs) for address dependency information. A particular VSU store instruction may execute to provide data dependency information independent of address dependency information.
US08103848B2	Memory control device and information processing apparatus An information processing apparatus includes a memory configured such that structural data areas holding therein structural data, each being constituted by a plurality of pieces of element data, are allocated to a plurality of memory banks, an address area detecting unit configured to detect whether an address value used to access the memory is included in a specific address area including an address used to access the plurality of pieces of element data and an address converting unit configured to convert the address value to an address value for the structural data area in the case that it has been detected that the address value is included in the specific address area.
US08103840B2	Snapshot mechanism and method thereof A snapshot mechanism and a method thereof used in a data processing system are provided to backup snapshot data. The snapshot mechanism includes a snapshot storage unit and a buffer storage unit, wherein the snapshot storage unit is used as a unit for storing data generated after a target storage unit snapshots data and accordingly generating a plurality of snapshot management data. In addition, the buffer storage unit temporarily stores new data and flushes the data to the target storage unit in predetermined time interval. According to the snapshot management data, the target storage unit can be rolled back or rolled forward to the status before a predetermined time.
US08103839B2	Content data communication system, content data recording/reproducing device, data communication method and program A content data communication system comprises a content data recording/reproducing device and an information processing device. The content data recording/reproducing device includes a recording/reproducing device-side connector unit and a recording/reproducing device-side storage unit that stores an application program based upon which transmission of content data from the information processing device to the content data recording/reproducing device is controlled, whereas the information processing device includes a connector unit, a storage unit capable of storing content data and a control unit that reads out the application program stored in the recording/reproducing device-side storage unit and executes control as the content data recording/reproducing device becomes connected to the information processing device and engages the connector unit to transmit the content data stored in a specific data area at the storage unit to the recording/reproducing device-side storage unit based upon the application program having been read out.
US08103837B2	Servicing memory read requests Included are embodiments for a method for servicing memory read requests. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving read requests from the I/O device; testing predetermined fields from the read requests to predict a type of read request; and when the type of request is predicted to be a data read request, then route the read request to a first queue. Additionally, some embodiments include when the type of request is predicted to be a control read request, then route the read request to a second queue, wherein the second queue has a higher priority than the first queue; determining which of the first queue and second queue to read; retrieving at least one of the read requests from the determined queue; and processing the retrieved read request.
US08103835B2	Low-cost cache coherency for accelerators Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for reducing the consumption of inter-node bandwidth by communications maintaining coherence between accelerators and CPUs. The CPUs and the accelerators may be clustered on separate nodes in a multiprocessing environment. Each node that contains a shared memory device may maintain a directory to track blocks of shared memory that may have been cached at other nodes. Therefore, commands and addresses may be transmitted to processors and accelerators at other nodes only if a memory location has been cached outside of a node. Additionally, because accelerators generally do not access the same data as CPUs, only initial read, write, and synchronization operations may be transmitted to other nodes. Intermediate accesses to data may be performed non-coherently. As a result, the inter-chip bandwidth consumed for maintaining coherence may be reduced.
US08103834B2	Coherence protocol with dynamic privatization Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that maintains coherence between cache lines in a computer system by using dynamic privatization. During operation, the system starts by receiving a request for a read-only copy of a cache line from a processor. The system then determines if the processor has privately requested the cache line a predetermined number of times. If so, the system provides a copy of the cache line to the processor in an exclusive state. Otherwise, the system provides a copy of the cache line to the processor in a shared state.
US08103830B2	Disabling cache portions during low voltage operations Methods and apparatus relating to disabling one or more cache portions during low voltage operations are described. In some embodiments, one or more extra bits may be used for a portion of a cache that indicate whether the portion of the cache is capable at operating at or below Vccmin levels. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08103829B2	Hierarchical systems and methods for performing storage operations in a computer network A system for performing storage operations using hierarchically configured storage operation cells. The system includes a first storage manager component and a first storage operation cell. The first storage operation cell has a second storage manager component directed to performing storage operations in the first storage operation cell. Moreover, the first storage manager component is programmed to instruct the second storage manager regarding performance of storage operations in the first storage operation cell.
US08103826B2	Volume management for network-type storage devices The work load imposed on an administrator increases because the administrator has heretofore performed the work of allocating volumes to applications of PC server devices and the work of taking over volumes for applications in accordance with change in PC server devices. To solve this problem, there is provided a volume management system in a computer system having storage devices each of which has a unit which manages volume configuration information in accordance with each application, a unit which manages volume usage information in accordance with each of volumes for the applications, and a unit which manages allocatable areas of the storage devices while partitioning the allocatable areas of the storage devices in accordance with performance and reliability, wherein the volume management system has: a unit which selects suitable allocation regions in accordance with the volume usages of the applications; a unit which selects a suitable allocation region in accordance with change of host performance and migrates a volume to the suitable allocation region when host configuration of an application is changed; and a unit which changes configuration information to perform change of setting on each host.
US08103824B2	Method for self optimizing value based data allocation across a multi-tier storage system A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture are provided to support dynamic assignment of data from a continuous stream of data to one or more storage devices in a storage network. The storage network is configured with one or more tiers in a hierarchy, with at least one storage device in each tier. Similarly, the storage network is in communication with both a storage manager and a data manager. The storage manager sorts the storage devices, maintains a demand function of each device, and calculates a burn rate for each storage device. The data manager is in communication with the storage manager and assigns data from the received stream of data to at least one of the storage devices.
US08103816B2	Technique for communicating interrupts in a computer system A technique to enable efficient interrupt communication within a computer system. In one embodiment, an advanced programmable interrupt controller (APIC) is interfaced via a set of of bits within an APIC interface register using various interface instructions or operations, without using memory-mapped input/output (MMIO).
US08103815B2	Lazy handling of end of interrupt messages in a virtualized environment Techniques enable reducing a number of intercepts performed by a hypervisor by reducing a number of End Of Interrupt (EOI) messages sent from a virtual central processing unit (CPU) to a virtual advanced programmable interrupt controller (APIC). The EOI path of the guest operating system running on the virtual CPU is altered to leave a marker indicating that the EOI has occurred. At some later time the hypervisor inspects the marker and lazily updates the virtual APIC state.
US08103813B2	Method and system for hardware based implementation of USB 1.1 over a high speed link Certain aspects of a method and system for a hardware-based implementation of USB 1.1 over a high-speed link may comprise translating at a client side of a client server communication system, USB protocol messages comprising a first USB standard to corresponding encapsulated USB protocol messages, wherein the USB protocol messages comprising the first USB standard are received from a client device at the client side of the client server communication system. The translated corresponding encapsulated USB protocol messages may be communicated from the client side to a server at a server side of the client server communication system.
US08103811B2	Memory option card having predetermined number of activation/deactivion codes for selectively activating and deactivating option functions for a medical device A device such as for example a electronic medical device has a memory that has prestored therein a number of programs or routines for performing various functions. Some of those functions are optional functions that were not enabled when the equipment was put into service. If the user of the equipment desires thereafter to activate any one of those optional functions, an options card that has a number of memory blocks each specifically configured to enable one of the prestored optional functions is sent to the user. The user can then insert the options card into a receptacle integrated into the device and, upon power up of the device, elect a menu for enabling the desired optional function(s) prestored in the device. The options card may be configured to have a count number that indicates the number of devices the card may be used for enabling a particular optional function. The options card may further be configured to include data that may be used to enable or disable multiple optional functions prestored in the device. When returned to the manufacturer, given that the serial numbers of the machines to which the options card was inserted are recorded therein, the manufacturer can easily keep tab of the status of those machines in the field that had had optional functions enabled/disabled.
US08103810B2	Native and non-native I/O virtualization in a single adapter Mechanisms for enabling both native and non-native input/output virtualization (IOV) in a single I/O adapter are provided. The mechanisms allow a system with a large number of logical partitions (LPARs) and system images to use IOV to share a native IOV enabled I/O adapter or endpoint that does not implement the necessary number of virtual functions (VFs) for each LPAR and system image. A number of VFs supported by the I/O adapter, less one, are assigned to LPARs and system images so that they may make use of native IOV using these VFs. The remaining VF is associated with a virtual intermediary (VI) which handles non-native IOV of the I/O adapter. Any remaining LPARs and system images share the I/O adapter using the non-native IOV via the VI. Thus, any number of LPARs and system images may share the same I/O adapter or endpoint.
US08103804B2	Method and system for embedded regenerative licensing A method and system for embedded regenerative licensing are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method, comprises transmitting a first capability request for a first hardware device to a hardware adapter. A second capability request for a second hardware device is transmitted to the hardware adapter. A first device capability response for the first hardware device is received from the hardware adapter. The first device capability response comprises a first timestamp, a first unique identifier for the first hardware device, and a first functions list to disable on the first hardware device. A second device capability response for the second hardware device is received from the hardware adapter. The second device capability response comprises a second timestamp, a second unique identifier for the second hardware device, and a second functions list including one or more functions from the first hardware device to enable on the second hardware device.
US08103802B2	Portable data system A data system includes an article such as footwear, model car or toy, an electronic module carried by said article, the electronic module having a microprocessor and a data storage device to which the user can selectively store and retrieve data, a data input to the electronic module configured for the user to input and store data on the data storage device, a controller in electronic communication with the electronic module for controlling data output, and an audio output device in electronic communication with the electronic module for receiving data output from the electronic module.
US08103800B2	Method and apparatus for multi-chip address resolution lookup synchronization in a network environment A method of handling datagrams in a network device coupled to other network devices is disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving an incoming datagram at a port of the network device, determining an egress port for the incoming datagram based on a destination address contained in the incoming datagram and a lookup of an address resolution lookup (ARL) table and performing a lookup of the ARL table based on a source address contained in the incoming datagram to determine whether the source address has been learned previously. The method also includes the steps of writing an entry into the ARL table when the source address has not been learned previously, determining whether the other network devices have learned the source address when the source address has been learned previously and continuing to relay a learning message with the source address to the other network devices when it is determined that the other network devices have not learned the source address.
US08103791B2	Synchronized communication in a data processing system A data processing system includes a plurality of processing units, including at least a local master and a local hub, which are coupled for communication via a communication link. The local master includes a master capable of initiating an operation, a snooper capable of receiving an operation, and interconnect logic coupled to a communication link coupling the local master to the local hub. The interconnect logic includes request logic that synchronizes internal transmission of a request of the master to the snooper with transmission, via the communication link, of the request to the local hub.
US08103786B2	Parallel data transfer over multiple channels with data order prioritization A parallel download system is described to download data from a plurality of source servers in parallel. The system may include a source scheduler, a prioritization scheduler, and an I/O dispatcher. The source scheduler generates a download schedule to control which source servers will be downloaded from at a current point in time. The prioritization scheduler tracks the latency and throughput of all channels to the source servers and dynamically adjusts the download schedule to control download performance. The I/O dispatcher produces an output stream to present the downloaded data to one or more external applications or a user.
US08103783B2	Systems and methods of providing security and reliability to proxy caches The present solution provides a variety of techniques for accelerating and optimizing network traffic, such as HTTP based network traffic. The solution described herein provides techniques in the areas of proxy caching, protocol acceleration, domain name resolution acceleration as well as compression improvements. In some cases, the present solution provides various prefetching and/or prefreshening techniques to improve intermediary or proxy caching, such as HTTP proxy caching. In other cases, the present solution provides techniques for accelerating a protocol by improving the efficiency of obtaining and servicing data from an originating server to server to clients. In another cases, the present solution accelerates domain name resolution more quickly. As every HTTP access starts with a URL that includes a hostname that must be resolved via domain name resolution into an IP address, the present solution helps accelerate HTTP access. In some cases, the present solution improves compression techniques by prefetching non-cacheable and cacheable content to use for compressing network traffic, such as HTTP. The acceleration and optimization techniques described herein may be deployed on the client as a client agent or as part of a browser, as well as on any type and form of intermediary device, such as an appliance, proxying device or any type of interception caching and/or proxying device.
US08103779B2	Mechanism for enabling session information to be shared across multiple processes A mechanism for enabling session information to be shared across multiple processes in a multi-process environment is disclosed. There is provided a shared persistent memory-mapped file in a file system, which is mapped to the memory space of each of the processes. This file is used by all of the processes to store session information. Because the memory space of each process is mapped to the shared file, each process is able to access and manipulate all of the sessions in the system. Thus, sessions are no longer maintained on a process-specific basis. Rather, they are maintained on a centralized, shared basis. As a result, different requests pertaining to the same session may be serviced by different server processes without any adverse effects. Each process will be able to access and manipulate all of the state information pertaining to that session. By enabling session information to be shared, this mechanism eliminates the session management errors experienced by the prior art.
US08103777B2	Device and a method for sharing resources in a network of peers A device and a method for sharing resources in a network of peers are disclosed. A user may compile a wish list (420) of programs to be recorded on a recording device (400) that is a peer in the network. A resource list (421) is compiled of resources that the device shares within the network. The wish list and resource list are communicated to a coordinator (440) comprised within the network. The coordinator makes assignments of who records what and communicates an assignment list (422) to each peer. Each peer plans (405) and executes (407) the assigned recordings, which can be retrieved from a peer (410), or sent to the user device. Deletion control is applied to prevent the loss of recordings by deletion on a local peer. The coordinator may be comprised within a peer, as a standalone service within the network or implemented as a distributed algorithm between the peers.
US08103775B2	System and method for distributing a client load from a failed server among remaining servers in a storage area network (SAN) A system delivers data and includes a plurality of data storage devices. A plurality of servers such as video servers are connected to the plurality of data storage devices and access the data storage devices to provide streaming data to a plurality of clients upon request therefrom. Upon failure of one of the servers, the load on the remaining servers is distributed equally among remaining servers using a distribution algorithm that assigns dual client network connections to server groupings such that the failure of any one server will increase the client load on any remaining server by no more than ceil (C/P) loads, where C is the total number of configured clients that access the plurality of servers in the system and P is the total number of server pairs.
US08103774B2	System and method for load-balancing in a resource infrastructure running application programs The idea of the present invention is to provide a challenge-response mechanism to acquire work scope split range information from the application's Work Scope Split component of the over-utilized resource. By using the work scope split range information, the provisioning system is able to add a new resource, install a new application for that new resource, configure the new and the over-utilized resource's application, and reconfigure the load-balancer in accordance with the work scope split range information. The present invention adds scalability to complex and stateful application programs and allows dynamic provisioning of resources for these application programs.
US08103773B2	Transactional application processing in a distributed environment Transactional application processing in a distributed environment using an application-aware network infrastructure element is described. In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises a plurality of network interfaces, forwarding logic, and transaction manager logic. The plurality of network interfaces are operable to communicatively connect to one or more packet-switched networks. The forwarding logic is coupled to the plurality of network interfaces and, when executed, is operable to receive packet flows therefrom and to forward the packet flows thereto. The transaction manager logic is encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and when executed is operable to: receive first information that specifies one or more remote resources associated with an extended transaction, where the extended transaction comprises a plurality of child transactions; and reserve the one or more remote resources by sending out one or more reservation requests over a network management protocol.
US08103770B1	System and method for performing application level persistence A method and apparatus for inserting and examining Cookies in the data streams of HTTP connections for the purpose of persistently directing HTTP connections to the same destination. A network device directs subsequent HTTP connections from the same client to the same server (destination) for accessing the requested resources. There are four modes for employing the Cookie to persistently direct HTTP connections. The associated mode inserts a Cookie that uniquely identifies the client into an HTTP response. The passive mode inserts Cookie information that uniquely identifies a previously selected destination into an HTTP response. In the rewrite mode, a network device manages the destination information that is rewritten over blank Cookie information generated by the destination producing the HTTP response. The insert mode inserts and removes Cookie information in the data packets for HTTP requests and response prior to processing by the destination.

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