| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07641359B2 |
Flashlight
A flashlight as disclosed to comprise a barrel, a tail cap, a head assembly, and a miniature lamp bulb holder and for providing interruptible electrical coupling to dry cell batteries retained within the barrel. One-way valves may be positioned at seal locations in association with passageways to allow venting of overpressure within the interior volume of the flashlight. |
| US07641358B1 |
Explosion proof lantern
A portable rechargeable lantern capable of use in an explosive environment includes light emitting diode light source, fault tolerant circuitry, a rechargeable battery and a charging circuit that receives power from an external charger via an induction coil. Formed within a sealed housing, the induction coil charging system eliminates external metal contacts, thereby eliminating a potential ignition source during charging operations. Fault tolerant circuitry and a cool-running light emitting diode light source eliminate potential ignition sources due to breakage or fault conditions. Mating surfaces between the lantern and its charger cradle facilitate aligning the charging induction coils. |
| US07641355B2 |
Decorative light devices
The decorative light device has a stylized shape of a Christmas tree, or a snow flake. It comprises a transparent or translucent solid plastic member having an elongated solid plastic main body and a plurality of side branches extending outward therefrom at an angle at a plurality of junctions. A light refraction opening is formed at the main body and located adjacent to each one of those junctions. An LED light source is located at a bottom end of the main body and is operative to provide a single or a series of flashing lights of various sequential colors for illuminating the main body and the side branches. A stylized snow flake can be made with a plurality of these solid plastic members mounted in an evenly spaced manner around the periphery of a center mounting member. |
| US07641352B2 |
LED backlight device with deviated LED pitch
A backlight unit usable in a liquid crystal display. In one embodiment, the backlight unit includes a substrate, a first plurality of light emitting elements positioned on the substrate, and a second plurality of light emitting elements positioned on the substrate, where the first plurality of light emitting elements positioned on the substrate are arranged in rows, such that two neighboring rows define a first pitch therebetween and the second plurality of light emitting elements positioned on the substrate are arranged in a row such that the row of the second plurality of light emitting elements is separated from the closest neighboring row of the first plurality of light emitting elements by a second pitch, where the first pitch is less than the second pitch. |
| US07641350B2 |
Front surface mirror for providing white color uniformity for polarized systems with a large range of incidence angles
A fold mirror for a projection display system is designed to lessen a perceived variation in white color balance of light reflected across the mirror wherein the white light is comprised of sub-beams of orthogonal polarization states. The mirror comprises a metal reflective layer and a plurality of optically transparent layers, wherein thicknesses and materials of the optically transparent layers are such that wavelength-averaged reflectance for p-polarized incident green light varies by less than 1%, wavelength-averaged reflectance for s-polarized blue light varies by less than 1.5%, and wavelength-averaged reflectance for s-polarized red light varies by about 4% over a range of angles of incidence between 0 and 65 degrees. |
| US07641344B2 |
Device and method to determine the contrast sensitivity of an individual's visual system
A device to determine the contrast sensitivity of an individual's visual system by means of a series of tests in a measurement session, comprising a means for producing real time digital images, corresponding to modulated visual stimuli; and a display means for presenting said images to an individual's eye, wherein said stimuli may be modulated around an average stimulus in any direction of the color space and may be configured in their spatial and temporal characteristics for each measurement session. Said stimuli are usually chosen in the cardinal directions of the color space and respond to a sinusoidal grid pattern with spatial and temporal modulation, and with a two dimensional gaussian envelope. |
| US07641343B1 |
Method and apparatus for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's using non-invasive eye tomography by terahertz
The objective of the present method and apparatus is to provide a portable diagnosis system for a quick and reliable method to examine the conditions of a human eye-lens. The method provides precise and safe technique for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) which is not involved brain surgery or biopsy. The detection of deposited layers of amyloid plaque in the eyes of the patient has been discovered to be a possible diagnosis solution. The disclosed method uses terahertz waves instead of laser for scanning the eye of the AD patient to precisely image the amyloid layer non-evasively in real time and to map the deposited plaque with high resolution which can easily distinguish the abnormality of an AD patient with the comparison of the patient eye-lens test to the available signature of a normal person and the signature of a person with common age-related cataracts. |
| US07641342B2 |
Information system and method for providing information using a holographic element
In an information system and a method for providing information in correlation with light that is incident on an eye, a pair of spectacles includes a holographic element that is supported in front of the eye of a wearer of the spectacles. An optical scanning device detects light that is incident on the eye via the holographic element. |
| US07641341B2 |
Use of saccadic eye motion to indicate the level of human interest in response to visual stimuli
Technique for providing an indication of viewer interest in response to visual stimuli. A viewer is exposed to visual stimuli. The viewer's saccadic eye motion occurring while the viewer is being exposed to the visual stimuli are measured. The visual stimuli are displayed together with the measured saccadic eye motion that occurred while the viewer was being exposed to the visual stimuli as an indication of the viewer's interest in such visual stimuli. |
| US07641340B2 |
Fundus camera
A fundus camera of which the operability in alignment when photographing a fundus is enhanced includes a photographing optical system having a photographing optical axis which photographs the fundus, a fundus observation optical system picking up a fundus observation image, an anterior-segment observation optical system picking up an anterior-segment observation image, a photographing unit housing the optical systems, a moving mechanism moving the unit for alignment of the axis, a display unit, and a controller controlling the display unit and making display switching between the images on a screen of the display unit, wherein the controller includes a program for forming and displaying a reticle mark both in displaying the fundus observation image and in displaying the anterior-segment observation image while forming and displaying an alignment mark of which a relative distance from the reticle mark varies with an alignment deviation amount of the axis with respect to an eye. |
| US07641339B2 |
Ophthalmologic information processing apparatus and ophthalmologic examination apparatus
An ophthalmologic examination apparatus 1 projects a light onto a fundus oculi, detects the reflected light thereof, and forms a 3-dimensional image that represents the morphology of a retina based on the detected results. A stimulation-position specifying part 233 specifies, in the 3-dimensional image, a plurality of stimulation positions that correspond to a plurality of stimulation points Pi in a visual-field examination. A layer-thickness measuring part 235 analyzes the 3-dimensional image to find the layer thickness of the retina at each stimulation position. In addition, a displacement calculation part 234 specifies a related position of the stimulation position. A layer-thickness measuring part 235 finds the layer thickness of the retina at the related position. |
| US07641336B2 |
Tinted contact lenses with combined limbal ring and iris patterns
The invention provides tinted contact lenses that include a limbal ring that serves to enhance the definition of the wearer's iris resulting in the iris appearing larger to viewer's of the lens wearer. The lens also incorporates additional elements that overlie a portion of the wearer's iris. The lenses of the invention may be used as cosmetic lenses for enhancing or altering an individual's iris. |
| US07641335B2 |
Stable titanium spectacle frames for telemicroscopes and surgical telescopes
The entire front portion of eyeglass frames for medical, surgical or dental applications are constructed from a solid piece of machined metal, preferably titanium. This results in no welding of the nose bridge, resulting in a one-piece frame that is substantially more stable than existing designs. In a preferred embodiment, the basic shape is cast or stamped from plate stock from titanium, then machined down, if necessary, to a desired finished product. Holes are provided on the bridge portion for the mounting of medical, surgical or dental optics or other accessories. |
| US07641332B2 |
Post-imaging punching apparatus and method
An imaging and punching system and related method for a plate imaging system that can record an image on recordable media and punch the imaged media. The imaging and punching system includes a punching apparatus that is a part of the imaging and punching system that can precisely punch an imaged plate in a punch area. The system also includes a transfer assembly, including the imaged media support, having a pivot for moving the imaged media from the imaging system to the punching system. The pivot having a fixed relationship to said imaging system and said punching system and movable about the pivot between a first position proximate the imaging system and a second position proximate the punching system. |
| US07641331B2 |
Star wheel releasing mechanism of printing apparatus
A star wheel releasing mechanism for a printing apparatus is described. The star wheel releasing mechanism comprises a base, the exit wheels disposed at the base, a star wheel module, a pair of supporting plates and a front cover. The base includes a first side and a second side. The star wheel module having a plurality of star wheels is movably disposed on the base. The supporting plates are oppositely disposed at the first side and the second side of the base. Each supporting plate has an arc slot. Two ends of the star wheel module are respectively slidable within the arc slots of two supporting plates. The front cover pivoted on the supporting plates and connected to the star wheel module is movable between a first position and a second position. |
| US07641330B2 |
Liquid ejecting apparatus
A liquid ejecting head has a head face on which nozzles adapted to eject liquid toward a first face of a target medium are arranged. The liquid ejecting head is adapted to move in a first direction. A conveyance guide member is adapted to support a second face of the target medium so that a distance between the head face and the first face of the target medium is made to be a prescribed value. The conveyance guide member includes a plurality of ribs arrayed in the first direction at a fixed pitch and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A medium conveyer is adapted to convey the target medium in a second direction while causing the second face of the target medium to be abutted against the conveyance guide member. A controller is operable to cause the liquid ejecting head to complete liquid ejection toward a leading end portion of the target medium while the leading end portion is located at a region in which an abutment force generated by the medium conveyer becomes maximum. |
| US07641327B2 |
Replaceable ink stick guides and supports
A removable ink stick support for use in an ink loader of a phase change ink imaging device having a first end for ink stick support proximate a melt end of an ink loader and a second end for ink stick support proximate an insertion end of an ink loader. A longitudinal member extends between the first and second ends, the longitudinal member being configured to provide a contact surface for contacting at least a portion of an ink stick as the ink stick is fed along the feed channel. |
| US07641323B2 |
Liquid ejection head
The liquid ejection head includes an ejection port which ejects liquid onto an ejection receiving medium; a pressure chamber which applies pressure for ejection to the liquid to be ejected from the ejection port; and a plurality of pressure determination elements which are provided on at least one of wall faces constituting the pressure chamber and have characteristic different from each other. |
| US07641315B2 |
Printhead with reciprocating cantilevered thermal actuators
A printhead is provided for an inkjet printer. The printhead includes a wafer assembly supporting rows of ink ejection nozzles. Each nozzle includes a nozzle structure defining a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with an ink ejection port. A cantilevered thermal actuator terminates in a free end over an ink supply channel. The thermal actuator includes a serpentine heater layer connected to a CMOS drive circuitry layer of the wafer assembly. The CMOS drive circuitry layer is configured to actuate the thermal actuator and reciprocate the actuator to eject ink in the nozzle chamber out through the ink ejection port. |
| US07641313B2 |
Apparatus for facilitating ink tank/printhead replacement in an imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus configured for mounting a printhead, to which at least one ink tank is removably mounted, includes a print engine configured to move the printhead carrier along a bi-direction main scan path. The printhead carrier has a printhead latch having a printhead latch release button, which when actuated releases the printhead latch to allow removal of the printhead. The printhead has a respective ink tank latch for mounting the respective ink tank to a printhead body. The respective ink tank latch includes a respective ink tank release button which when actuated unlatches the respective ink tank latch to allow removal of the respective ink tank from the printhead body. An access panel has a first opening defining an ink tank removal location that permits access to the respective ink tank release button, while the access panel prevents access to the printhead latch release button. |
| US07641312B2 |
Liquid ejecting head with nozzle opening and liquid ejecting apparatus including same
A liquid ejecting head of the present invention has a nozzle plate including a nozzle substrate composed of a non-conductive material in which nozzle openings pass through the nozzle substrate and a conductive film formed to cover at least a part of the inner peripheral wall surface of the nozzle opening. The film forming area where the conductive film is formed includes the moving range of a meniscus moving on the inner peripheral wall surface of the nozzle opening in accordance with the ejection operation of liquid drops from the nozzle opening. According to the present invention, even if a non-conductive nozzle plate is used, a charge can be injected smoothly into liquid drops without causing problems of deterioration of the image quality due to electrophoresis and of defective ejection due to foreign substances and gas generated by electrolysis. |
| US07641310B2 |
Image processing apparatus, printing apparatus and image processing method
Lattice point data of each lattice point on W-C line in a color separation table reproducing primary color C is determined so that C ink monotonically increases from W point to C point. Also, particular color G for toning is used to monotonically increase from the halfway of W point to C point and lattice point data is determined so that the basic color C ink and the particular color G ink are mixed at C point. In a case where the reflection characteristics is made such that the basic color C ink thus produces the coloring closer to a blue color, the particular color G ink having high chroma and many portions overlapped in the zone of the C ink and the green color is used at a high density portion of the device primary color C. This realizes control of the hue shift and the high chroma both. |
| US07641296B2 |
Self-moving mechanism and slide incorporating the same
A self-moving mechanism, a slide incorporating the same and a method of self-moving a slide are provided. A slide incorporating a self-moving mechanism is a self-moving slide and includes a first slide member slideably coupled to a second slide member. A self-moving mechanism is coupled to the second slide member. A slot having a first longitudinal portion and a second transverse portion is formed on a housing of the mechanism. A slider having an actuator is guided within the slot and slides along the housing and couples with the first slide member for moving the first slide member relative to the second slide member. |
| US07641293B2 |
Offset track
An offset track forms a pattern perpendicular to the centerline of the track which enables tracks to be formed with even or odd number of metal inserts and thus accommodate virtually any tracked vehicle. The offset track uses variations in body thickness and lug width to provide a high performance offset track with improved ride, minimum vibration and longer wear. Use of full size and mini-inserts in a single track minimizes the weight and further enhances the performance of an offset track. |
| US07641291B2 |
Method and apparatus for deactivating a hillholder function
A method for controlling the braking system of a motor vehicle in which, in order to prevent the vehicle from rolling away after a stopping action, a first braking force value is established at at least one wheel of the vehicle, independently of the driver, and is held for a predefined limited holding time; a transverse variable characterizing a transverse motion of the vehicle is ascertained; and as a function of the transverse variable, a release of the braking force is accomplished even before the predefined holding time has elapsed. |
| US07641290B2 |
Shuttle valve for bi-rotational power units
A valve has a valve body with first and second intake passages, first and second supply passages and a reservoir return passage defined therein. A shuttle member is movable within the valve body between a first flow position and a second flow position. In the first flow position, the shuttle member defines a first fluid flow path between the first intake passage and the first supply passage and a second fluid flow path between the second supply passage and the reservoir return passage. In the second flow position, the shuttle member defines a third fluid flow path between the second intake passage and the second supply passage and a fourth fluid flow path between the first supply passage and the reservoir return passage. The valve is useful in a bi-directional hydraulic power system having at least one hydraulic component, a reservoir for hydraulic fluid, and a bi-directional pump. |
| US07641287B2 |
Method for manufacturing brushes
Method for manufacturing brushes, whereby bundles of fibers (12) are provided in a brush body (13), whereby this method also comprises a step whereby the far ends (2) of the fibers (3) are subjected to a processing by bringing them into contact with a processing equipment (5), characterized in that, during the aforesaid step, the fibers (3) and the processing equipment (5) are mutually put into contact whereas the fibers (3) are being held loosely together. |
| US07641285B2 |
Small utility vehicle
A small, four wheeled, stable utility vehicle (S4WSUV) for hauling and dumping material, articles or containers and especially adapted to operate in tight areas is disclosed. The S4WSUV has two widely spaced free turning swivel wheels and two widely spaced, independently driven rear wheels, a pivoting platform connected to a lifting mechanism for pivoting the platform to dump the material, etc. to a side of the S4WSUV. An engine drives a power source that can be a hydrostatic system, an electrical system or a mechanical system for motors driving the rear wheels. Optional features include a cantilever mounted seat assembly, foot and/or hand controls for steering, container mounts on the platform or a platform frame for securing one or more containers of various types and sizes and attachments for attaching one or more pieces of equipment for functions other than hauling and dumping. |
| US07641282B2 |
Locking device for seat back
A locking device for a seat back includes a release preventing mechanism for preventing the locking device from being unintendedly released by the fact that a second arm portion of a lift lever abuts on a side edge portion of a guide hole of a lock plate to cause the lift lever to rotate positively when a base plate rotates forward along a horizontal direction about a lock pin in a state where the lock pin engages with a lock hole of the lock plate and the second arm portion of the lift lever is located in the guide hole of the lock plate when the seat back is held at a rising position. |
| US07641271B1 |
Vehicle body pass-through structure
A vehicle body pass-through structure is basically provided with a seal member, a rigid mounting member and a grommet. The seal member includes a first side, a second side and an access opening extending through the seal member between the first side and the second side. The rigid mounting member overlies the second side of the seal member so that the access opening of the seal member aligns with an attachment aperture of the mounting member. The grommet includes a first open end portion, a second open end portion, and a passageway extending between the first open end portion and the second open end portion. The first open end portion is disposed in the attachment aperture of the mounting member. |
| US07641270B2 |
Car body frame member
In a car body frame member that couples a front side member and an extension member to each other, a portion thereof extending from a rear portion of the front side member to the extension member is formed as a bent portion that is smoothly curved and inclined downward. A side surface that is continuously extending from the bent portion to the front side member as a straight portion of the car body frame member is continuously formed with a reinforcing bead. |
| US07641264B2 |
Reinforcement device
Reinforcement components for structural members are disclosed. The reinforcement components have expansible reinforcement material that adheres to and reinforces structural members following activation. Methods of reinforcing are disclosed. Reinforced structural members are described. |
| US07641256B2 |
Tonneau cover device
A tonneau cover device comprises a tonneau cover and guide rails. A front end of the tonneau cover is pivotally supported at the vehicle. The tonneau cover comprises plural board members provided in a longitudinal direction and jointly connected to each other. The board member is supported by the guide rails to move vertically. A change of a longitudinal distance between a support pin portion of the board member at the guide rail and a pivot axis portion of the board member when the board member moves upward along the guide rails is absorbed by the joint connections of the tonneau cover. Accordingly, the tonneau cover can be opened widely and the tonneau cover can allow even large baggage to be carried in or out of the baggage compartment smoothly. |
| US07641252B2 |
Console assembly for a vehicle
A console assembly configured for use in a passenger seating area of a vehicle. The console assembly includes a lower console module having a housing extending generally horizontally adjacent a floor of the passenger seating area and an upper console module having a housing disposed adjacent and operatively connected to the lower console module. One or more panels are pivotally connected to the upper console module adjustable between at least a stored position disposed adjacent the upper console module housing and a deployed position wherein the one or more panels form a presentation surface for use in the passenger seating area of the vehicle. |
| US07641248B2 |
Compact double tweezers
Two tweezers which folds and unfolds relative to each other is connected by a central connector which allows the rotation of the tweezers without one tweezers rubbing into the other tweezers. Each tweezers has a tweezer head section extending to a base section. The base sections have an external base cover serving as handles for the tweezers. A cover shields the tweezer heads of the two tweezers. A spring assisted locator pin inserts and retracts from a hole as the tweezers positions back and forth from a folding position to an unfolding position. |
| US07641244B2 |
Fire door lock
A fire door lock includes a base assembly including first and second slide blocks, a locking control assembly including a movable seat forming a groove and a tongue control plate movably mounted to one side of the locking control assembly, and a winglet assembly including first and second winglets both having a boss movably received in the groove of the movable seat and both being respectively and rotatably coupled to the first and second slide blocks. Thus, when the movable seat is driven by a handle, the movable seat moves the first and second slide blocks to withdraw first and second latch bars to unlock the fire door and when the fire door is closed, the tongue control plate is actuated to allow the movable seat to return to the locked condition and the first and second latches and a tongue are stretched out to realize three-directional locking. |
| US07641241B2 |
Method of corrosion protection at a welded pipe joint and resulting joint
A pipe joint, and a method of forming a pipe joint between two metallic pipes which have been internally and/or externally coated with a material to prevent corrosion includes a spigot and a socket. The socket has, or is formed with, an internal circumferential groove (6) that provides a seating for an elastomeric sealing ring (8). An extension or lip (13) forward from the groove provides a welding location (14) remote from the sealing ring. The coating on the end of the socket if necessary is removed to facilitate welding. The spigot has a heat sink member (9) to enable the lip of the socket to be welded to the metal of the spigot. |
| US07641237B2 |
Seatbelt device
The seatbelt device includes: a current wound position detection unit; a driving state detection unit that detects a driving state of the vehicle to transmit a driving state detection signal; a driving state change determination unit that determines a driving state change status based on the driving state detection signal from the driving state detection unit to transmit a driving state change signal; a target wound position setting unit that sets a target wound position of the belt reel based on the current wound position detection signal and the driving state change signal; and a motor control unit that controls a current to be supplied to the motor so as to maintain a state in which the current wound position of the belt reel is equal to the target wound position in accordance with the driving state change signal. |
| US07641236B2 |
Vehicle body bottom structure
A high-rigidity, light-weight bottom structure for a vehicle body is disclosed. The structure comprises a rectangular framework and an X-shaped frame member positioned inside the rectangular framework. The framework in the vicinity of an area where front wheels or rear wheels are provided is formed by a triangular frame part. |
| US07641232B2 |
Pressure regulator
A gas generator (10) is provided including a housing (12). A gas generating composition (16) produces expanded gases upon activation of the inflator (10), thereby increasing the internal pressure and compressing the spring (50) operably coupled to the gas release member (40). As the spring (50) is compressed, at least one gas exit aperture (44), sealed prior to gas generator (10) activation, is opened as the gas release member (40) slidably engages an inner wall (11) of the housing (12). After gas generator (10) activation, the spring energy of the spring (50) gradually equalizes and then exceeds the gas pressure of the system gases, thereby once again attenuating the gas exit opening to maintain an optimum average system pressure as the gas is released from the housing (12). |
| US07641228B2 |
Air bag system for motor vehicles
In at least one embodiment, an air bag system comprises an air bag having an impact surface which in a non-inflated state is arranged in a housing located below the upper edge of a windowsill of a vehicle door. In an inflated state, at least part of the impact surface is positioned above the windowsill. There is a supporting surface for the air bag below the upper edge of the windowsill. The air bag defines a main chamber and a supporting chamber. The impact surface forms part of the main chamber. The supporting chamber, in an inflated state, is situated between the main chamber and the supporting surface and is supported at least in part by the supporting surface. |
| US07641227B2 |
Dynamic ramp apparatus for curtain airbag in automobile
An expansion guiding apparatus of an airbag includes a connector connected to the airbag and to a pillar trim. When the airbag expands, it pulls the connector, which folds the pillar trim. The connector may include direction-change pins and a wire extending from the airbag to the direction-change pins to the pillar trim, sequentially, and attached to the airbag and the pillar trim. The wire may include a hook with a notch, attaching the wire to the pillar trim. Alternatively, the connector may include a rotating bar, rotatable about a hinge on the inner panel, and a wire extending from the airbag to the rotating bar to the pillar trim, sequentially, and attached to the airbag and the pillar trim. The wire may include a hook with a notch, attaching the wire to the rotating bar. The pillar trim may include a hinge, a notch, or a soft material part. |
| US07641226B2 |
Side airbag module with an internal guide fin
A side airbag module for use in a motor vehicle. The module includes a gas generator attached to a folded airbag. The folded airbag unfolds into an interior of the motor vehicle when the gas generator is activated. A large guide fin is disposed within an interior of the airbag such that the airbag is disposed around the guide fin. The guide fin is connected to a component attached to the motor vehicle. |
| US07641225B2 |
Motorcycle airbag module
A motorcycle airbag module includes an inflatable airbag, which is deployed between the rider's seat and the steering handlebar of a motorcycle. First and second recessed portions are formed in the front face of the airbag, when in an inflated and deployed state. The first recessed portion extends in a longitudinal direction in the center part of the front face and the second recessed portion diverges and extends respectively to the right and left from the lower end of the first recessed portion arranged in the longitudinal direction. The front face of the airbag is sectioned by the first and second recessed portions to form right and left inflated portions as well as a lower inflated portion. The right and left inflated portions are positioned respectively on the right and left sides of the first recessed portion, and the lower inflated portion is positioned below the second recessed portions. |
| US07641224B2 |
Vehicle occupant restraint system including an airbag
A vehicle occupant restraint systems including an airbag which has a first airbag chamber and a second airbag chamber or, more generally, a first partial region and a second partial region. The first and the second airbag chambers are connected to each other so that, as a function of the internal pressures present, gas from the first airbag chamber can flow into the second airbag chamber and gas from the second airbag chamber can flow into the first airbag chamber. The second airbag chamber may include an elastic wall, so that, upon a loading of the first airbag chamber, gas flows into the second airbag chamber and, in the process, elastically expands the second airbag chamber. |
| US07641218B2 |
Gas bag blank and method of manufacturing a gas bag
A two-dimensional gas bag blank (10) has a first, a second, and a third side section (12, 14, 16). The first side section (12) is connected to the second side section (14) via a common side edge (18) forming a first edge fold line (18k), and the second side section (14) is connected to the third side section (16) via a common side edge (20) forming a second edge fold line (20k). A surface fold line (12s, 14s, 16s) extends on the surface of each section (12, 14, 16). The surface fold lines (12s, 14s, 16s) form an acute angle with the respective adjacent edge fold lines (18k, 20k). |
| US07641217B2 |
Detachable mobile seat for vehicle usable as wheelchair
A detachable mobile seat includes a first part connected to a motor; a second part attached to the seat; and two links, each connected to the first part, the second part, and a wheel. The links transfer movement of the first part to the wheels. The first part includes a shaft connected to the motor, and two nuts disposed around the shaft that have screw threads in opposite directions and move along the shaft in response to operation of the motor. Each link includes a first link connected to the second part and to the nut, and a second link connected to the nut and to the wheel. The end of each second link that is nearest the wheel is rotatably connected to a connecting arm that has a rotating bar that rotates the wheel in response to operation of the links. |
| US07641214B2 |
Energy-absorbing trailer hitch receiver
An energy-absorbing trailer hitch assembly is provided that includes a receiver tube and an insertion tube. The receiver tube is typically fixedly attached to a motor vehicle and has a set of apertures that affords for a pin to pass therethrough. The tube also has a set of slots adjacent to the apertures, with protrusions between each aperture and its adjacent slot. The insertion tube serves as a trailer hitch and has a set of apertures that align with the set of apertures in the receiver tube. Placement of the insertion tube within the receiver tube affords for a pin to pass through and be held within said apertures. In this manner a trailer may be attached to the trailer hitch and pulled by the motor vehicle. When the trailer is impacted, for example by a rear-end collision, deformation of the pin and/or the protrusions of the receiver tube allow the pin to travel in a forward direction, thereby absorbing energy from the collision. A second embodiment of the invention provides for an energy-absorbing trailer hitch assembly wherein the apertures, slots and protrusions therebetween are located within the insertion tube instead of the receiver tube. |
| US07641210B2 |
Hand-driven wheelchair
A hand-operated assembly that supplies secondary drive power and steering control to a secondary drive wheel of a wheel chair. The assembly comprises a handle that is controlled with one hand and a linkage rod that extends from the handle to an eccentric arm fitted to a one-way clutch assembly at a secondary drive wheel support axle. Reciprocating up-down, pivoting movements of the handle over a range Y′ in the Y axis directs a linkage rod to rotate an eccentric arm fitted to a one-way clutch and a drive axle of a small diameter, secondary drive wheel. Independent 360° rotation of the handle about a second, horizontal or Z axis steers the secondary drive wheel. A portion Y′ of the range of handle motion directs a flange at the linkage arm to engage a brake piece that contacts the secondary drive wheel. Large diameter, hand driven, primary drive wheels are separately available to the user for effecting normal chair conveyance. |
| US07641206B2 |
Material-handling device
The purpose of this invention is to provide a material-moving device suitable for loading, unloading, and transporting at least one item thereon by a single person. The material-moving device includes a platform portion for holding at least one item thereon, at least two pairs of wheels rotatably attached to the platform portion in a manner that enables the front perimeter edge to pivot for easy loading and unloading the items onto the platform portion. The device also includes an elongated handle attached to the platform and an auxiliary handle movably attached to elongated handle in a manner effective to allow a single user to control the pivotal movement of the material-moving device while simultaneously gripping at least one item being loaded or unloaded onto said platform portion. |
| US07641205B2 |
Kayak loader
A cart is described for use in transporting and loading kayaks and similar watercraft. The cart includes first and second side frame members having forward and rear ends; a support member extending between the frame members adjacent the frame member rear ends; a bracing member extending between the frame members adjacent the frame member forward ends; a wheel assembly adjacent the rear ends of the frame members, the assembly including first and second axle ends and wheels carried on the axle ends; and an anti-reverse braking means preventing rearward movement of the cart upon tilting of the cart upward. The braking means may include a first component attached to a frame member and a second component attached to a rotatable component of the wheel assembly, the first and second components being moved into locking engagement upon upward tilting of the cart. |
| US07641204B2 |
Wheelbarrow with bolt head depressions
A wheelbarrow for transporting materials includes an undercarriage, a wheel rotatably mounted to the undercarriage, a pan mounted to and supported by the undercarriage and a fastening mechanism having a head. The pan includes a base wall and an upright wall extending upwardly from the base wall. The base wall and upright wall define a carrying space and a carrying surface facing the carrying space. A depression is formed in the pan defining a depression plane that is generally continuous with the carrying surface. The fastening mechanism mounts the pan to the undercarriage such that the head is positioned within the depression between the undercarriage and the depression plane. |
| US07641199B1 |
Pendulum basketball game
A basketball-like member is mounted on one end of a pendulum adapted to swing in an arc about a cylindrical bearing attached to a support extending from a discontinuity of a first side of a partially cylindrical hoop through which the basket-ball member is repetitively swung to score points. A handle on a second opposite side is grasped and the tethered ball manipulated to cause the repetitive arcuate travel through the hoop. A battery-powered counter keeps track of the number of baskets or points scored, at the preference of the player. |
| US07641197B2 |
Casino poker table game with choice of stud hands
A player places an ante wager to participate in the play of the underlying card game. An initial deal of at least one communal partial hand of poker consisting of at least one card is dealt from a single (or multiple) standard deck(s) of cards, standard deck(s) of cards with certain cards removed, or standard deck(s) of cards that is augmented by wild cards or jokers, especially with a partial communal hand consisting of two face-up cards. The player is directed to consider the partial hand and is then directed to choose to play the partial hand as either a 5-card stud game, a 6-card stud game, or a 7-card stud game by placing an additional Play wager on a particular Play Bet circle (i.e., the 5-card game, the 6-card game or the 7-card stud game. Three additional community cards are then dealt face up to complete the 5-card stud hand, and subsequently a 4th and 5th community card. Each wagered hand would then be compared to a predetermined pay table (for the specific game play selected by the player) and winnings would be awarded for certain predetermined combinations or ranks. |
| US07641180B2 |
Handrail or top rail, post and panel assembly and connector therefor
A rail and supported panel assembly having first and second rail portions, each portion having a constant cross section defining an elongate recessed channel on an underside. Also included are a panel supported at a top edge, a post for supporting the rail portions, and a rail-to-post connection assembly located between the post and the rails. The connection assembly has a pair of partially overlapping arms movable with respect to each other about a pivot to accommodate a range of first and second rail portion alignment angles. |
| US07641179B2 |
Tamper-resistant fencing
The security of an ordinary fence can be improved by using intersecting inserts that extend between posts of the fence. The inserts can be inserted in channels that are formed by the woven wire of the fence fabric. Intersections of the inserts can be used to securely couple two intersecting inserts to each other by any suitable means such as welding, bolting, riveting, gluing, and the like. The inserts can be securely coupled to the posts either directly (for example, by using a bracket attached to a post) and/or indirectly by using, for example, a tensioning rod that is coupled to a post. The inserts can also be securely coupled to a support rail that spans the distance between two posts. |
| US07641177B2 |
Force transfer assemblies
Force transfer assemblies are provided for transferring forces from tensionable members to receiving structures. The assemblies may include nested thimbles that transfer respective forces from respective tensionable members to receiving structures such as cylindrical members. An outer thimble may transfer force from an outer tensioned member to a receiving structure without causing compression of an inner tensioned member. For example, the outer thimble may transfer forces by way of the inner thimble or to a boss of the receiving structure. Forces from a tensioned member or assembly of tensioned members may be distributed along a cylindrical member by a thimble having a convex bearing surface or by spaced thimbles disposed along the cylindrical member. |
| US07641169B2 |
Substrate for a stamper
A preparing method for a substrate for a stamper where the entirety of the metal rolled plate can be used as the material for the substrate so that a high yield in the preparation can be maintained is provided. A metal is rolled so as to generate a metal rolled plate, the metal rolled plate that is generated is cut to a predetermined size, and metal plating is operated on the front surface or the rear surface, or both the front and rear surfaces, of the metal rolled plate that has been cut to a predetermined size, and then, a polishing process is operated. A target plate thickness that is set when the metal rolled plate is rolled is smaller than the plate thickness that is required at the time of completion of the polishing process. |
| US07641166B2 |
Positioning member of device assembly
A device assembly includes a device (20), a supporting member (30), and a positioning member (10). The device includes a bottom wall (21). The supporting member includes a main portion (32) to support the device. The positioning member includes a central portion (12) attached to the main portion of the supporting member, and a pair of positioning arms (14) attached to the bottom wall of the device. |
| US07641158B2 |
Intravenous stand
A portable intravenous stand comprising: (a) a base including a plurality of wheels; (b) a plurality of vertical supports extending from the base; (c) a plurality of cross-members mounted to the plurality of vertical supports to maintain the vertical supports in relative position to one another; and (d) an intravenous retainer loop mounted to at least one of the plurality of vertical supports. |
| US07641157B2 |
Ground-penetrating beverage holder
A beverage support apparatus has first elongate body having a first penetrator at a lower end capable of piercing the ground in a generally vertical manner. A first beverage support is provided on a raised end of the first elongate body. A handle may be disposed on the elongate body and/or be a single beverage support structure. A second elongate body may be spaced from, and arranged in parallel to, said first elongate body and may be structured similar to the first elongate body. A high-volume beverage container retaining member is slidably coupled between the first elongate body and second elongate body for vertical movement therealong, said beverage container retaining member having a retaining portion adapted to fit over a top of a beverage container and rest against an outer surface of the beverage container. The first or second elongate bodies may independently act as beverage holders. |
| US07641155B2 |
Arrangement and method for at least partially compensating a torque caused by gravitational forces acting on a mass body
The invention relates to an arrangement for at least partially compensating a torque caused by gravitational forces acting on a mass body (2), which is rotatably supported on an axis of rotation (3). The arrangement includes a gas pressure spring (5) for providing a linear force. This linear force is transformed into a torque by means of a converter unit (7). The mass body (2) and the converter unit (7) can be coupled to each other in a way which allows for adjusting the amplitude and the phase of a compensating torque. |
| US07641149B2 |
Multi-exit combined evacuation slide
In one embodiment of a multi-exit evacuation slide for an aircraft, an inflatable evacuation slide for emergency evacuation includes two coupled inflatable portions. The first inflatable portion, which includes a first inclined sliding surface, is configured to provide downward egress from an over-wing exit. Similarly, the second inflatable portion, which includes a second inclined surface, is likewise configured to provide downward egress from a non over-wing exit. In particular embodiments, the inflatable portions are configured to be deployed from a storage location proximate the over-wing and non over-wing exits. In other embodiments, at least one of the first and second inflatable portions includes a lateral area for horizontal movement. In alternative embodiments, the inflatable evacuation slide further includes a divider rail disposed between the first inflatable portion and the second inflatable portion. |
| US07641148B2 |
Sonobuoy loading method
The present invention provides a method for loading equipment into a deployment apparatus and particularly for loading equipment in an aircraft for deployment. The method includes steps for moving a container towards the deployment apparatus in a non-upright orientation, engaging the container with the deployment apparatus, and then moving the container towards an upright orientation. |
| US07641146B2 |
Aircraft nose landing gear enclosure
In one embodiment, an aircraft comprises a plurality of hoop frame support members and a landing gear enclosure comprising a curved surface. The plurality of support frame support members abut against and extend over the curved surface to provide support to the landing gear enclosure. In another embodiment, loads are transferred from a landing gear strut through a strut fitting, through at least one inner surface of the landing gear enclosure, through at least one outer surface of the landing gear enclosure, and into the plurality of hoop frame support members. |
| US07641141B2 |
Method and apparatus for winding and removing coreless rolls from a spindle
A coreless roll (12) of a plastic film (10) is directly wound onto a tubular spindle (11); the spindle (11) is provided with an air chamber (11P) having a perforated side wall (11W), which communicate with a pressurised air source (27). At the removal of the roll (12), the inner turns of the roll (12) are radially expanded by feeding a pressurised airflow into the winding spindle (11) and the roll (12); the pressurised air is fed for a length of time required for the removal of the roll (12). |
| US07641140B2 |
Web winding cores and method of manufacture thereof
A paper, board or material web is wound in a winder of the two-drum type. Winding core (10) ends placed against each other are coupled to be on the same axis of rotation during winding by severing cuts (12U, 12N) which are formed in the ends (11A, 11B) of the winding cores (10) and which deviate from a perpendicular cutting line. |
| US07641138B1 |
Auxiliary unit of paper shredder cutting tools
An auxiliary unit of paper shredder cutting tools is installed on cutting tools of a paper shredder. The auxiliary unit is formed by two L-shape plates located between two neighboring blades, an arc-shape hole at an end of each L-shape plate is hooked on a cutting bar of the cutting tool, and a through-hole of each L-shape plate provides for a support rod to be transfixed, so as to stably fix paper guides, the cutting bars and the blades. Therefore, the paper guides, the cutting bars and the blades can be prevented from getting loose or stretched open to damage the paper shredder or result in noise or even an imperfect shredding effect. |
| US07641137B2 |
Dispersing apparatus
In a dispersing apparatus comprising a container (10) for a dispersion material, a dissolve disc (22) drivable by a shaft (21) and a grinding device which contains a grinding medium and which has a perforated housing (34) through which dispersion material can pass by virtue of a flow generated by the dissolve disc (22), and an agitator tool which is drillable by a drive element and which is arranged in the housing (34) and is rotatable relative thereto, wherein the housing (34) surrounds the shaft (21), wherein the housing (34) is displaceable relative to the shaft (21) from a raised position into a lowered position and wherein the shaft (21) and the drive element can be coupled together by way of a coupling which has a first element (47) and a corresponding second element (53), which elements are in operative connection in the lowered position, in order to design same in such a way than a dispersing apparatus comprising a container (10) for a dispersion material, a dissolve disc (22) drivable by a shaft (21) and a grinding device which contains a grinding medium and which has a perforated housing (34) through which dispersion material can pass by virtue of a flow generated by the dissolve disc (22), and an agitator tool which is drivable by a drive element and which is arranged in the housing (34) and is rotatable relative thereto, wherein the housing (34) surrounds the shaft (21), wherein the housing (34) is displaceable relative to the shaft (21) from a raised position into a lowered position and wherein the shaft (21) and the drive element can be coupled together by way of a coupling which has a first element and a corresponding second element, which elements are in operative connection in the lowered position, in order to design same in such a way that it complies with coming anti-explosion regulations and is of a simple structure, it is proposed that the first element of the coupling is arranged at the lower end of the housing (34) and that the second element of the coupling is arranged in the region of a lower end of the shaft (21). |
| US07641136B2 |
Cutter structure of a paper shredder
The present invention discloses a cutter structure of a paper shredder, which comprises a pull-rod (23), paper guide combs (24), cutter arbors (21), and at least one cutter-blade set composed of two cutter-blades (22), with said cutter-blade set being slipped on said cutter arbor (21), said pull-rod (23) being passing through the hole set on said paper guide combs (24), at least two lugs (222) being set on the bore (32) of said cutter-blade (22) and extending toward a cutter spoke (35), the height of said lug (222) along axial direction of the cutter-blade (22) is greater than the thickness of said cutter blades (22); with recesses (221) being set on cylindrical cutter arbors (21), the number of which is no less than that of said lug (222) which can be placed into said recess (221); said paper guide combs (24) being set between said cutter-blade sets; said paper guide combs (24) being slipped on said cutter arbor (21). The present utility model can omit a cutter ring used in conventional cutter structure, thus reducing the components in whole cutter structure, simplifying the fixing and increasing the radial amount of feed of the cutter-blade while decreasing the cost. |
| US07641135B1 |
Combinative cutting wheel of a rotary cutter of paper shredder
A combinative cutting wheel of a rotary cutter of paper shredder is composed of two sets of edge rings having cutting edges on outer rings thereof, and a plastic base ring having a spacer. A center of the aforementioned plastic base ring is provided with a shaft hole which can fit with a polygonal shaft rod. The two sets of edge rings are abutted on each other and then latched on the plastic base ring to form an integral body. The two edge rings constituting the cutting wheel are pre-installed on the plastic base ring having the spacer to form an integrated cutting wheel having the spacer, enabling the two blades and the spacer which would be installed separately to become one component, so as to simplify an assembling procedure for the rotary cutter. As the plastic base ring made by a light material is used to replace a main body of blade for the assembled structure using the edge rings and the plastic base ring, an original paper-cutting function of the cutting wheel will not be affected, and an amount of steel material to be used can also be decreased to reduce a weight of the cutting wheel, thereby reducing an entire weight of the rotary cutter after being assembled. |
| US07641133B2 |
Cleaning lance
The invention relates to a cleaning lance with a nozzle tube (1), on whose outlet-side end there is a discharge nozzle (2), which can be switched by means of a switching mechanism between a high-pressure position and a low-pressure position. In order to be able to perform both the foam application and also the high-pressure wash with such a cleaning lance, without requiring manual switching of the operating function on the cleaning lance itself, it is provided that the nozzle tube (1) has an air inlet (3), which can be closed with a valve (4), wherein the valve function is coupled to the switching mechanism of the discharge nozzle (2), such that the valve (4) closes the air inlet (3) when the discharge nozzle (2) switches from its low-pressure position into its high-pressure position. |
| US07641131B2 |
Vehicle windshield cleaning system
Apparatus and method for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface. The apparatus has an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid; an outlet port for dispensing an amount of heated fluid; a heating element that heats up fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet; and a control circuit for energizing at least a portion of the heating element with a voltage to heat the fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet. |
| US07641127B2 |
Making fixed railway track
A track system is made by setting a longitudinally extending row of concrete high-pressure injection piles in grown soil and then positioning atop the piles a succession of sleeper frames each including a pair of longitudinally extending rigid concrete beams held together transversely by a rigid steel structure. A longitudinally extending body of concrete is then cast between the beams around the steel frame. Finally longitudinally extending rails are fastened atop the beams. |
| US07641114B2 |
Authentication system, authentication method, and entrance/exit management system
A system including first and second IC cards and a host device adopts a communication mode in which the host device communicates with the first IC card only, and the first IC card communicates with the second IC card. The host device acquires inherent information encrypted by the first and second IC cards via the first IC card, decrypts the inherent information encrypted by the first and second IC cards, and collates the decrypted information with the inherent information to thereby authenticate the first and second IC cards. |
| US07641113B1 |
Systems and methods for generating revenue from banking transactions using a stored-value card
Systems and methods for generating revenue from banking transactions use a kiosk to perform financial services. The kiosk determines a stored-value account related to a stored-value card for a user of the kiosk. The kiosk performs a banking transaction using the stored-value account. The kiosk then determines a service fee for the banking transaction. The kiosk deducts the service fee from the stored-value account or a value of the banking transaction. |
| US07641111B2 |
Method and apparatus for contactless payment authentication
The present disclosure relates generally to the authentication of contactless payments attempted by a device having embedded contactless payment functionality. In particular, the disclosure is directed to systems and methods that utilize authentication schemes that already exist on a device in which the contactless payment functionality is embedded. One example of such authentication schemes is the use of password protection to lock or unlock the device in which the contactless payment functionality is embedded. Using the password protection functionality may provide varying levels of authentication protection based on the desires of the user. A number of exemplary uses of such a method and apparatus are disclosed herein. |
| US07641106B1 |
Cash dispensing automated banking machine with chest locking device
A cash dispensing automated banking machine activated responsive to user cards includes a secure enclosure. The secure enclosure includes a chest portion and a moveable door. The door has mounted thereon a locking bolt work mechanism which is operative to selectively secure the door in a closed position. The door is mounted to the chest through hinge assembles that enable the door to be selectively adjusted in up-down and right-left directions. The chest door includes dead bolt portions at the hinge side that resist separation of the door from the chest if the hinge is compromised. |
| US07641104B1 |
Coded information for inventorying goods
Systems and methods for using information, provided in association with a shipping parcel containing or associated with the goods, by a shipping service provider and a recipient of the goods are shown. According to one embodiment, coded data, such as provided in a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or barcode, is used to identify the parcel and the goods, either directly or through correlation with other information, such as shipping information and/or inventory information. The coded data is preferably in a format readable by both the shipping service provider and the recipient of the parcel. |
| US07641103B1 |
Wall mounted log chute
A wall mounted log chute for holding and transferring fire wood through a wall of a dwelling is disclosed. The chute is mounted within the confines of the wall of a dwelling and having an outside and an inside position. In the outside position the chute is capable of receiving fire wood and other materials. These other materials include but are not limited to coal, feed, bio fuels and household refuse. The chute is capable of material transfer of any nature. When the desired amount of wood or other material is arrived at the chute is mechanically or manually operable from the outside position to the inside position. The reverse operation is also true. The chute is capable of holding the wood in the inside position and a storing facility or can be emptied to repeat the process. One embodiment allows the chute to be controlled from the first position to the second position by a hydraulic arm and an electrical switch. |
| US07641089B2 |
Magazine assembly for nailer
A cordless nailer is provided having a magazine assembly with improved features. A pusher assembly is provided having a simplified and efficient construction. A nail retention feature is provided to allow easy loading and unloading of nails into the nailer. |
| US07641086B2 |
Motorcycle rack for pickup trucks and trailers
A motorcycle rack for supporting a motorcycle in a generally upright position on the bed of a truck or trailer has a main support member transversing the bed to connect to and be supported by a first and second support assembly. The motorcycle rack has one or more wheel chock assemblies on the main support member for receiving a motorcycle wheel and supporting the motorcycle while the user places restraints, when necessary, around the motorcycle. The support assemblies and/or wheel chock assemblies can include loops for securing the motorcycle. One or more moveable tie-down holds can also be placed on main support member. The support assemblies can be removably mounted on the sidewall of the vehicle using a side member and clamp or mounted to the bed using a leg and receiver combination. Cradling or clamping wheel chock assemblies can be utilized to cradle or clamp the motorcycle's wheel. |
| US07641081B2 |
Immersion nozzle
Disclosed is an immersion nozzle, which comprises a vertically-extending pipe-shaped straight nozzle body 10 adapted to allow molten steel to pass downwardly from an inlet port 9 provided at an upper end thereof, and a pair of discharge portions each including a respective one of a pair of outlet ports 12 provided in a lower portion of the straight nozzle body 10 in a bilaterally symmetrical arrangement and adapted to discharge molten steel laterally from a lateral side of the straight nozzle body. Each of the discharge portions has an inner surface defining the outlet port 12 and extending parallel to an axis of the outlet port 12 to define a length of the discharge portion at 45 mm or more. A ratio of S1/S2 is in the range of 0.8 to 1.8, wherein S1 is a total transverse vertical cross-sectional area of the outlet ports, and S2 is a cross-sectional area of an inner hole of the straight nozzle body taken along a plane including a line connecting respective inwardmost and uppermost positions of the outlet ports and extends perpendicularly to an axis of the straight nozzle body. The axis of the outlet port extends laterally outwardly and downwardly at the following angle θt with respect to a horizontal direction: 0°≦θt≦20°. The immersion nozzle of the present invention can suppress deceleration of a molten steel flow discharged from the outlet port to obtain a flow speed in an intended direction over a maximized distance. |
| US07641078B2 |
Device forming packaging for viscous products, which can be fully emptied by means of manual pumping
A packaging which enables a compressible container to be fully emptied by pressing the fingers against the body thereof. The packaging has four parts, namely: a body having a vent hole, a container with a discharge hole, a flexible pouch and a cap. The aforementioned flexible pouch retracts and moves back completely until it is applied against the inner wall of the container. When the user exerts pressure on the body of the packaging while blocking the vent hole with a finger, all of the contents are discharged from the flexible pouch gradually and without effort, by compressing the air contained in the body. The device can be adapted to all compressible packaging for liquid, viscous or pasty products. |
| US07641076B2 |
Liquid dispensing system
A liquid dispensing system for dispensing liquid from a container to be consumed includes a base being positionable on a support surface. The base includes a perimeter wall defining an interior space of the base. The interior space receives and stores the liquid to be dispensed. A spigot is coupled to the perimeter wall and in fluid communication with the interior space. A container is positioned on the base. The container contains the liquid to be supplied to the interior space of the base. A pump assembly is coupled to the base and in fluid communication with the container and the interior space of the base. The pump assembly is actuated to transfer liquid from the container and into the interior space of the base. |
| US07641075B2 |
Mixing and dispensing fluid components of a multicomponent composition
A device for dispensing a multicomponent composition composed of a mixture of different fluid components includes a first and at least a second fluid component inlet. The device also includes a mixing area located downstream from the fluid component inlets and an outlet extending from the mixing area. Each of the fluid component inlets is adapted to communicate with a source of a different fluid component. The mixing area is adapted to receive a flow of a first and at least second fluid component. Within the mixing area, the flow of the first fluid component is disrupted to allow mixing with the flow of a second fluid component to form a flow of multicomponent composition. The mixing area is further adapted to disrupt the flow of the multicomponent composition before the flow of the multicomponent composition exits through the outlet. |
| US07641073B2 |
Apparatus and method for preventing irregular packaging for automatic medicine packing machine
A method for preventing irregular packaging for automatic medicine packing machine having a last hopper that contains the tablet just before the tablet is packed, includes steps of sensing whether a tablet is received in the last hopper, sensing and deciding whether the tablet stands vertical inside the last hopper, vibrating a shutter if it is decided that the tablet stands vertical whereby the vertical standing tablet falls down, and checking non-standing of the tablet after completion of shutter vibration. The apparatus performing the method includes a shutter vibrating unit and a standing sensor that is installed on the last hopper and senses whether the tablet received in the last hopper stands vertical. The standing sensor includes a horizontal slot that is formed horizontally at a side of the last hopper at a position corresponding to a vertical height of a tablet and a photo sensor. |
| US07641058B2 |
Airbrush hanging work station and brackets
An airbrush hanging work station and brackets that will hang a multiple number of airbrushes and related airbrushing components, materials and art supplies. This device hangs to a wall or bench by a variety of methods such as magnetically, bolt on, or with a bench clamp. It has a plurality of airbrush hanging attachments that attach to its side walls and front walls, or these airbrush hanging attachments can be individually mounted to a wall or surface and used individually. These airbrush hanger brackets will hang most airbrushes regardless of the varying shapes, sizes and dimensions of different airbrushes due to the unique adjusting components and shape of the airbrush hangers' design. |
| US07641053B2 |
Method and apparatus for separating excavated material
A method and apparatus for separating material, particularly excavated material is presented. The method and apparatus utilize a releasable and interchangeable screen assembly which is positioned on top of a frame having a slanted grate. The screen assembly includes bar members which traverse the top of the screen and inverted hook members attached to a top surface of the bar members to enable an equipment bucket to engage the inverted hook members in order to lift and move the screen assembly. |
| US07641052B2 |
Display packaging for an animated toy
The present invention is directed toward a display package for an animated doll or similar toy product that facilitates demonstration of the toy's animated features. The display package provides an enclosure that houses the doll. The doll includes an animation mechanism that drives a portion of the toy from a first position to a second position. The display package may include a moveable display panel mounted within the enclosure. The display panel is selectively engaged by the toy when the animation mechanism is engaged. The display package may further include an attachment that stabilizes the display panel. In addition, the display package may include a support member that supports the toy within the package and permits the animation mechanism to move the doll from a first display position to a second display position. |
| US07641051B2 |
Package for selling a product with a gift item and for conversion into a keepsake box
A convertible display package and a wallet arranged to be hung from a support. The package includes a tray and a housing. The tray has a base wall, a peripheral side wall, an open top and a hollow interior. The wallet is located within the tray's interior. The housing is similarly constructed, except that its side wall includes a gap. The tray is arranged to be located within the housing, with its sidewall adjacent the housing's sidewall and with its open top within the housing's open top so that the wallet is visible. The tray is arranged to be slid out of the housing through the gap. A pair of magnets are provided for releasably holding the tray within the housing. The housing can be reversibly disposed with respect to the tray to form a lid with the base wall of the housing closing the open top of the tray. |
| US07641047B1 |
Interlocking member protective blade cover
A protective cover for a saw blade is formed of a plurality of interlocking members, linked together to form a chain of a length sufficient to completely surround a given blade, where the sharp edge of the blade is then encases within the interior region of the linked members. A specially-designed “master link” is used to join the two ends of the chain together and “lock” the cover in place around the blade edge. Links may be added to, or removed from, a chain to properly size the cover with respect to the blade. The links are preferably formed of a hard plastic material and are injection molded. |
| US07641039B2 |
Skewed slat control system for article conveyor
A positive displacement article sorter and method of monitoring a positive displacement article sorter, wherein the article sorter includes a frame, an endless web traveling in a longitudinal direction about the frame and an electric motor driving the endless web. The endless web is defined by a pair of continuous chains and a plurality of cross members connected at opposite ends with the chain. The positive displacement sorter includes a plurality of pusher shoes, each laterally traveling along at least one of the cross members. A sensing assembly is provided that has first and second portions. The first portion of said sensing assembly is positioned at the web. The second portion of said sensing assembly is positioned at a stationary location. The first portion of said sensing assembly is sensed with the second portion of the sensing assembly as the first portion of said sensing assembly travels about the frame. A parameter of the web is determined from an output of the sensing assembly. |
| US07641038B2 |
Passenger conveyor handrail and method of manufacture
A passenger conveyor (20) includes a handrail assembly (30) comprising a handrail (32) having a plurality of co-extruded polymer materials (34, 36). In one example, an outermost portion (34) establishes a passenger gripping surface (38). One example includes an extruded soft, low cost polymer in the middle of the handrail cross section to reduce cost and weight. A disclosed example includes a toothed driving surface (40) on an inner side made of a selected one of the polymer materials (34, 36). In one example, the driving surface (40) and the gripping surface (38) comprise the same polymer material. |
| US07641036B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for accepting payment at a sales device
One embodiment of the present invention provides for a method comprising determining sales data associated with a sales device (e.g., a vending machine) and adjusting a level of sensitivity of a currency validator based on the sales data. |
| US07641032B2 |
Clutch pedal control system for an external activation clutch brake
An external activation clutch brake that is controlled by a switch is actuated when a clutch pedal is depressed. A compression spring, torsion spring or hydraulic valve may be used to simulate engagement of a standard clutch brake in which clutch brake squeeze is sensed by the driver. The clutch pedal has first and second phases of movement with the load required to compress the clutch pedal in a first phase being less than the load required to further compress the clutch pedal in a second phase. |
| US07641030B2 |
Expandable hard suitcase with stitched fastener
A hard suitcase includes a base portion and a lid portion each formed of a plastics material of such characteristic that the base and lid portions retain their intended shape. The hard suitcase also includes a zip fastener arrangement that is stitched to the base and lid portions. The zip fastener arrangement has an expandability feature to permit volume expansion of the hard suitcase. |
| US07641026B1 |
Brake assembly
A brake assembly for a motor, the brake assembly comprising a stack of brake elements, at least one of which is rotatable with an output shaft of the motor, in use, and at least one of which is non-rotatable relative to a housing, and actuator means controlling the magnitude of a compressive load applied to the brake elements, wherein the brake elements are provided, at least in part, with a surface coating which raises the coefficient of friction of the brake elements to a value greater than 0.2. The invention also relates to a brake assembly comprising a plurality of brake elements and an electromagnetic actuator arranged to permit control of a compressive load applied to the brake elements, wherein the actuator includes a winding located such that the brake elements are accessible without requiring removal of the winding from the motor. |
| US07641019B2 |
Joystick positioning mechanism
A ground engaging vehicle having a frame, a power unit connected to the frame, at least one ground traction device, a power transfer device directing power from the power unit to the at least one ground traction device. The control system controls the power transfer device. An input device accepts commands from an operator and provides a signal to the control system. The input device includes a first bracket, a second bracket pivotally connected to the first bracket and a joystick device connected to the first bracket. |
| US07641014B2 |
Traction control system and method
A method and system of controlling the traction of a vehicle having at least a front axle and a rear axle. One method includes determining a stability status of the vehicle, identifying a driving style of a driver of the vehicle, generating a first drive slip target, generating a second drive slip target, determining an engine torque produced by an engine of the vehicle, determining whether the engine torque is sufficient to support an application of the first and second drive slip targets, and generating at least one torque signal. The at least one torque signal is configured to alter an amount of torque that is applied to the front and rear axles of the vehicle according to the first and second drive slip targets, respectively. |
| US07641012B2 |
Module-locating fastener and method of mounting on a vehicle chassis
A method of mounting a battery box (10) on a frame rail (12). Fasteners and elements (36, 38; or 54, 56) provide spaced apart, axially tapered outer surfaces (46; 62) proximate a vertical side of the rail with the tapers narrowing toward the side of the rail. The box has tabs (28) having downwardly open throats (30). The box is hung on the rail by positioning the box so as to place each tab over a respective element (38 or 56) on the fastener (36 or 54) with the tab throat aligned with the element, and then lowering the box to cause the elements to enter the tab throats and the throats to come to rest on the elements so that at least some of the weight of the box is borne by the rail through the throats resting on the elements. With the throats resting on the elements, the tapered outer surfaces present axial interference to the tabs beyond the tabs relative to the rail. After the box has been hung, the box is fastened to the rail by additional fasteners. |
| US07641010B2 |
In-wheel motor with high durability
An in-wheel motor includes a motor generating motive power, a planetary gear arranged toward a wheel disc relative to the motor to reduce an output of the motor, and a shaft arranged toward the wheel disc relative to the planetary gear and connected to a planetary carrier. Shaft is connected to a constant velocity joint transmitting the motive power to wheel disc. |
| US07641008B2 |
Utility vehicle drive train
Described is a utility vehicle, in particular an agricultural tractor, with a front axle (3), which can be driven by a drive element of a first multi-disc clutch (11), connected in a driven manner to the drive train (2) and a power take-off shaft (4) which can be driven by the drive train (2) at speed proportionately to the speed of the vehicle over the ground (ground speed power take-off).In order to keep expenditure low on the control of the disc clutch (11) and the power take-off shaft (4), it is proposed that the power take-off shaft can be driven at a speed proportional to the speed of the vehicle over the ground by a second multi-disc clutch (12) which has a drive element connected in a driven manner to the drive train (2), and that both multi-disc clutches (11, 12) are actuated in common. |
| US07641005B2 |
Wind-powered pneumatic engine and a motor vehicle equipped with the engine
A wind-powered pneumatic engine including one or more impeller chambers and one or more impellers disposed in the impeller chambers is provided. One or more air inlets for receiving external wind resistance airflow are disposed on the impeller chambers, and the external wind resistance airflow entering the air inlets drives the impellers to operate to generate power output. The wind-powered pneumatic engine further includes an air-jet system for jetting HPCA into the impeller chambers, and the internal high-pressure compressed air jetted by the air-jet system in conjunction with the external wind resistance airflow entering the air inlets drives the impellers to operate to generate power output. In the present invention, the external resistance airflow around a motor vehicle moving at a speed is converted into power for use, which greatly reduces energy consumption and improves the moving speed of a motor vehicle. A motor vehicle equipped with wind-powered pneumatic engine is also provided. |
| US07641003B2 |
Downhole hammer assembly
A drill bit assembly comprises a bit body intermediate a shank and a working face. The shank is adapted for connection to a drill string. The drill string comprising a fluid passage at least partially disposed within the body. A hammer assembly is movably disposed within the fluid passage along it central axis, the hammer assembly comprises a proximal end stabilized by a centralized upper bearing and a distal end stabilized by centralized a lower bearing. The distal end protrudes out of the working face and the hammer assembly comprises a carrier between the upper and lower bearings. Wherein, under normal drilling operations the carrier is adapted to resist a fluid pressure within the fluid passageway such that the fluid pressure will further extend the distal end of the hammer assembly from the working face by pushing on the carrier. |
| US07641002B2 |
Drill bit
In one aspect of the present invention, a rotary drag drill bit has a body intermediate a shank and a working face. The working face has a plurality of blades converging towards a center of the working face and diverging towards a gauge of the working face. A carbide section is fixed to the working face and positioned within a pocket disposed within an inverted cone of the working face. The carbide section has a distal end exposed within the working face. |
| US07641001B2 |
Auger
A tool for boring has an axle for drivingly linking at a first end to a portable rotatable machine. At a second end, the axle has a shaft-receiving bore into which a nose shaft is inserted. The nose has a cutting tip and a flight cutter that aligns with a flight on the axle. An insulator is electrically interposed between the cutting tip and the nose shaft, thereby electrically insulating the nose shaft from the cutting tip. The flight cutter performs the high-wear cutting at the leading edge of the flight, thereby causing the flight to merely remove the soil or other particulate from the hole being formed. |
| US07640990B2 |
Flow control valve for injection systems
A flow control valve for use inside a wellbore. In one implementation, the flow control valve may include a housing, a chamber disposed inside the housing and an entry port disposed at a first end of the chamber. The entry port may be configured to allow fluid to enter into the chamber. The flow control valve may further include an exit port disposed at a second end of the chamber. The second end may be opposite of the first end and the exit port is configured to allow fluid to flow out of the chamber. The flow control valve may further include a check valve assembly disposed between the entry port and the exit port. The check valve may be configured to allow fluid to flow from the entry port to the exit port and to prevent fluid to flow from the exit port to the entry port. |
| US07640989B2 |
Electrically operated well tools
Electrically operated well tools. A well system includes a well tool positioned in a wellbore. The well tool includes an actuator and an operating member displaceable to operate the well tool. The actuator includes a series of longitudinally distributed electromagnets, in which current is controllable in a predetermined pattern to thereby variably control longitudinal displacement of the operating member. In another well system, the operating member is displaceable between opposite maximum limits of displacement to operate the well tool, and an electromagnet is operative to displace the operating member to at least one position between the opposite maximum limits of displacement. In a method of operating a well tool, the well tool is operated by controlling current in a series of longitudinally distributed electromagnets of an actuator in a predetermined pattern, thereby causing corresponding longitudinal displacement of an operating member. |
| US07640983B2 |
Method to cement a perforated casing
The invention discloses a method of treating a zone of a well comprising a wellbore, a tube which is permeable to settable material, said tube forming an annulus with the wellbore; and wherein said zone is located in the annulus, the method comprises the steps of: (i) placing inside said tube a first plug; (ii) creating on said tube a first opening and a second opening, so that: the zone be located between said first and second openings and the first opening be located between said zone and said first plug; (iii) placing inside said tube a second plug, so that said second plug is located between said second opening and said zone; (iv) injecting a settable material inside said tube between said second and first plugs, so that settable material fills the annulus and the zone by passing through the first opening; and (v) eliminating said second plug. |
| US07640982B2 |
Method of injection plane initiation in a well
Initiation of injection planes in a well. A method of forming at least one generally planar inclusion in a subterranean formation includes the steps of: expanding a wellbore in the formation by injecting a material into an annulus positioned between the wellbore and a casing lining the wellbore; increasing compressive stress in the formation as a result of the expanding step; and then injecting a fluid into the formation, thereby forming the inclusion in a direction of the increased compressive stress. Another method includes the steps of: expanding a wellbore in the formation by injecting a material into an annulus positioned between the wellbore and a casing lining the wellbore; reducing stress in the formation in a tangential direction relative to the wellbore; and then injecting a fluid into the formation, thereby forming the inclusion in a direction normal to the reduced tangential stress. |
| US07640981B2 |
Scale inhibition method
A scale inhibition method comprising: (a) injecting a dispersion of seed particles of an insoluble mineral salt in an aqueous medium into a formation through an injection well wherein the seed particles have an equivalent spherical diameter of 100% less than 100 nm, preferably 100% less than 50 nm, more preferably 100% less than 25 nm and the aqueous medium has dissolved therein precipitate precursor ions that form a precipitate of the insoluble mineral salt when contacted with resident ions in the formation; (b) allowing the dispersion to percolate through the subterranean formation towards production well and producing the dispersion from the production well; and (c) controllably precipitating the insoluble mineral salt onto the seed particles so as to reduce the deposition of the insoluble mineral salt onto the walls of the porous formation and/or onto the surface in the production well and/or onto the surface downstream of the production well. |
| US07640979B2 |
System for well logging
A technique is provided to facilitate logging in a well environment. Downhole well related equipment is deployed in a wellbore with an internal, longitudinal passageway. A logging tool system is moved through the longitudinal passageway for performance of logging procedures within the wellbore below the well related equipment. |
| US07640974B1 |
Spool apparatus to connect to underground well pipe
Spool apparatus for use in an underground well having casing, comprising a body sized for travel in the well casing, the body defining a well fluid flow duct having a downward facing entrance and a sidewardly facing exit, there being a lower connection for coupling the body to lower well pipe to pass fluid into the body via the entrance, and an upper connection for coupling the body to upper carrier structure used for raising and lowering the body in the well casing, and there being means to latch connect the body to the well casing in a position for well fluid delivery from the body via the exit. |
| US07640969B2 |
Heat exchanger tube, heat exchanger and use
According to the invention, in order to prevent a film from forming which obstructs the transfer of heat in heat exchanger pipes, the heat exchanger pipe comprises an external side which is adjacent to the external surface and which is impinged upon by a steam medium, and an inner side which is adjacent to an inner surface and which is impinged upon by a coolant, such that the outer surface is provided with a first layer which reduces the adhesion of the steam on the outer surface and/or the inner surface is provided with a second layer which reduces the adhesion of a coolant to the inner surface and which is embodied as a biocidal layer. The invention relates to a heat exchanger and to the use thereof. |
| US07640967B2 |
Thermosyphon heat reduction system for a motor vehicle engine compartment
A system (10) and method for removing heat from an engine compartment in a motor vehicle where heat generated by operation of a heat engine (12) that propels the vehicle tends to collect. Engine heat is collected in a thermofluid in a reservoir forming an evaporator (14) where the thermofluid absorbs heat sufficient to evaporate it. The vapor naturally migrates to a condenser (22) that is cooled sufficiently to condense the vapor back to liquid phase. The liquid falls by gravity back to the condenser. |
| US07640963B2 |
Tire/wheel bead entrapment remover
A tire/wheel bead entrapment remover is disclosed. The tire/wheel bead entrapment remover includes one or more working assemblies having a circumferential perimeter that substantially engages a tire. The one or more working assemblies axially-moves one of a wheel of the tire mounted to the wheel while axially-fixing the other of the tire or the wheel to remove one or more entrapments between a bead of the tire and a beat seat of the wheel. According to an embodiment, a tire/wheel bead entrapment remover includes one or more wheels that engages an outboard surface or an inboard surface of a tire mounted to a wheel. The radial axis extends through the one or more wheels. The radial axis traverses a radial line that radially extends from a common axis of rotation of the tire and the wheel. A method for removing an entrapment from a tire/wheel assembly is also disclosed. |
| US07640961B2 |
Apparatus and method for making a tubular composite barrel
A 360° tool for making a one-piece composite tubular structure, such as a skin of an acoustic liner, is adjustable between a molding position and a non-molding position. The tool includes a base, a fixed segment mounted to the base, first and second doors hingedly connected on either side of the fixed sector, and third door hingedly connected to the second door. The third door has a circumferential extent that is less than one-fourth that of either the first or second door. Sealing members are provided between the doors. Collectively, the fixed sector, and the first, second and third doors have a predetermined shaped surface that corresponds to a portion of the contour of the tubular structure to be formed. After composite material is applied on the outer surfaces of the fixed sector and the doors, a vacuum bag is formed to surround the composite material and also the joint areas on the inner surface of the tool. The entire tool may be placed in an autoclave for curing. The tool may also be used for the layup and bonding of an acoustic core sandwiched between pre-cured skins. |
| US07640960B2 |
Apparatus for attaching substrates
An apparatus for attaching two substrates to one another includes a lower chamber that holds a first substrate and an upper chamber that holds a second substrate. The upper and lower chambers are brought together to provide a space in which an attaching process is performed. Chamber transportation mechanisms are located at corners of the lower chamber and serve to move the lower chamber up toward the upper chamber so that it can be coupled with the upper chamber. Guide parts are also formed on side surfaces of the lower chamber to guide movement, and to reduce deformation of the chamber when pressure differentials act to deform the sides of the chamber. |
| US07640958B2 |
Pneumatic tire
A pneumatic tire (10) according to the present invention includes a first side reinforcement layer (110) and a second side reinforcement layer (120). The first side reinforcement layer (110) has a plurality of reinforcement cords (110s), and the second side reinforcement layer (120) has a plurality of reinforcement cords (120s) each crossing the reinforcement cords (110s). Additionally, an inclination angle of each of the reinforcement cords (110s) and the reinforcement cords (120s) with respect to a circumferential line extending in a circumferential direction of the pneumatic tire (10) is 5 to 30 degrees. According to the pneumatic tire (10), high speed durability thereof can be further enhanced without reducing wear life of a shoulder portion thereof. |
| US07640957B2 |
Tire with rubber tread highly loaded with a combination of filler reinforcement and oil
This invention relates to high performance tires designed for high vehicular speeds having thin treads with a maximum thickness of about three centimeters with a running surface which is comprised of a rubber composition which is highly loaded with a combination of reinforcing filler and rubber processing oil. The combination of reinforcing filler is comprised of conductive carbon black and optionally at least one of classical rubber reinforcing carbon black and precipitated silica and their mixtures. This high level of a combination of selective reinforcing filler together with rubber processing oil in the tread rubber is provided to promote a reduction in internal heat generation within the thin tread during high vehicular speeds, particularly for vehicles intended to be used as race cars. The carbon black reinforcement is provided as being comprised of a conductive carbon black, which may optionally be combined with a classical rubber reinforcing carbon black, and which may optionally be combined with an amorphous synthetic silica, namely a precipitated silica, to aid in providing a path for thermal conductivity through the thin, high reinforcing filler and rubber processing oil loaded tire tread to its running surface and thence to the ground in order to therefore promote a reduction in internal heat build up within the tread during high speed operation of the tire. |
| US07640956B2 |
Feed wheel
A feed wheel (10) for tree trunks, with rows of drive teeth (30) protruding from extended supports (20) united with a peripheral surface (18) of the wheel. In order to make the spaces between the supports (20) more self-clearing, supports (20) that are neighbours extend mutually divergently throughout the complete sideways direction of the peripheral surface (18) (at an angle α). |
| US07640955B2 |
Apparatus for splitting wood
An apparatus for use in splitting and cutting wood is provided, including a frame having a log support for holding a log to be split and cut, a vertically extending frame for holding a removable wedge or axe head connected to a manually operable drive means for engaging the wedge on an upper portion of a log for cutting and splitting the log. |
| US07640950B2 |
Collapse tolerant flexible pipe and method of manufacturing same
A collapse tolerant flexible pipe and method of manufacturing same according to which an inner tubular layer is provided within an outer tubular layer in a coaxial relationship thereto. The inner layer maintains the maximum allowable strain on the outer layer below a value that will cause damage to the outer layer when the pipe collapses. |
| US07640949B2 |
Sealing device
The invention provides a plug for sealing an end of a duct. The plug includes a sealing member for sealing against an interior surface of the duct, and gripping means having one or more teeth for gripping the interior surface of the duct. The plug may include a pair of opposed camming surfaces arranged for relative axial movement therebetween whereby the relative axial movement results in the teeth of the gripping means being urged radially outwardly into gripping engagement with the interior surface of the duct. |
| US07640947B2 |
Microfabricated fluidic circuit elements and applications
Microfabricated fluidic devices of the present invention include switches that can be opened and closed to allow or block the flow of fluid through a channel in response to the pressure level in a gate of the switch. The microfabricated fluidic switches may be coupled together to perform logic functions and Boolean algebra, such as inverters, AND gates, NAND, gates, NOR gates, and OR gates. The logic gates may be coupled together to form flip-flops that latch signals. The present invention also includes microfabricated fluidic pressure multipliers that increase the pressure in a second chamber relative to a first chamber. Microfabricated fluidic devices of the present invention also include high or low pressure sources. A pressure source of the present includes a pump coupled to a reservoir through unidirectional valves. Microfabricated fluidic devices of the present invention may also include devices that perform analog functions such as switching regulator. |
| US07640944B2 |
Valve for prevention of low flow rates through flow meter
A flow responsive valve for a flow metering system comprising a fluid meter having a minimum measuring flow threshold. The valve is shiftable between an open position at flow rates above the minimum measuring flow threshold, and a pressure pulsating position depending on pressure differential over an inlet port and an outlet port of the valve. The pressure pulsating position alters between a closed position essentially prohibiting fluid flow therethrough at flow rates below the minimum measuring flow threshold, and an open position admitting fluid flow into the supply line at a measurable flow rate above the minimum measuring flow threshold. |
| US07640941B2 |
Brush and roller cleaner
A brush and roller cleaner includes a hollow canister to receive a spray wand. A control knob pivots with respect to the canister to direct pressurized liquid from apertures of the spray wand. A top cap assembly mates with the canister in one of two positions, 180 degrees offset from one another. The top cap assembly has a tool holding assembly that is capable of holding a paint tool or roller. The tool holding assembly rotates in response to the liquid output from the spray wand apertures. The top cap assembly is capable of holding a roller in a first or second position. The roller rotates within the canister in response to the liquid output from the spray wand apertures to clean the roller cover. A handle for the cleaner supports a roller frame clip for holding the roller in a first or second position. |
| US07640940B2 |
Drive unit for dish washing machines
A drive unit for dish washing machines includes a flow channel housing, a filter housing and an arm holder, which are thermally fused to one another to form an integral unit. Consequently, assembly of the drive unit is simplified, leakage of wash water is prevented, and pumping performance is increased. Also, the flow channel housing, the filter housing and the arm holder are concurrently fixed to a pump housing of the drive unit by fixing members. Consequently, the assembly process of the drive unit is simplified, and the coupling force between the components of the drive unit is increased. |
| US07640938B2 |
Mascara applicator
A mascara applicator integrally contains curling means (2) for holding eyelashes to curl the eyelashes into a certain shape, mascara adhering means (3) for adhering a mascara agent to the eyelashes, and mascara supplying means (4) for supplying the mascara agent to the mascara adhering means (3). |
| US07640937B1 |
Artificial nail removal container
An artificial nail removal container for containing a solvent to loosen artificial nails from a hand includes a bag receiving a solvent and a hand with artificial nails thereon to allow the artificial nails to soak in the solvent and loosen the artificial nails from the hand. The bag includes a peripheral wall defining an interior space of the bag. The interior space receives the solvent and the hand. Each of a pair of complimentary fasteners is coupled to an interior surface of the peripheral wall. One of the complimentary fasteners is complimentary to the other one of the complimentary fasteners to selectively close the bag. A constriction band is coupled to the peripheral wall and positioned adjacent to the complimentary fasteners. The constriction band constricts around a wrist to inhibit odors from the solvent exiting the interior space when the hand is positioned in the interior space. |
| US07640936B2 |
Preparation of mixed metal oxide catalysts from nanoscale particles
Mixed metal oxide catalysts are prepared by combining first nanoscale particles and second nanoscale particles to form a mixture of nanoscale particles and then the mixture is heated to form a mixed metal oxide catalyst. The mixed metal oxide catalysts, which are capable of reducing the concentration of carbon monoxide in the mainstream smoke of a cigarette during smoking, are incorporated into a smoking article component such as tobacco cut filler, cigarette paper and/or cigarette filter material. |
| US07640934B2 |
Infant nasal interface prong device
An infant nasal interface prong device for use with an nCPAP system. The device includes first and second nasal prongs and a base. Each prong includes a bellows segment, a tip, and a lumen. The tip extends from the bellows segment to a tip end and is adapted for insertion with an infant's naris. The lumen extends through the tip and the bellows segment. In an undeflected state, a central axis of the lumen along the bellows segment is transversely offset from the lumen axis at the tip end. The base is connected to each of the nasal prongs and is adapted for coupling to a CPAP generator. The bellows segment renders the corresponding prong highly flexible relative to the base. The offset positioning of the tip end promotes desired positioning of the base/CPAP generator, relative to the patient and more closely conforms to the expected nasal anatomy. |
| US07640924B2 |
Mechanism for feeding ball bullets from a bin to a holder
A feeding mechanism for ball bullets from a bin to a holder. The mechanism contains a bin 1 and additional reservoir 2 which in a lower part communicate. A vibrator 3 is placed in the lower part of the bin 1 and the additional reservoir 2. The vibrator 3 is formed of two plates 4 and 5 of L-shape that oscillate on the axis 6 due to spring 7 and cam 8, which is rotated by the electric drive 9. A feeding screw mechanism is disposed in the lower part of the bin 1 and the additional reservoir 2, the mechanism comprising a screw 10 with a helical spring. The base 12 is connected to cam 8 through a friction coupling 13. The cam 8 gains rotation from the electric drive 9 through the gearing 14. The bin 1 with additional reservoir 2 communicates with the holder 16 through the channel 15. |
| US07640922B2 |
Foam dart gun
The present invention includes a foam dart gun having a cylindrically shaped, typically hollow barrel with a plurality of hooks disposed at a first end of the barrel. Inner and outer elastic bands engaged with one another to form an elastomeric band assembly, which is typically engaged to the barrel at least proximate the end of the barrel opposite a trigger. |
| US07640918B2 |
Drive circuit for an injector arrangement and a diagnostic method
The invention relates to a drive circuit for an injector arrangement having a fuel injector, and a method of detecting faults in the drive circuit. The drive circuit includes a diagnostic tool that senses a measured voltage between the injector and a known voltage level. The measured voltage is biased with respect to the known voltage to a predicted voltage unless the drive circuit has a fault. A fault signal is provided on sensing of a measured voltage that differs from the predicted voltage. The drive circuit may additionally, or alternatively, include a diagnostic tool. The diagnostic tool senses a detected current to provide a fault signal upon detection of the fault when the detected current is at variance from a threshold current. |
| US07640917B2 |
Gas direct injector tip seal
A fuel injector tip seal is provided including improved resistance to the heat and pressures of combustion gas. According to one aspect, the tip seal is formed from polytetrafluoroethylene and between 10 and 35 percent carbon fiber. The material offers improved surface finish and deformation resistance as well as improved thermal conduction and keeps thermal expansion low as compared to conventional fuel injector tip seal designs. According to a further aspect, a revised seal groove design is provided that allows for expansion and deformation of the tip seal and creates more pressure to the outside diameter face when pressure is applied at the tip. According to another aspect, the tip seal is formed of a flat disk-shaped seal body that can be assembled on the fuel injector by an assembly cone device that allows the disk-shaped seal body to be flipped to a ring-shaped configuration in its assembled position. |
| US07640915B2 |
Fuel management system for variable ethanol octane enhancement of gasoline engines
Fuel management system for efficient operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder of the engine. A fuel management microprocessor system controls injection of the anti-knock agent so as to control knock and minimize that amount of the anti-knock agent that is used in a drive cycle. It is preferred that the anti-knock agent is ethanol. The use of ethanol can be further minimized by injection in a non-uniform manner within a cylinder. The ethanol injection suppresses knock so that higher compression ratio and/or engine downsizing from increased turbocharging or supercharging can be used to increase the efficiency of the engine. |
| US07640913B2 |
Single nozzle injection of gasoline and anti-knock fuel
Fuel management system for operation of a spark ignition engine. The system includes a source of gasoline and a source of anti-knock fuel. A proportioning valve receives the gasoline and the anti-knock fuel to discharge a mixture having a controlled gasoline/anti-knock fuel ratio. A single high pressure pump receives the mixture and delivers the mixture to an injector. A fuel management control system controls the proportioning valve and the injector for injection of the mixture into a cylinder of the engine to control knock. A preferred anti-knock fuel is ethanol. |
| US07640912B2 |
System and method for engine air-fuel ratio control
A method for operating an engine having a first injector for injecting a first fuel into a cylinder of the engine and a second injector for injection a second fuel into said cylinder of the engine, the engine further having at least an exhaust gas oxygen sensor, the method comprising of varying an amount of said first fuel injection in response to said sensor under a first operating condition, and varying an amount of said second fuel injection in response to said sensor under a second operating condition. |
| US07640909B2 |
Vehicle with variable air intake arrangement
A vehicle, such as a motorcycle, includes an engine having at least one intake port. An air intake assembly introduces air into the intake port. In one arrangement, the air intake assembly includes a stationary funnel and a movable funnel positioned on the inlet side of the fixed funnel and selectively cooperates with the stationary funnel to deliver air to the intake port of the engine. A seal member creates at least a substantial seal between the fixed funnel and the movable funnel when the funnels are in cooperation with one another. A retention mechanism inhibits the seal member from disengaging with the funnel onto which the seal member is positioned. In one arrangement, the movable funnel is formed with one or more projections and the seal member is formed with one or more recesses that accommodate the projections. The projection may be a flange or a boss, among other possibilities, and the recess is configured to accommodate the specific projection. |
| US07640908B2 |
Fluid distribution manifold
An intake manifold (1) is disclosed suitable for use with an internal combustion engine. The manifold (1) comprises a set of runners (1,2,3,4), a conical-shaped chamber (7) and a conical-shaped distribution body (8) affixed concentrically within the chamber (7). The chamber (7) has one end (9) affixed to an air intake/throttle body. The other end (10) of the chamber (7) is connected to each of the runners (1,2,3,4) such that the end (10) is evenly divided into four quadrants each quadrant being of the same cross-sectional area. The order of connection of the runners (1,2,3,4) to the end (10) is in the firing order of the cylinders 1 3 4 2. The volume of each runner (1,2,3,4) is identical. The respective ends of the runners (1,2,3,4) immediately adjacent the end (10) of the chamber are curved towards the inlet valve of the respective cylinders they serve. The internal conical distribution body (8) is affixed within the chamber (7) such that its broader end (11) evenly overlaps the runners (1,2,3,4) at their junction with the end (10) and is positioned at, or closely to, that end (10). The body (8) may be movable axially within the chamber (7). |
| US07640903B2 |
Device for adjusting the position of the angle of rotation of the camshaft of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine in relation to the crankshaft
A device for adjusting the position of the angle of rotation of the camshaft of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine relative to the crankshaft in a motor vehicle is provided, which includes an adjusting gear mechanism in the form of a triple shaft gear mechanism having a drive shaft fixed to the crankshaft, an output shaft fixed to the camshaft and an adjustment shaft which is drivingly connected to an electric motor which can be positioned using an electric control device. The ignition of the internal combustion engine is connected to the motor vehicle battery via an ignition switch. The motor vehicle also includes at least one device which can be adjusted by a user of the vehicle. A monitoring circuit provided with at least one sensor for detecting a change of state of the at least one device. The monitoring circuit is connected to the control device when the latter is switched off, such that the control device is switched on when a change in state is detected. |
| US07640902B2 |
Rotor for vane-type motor with reduced leakage
A camshaft adjuster which operates according to the vane-type motor principle, which means being able to move to and fro within a certain angle, generally comprises a stator and a rotor. The rotor itself is provided as a composite system of at least two components. One of the components is a cover. A further component of the composite system may be denoted as the rotor core. The cover is placed on the rotor. |
| US07640899B2 |
Adjusting electrically actuated valve lift
A system and method for controlling electromechanical valves operating in an engine is presented. According to the method, valve operation can be adjusted in a number of ways. |
| US07640898B2 |
Water-cooled internal combustion engine
A water-cooled internal combustion engine has a cylinder head 21 provided with a cylinder head water jacket Jh through which cooling water flows. The cylinder head water jacket Jh includes a combustion chamber water jacket 70 surrounding combustion chambers 26 and an exhaust passage water jacket 71 around an exhaust manifold passage 38. The exhaust gas discharged from the combustion chambers 26 through exhaust ports 28 flows through the exhaust manifold passage. The exhaust passage water jacket 71 is divided into an upstream water jacket 72a and a downstream water jacket 72b by a partition wall 75. The cooling water flows from both the upstream water jacket 72a and the downstream water jacket 72a into the combustion chamber water jacket 70. Equality in temperature between a combustion chamber wall and an exhaust passage wall is improved and the cylinder head 21 is heated in a uniform temperature distribution. |
| US07640897B2 |
Fan design and method of operating
A method of cooling a radiator in an internal combustion engine wherein a plurality of fan assemblies is provided. Specifically, each fan assembly has a housing with an interior containing a fan blade and an exterior having six sides to form a hexagonal perimeter. The fan assemblies are then arranged side by side to form a cluster of fan assemblies in order to maximize the amount of fan assemblies that may be provided on an enclosure. The cluster of fan assemblies is then placed adjacent to a radiator to control the air flow over the radiator in order to cool the engine. |
| US07640894B2 |
Treat dispenser for animals
A treat dispenser for animals, especially in the form of a rubber chew toy for dogs. The treat dispenser comprises a housing having a hollow interior and at least one aperture adapted to receive and dispense treats. The treat dispenser also has an at least partially helically extending insert disposed in the hollow interior of the housing and adapted to advance treats to the at least one aperture of the housing. |
| US07640893B2 |
Pet grooming tool
A grooming tool which includes a number of latex surgical tubing pieces generally arranged in parallel to one another, and anchored together at corresponding opposite ends. A handle provides for a user to draw the plurality of latex surgical tubing pieces across an animal for grooming. |
| US07640882B2 |
Boat cover attachment guide and boat cover
An apparatus for attaching a boat cover to a boat is disclosed. The apparatus includes an elongated member defining a first leg and a second leg. A plurality of notches are defined in the first leg of the elongated member. A flexible cover is affixed to the second leg of the elongated member along at least one edge. A guide is affixable to a deck of a boat. The guide defines at least one securement groove therein. The securement groove accepts the second leg of the elongated member therein. |
| US07640879B2 |
Presser foot
A fabric-processing device includes a body, a presser foot attached to the body, and a heater attached to the presser foot. The heater is in a heat-exchange relationship with the presser foot. |
| US07640876B2 |
Bin level sensor for use with a product dispensing agricultural implement
A fill tube and sensor assembly has a single electronic sensor to detect the level of product in a hopper of an agricultural implement relative to a fill line. The electronic sensor can be positioned at various heights relative to the fill tube to provide variability in the height of the fill line. The sensor provides a full level signal until product is drawn from the fill tube. Once the product is dispensed from the fill tube and into the general interior volume of the hopper, the single sensor provides an empty level signal that can be used to alert an operator of a diminished product supply or control operation of the farm implement. |
| US07640875B2 |
Cutting disk system for seeding machines
A disc system for an agricultural machine including a frame carrying a plurality of agricultural tools, the disc system comprising a leading disc mounting mechanism and a rear tools mounting mechanism, wherein the mechanisms are mounted in the frame in a manner that they move in upward and downward directions and when one of the mechanisms tends to move in one of the directions the other one of the mechanisms tends to move in the opposite direction to copy as close as possible the field profile. |
| US07640873B2 |
Crisscross seed distribution system and method
A system for distributing seeds is configured to be transported by an agricultural vehicle along a direction of travel. The system includes a main frame extending along the direction of travel, a first wing frame extending from a first side of the main frame in a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel, and a second wing frame extending from a second side of the main frame in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel. The system further includes at least one row unit arranged on the first side of the main frame and supported by the first wing frame, at least one row unit arranged on the second side of the main frame and supported by the second wing frame, a first seed reservoir arranged on the first side of the main frame, and a second seed reservoir arranged on the second side of the main frame. A first seed delivery hose assembly system connects the first seed reservoir to the at least one row unit arranged on the second side of the main frame, and a second seed delivery hose assembly system connects the second seed reservoir to the at least one row unit arranged on the first side of the main frame. |
| US07640870B2 |
Portable folding table with locking hinge
A foldable table includes a table top having collapsible legs connected thereto. The table top includes a first table top section and a second table top section. A first hinge assembly hingedly connecting the first table top section to the second table top section such that the table top can selectively move between a folded position and an unfolded position. A latch engages with the first hinge assembly so as to releasably lock the first hinge assembly when the table top is in the unfolded position. In alternative embodiments, portions of the table top sections can interlock when the table is in the unfolded position. A handle can project from between the table top sections when the table is in the folded position. |
| US07640868B2 |
Stereo speaker stand
A stand for a stereo speaker. The stand comprises a support and a plurality of isolating and polarizing assemblies that engage the support and allow movement of the speaker relative to the support in one direction more than in another direction and to isolate that movement relative to the floor surface upon which the support rests. Preferably, the stand also includes a shelf and a plurality of rods that engage the assemblies and connect the shelf to the support. A first assembly engages a first end of each rod with the shelf and a second assembly engages the second end of each rod with the support. The assemblies are configured to permit more movement of the rods in a first horizontal direction than in a second horizontal direction. Thus, the assemblies allow the shelf to move back and forth in the first horizontal direction in response to vibrations in the speaker and air movement adjacent the same. The stand also includes a mechanism for adjusting the inclination of the shelf relative to the support so as to allow sound emitted therefrom to be directed in a particular direction. |
| US07640866B1 |
Mobile video panel display system
A portable, adjustable support system for large scale, flat monitors and associated hardware. The portable support system is fully self-contained and is fully adjustable so as to allow a user to interact with the monitor from a range of positions including standing, sitting, or lying down through actuated variation of the height and/or angle of the monitor. |
| US07640862B2 |
Roller coaster
A roller coaster includes a cab that is rotatable between position for loading and unloading of passenger(s) and a position for riding the roller coaster. The cab includes a sliding pad mechanism, which is slidable on station entry and/or exit cams to move the cab between the two positions. In the position for loading and unloading the passenger(s), the cab is arranged so that the passenger(s) are non-parallel to a track of the roller coaster, and in the position for riding, the cab is arranged so that the passenger(s) are substantially parallel to the track. |
| US07640861B2 |
Ductile medium- and high-density, non-toxic shot and other articles and method for producing the same
Medium- and high-density articles are formed from alloys containing tungsten, iron, nickel and optionally manganese and/or steel. In some embodiments, the articles have densities in the range of 8-10.5 g/cm3, and in other embodiments, the articles have densities in the range of 10.5-15 g/cm3. In some embodiments, the articles are ferromagnetic, and in others the articles are not ferromagnetic. In some embodiments, tungsten forms the largest weight percent of the alloy, and in other embodiments the alloy contains no more than 50 wt % tungsten. In some embodiments, the articles are shell shot. |
| US07640857B2 |
Protective electrically conductive layer covering a reactive layer to protect the reactive layer from electrical discharge
A tool for use in a wellbore has an activation assembly, which has a support structure and a reactive layer on the support structure. The reactive layer is formed of a pyrotechnic material. The activation assembly also includes an electrically conductive protective layer covering the reactive layer to protect the reactive layer from electrical discharge. The tool further includes a component to be activated by the activation assembly. |
| US07640854B2 |
Timing assembly for a manufactured wood products press
A timing assembly (200) for a manufactured wood products press (66) is provided. The manufactured wood products press includes a first drive shaft (120) coupled to a first platen (90) and second drive shaft (120) coupled to a second platen (90). The first and second platens are disposed within the manufactured wood products press in an opposed manner. The timing assembly includes a housing (202) and a plurality of timing gears (204) disposed within the housing. The plurality of timing gears are operatively connected to the first and second drive shafts for simultaneously driving the first and second drive shafts in an eccentric path. |
| US07640853B2 |
Presses for matters such as the grape harvest
A rotary cage press provided internally with a deformable flexible membrane having the form of a half of the cage, this press being characterized in that the elements of recovering theliquid part of the matter include on the cage, at least one external racking device, and a connection unit through which opens out the outlet orifice of the racking device; and on the chassis, a liquid taking device including a telescopic tubular unit allowing a retracted position in which the telescopic unit presents no obstacle to the rotation of the cage and an extended position in which the telescopic unit is adapted, when the cage is in a predetermined pressing angular position, to come against the connection unit bearing in a seal-tight manner around the outlet orifice of the racking device. |
| US07640851B2 |
Apparatus for storing separating and filtering coffee filters
An apparatus for storing both coffee in a reservoir and nested stacks of cup-shaped coffee filters, and then automatically filling individual filters with selected amounts of coffee and brewing the coffee while protecting the reservoir. Through a series of gears, an electric motor rotates an elastic projection with teeth and a disengaging curved tooth against the topmost filter in the stack, dragging it into a filter well beneath a coffee storage receptacle and then dropping it. Simultaneously, a rotating coffee dispenser fills with a selectable quantity of coffee and then dumps the coffee into the filter. The apparatus also includes a stirring device for insuring the stored coffee falls to the bottom of the coffee receptacle. A hot water dispenser operates in conjunction with a valve means for cutting off steam from the coffee reservoir. |
| US07640850B2 |
Vacuum chamber
A vacuum tank for removing air from a food product includes an inner sleeve forming a first and second region in the tank. Air is removed from the food product as the food product moves from the first region to the second region of the tank. |
| US07640849B2 |
Cooking appliance particularly useful as a grilling appliance for grilling meat products
A cooking appliance includes a base, and lower and upper cooking plates pivotally mounted to the base such as to permit: (a) the upper cooking plate to be pivotted to an open position with respect to the lower cooking plate for introducing and removal of food articles between the cooking surfaces of the two cooking plates; (b) the upper cooking then to be pivotted to a closed position with respect to the lower cooking plate for contacting the food article between the cooking surfaces of the two cooking plates; and (c) both plates to be pivotted to any desired angular position with respect to the base for drawing fluids from the food article while being cooked between the cooking surfaces of the two cooking plates. |
| US07640845B2 |
Drain for beverage forming machine
A method and apparatus for draining a component of a beverage forming system such as a coffee brewer. A tank used for holding and/or heating a beverage precursor liquid may be automatically drained. A beverage forming machine including a drain system may be self-contained in that the liquid drained from the tank is held by another tank that is part of the beverage forming machine. The tank into which the drained liquid is deposited may be removable from the beverage forming machine. |
| US07640842B2 |
Prepacked serving for espresso coffee machine, and dispensing unit suitable for use with the said serving
Prepacked serving of coffee powder, particularly for an espresso coffee making machine, comprising a cartridge (1) enclosing a given portion of coffee powder (40), the said cartridge (1) comprising an essentially cylindrical side wall (101) provided at its two ends with a first wall (201) designed to be acted upon by the pressurized hot-water supply means, and with a second wall (301) designed to be acted upon by the brewed coffee dispensing means, the said cartridge (1) being made of an essentially airtight material, and the said wall (301) being continuous and made of a thermoplastic material. |
| US07640835B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting dangerous conditions in power equipment
Woodworking machines are disclosed having electrically conductive cutting tools adapted to cut workpieces. The machines include a contact detection system capacitively coupled to the cutting tool, and adapted to detect contact between a person and the cutting tool. The machines also include a reaction system configured to cause one or more predetermined actions to take place upon detection of contact between a person and the cutting tool by the contact detection system. |
| US07640833B2 |
Method of manufacturing molding body having grooves thereon
There is provided a method of manufacturing a molding body having at least one groove thereon. The method is performed by rotating a workpiece, allowing a tip to contact with an outer peripheral or an inner peripheral face, so as to form the groove in accordance with a shape of an outer edge of the tip, and shifting a position of the tip along a direction orthogonal relative to a rake face of the tip without changing a direction of the rake face thereof, so as to form another groove having a different angle from that of the shape of the outer edge of the tip. |
| US07640832B2 |
Method and apparatus for resurfacing brake rotors
The present invention relates to automotive vehicle brake lathes configured for resurfacing brake rotor components, and in particular, to an improved on-car brake lathe apparatus and a method for compensating for runout between an on-car brake lathe and a vehicle wheel hub to which the on-car brake lathe is secured for a brake rotor resurfacing operation. |
| US07640825B2 |
Tension compensating assembly for mechanical control cables
A tension compensation assembly for a mechanical control cable. The tension compensation device has a housing with opposing ends. First and second sections of the control cable pass through but are attached at each end of the housing such that the sheaths of each section are coupled to the housing and reciprocable cable coaxially disposed in each control cable section extend into the housing. The cables are attached to opposing ends of a reciprocably disposed capsule or spring caps generally enclosing a spring. In operation, the capsule moves slidably within the housing over a predetermined travel and tension for the cables. However, if an over-tension condition is experienced, the capsule may bottom out at an end of the housing and the spring will either compress or extend, depending upon its design, thus allowing the effective length of the control cable assembly to increase, thus preventing the stretching or breaking of the cables or damage to cable end fittings. |
| US07640822B2 |
Worm wheel and worm gear
A resin worm wheel is formed by injection molding and includes a first end and a second end. The worm wheel is adapted to be driven by a worm. The worm wheel further includes: an engaging portion including a plurality of teeth engageable with the worm and a tooth space formed between the neighboring teeth; a first non-engaging portion adjacent to the engaging portion at the first end of the worm wheel and not engaging with the worm; and a first cutout portion formed at the first non-engaging portion continuously from the tooth space, the first cutout portion extending axially. |
| US07640819B2 |
Internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine including a transmission for transmitting power from a crankshaft to an output shaft through speed change, with the speed change in the transmission being performed by the driving of a speed change electric motor through a speed change drive mechanism, wherein power transmission control means for controlling the transmission of power from the crankshaft to the transmission is provided at one end of the crankshaft, and at least a part of the speed change electric motor and the speed change drive mechanism is disposed on the outside of the power transmission control means. This configuration of the internal combustion engine is reduced in size because of the layout of the speed change drive mechanism and the speed change electric motor. |
| US07640815B2 |
Magnetostriction type torque sensor
A magnetostriction type torque sensor is provided which includes magnetic property change material which is provided on a shaft and whose magnetic property changes in accordance with torque applied to the shaft, an excitation signal generator which generates an excitation signal whose voltage is converted into a predetermined voltage through a switching element, a plurality of detection coils to which the excitation signal generator applies the excitation signal, and which plurality of detection coils outputs voltage, which changes in accordance with change in the magnetic property of the magnetic property change material, between connection points between the detection coils, and an operational state monitor which monitors an operational state of the switching element. |
| US07640814B2 |
Demagnetization-field enhancing magnetometer
A magnetometer for a force sensor assembly includes first inner and outer coils that are spaced axially apart from second inner and outer coils. Between the inner and outer coils is a plurality of magnetic strips. These magnetic strips are disposed at axially distinct portions within the inner and outer coils to detect magnetic field asymmetry. A drive circuit is connected to the inner coils and the outer coils generate an alternating magnetic field. The magnetometer of this invention creates an artificially enhanced demagnetization field reducing hysteresis within the sensor assembly. |
| US07640810B2 |
Ultrasonic inspection apparatus, system, and method
Improved apparatus, systems, and methods for inspecting a structure are provided that use a pedestal robot mounted on a rail system, a probe extension coupler, and an inspection probe capable of performing pulse echo ultrasonic inspection. A probe may also include sled appendages and an axial braking system to inspect over holes and off edges. A probe may also include an ultrasonic pulse echo transducer array for high rate inspection; the transducer array may be mounted in a bubbler shoe for individually coupling each of the transducers in the array. A rail system may also include an optical encoder for providing location information for the robot and axial braking system. A probe extension coupler presses the inspection probe against the structure for adjusting to changes in surface contours. |
| US07640803B1 |
Micro-electromechanical system inertial sensor
A micro-machined MEMS resonator gyroscope and accelerometer is fabricated from an epilayer semiconductor wafer to incorporate a substantially planar, H-shaped resonator mass suspended from a support plate by two opposed elongated springs that couple to the relatively short crossbar member of the H. The masses are harmonically oscillated relative to the support plate and a baseplate portion, and two orthogonal modes of the structure corresponding to the two nearly degenerate fundamental torsional modes thereof are used for sensing angular rate about one axis, and linear acceleration along two axes, of the sensor. The H-shaped mass advantageously incorporates a relatively high length-to-width aspect ratio, and in one embodiment, the springs may advantageously incorporate either a square cross-section, such that the structure can be tuned to substantially match the fundamental frequencies of the two resonance modes of the structure by removing, e.g., by an etching process, a small amount of material from the upper surfaces of the springs. |
| US07640801B2 |
Electronics insert arrangement for a measuring device housing
An electronics insert arrangement for a measuring device includes an electronics insert and an electronics module. The electronics insert includes a first attachment device and a first interface. The electronics module includes a second attachment device and a second interface. For coupling the electronics module to the electronics insert, the first attachment device and the second attachment device can be brought to engage each other such that a space between the first interface and the second interface remains essentially constant when the electronics insert moves. The electronics insert is equipped to carry out processes of a first functionality, and the electronics module is equipped to carry out processes of a second functionality. |
| US07640800B2 |
Filling level sensor
A filling level sensor having a lever arm which has a float at one end and is held at its other end by a clip. A resistance network is arranged on a substrate and to which a contact structure is assigned, the resistance network producing an electrical signal for the filling level as a function of the pivoted position of a lever arm. The clip is composed of an electrically conductive plastic and has an electrical contact connected to the clip in an electrically conductive way, such that as the lever arm pivots said contact describes a circular path on the substrate. The area on the substrate over which the electrical contact passes is an electrically conductive contact face and is electrically conductively connected to a connecting line of the filling level sensor. |
| US07640798B2 |
Semiconductor device for detecting flow rate of fluid
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a flow sensor having a first heater for detecting a flow rate of fluid; and a humidity sensor for detecting a humidity of the fluid. The flow sensor and the humidity sensor are disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The flow sensor is disposed around the humidity sensor. The humidity sensor is disposed on an upstream side of the first heater. Since the device includes the humidity sensor, moisture in the fluid is compensated so that detection accuracy of the flow rate is improved. |
| US07640795B2 |
Apparatus and method for starter RPM detection
An engine starter motor tester applies power to a motor under test at the level normally applied while that motor is installed in a vehicle and monitors the ripple in the driving current. The ripple rate, scaled by the number of windings used in the construction of the motor, provides a direct reading of the shaft speed of the unloaded motor. This number allows a valid inference concerning the state of health of the motor, and is more certain than an estimate for an unloaded motor based on operator experience and motor “sound”. A complete test apparatus includes a stored lookup table, allowing the user to key in a product brand and model number and read directly both the RPM and the test apparatus's rating of the motor under test, expressed in terms such as percentage of life remaining. |
| US07640789B2 |
Ultra-sensitive metal oxide gas sensor and fabrication method thereof
A method for fabricating an ultra-sensitive metal oxide gas sensor is disclosed, which comprises the steps of spinning a mixture solution including a metal oxide precursor and a polymer onto a sensor electrode to form a metal oxide precursor-polymer composite fiber; thermally compressing or thermally pressurizing the composite fiber; and thermally treating the thermally compressed or thermally pressurized composite fiber to remove the polymer from the composite fiber. Since the gas sensor includes a macro pore between nanofibers and a meso pore between nano-rods and/or nano-grains, gas diffusion and surface area can be maximized. Also, the ultra-sensitive sensor having high stability in view of mechanical, thermal, and electrical aspects can be obtained through rapid increase of adhesion between the metal oxide thin layer and the sensor electrode. |
| US07640788B2 |
Wear gauge and method of use
A wear gauge is provided for simulating the wear of a magnetic recording component at its interface with a magnetic storage medium comprising a wear gauge block having a wear surface that substantially approximates the geometrical dimensions and contour of the working surface of the magnetic recording component, wherein the wear surface has a coating of transparent material. A test method comprises mounting the wear gauge in a test fixture, positioning a tape and adjusting the over wrap angle at edges of the wear surface, choosing the desired tape tension, speed and runtime, and running the tape, preferably unidirectionally, in operational contact with the wear surface for the desired runtime. The wear surface is inspected under white light illumination to observe and record locations of interferometric color changes on the wear surface. The color changes are correlated to thickness changes of the transparent coating on the wear surface. |
| US07640786B2 |
Self-calibrating accelerometer
The method and apparatus in one embodiment may have: a sensing element for an accelerometer having a bias, the sensing element having a rectangular plate supported by flexures which allow rotation about a transverse center line thereof; a center of mass (CG) of the sensing element having two stable positions, one on each side of an axis of rotation defined by a centerline of suspension; a secondary mass within a proofmass translates in-plane to move the center of mass to thereby effect a self-calibration mechanization that continuously measures and nulls the accelerometer's bias under dynamic operating conditions. |
| US07640784B2 |
System for calibrating dissolved oxygen analyzers using compressed fluids during cleaning
A dissolved oxygen measurement system, and a method for calibrating a dissolved oxygen analyzer are provided. The method includes directing a pressurized cleaning fluid, having a known oxygen content, upon a sensing surface of a dissolved oxygen sensor disposed in a fluid. Then, the analyzer waits until the dissolved oxygen sensor response to the pressurized cleaning fluid is relatively stable, and stores a calibration value relative to the dissolved oxygen sensor response to the pressurized cleaning fluid. A dissolved oxygen measurement system is also provided. The system includes a dissolved oxygen sensor disposed in a fluid and a first source of a first compressed cleaning fluid that has a first dissolved oxygen content. A dissolved oxygen analyzer is coupled to the dissolved oxygen sensor and to the first valve and is configured to obtain a first calibration value related to the first dissolved oxygen content. |
| US07640782B2 |
Vaporized hydrogen peroxide probe calibration rig
A method and apparatus for calibrating a sensor used to sense the concentration of vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP). A concentration of liquid hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous solution is determined and correlated with a corresponding concentration of vaporized hydrogen peroxide indicative of an “actual” vaporized hydrogen peroxide concentration. An error value is determined by comparing the “actual” vaporized hydrogen peroxide concentration to a “measured” vaporized hydrogen peroxide concentration, indicated by the sensor being calibrated. The error value is used to properly calibrate the sensor. |
| US07640777B2 |
Punch press with forming dies and operation method for the same
The present invention provides a punch press with forming dies which reduces the limitation on the number and positions of forming dies attached to the die supporting member, the punch press enabling a device that elevates and lowers forming dies to operate appropriately without being affected by slag. The punch press with forming dies includes a die supporting member 2 that supports a plurality of forming dies 5 so that the forming dies 5 can be elevated and lowered, a die elevating and lowering driving device 16 that elevates and lowers the forming dies 5, and a die supporting member moving device that moves the die supporting member 2 so as to locate one of the forming dies 5 at a punch position P. The die elevating and lowering driving device 16 includes an elevating and lowering device 30 having an elevating and lowering member 35 that elevates and lowers the forming die 5 located at the punch position P and an elevating and lowering driving member 39 that drivingly elevates and lowers the elevating and lowering member 35, and further includes position switching means 31 for switching the elevating and lowering device 30 between a position B below the die supporting member 2 and a retracting position A outside the die supporting member 2. |
| US07640774B2 |
Wire drawing machine and method
A wire drawing machine comprises a wire supply unit with an unwinding bobbin for unwinding a wire, a wire drawing unit or units for drawing and reducing the diameter of the wire, and a wire winding unit for winding the drawn wire. Each wire drawing unit comprises: a dancer roller for applying back tension to the wire; a wire drawing die for reducing the diameter of the wire; and a capstan for winding and transporting the wire without slip to apply front tension to the wire. The dancer roller is linearly moved substantially in parallel to direction of wire drawing of the wire drawing die, whereby the wire drawing unit can be reduced in width. A plurality of such wire drawing units can be placed between the wire supply unit and the wire winding unit in multiple rows so as to further reduce the width of the wire drawing machine. |
| US07640764B2 |
Portable coolant system
A portable cooling system providing a controlled rate of cooling. The system includes a cool water device, a remote switching unit, and a thermal pad. The cool water device includes a coolant storage chamber separated from a pumping chamber by a baffle. The pumping chamber includes a pump and a discharge line with a flow restrictor for the fluid being returned from the thermal pad. In one embodiment, the remote switching unit actuates the portable cooling system and includes a timer feature for shutting down the system after a predetermined time. In another embodiment, the switching unit actuates a controller that sends a pulse stream to the pump to control the cooling water flow rate. The thermal pad includes fluid conduits that distribute the cooling water over the surface of the pad. In various embodiments, the thermal pad is a flat pad, a bonnet-shaped pad, and a cap-shaped pad. |
| US07640760B2 |
Temperature control using a sensor network
In a method for controlling temperature using a sensor network, the sensors of the sensor network are commissioned and one of a plurality of control schemes for operating a primary actuator configured to vary temperatures of the sensors based upon energy utilization requirements of the plurality of control schemes is selected. In addition, the selected one of the plurality of control schemes is implemented to vary the temperatures detected by the sensors. |
| US07640759B2 |
Condensate/water leak control switch
An air conditioning system condensate collection pan or water leak containment pan electrical control switch includes a housing or frame for supporting a switch unit which includes an elongated actuator arm. The housing includes a slot disposed adjacent a distal end of the actuator arm for receiving a water soluble tablet engageable with the actuator arm to bias the arm into a predetermined position of the switch. Abnormal accumulation of condensate or leaking water dissolves the tablet and allows the actuator arm to move to a position to effect actuation of the switch. The switch may be connected to a control unit, a thermostat and/or to an alarm generator including a self-contained unit having battery powered audio and/or visual alarm devices, an on-off switch and a circuit test switch. |
| US07640755B1 |
Dynamic process control
A method and apparatus for defining the processing of an ingredient of a manufactured product, particularly one that is manufactured “one-the-spot” to a consumer's specification, such as ice cream, among other products. A tag encoded on a container for the product carries indicia that, directly or indirectly, define one or more formulations for the product. Apparatus into which the ingredient is loaded sets the processing of ingredients in accordance with the formulations so specified. By connecting the apparatus which is to process the ingredients to a control station, the formulations may be changed at will. |
| US07640753B2 |
Control method for thermal regulation of a vehicle seat
Conditioned air discharged from a vehicle heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit is further conditioned by a thermoelectric (TE) air conditioning unit and then directed to air passages in a vehicle seat. Activation of the TE air conditioning unit is based on climate control parameters utilized by the HVAC unit, including a set temperature, radiant heating effects, and cabin air temperature. The climate control parameters are utilized to establish a target seat temperature that optimizes occupant comfort and the transient response of the seat cooling effect. |
| US07640748B2 |
System and method of cooling steam turbines
A system and method of cooling a steam turbine having internal moving components to a predetermined temperature by controlling a flow of nitrogen through the turbine, thus decreasing the downtime associated with maintaining the turbine. This provides a more efficient and cost effective method of operating a power plant. |
| US07640747B2 |
Method for converting thermal energy into useful work
A method for providing the interaction of the working medium with the heat energy source and also the interaction of the working medium with the additional low-temperature energy source, wherein the positron state of the Dirac's matter is used as said additional low-temperature energy source, and the interaction of the working medium with the additional low-temperature energy source is performed by bringing the working medium into the quantum-mechanical resonance with said state of matter. That is, in order to convert the heat energy into useful work, the capabilities of the quantum-mechanical resonances of the system ‘working medium—additional low-temperature energy source’ are used, i.e. in this case capabilities of the system ‘working medium—positron state of the Dirac's matter’ are used. |
| US07640746B2 |
Method and system integrating solar heat into a regenerative rankine steam cycle
A method to integrate collected solar thermal energy into the feedwater system of a Rankine cycle power plant is disclosed. This novelty uses a closed loop, single phase fluid system to collect both the solar heat and to provide the heat input into the feedwater stream of a regenerative Rankine cycle. One embodiment of this method of integrating solar energy into a regenerative Rankine power plant cycle, such as a coal power plant, allows for automatic balancing of the steam extraction flows and does not change the temperature of the feedwater to the boiler. The concept, depending on the application, allows for the spare turbine capacity normally available in a coal plant to be used to produce incremental capacity and energy that is powered by solar thermal energy. By “piggybacking” on the available components and infrastructure of the host Rankine cycle power plant, considerable cost savings are achieved resulting in lower solar produced electricity costs. |
| US07640745B2 |
High-pressure fluid compression system utilizing cascading effluent energy recovery
A high-pressure system and method utilizing an input fluid. The system includes a reactor treating a material to produce an effluent having an energy content, a plurality of stages compressing the input fluid in a stepwise manner providing a high-pressure reactor input stream to the reactor, and a cascading effluent energy recovery system mechanically communicating with the plurality of stages. The cascading effluent energy recovery system imparts a portion of the energy content of the effluent into each of the plurality of stages powering that stage. The method includes receiving an input fluid, compressing the input fluid over a plurality of stages producing the high-pressure stream, providing the high-pressure stream to the reactor, recovering a portion of the energy content of the effluent at each of the plurality of stages, and using each the portion of the energy in compressing the input fluid at a corresponding respective stage. |
| US07640744B2 |
Method for compensating compressor lag of a hybrid powertrain
A method for compensating for the torque response of an internal combustion engine having a compressor coupled thereto for boosting cylinder air amount is presented. According to the method, a motor of a hybrid vehicle may assist the internal combustion engine to improve vehicle response. The method may improve driver perception of vehicle response and may reduce lag that can be associated with operating an engine having a compressor. |
| US07640743B2 |
Aircraft flight control user interface linkage system
A user interface linkage system includes first and second user interfaces that are linked by a single hydraulic circuit. The system is configured to provide compensation for relatively slow changes in hydraulic fluid pressure due, for example, to temperature variations. The system is also configured to allow the user interfaces to be selectively unlinked from each other. |
| US07640738B1 |
Hydraulic pump and motor module for use in a vehicle
A module for use in connection with a dual pump apparatus, where each pump is hydraulically connected to a separate hydraulic motor. The module may include motors and/or an engine for ease of installation in a vehicle, providing flexibility for different applications. Various brackets, stabilizers and other elements are provided to assist in securing the module to the vehicle. |
| US07640734B2 |
Vehicular torque converter and method for checking assembly of thrust bearing thereof
A turbine hub has a through-hole extending through it in the axial direction. This through-hole is provided such that a portion of a thrust bearing covers part of the through-hole when the thrust bearing has been properly assembled onto the turbine hub, which enables assembly of the thrust bearing to be checked by the relative position relationship between the through-hole and the thrust bearing. If a portion of the thrust bearing does not cover part of the through-hole, it can be determined that either the thrust bearing is not assembled or that it has not been assembled properly. |
| US07640731B2 |
Method for controlling exhaust gas flow and temperature through regenerable exhaust gas treatment devices
A reconfigurable exhaust system provides selective positioning of exhaust gas treatment devices either near, or spaced from, the exhaust gas outlet port of a turbine of a turbocharged Diesel engine. In some embodiments, auxiliary air or a heat exchanger are arranged to cool the exhaust gas when required. |
| US07640730B2 |
Catalyst system for the reduction of NOx and NH3 emissions
This catalyst system simultaneously removes ammonia and enhances net NOx conversion by placing an NH3—SCR catalyst formulation downstream of a lean NOx trap. By doing so, the NH3—SCR catalyst adsorbs the ammonia from the upstream lean NOx trap generated during the rich pulses. The stored ammonia then reacts with the NOx emitted from the upstream lean NOx trap—enhancing the net NOx conversion rate significantly, while depleting the stored ammonia. By combining the lean NOx trap with the NH3—SCR catalyst, the system allows for the reduction or elimination of NH3 and NOx slip, reduction in NOx spikes and thus an improved net NOx conversion during lean and rich operation. |
| US07640728B2 |
Exhaust gas purification apparatus and exhaust gas purification method for internal combustion engine
In an exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine (1) equipped with independent exhaust passages (2a, 2b) provided one for each cylinder group (1a, 1b) with a catalyst (3a, 3b) having a NOx trapping ability being arranged in each exhaust passage, the present invention is intended to provide a technique that can independently control the flow rates of exhaust gases flowing into the respective catalysts. To this end, the exhaust gas purification apparatus according to the present invention provides a communication passage (4) connecting mutually portions of said exhaust passages (2a, 2b) at upstream of said catalysts (3a, 3b), an upstream side switching valve (5) openning and closing said upstream side communication passage (4), a plurality of flow rate regulation valves (6a, 6b) being arranged at downstream of connecting portions of said exhaust passages with said upstream side communication passage, respectively, and a control section (9) controlling said upstream side switching valve (5) and said respective flow rate regulation valves (6a, 6b) in accordance with the states of said respective catalysts (3a, 3b). When the NOx trapping ability of one of the plurality of catalysts (3a, 3b) is regenerated, the control section (9) opens the upstream side switching valve (5), fully closes one flow rate regulation valve (6a, 6b) in one of the exhaust passages (2a, 2b) in which the one catalyst (3a, 3b) is arranged, and operates a reducing agent addition valve (7a, 7b) in such a manner that the reducing agent arrives at the one catalyst (3a, 3b) when the actual degree of opening of the one flow rate regulation valve (6a, 6b) becomes fully closed. |
| US07640725B2 |
Pilot fuel flow tuning for gas turbine combustors
A method and system for controlling combustion in a gas turbine combustor (18) includes adjusting an amount of a premix fuel portion (30) of a pilot fuel (28) provided to a premix burner stage (48) of a pilot (46) of the gas turbine combustor. The amount of the premix fuel portion is adjusted from a preset premix fuel portion amount to an adjusted premix fuel portion amount to achieve a desired first operating condition of the combustor. An amount of a diffusion fuel portion (34) of the pilot fuel provided to a diffusion burner stage (50) of the pilot is then adjusted from a preset diffusion fuel portion amount to an adjusted diffusion fuel portion amount to achieve a desired second operating condition of the combustor. |
| US07640720B1 |
Draper belt construction to control translation
A draper platform includes a frame, a cutter bar, at least one conveyor assembly with two rollers, and a conveyor belt surrounding both rollers. Each of the rollers are mounted to a respective support frame that is independently pivotally mounted to the frame around a transverse axis at its rear end. An assembly for guiding the conveyor belt on the rollers is provided. It includes a ridge on an interior side of the belt and a groove within the roller. The ridge and the groove are provided in the vicinity of the rear end of the rollers. |
| US07640713B2 |
Methods for operating clipping packaging apparatus
Methods, devices and computer program products automatically package an object in a covering material such as casing and/or netting by: (a) automatically pushing at least one object through a product chute; (b) pulling a covering material upstream of the product chute off an exterior surface of the product chute to automatically enclose the object in the covering material as the object exits the product chute; and (c) applying a clip to the covering material to secure the object in the packing material. |
| US07640710B1 |
Method for replacing a louvered panel mounted in a finished opening
A replacement ventilation cover and its method of installation in place of an old damaged ventilation cover. The replacement ventilation cover has a peripheral frame and an air permeable structure contained within the interior of the peripheral frame. Guides are prefabricated in the peripheral frame. The Guides hold nails or screws at acute angles relative to the plane of the opening being covered. To utilize the replacement ventilation cover, a central portion of the damaged ventilation cover is removed. This creates an opening without having to remove the nailing flange of the damaged ventilation cover. Consequently, the siding and trim around the vent opening does not have to be disturbed. The replacement ventilation cover is inserted into the remnants of the damaged ventilation cover. Nails or screws are then driven through the guides and into the construction under the old ventilation cover. |
| US07640707B2 |
Fastening clip
A fastening clip configured to secure a first panel to a second panel may include a base supporting a plurality of resilient beams, and a plurality of tangs outwardly extending from an outer surface of each of the resilient beams. The plurality of tangs are configured to securely engage the first and/or second panels. The fastening clip may also include stabilizing flaps on either side. |
| US07640703B2 |
Demountable and reusable canopy
A demountable and reusable canopy is provided comprising a number of vertical supports, located along an area to be covered, each including a footer which mounts an insert tube below the finish grade of the ground and a post having a hollow interior shaped to receive an exposed portion of the insert tube. A beam is secured to the vertical supports by self-tapping screws which extend into screw cases formed in the posts, and adjacent beams mount decking sections to form the completed canopy. |
| US07640701B2 |
Deflection clip
A deflection clip for erection of partitions in office space and commercial use is disclosed. A deflection clip in accordance with the present invention has a flat base with a left and right clasp that are substantially parallel to the base. The right and left clasps are used to secure the deflection clip to a leg of an open channel track attached to the floor and ceiling. The left and right clasp each have a left and right stud extension tab extending substantially perpendicular from an inside edge of the left and right clasps. The left and right stud extension tabs are used to secure a stud in relation to the open channel track, allowing the ceiling and floor to deflect relative to each other without transferring load to the stud. |
| US07640695B2 |
Planter box
A planter box for transplanting or removing trees, shrubs, or plant material. The planter box includes four corner members and a first and second channel arranged on each corner member. The box has a plurality of wall members arranged within the channels. A plurality of fastening members are arranged between the corner members. |
| US07640694B1 |
Headstone flower mounting system
A headstone flower mounting system includes a headstone that has an upper edge, a front side and a back side. A block has a top side, a bottom side, a first end, a second end, a first lateral side, a second lateral side. The bottom side of the block abuts the upper edge of the headstone. The block is comprised of a material capable of receiving flower stems. A plurality of hook members is extended into the block. A pair of eyebolts extends into the upper edge of the headstone. Each of a plurality of bands is attached to and extends between one of the eyebolts and one of the hook members. A plurality of flowers is extended into the top side of the block. |
| US07640691B2 |
Dual sight scope system and method
A dual sighting optical sight is provided. The sight provides non-inverted images through a rear window and at least one side window so that a user may view a target from either a rear or a side, respectively, of the weapon to which the sight is mounted. The sight is adjustable to a plurality of different positions so that the user can use the sight and weapon from other than directly behind the sight weapon. |
| US07640690B2 |
Stock interface
A stock interface can be slipped onto and attached to a standard CAR buffer tube. The stock interface provides structures for attaching a butt stock and stock interface attachments such as an ergonomic attachment, a container attachment, and a power attachment. Small arms ergonomics can be improved by providing a better cheek weld via an ergonomic attachment. Container attachments provide storage. Power attachments provide electrical power for items such as electronic sighting systems, lasers, lights, or any of the other electronic devices attached to a small arm. |
| US07640686B2 |
Creaser accessory device for hand held steamer
The creaser accessory device includes first and second plates pivotally connected to a lever arm that can be operated by a user to pivot the plates away from each other to receive a portion of a garment, and toward each other to press the portion of the garment such as to form a crease in the garment. The typically have apertures therethrough to allow steam from a hand held steam generating device removably coupled to the creaser accessory device to pass through the apertures to heat the portion of the garment when received in the creaser accessory device. |
| US07640685B2 |
Coupling arrangement
A coupling arrangement for securing two separable components in an excavating operation includes a wear component, a base component and a lock. The lock has a body having a configuration adapted to be received in a hole in the base component, and a rotatable locking member. The locking member includes a flange that is movable between a locking position wherein the flange holds the lock in the assembly and a release position wherein the flange permits the lock to be removed from the assembly. In the release position, the flange sets within the axial extension of the outline of the body. In the locking position, at least part of the flange sets outside the axial extension of the outline of the body. In one construction, the rotation of the locking member to the locking position tightens the fit of the wear component on the base component. |
| US07640680B1 |
Pedorthic systems
The present invention provides improved pedorthic systems for patients having partial foot amputations or foot neuropathies. Custom-molded, custom-made pedorthics with leather linings and molded stiffeners are disclosed, along with methods of manufacture. Custom-molded, custom-made pedorthics and ankle-foot orthoses having solid, molded fillers to replace the volume of missing foot portions are also provided, along with methods of manufacture. |
| US07640674B2 |
Systems and methods for calibrating a portable coordinate measurement machine
An articulated arm portable coordinate measurement machine (PCMM) can be calibrated or recalibrated using a coordinate measurement machine (CMM). In one method for PCMM calibration, the CMM can be moved to one position, and the PCMM moved to a contact position where a probe head of the PCMM contacts a probe head of the PCMM. The PCMM and the CMM can be operatively coupled, for example, by a synchronizing cable such that position data from the PCMM and the CMM can be obtained at the contact position. The PCMM can be repositioned one or more times to obtain position data at multiple PCMM positions. The CMM can be repositioned as desired and additional contact position data sets obtained by subsequent positioning and repositioning of the PCMM. Various probe head types such as touch trigger probes, hard probes, and contact probes can be used in the calibration systems and methods. |
| US07640664B1 |
Process for manufacturing wood-based composite panel with reduced top surface edge flare
The present invention provides a wood-based composite panel that is not susceptible to top surface edge swell, and methods of making the panel. |
| US07640663B2 |
Filter member producing method
A method for fabricating a filtering member in which overlapping portions of a wire are bonded together in a layered manner through thermal treatment for forming a mesh is disclosed. In accordance with the method, a contact surface pressure between portions of the wire to be bonded together is maintained as equal to or higher than a predetermined level set depending on a thermal treatment condition. In this state, the thermal treatment is conducted such that a bonding portion of the wire has a strength equal to or greater than 4N. |
| US07640660B2 |
Method for manufacturing multilayer wiring board incorporating carbon fibers and glass fibers
A multilayer wiring board (X1) comprises a core portion (100) and out-core wiring portion (30). The core portion (100) comprises a carbon fiber reinforced portion (10) composed of a carbon fiber material (11) and resin composition (12), and an in-core wiring portion (20) which has a laminated structure of at least one insulating layer (21) containing a glass fiber material (21a) and a wiring pattern (22) composed of a conductor having an elastic modulus of 10 to 40 GPa and which is bonded to the carbon fiber reinforced portion (10). The out-core wiring portion (30) has a laminated structure of at least one insulating layer (31) and a wiring pattern (32) and is bonded to the core portion (100) at the in-core wiring portion (20). |
| US07640657B2 |
Printed circuit component placement method
A component placement machine includes: a transport device for transporting PCBs in an X-direction; first and a second feeder areas; at least one Y-slide beam that is drivable in the X-direction; and at least two placement heads on each Y-slide beam, which placement heads are independently drivable in the Y-direction and dependently drivable in the X-direction. Each feeder area includes at least one feeder for storing components. Such a machine enables a number of actions to be performed simultaneously. For example, within a certain period of time, a plurality of placement heads can simultaneously pick up components from a feeder, while other placement heads, which previously picked up components, may be moved to desired X-Y positions of the PCB which the previously picked up components may be placed, thereby resulting in an improved output. |
| US07640656B2 |
Method for manufacturing a pre-molding leadframe strip with compact components
A method for manufacturing a pre-molding leadframe strip with compact components is disclosed. The method forms a leadframe strip with an array of component regions, each component region including two metal parts for using as a chip-attached portion, a wire-bonded portion and two external electrical connection conductors. Next, the leadframe strip is plated with a metal layer having high conductivity and die bonding adhesion. Finally, a pre-molded structure on each of the component regions is formed to surround all the other portions of the leadframe strip with an exception of only the two external electrical connection conductors through a multiplicity of pre-molding processes, each pre-molding process molding the leadframe strip at an interval of one or more than one component regions. |
| US07640655B2 |
Electronic component embedded board and its manufacturing method
A second substrate 12 is provided above a first substrate 11, and an electronic component 13 is arranged between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12 so that between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12, the electronic component 13 is sealed and a photosensitive resin 14 having adhesion is provided to bond the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12 to each other. |
| US07640649B2 |
Method for removing a magnetic head slider
A method which enables easy removal of a magnetic head slider soldered to a suspension and easy reuse of the removed parts. In the method for removing the magnetic head slider, heat is applied to a suspension to which at least a part of the magnetic head slider is joined by solder so as to remove the magnetic head slider from the suspension. The heating is locally applied to the junction area of the magnetic head slider and the suspension, which is joined by the solder. |
| US07640647B2 |
Method of assembling a packaged high frequency circuit module
Projecting elongate stub walls are provided on the planar surfaces of a substrate at positions where bonding of the substrate to a clamping lid or base is to be carried out. On firing of the substrate, the surfaces thereof are mechanically processed but since the stub walls protrude from the substrate, the grinding and polishing tools make contact with the surfaces of these stub walls, rather than with the entire substrate surface. As a result, the area of the substrate to be processed is minimised and problems with dishing and erosion are alleviated. This allows the clamping lid, or frame to be bonded, using conventional conductive adhesive processes, avoiding the cracking and stress problems associated with non-uniformity of the surface of the ceramic substrates. |
| US07640644B2 |
Method for fluid-shaping of sheet metal
A method for manufacturing an exhaust gas treatment component having at least one structured piece of sheet metal, includes shaping the at least one piece of sheet metal with at least one fluid stream. A device for producing a structured piece of sheet metal is also provided. |
| US07640639B2 |
Quick connect coupling assembly
A quick connect coupling assembly has a first and second component, and a locking assembly structured to retain the components in an attached orientation with one another. The locking assembly includes a plurality of locking elements each having a locking arm with a locking member mounted to a distal end, wherein the locking members are maintained in an outwardly extending orientation by a biasing mechanism. The biasing mechanism may comprise magnetic biasing elements attached to each oppositely disposed locking element, the magnetic biasing elements structured to create a repulsive magnetic force between one another. The quick connect coupling assembly also includes a release mechanism to permit the locking members to be temporarily disposed into a retracted orientation, thereby permitting the first and second components to be detached from one another. |
| US07640637B2 |
Methods to modify the fibrous landing layer of a foam based fastener and products made from the same
Methods to modify an engaging surface of a fibrous landing layer of a mechanical fastener are generally disclosed, along with products made from the same. For instance, the engaging surface of the landing layer can be mechanically modified to increase the fuzziness of the layer, which allows more fibers to engage the other surface of the mechanical fastener. For example, the improved engaging surface of the landing layer can increase the shear resistance of a mechanical fastener comprising a foam layer and a landing layer. |
| US07640632B2 |
Article for holding currency and credit cards
An article for holding currency and credit cards is disclosed which comprises (a) a first length of substantially non-stretchable material having a first end and a second end configured to form a closed flat loop when the first end is retained on or near the second end, a lumen in the first length, a flat length of bendable metal within the lumen in the first length which allows the closed flat loop to retain a desired shape, the closed flat loop having a length which is slightly longer than half the length of U.S. currency; (b) a second length of substantially non-stretchable material having a middle, a first end, a second end, and a lumen, the first end and the second end secured to the first length of substantially non-stretchable material, thereby forming a second flat loop slightly wider than the width of U.S. currency, the middle secured to a point on the first length (a) to maintain the first flat loop perpendicular to the second flat loop, the lumen in the second length containing a flat strip of bendable metal. |
| US07640629B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal including a first body, a second body having a display unit and arranged to overlap the first body in a closed state, and a hinge module connecting the second body to the first body such that the second body is rotatable around a first axis generally perpendicular to the first body. The hinge module being configured to allow a portion of the second body to be elevated so as to be slantingly arranged with respect to the first body in an open state. |
| US07640627B2 |
Door-stopping device for motor vehicles
A door-stopping device for motor vehicles, includes a door holder bar, a support housing including a passage for the door holder bar to pass through, and a locking unit disposed in the support housing, which includes two pivotally mounted locking levers. Each locking lever is pre-tensioned by a spring element towards each other and towards the door holder bar. Each locking lever comprises a locking element. The locking elements bear on mutually opposite sides against the door holder bar and are adapted to engage with the locking grooves on the door holder bar. For the door-stopping device to present diverse possibilities of design, to be manufactured in a cost-effective manner and to occupy only little space, the spring elements are arranged substantially parallel to the door holder bar. |
| US07640626B2 |
Suction brush of vacuum cleaner for both vacuum cleaning and steam cleaning
A suction brush of a vacuum cleaner for both vacuum cleaning and steam cleaning is provided. The suction brush includes a brush main body connected to a cleaner main body; a steam generating unit for heating water being supplied from a water storage tank mounted on the brush main body and spraying steam generated by heating the water on the surface to be cleaned; a turbine fan, installed in the brush main body, for generating a rotating force by the drawn-in air that flows into the brush main body; a power transfer unit for being driven by the rotating force of the turbine fan; and at least one pair of duster rotating plates, arranged on a lower part of the suction brush, for being rotated by power being transferred through the power transfer unit. |
| US07640625B2 |
Vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner includes a cyclone dust separating unit which includes a cyclone part to separate dust from a dust-laden air drawn from a surface being cleaned using a centrifugal force, a dust collecting part comprising a dust chamber to accommodate the dust separated at the cyclone part, and a compressing part to compress the dust accommodated in the dust chamber. The compressing part includes a driving part to rotatably drive a driving axis, and a compressing plate driven in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the driving axis according to the rotation of the driving axis, and to compress the dust accommodated in the dust chamber. As a result, a vacuum cleaner is provided, which requires a minimum space for the installation of a compressing part to compress dust inside the dust collecting part, and provides maximum compressing force of the compressing part. |
| US07640622B2 |
Floor surface cleaning and resurfacing equipment
Floor surface scrubbing and resurfacing equipment including a hydraulic system and adjustable linkages to allow a user to adjust particular features to suit the equipment for different applications. |
| US07640617B2 |
Cleaning device including a pivot joint
A cleaning device including a cleaning member and a handle connected to the cleaning member. The handle includes a first member and a second member. The first member includes a ball member and the second member includes a socket. The ball member being disposed in the socket to couple the first member and the second member and enable the second member to pivot with respect to the first member. |
| US07640615B2 |
Electric toothbrushes
An electric toothbrush is provided. The electric toothbrush includes a handle having an electric motor, a head, and a neck extending between the handle and the head. The head has first end disposed adjacent to the neck and a second end opposite the first end. The head has a first bristle holder with a plurality of bristles disposed therein and a second bristle holder having a plurality of bristles disposed therein. The first bristle holder is located at the second end of said head. A rotating shaft is operatively connected to the electric motor and to the first moving bristle holder to reciprocate the first moving bristle holder in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the head. |
| US07640606B2 |
Mattress hugging bed rail
A bed rail structured to minimize the gap between the mattress and the bed rail and including a leg portion and a rail portion. The rail portion extends upwardly on a first side of the mattress to extend beyond the sleeping surface of the mattress and prevent a person from rolling out of bed. The leg portion is sandwiched between the mattress and the box spring and extends toward a second side of the mattress. In one embodiment, the leg portion includes a distal end that is engaged to the second side of at least one of the mattress and box spring such that the distal end and rail portion hug the mattress. In another embodiment, the bed rail includes a relatively rigid cover depending from an upper portion of the rail portion to the sleeping surface so as to cover a gap that may exist between the first side of the mattress and the rail portion. In still another embodiment, the rail portion is set at an acute angle relative to the leg portion so as to tend to close off any gap between the first side of the mattress and the rail portion. In another embodiment, the wall of the rail portion may include tubing and the rail portion may be drawn against the bed with a strap extending about the periphery of the bed. |
| US07640599B2 |
Bib for illustrating an infant's last feeding time
A bib for illustrating an infant's last feeding time, including a cover member for covering a predetermined portion of at least one of an infant and an infant's clothing. The cover member being manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size and first predetermined shape. A securing mechanism is operably connected to such cover member at predetermined location thereon for securing such cover member at least one of around such infant's neck, to such infant and to such infant's clothing. Indicia is formed on such cover member illustrating predetermined information relating to a last feeding time of such infant. An indicator mechanism is disposed on such cover member for indicating such infant's last feeding time. |
| US07644440B2 |
Integrity ordainment and ascertainment of computer-executable instructions with consideration for execution context
An implementation of a technology, described herein, for facilitating the protection of computer-executable instructions, such as software. At least one implementation, described herein, may generate integrity signatures of one or more program modules—which are sets of computer-executable instructions—based upon a trace of activity during execution of such modules and/or near-replicas of such modules. With at least one implementation, described herein, the execution context of an execution instance of a program module is considered when generating the integrity signatures. With at least one implementation, described herein, a determination may be made about whether a module is unaltered by comparing integrity signatures. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims. |
| US07644439B2 |
Timing attacks against user logon and network I/O
In a first aspect of the invention, method for classifying characters within a character string entered via a keyboard device includes logging interrupts, checking a time between interrupts, checking an interrupt duration and classifying the characters within the character string based upon the time between interrupts and the interrupt duration. In a second aspect of the invention, a method for protecting against timing attacks against a trusted path mechanism includes employing a multithreaded process with a first thread to prevent any timing Trojan horses from running, running the first thread in a loop at a first priority and preventing unprivileged processes from obtaining a priority higher than the first priority. |
| US07644436B2 |
Intelligent firewall
An intelligent firewall that prevents unauthorized access to a system has been developed. The fire wall does not use a communication address. It receives a data packet and analyzes it to determine its final disposition. Finally, the firewall handles the data packet according to its final disposition. |
| US07644430B2 |
Apparatus for and method of creating a device page for a device which does not support a predetermined protocol on a home network
In a home network to which a client device and a plurality of server devices are connected, using a web browser in a client device and determining whether the plurality of devices are devices which support protocols required by the client device, respectively. Accessing the plurality of devices and obtaining and receiving a corresponding Internet protocol address through a process for receiving a predetermined Internet protocol address for each of the accessed devices is a device which supports the desired protocols. Receiving an address determined by the client device for each of the accessed devices which does not support the desired protocols. Creating a device page for displaying the plurality of devices, by arranging the addresses on the web browser. |
| US07644428B2 |
Receiving apparatus having integrated program guide that integrates program information received from plural transmission media
The present invention provides an easy-to-search program guide having efficient display contents of program information when receiving digital broadcasting from plural transmission media. A program information extracting unit extracts program information for channels receivable from a first and a second transmission media, and stores the extracted program information of individual channels in a storing unit. A program information integrating unit, when integrating program information of the first transmission media and program information of the second transmission media, compares program information stored in the storing unit, and integrates duplicate program information of a same channel, if any, into one piece of program information. A display contents creating unit creates a program guide based on the integrated program information, and displays it in a display unit. |
| US07644425B2 |
Picture-in-picture mosaic
The PIP system enables display of a mosaic of favorite channels in a Picture-in-Picture (PIP) format to a subscriber terminal. Picture-in-Picture support is efficiently provided by sending only I-Frames of the secondary video channel to the end-user. That is, any unnecessary packets (null, B-P frames, audio, etc.) in the secondary video channel are stripped away. This method uses very little bandwidth and is STB agnostic. |
| US07644424B2 |
Location detector for digital cable television appliances
A method of auditing operation of a cable television appliance consistent with certain embodiments involves detecting an event that triggers an audit; generating a fingerprint value, wherein the fingerprint value is function of the cable television network characteristics at an authorized installation location; comparing the fingerprint value with a stored reference value; if the fingerprint value is within specified limits of the stored reference value, permitting the cable television appliance to carry out a normal operational function; and if the fingerprint value is outside of specified limits of the stored reference value, inhibiting the cable television appliance from carrying out a normal operational function. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US07644423B2 |
System and method for generating media consumption statistics
Techniques are described for generating statistics that reflect the consumption of media resources, such as television program resources. The techniques involve polling a group of devices identified in a random sample list or a custom sample list to collect event data describing the consumption of resources by the devices. Lower-bound and upper-bound thresholds are applied to remove or modify event data that may not accurately reflect the legitimate consumption of resources. Varying probability weights can also be assigned to events to reflect their likelihood of representing the legitimate consumption of resources. Based on such filtered event data, for a given device, a computation technique computes the percentage of time that the user has consumed a particular resource relative to a total amount of time in a time segment. Similar percentages are computed for other devices and other time segments to provide plural percentage values. Rating information and share information are computed based on these calculated percentage values. The tracking functionality compiles the calculated statistics into various web-enabled UI presentations and provides these reports to an operator over an intranet or like network. |
| US07644422B2 |
Interactive service device metering systems
A metering system meters usage of on-line and off-line services by way of interactive service devices. Interactive service devices may include personal computers and non-personal-computers. Non-personal-computers may include network computers, gaming devices, Internet televisions, Internet telephones, and the like. The on-line service usage may include Internet usage such as which home pages, advertisements, and other Internet resources are accessed by a user. The off-line service usage may include application program usage such as which application programs are executed by a user. |
| US07644421B2 |
Optical pickup
An optical pickup for disc device has elastic wires 15 reliably connected with a dumping gel box 6. Guide members 18 are provided integrally with the dumping gel box 6 along bottom edges of side surface 6 as of the dumping gel box 6 while portions of the guide members 18 opposing to the grooves 11 are cut out to form air outlet holes 19 for the communication of the grooves 11 with outside atmosphere. The connection wiring 13 in the form of a printed circuit film or strip is folded to have a U-shape and attached to a back surface 6b and the both side surfaces 6a of the dumping gel box 6 and both end portions 13a of the connection wiring 13 are tentatively adhered to the both side surfaces 6a of the dumping gel box 6 by quick drying adhesive 20. Thermosetting adhesive 14 is filled in the grooves 11 and heated to be set and finally adhere the both end portions 13a of the connection wiring 13 to the both side surfaces 6a of the dumping gel box 6. Ends 15b of elastic wires 15 extending from a lens holder 7 are attached against and soldered on lands 12 of the connection wiring 13. |
| US07644418B2 |
Optical disk drive comprising dust removing apparatus
An optical disk drive, which includes a main frame, an upper case coupled to an upper portion of the main frame, a tray slidably installed on the main frame, having a door, and adapted to carry a disk, and a front panel coupled to a front end portion of the main frame and having an aperture through which the tray passes, including an air discharging passage between the main frame and the front panel to discharge air and dust introduced into the optical disk drive through a gap between the door and the front panel to an outside of the optical disk drive. |
| US07644417B2 |
Disc apparatus
A disc apparatus is provided in which a disc inserted by automatic loading by a plurality of arms supporting outer peripheral edges of two kinds of discs with different diameters can be loaded into the disc apparatus or a disc accommodated within the disc apparatus can be unloaded from the disc apparatus. This disc apparatus includes an elevation frame for swinging a turntable on which the disc is fixed and rotated in the upper and lower direction, wherein a rotary base plate of a disc supporting arm is slightly distorted in the initial state in which the elevation frame is lowered, whereby a tip end of a holder provided at a tip end of the disc supporting arm approaches or contacts the surface of the elevation frame to prevent a rear end side of a large-diameter disc or a small-diameter disc from entering the lower surface of the holder. |
| US07644416B2 |
Access to a target object with desired functionality
A system and method provide access to a target object associated with a desired functionality. This is accomplished by creating an instance of a pre-existing object, replacing one or more functions of a table shared by all objects of the object's class, and triggering a call that ultimately causes the replacement functions to be called to allow access to the target object. The system includes software portions for enabling the method. |
| US07644414B2 |
Application program interface for network software platform
An application program interface (API) provides a set of functions for application developers who build Web applications on Microsoft Corporation's .NET™ platform. |
| US07644413B2 |
User mode device driver interface
A user mode device driver interface (UMDDI) is disclosed. The UMDDI is preferably implemented in Windows® NT® version 5.0 and similar systems. The UMDDI allows a device driver to execute in user-mode while the graphics engine (GRE) remains in kernel-mode. The UMDDI exists as a layer between the user-mode driver and GRE; from the perspective of GRE, it encapsulates the user-mode driver and makes it appear to be a normal kernel-mode driver. The UMDDI layer handles the kernel-to-user and user-to-kernel transitions, parameter validation, and management of the kernel-mode and user-mode data and objects. |
| US07644405B2 |
System with required enhancements to SyncML DM environment to support firmware updates
A system for employing SyncML DM for updating firmware in mobile handsets and other devices. The system employs enhancements to SyncML DM specifications. A SyncML management client employs new commands, specified by the present invention, for retrieving update packages for firmware updates, for the verification of a received update package, the command for saving the update package in an appropriate management object, the command for initiating an update process by an update agent and the command for the subsequent notification of the results of processing by the update agent (success, failure, etc.). More specifically, the SyncML DM management client employs new commands, specified by the present invention, for retrieving update packages for firmware updates and for updating the firmware selectively based on appropriateness, security and authentication, employing fault tolerant means. |
| US07644404B2 |
Network having customizable generators and electronic device having customizable updating software
Disclosed herein is a network having a customizable update generator and electronic devices having customizable updating software adapted to dynamically incorporate support for new instruction extensions in an existing instruction set. The customizable generator may be adapted to generate updates employing instruction sets executable by the customizable updating software in the electronic devices. The customizable updating software may be adapted to be dynamically enhanced and to support an enhanced instruction set. The updating software may be adapted to retrieve a complementary updating component during execution of an update. The electronic device may be adapted to employ at least one of several available and retrieved complementary update components during execution of an update. In conjunction with retrieved complementary update components, the updating software may be adapted to update the firmware, the software, the operating system, and other application components while employing an appropriate update to the electronic device. |
| US07644401B2 |
Executable file creation
The present invention provides a method, apparatus and computer program product for combining a plurality of run units into a single executable file. According the invention each run unit may contain one or more data entities which are designated as being required only once in an executable file. As a result when the executable file is built, if a run unit with a data entity of a given value is to be added to an executable file, if a previous run unit with a data entity with a matching value has previously been added to the executable file, the run unit is added to the executable file but without the data entity. |
| US07644400B2 |
System and method for delivering content to mobile devices
The illustrative embodiment of the present invention provides a platform that enables a content developer to distribute uniform content to multiple types of requesting mobile devices. By authoring content in a generic markup language and using the technologies included in the Mobile Content Framework(MCF), the content developer is able to provide content to multiple types devices without providing different versions of the content. The content may be authored originally in the generic markup language or translated from other languages into the generic markup language by the MCF. The MCF exploits the capabilities and accommodates the limitations of different types of wireless devices by converting generic markup language content to device-specific content. The MCF interacts with device registries holding records of the device attributes in order to provide the device-specific content. The MCF handles these issues for current mobile devices while also being extensible for future mobile devices. |
| US07644395B1 |
System and method employing bytecode modification techniques for tracing services within an application server
A system and method for employing bytecode modification techniques for tracing services within an application server. Application servers, such as those based on the Java 2 Enterprise Edition (“J2EE”) standard, include a variety of different services. In one embodiment of the invention, a group of services executed on an application server are identified for tracing. For each service in the group, a group of entry and/or exit methods to be traced are identified. The group of entry/exit methods may represent entry and/or exit points to and from the service, respectively. Once the service's method are identified, the service's bytecode is modified based on the particular group of entry/exit methods specified. The service is then executed and method invocations of the bytecode modified entry/exit methods are registered. |
| US07644392B2 |
System and method for active configuration management
A system and method for active configuration management of the components of a data repository maintained in memory of a computer system is disclosed herein. The method includes creating a plurality of file system event objects in response to the occurrence of a corresponding plurality of events associated with ones of the components. A plurality of file system event objects are then entered into an event queue. Next, a sequence of configuration management (CM) operations involving identified ones of the components are executed on the basis of corresponding ones of the file system event objects. |
| US07644376B2 |
Flexible architecture for notifying applications of state changes
Described is a method and system a unified mechanism for storing device, application, and service state, as well as a rich notification brokerage architecture. Clients register with a notification broker to receive notifications for changes to state properties. When a registered state property changes, a notification broker determines which clients to notify of the state change and provides the client with a notification regarding the change. Clients may be notified whenever a state changes, when a state change meets a predetermined condition, or based on a schedule. An application may also be launched in response to a state change. An application programming interface (API) is provided that provides a unified way of accessing state change information across different components within the device. |
| US07644374B2 |
Computer input control for specifying scope with explicit exclusions
Methods and systems providing a user interface control allowing a user to specify a scope of items on a computer system or network is disclosed. Certain aspects provide an input control through which a user can specify an explicit scope, or range, of items, while also identifying explicit exclusions from the specified scope, thereby reducing ambiguity regarding identification of items included and items excluded from the scope. When a user explicitly selects an item for inclusion in the scope, the explicitly selected item is added to the scope definition, and all descendants of the explicitly selected item are implicitly selected for inclusion. When a user explicitly selects an item for exclusion from the scope, the explicitly selected item is added to the scope definition as an exclusion from an explicitly included item, and all descendants of the explicitly selected item are implicitly selected for exclusion. |
| US07644373B2 |
User interface for viewing clusters of images
A method and system for providing a user interface for presenting images of clusters of an image search result is provided. The user interface system displays the search result in a cluster/view form using a cluster panel and a view panel. The cluster panel contains a cluster area for each cluster. The view panel may contain thumbnails of images of the search result in a list view or a mix view. When a user selects a cluster area from the cluster panel, the user interface system displays a list view of thumbnails for that cluster in the view panel. The user interface system may display a thumbnail list near a cluster area of the cluster panel. The thumbnail list contains mini-thumbnails of the images of the selected cluster. The user interface system may also display a detail view of an image in the view panel when a user selects an image. |
| US07644372B2 |
Area frequency radial menus
System and method of adjusting selection areas of menu options in a radial menu utilize the frequency of selection of each of the menu options to adjust the size of various selection areas over time. The sizes of menu options or selection areas with relatively high frequency of use may increase, while the sizes of the selection areas of the remaining menu options may decrease. In addition, the size of the menu options may be further adjusted to return to the original arrangement, e.g., in which the size of each of the selection areas is equal or occupies some predetermined area. The user may hold an electronic pen over the radial menu or select an icon from the radial menu to resize the selection areas to return to the original arrangement. |
| US07644371B2 |
User interface and method to facilitate hierarchical specification of queries using an information taxonomy
A user interface, system, and method are disclosed to facilitate specification of queries and displaying corresponding results. The user interface presents the user with dimensions that contain one or more headings arranged according to an information taxonomy, which can vary based on the intended implementation for the system and user interface. A corresponding filter or query is constructed based on the user selecting of one or more headings. The filter is applied to one or more databases to return results that satisfy the filter. The results are presented in the user interface and can include interactive items based on a particular query as well as can correspond to a fully specified task. |
| US07644367B2 |
User interface automation framework classes and interfaces
A method and system providing a client with user interface information are described. The method and system implement a set of application program interfaces for providing user interface information to a client through an accessibility system. The accessibility system includes a mechanism for transferring user interface information from a provider side to the client side and a logical tree for selectively revealing user interface information. The application program interface system includes client side application program interfaces for assisting the client in obtaining user interface information. The client side application program interfaces include an automation class, a logical element class, a raw element class, control pattern classes, and an input class. The provider side application program interfaces include a provider automation class, a provider automation interface, a raw element interface, and control pattern provider interfaces. |
| US07644364B2 |
Photo and video collage effects
A media editing application for creating and displaying video effect clips. A detection component detects video files stored in a memory of a computer. A user interface displays the detected video files and various video effects that can be applied to video files. The user interface is responsive to a user selecting one or more of the detected video files to apply a selected video effect to the selected video files to create the video effect clip. The user interface is further responsive to user input to display the video effect clip. |
| US07644362B2 |
Alternative user-interface
A system for programming a programmable device having an interface for a portable memory medium has an interactive interface executable on a stand-alone computer appliance for creating a program for the programmable device, a portable memory medium, and a downloading mechanism for transferring the created program to the portable memory medium. |
| US07644360B2 |
Patent claims analysis system and method
A system and method for facilitating patent grant and patent application claims examination; including the functions of automated importing of patent claims, automated parsing of the claims into their hierarchy, and compression/expansion of the parsed claims to/from the independent claim level. |
| US07644358B2 |
Usability of a portal application
The present system in one embodiment provides a conversion module that receives and converts webpage documents to an Adobe Acrobat compatible format for further processing. In some embodiments the present system provides and enacts a plurality of conversion rules to convert the webpage so that it may be stored, printed or emailed. In other embodiments the user is further able to customize the conversion rules and select between the plurality of conversion rules used in the document conversion process. |
| US07644356B2 |
Constraint-based albuming of graphic elements
Methods, machines, systems and machine-readable instructions for albuming graphic elements are described. In one aspect, candidate relative layouts of graphic elements on a page are identified. Each of the candidate relative layouts describes a respective set of layout relationships among the graphic elements. A respective set of constraints describing the corresponding set of layout relationships among the graphic elements is generated for each of the candidate relative layouts. A respective determinate layout of the graphic elements on the page is determined from each set of constraints. One of the determinate layouts is selected as a final layout of the graphic elements on the page. |
| US07644347B2 |
Silent data corruption mitigation using error correction code with embedded signaling fault detection
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for mitigating silent data corruption using an error correction code having embedded signaling fault detection. In an embodiment, a memory controller includes an extended error correction code (ECC) and link signaling fault detection logic. The extended ECC includes embedded signaling fault detection. In one embodiment, the extended ECC augments the signaling fault detection capabilities of the signaling fault detection logic. |
| US07644345B2 |
Bit distributor for multicarrier communication systems employing adaptive bit loading for multiple spatial streams and methods
In a multicarrier transmitter that transmits two or more spatial data streams, a bit distributor assigns encoded bits to the spatial data streams based on bit-loading capabilities of the streams and in a manner to intermix the bits among the spatial streams. |
| US07644342B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
An ECC circuit (103) is located between I/O terminals (1040-1047) and page buffers (1020-1027). The ECC circuit (103) includes a coder configured to generate check bits (ECC) for error correcting and attach the check bits to data to be written into a plurality of memory cell areas (1010-1017), and a decoder configured to employ the generated check bits (ECC) for error correcting the data read out from the memory cell areas (1010-1017). The ECC circuit (103) allocates a set of 40 check bits (ECC) to an information bit length of 4224=528×8 to execute coding and decoding by parallel processing 8-bit data, where data of 528 bits is defined as a unit to be written into and read out from one memory cell area (101j). |
| US07644340B1 |
General convolutional interleaver and deinterleaver
A circuit is provided for performing interleaving and deinterleaving functions in a digital communication system. The circuit includes a single-port memory that reads first data units from a first interleaved sequence of address locations to generate a first data stream and that writes second data units from a second data stream to the address locations. A first address generator module communicates with the single-port memory and generates a first interleaved sequence of addresses that correspond to the address locations and correspond to one of an interleaving function and deinterleaving function between the first data stream and the second data stream. |
| US07644334B2 |
Requirements-based test generation
This test generator takes data flow block diagrams and uses requirements-based templates, selective signal propagation, and range comparison and intersection to generate test cases containing test vectors for those diagrams. The templates are based on the functionality and characteristics of a block type, and each block type has associated templates. These templates provide maps for the creation of test values that verify the functionality of particular instances of that block type. Signal propagation allows the generation of diagram-level test cases that verify particular characteristics of a single embedded block. The methods disclosed for signal propagation utilize range intersection, equivalence classes, and block type formulae to create efficient and complete test cases. This test generation method would preferably be repeated until all blocks in a data flow block diagram were verified in their respective contexts, and it creates test cases that cover multiple time steps. |
| US07644332B2 |
Integrated circuit and method for identifying propagation time errors in integrated circuits
An integrated circuit is disclosed. In one embodiment, for each clock domain there is at least one clock driver which is situated in the integrated circuit and which drives circuits situated in the clock domain. Each clock driver in the clock domain contains a clock input and an enable input, and its output outputs the clock received at the clock input if an enable signal is applied to the enable input. The clock driver receives a clock derived from the signal at the functional clock input, and the enable signal is connected in line with the values stored in the signal sequence registers if there is a signal change at the scan clock input when the scan chain shift mode has been switched off. |
| US07644331B2 |
System and method for testing and debugging analog circuits in a memory controller
A method and apparatus is presented for debugging and testing a memory controller. In one embodiment, a testing interface is presented for performing stuck-at testing. In a second embodiment, a testing interface is presented for observing clock timing in a memory controller. |
| US07644329B2 |
Integrated circuit testing method and related circuit thereof
A chip with an integrated circuit testing function includes a selecting unit positioned before a flip-flop of a scan chain, where the scan chain connects a scan-in pad, a scan-out pad and the flip-flop. When the chip is packaged and the scan-in pad does not connect to a pin of a package, the selecting unit selects a scan-in signal from another scan chain and transmits the scan-in signal from the another scan chain to the flip-flop; and when the chip is packaged and the scan-in pad connects to a pin of the package, the selecting unit selects a scan-in signal from the scan-in pad and transmits the scan-in signal from the scan-in pad to the flip-flop. |
| US07644328B2 |
Sharing routing of a test signal with an alternative power supply to combinatorial logic for low power design
A device shares an existing test signal routing trace with an alternative power supply delivery channel to portions of registers located in combinatorial logic sections. |
| US07644327B2 |
System and method of providing error detection and correction capability in an integrated circuit using redundant logic cells of an embedded FPGA
A system and method of providing error detection and correction capability in an IC using redundant logic cells and an embedded field programmable gate array (FPGA). The system and method provide error correction (EC) to enable a defective logic function implemented within an IC chip design to be replaced, wherein at least one embedded FPGA is provided in the IC chip to perform a logic function. If a defective logic function is identified in the IC design, the embedded FPGA is programmed to correctly perform the defective logic function. All inputs in an input cone of logic of the defective logic function are identified and are directed into the embedded FPGA, such that the embedded FPGA performs the logic function of the defective logic function. All outputs in an output cone of logic of the defective logic function are identified, and the output of the FPGA is directed to the output cone of logic of the defective logic unction, such that logic EC is provided within the embedded FPGA structure of the IC chip. |
| US07644326B2 |
Testing system and testing system control method
A testing system includes a plurality of test applying portions and a plurality of testing portions, each test applying portion having a test device that generates an output signal and each testing portion tests the output signal of the test device, in response to the test applying portion. The testing system further includes a switch portion that switches the output signal of the test device between the test applying portions and the testing portions. The switch portion includes, a first switch having an input port and a plurality of output ports, which selects the output port for connecting the input port, a second switch having a plurality of input ports and an output port, which selects the input port for connecting the output port, and a connecting portion that has a plurality of transmission parts that connect the output ports of the first switch and the input ports of the second switch. |
| US07644322B2 |
Hardware flow control monitor
Systems for detecting unexpected program flow may include a hardware program flow monitor to generate an interrupt signal if a software program flow value does not match an incrementally updated hardware value when a processor executes a program flow check instruction. In some examples, a program of instructions may include a number of program flow check instructions. When a program flow check instruction is executed, the processor may send the software value to be compared to the hardware register value. In an illustrative example, program execution causes the hardware value to be incremented in a hardware register. Upon execution of a program flow check instruction, the hardware value is compared to a software value associated with the program flow check instruction to determine if the program instructions have been executed in an expected sequence (e.g., according to an expected program flow). |
| US07644315B2 |
Diagnostics and error reporting for common tagging issues
Content requests are debugged in accordance with a presence of a flag in a request to a publisher. A document received from the publisher contains a script to debug requests for content to a content provider. The requests are examined to determine the presence of informational, warning and error conditions. The conditions are written to a debugging user interface. |
| US07644314B2 |
Retroactive verbose logging
Retroactive verbose error logging may be provided. Loggable event entries associated with software installation during installation may be saved. Each of the loggable event entries may have a first level or a second level. In addition, the loggable event entries associated with the first level and the second level may be saved to a log file if an error occurs during the software installation. Furthermore, the loggable event entries associated only with the first level may be saved to the log file if a milestone occurs during the software installation and the error has not occurred before the milestone occurs. The software installation may be stopped if the error occurs during the software installation and the software installation may continue if the milestone occurs during the software installation. |
| US07644311B2 |
Logic soft error rate prediction and improvement
A process and system for estimating the soft error rate of an integrated circuit. The process involves determining the surface area of and charge stored on each logic node on the integrated circuit. Then a response curve is used to estimate the soft error rate for a logic node using the charge stored on the logic node. Different response curves exist for integrated circuits of different technologies and products. Finally, the soft error rate of the integrated circuit can be estimated using the soft error rates for each logic node. |
| US07644309B2 |
Recovering a hardware module from a malfunction
The invention relates to a recovery of a hardware module of an electronic device from a malfunction state. The hardware module is connected via a signal line to a recovery component of the device, a state of the signal line being controlled by the hardware module. The recovery component monitors a state of the signal line. Whenever the signal line is detected not to assume a predetermined state during a predetermined period of time, the recovery component causes a hardware reset of the hardware module. |
| US07644307B2 |
Functional validation of a packet management unit
A validation system is disclosed for validating function of a packet-management unit operationally coupled through a system interface to a processing unit of a processor system. The validation system comprises a user interface for creating an inputting test parameters and test code into the system, a test generator coupled to the user interface, the test generator for generating input packet activity in the form of a packet stream, a model coupled to the test generator for emulating separate and integrated function of the packet management unit, the system interface, and a stream-processing unit and an evaluation software for checking and validating or not validating results. The system validation function relies, in a preferred embodiment, on comparing output results with criteria of the selected test code resulting in an indication of pass or failure of the test. In a preferred embodiment, the system also notifies to cause of failure. |
| US07644306B2 |
Method and system for synchronous operation of an application by a purality of processing units
A method for effecting synchronized operation of an application by a plurality of processing units, each processing unit may include an application processing section coupled with an own data store and a communication section coupled for communications with other processing units, includes: (a) operating each processing unit to store data relating to the operation of the application in its own data store; (b) recognizing a processing unit experiencing an anomalous event disruptive of data as a needy processing unit; and (c) when the anomalous event is past, operating the needy processing unit to effect access to all other data stores than its own data store to obtain updated data. The access may be effected by the needy processing unit operating as a subscriber unit communicating with respect to the other data store operating as a publisher unit. |
| US07644305B2 |
Quorum establishment based on a vote from a voting device
A cluster system including as few as two cluster nodes and a plurality of links, each one of the plurality of links coupling one of the cluster nodes to a voting device wherein a single surviving cluster node obtain a vote from the voting device. A method of establishing quorum in a cluster system including as few as two cluster nodes, the method comprising determining a single surviving cluster node of the as few as two cluster nodes, obtaining a vote from a voting device, and establishing quorum such that cluster operations are continued by the single surviving cluster node. A method for preventing a partition-in-time quorum establishment problem in a cluster system including as few as two cluster nodes, the method comprising determining that a revived cluster node is also a sole active cluster node of the cluster system, checking a last-surviving flag of the sole active cluster node, and if the last-surviving flag is set to FALSE, not restarting cluster operations. |
| US07644300B1 |
Fast resynchronization of data from a remote copy
A method for resynchronizing a first copy of data on a first storage system from a second copy of the data on a second storage system includes, at a regular checkpoint interval, the first storage system pushing data in its cache that were modified prior to a checkpoint time to its nonvolatile storage and saving the checkpoint time to its nonvolatile storage. The method further includes, at a regular snapshot interval greater than the checkpoint interval, the second storage system taking snapshots of the second copy of the data. When the first storage system has an uncontrolled shutdown, the second storage system determines the snapshot closest in time to the last checkpoint time and sends the difference between the last snapshot and the second copy of the data to the first storage system to recover data lost during the uncontrolled shutdown. |
| US07644299B2 |
Fault tolerant security system, method and apparatus
A security system comprises a host system, a plurality of master controllers and a plurality of sub-controllers, wherein each sub-controller is assigned a specific master controller as well as alternate master controllers for communication access upon failure of the primary master controller. The host, master controller and sub-controllers are all coupled by a series of primary communication networks and paths and have multiple alternative communication network paths which function should there be a failure of the primary communication network. The host system comprises system and application software, data storage devices and communication ports to support the application requirements of the master controller, sub-controller network and access control devices attached thereto necessary to support a fault tolerant network. The system is configured with backup communication networks between the components so that upon failure of one or more components or communication paths the function of the failed component or path is assumed by alternative predesignated components or paths such that the operations of the system is not interrupted. |
| US07644298B2 |
Processor, control device for a processor, clock frequency determining method and source voltage controlling method of a processor
A processor comprises a clock signal generator generating clock signals; an operational processing part performing data processing which is divided into a plurality of execution units, in accordance with the clock signals; a storage storing data used when each execution unit is executed by the operational processing part; a data amount detector detecting amounts of the data stored in the storage per each execution unit; a clock frequency determining part determining a new clock frequency of the clock signals by using the amounts of the data, said clock signals being supplied newly to the operational processing part. |
| US07644295B1 |
Powering a human machine interface by way of USB
A human machine interface (HMI) device comprises a power recognition component that determines at least one power source that is providing power to the HMI device, wherein the at least one power source is one of a host device providing power by way of a Universal Serial Bus connection, an AC power source, a DC power source, and a battery. A selector component can automatically select a subset of functionalities to enable with respect to the HMI from amongst several possible functionalities based at least in part upon the at least one determined power source. |
| US07644294B2 |
Dynamically self-decaying device architecture
A power management method and mechanism for dynamically determining which of a plurality of blocks of an electrical device may be powered on or off. A device is contemplated which includes one or more power manageable groups. A power management unit associated with the apparatus is configured to detect instructions which are scheduled for execution, identify particular power group(s) which may be required for execution of the instruction, and convey an indication which prevents the particular power group(s) from entering a powered off state, in response to detecting said instruction. If the power management unit does not detect an incoming or pending instructions, for a predetermined period of time, which requires a particular power group(s) for execution, the power management unit may convey an indication which causes or permits the corresponding power group(s) to enter a powered off state. A power group may automatically decay to a powered off state in the absence of a detected instruction requiring the power group. Instructions may be encoded to identify required power groups. |
| US07644287B2 |
Portion-level in-memory module authentication
Dynamic run-time verification of a module which is loaded in memory (in whole or in part) for execution is enabled by using pre-computed portion-level verification data for portions of the module smaller than the whole (e.g. at the page-level). A portion of the module as loaded into memory for execution can be verified. Pre-computed portion-level verification data is retrieved from storage and used to verify the loaded portions of the executable. Verification data may be, for example, a digitally signed hash of the portion. Where the operating system loader has modified the portion for execution, the modifications are reversed, removing any changes performed by the operating system. If the portion has not been tampered, this will return the portion to its original pre-loaded state. This version is then used to determine validity using the pre-computed portion-level verification. Additionally, during execution of the module, new portions/pages of the module which are loaded can be verified to ensure that they have not been changed, and a list of hot pages of the module can be made, including pages to be continually reverified, in order to ensure that no malicious changes have been made in the module. |
| US07644286B1 |
System and method for restricting data access
A system and method for restricting data access from an electronic document configured to access external data resources (e.g., websites, disk storage). To restrict unwanted data sharing, the document is prohibited from accessing external data resources unless it has a token corresponding to the resource. “Get” tokens and “send” tokens are granted, respectively, whenever the document is permitted to receive data from or send data to a data resource. Every attempt to receive data is automatically approved. An attempt to send data is approved automatically only if the document: (a) has no get tokens, (b) has only one get token and is attempting to send to the same resource, or (c) already has a send token corresponding to the resource and the set of get tokens has not changed since data was last sent to the resource. Otherwise, the attempt must be approved by an operator or data access policy. |
| US07644284B1 |
Specifying security protocols and policy constraints in distributed systems
A recent secure authentication service enforcing revocation in distributed systems is provided. Authenticity entities impose freshness constraints, derived from initial policy assumptions and authentic statements made by trusted intermediaries, in authenticated statements made by intermediaries. If freshness constraints are not presented, authentication is questionable. The freshness constraints can be adjusted. The delay for revocation can be arbitrarily bounded. The freshness constraints within certificates results in a secure and highly available revocation service such that less trust is required of the service. |
| US07644280B2 |
Method and system for linking certificates to signed files
A method for processing a file having an existing filename. A private key associated with a digital certificate and a certificate address from which the digital certificate may be accessed are received from a certification authority (CA) who issued the digital certificate. A digital signature is generated based on the file and the received private key. The digital certificate includes a public key associated with the private key such that the generated digital signature can be verified through use of the public key. The file is signed with the generated digital signature The received certificate address is encoded to generate an encoded address. The existing filename and the encoded address are merged to generate a new filename. The file is renamed with the new filename. The renamed file may be authenticated by verifying the digital signature via execution of an authentication algorithm in conjunction with the public key. |
| US07644278B2 |
Method for securely creating an endorsement certificate in an insecure environment
A Method and system for ensuring security-compliant creation and signing of endorsement keys of manufactured trusted platform modules. The endorsement keys are generated for the trusted platform module (TPM). The TPM vendor selects an N-byte secret and stores the N-type secret in the trusted platform module along with the endorsement keys. The secret number cannot be read outside of the trusted platform module. The secret number is also provided to the credential server of the original equipment manufacturer. During the endorsement key (EK) credential process, the trusted platform module generates an endorsement key, which comprises both the public key and a hash of the secret and the public key. The credential server matches the hash within the endorsement key withy a second hash of the received public key (from the endorsement key) and the vendor provided secret. The EK certificate is generated and inserted into the trusted platform module only when a match is confirmed. |
| US07644276B2 |
Method for verifying a secure association between devices
In a first aspect the present invention provides a method for verifying that a secure association has been formed between a first device and a second device. The method includes, enabling a user of the first device to select a verification indicator, and encrypting the verification indicator using an encryption key of the first device to form cipher text. The cipher text is then communication to the second device using a multi-part communication protocol, and decrypted using an encryption key of the second device to obtain a received verification indicator. The method includes verifying the association is secure if the received verification indicator is the same as the selected verification indicator. |
| US07644274B1 |
Methods of protecting against spam electronic mail
Methods of preventing spam email in an email system include determining whether a sender of email to a receiver of email has paid a required setup price or cost to become a registered sender of email to the receiver. If it is determined that the sender has not paid the required setup cost, then the receiver can reject the sender's email to thereby eliminate the receipt of unwanted spam messages. In order to qualify as a registered sender, the sender undergoes a qualification scheme wherein it pays the required cost, which may be for example monetary or computationally related, and is assigned an encrypted key by the receiver which allows the sender to send to the receiver email authenticated using the unique key associated with the sender and receiver. The receiver has the option of accepting or rejecting email from a sender in this fashion and can change the required setup cost or requirement at any time to ensure that the sender does not try to corrupt the email system once registered. |
| US07644272B2 |
Systems and methods for providing security to different functions
Methods and systems are provided that use smartcards, such as subscriber identity module (SIM) cards to provide secure functions for a mobile client. One embodiment of the invention provides a mobile communication network system that includes a mobile network, a mobile terminal, a server coupled to the mobile terminal via the mobile network, and a subscriber identity module (SIM) card coupled to the mobile terminal. The SIM card includes a first key and a second key. The first key is used to authenticate an intended user of the mobile terminal to the mobile network. Upon successful authentication of the intended user to the mobile network, the mobile terminal downloads a function offered from the server through the mobile network. The second key is then used by the mobile terminal to authenticate the intended user to the downloaded function so that the intended user can utilize the function. |
| US07644270B1 |
Web services security architecture
A system to validate a request for web services which includes a digital certificate is provided. The system includes a first certification authority that provides a public encryption key and a certificate revocation list in response to requests. The system also includes a certification revocation list component that determines whether a digital certificate is named in the certification revocation list, a certificate verification component that determines whether a digital certificate is valid, a plurality of verifier components that determine the validity of a request for web services and each of which operates in accordance with a different one of a plurality of OASIS Web Services Security versions. The system also includes a management component to determine the version of the OASIS Web Service Security version of the web services request and to select an appropriate verifier component. |
| US07644269B2 |
Method of controlling access
To control access to elements within a bus system or network, an external device identifies itself with a bus manager or network manager via a device-specific identifier. After authentication on the basis of a digital key, access is granted to the external device in accordance with its membership in a certain class of elements of the bus system or network. |
| US07644268B2 |
Automated electronic messaging encryption system
A system and method of automating the management of public and private key pairs of a sender and recipient of electronic messages over a network and for retrieving public keys of senders or recipients from secured servers, local key rings, PKI server, or Certificate Authority without requiring client-side software or user maintenance. |
| US07644267B2 |
Controlling access to services in a communications system
A proxy network element for controlling access to services in a communications system is disclosed. The proxy network element is configured to communicate with at least one further network element using a protocol belonging to a plurality of protocols, the at least one further network element controlling service usage based on service subscriptions. The proxy network element is also configured to provide access for the at least one further network element to at least one information store storing information relating to service subscriptions. The proxy network element provides support for communicating using the plurality of protocols and support for accessing a plurality of different information stores. |
| US07644264B1 |
Method and system for creating and deploying disk images
An exemplary computerized method is disclosed, comprising booting a destination computer in a pre-boot mode after a disk image comprising a first operating system is downloaded to the destination computer, initiating an identification module in the pre-boot mode to identify a device of the destination computer, receiving a device identifier of the device of the destination computer, identifying, using the device identifier, a driver compatible with the device, and downloading the driver to the destination computer before the destination computer is booted into the first operating system of the disk image for the first time. The method may also comprise receiving a hardware-abstraction-layer identifier of a hardware-abstraction layer of the destination computer, identifying a hardware-abstraction-layer file compatible with the hardware-abstraction layer of the destination computer, and downloading the hardware-abstraction-layer file to the destination computer. Corresponding computer-readable mediums and systems for deploying a disk image are also disclosed. |
| US07644262B1 |
Application modifier based on operating environment parameters
A system and method adapted to modify or configure an application based, at least, upon a parameter of an operating environment. An interrogation component adapted to interrogate an operating environment receiving defining parameters. A modification component adapted to modify the application based, at least, upon the defining parameters of the operating environment. |
| US07644261B2 |
Reset device for a computer system
A reset device for a computer system is provided. The reset device includes a hardware-reset signal generating circuit for outputting a hardware-reset signal to reset the computer system, a first switch, and a second switch having a first contact, a second contact, and a third contact. The third contact can be selectively electrically connected to the first contact to enable the hardware-reset signal generating circuit to output the hardware-reset signal when the first switch is turned on, or the second contact to output a software-reset signal to a central processing unit of the computer system when the first switch is turned on. |
| US07644260B2 |
File update system and boot management system of mobile communication terminal, method of updating file in mobile communication terminal, and method of booting mobile communication terminal
Disclosed are a file update system of a mobile communication terminal which is capable of recovering Same Owner ID Error caused by damage of a file header in an EFS (Embedded File System) area of the mobile communication terminal, a boot management system of a mobile communication terminal which is capable of preventing a fatal error caused by damage of a file header in an EFS area of the mobile communication terminal, a method of updating a file in the mobile communication terminal, and a method of booting the mobile communication terminal which is capable of preventing a fatal error caused by damage of a file header in an EFS area of the mobile communication terminal. |
| US07644251B2 |
Non-volatile solid-state memory controller
A controller includes a volatile random access memory and translation hardware. The volatile random access memory includes a table having at least one entry. The at least one entry includes a portion of a physical address of a memory location at a NAND flash non-volatile solid-state memory. The volatile random access memory is accessible to the translation hardware. The translation hardware is configured to sum binary data bits of a portion of a logical address and a pointer value to determine a random access memory address of the at least one entry and is configured to determine the portion of the physical address of the memory location at the NAND flash non-volatile solid-state memory based at least in part on the random access memory address of the at least one entry. |
| US07644250B2 |
Defining pin functionality at device power on
An orientation detector within a device package is used to establish the device orientation. A host controller coupled to the device supplies a control signal to at least one of the pins on the device during a setup phase. The pin that receives the control signal is used for active signaling during normal operations of the device. Based on the control signal, the orientation detector generates an orientation signal within the device. An analog or digital selector circuit connects the pins to correct internal circuit components according to the device orientation. |
| US07644247B2 |
System controller for flash memory
A system controller exchanges data with a memory controller. The system controller includes an interpreting unit, a first instruction data supplying unit, a second instruction data supplying unit, and a controlling unit. The second instruction data supplying unit transfers the first operation instruction data provided from a host system to the memory controller. If the interpreting unit interprets the first operation instruction data as data instructing to begin an operation with the second instruction data supplying unit, the controlling unit shifts to a first mode that halts the first instruction data supplying unit and that begins an operation with the second instruction data supplying unit. |
| US07644246B2 |
Using limits on address translation to control access to an addressable entity
A data storage resource is identifiable by physical addresses, and optionally by a virtual address. A policy defines which resources are accessible and which resources are not accessible. A request to access a resource is allowed if access to the resource is permitted by the policy, and if carrying out the access will not cause virtual addresses to be assigned to resources to which the policy disallows access. Since resources to which access is disallowed do not have virtual addresses, certain types of access requests that identify a resource by a virtual address can be allowed without consulting the policy. |
| US07644242B2 |
Control device of a storage system comprising storage devices of a plurality of types
The control device acquires the archive deadline of archive target data and acquires, for storage devices of a plurality of types, a warranty deadline for the quality of data stored by the storage device and the unit cost which is the cost for each predetermined storage size of the storage device. The storage control device is a storage device which acquires a data migration cost and which obtains a storage destination for the archive target data from storage devices of a plurality of types on the basis of the archive deadline, warranty deadline, unit cost and data migration cost thus acquired. The storage control device selects a storage device for which the total cost is minimum when the archive target data is archived until the archive deadline. |
| US07644238B2 |
Timestamp based transactional memory
A hardware implemented transactional memory system includes a mechanism to allow multiple processors to access the same memory system. A set of timestamps are stored that each correspond to a region of memory. A time stamp is updated when any memory in its associated region is updated. For each memory transaction, the time at which the transaction begins is recorded. Write operations that are part of a transaction are performed by writing the data to temporary memory. When a transaction is to be recorded, the hardware automatically commits the transaction by determining whether the timestamps associated with data read for the transaction are all prior to the start time for the transaction. In this manner, the software need not check the data for all other processes or otherwise manage collision of data with respect to different processes. The software need only identify which reads and writes are part of a transaction. |
| US07644236B2 |
Memory cache bank prediction
A memory cache bank prediction unit is provided for use in a processor having a plurality of memory cache banks. The memory cache bank prediction unit has an input port that receives an instruction. The memory cache bank prediction unit also has an evaluation unit, coupled to the input port, that predicts which of the plurality of memory cache banks is associated with the instruction. |
| US07644228B2 |
Distributed storage system with global replication
A data storage system apparatus and associated method with a virtualization engine connectable to a remote device over a network for passing access commands between the remote device and a storage space. A plurality of intelligent storage elements (ISEs) are configured for replicating data from a first ISE to a second ISE independently of access commands being simultaneously passed between the virtualization engine and the first ISE. |
| US07644226B1 |
System and method for maintaining RAM command timing across phase-shifted time domains
According to one exemplary embodiment, a RAM employing system includes a RAM and a RAM controller coupled to the RAM. The RAM employing system further includes a command queue, which is configured to receive time encoded RAM commands from the RAM controller. The RAM is configured to retrieve, decode, and execute each of the time encoded RAM commands in the command queue. |
| US07644221B1 |
System interface unit
A processor including an integrated system interface unit configured to manage multiple I/O interfaces and multiple protocols. A processor includes a plurality of processing cores, a cache comprising a plurality of banks, and a system interface unit coupled to the processing cores and the cache. The system interface unit includes an inbound unit configured to receive inbound transactions from a first I/O unit and a second I/O unit, and an outbound unit configured to convey outbound transactions to either the first I/O unit or the second I/O unit. Each of the first and second I/O units is configured to support different protocols. Prior to conveying transaction data to the system interface, the first I/O unit and second I/O units reformat transaction data to conform to a common format. The system interface receives and stores transaction data in either queues dedicated for cacheable transactions or queues dedicated for non-cacheable transactions. In addition, each of the I/O units may also indicate in the common format whether a given transaction is to be ordered with respect to other transactions. The system interface may separately store ordered transactions from those which are non-ordered. |
| US07644220B2 |
Programmable controller
In a programmable controller including a special unit, a special-purpose integrated circuit element can be readily utilized for multiple purposes to extend the range of applications to reduce a manufacture cost. A special unit (130) connected to a microprocessor for performing I/O control through a bus includes an integrated circuit element (10) having a logic circuit unit (1000n (n=0 to 7)) whose operation specifications are determined by a parameter memory. The logic circuit unit (1000n) includes a reversible counter used for both high-speed input processing and high-speed output processing as a main component, and is connected to I/O interface circuits (139X) (139Y) through a first port (11) and a second port (12). In addition, because the function of the logic circuit unit (1000n) is determined by a content of a special instruction in a sequential program, the logic circuit unit (1000n) is commonly used for various types of I/O interface circuits to allow the integrated circuit element to be used for multiple purposes. |
| US07644217B2 |
Detecting connection to a USB host or hub without using an extra status input
A low power Universal Serial Bus (USB) capable device uses a weak pull-up resistance that is coupled to at least one data line of the USB for detection of when the USB capable device is connected to a USB host or hub. When the USB capable device is not connected to the USB host or hub, USB peripheral, including the USB transceiver, USB voltage regulator, serial interface and/or USB logic circuits required for USB operation may be powered down to conserve power drawn by the USB capable device. When the USB capable device is connected to the USB host or hub, a voltage from the weak pull-up will be significantly reduced, thus signaling that the USB peripheral and associated circuits should be powered up for normal USB operation. |
| US07644213B2 |
Resource access manager for controlling access to a limited-access resource
Methods and devices utilizing operating system semaphores are described for managing access to limited-access resources by clients. |
| US07644212B2 |
Communication and/or control apparatus and method for detecting locking states in same
A method for detecting locking states in communication and/or control appliances (SGi) dispersedly networked together by a data bus (2) compares a message currently transmitted by a communication and/or control appliance (SGi) to a previously transmitted message. It determines and the absence of a locking state of the communication and/or control appliance (SGi) if the messages are different. A message counter is encoded in the transmitted message if the messages are identical and decodes the message counter in a communication and/or control appliance (SGi) receiving the message. It determines the absence of a locking state at the communication and/control appliance (SGi) if the value of the message counter has changed relative to a previous value of the message counter of a previously transmitted message and determines a locking state of the communication and/or control appliance (SGi) if the message counter value has not changed after a specific waiting time (tw). |
| US07644211B2 |
Method and system for controlling transmission of USB messages over a data network between a USB device and a plurality of host computers
A solution is provided for controlling universal serial bus (USB) messages between a plurality of host computers and a USB device. First and second USB servers may communicate with first and second host computers, respectively. A USB client may then communicate with the USB device. A first control path between the USB client and the first USB server and a second control path between the USB client and the second USB server may be established. Then a first data transfer path may be established between the USB client and the first USB server, the first data transfer path enabling the sending of data between the USB client and the first USB server over a data network. Then a busy message may be sent from the USB client to the second USB server over the second control path when the first data transfer path is established with the first USB server. |
| US07644210B1 |
Method and system for storing and retrieving a translation of target program instruction from a host processor using fast look-up of indirect branch destination in a dynamic translation system
Dynamic translation of indirect branch instructions of a target application by a host processor is enhanced by including a cache to provide access to the addresses of the most frequently used translations of a host computer, minimizing the need to access the translation buffer. Entries in the cache have a host instruction address and tags that may include a logical address of the instruction of the target application, the physical address of that instruction, the code segment limit to the instruction, and the context value of the host processor associated with that instruction. The cache may be a software cache apportioned by software from the main processor memory or a hardware cache separate from main memory. |
| US07644207B2 |
High speed bus for isolated data acquisition applications
An isolated data acquisition device including a plurality of data acquisition channels, an isolated system management unit coupled to the data acquisition channels, a host system management unit, a serial bus coupled to the host system management unit and the isolated system management unit, and isolation circuitry coupled to the serial bus. The isolation circuitry electrically isolates the host system management unit from the isolated system management unit and the data acquisition channels. During operation, the isolated system management unit and the host system management unit may each store data associated with one or more pending bus transactions. Each of the system management units may select at least one of the pending bus transactions according to a predetermined priority scheme, encode and serialize the data associated with the selected bus transaction, and transmit the serialized data across the isolation circuitry to the other system management unit via the serial bus. |
| US07644205B1 |
System and method for SAM-3 prioritization in iSCSI using 802.1q ethernet prioritization
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for mapping a small computer system interface (SCSI) architecture model-3 (SAM-3) task priority to an IEEE Standard 802.1q tag control information (TCI) field. Four bits that define a SAM-3 task priority are mapped to the three user priority bits within a standard 802.1q TCI field. By enabling the SAM-3 task priority of a given SCSI command to determine the user priority within a related IEEE 802.1q Ethernet frame, the Ethernet network is enabled to substantially honor the requested task priority for the SCSI command. |
| US07644203B2 |
System for supplying power for peripheral devices
A supplementary power supply for a peripheral device is provided. The supplementary power supply comprises a first connector, a second connector, a power source, and a path. The first connector is operable to couple to a host device. The second connector is operable to couple to the peripheral device. The power source is operable to provide electrical power to the peripheral device via the second connector. The path is operable to allow data to pass between the host device and the peripheral device. A method for providing electrical power to a peripheral device is also provided. |
| US07644201B2 |
Method and system for performance enhancement via transaction verification using a counter value in a polled data storage environment
A method of verifying the passage of a data write across a bus is provided including sending the data write from an originator across the bus to a target, counting the number of data entries received at the target with a counter, and transmitting a return echo write from the target across the bus to a return address. The method further includes attaching the counter value to other data associated with the return echo write and polling the return address. The method allows determination of the completion of a data write by comparing the number of data entries included in the data write with the counter value polled from the return address. Alternatively, in a data streaming environment the progress of a data write may be determined by comparing the number of data entries included in the data write at a select point in time with the counter value polled from the return address. Typical data entries which are counted may include, but are not limited to, bytes, words, double words, or similar data quantities. |
| US07644197B1 |
Queue management by multiple processors
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for processing an ordered sequence of elements in one or more queues. A first element is received from a queue at a first processor. The first element is processed during a first processing time. A second element is received from a queue at a second processor. The second element is processed during a second processing time. The first and second processed elements are committed serially to a write queue, such that a temporal order between the first and second elements in the queues is maintained regardless of the durations of the first and second processing times. |
| US07644192B2 |
Analyzing the behavior of a storage system
In order to investigate the behavior of a data storage system, the time differences between commands from an analysis device and the completion of the operations defined by those commands are analyzed. The method may use a factorial parameter table definition representing common threads of I/O events in a patterned, cyclic nature, using a host computer as the host application emulator and data logger. The workload definition is provided either from hypothetical proposed thread parameters, or by statistical and common factorial analysis of real application I/O traffic analysis, or a combination of both. The generated workloads can be run while measuring the I/O event completion timings and event queuing characteristics, facilitating engineering interpretation of results for the purpose of analyzing the effects of workload and system architectural design factors, and optimization or evaluation of total system configurations. |
| US07644187B2 |
Internet protocol based encryptor/decryptor two stage bypass device
A system (706, 714) is provided for a network signaling protocol bypass around a cryptographic device (1008, 1108). The system is comprised of a first bypass device (1004-1, 1004-2) configured to parse a GIST signaling transport protocol identifier (960) from a transport layer protocol header (906) of a packet (900). The first bypass device is also configured to communicate the packet to a second bypass device (1006-1, 1006-2) if the GIST signaling transport protocol identifier is a NTLP or NSIS signaling transport protocol identifier. The second bypass device is configured to parse a NSLP protocol identifier (970) from a NSLP layer protocol header (910). The second bypass device is also configured to determine whether the NSLP protocol identifier is equal to a predetermined NSLP protocol identifier. If the NSLP protocol identifier is not equal to the predetermined NSLP protocol identifier, then the packet may be bypassed around the cryptographic device. |
| US07644178B2 |
End to end test between gateways in a IP network
The present invention relates to methods and arrangements to test end to end relations between gateways MGW1, MGW2 in an IP network IPNW, which method comprises the following steps: 1) reserving call handling resources CH231-CH260 in a destination gateway MGW2; 2) sending data packets RTP/UDP/IP from an originating gateway MGW1 to the reserved call handling resources CH231-CH260; 3) looping back the received data packets RTP/UDP/IP, from the destination gateway MGW2 to the originating gateway MGW1; 4) providing quality statistics for the received data packets, in the originating gateway MGW1. |
| US07644174B2 |
Method of and apparatus for transmitting universal plug and play audio/video stream
A method of and an apparatus for transmitting a universal plug and play audio/video (UPnP-AV) stream is disclosed, which transmits a media stream from a media server to an media renderer, using an integrated protocol which combines an universal plug and play (UPnP) audio/video (AV) protocol and a residential Ethernet (ResE) subscription protocol. According to the method, an integrated protocol combining an UPnP-AV protocol and an Ethernet protocol can be used. Additionally, a secured quality of service (QoS) can be provided for the UPnP-AV stream. |
| US07644172B2 |
Communicating via a connection between a streaming server and a client without breaking the connection
Data can be streamed from a server to a client via an established connection. Commands (e.g., commands to navigate the streamed data) can be communicated to the server and streaming can continue (possibly from a different location) without breaking the connection. In one implementation, the connection is an HTTP 1.1 (HyperText Transfer Protocol version 1.1) connection. |
| US07644169B2 |
System and method for providing connectivity between two different networks using different protocols
A system and a method for providing message connectivity between a first network using a first protocol and a second network using a second protocol. If a message is received from the first network, the message is processed using one or more digital signal processors, a destination in the second network is determined, the processed message is logged and translated into the second protocol, and the translated message is sent to the destination in the second network. If the message is received from the second network, the message is translated into the first protocol, a destination in the first network is determined, the translated message is logged and processed using one or more digital signal processors, and the processed message is sent to the destination in the first network. This method can be implemented as a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium. |
| US07644168B2 |
SAS expander
Systems and methodologies associated with providing additional functionality to a conventional SAS expander are described. One exemplary SAS expander embodiment includes logic for selectively performing source identifier checking for frames received at the SAS expander. The logic may also facilitate selectively performing explicit route checking for frames received at the SAS expander. In one example, the logic may also facilitate selectively providing VLAN-like services to devices connected to the SAS expander. |
| US07644164B2 |
Relay program, communication processing program, and firewall system
A relay program, communication processing program, and firewall system capable of simplifying security management in a firewall. In a firewall, only an aggregation port that is an aggregation of one or a plurality of ports to be allowed to pass through is set to be allowed. When a communication source client makes a connection with a target connection request destination connected to an internal network, the communication source client issues connection request information specifying the target connection request destination with its destination set to the aggregation port. In a relay server, a connection request information acquisition unit reads the connection request information that passed through the firewall and is input via the aggregation port. A relay unit changes the destination to the target connection request destination based on the connection request information and sends the connection request information to the target connection request destination to thereby make a connection request, and also sends connection result information obtained from the target connection request destination to the communication source client. |
| US07644163B2 |
Plug and play mobile services
This invention describes “plug and play” methodology for configuring a terminal, enabled for handling data-protocol services (e.g. GRPS), for the data-protocol services specific to a service provider so as to be able to connect said terminal to an IP backbone network via a network, which provides said data-protocol services and which is provided by said service provider. The invention further consists of using a well-known access point node (APN) name, and a well-known uniform resource locator (URL) string to access a service provider specific help-portal server of the network to request information for configuring the terminal. A core part of the invention is the fact that the security of the download is ensured by means of a chain of trust that originates with a trusted home location register or the well-known APN name, and is built using a trusted APN, the well-known URL string and a trusted domain name service. |
| US07644161B1 |
Topology for a hierarchy of control plug-ins used in a control system
Information from control plug-ins organized in a hierarchy is received. The control plug-ins control an allocation of resources for an application. Relationships between the control plug-ins are determined based on the received information, and a topology of the control plug-ins is generated. |
| US07644156B2 |
Content display monitor
The invention can enable monitoring of the display of content by a computer system. Moreover, the invention can enable monitoring of the displayed content to produce monitoring information from which conclusions may be deduced regarding the observation of the displayed content by an observer. The invention can also enable monitoring of the display at a content display site of content that is provided by a content provider site over a network to the content display site. Additionally, the invention can enable the expeditious provision of updated and/or tailored content over a network from a content provider site to a content display site so that the content provider's current and appropriately tailored content is always displayed at the content display site. Aspects of the invention related to transfer of content over a network are generally applicable to any type of network. However, it is contemplated that the invention can be particularly useful with a computer network, including private computer networks (e.g., America Online™) and public computer networks (e.g., the Internet). In particular, the invention can be advantageously used with computer networks or portions of computer networks over which video and/or audio content are transferred from one network site to another network site for observation, such as the World Wide Web portion of the Internet. |
| US07644152B2 |
Communication of messages in a system
A method and arrangement for selecting a recipient of a message. The method can be used in association with a control system that includes a processor adapted for object oriented data processing and a communicator for communication with a plurality of recipients. In the method a recipient for a message that is associated with an object is selected based on information regarding at least one association the object has with objects representing the recipients. A communication system for communication of control messages, a data signal generated for communication in a computerized control system, and a user terminal for a control system are also provided. |
| US07644150B1 |
System and method for network traffic management
The present invention relates to a method of managing a network. The method steps includes extracting a signature from a first traffic flow of a plurality of traffic flows on the network based on layer-3/layer-4 information of the first traffic flow, storing the signature and an identification of a layer-7 application associated with the signature in a signature repository, identifying a second traffic flow of the plurality of traffic flows being associated with the layer-7 application by correlating the second traffic flow to the signature, and managing the network based on layer-7 application identification of the plurality of traffic flows. |
| US07644146B2 |
System and method for discovering communities in networks
The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method for discovering communities in networks. The system and method may include selecting a plurality of nodes from a network of nodes to serve as poles, setting weight values for the poles, applying a community-discovering algorithm based on the weight values, and dividing the network into communities based on a result obtained from the community-discovering algorithm. |
| US07644143B2 |
Data processing device, registration method, and program
A data processing device according to the present invention can request a first server to transmit identification information for identifying the data processing device and an address of the data processing device to a second server. Moreover, the data processing device can also transmit the identification information for identifying the data processing device and the address of the data processing device to the second server without the intermediation of the first server. |
| US07644142B2 |
Methods and apparatus to perform process placement for distributed applications
Methods and apparatus to perform process placement for distributed applications are disclosed. An example method comprises determining a mapping between a communication graph representative of communications of a distributed application and a topology graph representative of communication costs associated with a computing network, and executing the distributed application with the processes of the distributed application assigned to the processing entities of the computing network based upon the mapping. |
| US07644141B2 |
High-availability identification and application installation
An apparatus and method is described for identification of applications that benefit from HA features and assisting a system administrator in the installation of the applications in an application server with HA features configured properly for run-time operation. In preferred embodiments, an HA policy engine allows a system administrator to set up one or more general HA policies in a policy table. In a preferred embodiment, an HA run-time engine uses the policies in the policy table to configure new applications being installed in the application server. Other embodiments include an application inspection unit that introspects the byte code of the application as well as deployment descriptors to determine which features and APIs are being used that can take advantage of HA functions. |
| US07644136B2 |
Virtual file system
A virtual file system including multiple storage processor nodes including a management node, a backbone switch, a disk drive array, and a virtual file manager executing on the management node. The backbone switch enables communication between the storage processor nodes. The disk drive array is coupled to and distributed across the storage processor nodes and stores multiple titles. Each title is divided into data subchunks which are distributed across the disk drive array in which each subchunk is stored on a disk drive of the disk drive array. The virtual file manager manages storage and access of each subchunk, and manages multiple directory entries including a directory entry for each title. Each directory entry is a list of subchunk location entries in which each subchunk location entry includes a storage processor node identifier, a disk drive identifier, and a logical address for locating and accessing each subchunk of each title. |
| US07644129B2 |
Persistence of common reliable messaging data
Method and system for processing single WS-RM sequence by a plurality of clustered application server instances, sharing persisted RM sequence data related to WS-RM protocol. The common RM sequence data, associated with a plurality of RM requests is cached in a buffer that is associated with an application server instance. An independent messaging system is associated with the application server instance to handle RM common data persistence in WS-RM protocol implementation. |
| US07644128B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for operating an electronic mail or messaging system in which information associated with an attachment is sent to a destination for evaluation before sending the attachment
An electronic mail/messaging system is operated by compiling information associated with an attachment for an electronic mail at a source. The information includes initial information and descriptive information. The initial information is sent to a destination. A determination is made whether the destination has a file that matches the attachment based on the initial information. The attachment is sent to the destination if the destination does not have the file. The descriptive information is sent to the destination if the destination has the file. A determination is made whether the file matches the attachment based on the descriptive information. The attachment is sent to the destination if the file does not match the attachment based on the descriptive information. |
| US07644127B2 |
Email analysis using fuzzy matching of text
Translation of text or messages provides a message that is more reliably or efficiently analyzed for purposes as, for example, to detect spam in email messages. One translation process takes into account statistics of erroneous and intentional misspellings. Another process identifies and removes characters or character codes that do not generate visible symbols in a message displayed to a user. Another process detects symbols such as periods, commas, dashes, etc., interspersed in text such that the symbols do not unduly interfere with, or prevent, a user from perceiving a spam message. Another process can detect use of foreign language symbols and terms. Still other processes and techniques are presented to counter obfuscating spammer tactics and to provide for efficient and accurate analysis of message content. Groups of similar content items (e.g., words, phrases, images, ASCII text, etc.) are correlated and analysis can proceed after substitution of items in the group with other items in the group so that a more accurate detection of “sameness” of content can be achieved. Dictionaries are used for spam or ham words or phrases. Other features are described. |
| US07644120B2 |
Industrial process control data access server supporting multiple client data exchange protocols
A method and process control data server system architecture are disclosed for providing process data to a variety of client applications via a plurality of differing data sharing standards. The system architecture incorporates a ready platform for subsequently added client application data exchange protocols. In an exemplary embodiment, a set of standard interface definitions between client application data exchange protocol-specific plugins and a data access server engine supports incorporating new client application data exchange protocols by means of plugins designed to interface with the data access server engine according to the standard interface definitions. |
| US07644119B1 |
Computer network scanning
A computer network scanning system and method for fulfilling a scan order using at least one scanner node on a computer network. The computer network scanning system comprising: (A) at least one computer terminal adapted to receive input for the creation of the scan order; (B) at least one order entry server computer configured to create and distribute the scan order; and (C) at least one scanner node, each scanner node configured to process scan orders sent to or retrieved by the scanner node. The computer network scanning method comprising the steps of: (W) creating a scan order; (X) submitting the scan order to a scanner node; (Y) processing the scan order at the scanner node; and (Z) updating the computer network scanning system of the completion of the scan order. |
| US07644117B2 |
Turnkey reseller program for registering domain names
A reseller program may be used to increase the number of Customer desired domain names that are registered by a Registrar. There are two main embodiments of this reseller program. In the first embodiment, Resellers guide Customers to a Registrar web site through the use of advertisements, links in various web sites and/or links from search engines. The Registrar web site communicates directly with the Customer and registers the Customer desired domain names and compensates the Reseller for guiding the Customer to the Registrar web site. In the second embodiment, Resellers have their own reseller web sites that communicate directly with the Customers and communicate the desired domain names to the Registrar web site so the Registrar web site can register the Customer desired domain names. In this embodiment, the Customer may compensate the Reseller and the Reseller may compensate the Registrar for the services rendered. |
| US07644116B2 |
Digital implementation of fractional exponentiation
Provided are digital processing apparatuses and techniques for estimating the fractional exponentiation of the base number 2, i.e., 2f where f is a fractional value. In one representative embodiment, a calculation is made of a folded quantity, which is equal to 1−f if f is greater than a specified threshold and is equal to f otherwise; then, a function of the folded quantity is calculated; and finally, the function of the folded quantity is subtracted from the fraction f and 1 is added. In another embodiment, 2f is approximated by calculating 1+f′ in the binary numbering system. |
| US07644115B2 |
System and methods for large-radix computer processing
Systems and methods for performing large-radix numeric operations. A first number may be segmented into large-radix segments, wherein numbers of the segments are generated such that radix of the segment is greater than radix of the first number. As a result, a plurality of disparate processor-based computing systems may be configured to perform various numeric operations on the large-radix segments of the number and output results of a numeric operation as a number whose radix is equal to the radix of the first number. |
| US07644114B2 |
System and method for managing memory
A method that allows use of a memory page dirty bit by a number of modules. |
| US07644111B2 |
Framework for content representation and delivery
In a content delivery scheme for target files, one or more recipes for each of the target files are encoded in an index. The index uses a framework that is able to represent content delivery schemes involving static containers, dynamic containers, self-contained containers, containers that are not self-contained, containers with internal delta dependency and containers with no internal delta dependency. |
| US07644106B2 |
Avoiding lock contention by using a wait for completion mechanism
Techniques for avoiding lock contention when processing data definition language (DDL) statements are provided. Some DDL statements modify metadata of a table and then require access to the table. After such a DDL statement modifies the metadata of a table and the updated metadata is made available (i.e., published) to other database statements, execution of the DDL statement is suspended. Data manipulation language (DML) statements acquire locks on the table. In one approach, the locks, of any DML statement, that are granted after the DDL statement is issued are timestamped. The DDL statement uses the timestamps to determine when to access the table. The timestamps are used to determine when the last DML statement (that was pending at the time the modified metadata was published) commits and releases its lock on the table. |
| US07644104B2 |
Image data transmission system and program for image data transmission system
An image data transmission system includes: a first procedure section includes: a path name acquisition unit that acquires a path name of a file; a directory path name specifying unit that specifies a path name of a directory associated with a character string; a path name conversion unit that converts the character string into the path name of the directory; a converted path name providing unit that provides the converted path name; and an image data providing unit that provides an image data; and a second procedure section comprises: a converted path name acquisition unit that acquires the path name; a data reading unit that reads file data stored in the file; an image data acquisition unit that acquires the image data; and a data processing unit that performs a process of the image data, using the file data and the image data. |
| US07644103B2 |
MediaDescription data structures for carrying descriptive content metadata and content acquisition data in multimedia systems
A MediaDescription data structure that includes both descriptive metadata, such as EPG information, about a multimedia content item and instructions for acquiring the content item is assigned to each multimedia content item in a multimedia system. A MediaDescription data structure is transferable as a token for representing the content item. The acquisition information may also include information about presenting the content item in different view contexts, as well as information about relationships to other pieces of content, and information about how each different version of the content item is to be acquired and displayed. MediaDescription data structure tokens can be used to facilitate digital video recording (DVR) processes, Internet content rendering processes, multimedia search processes, search results aggregating processes, video-on-demand (VOD) processes, pay-per-view processes, and program guide rendering processes. |
| US07644101B2 |
System for generating and managing context information
An apparatus, method, system, computer program and product, each capable of generating or managing context information in a manner useable or editable by an information management system. The context information describing the context in which a search task is performed is used to generate information useful to a user. |
| US07644100B2 |
Dynamic accessible reporting tool (DART)
A flexible metadata driven and workflow based report generation system is disclosed. The system comprises a Flexible Reporting GUI with four components that allow the user direct control in the creation of a report within a single application: a Data Generator for retrieving data, a Report Designer with a built-in report designer application, a Report Deployment element for deploying the report and an Report Run element for interactively running the report. The Flexible Reporting GUI allows a user to run a report with updated data stores, and to define the various parameters that affect the content of the generated report with great flexibility. Through the system of the invention, the user can be directly involved in all the report generation steps, through a user friendly interface, and a simplified environment. Moreover, the system in the invention provides improved solutions for updated data retrieval from protected data sources. |
| US07644097B2 |
Full-text search device performing merge processing by using full-text index-for-registration/deletion storage part with performing registration/deletion processing by using other full-text index-for-registration/deletion storage part
When a number of document data registered in one of full-text index-for-registration/deletion storage parts reaches a predetermined number, or when a capacity of the full-text index-for-registration/deletion storage part reaches a predetermined capacity, a merge processing is performed for merging data from the full-text index-for-registration/deletion storage part to a full-text index-for-search storage part. While this merge processing is performed, a registration/deletion processing is performed by using another full-text index-for-registration/deletion storage part. |
| US07644095B2 |
Method and system for compound document assembly with domain-specific rules processing and generic schema mapping
Method, system, and article of manufacture for assembling a compound document according to a collection of domain-specific rules. For example, a content management system (CMS) may be configured to process the domain-specific compound document according to domain-specific schema and rules (e.g., an XML schema and DTD), while at the same time, maintaining the compound document in a generic form according to a generic schema for a compound document format used by the CMS. |
| US07644092B2 |
System for managing data on memory device using file system
A file management system comprises a free-cluster queue describing cluster information indicating a cluster of a memory device in which “data has not been deleted yet but a file will be written preferentially only when a file write request is received”; means deleting, via a preferential input/output request queue in a driver, management information of data according to a deletion request for a file; means selecting either a non-preferential input/output request queue or the free-cluster queue to which the cluster information of the cluster in which the file whose management information has been deleted; means setting the cluster information of the data to which the deletion request is given, to either the non-preferential input/output request queue or the free-cluster queue, depending on selected results; and means providing the cluster information set in the free-cluster queue to a preferential input/output request queue of the driver, when a predetermined event occurs. |
| US07644088B2 |
Systems and methods for retrieving data
This invention relates to a computer-based method and system for facilitating the retrieval, classification, and distribution of information. In one embodiment, a method for providing information comprises providing a plurality of entities, each having an entity type, providing a plurality of relationships among the entities, each relationship having a relationship type and direction, and constructing an entity-relationship network comprising the entities and relationships. The method further includes receiving a plurality of information items, facilitating the association of the information items with at least one corresponding entity, receiving a request for information items associated with a selected one of the entities, determining a subset of the entities based on the selected entity, the relationships, the relationship types and the relationship directions, and providing the information items associated with the subset of the entities. |
| US07644087B2 |
Method and apparatus for data management
A data access system decouples the data processing from the data storage to provide improved accessibility, integrity, scalability and other features. The system comprises: database units arranged in virtual partitions each independently accessible, a plurality of data processing units, and a switching network for switching the data processing units between the virtual partitions, thereby to assign data processing capacity dynamically to respective virtual partitions. |
| US07644086B2 |
Computer-implemented authorization systems and methods using associations
Computer-implemented systems and methods for determining whether to authorize one or more operations with respect to resource objects. A system and method can include receiving a request that would involve an operation with respect to a resource object. The requested resource object may have multiple associations with other objects. One or more data stores are used to store interrelationships among resource objects, authorization-related objects, and access permission information. A comparison is performed using permissions and the requester's access credential information. The comparison is used to determine whether to permit the operation with respect to the resource object. |
| US07644084B2 |
Methods, computer systems and software applications for providing a central lock service
Systems and methods are provided for logically locking data objects in a database. According to one implementation, a method is provided that comprises receiving, from one of a plurality of data processing modules, a request to logically lock one or more data objects to limit access by other data processing modules, and querying an internal buffer, in which information on logically locked data objects are stored, whether the data objects are already logically locked. The method also includes storing information on the data objects which are not yet logically locked in the internal buffer, and processing the non-logically locked data objects, such that when updating the data objects in the database, the data objects are locked in the database by a database management system. |
| US07644082B2 |
Abbreviated index
Abbreviated index of parameter patterns. An abbreviated index includes indicators that a parameter pattern may be in a set of parameter patterns. To create the abbreviated index, indicators for overlapping parameter patterns of a given parameter pattern are placed in the index. Different patterns may have the same indicator, so the abbreviated index does not necessarily give an absolute indication of the presence of a parameter pattern in the set of parameter patterns, but rather may give an indication of the possible inclusion of a parameter pattern. The use of indicators for overlapping patterns can be used to increase confidence as to the existence of a given parameter pattern in the set of parameter patterns. The absence of an indicator for a parameter pattern or an overlapping parameter pattern will indicate with certainty that the parameter pattern is not present in the set of parameter patterns. |
| US07644077B2 |
Methods, computer readable mediums and systems for linking related data from at least two data sources based upon a scoring algorithm
A method for linking related data, such as metadata, from at least two data sources. The method includes formatting items of data of the data sources according to attributes. The method also executes a scoring algorithm for one or more of the attributes to generate a score for one or more sets of the formatted items of data, each of the sets includes an item of data from one data source and an item of data from another data source. Finally the method identifies related items of data of the separate data sources based upon the generated scores to facilitate linking related data of the two data sources. The method may also provide a link between data items of the data sources. |
| US07644076B1 |
Clustering strings using N-grams
A method and computer program for clustering a string are described. The string includes a plurality of characters. R unique n-grams T1 . . . R are identified in the string. For every unique n-gram TS, if the frequency of TS in a set of n-gram statistics is not greater than a first threshold, the string is associated with a cluster associated with TS. Otherwise, for every other n-gram TV in the string T1 . . . R, except S, if the frequency of n-gram TV is greater than the first threshold, and if the frequency of n-gram pair TS-TV is not greater than a second threshold, the string is associated with a cluster associated with the n-gram pair TS-TV. Otherwise, for every other n-gram TX in the string T1 . . . R, except S and V, the string is associated with a cluster associated with the n-gram triple TS-TV-TX. Otherwise, nothing is done. |
| US07644070B2 |
System and method for improving resolution of channel data
Disclosed are methods for processing distribution channel data integrating business information with geographic data to produce integrated data, wherein the integrated data has greater resolution than the business information. Distribution channel data is captured and correlated with the integrated data to increase the resolution of the distribution channel data. |
| US07644068B2 |
Selecting records from a list with privacy protections
A user wishes to view a record, such as one that includes a person's medical history, located in a record storage area. In order to prevent the user from viewing records other than the specific record in which the user is interested, a record selection manager iteratively requests attribute information from the user to disambiguate which record to provide until the record selection manager identifies a reduction completion result, which the record selection manager then provides to the user. Using the invention described herein, the record selection manager conceals records included in the records storage area until it identifies a reduction completion result and, at that point, the record selection manager provides only the reduction completion result to the user to view. |
| US07644065B2 |
Process of performing an index search
One implementation provides a method included in performing a computer-implemented search of electronically stored content. The method includes receiving from one of multiple software applications an input indicating a user request that a computer-implemented search be performed to identify content that, firstly, is stored in a specified one of multiple knowledge bases, and secondly, satisfies user-specified conditions. The method further includes determining which one of multiple search engines has been preconfigured to be used for searches involving the one software application from which the search request input was received and the selected one knowledge base, and initiating the requested search to be executed by the determined search engine. |
| US07644063B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for ensuring query execution plan stability in a database management system
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for ensuring query execution plan stability in a database management system. The present invention binds a static database query to a new query execution plan (QEP) that produces the same result set as an original QEP bound to the static database query. Next, the present invention identifies one of the original QEP and the new QEP as a primary QEP and automatically collects execution statistics for the original QEP and the new QEP. Finally, the present invention automatically selects one of the original QEP and the new QEP as the primary QEP in response to completion of the automatic collection of execution statistics, the primary QEP selected such that the automatically selected QEP provides optimal execution performance based on performance criteria in comparison to the automatically unselected QEP, the primary QEP selected based on the execution statistics. |
| US07644062B2 |
Join factorization of union/union all queries
Under a type of query transformation referred to herein as join factorization, the branches of an UNION/UNION ALL query that join a common table are combined to reduce accesses to the common table. The transformation can be expressed as (T1 join T2) union all (T1 join T3)=T1 join (T2 union all T3), where T1, T2 and T3 are three tables. A given query may be rewritten in many alternate ways using join factorization. Evaluating each alternative can be expensive. Therefore, the alternatives are generated and evaluated in a way that minimizes the cost of evaluating the alternatives. |
| US07644059B2 |
Integrating visual and object information in a pervasive computing environment
One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for gathering information from an environment. In a first step, visual information is gathered from the environment. In a second step, information actively transmitted by objects in the environment is received. According to one embodiment, the information actively transmitted by objects in the environment is received wirelessly. In a third step, the visual information is combined with the received information in order to recognize objects. |
| US07644056B2 |
System and method for providing terrorism intelligence indications and warnings
The present invention provides a system and method for providing terrorism intelligence indications and warning consisting of multiple tasks that create warning products on a Website and in which the associated computer program maintains a Webpage that tracks and displays each analyst's pending tasks based on their assigned responsibilities in the system. |
| US07644053B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for combination of cognitive causal models with reasoning and text processing for knowledge driven decision support
A system, method, and computer program product for combining causal domain models with reasoning and text processing for knowledge driven decision support are provided. A knowledge driven decision support system is capable of creating a domain model, extracting and processing quantities of text according to the domain model, and generating understanding of the content and implications of information sensitive to analysts. An interface may be used to receive input to model complex relationships of a domain, establish implications of interest or request a query, and update the causal model. A processing element can capture and process text into text profiles by incorporating the domain model and process the text profiles in accordance with the domain model by applying formal reasoning to the information to derive trends, predict events, or arrive at other query results. An output element can provide a user the resulting information related to the domain model. |
| US07644051B1 |
Management of data centers using a model
In a method for managing a data center, data for a training set of data is collected. The data includes heat loads generated by a plurality of electronic components and temperatures at multiple locations in the data center and under varying power profiles. A machine learning application is implemented to develop a model of a thermal topology of the data center using the training set of data and the model is implemented to predict heat profiles corresponding to a plurality of power profiles that are outside of the training set of data. |
| US07644046B1 |
Method of estimating storage system cost
An embodiment of a method of estimating overall storage system cost begins with a first step of modeling a storage system design in operation under a workload to determine location of retrieval points. The retrieval points provide sources for primary storage recovery for a plurality of failure scenarios. The method continues with a second step of finding a most recent retrieval point relative to a target recovery time that is available for recovery for a particular failure scenario. A third step determines a difference between the target recovery time and a retrieval point creation time for the most recent retrieval point, which indicates a data loss time period. A fourth step determines a recovery time for propagation of the most recent retrieval point to primary storage. In a fifth step, a storage system cost comprising outlay costs and penalty costs is determined. |
| US07644045B2 |
Method and apparatus for buyer identification
The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for generating and storing an electronic portrait of a buyer within a personal device such as a mobile telephone. An electronic portrait enables the generation of a physical identifier for comparison to the buyer by a seller during a transaction. Using the physical identifier transmitted to the seller via a wireless communications link, the seller can establish whether or not the buyer is authorized to make the transaction. |
| US07644044B2 |
Systems and methods to distribute content over a network
The present embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems to distribute content over a network. Some embodiments provide methods to distribute content within a local media network. These methods receive a request for a first content to be transferred to a sink device, request from the source an access criteria for a first content that is protected according to a first digital rights management (DRM), forward the access criteria to the sink device, receive an evaluation of the access criteria from the sink device regarding at least whether the sink device can interpret the first DRM, determine according to the evaluation received from the sink device whether the sink device can utilize the first content that is protected according to the first DRM, and initiate a transfer of the first content from the source device to the sink device when the sink device can utilize the first content. |
| US07644042B2 |
Managing transaction accounts
A transaction account verification system and method are provided. A user computing device transmits an account registration request that includes a selection of an account verification technique. A service provider obtains the request and initiates a set of transactions with an identified financial service provider. The service provider generates a verification token reflective of the set of transactions and at least one piece of information associated with the selected account verification technique. The user computing device generates a user verification token from user input regarding the set of transactions and at least one piece of information associated with the selected account verification technique. The service provider can verify the transaction account and set transaction thresholds based upon matching verification tokens. |
| US07644039B1 |
Automated financial transaction apparatus with interface that adjusts to the user
An automated financial transaction apparatus (10) includes a touch screen interface (14) and a plurality of transaction function devices (22, 34, 36, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58) which operate to carry out financial transactions for users. A reading device (18, 78) senses characteristic features of users who operate the machine. Data stored in at least one data store associated with at least one computer (62, 118, 120) includes data representative of the characteristic features associated with a plurality of users and for each user, at least one interface parameter. The apparatus operates so that when the characteristic feature associated with a particular user is sensed by the reading device, the display screen and other input and output devices are changed in position or operation to accommodate the stature, disabilities, desires or other special requirements of the user. |
| US07644031B2 |
System and method for replenishing quantities of trading orders
A system for replenishing trading orders comprises a memory coupled to a processor. The memory stores a trading order comprising a total quantity of a product, and at least one formula to determine a displayed quantity for the trading order. The processor applies the formula to determine the displayed quantity. The processor further determines a reserved quantity based on the determined displayed quantity and the total quantity. The processor communicates the trading order having the determined displayed quantity and the determined reserved quantity. |
| US07644029B2 |
Digital computer system for a synthetic investment and risk management fund
A computer system implementing at least one investment. A computer has a processor, connected to a memory device, to an input device, and to an output device, the processor programmed to control steps including: forming a synthetic investment fund by entering, as some of the input information, at least one of the group consisting of an amount of an interest-bearing asset, and an amount of a derivative instrument, and entering a specification of a relationship for the amounts; entering, as some of the input information, respective market prices for the interest-bearing asset and for the derivative instrument; calculating a unit value for each said class of interests in the fund in response to the market prices; and generating output for investor reporting, the output including holding data for each said class of interests in the fund and the unit value for each said class of interests in the fund. |
| US07644028B2 |
Pair library trading system and method
A method for trading a pair of securities is provided and includes the step of retrieving a previously configured pair trade request and the previously configured pair trade request is submitted to a pair trade fulfillment module. |
| US07644027B2 |
Market program for interacting with trading programs on a platform
A market process having a market methodology selected from a set of market methodologies is operative to interact with trading processes on a platform. The platform also supports platform processes for providing services to the market process and the trading processes. The trading processes interact with each other and with external markets through the market processes. |
| US07644018B1 |
System and method for providing publicly vended content via a wireless network
A system and method for vending digitized content over an Internet network path, at least a portion of which is wireless, such as an SDMA high data rate directional wireless path. Content in the form of IP packets is provided to a user terminal via a connect server in response to user requests, which can be real-time requests or which can be requests embodied in a user-defined or system-defined user profile. The user is billed using one or more of several billing paradigms, including by the content piece, by the number of IP packets sent to the user, by the length of time the user accesses the system, by the subscription, and so on. |
| US07644016B2 |
Automated pass-through surgical instrument tray reader
An apparatus and method for interrogating and automatically identifying a radio-frequency tagged surgical instrument tray and its contents of RFID-tagged surgical instruments are disclosed. The surgical instrument tray and its contents come into contact with an RF signal transmitted by the RFID reader, and as a result, the RFID tags affixed on the instrument tray and the surgical instruments respond by transmitting back to the RFID reader data pertaining to the history of the surgical instruments. A data terminal, which is connected to the RFID reader, may contain data pertaining to the radio frequency tagged surgical instruments during packaging, and during the return of the surgical instrument trays to the packager, identifies the surgical instruments. |
| US07644014B2 |
Document exchange framework for automated extensible markup language data in an e-procurement system and method
In an electronic procurement system having a portal server, an Extensible Markup Language (XML) content integration and transformation method and system. The XML content integration and transformation system includes logic for retrieving an “Open Buying on the Internet (OBI)” compliant XML file from a database which is then formatted in response to an electronic purchasing request over the Internet. In one embodiment of the present invention, the client aware XML content transformation system receives an OBI XML file and uses this information to automatically search for data objects related to the OBI XML file content from a database on the Internet and translates the content into a format suitable for internal processing by the XML content integration and transformation logic and delivers it to the purchasing requisitioner over the Internet. |
| US07644011B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining investment manager skill
A method of evaluating an investment manager's skill includes determining a time frame including a plurality of time periods of a predefined duration over which to calculate statistics, generating a return distribution for each time period, obtaining return data for a manager for each given time period, standardizing the manager's return data for each given time period, and calculating measurement statistics to compare the manager's return data against the return distribution over the plurality of time periods. |
| US07644010B2 |
System and method of identification codes to allow tracking of outbound mail and corresponding inbound reply mail
A system and method to provide identification codes to track outbound mail and corresponding replies. Tracking is enabled where an intended recipient is not determined until after physical components of the mailpiece are assembled. A first ID code is associated with a second ID code on a return envelope. The first ID code is positioned on a front of the return envelope proximal to a return address on the return envelope. The second ID code is positioned on a back of the return envelope proximal to a recipient address region on the return envelope. The return envelope is inserted into a carrier envelope with the front of the return envelope facing the back of the carrier envelope, and the second ID code and the recipient address region being visible through a front window in the front of the carrier envelope. A recipient address is printed in the recipient address region of the reply envelope, through the front window on the carrier envelope. To allow mail piece tracking, the first and second ID codes are associated with the intended recipient of the outbound mail. |
| US07644009B2 |
Method for forecasting and revenue management
A method and system that enables users to generate and manage forecasts through an integrated software tool. Forecast administrators are enabled to create forecast series data that define a forecast's structure and provide search criteria that is used in generating forecasts. These data also define who may participate in creating forecasts, and their relative position in an organization's hierarchy. Users are also enabled to enter a variety of forecast data that are stored by the system. Various forecast data are then retrieved corresponding to the user, applicable subordinates, and parameters defined by the forecast series. Users may then fine-tune their forecasts and submit their forecasts to their managers. The managers are enabled to adjust and roll up their subordinate's forecasts to produce their own forecasts. This process may be recursively applied while moving up through various layers of management defined by the organization's hierarchy. |
| US07644008B1 |
Web-based system and method for user role assignment in an enterprise
A method and system for assigning a role within an enterprise. The method and system can include a requester selecting a role to which he wishes to be assigned, selecting an administrator authorized to grant the selected role, and submitting a request for the selected role to the selected administrator. The administrator can then approve or deny the request. These actions can be done in a web-based computer program. The selection of the role or the administrator can be made from a list of one or more roles or administrators available to the requester. The submittal of the request can be done by the interaction of the web-based computer program with an e-mail program. Records of the submittal of the request and of the approval or denial of the request can be maintained in an archive data store coupled to the web-based computer program. |
| US07644007B2 |
Method and apparatus for finance-based scheduling of construction projects
a method and apparatus is disclosed for scheduling construction projects based on the available finance using integer programming. This method renders CPM/PERT schedules of construction projects executable using bank overdrafts of specified credit limits. Conveniently, the method is organized in three stages; input preparation, schedule extension, and model formulation. Input preparation stage supports preparing CPM/PERT schedule and financial data of the project. Schedule extension stage supports developing a scheme for schedule extension. The scheme is a framework of the original schedule that allows a definite extension increment in the critical path of the CPM. Model formulation stage supports building an integer programming model for the scheme and involves the components of formulating an objective function, setting constraints, and searching for a model solution. The model solution determines the activities' shifts that fulfill the constraints of the specified credit limit while minimizing the schedule extension. A search for a solution of the model is performed. If no solution is found, a repetition of the last two stages of the method is performed after allowing longer extension increment. |
| US07644005B1 |
Method and automatic control for regulating a multiple-stage industrial production controlling random chained stress, application to noise and value at risk control of a clearing house
The invention concerns a probabilistic method and automatic control (3) for preventing and regulating an interruption of a multistage and multilink industrial production glow, to optimise said production flow while controlling industrial impact resulting from random chained stress, and applications to factory noise and value at risk of a clearing house. The invention consists in regulating production by means of a probabilistic automatic control (3) with action loop (5) and feedback loop (6). Industrially speaking, said regulating automatic control (3) can be electronically produced by means of a programmed and cabled computer. The action loop (5) of the automatism (3) consists of an inductive probabilistic simulator (11) evaluating the chaining of random stresses in the production chain leading to a probabilistic measurement of the industrial impact I(r) resulting, on the basis of the adjustable level of an industrial stock parameter (r). The method used in the action loop (5) of the automatic control (3), is of the type called “Value at Risk” or “VaR”. The feedback loop (6) of the automatic control (3) adjusts in course of time (t) the industrial action parameter (r) to an extremal value, maintaining said estimator of VaR effect (p,T(r)) below its authorised nuisance level M. This is aimed at making the industrial production level F(r) extremal but nevertheless at a level compatible with the respect of regulatory or stock out conditions. The method and device of the invention can be advantageously used in numerous industries whether manufacturing, financial, agricultural where risks of pollution and other risks resulting from random chained stress need to be controlled. |
| US07644004B2 |
Automated mail creation and processing system
A system and method for preparing mail packages to be sent to recipients. The package includes a carrier envelope with a front address window and a back window. A content document having a style code printed on it is positioned at the back of the carrier envelope. The content style code is positioned to be visible through the back window of the carrier envelope. A reply envelope is enclosed with an address area aligned with the front window of the carrier envelope. Mail packages are prepared by storing a corresponding content style for the recipient. While transported, the content style code is scanned. From the style code, a recipient having the corresponding content style is selected from the stored list. That recipients name and address are printed onto the address area of the reply envelope through the address window on the front of the carrier envelope. |
| US07644002B2 |
Multi-pass variable bitrate media encoding
An encoder uses multi-pass VBR control strategies to provide constant or relatively constant quality for VBR output while guaranteeing (within tolerance) either compressed file size or, equivalently, overall average bitrate. The control strategies include various techniques and tools, which can be used in combination or independently. For example, in a first pass, an audio encoder encodes a sequence of audio data partitioned into variable-size chunks. In a second pass, the encoder encodes the sequence according to control parameters to produce output of relatively constant quality. The encoder sets checkpoints in the second pass to adjust the control parameters and/or subsequent checkpoints. The encoder selectively considers a peak bitrate constraint to limit peak bitrate. The encoder stores auxiliary information from the first pass for use in the second pass, which increases the speed of the second pass. Finally, the encoder compares signatures for the input data to check consistency between passes. |
| US07644000B1 |
Adding audio effects to spoken utterance
A system receives a spoken utterance, identifies at least one keyword within the spoken utterance, and identifies a function using the identified at least one keyword. The system further performs the identified function on at least a portion of the spoken utterance to create a voice file. |
| US07643996B1 |
Enhanced waveform interpolative coder
An Enhanced analysis-by-synthesis Waveform Interpolative speech coder able to operate at 4 kbps. Novel features include analysis-by-synthesis quantization of the slowly evolving waveform, analysis-by-synthesis vector quantization of the dispersion phase, a special pitch search for transitions, and switched-predictive analysis-by-synthesis gain vector quantization. Subjective quality tests indicate that it exceeds MPEG-4 at 4 kbps and of G.723.1 at 6.3 kbps. |
| US07643991B2 |
Speech enhancement for electronic voiced messages
The present invention provides for processing voice data. The vocalic of at least one word associated with the electronic voice signal is elongated. The magnitude of at least one consonant spike of the at least one word associated with the electronic voice signal is increased. Through the emphasis of the consonants, intelligibility of speech is increased. |
| US07643990B1 |
Global boundary-centric feature extraction and associated discontinuity metrics
Portions from time-domain speech segments are extracted. Feature vectors that represent the portions in a vector space are created. The feature vectors incorporate phase information of the portions. A distance between the feature vectors in the vector space is determined. In one aspect, the feature vectors are created by constructing a matrix W from the portions and decomposing the matrix W. In one aspect, decomposing the matrix W comprises extracting global boundary-centric features from the portions. In one aspect, the portions include at least one pitch period. In another aspect, the portions include centered pitch periods. |
| US07643986B2 |
Language translation device, method and storage medium for translating abbreviations
A translation device for translating a document has an image analysis unit and a translation unit. The image analysis unit determines a word and an abbreviation of the word. The translation unit translates the word and generates a new abbreviation based on the translated word. |
| US07643984B2 |
Method and system for selecting compatible processors to add to a multiprocessor computer
A method and system for using processor compatibility information to select a compatible processor for addition to a multiprocessor computer. A software program is executed on the multiprocessor computer to determine the number of current processors in the multiprocessor computer and the revision number of each processor. A software program that compares the revision numbers of the current processors with processor compatibility information is then executed to determine the revision numbers of processors that are compatible with all current processors. |
| US07643982B2 |
Debugging prototyped system solutions in solution builder wizard environment
A system and method for debugging system solutions under design which cooperates with a solution design platform in which relationships between two or more system-level computing components are defined, in which each system-level computing component is associated with a behavioral model, and in which each relationship between system-level computing components is defined as a message-based communications interface. During simulation of the solution, messages are created by analysis of each behavioral model, and are transported or exchanged between system components. The debugging facility monitors interfaces between the system-level components, captures messages at the monitored interfaces, and adds tracking information to the captured messages. Following simulation, the stored messages and tracking information can be reformatted and displayed for review by the user to assist in determination of the problems in system-level operation. |
| US07643978B2 |
Determination of the voltages of an electric circuit
A method for simulating an electric circuit comprising components and receiving external stimuli, wherein the determination at a given time of the voltages at the circuit nodes comprises several iterations, each consisting of defining a probable voltage for each node, of calculating the currents of each component based on the component model, then of repeating until the mesh equation is verified, and wherein for the first time, a current of a component is calculated based either on the full accurate model, or on the simplified linear model, or on the compound model which is a fitting, according to the interval between the voltages at the component's terminals between the initial time and the first time, and the simplified, full or compound model is used respectively if the interval is smaller than a first threshold, greater than a second threshold or between the first and second thresholds. |
| US07643977B2 |
System and method for predicting performance of electrical power cables
A computer simulation method is disclosed for simulating an electrical cable having a stranded conductor surrounded by a conductor shield encased in an insulation jacket and having an interstitial void volume in the region of the conductor injected with a fluid composition comprising at least one dielectric enhancement fluid component so as to at least partially fill the interstitial void volume at an initial time. The simulation method comprises for a selected length of the simulated cable, defining a plurality of radially arranged finite volumes extending the selected length of the simulated cable, and estimating the radial temperature of each finite volume. For a selected time period after the initial time, performing a series of steps at least once and outputting or otherwise using the value of the new concentration for the dielectric enhancement fluid component within each finite volume. |
| US07643976B2 |
Method and system for identifying lens aberration sensitive patterns in an integrated circuit chip
Disclosed is a method and a system for identifying lens aberration sensitive patterns in an integrated circuit chip. A first simulation of a layout is performed to simulate a contour without lens aberration. A second simulation is performed of the layout to simulate a contour with lens aberration. A difference of critical dimension is determined between the contours with and without lens aberration, and at least one lens aberration sensitive pattern is selected from a plurality of layouts based on the difference in critical dimension. |
| US07643975B2 |
Method of modeling the rotating stall of a gas turbine engine
In a method of numerical modelling of the operation of a gas turbine engine, randomly chosen numerical modifications are made to values within the model, to represent a disturbance for triggering rotating stall. This results in a faster onset of rotating stall within the model, reducing the computational effort required to achieve this. |
| US07643970B2 |
Tape course generation method and apparatus for programming a composite tape lamination machine
A tape course generator produces tape course definitions for use in programming a CNC composite tape lamination machine. The tape course generator includes a reference surface parameterizer that maps a contoured surface onto a parametric reference surface, and a reference plane instantiator that maps the reference surface onto a reference plane. The tape course generator also includes a tape boundary plotter that plots a tape boundary, and a boundary mapper that maps the tape boundary and a ply boundary into the reference plane. In addition, the tape course generator includes an intersection locator that identifies intersections of the ply boundary and the tape boundary, and a tape course delimiter that defines tape cuts and determines which points in the reference plane are within a tape course. Moreover, the tape course generator includes a tape course transformer that maps the defined tape course back onto the contoured surface. |
| US07643965B2 |
EMI management system and method
Systems and methods for managing the effect of electromagnetic radiation on electronic devices, are provided. The systems and methods includes determining a location of an electronic device within an environment; determining a level of electromagnetic radiation in a location of interest; and implementing corrective action to limit the effect of the electromagnetic radiation. The location of interest can include at least one of a current location; a future location; and a location that is proximal to the current location of the device. Determining the amount of electromagnetic radiation at a location of interest can include estimating a level of electromagnetic radiation at the location based on equipment stationed at that location; a scheduled use of equipment stationed at that location; and receiving a signal indicating a level of electromagnetic radiation from at least one detector positioned at the location of interest. |
| US07643964B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for measuring an idle value of a central processing unit
In a method, system and apparatus for measuring an idle value of a Central Processing Unit (CPU) in an embedded system, the CPU increments a hardware counter in accordance with clock signals. The CPU also increments an idle counter during a predetermined period of time in accordance with the clock signals while an idle task is running. The CPU calculates the idle value as a ratio of total increments of the idle counter to total increments of the hardware counter after the predetermined period of time has expired. |
| US07643962B2 |
Method for judging directionality by utilizing a gravity sensor
A method for judging directionality of a housing having two parallel panels by a gravity sensor is disclosed. The method is used for a handheld apparatus to judge which of the panels is upward. The method first obtains a set of component quantity of gravity on three coordinate axes from a three dimensional gravity sensor. When −0.5 g>gz≧−1 g and 1 g≧gz>0.5 g, a first direction status and a second direction status is acquired, respectively. When 0.5 g≧gz≧−0.5 g, the method further reposes on two parameters, polarity of gz and magnitude of the component quantity on y-axis (gy), to judge. When gz>0 and −0.5 g>gy≧−1 g or when gz<0 and 1 g≧gy>0.5 g, the judging result is the first direction status. When gz<0 and −0.5 g>gy≧1 g or when gz>0 and 1 g≧gy>0.5 g, it is the second one. The rest will be judged to be “don't care”. |
| US07643957B2 |
Bisect de-embedding for network analyzer measurement
Techniques for bisecting a symmetric, substantially transmissive two-port network (a THRU structure) through an optimization solution of the relevant equations defined by transmission matrix mathematics are described. Bisect de-embedding may be performed using a single substantially symmetric THRU structure, a first half of a first substantially symmetric THRU structure and a second half of a second substantially symmetric THRU structure, and by combining bisect de-embedding with conventionally known de-embedding techniques. |
| US07643950B1 |
System and method for minimizing power consumption for an object sensor
A system and method is disclosed for minimizing power consumption of a sensor unit that is capable of detecting an object. Main circuitry operates the sensor unit in a high power mode of operation when the sensor unit detects an object. Low power control circuitry operates the sensor unit in a low power mode of operation when the sensor unit does not detect an object within a pre-determined period of time. The low power control circuitry also comprises a counter to periodically determine when to restore the sensor unit to a high power mode of operation. One advantageous embodiment of the sensor unit is a fingerprint sensor unit for detecting a finger to obtain fingerprint information. |
| US07643945B2 |
Technique for acoustic data analysis
A method of enhancing acoustic pump data for monitoring of pump condition in operation. The enhancement may be in the form of a substantial reduction in the amount of data to be processed by firmware to a much more manageable level. This may be achieved through pre-filtering of acquired acoustic data, computing frequency momentum, and by application of a median filter to the acoustic data. Regardless, a thresholding technique that uses features vector including but not limited to double-threshold derived from statistics of enhanced amplitudes, may be employed whereby enhanced acoustic data is boiled down to a series of potential acoustic events of particular widths. These widths may represent a duration of each acoustic event and be checked for correlation with the speed of the operating speed of the pump. Acoustic events that correlate with an operating speed of the pump may represent an unhealthy condition of the pump such as where the width is about the duration of one half of a cycle of the pump and a leaky pump valve presents itself for this same period of time. |
| US07643943B2 |
Methods for monitoring drug activities in vivo
Methods, systems and equipment useful for monitoring in vivo activities of CCI-779 or other drugs. Numerous drug activity genes can be identified by the present invention. The expression profiles of these genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells are modulatable by CCI-779 or other drugs. Therefore, these genes can be used as surrogate markers for detecting or monitoring drug activities in vivo. |
| US07643939B2 |
Methods and systems for implementing an iterated extended Kalman filter within a navigation system
A navigation system for a vehicle is described that includes an inertial measurement unit, a positioning unit, and a processing unit. The inertial measurement unit configured to provide a first set of data relating to operation of the vehicle and the positioning unit is configured to provide a second set of data relating to operation of the vehicle. The processing unit is configured to receive the data sets provided by the inertial measurement unit and the positioning unit and the processing unit comprises an error processing device. The error processing device is programmed with time updating error states and measurement updating error states relating to the data sets received by said processing unit and is configured to iterate both the time updating error states and the measurement updating error states based on a first criteria and iterate only the measurement updating error states based on a second criteria. |
| US07643938B2 |
Location confirmation method and location display system of construction machine and such construction machine
A hydraulic excavator periodically measures its current location at predetermined time intervals by the GPS device in an inoperative state where its engine key is in the off position and sends the current location data and time data to a management server by a main controller and communicator. The management server receives the periodically sent location data at its communicator and successively stores it in its memory. The current location data and the measurement time data to provide a location confirmation service by a location information provider. Changes in location can be confirmed on a map, the movement of the hydraulic excavator can be tracked, and assistance can be given for confirmation of location and prevention of theft. |
| US07643936B1 |
Method and system for automatic analysis and management of drive test routes
Methods and systems are disclosed for analyzing drive test data in conjunction with geographical data such as population distribution, geographical data as to wireless device usage, location of high-value customers, or other geographical data. The results of the analysis are reported to a human operator, such as a manager overseeing the drive test routes in a particular region. The results enable the operator to revise drive test routes, or select new routes, that provide improved measurement data for the wireless network. |
| US07643933B2 |
Overturn prevention control device
An overturn prevention control device includes a bicycle robot capable of freely laterally inclining, an angular velocity sensor mounted on the bicycle robot such that a detection axis thereof extends in a substantially longitudinal direction of the bicycle robot, a motor mounted on the body such that a rotating shaft thereof extends in a substantially longitudinal direction of the body, a rotation sensor that detects a rotational position or a rotational speed of the motor, and an inertial rotor coupled to the rotating shaft of the motor. The overturn prevention control device corrects inclination of the bicycle robot by rotating the inertial rotor using the motor and by utilizing a reaction torque occurring when the inertial rotor is rotated. The overturn prevention control device further includes an inclination angle estimating portion arranged to estimate an inclination angle relative to a balanced state. |
| US07643931B2 |
Combustion control method for a direct-injection controlled auto-ignition combustion engine
A powertrain and a control method therefore are provided wherein ignition of a combustible charge in a combustion chamber of a controlled auto-ignition internal combustion engine equipped with in-cylinder fuel-injection and a spark ignition device is controlled. A spark-discharge plasma channel is generated between the electrodes of the spark ignition device, and the combustible charge is ignited. The spark-discharge plasma channel is moved toward and entrained by the combustible charge, effective to advance phasing of controlled auto-ignition combustion. |
| US07643930B2 |
Control system
A control system which is capable of compensating for and suppressing the influence of a periodic disturbance on a controlled object more quickly, even when the controlled object is subjected to the periodic disturbance the amplitude of which periodically changes, thereby enhancing the stability and the accuracy of control. The control system includes an ECU. The ECU calculates disturbance compensation values for compensating for a periodic disturbance by searching maps and tables, in timing of generation of each pulse of a CRK signal. The ECU calculates control inputs at a predetermined control period, with predetermined control algorithms, according to the disturbance compensation values read in at the control period, respectively. |
| US07643929B2 |
Method for adapting torque model for improved zero torque identification
A torque adaptation system is provided. The system includes: a torque error estimator module that estimates a torque error based on an error propagation model and a plurality of torque model parameters; and an adapt torque module that adapts a model torque based on the torque error. |
| US07643928B2 |
System and method for controlling the speed of a gas turbine engine
A system and method for controlling the speed of a turbine engine, the turbine engine being operative to provide power to a primary load. When a decrease in the power requirement of the primary load is detected, at least a portion of the power generated by the turbine engine is redirected to a secondary load, thereby maintaining the speed of the turbine engine below a rated maximum speed. In the example of a turbine-powered train in which the turbine engine provides power to electric traction motors driving the wheels of the train, when a wheel spin is detected, at least a portion of the power generated by the turbine engine is diverted from the respective electric traction motor to rheostats for conversion to heat. |
| US07643927B2 |
Distance measuring device for control
A distance measuring device in a vehicle is used for controlling a device located outside the vehicle. The controller causes a control signal to be emitted, the control signal being emitted by distance sensors located on the vehicle. |
| US07643924B2 |
Failure determining apparatus and method for hydraulic pressure control circuit
An ECU executes a program that includes the steps of setting an abnormality flag when a hydraulic pressure switch is on even though a lock-up clutch is in a lock-up OFF state, forcing an SLU off when the lock-up clutch is on and the abnormality flag is on, determining that there is an SLU failure when the lock-up clutch is still in a lock-up ON state after a predetermined period of time has passed, and determining that there is a hydraulic pressure switch failure when the lock-up clutch is not in the lock-up ON state after the predetermined period of time has passed. |
| US07643918B2 |
Control apparatus for a vehicle equipment device
There is disclosed an apparatus for controlling a vehicle equipment device. The apparatus permits a reduction in the cost of manufacturing a vehicle in which the apparatus is installed. The apparatus also enables easy and precise switching between normal mode and delivery mode. The apparatus has a delivery decision unit and control change unit. The decision unit makes a decision as to whether the vehicle is in the delivery mode. If the decision unit determines that the vehicle is in the delivery mode, the control change unit changes the controlled contents of the vehicle equipment device from normal mode to delivery mode. The decision unit makes the aforementioned decision according to whether a backup power supply is applied to a clock device. |
| US07643912B2 |
Programmable automotive computer method and apparatus with accelerometer input
A device and corresponding method for enabling a user to accurately control, monitor, and evaluate performance of a vehicle. A portable programmable computer device that a user can readily plug into a diagnostic connector port of the vehicle for providing the controlling, monitoring, and evaluating functions. Accurate detection of the start time of first movement of the vehicle is made based on data from an accelerometer, independent of the onboard diagnostic system and its diagnostics port. A clock is started for measuring time such that the precise time taken to reach the time-stamped first velocity value from the engine computer via the diagnostic port is determined. Data from the accelerometer and diagnostic port is analyzed and selectively used for accurately and reliably correcting for errors in velocity data from the onboard diagnostic system including latency error and errors due to the vehicle exhibiting wheel spin. |
| US07643911B2 |
Vehicle periphery display control system
A vehicle periphery display control system displays peripheral images of a vehicle which are captured by a plurality of cameras mounted on the vehicle in respective different positions thereon. A storage medium stores road configuration information of a road. A positioning unit identifies the present position of the vehicle on the road. A image switching decision unit selects either one of images captured by the cameras based on specific road configuration information of a peripheral area around the vehicle, which includes the present position identified by the present position identifying unit, of the road configuration information stored in the storage medium. The image switching decision unit controls a display unit to display the image selected by the selecting unit. |
| US07643907B2 |
Method and apparatus for developing a metadata-infused software program for controlling a robot
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for developing a metadata-infused software program for controlling a device, such as a robot. A first library of software segments with metadata and a second library of script documents are provided. A part program wizard uses a script document selected from the second library to display queries on a screen of an interface device. Using input information received in response to the queries, the part program wizard selects and combines software segments from the first library to produce the metadata-infused software program. The metadata identifies the selected software segments and includes statuses of the selected software segments. A graphical representation of the metadata infused software program is displayed on the screen and conveys the statuses of the software segments. A deployment wizard is utilized to teach data points for the metadata-infused software program. |
| US07643906B2 |
Obstacle and cliff avoiding system and method thereof
An obstacle and cliff avoiding system is disclosed, which is substantially a movable chassis having at least a displacement sensor arranged thereon. In a preferred embodiment, each displacement sensor is tilted by a specific angle with respect to a surface detected thereby while being driven to move in circle by a rotating apparatus for enabling the same to scan a defined fan-like area or the circular area around the chassis in a circulating manner. As each displacement sensor is tilted by the specific angle and is initiated to issue a working signal, the paths of signal emission and reception of each sensor are defined by the specific angle, whereas the reflected working signal received by the sensor is sent to a control unit to be compared with the working signal so that the control unit is able to evaluate whether there is an obstacle or a drop in front of the moving direction of the movable chassis and thus control the chassis to maneuver around the obstacle or the drop. |
| US07643904B2 |
Random-period chip transfer method
A chip transfer apparatus includes a first carrier for feeding chips and a second carrier for carrying works on it. The transfer apparatus also includes a transfer engine including two or more coaxial revolvers, which can revolve coaxially with each other. Each of the coaxial revolvers includes an end-effector for receiving a chip from the first carrier and transferring the received chip onto a work on the second carrier. The end-effectors of the coaxial revolvers are arranged in a circle coaxial with the revolvers. The end-effectors sequentially receive chips from the first carrier at substantially zero speed relative to the first carrier and transfer the received chips onto works on the second carrier at substantially zero speed relative to the second carrier. While the end-effectors are revolving, they undergo periodic speed change control for timing adjustment and speed adjustment for the chip reception and transfer. |
| US07643902B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for accepting payment at a sales device
One embodiment of the present invention provides for a method comprising determining sales data associated with a sales device (e.g., a vending machine) and adjusting a level of sensitivity of a currency validator based on the sales data. |
| US07643901B2 |
Unit for preparing groups of products in layers for palletizing
A unit for preparing groups (1) of products in layers (S) for palletizing comprises: a motor-driven element (4) for controlled pick up and release of the groups (1) of products from the first surface (3) to a second surface (5), positioned by the side of the first surface (3), for preparing a layer (S) of groups (1) of products; a logic unit (7) for controlling and programming the pick up and release element (4) and the second surface (5) to obtain individual layers (S) made up of two or more groups (1) of products on the second surface (5) by moving them along or around axes, transversal (Y) to the extension of the first surface (3), parallel (X) with the extension of the first surface (3), at a vertical height (Z) and according to an angle (α) of rotation about the vertical axis (Z); the pick up and release element (4) having independent drive units (9, 10, 11) designed to control the element (4) according to three of the controlled axes (X, Y, Z, α); the second preparation surface (5) having a drive unit (12) for controlling the second surface (5) along the remaining controlled axis (X, Y, Z, α) to place the groups (1) of products so as to form the layer (S), with an interface unit (13) inserted between the logic unit (7) and the element (4) and second surface (5), allowing the four axes (X, Y, Z, α) to be coordinated in such a way as to form the layer (S). |
| US07643899B2 |
Method of beveling an ophthalmic lens blank, machine programmed therefor, and computer program
The present invention is directed to a machine programmed to edge an ophthalmic lens blank. The machine includes an edger device for forming a bevel in a peripheral edge of the lens blank, a central processing unit operably associated with the edger device for controlling operation thereof, and a computer program stored on a medium in communication with the central processing unit. The computer program includes a first instruction set operably causing the edger device to form a bevel in a peripheral edge of a lens blank. A second instruction set operably causes the edger device to form a step in the peripheral edge intermediate an apex of the bevel and an interface between the peripheral edge and a major surface of the lens blank. A method of controlling an edger device for edging an ophthalmic lens blank and a computer program are also disclosed. |
| US07643895B2 |
Portable media device with workout support
Improved techniques and systems for utilizing a portable electronic device to monitor, process, present and manage data captured by a remote sensor are disclosed. The portable electronic device offers a convenient user interface that can be visual and/or audio based customized to a particular application, user-friendly and/or dynamic. The portable electronic device can pertain to a portable media player and thus also provide media playback. |
| US07643893B2 |
Closed-loop feedback control using motion capture systems
Systems and methods for closed-loop feedback control of controllable devices using motion capture systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a motion capture system configured to measure one or more motion characteristics of one or more controllable devices as the one or more controllable devices are operating within a control volume. A processor receives the measured motion characteristics from the motion capture system and determines a control signal based on the measured motion characteristics. A position control system receives the control signal and continuously adjusts at least one motion characteristic of the one or more controllable devices in order to maintain or achieve a desired motion state. The controllable device may be equipped with passive retro-reflective markers. The motion capture system, the processor, and the position control system comprise a complete closed-loop feedback control system. |
| US07643892B2 |
Historian integrated with MES appliance
A simulation that integrates historical data and real-time data as a test or simulation tool can capture an entry that relates to a desired output as function points. A determination can intellectually be made as to which activities can achieve the desired output. The activities can be process steps that can represent a workflow that can be automatically implemented by an MES Appliance or other enterprise components. If a simulation reveals that the desired output might not be achieved, a change to one or more function points can be analyzed in an attempt to achieve the desired result. This change can be input into a simulation tool through a feedback loop, for example. Another simulation can performed on the modified data until a determination is made that the desired output can be achieved. |
| US07643889B2 |
Circuit and method of outputting temperature data of semiconductor memory apparatus
A circuit for outputting temperature data of a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a temperature detecting circuit that generates a temperature voltage corresponding to a change in temperature and outputs the temperature voltage, an A/D converter that converts the temperature voltage into a first temperature code and outputs it, and a temperature data correcting unit that outputs a second temperature code obtained by correcting an error of the first temperature code using a correction code. |
| US07643888B2 |
Control apparatus
A control apparatus which generates control information on the basis of control target information from a control target, controls the control target by using the generated control information, and transmits the control information to an off-system control apparatus, includes a single common memory which stores both the control target information from the control target, and the transmitted control information. |
| US07643884B2 |
Electrically insulated surgical needle assembly
A surgical needle assembly for penetrating soft and hard tissues of a patient includes a handle assembly removably coupled to the needle assembly. The needle assembly is electrically coupled to an electrical signal source. The surgical tool includes an electrically conductive portion in communication with an un-insulated distal end of the needle assembly, and an insulated portion extending from the distal end to the handle assembly. |
| US07643879B2 |
Integrated cardiac rhythm management system with heart valve
Systems and methods using a heart valve and an implantable medical device, such as for event detection and optimization of cardiac output. The cardiac management system includes a heart valve, having a physiological sensor. The physiological sensor is adapted to measure at least one of an intrinsic electrical cardiac parameter, a hemodynamic parameter or the like. The system further includes an implantable electronics unit, such as a cardiac rhythm management unit, coupled to the physiological sensor of the heart valve to receive physiological information. The electronics unit is adapted to use the received physiological information to control delivery of an electrical output to the subject. |
| US07643877B2 |
Cardiac rhythm management system with defibrillation threshold prediction
A cardiac rhythm management device predicts defibrillation thresholds without any need to apply defibrillation shocks or subjecting the patient to fibrillation. Intravascular defibrillation electrodes are implanted in a heart. By applying a small test energy, an electric field near one of the defibrillation electrodes is determined by measuring a voltage at a sensing electrode offset from the defibrillation electrode by a known distance. A desired minimum value of electric field at the heart periphery is established. A distance between a defibrillation electrodes and the heart periphery is measured, either fluoroscopically or by measuring a voltage at an electrode at or near the heart periphery. Using the measured electric field and the measured distance to the periphery of the heart, the defibrillation energy needed to obtain the desired electric field at the heart periphery is estimated. In an example, the device also includes a defibrillation shock circuit and a stimulation circuit. |
| US07643876B2 |
System and method to reduce device therapy pain
Systems and methods include sensing whether a shock to a heart is needed, and prior to delivering the shock, causing at least a partial contraction of a musculature in a chest, and delivering the shock while the musculature is at least partially contracted to reduce the pain of shock therapy. |
| US07643869B1 |
Apparatus for non-invasive cancerous tissue diagnosis and tomography using terahertz imaging
The primary objective of the present method and apparatus is to provide a portable and new diagnosis system for quickly and reliably examining tissue conditions. The method uses the most advance miniaturized micro-opto-electro-mechanical systems (MOEMS) system for generating a rapid variable optical delay line capable of generating wideband terahertz pulses. The method detects and analyzes cancerous tissues by comparing a plurality of spectrum resolved images of suspected tissue without applying harmful agents into the tissue to facilitate interaction with illumination sources. The method employs non-evasive, real time terahertz imaging systems and techniques to diagnose tissue for detecting the presence of cancer. A map showing, which tissue is healthy and which is cancerous can aid in the accurate removal of cancerous tissue. |
| US07643863B2 |
Diffusion tensor and q-space MRI specimen characterization
Magnetic resonance methods include modeling magnetic resonance signals obtained from specimens at low and high q-values to obtain parameters associated with specimen structure and orientation. In evaluation of brain white matter specimens, diffusion within axons can be modeled based on hindered diffusion parallel to an axis of the axon and restricted diffusion perpendicular to the axis. Diffusion exterior to axons can be modeled as hindered diffusion with differing diffusivities parallel to and perpendicular to the axis. Based on extracted parameters and associated model functions, specimen properties such as intra and extra-axonal principal diffusivities and the corresponding principal directions can be estimated. |
| US07643862B2 |
Virtual mouse for use in surgical navigation
A method of performing a surgery is provided including a surgical navigation system having a tracking system, computer and monitor placed outside of a sterile field. An input pad and a tracking array attachable to a surgical instrument or bone are placed into the sterile field along with a probe having a probe array. The tracking array and the probe array are acquired by the tracking system and a virtual mouse is activated by positioning the probe relative to the input pad, thereby causing a mouse input to the computer with the virtual mouse. |
| US07643856B2 |
Method for reducing apparent latency in linking a call received at a mobile communication device to a remote audio processor
A mobile communication device (100) uses a local wireless transceiver (108) to establish an asynchronous link (202) with a remote audio processor (110) which is typically operated in a low power mode and that maintains an association between the mobile communication device and remote audio processor. When the mobile communication device receives an incoming call page (210), the mobile communication device initiates a synchronous link with the remote audio processor, and responds to the incoming call page at a time when the call will be connected only after the synchronous link is established. |
| US07643854B2 |
Buckling mechanism
A buckling mechanism used to fasten an electronic device such as a wireless broadband access point device or a wireless broadband router onto a bracket. The electronic device includes a top plate and a side plate having a side-plate aperture. The bracket is disposed on the top plate and has a bracket aperture. The buckling mechanism includes a first body portion, an embedding portion, a second body portion and a buckle portion. The embedding portion is disposed on one side of the first body portion to be embedded into the side-plate aperture. The second body portion is perpendicular and connected to another side of the first body portion, while the buckle portion is disposed on another side of the second body portion to be buckled with the bracket aperture. |
| US07643849B2 |
Cellular phone data communication system wherein a parallel interfaced baseband module and a serial interfaced multimedia module are coupled to one another using a parallel/serial conversion module
A data communication system comprises a radio frequency module, a baseband module, a memory unit, a parallel/serial module, a multimedia module, an image sensor module and a display module. The parallel/serial module performs digital signal processing and converts parallel bus data into serial bus data, and vice versa. The present invention provides an improved data communication method and system featuring a parallel/serial module that enables a serial data communication within cellular phone modules. The present invention will also reduce the cost of manufacturing and improve the performance of the cellular phone. |
| US07643841B2 |
Receiver performance control
A method of operating a network node that controls a component of a wireless communications network is described. The network component has a receiver with at least one receiver structure that can assume two or more states, including a first state corresponding to an enhanced receiver performance and a second state corresponding to a reduced receiver performance and a reduced power consumption. The method comprises determining a network condition and, in dependence of the network condition, generating a performance control signal that aims at controlling the state of the receiver structure, and transmitting the performance control signal to the network component. The invention is further directed the performance control signal generated by the network node and the network component which the network node intends to control. |
| US07643834B2 |
System for providing alert-based services to mobile stations in a wireless communications network
System for providing alert-based communication services for which corresponding alert conditions to be met by mobile stations are defined. The system includes an alert engine capable of firing alerts associated with the alert-based communication services if location data regarding the mobile stations is indicative of the mobile stations meeting the alert conditions corresponding to the alert-based communication services. A requirements engine is provided for determining an expected earliest future time at which at least one alert condition is capable of being met by a particular mobile station and outputting a data element indicative of a requirement to obtain updated location data about the particular mobile station in advance of the expected earliest future time. Also provided is a scheduler for receiving expiry times data indicative of a plurality of expiry times relating to respective location requests, processing the expiry times data for determining an order for servicing the location requests by positioning determining equipment (PDE) at least in part on a basis on the expiry times of the location requests and an output for interfacing with the PDE, allowing it to service the location requests according to the order determined. |
| US07643831B2 |
Telecommunications services apparatus
In a mobile telephone system, a call routing equipment such as an SMS Router (18) receives a routing information request signal (SRI_SM) indicative of a communication such as a text message intended for a mobile terminal (10), and returns a routing information response signal (False Response) indicative of the SMS Router (18) instead of being indicative of the intended mobile terminal (10). This allows processing (Copy sent via TCP/IP) of the resulting text message (MTForwardSM) by the SMS Router (18), such as archiving of the text message, sending the text message to an email address, and/or forwarding the text message to an alternative destination. |
| US07643819B2 |
Template based messaging
A portable electronic device (300) having a message service application (303) for rapidly completing asynchronous messages is provided. The message service application (303) is configured to present partially completed message service messages (601) on a display (307) of the portable electronic device (300) to a user. The partially completed message service messages (601) include a plurality of populated segments (602,603) and a plurality of tab accessible fields (604,605,606,607). The plurality of tab accessible fields (604,605,606,607) is interlaced among the populated segments (602,603). By actuating a tab key (306), a user may jump from tab accessible field to tab accessible field, populating each field rather than completely composing an original message. The tab accessible fields (604,605,606,607) may be populated with text, pictures, video, or audio. The user may populate the tab accessible fields (604,605,606,607) either by a user interface (304) or by way of a data retrieval module (314) that retrieves objects for insertion from memory (302). |
| US07643816B2 |
Messaging system for managing communications resources
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a messaging system for managing communications resources and are particularly suitable for providing a means for subscribers of a telecommunications network to continue participating in a communications service that would otherwise be ended due to the calling party having a low or zero balance. Embodiments of the invention are generally applicable to users of a mobile network.Embodiments of the invention provide a messaging system for use by the telecommunications network to transmit a message to a remote party, where the remote party is identified by means of a telephone calling identifier associated with a call setup request for a telecommunications session received from a user of the telecommunications network. The messaging system comprises a storage system for storing data providing a predetermined definition of message content to be sent to the remote party. In response to trigger event such as determining that the account balance available for said user participating in the requested communications session is below a predetermined threshold, the messaging system is arranged to initiate the transmission of a message to said remote party. The transmitted message contains message content that is defined at least in part by said definition of message content and can comprise a “call me message.” This thereby ensures that a “call me” message reaches the remote party. |
| US07643814B2 |
Reception arrangement with preamplifier circuit
The invention relates to a preamplifier circuit with at least one transistor that couples a signal input to a signal output. The signal input is supplied with a radio-frequency signal. In addition, the preamplifier circuit includes a switch that switchably couples the input to a reference potential and which, when the preamplifier is inactive, is closed. Hence, when the preamplifier is inactive, the input is put into a low-impedance state and the amplifier and downstream assemblies are protected from unwanted high-power interference signals. It is thus also possible to use other, fully integratable filter types in a transceiver's reception signal processing chain instead of external surface acoustic wave filters with a low level of complexity and without drawbacks. |
| US07643813B2 |
Diversity switch combiner
A diversity switch combiner for use in systems for receiving multi-carrier wideband signals is arranged to determine, during a guard interval, which antenna provides the strongest carrier, for each of a plurality of carrier frequencies. A switch is then operated to select, for the subsequent symbol, that antenna which provides the greatest number of strongest carriers. |
| US07643806B2 |
Network searching in a mobile communication terminal
A network search method for a mobile communication terminal is disclosed. In one example embodiment, a mobile communication terminal employing a Digitally Controlled Crystal Oscillator (DCXO) performs a network search method including the act of searching for a frequency using a value stored in an Automatic Frequency Control (AFC) mode. |
| US07643805B2 |
Peak detector and fixed gain amplifier circuit for automatic gain control and variable gain amplifier circuit
A variable gain amplifier (VGA) circuit and an automatic gain control (AGC) method thereof are disclosed. The VGA circuit includes an amplifier circuit and an AGC circuit. The amplifier circuit amplifies an input signal to an output signal according to a predetermined gain and the AGC circuit is connected to the amplifier circuit for regulating the predetermined gain. The AGC circuit further includes a peak detector detecting a peak of the output signal, a replica of the peak detector for detecting a peak of a reference signal, and a comparator for comparing the peak of the output signal with the peak of the reference signal to provide a control signal and then providing the control signal to the amplifier circuit to regulate the predetermined gain. |
| US07643804B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting a signal at less than a standard transmit power in a network
A transmitter includes a detection element to determine when a current power requirement of a communication link is less than the standard transmit power. The current power requirement may be determined by a current operation condition of the communication link, for instance. The transmit power of the transmitter may be set to be less than the standard power in any of a variety of ways. For example, a center tap voltage of the transmitter may be reduced. In another example, a class of operation of the transmitter may be changed. In yet another example, the transmitter may include a current mirror having a plurality of diode-connected transistors coupled in parallel, thereby reducing the current at output terminals of the transmitter. Reducing the current at the output terminals decreases the output power of the transmitter, which may reduce the power consumed by the transmitter. |
| US07643803B2 |
Power estimation of a transmission
Embodiments of power estimation of a transmission are presented herein. |
| US07643799B2 |
Communication system and method using transmit diversity
Influencing the transmission of signals from a transmitting device to a receiving device in a communication system comprising at least one transmitting device and at least one receiving device is disclosed. In a receiving station received transmission signals are processed and a feedback signal to be transmitted to a transmitting device is generated on the basis of the processed signals. Then, transmit weights to be applied to transmission signals are determined in accordance with the feedback signal. |
| US07643797B2 |
Radio frequency identification (RFID) system for dynamically and automatically establishing communication between a mobile wireless communicating device and a data processing system
RFID tags to provide a relatively low power and power conserving wireless communication system to dynamically and automatically transfer all preselected data developed in designated digital devices to a centralized data processing system. Inclusion, in the target mobile wireless devices from which data is to be transferred, of an RFID tag, preferably passive, to minimize power consumption that is conventionally recognizable by a short range RF transceiver in the computer system to which data is to be transferred. Thus, each mobile wireless device being tracked includes a short range RFID tag, a short range RF transceiver and storage means for the digital data developed by the device that is to be transferred. The data processing system to which the transfer is to be made should include a short range RF transceiver for identifying all RFID tags within this short range boundary; and means, responsive to the system RF transceiver identifying the RFID tag in the mobile wireless device within said short range boundary, for transmitting a signal to said mobile device to trigger the mobile device transceiver to transmit stored digital data to the data processing system. |
| US07643796B2 |
System and method for process control using wireless devices with multiple transceivers and at least one process element
An apparatus includes at least one process element and a first transceiver configured to communicate with the at least one process element. The apparatus also includes a second transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with the first transceiver and to communicate with a process control system. The process control system may transmit data to the at least one process element via the first transceiver and the second transceiver. The process control system may also receive data from the at least one process element via the first transceiver and the second transceiver. |
| US07643795B2 |
Remote-control vibrator
The invention relates to a remotely controllable vibrator, which comprises a receiver interface, a microcontroller connected with the receiver interface and a resonator device controlled by the microcontroller. The receiver interface is a Bluetooth interface which is provided for a bidirectional wire-free signal transmission between the vibrator and an external Bluetooth apparatus. The vibrator is remotely controllable and remotely programmable by way of its Bluetooth interface. In addition, the invention relates to a device for remote control of a vibrator, comprising a vibrator, which is provided with a Bluetooth interface, and a second Bluetooth apparatus, wherein the second Bluetooth apparatus is provided for generating remote control signals and/or remote programming signals for the vibrator. |
| US07643794B2 |
Multi-sector antenna apparatus
Methods and systems for constructing multi-sector antenna for packet-by-packet transmission. The transmission of each packet can be performed by a different antenna sector. The system can consist of a plurality of various antenna types: flat panel, parabolic dish, slotted, omni, planar, micro-strip, Yagi, beam-forming, adaptive, and electro-mechanical moveable. The direction of transmission is selected responsive to the direction in which the best signal reception was received. Switching logic is coupling the out going transmission signal to selected ones from the plurality of the antenna sectors. The antenna design in this invention is aimed at increasing the gain and minimizing the interfering signals with respect large number of users who are concurrently and continuously tracking and communicating with their access points, and consequently, increasing the bit rate of each transmission and the aggregate capacity of the wireless system. |
| US07643793B2 |
Method for relaying data packet for downlink in wireless communication system
A method for relaying data packets to a subscriber station (SS) by taking a relay station (RS) into consideration when a base station (BS) establishes a data packet scheduling is disclosed. According to the method, a data packet is relayed by RSs, which have a signal intensity greater than a threshold value for all RSs appointed by the BS. Each SS determines whether the SS receives the data packet directly from the BS or via an RS, based on signal intensities between the SS and the BS and between the SS and RSs, and feeds channel information corresponding to the determination back to the BS, thereby allowing the data packet to be transmitted. |
| US07643789B2 |
Multimedia data transfer for a personal communication device
In a portable multimedia device, data is passed between a sender and receiver unit by way of voice channel only. Multimedia data is vocalized and then forwarded to a receiver unit by way of the voice channel without the use of a backend server. Once received at the receiver unit, the vocalized data can be converted to an audio signal that can then output by way of an audio output device (such as a speaker, earphone, etc.). |
| US07643786B2 |
Enabling a content provider initiated content delivery via a specific radio access network
The invention relates to a method for enabling a content provider initiated delivery of a content clip to a mobile terminal 4 via a communication network, which communication network comprises different types of radio access networks 1,2, and which content clip is required to be delivered via a specific type of radio access network. In order to enable such a delivery, it is proposed that in case it is determined that the mobile terminal 4 does not access the communication network via a radio access network 2 of the type required for the delivery of the content clip, a handover of the mobile terminal 4 to a radio access network 2 of the required type is triggered. The content clip can then be delivered to the mobile terminal 4. The invention relates equally to a corresponding system, to a corresponding communication network and to elements performing the proposed steps. |
| US07643784B2 |
Fixing apparatus, fixing member used in the fixing apparatus, and image forming apparatus having the fixing apparatus
A fixing apparatus including at least one transfer and fixing member which is placed in contact with an image carrier and a recording medium and configured to transfer and fix an image on the image carrier to the recording medium, at least detection mechanism configured to detect a jam generated on the recording medium, a separation mechanism configured to contact the transfer and fixing member with and separate from the transfer and fixing member from the image carrier or recording medium, the separation mechanism being configured to separate the transfer and fixing member from the image carrier or recording medium when the jam on the recording medium is detected by the detection mechanism. |
| US07643779B2 |
Developer transporting amount controlling member, developing apparatus, imaging apparatus, and method for exchanging developing unit
A developer transporting amount controlling member that is used in a developing apparatus is disclosed. The developing apparatus includes a recording unit having a surface that sustains an electrostatic latent image and attracts a developer, a developer transporting unit that transports the developer, and a developing unit that guides the developer to the recording unit. The recording unit, the developer transporting unit, and the developing unit have rotational center axes that are parallel to each other. The developer transporting amount controlling member includes a magnetic part and a nonmagnetic part that is harder than the magnetic part and is fixed to the developing apparatus such that a portion of the nonmagnetic part is disposed closest to the developing unit. |
| US07643773B2 |
User-friendly imaging cartridge
An imaging cartridge, for use in an imaging machine, has a handle that centers a user's hand to the center of the cartridge when inserting or removing the cartridge from the imaging machine. Planar members on the cartridge are guided by slots in the imaging machine for smooth insertion of the cartridge into the imaging machine. |
| US07643768B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of controlling thereof
An image forming apparatus is capable of executing an auto paper selection function for automatically selecting a paper size corresponding to a paper size of an input document from a plurality of paper cassettes, and an auto magnification selection function for automatically magnifying an image of the input document to correspond to a defined paper size. The auto magnification selection function is selected for execution by the apparatus when there is only one size of paper to be selected in the apparatus, and the auto paper selection function is selected for execution by the apparatus when there are a plurality of sizes of paper to be selected in the apparatus. |
| US07643767B2 |
Transfer-fixing unit and image forming apparatus for enhanced image quality
A transfer unit for use in an image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt, and a counter member. The transfer belt, having a given circumferential length, receives an un-fixed image, formed of an image developer, from an image carrier at a first nip, which is defined between the transfer belt and the image carrier. The counter member faces the transfer belt to form a second nip with the transfer belt. The un-fixed image is transferred from the transfer belt to a recording medium passing through the second nip. A slack portion is generated in the transfer belt, when a front edge of the recording medium passes through the second nip. The slack portion of the transfer belt being generated in a first portion of the transfer belt returning from the second nip to the first nip. |
| US07643763B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a density counting unit
A density counting unit of an image forming apparatus for forming a monochromatic image or a color image represented by a plurality of color components on a photosensitive member includes: first totaling means for totaling pixel values of monochromatic component of each pixel of an image when a monochromatic image is formed; second totaling means for totaling pixel values of monochromatic component of each pixel of an image when a monochromatic image is formed, and totaling pixel values of predetermined color component when a color image is formed; and third totaling means for totaling pixel values of color components other than the predetermined color component when a color image is formed. When a monochromatic image is formed, the first totaling means and the second totaling means total the pixel values of the odd number lines and the even number lines, respectively. |
| US07643754B2 |
Method of and apparatus for providing multi-wavelength light source
A method of providing a multi-wavelength light source includes the steps of modulating an optical pulse source so as to output optical pulses with a designated repetition frequency, time-division multiplexing the optical pulses output by the optical pulse source so as to output optical pulses with a repetition frequency which is an integral multiple of the designated repetition frequency, and demultiplexing wavelengths of the optical pulses with the repetition frequency which is the integral multiple of the designated repetition frequency so as to output the wavelengths as the multi-wavelength light source. |
| US07643752B2 |
Testing of transmitters for communication links by software simulation of reference channel and/or reference receiver
A transmitter for a communications link is tested by using a (software) simulation of a reference channel and/or a reference receiver to test the transmitter. In one embodiment for optical fiber communications links, a data test pattern is applied to the transmitter under test and the resulting optical output is captured, for example by a sampling oscilloscope. The captured waveform is subsequently processed by the software simulation, in order to simulate propagation of the optical signal through the reference channel and/or reference receiver. A performance metric for the transmitter is calculated based on the processed waveform. |
| US07643750B2 |
Photographing apparatus with image-blur suppression mechanism
A photographing apparatus which performs an image-blur suppression properly even through a computation device disposed in a main body of the photographing apparatus and a photographing element movable along an XY plane are electrically connected is provided according to the present invention. The image-blur suppression mechanism comprises a flexible base plate 20 including a second linear part 210 and a fourth linear part 212 which are plastically deformed along Z axial direction, meeting such a condition that an intersection line between a plane containing the second linear part 210 and the XY plane and an intersection line between a plane containing the fourth linear part 212 and the XY plane are intersected with XY axes, respectively. |
| US07643747B2 |
Photographing apparatus and initialization method thereof
A photographing apparatus requiring a short initialization time, and a method thereof are provided. The photographing apparatus includes a camera part for converting an optical image converged through a lens into an electric signal, and processing the electric signal into an image signal, a first memory for temporarily storing the image signal generated at the camera part, a second memory for storing the image signal stored in the first memory, and a signal processing part for temporarily storing the image signal to the first memory during initialization of the second memory, and upon completion of the initialization of the second memory, storing the image signal stored in the first memory to the second memory. As a result, initialization time of the photographing apparatus is shortened. |
| US07643743B2 |
Focus detection apparatus, method of driving the same and camera system
A low cost and high speed AF sensor is realized by increasing AF speed without providing a sensor dedicated for a large de-focusing AF. The AF sensor has two sensors each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and detects a focus based on signals read from the sensors. The two sensors each includes a plurality of linear sensors 11 to 13. The two sensors each has a plurality of accumulation controlling circuits (PB detection circuits 14 to 16 and accumulation decision circuits 17 to 19) for controlling the accumulation time of the photoelectric conversion elements and a plurality of scanning circuits (shift registers 21 to 23) for reading out output signals from the photoelectric conversion elements. The AF sensor has a first mode in which the accumulation time of each linear sensor in the two sensors is independently controlled to independently read a signal output and a second mode in which the accumulation time of the linear sensors in the two sensors is collectively controlled to read a signal output. |
| US07643742B2 |
Electronic camera, image processing apparatus, image processing method and image processing computer program
An electronic camera detects a person's face image from an object image obtained by photographing an object, executes an enlarging process on the detected face image so as to obtain a face image whose face size is suitable, and displays the face image which is enlarged into the suitable size on a display device. When a plurality of people are present on the object image, the enlarged face images are switched by an image operating switch. As a result, the switched face image is displayed on the display device. |
| US07643741B2 |
Image stabilization unit, image stabilization device, and imaging apparatus
By regulating movement of first and second arms 231A and 241A only in an optical axis direction using guide members EN1 and EN2, magnetic forces received from a first magnet 243A and a second magnet 233A which expand horizontally with respect to the optical axis can be stably detected by using a first sensor 2341A held in a first arm and a second sensor 2441A held by a second arm. |
| US07643736B2 |
Apparatus and method for manufacturing semiconductor devices
An apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a treatment chamber in which a working substrate is disposed; a plurality of lamps provided above the treatment chamber; and a reflector provided behind the lamps relative to a direction towards the working substrate, spatially controlling an in-plane distribution of reflection rate of light beams from the lamps, and irradiating the working substrate with light from the lamps. |
| US07643735B1 |
Deer scent spreading apparatus and method
A deer scent spreading apparatus includes an inner container positioned in an outer container. A peripheral wall of the inner container is spaced from a peripheral wall of the outer container. A cover is removably attached to the outer container and covers an opening defined by an upper edge of the outer container. A fluid is positioned between the outer and inner containers. A liquid scent configured to attract deer is positioned within the inner container. The fluid is heated to heat the liquid scent. A wicking member is attached to a bottom side of the cover and is positioned to be extended into the inner container. A tether is attached to the cover and extends upwardly away from a top side of the cover. The wicking member is at least partially removed from the inner container to disperse by evaporation the liquid scent absorbed therein. |
| US07643733B2 |
Control device for driving a brushless DC motor
A delta type inverter is used in conjunction with a closed-loop motor controller to provide a control device for driving a three phase brushless direct current motor. The delta inverter has one-half of the solid state switching devices and diodes required by conventional bridge type inventers, thereby improved reliability, and enabling the motor control device to have reduced size, cost and weight. The closed-loop motor controller may include a torque loop for reducing torque ripple during operation of the motor. |
| US07643729B2 |
Recording medium and method for reproducing information therefrom
A recording medium having recorded thereon, a plurality of picture information sets, presentation time values each of which is associated with the corresponding one of the picture information sets, picture information record marks each of which is associated with the corresponding one of said presentation time values, clip information specifying what position on the recording medium is associated with each of said presentation time values, and reproducing order specifying information specifying in what order the picture information sets are to be reproduced. |
| US07643725B2 |
Recording medium having data structure for managing reproduction of at least video data representing multiple reproduction paths and recording and reproducing methods and apparatuses
In the data structure, a data area of the recording medium stores a transport stream of at least video data. The transport stream is divided into transport packets, and each of the transport packets is associated with one of the multiple reproduction paths. Also, the transport packets of each reproduction path is stored in separate physical domains of the data area from one another. |
| US07643718B2 |
Photonic waveguide device for modal control
Uniaxially patterned (UAP) dielectric layers have an optical anisotropy that can be dynamically controlled. In a three-layer optical waveguide structure, the pattern can be included in the core or in a cladding layer. The pattern influences the polarization properties of radiation propagating in the structure. Predicated on the effect are devices such as a polarization-insensitive amplifier, a polarizer, an optically controlled polarization switch, and an optically controlled modal coupler. |
| US07643717B2 |
Hybrid organic-inorganic materials for waveguides, optical devices, and other applications
Waveguides are disclosed (and other devices and materials including but not limited to hybrid organic-inorganic coatings, passivation materials, glob top materials, underfill materials, materials for IC and other applications, microlenses and any of a wide variety of optical devices) that benefit by being formed of a novel hybrid organic-inorganic material. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for making a waveguide includes: forming a lower cladding layer on a substrate; forming a core layer after the lower cladding layer; and forming an upper cladding layer after the core layer; wherein the lower cladding layer, core layer and/or upper cladding layer comprises a hybrid organic-inorganic material—that has many desirable properties relating to stability, hydrophobicity, roughness, optical absorbance, polarization dependent loss, among others. |
| US07643716B2 |
Method for changing refractive index of an optical fiber by applying a high voltage pulse to a longitudinal electrode
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method is disclosed of temporarily changing refractive index of an optical fiber containing a longitudinal electrode arranged in the cladding of said fiber along and parallel to the core of the fiber, wherein the change in refractive index is performed by applying a high voltage pulse to said longitudinal electrode, the high voltage pulse including a magnitude of at least 100 volts and a duration sufficiently short to prevent melting of the electrode, such that the electrode thermally expands through ohmic heating without melting and exerts a pressure on the fiber core to induce said temporary change of the refractive index. The method is suitably used for Q-switching a fiber laser. |
| US07643715B2 |
Optical power delivery system
An optical transmission system comprising a laser light source arranged to emit light having a frequency ω; and an optical transmission line adapted to guide the light, wherein said optical transmission line includes a photonic bandgap optical fibre having a core guided mode at frequency ω and an attenuation band at a frequency of ω-13 THz. The optical transmission system suppresses Raman scattered light thereby allowing high optical powers to be transmitted through optical fibre. |
| US07643714B2 |
Nanophotonic devices in silicon
Systems and methods for manipulating light with high index contrast waveguides clad with substances having that exhibit large nonlinear electro-optic constants χ2 and χ3. Waveguides fabricated on SOI wafers and clad with electro-optic polymers are described. Embodiments of waveguides having slots, electrical contacts, and input waveguide couplers are discussed. Waveguides having closed loop structures (such as rings and ovals) as well as linear or serpentine waveguides, are described. Optical signal processing methods, such as optical rectification and optical modulation, are disclosed. Designs having responsivity of less than 1 volt-centimeter are described. |