| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07815544B2 |
Method and system for releasing hydraulic pressure of automatic transmission
The present invention relates to a method and a system for releasing hydraulic pressure of an automatic transmission that improve shift responsiveness and stability of hydraulic pressure control as a consequence of quickly supplying to a pressure control valve as feedback pressure a part of operating pressure that is supplied from the pressure control valve to an off-going element in a case of releasing the off-going element. The method for releasing hydraulic pressure of an automatic transmission according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include: determining whether a shift signal is detected; calculating a delay time TPSW according to oil temperature; maintaining a control duty at 0% during the delay time; and recovering the control duty to a release duty DR after the delay time has passed. |
| US07815541B2 |
Multi-speed transmission
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of interconnecting members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. A first interconnecting member continuously interconnects the third member of the first planetary gear set with the third member of the third planetary gear set. A second interconnecting member continuously interconnects the second member of the first planetary gear set with the third member of the second planetary gear set. A third interconnecting member continuously interconnects the first member of the second planetary gear set with the first member of the third planetary gear set. A fourth interconnecting member continuously interconnects the second member of the third planetary gear set with a third member of the fourth planetary gear set. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes. |
| US07815540B2 |
Gear and clutch arrangement for multi-speed transmission
A transmission is disclosed having an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes a sun gear member, a planet carrier member, and a ring gear member. The torque transmitting devices include five clutches and one brake arranged within a transmission housing. |
| US07815538B2 |
Independently mounted electronic limited slip device for vehicle
A device for use with a vehicle transmission system includes a housing having a clutch provided therein and a first member extending from the housing and configured for coupling to a vehicle differential. The first member includes a generally hollow tube configured to carry a rotatable shaft therein. The device does not include a second member for directly coupling the device to a transmission housing or to the differential. |
| US07815536B2 |
Compact geared drive train
A drive train for a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a rotor connected to a low speed shaft, and a low speed shaft connected to a gearbox. The gearbox has a high speed shaft connected to a generator. The drive train includes a bearing interposed between the gearbox and the generator. A gearbox lubrication medium is at least partially contained within the gearbox, and the bearing shares the gearbox lubrication medium with the gearbox. |
| US07815530B2 |
Golf ball proximity to hole measurement
Apparatus for accurately measuring the distance between a golf ball and the hole on a putting green, i.e., for determining proximity, especially in golf competitions to see who can hit their ball onto the green to end up in closest proximity to the hole. An accessory to the measurement device is a proximity sign for recording the proximity measurements. The invention comprises apparatus and method for conveniently storing and using the measurement device(s). For proximity measurements, the device is configured to removably and repositionably attach a tape measure to a flag pin (generally the flag pin in the hole on the green in contest). The proximity sign is similarly configured. For storage of a device when not in use, the devices include spring clips and an optional security ring to impede unauthorized removal from the flag pin. |
| US07815522B2 |
Golf club head
A hollow golf club head includes a sole, a crown, a skirt, and a striking face. The golf club includes a junction interconnecting the sole, crown, and skirt to the striking face, the junction including at least one stiffening member. |
| US07815520B2 |
Golf club head
A putter head comprising a body having an open, frame-like structure having an improved mass distribution for optimizing the moment of inertia and placement of the center of gravity. The body includes a front portion, a rear portion, toe and heel portions extending between and interconnecting respective ends of the front and rear portions, and a central portion interconnecting the front and rear portions along the longitudinal axis of the body. A first main opening of the body is bounded by the toe portion, the central portion, and part of the front portion. A second main opening of the body is bounded by the heel portion, the central portion, and part of the front portion. The heel and toe portions desirably are formed with respective elongated openings extending substantially the entire lengths of the heel and toe portions. |
| US07815518B2 |
Training apparatus for improving a golf swing
In the basic embodiment, the golf training device is a support rod, a first end of which is secured to a hinged mechanism, the hinged mechanism being secured to a support, the opposing end of the support rod having secured thereto a head piece or helmet which is engageable with the upper portion of the head or skull of an individual, the support rod extending a sufficient distance from its support and hinge mechanism to allow an individual to execute a golf swing while the head piece is positioned on the golfer's head. |
| US07815516B1 |
Method and apparatus for golf club swing training
A golf training and simulation device measures a signal indicative of the displacement of a club and in an alternate embodiment, the detection of a golf ball after being struck. The measurement system can be used in conjunction with a golf simulator or as a golf training apparatus for diagnosing a golf swing. In one application, a putting stroke training device is described with the object to develop a smooth, consistent putting stroke by feedback to the golfer when the putter head has accelerated or decelerated too rapidly or when the golfer opens or closes the club face when striking a golf ball. Positive feedback can also be provided when the putting stroke is square at impact with the ball. The consistency in the repetition of a stroke may also be measured, statistically analyzed, recorded and displayed and thus used in advanced training. |
| US07815514B2 |
Water amusement park conveyor barriers
An amusement ride system and method are described. In some embodiments, an amusement ride system may be generally related to water amusement attractions and rides. Further, the disclosure generally relates to water-powered rides and to a system and method in which participants may be more involved in a water attraction. An amusement ride system may include a system for conveying a participant from a first source of water to a second source of water. A system for conveying a participant from a first source of water to a second source of water may include a belt and a belt movement system. A system for conveying a participant from a first source of water to a second source of water may include one or more barriers configured to inhibit participants from leaving the belt as the participants are conveyed along the belt. |
| US07815505B2 |
Method for representing a game as a unique number
Methods and apparatus for representing game arrangements by a single number, typically an integer, are described. These game arrangements can be applied to most any game including essentially all games played on gaming machines. Conversions can be made between symbolic representations of game arrangements and numeric representations of game arrangements. These conversions can be made using “ordering factors” such as game symbols and positions of such game symbols. |
| US07815503B2 |
Method and apparatus for play of a game with negative outcomes
Method and apparatus are described for conducting a secondary game at a gaming device. In various embodiments, a player may acquire equity in the secondary game in such forms as a location of a game character, a number of symbols aggregated, a degree of completion of a puzzle, or a defensive provision. Certain symbols or outcomes in a primary game, however, may cause the player to lose equity in the secondary game. |
| US07815501B1 |
Method and device for conducting a game displaying symbols in a geometric arrangement
A method for conducting a card game includes defining a card template containing a plurality of card positions in the form of a geometric shape having at least two dimensions wherein the card positions in the card template are each assigned to at least one of two or more game hands. The player places a wager. Cards are randomly selected and arranged in the card positions of the card template. A player may opt to relocate the playing cards in the card template, such as by shifting the cards around the perimeter of the geometric shape. A final hand is formed for each game hand of the card template and the finals hands are rewarded according to a pay table. The present invention also includes a device for conducting such a method. |
| US07815494B2 |
Sanding apparatus with molded elastomeric pad
A sander comprises a body member molded of polypropylene to which a soft pad member is integrally molded or directly bonded thereto. Preferably, the material comprising the pad member is of a thermoplastic elastomer material, such as Santoprene®. Significantly, when the pad member is molded directly to the body member, the pad has internal dimensions only slightly larger than the external dimensions of the body member so that, when the body member is located within the confines of the pad member, a secure fit is formed between these two members, without any space between them. Further, the respective dimensions of the body member and pad member give the sander a thick, one-piece appearance in side and end views. The pad member may also include a plurality of openings which help provide a “spongy” effect to the user, smoothing the peaks and reaching the valleys of an uneven surface upon which the sander is utilized. |
| US07815492B2 |
Surface treatment method
A surface treatment method that enables a surface of an electrostatic chuck to be smoothed, so as to improve the efficiency of heat transfer between the surface of the electrostatic chuck and a substrate. The electrostatic chuck is provided in an upper portion of a susceptor provided in a chamber of a substrate processing apparatus. In the surface treatment of the electrostatic chuck, a sprayed coating film is formed on the surface of the electrostatic chuck, next the surface of the electrostatic chuck is ground by bringing into contact therewith a grindstone, then the surface of the electrostatic chuck is ground flat by bringing into contact therewith a lapping plate onto a surface of which is sprayed a suspension, and then the surface of the electrostatic chuck is ground smooth by bringing into contact therewith a tape of a tape lapping apparatus. |
| US07815490B2 |
Flash vaporizing water jet and piercing with flash vaporization
A flash vaporizing liquid jet cutting tool and method for piercing with minimal damage to the cut material. The liquid is preferably superheated water, typically with abrasive particles added after the jet is expressed through a nozzle (abrasive water jet, AWJ) or with abrasive particles added before the jet is expressed through a nozzle (abrasive slurry jet, ASJ). In piercing, only a portion of water that has not changed phase enters into the cavity or must leave the cavity and the piercing pressure, which can damage the material, is therefore reduced. |
| US07815487B2 |
Spot fused foam cup
A pad for a brassiere has a first layer; a second layer; and an intermediate layer between the first layer and the second layer. The first layer, the second layer and the intermediate layer are connected at predetermined locations to form a first plurality of depressions on the first layer and a second plurality of depressions on the second layer. The brassiere has a pair of back panels, a pair of shoulder straps, and a pair of breast receiving cups. Each of the pair of breast receiving cups has a first layer; a second layer; and an intermediate layer between the first layer and the second layer. The first layer, the second layer and the intermediate layer are connected to form a first plurality of depressions on said first layer and a second plurality of depressions on said second layer. |
| US07815486B2 |
Spring-powered toy vehicle and launcher
The present invention relates to a spring-powered toy vehicle with a front body portion, a separable rear body portion, rotating wheels and a spring propulsion system. When the rear body portion is pulled away from the front body portion and released, the spring will pull the rear body portion back into the front body portion, thereby causing the vehicle to move forward. Parallel vehicle guides prevent the rear movable body portion from pulling away in a non-axial direction, thus guiding the propelled toy vehicle in a straight line. Other aspects provide interchangeable and replaceable springs, and body portions. Additionally, vehicle choices include autos, trucks, motorcycles, planes, and construction equipment. A launcher is included that provides a stable platform for launching the vehicles and additionally imparts, through a peg and notch assembly and a spring-loaded plunger, additional kinetic energy for propulsion. |
| US07815485B2 |
Pose and play dolls
Pose and play dolls that will stand on a platform by magnetic attraction and dance with lifelike animation, but which may be removed from the stand for ordinary play. The dolls include animation powered from the platform through the legs of the doll. A motor in the doll animates the doll body, arms and head, with proportional feedback allowing control by a controller in coordination with music being played. The doll head may rotate or gyrate, and the arms swing as a unit or with the lower arms bending as the arms swing. In one form of platform simply rotates through controlled angles, again in coordination with the music being played. In another form of doll, the hips are configured to swing back and forth, and another form of platform controls the hip movement, again in coordination with the music being played. Various other features and capabilities are disclosed. |
| US07815479B2 |
Luminance improved organic electroluminescent device
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) is capable of improving light efficiency per pixel unit by forming a cathode electrode to cover an anode electrode, thereby focusing light emitted from a luminescent layer per pixel unit. The OLED comprises: a second insulating film formed on a substrate including a TFT with source/drain electrodes formed on a first insulating film; a lower electrode formed on the second insulating film and connected to one of the source/drain electrodes; a third insulating film having an opening for exposing a portion of the lower electrode; a luminescent layer formed on the lower electrode inside the opening; a groove formed to surround the luminescent layer; and an upper electrode formed on the substrate including the groove so that the upper electrode surrounds the luminescent layer. The upper electrode functions as a reflection layer for reflecting total light while light emitted from the luminescent layer is being pulled out through the substrate. |
| US07815478B2 |
Process of manufacturing a lamp assembly by overmolding a lens support over a portion of a lens
A lamp including a lens support (1) and a glass lens (2) designed to be placed in front of a light source (5), said lens being assembled to the lens support which is secured to the light source, said support being made of a plastics material, said lens having a rear face (22) designed to face towards the light source, an optical front face (21), and a peripheral rim (23) which interconnects the rear face and the front face, the lens support coming into engagement with the lens at said rim, said lamp being characterized in that the support (1) is fixed to the lens (2) by overmolding, the plastics material of which the support is made surrounding the rim (23) of the lens at least in part. |
| US07815477B2 |
Swimming flipper
Swimming flipper comprising a shoe part from which two ribs extend laterally, and a fin part, characterised in that said fin part is connected at one end to said shoe part, while its other end is constrained to said ribs in the vicinity of their ends, the sides of said fin part being at least partly not constrained in any way to the said side ribs, all of which so that during the active and passive phases of the flipper movement the free part and the constrained part of the said fin bend in the opposite directions forming substantially an S shape. |
| US07815467B2 |
Connector device
A connector device includes a first connector and a second connector to be connected the first connector. The first connector includes a first housing, a plurality of first signal terminals arranged in the first housing, and a first shell for covering an outer portion of the first housing. The second connector includes a second housing, a plurality of second signal terminals arranged in the second housing, a second shell for covering an outer portion of the second housing, and a first ground terminal disposed between the second signal terminals for separating the second signal terminals. When the first connector is connected the second connector, the first signal terminals contact with the second terminals. |
| US07815462B2 |
Connector and method of terminating electric leads to a connector
An electric plug having a first connection region, a second connection region, and a contact carrier. The first connection region, having at least one vertical contact, is provided for connecting at least one electrical conductor, while the second connection region includes at least one horizontal contact for contacting a counter connector which is to be connected to the electric plug. The contact carrier includes an upper surface on which the vertical and horizontal contacts are provided, with the contact carrier being configured to electrically interconnect the first and second connection regions. Furthermore, the contact carrier is arranged in a housing, forming a datum plane on the lower side of the housing in the plug-in direction, with the upper surface of the contact carrier is arranged in an inclined position with respect to the datum plane. |
| US07815461B2 |
Connector for vehicles having a vibration-proof effect against vibration of a shielded electric wire
A connector of the present invention includes: a first terminal electrically connected to a conductor wire of a shielded electric wire; a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal; a housing provided so as to surround a connection part of the first terminal and the second terminal and a peripheral part thereof, composed of a first housing that holds the first terminal and a second housing that holds the second terminal; and a shielded electric wire support member provided in the first housing, for grasping an insulator coating of the shielded electric wire inserted into the first housing, and supporting the shielded electric wire by the first housing in contact with an inner wall of the first housing. |
| US07815457B2 |
IC socket
An IC socket comprises a base, a cover moveably mounted to the base, and an actuating mechanism driving the cover to move between a first position and a second position. The base includes a plurality of passageways and at least a rib extending upwardly from a top surface. The cover defines a hole corresponding to the rib and has a plurality of apertures corresponding to the passageways. |
| US07815454B2 |
Electrical connector
An electrical connector for electrically connecting a chip module to a printed circuit board includes an insulative housing with a number of contacts, a metal stiffener surrounding the insulative housing, a metal clip pivotally assembled to one end of the metal stiffener; and a lever pivotally assembled to the other end of the metal stiffener. The metal clip has a main portion, an engaging tab extending angularly from the main portion, and a pair of hooks mounting to the metal stiffener. The metal stiffener includes a block portion engaging with the main portion to avoid the tab disengaging from the lever. |
| US07815453B2 |
Electrical connector with improved stiffener
An electrical connector assembly (100) includes a first retaining half (51) securely mounted on a printed substrate, a load plate (60) pivotally attached to the first retaining half, a second retaining half (52) opposite and distant to the first retaining half, a lever (70) pivotally attached to the second retaining half and including a cam portion (706) capable of pushing down a pressed section (610) from the clip toward the printed substrate, and a connector (30) mounted between the first and second retaining halves. |
| US07815452B2 |
Electrical connector
An electrical connector includes an insulated body having an insert face formed with a plurality of terminal holes, a mounting face, a fixing member and a plurality of terminals. The insert face is dented inwardly so as to form a plug reception chamber in spatial communication with the terminal holes. A fixing element extends outwardly and downwardly from the insulated body. The fixing member is integrally formed with the mounting face of the insulated body via an injection molding process such that the fixing element of the insulated body is integrally formed with the fixing member. The terminals includes a row of terminals, each having an embed section embedded within the fixing member along an extension direction via an insert-molding process and a contact section projecting from one end of the front embed section through a respective one of the terminal holes and so as to be retained within the plug reception chamber in the insulated body. |
| US07815450B1 |
Electrical connector
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, comprises a housing; a first connector; a second connector, wherein the second connector is disposed below the first connector and has a transmission speed different from the first connector; a driving member; an actuation rod; a driving spring; a lock sheet; an actuation spring; and a torsion spring. With the mentioned structure, the electrical connector is able to be plugged with a USB2.0 connector plug or a USB3.0 connector plug for satisfying requirements of various transmission speeds. |
| US07815449B2 |
Memory card connector
A memory card connector includes an insulative housing having a terminal-mounting section which mounts a plurality of conductive terminals having contact portions for engaging appropriate contacts on a memory card. The housing at least in part defines a card-receiving cavity for receiving the memory card. A card eject mechanism includes a slider movably mounted on the housing. The slider is engageable with the memory card for movement therewith into and out of the cavity between an inserted connection position and a withdrawal position. A slide lock member is mounted on the connector, independent of the eject mechanism, and is engageable with the slider to hold the slider in its inserted connection position. An ejection control member is mounted on the housing for releasing the slide lock from engagement with the slider to allow the slider and memory card to be ejected. |
| US07815447B1 |
Storage device with a casing with a plug movable parallel to a second plug in the casing
A storage device having detachable multiple-in-one connector has a casing with one opening; a multiple-in-one plug part mounted inside the casing, exposed beyond the opening and having first and second plug assemblies detachably stacked with a gap formed therebetween; a movable assembly mounted inside the casing, connected with the second plug assembly and penetrating through the casing; and a circuit board mounted inside the casing and electrically connected with the first and the second plug assemblies, having an automatic interface switching procedure and a plurality of interface connecting procedures, having a control circuit determining the plug assembly currently in use, and selecting the interface connecting procedure corresponding to the plug assembly currently in use. Due to the multiple-in-one design, the size of the storage device can be reduced, and the storage device can be selectively plugged in a multiple-in-one or single socket connector. |
| US07815445B2 |
High-speed cable assembly with protective member
A cable assembly (1000) includes an elongated metallic housing (10A) and a cable holder member (6) attached to a rear portion of the housing (10A); a cable (4) coupled to the housing, with a mounting portion (40) thereof gripped by the cable holder member; and a protective member (5) embedded in the mounting portion of the cable, disposed outside of the wires (42) of the cable. |
| US07815439B2 |
Insulation displacement plug-in connector and device for telecommunications and data technology
The invention relates to an insulation displacement plug-in connector for telecommunications and data technology, comprising a housing (45) and a number of contact elements (43), wherein the contact elements (43) each comprise an insulation displacement contact (54) for connecting cores and a pin contact (53) for making contact with a printed circuit board, wherein at least one extension (55) is arranged between the insulation displacement contact (54) and the pin contact (53). |
| US07815438B2 |
Needle-like member, conductive contact, and conductive contact unit
A first needle-like member includes a columnar member formed by a conductive material such as a metal material with its up-and-down direction being longitudinal, and a contact member formed on a semiconductor integrated circuit (body to be contacted) side with respect to the columnar member, which are integrally formed. In the columnar member, a through hole is formed in the longitudinal direction of the first needle-like member. The through hole has opening ends on both sides thereof Thus, in the process of manufacturing the needle-like member, the contact member is formed on a rod-like body being a raw material from the same direction as a drill insertion direction to form the through hole. |
| US07815437B2 |
Spotlight for illumination in film, studio, event or theatre environments
A spotlight for illumination in film, studio, event or theatre environments, with an electrical terminal for connecting the spotlight to a supply line for supplying electricity to the spotlight, is provided. The electrical terminal is rotatably mounted on the spotlight and can be matched in terms of its alignment, so as to connect the spotlight to the supply line. The position of the electrical terminal can be matched in dependence on the arrangement of the spotlight, in order to supply the electric supply line to the spotlight from different directions. |
| US07815436B2 |
Surgical simulation interface device and method
An interface device capable of communicating with a computer running a simulation program, such as a surgical simulation program, comprises an instrument capable of being manipulated by a user. The instrument is receivable within an orifice in an instrument receiving member, the instrument receiving member comprising a capture member engageable with the instrument and a sensor to sense a position of the instrument. The position of the instrument is then used by the computer to control a graphic image related to the simulation. In one version, the simulation is a simulation of a surgical instrument insertion procedure, such as an endoscopy procedure. |
| US07815427B2 |
Apparatus and method for reducing solvent loss for electro-spinning of fine fibers
A method and apparatus for generation of fine fibers via electro-spinning from a polymer solution is provided. The spray or spinning electrode is dipped in a polymer solution to maintain a polymer solution coating on the electrode for electrostatic spinning of fine fibers. A cover provides an evaporation barrier that reduces solvent loss. The drive unit may move the electrode around the cover to facilitate dipping of part of the electrode while exposing another part of the electrode for electro-spinning of fine fibers. |
| US07815426B2 |
Apparatus for forming ultrafine particles
An apparatus for forming ultrafine particles, including: a light source generating a laser beam to be irradiated at an organic substance; at least one microflow channel capable of passing therethrough a suspension containing the organic substance; and a flow device for allowing the suspension containing the organic substance to continuously or intermittently pass through the microflow channel, the organic substance present in the microflow channel being irradiated with the laser beam at least once within a predetermined period, thereby forming ultrafine particles of the organic substance. |
| US07815419B2 |
Impeller for blower and air conditioner having the same
An impeller is provided for a blower having a blade (15), a plurality of notches (17) provided at predetermined intervals on a side edge of the blade (15), and a plurality of smooth portions (18) each provided between a pair of the notches (17). Since a transverse vortex discharged from the side edge of the blade (15), and on a large scale, is organized by vertical vortexes formed in the notches (17) on a small scale so as to be segmented into stable transverse vortexes, it becomes possible to reduce aerodynamic noise. |
| US07815418B2 |
Shroud and rotary vane wheel of propeller fan and propeller fan
A shroud includes a body portion 5B, a mount 7 positioned at a center of the body portion 5B and supporting rotary vane wheel driver 6, and multiple support beams 10 radially extending from the mount 7 and joining the mount 7 and the body portion 5B, where each of the support beams 10 becomes thicker from an upstream side of a flow direction of air toward a downstream side thereof, and an edge portion 10ti of each of the support beams 10 on the downstream side of the flow direction of the air discharged by the rotary vane wheel 8 is oriented in a direction parallel to a rotation axis of the rotary vane wheel 8, and the edge portion on the upstream side is oriented in a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the rotary vane wheel 8. |
| US07815417B2 |
Guide vane for a gas turbine engine
A guide vane for a gas turbine aircraft engine includes an aerodynamic shell for turning a flow of working fluid and an internal spar spaced from the aerodynamic shell by an air gap and reinforced by stiffeners. |
| US07815415B2 |
Mounting structure for air separator, and gas turbine
A mounting structure for an air separator in a gas turbine includes an air separator and a rotor blade rotary disk. The air separator includes a cylindrical member with a flange at one end. The rotor blade rotary disk has on its outer face a disk recess portion forming an annular recess around the axial center of the rotor. A sealing face is formed on a contact face between a flange outer peripheral face that is provided on an outer periphery of the flange to be parallel to the axial center of the rotor and a disk recess inner peripheral face opposed to the flange outer peripheral face, that is provided on the disk recess portion and is parallel to the axial center of the rotor and formed around the axial center in an annular shape. |
| US07815414B2 |
Airfoil mini-core plugging devices
A turbine engine component, such as a high pressure turbine vane, has an airfoil portion and at least one coolant system embedded within the airfoil portion. Each coolant system has an exit through which a cooling fluid flows, which exit has at least one device for preventing deposits from interfering with the flow of cooling fluid from the exit. The at least one device may be at least one depression and/or at least one grill structure formed from elongated ribs. |
| US07815413B2 |
Method of stowing wheelchair lift
A wheelchair lift for use in conjunction with a vehicle having a floor. The lift includes a power-actuating system, a platform assembly having first and second platform sections, a linking assembly having first and second vertical arms connected to the platform assembly, and first and second fold-facilitating links connecting the first and second vertical arms, respectively, to the first and second platform sections. The linking assembly connects the power-actuating system to the platform assembly. During a folding process, the first and second fold-facilitating links cause the first platform section to pivot with respect to the second platform section and the first vertical arm to move with respect to the second vertical arm. |
| US07815410B2 |
Vehicle parking apparatus and elevator apparatus
A vehicle parking apparatus for parking a vehicle comprises a main structure having a plurality of storage racks capable of storing vehicles lined up in a vertical direction, a lift cage capable of being mounted with a vehicle, a coupling mechanism having a second coupling member, a first coupling member capable of making contact with the second coupling member from a lower side and capable of relative movement in a downward direction from a position of making contact with the second coupling member, and an urging mechanism causing a prescribed urging force to act in a downward direction on the first coupling member; a wire capable of suspending the lift cage in an elevator shaft H next to the storage racks via the coupling mechanism, and winding apparatus capable of winding the wire up and down. The first coupling member is fixed to one end of the wire, and the second coupling member is fixed to the lift cage. This makes it possible to provide a vehicle parking apparatus and elevator apparatus capable of being stably driven with a simple configuration. |
| US07815402B2 |
Cutting insert for radius cutter and indexable-insert radius cutter fitted with the same
A cutting insert is provided with at least a circular-arc blade cutting edge as a cutting edge in the form of a substantially quarter circular arc, at an intersection between a rake face and a flank face, and an outer cutting edge extending from one end portion of the circular-arc cutting edge. The rake face is formed so as to be convex in a direction of rotation when the cutting insert is mounted on a tool body. On a section perpendicular to the cutting edge, the rake face is inclined so as to become gentler with distance from the circular-arc cutting edge or outer cutting edge. The circular-arc cutting edge is formed to be convex in the direction of rotation. The outer cutting edge is formed so that its edge ridge line is substantially parallel to the axis of the tool body. |
| US07815392B2 |
Curb system apparatus and method therefor
Disclosed herein is a system and method for a seamless curb system suitable for a sanitary environment while providing an energy absorbing structure. The multicellular structure has a substantially uniform cross section. The structure is formed of hi-density, energy absorbing, expanding polypropylene foam, similar to bumper systems used in cars and trucks. An outer shell is disposed over at least a front portion of the structure. The outer shell may be stainless steel or a polyurea/polyaspartic reinforced coating, as examples. The elements are sealed to each other in an end to end relationship adjacent to a wall to form an energy absorbing protective barrier to the wall. At least one anchor is disposed in a slot in the floor of the manufacturing facility to provide support. |
| US07815391B2 |
Structural member joints
A connector and method for joining one end of a first wood member such as a wood log or beam to a side of a second wood member involving metal sleeves secured in aligned holes in a respective member with a protruding one of the sleeve slidable into the other sleeve. A bolt is threaded into an internally threaded element on the inner end of the sleeve in the first member and advanced to pull the members together. The sleeves are secured in the holes with spike features driven out into the surrounding wood. Alternatively, a tee connector has a plate portion fitting into a slot extending through aligned holes in the plate and one end of the first member. A cross plate is held against the one side of the other member with thread fasteners. |
| US07815390B2 |
Rivet or screw connection of a plastic part to a further part
A rivet or screw connection, comprising: a first component having a first through-opening; a second component having a second through-opening; and a rivet or screw having shank, wherein the first and second through-openings are arranged and penetrated by the shank of the rivet or screw, the rivet or screw comprises a rivet head, screw head or nut on both sides of the through-openings, having a diameter larger than diameters of the through-openings, and at least the first component comprises a pot-like recess near the rivet or screw extending towards the second component, on whose base the first through-opening is arranged. |
| US07815387B2 |
Device for applying a product
A device for applying a product may comprise a first portion and a second portion moveable with respect to the first portion so as to selectively place the device in one of a closed position and an open position. The first portion and the second portion may define a substantially closed reservoir when the device is in the closed position. The device may further comprise an application member. The application member may be at least partially compressible and configured such that, when the device is in the closed position, the application member is at least partially compressed inside the substantially closed reservoir and, when the device is moved from the closed position to the open position, the application member becomes substantially uncompressed. The application member may be configured so that when the application member is uncompressed, the application member is capable of being loaded with substantially all of an amount of product that the device is capable of containing. |
| US07815383B2 |
Compact portable toothbrush
The compact toothbrush (10) has a handle that is designed so that the toothbrush (10) can be held within a user's open palm. The toothbrush's lower portion (12) has a substantially triangular contour. The toothbrush has a bristled head (14) and an oppositely disposed support rib (26). The support rib extends along the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush from an upper edge of the toothbrush's head (14), to a central region of the toothbrush's lower portion. The lower portion of the toothbrush handle has first and second opposed, outwardly flared side edges (30, 32) that are joined together at the lower edge (34) so that the lower portion has a substantially V-shaped cross-sectional contour. The user cups the toothbrush (10) in the palm of his hand and extends two fingers adjacent to the support rib to stabilize the toothbrush (10) while brushing his teeth. |
| US07815380B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating new folder in built-in storage of image forming apparatus, and method and apparatus for storing data using the same
A method and an apparatus for creating a new folder in an image forming apparatus having a built-in storage unit and a method and an apparatus for storing data using the same. The method of creating a folder in an image forming apparatus having a built-in storage unit includes determining whether to create the new folder in the built-in storage unit; and creating the new folder. The method of storing data includes: determining whether to store data from an external source; designating a folder for storing the data through a manipulation unit; and storing the data in the designated folder. When the data from an external storage is stored in a mass storage medium, such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a user is allowed to create, retrieve, and designate a folder for storing the data through a manipulation unit, such as a number key. |
| US07815379B2 |
Lens apparatus focus adjustment support device and focus adjusting method
The focus adjustment support device is mounted on a lens apparatus included in an image pickup system for supporting the focus adjustment of the lens apparatus. The image pickup system comprises: an image pickup apparatus having a lens apparatus including focus adjusting section requiring a manual adjustment; and, a case member disposed at a given position for covering at least the image pickup range of the lens apparatus and focus adjusting section, while a portion of the case member corresponding to the image pickup range of the lens apparatus is made of a first light transmissible member having a given optical characteristic. The focus adjustment support device includes a second light transmissible member formed to have an optical characteristic which can provide the same image forming position as in a state where the case member is disposed at a given position. |
| US07815377B2 |
Dual function splice component for mechanical splice connector
A fiber optic mechanical splice connector including a single connector element operable for providing optical fiber alignment and strain relief includes opposed splice components that define first and second grooves for receiving the bare glass portions of mating optical fibers, as well as the coated or buffered portion of at least one of the optical fibers when the splice components are biased together by an actuator. The mating optical fibers are aligned while the coated or buffered portion of one of the optical fibers is retained within the same connector element, thus eliminating positioning problems that occur when separate connector elements are utilized for fiber alignment and strain relief. The splice components may be unbiased to allow removal of at least one of the mating optical fibers without destroying the connector assembly or potentially damaging the optical fibers. |
| US07815374B2 |
System for maintaining a vertical motor thrust bearing
A system for cooling a bearing of a shaft of a motor comprises an oil sump adapted to collect oil that contacts a bearing enclosed within the sump; and a heat exchanger physically separated from the sump and the bearing, the heat exchanger adapted to be in fluid communication with the sump and the bearing. |
| US07815370B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for detecting temperature threshold events in an aftertreatment device
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for detecting temperature threshold events in an aftertreatment device. The system may include an aftertreatment device configured to treat an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine and a temperature responder disposed within a region of interest of the aftertreatment device. The temperature responder is configured to melt at a threshold temperature. The system may further include two access points electrically coupled to the temperature responder and an observation module configured to measure an electrical resistance value across the two access points. The observation module detects the melting of the temperature responder based on the electrical resistance value measured across the access points. In alternate embodiments the observation module is included within an engine control module (ECM) or a service tool. |
| US07815367B2 |
Multi-site infrared thermometer
Disclosed in this specification is an infrared thermometer with multiple probes for use at a variety of bodily sites. The thermometer automatically detects which of the multiple probes is currently attached, loads a predetermined program from memory that corresponds to the current probe, and thereafter obtains a temperature measurement from a patient using infrared radiation emitted therefrom. Each of the probes is comprised of an infrared target which provides a substantially consistent sources of infrared radiation for the thermometer to measure. |
| US07815365B2 |
Portable timepiece
A diver's watch includes a timepiece exterior assembly including a movement, a hand setting stem pipe, a crown for operating the movement, and a cover pipe. A locking face is formed at an outer peripheral portion of a case body provided to the timepiece exterior assembly. The hand setting stem pipe is fixed to the case body and includes a pipe side screw portion. The crown includes a crown cylinder inserted to inside of the hand setting stem pipe, and a crown head integral with the crown cylinder. The crown head is formed with a crown side screw portion attachably and detachably screwed to the pipe side screw portion, and an engaging end face brought into contact with and separated from the locking face. The cover pipe is arranged to be more proximate to the crown cylinder than the engaging end face. Thereby, the hand setting stem pipe is covered by the cover pipe and the covered state is maintained regardless of a movement in an axial direction of the crown. |
| US07815362B2 |
Processing unit
A device for cutting/shearing in a process vessel (1) product clusters and/or materials (3) into smaller particles and dispersing them in a liquid product bulk (4) or for mixing in the process vessel liquid products with each other that are difficult to mix. The device has an electric motor (13) arranged out-side the process vessel and, driven by the same by magneto drive, a processing unit (12) positioned inside the process vessel. The processing unit comprises a stationary inner part (14) and, rotatable about this, an outer part (15), the inner and outer parts having the shape of substantially concentric rings (16, 17) arranged with a close fit to each other and having a plurality of through slotshaped shearing recesses (18) opposing each other. The products that are to be cut/shorn and/or mixed are suppliable to the area of the common centre axis (20) of the rings and are thrown out through the shearing recesses while being shorn into pieces in order to leave the processing unit through the ring of the outer part, which ring also contributes to rotating the products in the process vessel around the processing unit. |
| US07815360B2 |
Material processing plant with two extruding machines
A material processing plant comprises two screw-type extruding machines (1, 2) which are interconnected by means of a link (29). The link (29) is movable from a position of connection into an open position of release of the casing bores (12). Provision is further made for a mover (38) which acts on the link (29) for implementation of the motion. |
| US07815359B2 |
Spread illuminating apparatus
A transparent resin plate includes a plurality of slits formed intermittently and located along the border line between a housing frame portion and a light conductor plate portion, the slits includes either or both of respective first optical path converting portions and a second optical path converting portion, and flap portions of a reflector are inserted at least in the first optical path converting portions. Also, the second optical path converting portion of the plurality of slits is arranged to meet at least part of optical paths of hypothetical optical paths which are emitted forward from a light source in the forward direction, reach directly the housing frame portion and which do not cross the first optical path converting portion. |
| US07815358B2 |
Ultra-thin backlight
A backlight for a display device, such as a liquid crystal display device, includes a light guiding plate having a front and a rear surface. The front and rear surfaces may be parallel to one another, or may instead be non-parallel. To the extent that such surfaces are non-parallel, one surface may be inclined at a single, or multiple angles with respect to the other surface. The backlight further includes a light source that is coupled to an edge of the light guiding plate by means of an energy conserving coupling section, and which provides light that is conditioned and transmitted through the light guiding plate. Light extractors are disposed on at least one side of the light guiding plate to assist in the transmission and conditioning of the light that is provided to the light guiding plate by the light source. |
| US07815356B2 |
Illuminating hand-held power tool
A hand-held power tool includes a housing with a tool fitting for receiving an insertion tool, and at least one illuminating element for illuminating the working area of the hand-held power tool; wherein the at least one illuminating element is located in the region of the tool fitting. |
| US07815354B2 |
Vehicle lamp housing with transparent cover welded thereon, and method
A method of manufacturing a vehicle lamp includes providing a housing having a front opening and a transparent cover having a curved front face and a rear face having a welding face portion. The welding face portion of the transparent cover is placed in a closely contacting state with respect to the housing and the transparent cover is joined with the housing so as to close the front opening of the housing by irradiating a welding light ray toward the welding face portion through the transparent cover. The placing includes applying a pressing force against the housing to the transparent cover in a predetermined direction such that an angle of the welding face portion of the transparent cover with respect to the predetermined direction is closer to a right angle than an angle of the front face of the transparent cover corresponding to the welding surface with respect to the predetermined direction. |
| US07815353B2 |
Headlight device and vehicle
A headlight device that has a visual appearance of having a lamp body using a plurality of light sources, while only a single light source is used. A shielding wall shields light radiated from a headlight bulb, or light reflected by a reflector portion. The shielding wall is arranged between a front lens and the reflector portion. |
| US07815350B2 |
Headlamp with beam patterns formed from semiconductor light sources
Headlamp systems are provided that form desired beam patterns from light supplied by semiconductor light sources. The present invention is headlamp system for a vehicle including at least one first light source, at least one second light source, and a first lens system having at least one lens operably associated with the at least one first light source to provide a spread portion of a desired beam pattern. The present invention also includes second lens system having at least one lens operably associated with the at least one second light source to provide a hot spot portion of the desired beam pattern. |
| US07815349B2 |
Motor vehicle rear light assembly
A rear light assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The rear light assembly is disposed on a rear portion of the motor vehicle and includes a signaling device and one or more light devices. The signaling device can be either a reflector or include a light. In some cases, the signaling device can be centrally mounted. In some cases, the light devices can be mounted next to the signaling device. |
| US07815347B2 |
LED lamp tube heat dissipating structure
A light emitting diode (LED) lamp tube heat dissipating structure is capable of dissipating heat in a tube quickly to improve the heat dissipating efficiency. A circuit board with a light radiating surface and a heat dissipating surface is contained in the tube, and the light radiating surface of the circuit board is electrically connected to LED lamps. Two conductive bushings are sheathed onto both ends of the tube and electrically connected with the circuit board, and at least one heat dissipating hole is disposed separately on both distal surfaces of the tube that covers the heat dissipating surface of the circuit board, such that external air is entered into the tube from the heat dissipating hole on a distal surface of the tube and dispersed from the heat dissipating hole on another distal surface of the tube for dissipating the heat in the tube. |
| US07815346B2 |
Method for calculating out an optimum arrangement pitch between each two LED chip package units
A method for calculating out an optimum arrangement pitch between each two LED chip package units, including: providing a backlight module with a predetermined brightness value and a predetermined material information that a customer needs; determining what brightness level and amount of LED chip package units need to be used by a designer according to the brightness value and the material information of the backlight module; and dividedly arranging the LED chip package units determined by the designer on a light-entering area of the backlight module in order to define what the optimum arrangement pitch between each two LED chip package units is. |
| US07815343B2 |
Light emitting device
The present invention provides a light emitting device which has high reliability and long service life by suppressing the sealing resin from peeling off the inner edge of the opening of the recess of the housing.The light emitting device of the present invention comprises a light emitting element having a pair of electrodes, a housing having a recess for accommodating the light emitting element, a first lead electrode and a second lead electrode which are exposed on the bottom of the recess, electrically conductive members for electrically connecting the pair of electrodes of the light emitting element to the first lead electrode and to the second lead electrode respectively, a transparent sealing material which fills in the recess and granular additives contained in the sealing material, wherein the inner wall surface of the recess has a light blocking section that blocks light emitted by the light emitting device toward the inner edge of the opening of the recess, the quantity of the granular additives contained in the sealing material is controlled to such a level that enhances scattering of light in a first region located below the light blocking section and to such a level that suppresses scattering of light in a second region located above the light blocking section. |
| US07815336B2 |
Flashlight
A portable lighting device, such as a flashlight, having a rotatable band disposed around the exterior of the flashlight is disclosed. Rotational movement of the band is converted to lateral movement of the light emitting element within the flashlight. The structural integrity of the flashlight is not compromised when the rotatable band is rotated around the flashlight to adjust the width of the projected pattern of light. |
| US07815334B2 |
Wristband mountable flashlight accessory
A wristband mountable accessory is provided which includes a body, a flashlight in said body, and an upper compartment sized and shaped to hold medications (such as tablets, pills, lozenges, etc.) and paper upon which medical and/or emergency information can be written. Mounting wings extend from opposite sides of the body to enable the accessory to be mounted to a wristband by threading the wristband through the mounting wings. The mounting wings are provided with sizing pegs so that the accessory can accommodate a variety of sizes (widths) of wristbands. |
| US07815333B2 |
Solar LED lamp
A solar LED lamp includes an envelope having a seat, a first sleeve extending from the seat and a second sleeve extending from the first sleeve. An LED lamp is received in the second sleeve of the envelope. The LED lamp includes a heat sink and a plurality of LEDs attached to the heat sink. A solar panel covers the second sleeve of the envelope for collecting solar energy and converting the solar energy to electrical energy. A storage battery is accommodated in the first sleeve of the envelope for reserving the electrical energy from the solar panel and providing electrical energy to the LED lamp. A solar controller controls the solar panel to convert the solar energy to the electrical energy or not. |
| US07815332B1 |
Lighting apparatus and associated method
The present invention comprises a novel lighting panel and outlet strip suitable for mounting underneath cabinetry or similar locations of low clearances or limited natural illumination. The panel has an illuminating assembly housed within a transparent or translucent cover as well as an outlet strip for electrical appliances, most preferably consisting of a Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) electrical outlet. |
| US07815327B2 |
Integrated light fixture and ventilation means
A ceiling mounted fixture, which includes at least one longitudinal arrangement of at least one air vent adapted to receive an air supply, and at least two longitudinal arrangements of at least one light source. The at least one longitudinal arrangement of at least one air vent is positioned between the at least two longitudinal arrangements of light sources. The fixture also includes a plenum with an airflow guide adapted to receive the air supply from the at least one longitudinal arrangement of at least one air vent. |
| US07815325B2 |
Vehicle side mirror
A vehicle side mirror includes: a housing attached to a vehicle and holding a mirror; and a cover member being attachable to the housing, the cover member and the housing forming an integral outer shape of the vehicle side mirror when the cover member is appropriately attached to the housing. The cover member includes a cover-side identification part, and the housing includes a housing-side identification part which allows the cover member being paired with the housing to be appropriately attached to the housing, and which prevents the cover member not being paired with the housing from being appropriately attached to the housing, in cooperation with the cover-side identification part. |
| US07815324B2 |
Outside mirror apparatus for vehicle
A mirror assembly is inclinably mounted on a resin shaft via a spring and a resin stopper. |
| US07815322B2 |
Antiglare light diffusing member and display having antiglare light diffusing member
The purpose is to provide an antiglare light diffusing member that can satisfy both of external light reflection preventiveness and good contrast when being used for a display. The antiglare light diffusing member is made to be an antiglare light diffusing member having an antiglare light diffusing layer including a binder matrix and particles on a transparent base material, wherein the two types of arithmetical mean roughness (Ra1, Ra2) of the antiglare light diffusing layer defined by JIS-B0601-1994 are in the following range: Ra1 is in the range of 0.008-0.020 μm when cutoff wavelength λc is 0.008 mm; and Ra2 is less than 0.200 μm when cutoff wavelength λc is 0.8 mm. |
| US07815317B2 |
Projector, display image adjusting method, program for executing display image adjusting method, and recording medium having recorded thereon program
A projector includes an image acquiring unit that acquires an image including the projection image captured by the image-capturing device during image projection, an image region separating unit that separates a projection image region and a background image region from the acquired image, a background image time-lapse change storage unit that stores a time-lapse change of the background image acquired by a background time-lapse change acquiring unit, a projection image time-lapse change storage unit that stores a time-lapse change of the projection image acquired by a projection image time-lapse change acquiring unit, an tendency-of-use judging unit that judges a tendency of use of the projector on the basis of the stored time-lapse change of the background image and the stored time-lapse change of the projection image, and a light quantity adjusting unit that adjusts a light quantity of the light source on the basis of the judgment result. |
| US07815316B2 |
Projector having digital micromirror device with thermoelectric cooling chip attached thereto
A projector includes a digital micromirror device, a heat sink attached on the digital micromirror device and a thermoelectric cooling chip sandwiched between the digital micromirror device and the heat sink. The thermoelectric cooling chip includes a cold side contacting with the digital micromirror device and a hot side contacting with the heat sink. |
| US07815314B2 |
Illumination apparatus and projection display device
An illumination apparatus includes a red light valve, a green light valve, a blue light valve, a polarization adjustment element, and a color combiner. The polarization adjustment element adjusts polarization of fourth color component light. The color combiner combines light emitted from the red light valve, the green light valve and the blue light valve. Superimposed component light which is any one of a red component light, a green component light and a blue component light enters the polarization adjustment element together with a fourth color component light. The polarization adjustment element transmits the superimposed component light without adjusting the polarization, and transmits the fourth color component light with adjusting the polarization. The superimposed component light and the fourth color component light emitted from the polarization adjustment element enter a specific light valve corresponding to the superimposed component light, among the red light valve, the green light valve and the blue light valve. |
| US07815310B2 |
Adaptive sequential wavefront sensor and its applications
An adaptive sequential wavefront sensor comprises a sub-wavefront focusing lens, a sequential wavefront scanning device, a variable aperture, a position sensing device, and means for coordinating the operation of the wavefront scanning device, the variable aperture and the position sensing device. An adaptive sequential wavefront sensing method comprises the steps of sequentially projecting portions of a wavefront as image spots on a position sensing device, determining the deflection of each received image spot from a reference point on the position sensitive device, and coordinating the operation of a variable aperture with the operation the sequential projection and image position sensing. The adaptive sequential wavefront sensor has high speed, large dynamic range and variable spatial resolution, and hence can be used for real time measurement of the dynamics of eye accommodation. In addition, other functions or measurements can be combined with the adaptive sequential wavefront sensor to provide additional advantages. These additional function or measurement modules include a micro display based internal fixation and visual acuity projection module, a corneal topography module, and an optical coherence tomography module. When one or more of these modules is (are) combined with the adaptive sequential wavefront sensor, the combination system or apparatus can provide more accurate objective and subjective auto-refraction prescription, LASIK corneal ablation prescription, and contact lens or intra ocular lens prescriptions. |
| US07815308B2 |
Ophthalmic lenses comprising a photodegradation protection coating and a process for producing such lenses
The present invention relates to an optical article, in particular an ophthalmic lens comprising a substrate, a coating that includes at least one photodegradation-sensitive dye, and a photodegradation protection (anti-UV) coating for protecting the coating containing at least one photodegradation-sensitive dye, the photo-degradation protection coating comprising a blend of acrylate oligomers and monofunctional or multifunctional acrylate monomers, at least one UV absorber and at least one photoinitiator. This anti-UV coating used is particularly suitable for an ophthalmic lens in which the polarizing function is provided by a bilayer system, one layer of which comprises liquid crystals combined with dyes, and more particularly dichroic dyes. Advantageously, the anti-UV coating according to the invention is combined with an oxygen barrier layer. |
| US07815305B2 |
Electronic paint brush with scanner and dispensers
An electronic brush (10) for dispensing ink (22) onto a writable medium (30) employs an electronic-brush housing (12), at least one ink dispenser (20) coupled to the electronic-brush housing, an electronic-brush scanner (14) coupled to the electronic-brush housing, and a controller (16). The controller is in electrical communication with the ink dispenser and the electronic-brush scanner. A position of the electronic brush is determined based on at least one position indicator in a first portion of a dispensed image that is scanned by the electronic-brush scanner and communicated to the controller. An ink-dispense signal is sent from the controller to the ink dispenser based on the determined electronic-brush position. |
| US07815302B2 |
Printhead cleaning web assembly
Various embodiments and methods relating to a printhead cleaning web assembly drive train are disclosed. |
| US07815294B2 |
Liquid ejection head, image forming apparatus and method of manufacturing liquid ejection head
The liquid ejection head includes: a plurality of ejection ports which eject liquid; a plurality of pressure chambers which are respectively connected to the ejection ports; a plurality of piezoelectric elements which respectively deform the pressure chambers, the piezoelectric elements being arranged on sides of the pressure chambers opposite to sides thereof where the ejection ports are formed; a common liquid chamber which supplies the liquid to the pressure chambers, the common liquid chamber being arranged on the sides of the pressure chambers opposite to the sides thereof where the ejection ports are formed; a plurality of wiring members which have electrodes for driving the piezoelectric elements, respectively, each of the wiring members being formed in such a manner that at least a portion thereof rises through the common liquid chamber in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane on which the piezoelectric elements are arranged; and a drive circuit which drives the piezoelectric elements, the drive circuit being arranged on a wall of the common liquid chamber opposite to a side thereof where the piezoelectric elements are arranged, wherein the electrodes and the drive circuit are composed and covered integrally with resin. |
| US07815293B2 |
Ink-jet head and method of producing the same
An ink-jet head, including: a flow-passage unit having a laminated structure with a plurality of plates and including a plurality of nozzles, a common ink chamber, and a plurality of individual ink flow-passages each of which communicates the common ink chamber with a corresponding one of the plurality of nozzles and in each of which a pressure chamber having an opening open in a surface of the flow-passage unit is provided; and an actuator fixed to the surface of the flow-passage unit so as to close the opening of the pressure chamber and operable to change a volume thereof, wherein the plurality of plates include an outermost plate nearest to the actuator and at least one plate contiguous to the outermost plate, wherein the pressure chamber is formed by a plurality of pressure-chamber-forming holes respectively provided in the outermost plate and the at least one plate so as to communicate with each other, and wherein the outermost plate has a smallest thickness among the plurality of plates. |
| US07815291B2 |
Printhead integrated circuit with low drive transistor to nozzle area ratio
A inkjet printhead integrated circuit that has a wafer substrate with a fluid ejection surface, and an array of drop ejectors for ejecting drops of printing fluid onto a media substrate, the array being formed on the fluid ejection surface of the wafer substrate. Each drop ejector has a nozzle through which the drops are ejected, an actuator for ejecting drops through the nozzle and, a drive transistor for energizing the actuator with a drive pulse. The area of the drive transistor projected onto the fluid ejection surface is less than 37 times the area of the nozzle. |
| US07815289B2 |
Micro-fluid ejection heads and methods for bonding substrates to supports
A substantially planar micro-fluid ejection device, where the micro-fluid ejection head is hermetically sealed and bonded to a support material, and a method of bonding a silicon device, such as a micro-fluid ejection head, to a support material. |
| US07815287B2 |
Fluid ejection device and method
A fluid ejection device includes one or more digital data storage arrays having plural EPROM cells. A method for affirming performance adequacy of EPROM cells in the one or more arrays includes the steps of identifying a reference cell in each array, measuring a selected performance criterion for the reference cells, obtaining a reference criterion value, and evaluating the actual performance of at least one cell in each array with respect to the reference criterion value. |
| US07815284B2 |
Liquid drop ejection head
A liquid drop ejecting head includes a cavity section which is formed by laminating a plurality of plates including at least first and second manifold plates adjacent to each other in a laminating direction. Each of the first and second manifold plates includes an opening. The openings overlap with each other when viewed in the laminating direction. At least one of the openings includes: a first opening which extends in the first direction and serves as a common liquid chamber; a second opening which is adjacent to the first opening and serves as a supply path; and a partitioning portion disposed between the first opening and the second opening. |
| US07815282B2 |
Printhead maintenance facility with nozzle face wiper having single skew blade
A printhead maintenance facility for an inkjet printer that has a printhead with a nozzle face defining an array of nozzles. The printhead maintenance facility has a wiper member for wiping the nozzle face and a maintenance drive for moving the wiper member across the array of nozzles in a wiping direction. The wiper member has a single blade extending in a line skew to the wiping direction. |
| US07815281B2 |
Print element de-prime method
An image forming device comprises an ink reservoir that contains a reservoir ink. The ink reservoir is arranged to provide the reservoir ink to an included print element by means of an included ink supply channel. A print element ink thus is supplied to the print element. When a fault condition is detected that indicates a likelihood of a freezing of the print element ink, the print element is de-primed by forcing the print element ink to evacuate, discharge, withdraw or flow from the print element by means of the ink supply channel. The fault condition comprises any of a loss of power, a power-down process or a print element temperature being less than or equal to a threshold value. |
| US07815276B2 |
Image forming method and apparatus
An image forming method using an image forming apparatus including: a latent image carrier whose surface is driven in a sub scanning direction; a deflector which scans a beam spot reciprocally in a main scanning direction substantially perpendicular to the sub scanning direction on the surface of the latent image carrier in the use of an oscillating deflect mirror so as to form spot latent images each of which formed on a pixel; developer which develops each of the spot latent images as a pixel-dot, the method includes of: halftoning for a tone reproduction in which a halftone-dot constituted by the pixel-dot(s) is formed on a cell consisting plural pixels according to a fattening type threshold matrix, wherein a plurality of cells are contiguously arranged in the main scanning direction so as to form a plurality of contiguous locations at each of which the cells adjoin mutually in the main scanning direction, each cell includes a larger-than-four even number of pixels in the sub scanning direction, and the cells, which mutually adjoin at a particular contiguous location out of the plurality of contiguous locations, are mutually shifted by an odd number of pixel(s) in the sub scanning direction. |
| US07815275B2 |
Interactive visual card-selection process for mitigating light-area banding in a pagewide array
Preferably, test-patterns print on separate, multiple print-medium cards, each including a ramp with colors graded along a certain direction—and, superimposed on the ramp, a candidate add-on colorant. Ramps preferably are printed in so-called “customer colors”, common in snapshots and particularly snapshot regions that include sky. Positions or amounts of the candidate add-on colorant canvass a likely range of values that optimize camouflaging or suppression of a banding artifact (due to seams in the pagewide array) that is extended along the same certain direction. For each seam and each “customer color” used, an operator holds up several cards for comparison, selecting the best one to three. Operators thus can evaluate candidate colorant patterns in context of many different tones of the sky and other customer colors. Preferably banding suppression is integrated with linearization: at each seam a series of linearization tables is smoothly interpolated between measurement-based tables for adjacent inkjet dice. |
| US07815274B2 |
Method for identifying misdirecting nozzles in an inkjet printing apparatus
A method for detecting malfunctioning nozzles of an inkjet printer does not need any sensors, scanning means or processor time. The method includes printing a test pattern with an inkjet printer having at least one array of at least two nozzles, and for each array printing the test pattern includes selecting a nozzle of the array to be investigated, identifying for the nozzle a number of compensating nozzles, each compensating nozzle being suitable to replace the nozzle for printing a dot, and printing a row that includes at least two dot groups and each dot group includes at least one dot. At least one dot group is printed by the nozzle and at least one other dot group is printed by a nozzle of the number of compensating nozzles. |
| US07815272B2 |
Element body for recording head and recording head having element body
A stable voltage can be supplied from a voltage converter circuit and an increase in the area of the entire element body can be suppressed even if the number of recording elements increases and the element body becomes longer. An element body for a recording head includes a plurality of arrayed recording elements, and a voltage converter circuit which converts an externally input voltage. The voltage converter circuit includes a reference voltage generating section and a voltage converter section, and the voltage converter section is formed from a plurality of distributedly arranged voltage converter elements. |
| US07815266B2 |
Cabinet for electronic devices
A cabinet is provided for electronic devices. The cabinet includes a rack receiving a plurality of electronic device, and a climbing platform. The climbing platform includes a receiving member installed in the rack, and a folding stepladder slidably received in the receiving member. The folding stepladder is pulled out from the receiving member and unfolded to become a ladder. |
| US07815264B2 |
Stackable modular personal computer structure
A stackable modular personal computer structure comprises a lowermost frameworks, a plurality of intermediate frameworks, an uppermost framework and an upper cover; the frameworks and the upper cover stacked with each other in a sequence; all the frameworks have the first internal engaging structure inside the tops thereof respectively, the intermediate frameworks, the uppermost framework and the upper cover each have the second internal engaging structure inside the bottoms thereof respectively; the bottoms of each of the intermediate and the uppermost frameworks has a hole especially for electric wires to pass through to enable the modular personal computer so that a consistent outlook for the computer structure can be obtained. |
| US07815256B2 |
Vehicle seat
A vehicle seat (1) having a squab (2) and the backrest (3) may be provided with a child squab or booster cushion (4). Various elements are provided on the seat which may move in response to the child squab (4) being provided. A first element that may move is a guide (10) which guides part of a seat belt (7). The guide (10) moves inwardly towards the central axis (8) of the seat. Other moveable restraints may be lateral restraints (62,63) which move forwardly from the backrest of the seat to be located to either side of the torso of a child occupying the child squab (4) and head restraints (64,65) which may move forwardly from the head rest. |
| US07815252B2 |
Anti-rotation clip for moon roof drain tube
A vehicle comprising a vehicle frame having a moon roof channel, a structural panel and a pillar. The vehicle also includes a side curtain air bag canister holding a side curtain air bag, a bracket engaged with the canister and connecting the side curtain air bag canister to the vehicle frame, a drain tube being connected to the moon roof channel, with the drain tube being configured to route drain fluid from the moon roof channel down the pillar, and a clip for connecting the drain tube to the side curtain air bag canister. The clip has a first section for engaging the canister and a second section for engaging the drain tube, with the clip having a wing abutting the bracket for preventing the clip from rotating on the canister. |
| US07815250B2 |
Undercover for vehicle and mounting structure thereof
An undercover for a vehicle, which covers a silencer which is disposed on a lower surface of a body of the vehicle for discharging reacted gas of a fuel-cell mounted in the vehicle, wherein an opening is formed so as to correspond in position to an open portion which is formed at an end of a discharge pipe of the silencer. |
| US07815247B2 |
Reinforcing member for vehicle center pillar
Deformation by camber recovery etc. due to non-uniform residual stress is suppressed, and occurrence of crack and burr is suppressed by improving press forming property of a roof side T-shaped portion, so that a reinforcing member having a predetermined shape accuracy is manufactured easily and inexpensively by pressing. A reinforcing member (12) is constructed by three members, i.e. an upper member (20), a lower member (22) and a central member (24). A tensile strength of the upper member (20) is selected lower than that of the central member (24), and is higher than that of the lower member (22). In comparison to a case where the upper member (20) and the central member (24) are constructed integrally by an ultra-high tensile steel plate, fluctuation of internally generated residual stress is made small. Shape accuracy is thereby improved by the reduced deforming amount due to camber recovery etc., thus press forming being facilitated. Also, a roof side T-shaped portion constructed by the upper member (20) is improved in the drawing property, and the door frame corner portions (30) and (32) are improved in the outer trimming property. Thus, the shape accuracy is improved, and yield and productivity is increased by suppression of crack generation. |
| US07815246B2 |
Sealing structure for cabin
A cab includes a cab frame forming the cab, an outer roof configured to cover the cab frame from above and to be fastened to the cab frame from above, a seal mount protruding downwardly from an edge of the outer roof, and a seal material including a body portion having a recess for receiving the seal mount. The periphery of the body portion of the seal material has a seal lip for contacting the cab frame for sealing, and a drain groove for draining water entering between the seal material and the cab frame. |
| US07815244B2 |
Air guiding device
An air guiding device for a motor vehicle, in particular a rear spoiler, can be moved between a retracted non-use position and at least one deployed use position and contains an air guiding body on which are disposed two lateral air guiding body sections which can be moved in the vehicle transverse direction. Here, it is important that, in the non-use position of the air guiding device, the lateral air guiding body sections form a common joint which runs in the vehicle longitudinal direction, with at least one of the two air guiding body sections having, on its side which forms an edge of the common joint, a depression at least in regions. |
| US07815243B2 |
Assembly carrier for installation into a motor vehicle
An assembly carrier for installation into a motor vehicle includes a large-area carrier body molded at least partially from fiber-reinforced plastic, fastening points, which are provided on the carrier body, for fastening functional components of a motor vehicle to the carrier body, and a gate mark which projects from the carrier body and which represents a section of the path along which the molding compound for molding the assembly carrier was conducted into a cavity, which forms the carrier body, of a molding die. The gate mark has at least one longitudinally extended gate section which is curved in cross section through the carrier body and the gate mark and whose longitudinal sides which are situated opposite, and which face away from, one another run in each case along a curved path and merge in each case along the respective path into the carrier body. |
| US07815242B2 |
Automatic opening/closing apparatus for vehicle
An automatic opening/closing apparatus for vehicle is downsized, and cost of the automatic opening/closing apparatus is reduced by reducing the number of its components. A driving drum is rotatably accommodated in a main body case of a driving unit, and one ends of cables are connected to a sliding door and the other ends are wound around the driving drum. An electric motor is attached to the main body case, and the driving drum is driven for rotation. A tensioner mechanism applying a predetermined tension to the cables is accommodated in the main body case. A control device, including a control substrate and a substrate case for accommodating the control substrate, is disposed to be overlapped on an axial-directional side of the driving drum to a portion of the main body case for accommodating the tensioner mechanism, whereby an operation of the electric motor is controlled by the control device. |
| US07815239B1 |
Tonneau cover assemblies
Elongated side rails for attachment to a sidewall of a truck cargo box as a portion of a tonneau cover assembly. Each assembly includes a flexible cover that can be operatively secured to side rails. One side rail includes a securing portion that can be operatively connected to the sidewall; an inclined portion extending from the securing portion, the inclined portion having first and second sides; a connecting member extending downwardly away from the inclined portion from a position located between the first and second sides; and a longitudinal portion extending from the connecting member opposite the inclined portion. To secure the cover to the side rails, hook fastener is preferably attached to loop fastener on the cover. One preferred side rail has a ridge to prevent premature engagement of the fasteners. Another preferred side rail has directional hook fastener to prevent premature engagement of the fasteners. |
| US07815229B2 |
Door opening and closing apparatus for vehicle
A door opening and closing apparatus for a vehicle includes a latch unit holding a vehicle door in a closed state, a lift lever operatively connected to the latch unit, an open lever operatively connected to the lift lever, a locking lever switching a locking knob between a locked stated and an unlocked state, the locking lever including a first lever connected to the open lever and a second lever connected to the first lever for relative rotation with a predetermined angle, the second lever operated by a locking actuator, a biasing member disposed between the first lever and the second lever to bias the second lever in a direction of an original position, and an outside lever including an outside handle lever connected to the outside handle and a release lever connected to the lift lever and operated by a release actuator. |
| US07815228B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for damping vibration of an elastic member within an information handling system latch
A system, apparatus, and method for damping vibration of an elastic member within a latch for securing a top panel to a base of an information handling system (IHS) includes an elastic member with a first end and a second end, the first end attached to a fixed portion of the top panel. The latch may further include a body attachable to the top panel, the body defining a cavity for receiving the elastic member, wherein the body further comprises a movable anchor for attaching the second end of the elastic member and a raised portion, wherein the raised portion is in contact with the elastic member within the cavity to damp vibration of the elastic member. The latch further includes an actuation tab coupled to the body to engage the body in a movable position. |
| US07815223B2 |
Fuel tank trailer
A fuel tank trailer has a fuel tank supported on the bed of the trailer, and a secondary containment wall surrounding the fuel tank to provide an open secondary containment region. A drain valve controls the flow of fuel and water collecting in the secondary containment region. A fuel separation filter separates the fuel from any water draining from the secondary containment region. |
| US07815222B2 |
Fluid storage tank trailer
Embodiments provide a fluid storage tank trailer including a base including a set of rear wheels, a tank supported by the base, the base including a set of skids adapted to engage the ground forward of the rear wheels when the trailer is not connected to a tow vehicle, the skids being adapted to support the tank bottom in relation to the ground, a forward frame extending from generally beneath the tank to the front end, the forward frame including a nose bar at the front end, the forward frame being adapted to be towed by a tow vehicle, a forward platform elevated above the forward frame, a first forward access ladder extending from the forward platform to the first side, and a second forward access ladder extending from the forward platform to the second side. |
| US07815219B2 |
Weight measuring systems and methods for vehicles
Sensor system for sensing pressure applied to a seat by an occupant of the seat and for controlling deployment of an airbag which includes a bladder defining a chamber and which is adapted to be arranged in a seat portion of the seat, and a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure in the chamber. Deployment of the airbag is controlled based at least in part on the pressure in the chamber measured by the pressure sensor. A control module may be provided to control deployment of the airbag so that when the pressure sensor generates a signal based on the measured pressure in the chamber and provides the signal to the control module, the control module controls deployment of the airbag based on the signal. |
| US07815213B2 |
Safety binding for a boot on a ski
An assembly for binding a boot to a ski, including a front retaining element that is releasable when the forces to which the front retaining element is subjected are greater than the prestress value of a first spring, a rear retaining element that is releasable when the forces to which the rear retaining element is subjected are greater than the prestress value of a second spring, the rear retaining element being mounted on a slide, and an electronically controllable additional release device. The additional release device includes a rotatable actuation mechanism, in the form of an electric motor. The additional release device includes a bar fixed to the rear retaining element or to the front retaining element, and is capable of moving longitudinally between an open position and a closed position, in reaction to the actuation of the additional release device. |
| US07815212B2 |
Air-operated coupling assembly
An adapter for coupling an actuator having an actuator rod that is linearly translatable along a first axis to a coupler having a lever arm with a contact face adapted to contact the draw arm and move the draw arm translationally along a second axis that is at an angle with respect to the first axis in the range of 1 degree to 120 degrees, the coupler mounted to an existing structure, the adapter including a base plate configured for attachment to the structure; a support plate depending from the base plate and adapted to receive the pneumatic actuator; at least one brace attached to the base plate and to the support plate; and a rotatable cam adapted to transfer force from the actuator rod as it moves along the first axis to the lever arm to cause the draw arm to move along the second axis and into contact with the hook on the coupler. |
| US07815211B2 |
Hitch storage device
A hitch storage device for securing a hitch to a vehicle that minimizes risk of accidental painful contact between the hitch and the operator of the vehicle. The hitch storage device includes a connecting member, a male hitch member, a hitch-support bracket, and a male protrusion member. The hitch storage device incorporates an integral passive securing mechanism whereby a hitch is secured without having to use an active hitch-securing device such as a bolt to secure the hitch shaft to the hitch storage device of the present invention. In a further embodiment, the male hitch member and hitch-support bracket are integrated to provide an L-shaped bracket with an integral sidewall. |
| US07815207B2 |
Rear wheel suspension system for a two-wheeled vehicle
A rear wheel suspension system for a two-wheeled vehicle is provided. The suspension system includes a rear frame pivotally connected to a main frame by at least an upper linkage and a lower linkage. The linkages are positioned such that the pivotal connection between the rear frame and the lower linkage is forward of the pivotal connection between the main frame and the lower linkage. Further, the rear wheel suspension system includes a biasing member such as a spring or shock absorber which allows the suspension to absorb impacts resulting from obstacles or irregularities in the surface of a terrain. |
| US07815205B2 |
Coupling mechanism for anti-roll bar
Coupling mechanism for a vehicle anti-roll bar comprising a first piece able to be fixed to a first half-bar, a second piece able to be fixed to a second half-bar, the second piece being so arranged as to be moveable in rotation about an axis of rotation A relative to the first piece. The mechanism includes at least one elastically deformable elongate element coupled to the first and second pieces so that relative rotation of the first and second pieces about the axis of rotation A causes elastic flexion deformation of the at least one elongate element, the mechanism including an actuator able to position the at least one elongate element in a first state in which the said at least one elongate element presents a first flexion stiffness for the said elastic flexion deformation, and a second state in which the said at least one elongate element presents a second flexion stiffness for the said elastic flexion deformation. |
| US07815202B2 |
Versatile auto parts cart
An improved utility cart for use in auto body repair facilities. The cart includes an upright frame from which one or more shelf or basket members extend generally horizontally. Extensions on the spaced apart legs of the cart include at least two elongate upright posts which are spaced apart sufficiently to receive a thin auto body part such as a hood panel or windshield. Elongate support arms may be attached to the upright members of the frame by inserting tabs of the arms into slots in the upright members. The shelf and basket members are supported on a pair of side brackets which have tabs which are received in slots in the upright members. The legs may be adjusted from a parallel position to one which has the legs diverging. The legs are supported by casters mounted at the ends of the legs and at the ends of the leg extensions. A small parts drawer may be carried in a drawer support which can be suspended from either a shelf or a basket member. S-hooks and elastic cords may be attached to cross bars separating the upright members, or from the elongate support arms or the side brackets of the shelf or basket members. |
| US07815200B2 |
Medical imaging leveling
A high accuracy medical trailer leveling system capable of detecting at least three level orientations including level along a longitudinal direction, level along a lateral direction at the front of the trailer, and level along a lateral direction at the rear of the trailer. The system also includes sensors that detect a level orientation in the longitudinal direction at the front of the trailer and a level orientation in the longitudinal direction at the rear of the trailer. A touch pad has buttons for controlling the system and a display screen, the display screen being capable of displaying a level condition in a particular location of the trailer and direction. The display screen can display the level orientation of side to side, front; side to side, rear; and front to back, and can also display the angle of inclination. One set of lights on the control pad indicates which jacks to actuate to level the vehicle, and another set of lights indicates which jacks are being actuated. |
| US07815198B2 |
Gasket
A gasket is to be disposed in a compressed state between a groove bottom surface defining a gasket groove formed in a first member and a seat surface of a second member so as to make a hermetical sealing between the groove bottom surface and the seal surface. The gasket includes a first seal section formed at an end part of the gasket in a compression direction. The first seal section is ridge-shaped so as to become slender in a direction toward a tip portion of the first seal section. The first seal section has first and second side surfaces which are opposite to each other with respect to a first plane passing through the tip portion of the first seal section. The first side surface overhangs outwardly larger than the second side surface. |
| US07815195B2 |
Sealing ring and sealing ring arrangement
The invention relates to a sealing ring for sealing two components moving relative to each other, particularly a rotary shaft seal or piston ring, with a radially internal or external sealing surface that can be brought into contact with one of the components to form a seal against a fluid medium. On one side of the sealing surface the sealing ring displays a pressurizing surface to be pressurized by the fluid medium and, on the opposite side, a supporting surface to the side of the sealing surface for positioning against a groove flank of a component accommodating the sealing ring. The pressurizing surface and/or the supporting surface are inclined relative to the sealing surface and enclose an angle of less than 90° towards it, where the ring is capable of radial compression towards a radially internal sealing surface, or of expansion towards a radially external sealing surface. |
| US07815193B2 |
Dry-running piston rod sealing arrangement, and method for sealing a piston rod using one such arrangement
The invention relates to a dry-running piston rod sealing arrangement (1) for sealing a piston rod (2) mounted in a longitudinally displaceable manner. The sealing arrangement comprises at least one sealing ring (5) having a sealing surface (5a), an actuator (7), a sensor (8), and a chamber ring (3) containing the sealing ring (5). The actuator (7) comprises an active connection in relation to the sealing ring (5), such that the sealing surface (5a) can be radially displaced in relation to the piston rod (2). The actuator (7) can be controlled according to a measuring value detected by the sensor (8). |
| US07815183B2 |
Compact structure device for extracting sheets from two trays and respective printer
A device (10) for extracting and feeding sheets from two trays, comprising a first tray (20) to contain a first ream (21a) of sheets (21), a second tray (30) to contain a second ream (31a) of sheets (31), and a feeding member (50, 53, 53a, 53b) for extracting and feeding one sheet (21, 31) at a time from said first ream (21a) or from said second ream (31a), wherein the two trays (20, 30) are positioned one on top of the other on the same side of the feeding member (50), and the second tray (30), in an intermediate position between the first tray (20) and the feeding member (50), comprises a fixed wall (32, 32a, 32b), to support the second ream (31a), which is configured in order to define an opening or cooperation zone (41) between the first tray (20) and the feeding member (50), so that, when the second ream is not present in the second tray (30) the feeding member (50, 53, 53a) and the first ream (21a) are intended to cooperate in contact with each other, through said cooperation zone (41) in order to extract and feed a sheet (21) from the first ream (21a) contained in the first tray (20). The device of the invention has a compact, inexpensive structure and is realized with a limited number of parts, and guarantees an accurate and silent functioning, reliable in time. |
| US07815181B2 |
Recording apparatus
A recording apparatus includes a recording head, a transport driving roller, and a transport driven roller. The recording head discharges ink onto a transported recording medium, thereby performing recording. The transport driving roller is provided on the upstream side of the recording head in the transport direction and includes driving side roller portions and depressed portions. The driving side roller portions are rotationally driven, thereby transporting the recording medium. The diameter of the depressed portions is smaller than that of the driving side roller portions. The driving side roller portions and the depressed portions are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the recording medium in such a manner that at least one driving side roller portion alternates with at least one depressed portion. The transport driven roller is provided opposite the transport driving roller and includes driven side roller portions and presser rollers. |
| US07815171B2 |
Method of mixing and distributing a liquid phase and a gaseous phase
Method in which a gas and a liquid are mixed and distributed in a chamber that comprises a distribution means that consists of a compartment that is filled with liquid through which a gas stream passes. Said method is characterized in that liquid is injected either in gas countercurrent or in gas co-current into the gas passage section or sections through at least two orifices that are present in said compartment, whereby said two orifices are arranged approximately facing one another, and in that the diameter and the number of orifices and/or the speed V of the liquid at the outlet of each of the orifices and/or the distance d between two injection points placed facing one another are selected such that the Froude number Fr, defined by the equation: Fr = V g × d in which g is the gravitational constant, is greater than 0.5. |
| US07815170B2 |
Valve assembly having a reinforced valve seat
A knife gate valve includes a reinforced valve seat which prevents displacement of the valve seat when the valve is opened and closed. The valve includes a valve body defined by a first and second body halves. The valve halves are assembled to define a flow path, a knife gate channel and a seat channel. A knife gate is disposed between the body halves and is adapted to traverse the gate channel. The knife gate is configured to be in an open position to allow process flow through the valve and a closed position to prevent process flow through the valve. A seat assembly is positioned within the channel guide and is defined by a horizontal segment, a pair of vertical segments and a lower segment. The seat assembly is compressed between the first and second valve body halves. At least one reinforcing plate is disposed within a portion of the horizontal segment, such that the horizontal segment maintains its rigidity when the knife gate traverses the seat assembly. |
| US07815160B2 |
Composite mandrel
A mandrel for use as a substrate in the manufacture of woven or braided articles may comprise an inner core of foam; at least a first intermediate layer of carbon fiber-reinforced resin; and an outer layer of glass fiber-reinforced resin. The foam core may comprise a high density, closed cell polyurethane foam that is formed of a desired size and shape. The fibers in the intermediate layer and outer layer may be, for example, chopped fibers, continuous longitudinally aligned fibers, circumferentially wound fibers, obliquely aligned fibers, or the fibers may have a woven or braided pattern. Multiple mandrel may be joined together to form complex mandrel shapes such as curves, ovals, and circles. |
| US07815158B2 |
Doubled-hinged, hoist-mounted wheel hanger
There is provided a double-hinged wheel hanger for hanging a wheel on a hoist arm. The wheel hanger includes a clevis with parallel top plate and bottom plate connected by a perpendicular base plate. In one preferred embodiment the distance between the top plate and the bottom plate is substantially the same as the height dimension of the hoist arm so that the hoist arm can be received between the top plate and the bottom plate. The wheel hanger has an elongate support arm. A proximal end of the support arm is rotatably received by a recess in a distal end of an arm-connector. A proximal end of the arm-connector is rotatably received between the top plate and the bottom plate of the clevis by means of a vertical hinge. The support arm is rotatable both in the horizontal plane and the vertical plane. |
| US07815157B2 |
Reinforcing poles
A method for reinstating a pole standing in ground comprising, abutting an inner surface of a sleeve against an outer surface of the pole so as to have a lower portion of the sleeve penetrating the ground and an upper portion of the sleeve projecting above the ground, and sliding a secondary member against an outer surface of the sleeve so that the secondary member locates against the sleeve and projects above the ground and into the ground, wherein the construction is such that the sleeve and secondary member located against the sleeve jointly form a bridging beam incorporating a box section reinforcement of the bridging beam. The formation of this box section substantially improves the strength of the bridging beam above what would be expected from the strength of the individual components. |
| US07815155B2 |
Suction device and supporting device having the same
A suction device includes a sucking disc disposed under an upright sleeve, a connecting seat disposed in the sleeve and connected to the sucking disc, and an elongate operating block mounted slidably on the sleeve. The operating block is formed with a cam surface biased to contact a follower portion of the connecting seat. When the operating block is moved relative to the sleeve from a non-sucking position, where the follower portion engages a second positioning portion of the operating block, to a sucking position, where the follower portion engages a first positioning portion of the operating block, the cam surface pushes the connecting seat to move away from a supporting surface, thereby forming a vacant space between the sucking disc and the supporting surface. |
| US07815145B2 |
Mounting system for use in mounting a gas turbine engine
A mounting system for use in mounting a gas turbine engine having an engine core to an aircraft comprises an engine support arrangement and front and rear mounting assemblies to mount the engine support arrangement to a casing surrounding the engine core. Each of the front and rear mounting assemblies comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced mounting members to effect the aforesaid mounting of the engine support arrangement to the casing. |
| US07815144B2 |
Ground air water craft
A vehicle that can operate as either a motorcycle or an autogiro, said vehicle having a flight mode and a motorcycle mode, said vehicle comprising: a frame having a front part and a rear part; a center-line that passes from the front of said vehicle to the rear of said vehicle through the center of said vehicle such that said vehicle's weight is distributed nearly equally to either side of said center-line; a propeller mounted to a propeller barrel that is rotatably mounted to said frame such that the junction where said frame's front part meets said frame's rear part is located within said propeller barrel; an engine mounted to the rear part of said frame, wherein said engine powers said propeller in said flight mode; a cockpit fixedly mounted to the front part of said frame, said cockpit comprising means for controlling said vehicle; at least one aircraft lift means comprising: at least one rotor that is rotatably mounted to said frame when said vehicle is in said flight mode; a front wheel steerably and rotatably mounted to the front part of said frame along the said vehicle's center-line; and a rear wheel that is rotatably mounted to the rear part of said frame along said vehicle's center-line and is powered by said engine in said motorcycle mode. |
| US07815136B2 |
Cutting wheel containing secondary cutters
The present invention includes a cutting wheel device for grinding materials, the cutting wheel comprising a plurality of discrete plates mounted on an axle and cutting heads positioned between the plates. The cutting heads having a portion extending beyond the periphery of the plate. Secondary cutters are attached to the cutting head to project over an adjacent discrete plate for keeping debris from lodging between adjacent cutting heads. |
| US07815132B2 |
Method for preventing voltage from escaping fluid interface for water base gravity feed applicators
A coating material dispensing device includes an orifice for coupling to a reservoir for the coating material. The orifice is surrounded by a surface including at least one wall defining at least one groove. The reservoir includes a complementary surface including at least one wall defining at least one groove. The at least one groove and at least one wall surrounding the orifice respectively receive and are received in the at least one wall and at least one groove of the complementary surface of the reservoir to provide a labyrinth seal between the orifice and an exterior surface of the coating material dispensing device. |
| US07815130B2 |
Reservoir with refill inlet for hand-held spray guns
A paint reservoir has a fluid outlet 115 connectable to a spray gun 101 and a fluid inlet 131 provided with a removable screw cap 132 whereby the fluid inlet 131 is directly accessible for introducing paint to the reservoir while attached to the spray gun 101. The fluid outlet 115 and fluid inlet 131 may both be provided in an end wall of the reservoir with outlet 115 located on the longitudinal axis of the reservoir or offset to allow the size of the fluid inlet 131 to be increased for easier filling of the reservoir. The outlet 115 can be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the reservoir or it can be inclined relative to the longitudinal axis to provide greater clearance for access to the fluid inlet 131 when the reservoir is attached to the spray gun 101. In an alternative arrangement, the fluid outlet is provided in an end wall of the reservoir and the fluid inlet is provided in a sidewall of the reservoir. |
| US07815127B2 |
Humidity control method and apparatus for use in an enclosed assembly
A humidity control method and apparatus that can be utilized to provide humidity control within an enclosed assembly such as a disc drive. The apparatus includes a container that is at least partially formed of a material through which water vapor can freely move. The apparatus also includes a humidity-controlling mixture that comprises at least one salt and a superabsorbent polymer. The humidity-controlling mixture is enclosed within the container. |
| US07815126B2 |
Contactless activation systems and methods
Methods and systems for enabling contactless communications with a contactless card are disclosed. A contactless card may include a contactless interface activation mechanism that includes one or more sense contacts, a processor, and a processor-readable storage medium in communication with the processor. The processor-readable storage medium may contain programming instructions for performing one or more applications. The processor may be in a protected state in which the processor is prevented from performing the instructions for at least one application in the processor-readable storage medium unless a load is placed on at least one sense contact. |
| US07815125B2 |
Microprocessor card
The microprocessor card includes a first microprocessor and a second microprocessor, the first microprocessor including elements for commanding the second microprocessor. In embodiments, the card includes electrical contacts adapted to carry command signals, these electrical contacts being connected exclusively to the first microprocessor. In embodiments, the first microprocessor includes elements for commanding the second microprocessor via commands conforming to the ISO 7816 standard. The first microprocessor uses a lower level of security than the second microprocessor. |
| US07815122B2 |
Method for making an electronic label and electronic label obtained by said method
A method of making an electronic label including a chip (1) provided with two contact strips (2, 3) onto which a conducting wire (4) is welded in a single operation. The segment of conducting wire (4) forming the antenna is then cut between the two contact strips (2, 3) of chip (1). The group of chip and antenna thus realized may then be encapsulated between two sheets of a fibrous or plastic material. |
| US07815121B2 |
Method of modifying and/or extending the standard features and functions of a digital image capture and processing system
A method of modifying and/or extending the standard features and functions of a digital image capture and processing system. The method involves providing the system with a set of standard features and functions, and a computing platform which includes (i) memory for storing pieces of original product code written by the original designers of the system, and (ii) a microprocessor for running one or more applications by calling and executing pieces of the original product code in a particular sequence, so as support the set of standard features and functions which characterize a standard behavior of the system. The one or more pieces of original product code have a set of place holders into which third-party product code can be inserted or plugged by third parties, including value-added resellers (VARs), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and also end-users of the system. one or more pieces of third-party code are plugged into the set of place holders, so as operate to modify and/or extend the features and functions of the system, and thereby modify or extend the standard behavior of system into a custom behavior for the system. |
| US07815119B2 |
Monitoring scan mirror motion in laser scanning arrangements
Contamination in a feedback signal is eliminated in a laser scanning arrangement having a drive coil driven by a drive signal formed as a periodic train of drive pulses to oscillate a scan mirror and a light beam reflected from the scan mirror. A feedback coil generates a feedback signal during oscillation of the scan mirror, the feedback coil being in proximity with the drive coil and being subject to corruption by cross-coupling between the coils. The drive coil is not driven with at least one drive pulse during a quiet time period. Cross-coupling is eliminated by generating the feedback signal only during the quiet time period, and by monitoring a position of the scan mirror by processing the feedback signal which was generated only during the quiet time period. |
| US07815116B2 |
Electronic tagging system for tagging a plurality of luggage items transported through a transportation system, using electronic-ink display tags for displaying real-time information regarding said luggage items, and remotely programmable by activator modules installed throughout said transportion system
An electronic tagging system for tagging a plurality of luggage items transported through a transportation system. The system includes a plurality of electronic-ink display labels coupled to a plurality of luggage items. Each electronic-ink display label displays graphical indicia representative of information relating to the status of the luggage item within the transportation system. One or more activation modules are provided throughout the transportation system for transmitting electromagnetic data signals to electronic-ink display labels and providing instructions to updateable electronic-ink display labels employed in the determination of graphic indicia to be displayed on electronic-ink display labels. Each electronic-ink display label employs an addressable display assembly including a layer of electronic ink including a bi-stable non-volatile imaging material. The electronic-ink display label includes an integrated circuit structure having a storage element for storing instructions, programs and data, and a programmed processor in communication with storage element. A signal receiving structure receives electromagnetic signals from the activation module, using the antenna structure. The electronic-ink display label displays graphical indicia representing information which changes as the associated luggage item moves through the transportation system. |
| US07815111B2 |
System and method for managing electronic data transfer applications
A system and method for managing one or more applications deployed on a mobile electronic device, such as a cellular phone, are disclosed. The system and method enable the user of a mobile electronic device to select one of a plurality of applications deployed on the mobile electronic device for use in a transaction and to authenticate himself or herself prior to initiating the transaction. The transaction may occur via a wireless interface and/or a contact-based interface. In addition, the system and method allow the user to manage applications deployed on a mobile electronic device, including adding new applications, designating nicknames for the applications and setting security codes for each application. |
| US07815108B2 |
Transaction product with electrical circuit
A transaction product includes an enclosure, an account identifier and an electrical circuit. The enclosure defines an aperture. The account identifier is at least one of connected to or enclosed within the enclosure and links the transaction product to an account or record. The account identifier is machine readable. The electrical circuit includes a flexible circuit member, wherein the flexible circuit member extends through the aperture defined by the enclosure such that a first portion of the flexible circuit member is coupled to an outside surface of the enclosure and a second portion of the flexible circuit member is positioned inside the enclosure. Other cards, products, assemblies and methods of using such cards, products and assemblies are also disclosed. |
| US07815106B1 |
Multidimensional transaction fraud detection system and method
A system and method for detecting transaction anomalies and information reflecting potential fraudulent activities is disclosed. Data is collected from transactions carried out in a number of business applications such as computer systems, telecommunication systems and security systems. This transaction data is normalized to generate transaction data having consistent format for analysis and/or comparison. User profiles are generated by sorting the normalized data by user and identifying particular user characteristics from the sorted data. Each user profile therefore reflects the behavior of the user as it relates to the business applications. The user profiles and/or predetermined rules are then used to detect anomalies in incoming transactions. |
| US07815102B2 |
Inputting device for refrigerator
An inputting device for a refrigerator, comprises: a display having one or more button regions; and an optical sensor for sensing the button region selected by a user according to whether optical signals have been shielded; and a controller for receiving a signal indicating the sensed state from the optical sensor thereby controlling an operation of a refrigerator. Since the optical sensor for sensing the button region selected by a user is provided, an operation error is reduced. Furthermore, since the optical sensor has a low cost, a fabrication cost is reduced. |
| US07815098B2 |
Self-sealing reclosable carton
A resealable carton, having a product-containing bag liner, is constructed such that the liner bag is positively held in the folded, sealed condition by the incorporation of a fold support ledge which extends inwardly from an end wall of the carton. The bag is held against the support ledge by one of the closure flaps, which creates a tightly constructed U-shaped fold in which the bag is folded around the end of the closure flap. The liner is secured in that position in part by being captured between the top of the inner closure flap and an outer closure flap along a top run of the fold. A bottom fold is held between the support ledge and the inner closure flap. The support ledge may be formed in various ways including folding the end wall, embossing the end wall or forming the ledge by adding a bead of self-adhesive material to the end wall. |
| US07815097B2 |
Carton blank with a dispenser in the top panel for dispensing pouches
A carton is provided for carrying a plurality of pouches which has at least one dispenser in the top panel formed between the handle and the end panel. The carton may have two dispensers, with one formed on each side of the handle between the handle and an end panel. The dispenser is sized so that only one pouch can be dispensed at a time from each row of pouches. The loaded carton can be carried by the handle after a dispenser has been opened. |
| US07815096B2 |
Laminar flow well
It has been observed that turbulent solder flow, particularly at the opening of a conventional flow well, correlates to a greater degree of Cu dissolution of the PTH barrels of a PCB, especially those that are aligned with the opening. A more laminar solder flow is created to more evenly distribute the solder flow and thus reduce the rate of Cu dissolution near the flow well opening, particularly during a PTH rework process. In one aspect, a flow well for a soldering machine is provided comprising a flow distribution element, wherein solder flowing into the flow well is distributed by the flow distribution element to provide a more laminar flow. |
| US07815092B2 |
Staple pocket arrangement for surgical stapler
A staple pocket arrangement on the anvil portion of a surgical stapler device includes pairs of staple pockets corresponding to each one of a plurality of staples to be closed. The staple pockets may have a generally triangular shape when viewed from above. Each respective staple leg is received at a longitudinal end of the staple pocket that provides a relatively wide target area for receiving the staple leg to eliminate or at least minimize the likelihood that a staple leg will miss the staple pocket due to, e.g., misalignment between a first jaw of the surgical stapler having the anvil and a second jaw of the surgical stapler having a cartridge configured to fire the staples. The staple pockets may be arranged in rows, each row of staple pockets being longitudinally offset from another row, such that each staple pocket in a first row of staple pockets is nested with a staple pocket from an adjacent row of staple pockets to make more efficient use of space on the anvil. |
| US07815091B2 |
Surgical instrument with articulating tool assembly
A surgical stapling instrument including a handle portion, a body portion, an articulating tool assembly and an articulation mechanism is disclosed. The body portion extends distally from the handle portion. The articulation mechanism includes an articulation link for articulating the tool assembly, an articulation knob operatively coupled to the articulation link, wherein rotational motion of the articulation knob is translated into axial motion of the articulation link thereby articulating the articulating tool assembly. |
| US07815082B1 |
Bicycle U-lock bookbag carrier combination
A U-lock holder mounted over the rear wheel of a bicycle and attached to the seat post for storing a U-lock—the U-lock to be available for securing the bicycle to a post or, on which are placed packages when it is required to transport the package on the bicycle. |
| US07815081B2 |
Retractable belt clip for hand-held tool
A retractable belt clip is disposed on an electronic hand-held tool, such as a stud finder, a laser level, or an electronic tape measure, and is moveable from a stowed position, in which the belt clip is disposed within or flush to a housing of the tool, to a deployed position, in which the belt clip may be attached to a belt or other member for carrying and storage. |
| US07815074B2 |
Counter mounted dispensing system
A counter mounted dispensing system includes a bottle support under a counter and a product container having a collar key. The product container is received by the bottle support and held thereby without the need for relative rotational movement between the product container and the bottle support. The product container thus may have a cross-sectional shape that prohibits the product container from being rotated at the location of receipt, typically due to contact between the container and a wall or the sink basin. An alignment skirt on the bottle support ensures that the product container is properly oriented for receipt, and a release ring in the bottle support engages the collar key on the product container to releasably hold the product container. |
| US07815072B2 |
Metering and dispensing closure
A metering and dispensing closure for a container wherein two rotatable disks rotate in conjunction with a stationary cap member to afford accurate measuring of a powder material and dispensing of it. The disks and the container cap afford a consistent measuring of the powder material, as well as provide a variety of drive members which can be utilized with the dispensing closure. |
| US07815070B2 |
Wipes container particularly configured to be retained in outerwear, bags and other gear
A wipe container configured to fit in garments and bags with pockets that allow access to the wipes from the outside of the bag or garment. In one example, a carrying bag includes a pocket with a defined area having a dimension sufficient to receive the dispenser. Besides an opening in which to insert the dispenser, the pocket or specifically defined area has an additional opening or “window”. The dispenser includes a container having a first opening and a retaining assembly having a second opening that snaps to the container such that the opening are aligned. The retaining assembly secures the dispenser within the pocket and with respect to the pocket window. A lid is secured to the retaining assembly and placed over the second window, and when opened allows access through the first and second openings to wipes stored in the container. |
| US07815067B2 |
Container with sealable lid
A storage container including a housing having an open-top wall structure defining a receptacle for receiving material to be stored. The container includes a cover disposable on the housing in a closed position relative to the receptacle. A button is movably carried by the cover and a seal. The seal is carried by the cover and shiftable between a compressed condition for sealingly engaging the wall structure when the cover is disposed in the closed position, and an uncompressed condition for disengaging from the wall structure. The container also includes a toggle mechanism coupled to the button and to the seal for effecting movement of the seal to its compressed and uncompressed conditions respectively in response to alternate actuations of the button. |
| US07815062B2 |
Closure system constituted from a closure cap and a container part
The invention relates to a closure system constituted of a closure cap, preferably produced by plastic injection molding, and a container part that is provided with a mouth, likewise preferably produced from a plastic material. The closure cap can be screwed onto the container part and the system is provided with a tamper evidence mechanism that has to be actuated twice to be overcome. The aim of the invention is to improve said tamper evidence mechanism and its handling. For this purpose, the tamper evidence mechanism comprises an actuation tab having a twist-lock feature and being freely cut on the closure cap, and a counter-projection. Said counter-projection can be overcome by acting upon the actuation tab and is molded onto the container upstream of the counter-thread configured on the container part. |
| US07815061B1 |
Friction surface for push and turn child resistant closure
A push and turn child resistant closure is provided which includes a combined over cap and under cap, the under cap freely rotational within the over cap and the combined closure installed on the container. For removal of the combined closure, both downward and counter-clockwise rotational force is applied to the over cap, the rotational force imparted on the under cap more readily by utilization of a friction ring at the engagement area between the over cap and the under cap while also having an outer gripping ring of highly frictional material making it much more easily rotatable and graspable by a user. The use of a highly frictional material more readily imparts rotational force on the under cap when utilized as depicted herein. |
| US07815054B2 |
Filter device
A filter device includes at least one filter element (10) housed in a filter housing (22) and connected for the flow of fluid by fluid connections (30, 36) to a fluid device, in particular in the form of a hydraulic tank (40), using a connector device (44). A plunger valve arrangement is achieved, whereby the connector device (44) is provided with at least one longitudinally-displaceable blocking piece (46). In the blocking position, the blocking piece blocks the provided fluid connections (30, 36). After displacement into an open position, it releases the fluid connections. A blocking or releasing of the fluid connections in a rapid operation process is permitted to carry out a filter element exchange for the used filter medium. |
| US07815052B2 |
Paper clip removing device and document reading apparatus
A paper clip removing device capable of removing a paper clip made of a shape memory alloy, that has such a shape that a plurality of documents are bound at a normal temperature and a document bundle is released in a heated state, when the paper clip is on any positions on an end side of a document is provided. When a paper clip made of a shape memory alloy, that has such a shape that a plurality of documents are bound at a normal temperature and a document bundle is released in a heated state, is removed, the paper clip removing device detects a position of the paper clip to heat the paper clip and deforms the paper clip into a shape of releasing a document bundle to attract and remove the paper clip, resulting that the paper clip is collected in the collecting box. |
| US07815049B2 |
Packing filler for container
A container packing filler includes an annular roll portion formed by folding one of axially opposite end portions of a stretchable tubular net radially outward and rolling the net toward the other end portion of the net, and a rigid holder portion provided at the other end portion of the net. The holder portion has sufficient axial length and a width greater than the diameter of a center hole of the annular roll portion so that, when the holder portion of the packing filler is squeezed into the center hole of the annular roll portion, the annular roll portion is expanded from the inside thereof by the holder portion and layers of the annular roll portion are unitarily rolled inward. |
| US07815045B2 |
Mid-stream flushing adapter assembly
Protective package for an elongated medical device, comprises a protective sheath including a lumen sized to receive a body of the elongated medical device, wherein a first end of the sheath is adapted to receive a distal end of the elongated medical device and a second end of the sheath is adapted to receive a proximal end of the elongated medical device and a hydration opening disposed between the first and second ends of the sheath. In addition, a method of packaging a medical catheter, comprises the steps of providing a substantially tubular enclosure having a lumen corresponding in inner diameter and length to dimensions of a catheter to be received therein and inserting a catheter into the lumen in combination with the steps of providing a hydration opening of the tubular enclosure in fluid communication with the lumen, the hydration opening directing a hydrating fluid in desired proportions toward proximal and distal ends of the catheter and providing a flushing adapter for connecting the hydration opening to a source of hydrating fluid. |
| US07815036B2 |
Modular manufacturing chain including a position tracking device and method of operation therefor
A manufacturing chain includes a plurality of modular manufacturing stations positioned in series. A first position tracking device of a first modular manufacturing station is configured to detect a first position of a carrier being transported along a first article transportation device through the first modular manufacturing station. A control system is in communication with the first position tracking device and is configured to receive a signal indicative of the detected first position. The control system is also configured to issue an operation signal to a second article transportation device of a second modular manufacturing station based, at least in part, on the detected first position. |
| US07815034B2 |
Device for grouping individually packaged goods
A device for grouping individually packaged goods which are fed in a substantially closed stream by the means of conveyance along a transport plane, and grouped by at least one divider finger which can be introduced from below transversely to the transport plane into the stream along the conveyance direction, where, for the at least one divider finger, a motor drive provided which is capable of carrying out in a free and adjustable manner a movement of the at least one divider finger transversely to the transport plane (z-direction) independently of the movement along the conveyance direction (y-direction) and vise versa. |
| US07815033B2 |
Conveyor for orienting and feeding small parts
A conveyor for orienting and feeding small parts has a platform elevator conveying mechanism on one side of an inclined collecting surface that feeds small parts to a conveying trough at a higher elevation. The conveying trough has a horizontal stationary storage platform and a movable pivoting platform that can pivot about an axis located at a delivery end of the conveying trough, between a position parallel to the storage platform and a position inclined to the horizontal. The storage platform is adjacent to the platform elevator conveying mechanism and has a storage surface inclined downward toward the pivoting platform, and the pivoting platform has a hollow throat adjacent to the edge of the storage platform. |
| US07815027B2 |
Lock-up clutch mechanism
The present invention provides a lock-up clutch mechanism for a torque converter, comprising a lock-up piston and a front cover opposed to the lock-up piston and wherein a friction material having a friction surface is secured to one of the lock-up piston and the front cover, and the friction surface includes an outer peripheral friction surface which is engaged at an initial stage of engagement between the lock-up piston and the front cover and an inner peripheral friction surface which is engaged upon tightening, and the outer peripheral friction surface has a taper with respect to the inner peripheral friction surface, and the inner peripheral friction surface and the outer peripheral friction surface are subjected to a cutting operation. |
| US07815026B2 |
Torque converter impeller clutch control
A system for controlling a torque converter of an automatic transmission driven by a power source, the system including a torque converter an impeller, a turbine driveably connected to a transmission input and able to be driven hydrokinetically by the impeller, a stator, an impeller clutch for alternately engaging and disengaging a drive connection between the impeller and the power source, a source of converter charge pressure communicating with the impeller clutch, a source of converter discharge pressure communicating with the impeller clutch, a magnitude of differential force due to charge pressure and discharge pressure across the impeller clutch alternately producing operating multiple operating states of the impeller clutch, and a orifice having a variable fluid flow area for changing a magnitude of converter discharge pressure. |
| US07815025B2 |
Cable organizing device
A cable organizing device is adapted for use on an electronic device including a body, a plug, and a cable connected to the body and the plug to establish an electrical connection therebetween. The cable organizing device includes a coupling unit and a receptacle unit. The coupling unit is adapted to be secured to the body of the electronic device. The receptacle unit includes a first component connected to one side of the coupling unit that is distal from the body of the electronic device, and a second component connected to the first component at an angle and spaced apart from the coupling unit. The first and second components cooperatively define a stowage region adapted to stow the cable. The second component is provided to prevent undesired removal of the stowed cable from the stowage region. |
| US07815023B2 |
Drive device for opening or closing a door or similar
A drive device for opening or closing a leaf of a door, a window or similar includes a housing and a closing spring, which is located in the housing and acts upon a piston, the latter co-operating with a closing shaft in the housing by means of gearing, The piston and housing are made of injection molded polyoxymethylene plastic (POM). |
| US07815022B2 |
Brake caliper for a disk brake of a motor vehicle
In order to avoid oscillations and brake screeching associated with such oscillations, a brake caliper is provided with a reinforcing element. The reinforcing element is formed with a C-shaped profile element that is connected to the brake caliper on the underside of the housing of said brake caliper. The reinforcing element can also be configured in order to hold the brake pads and linings and therefore relieve the housing of the braking torque. |
| US07815021B2 |
Self-energizing disc brake with an electromechanical actuator
A disc brake is provided having an electromechanical actuator, which is designed as an electric motor, for actuating a brake application device for applying the brake, which disc brake has a self-energizing device, characterized in that the electric motor acts directly or via a gearing on a rotary lever which acts on at least one brake piston which moves a brake pad parallel to the brake disc rotational axis, which brake pad is moveable both in the direction parallel to the brake disc rotational axis and also parallel to the brake disc friction face. |
| US07815019B2 |
Braking mechanism
The present invention provides a braking mechanism comprising a brake cable set, a spring, a connector, a pair of brake shoes, a brake band, a base, and a brake drum. The brake cable set makes the connector move downwards upon braking, such that the connector coupled to the pair of brake shoes rotates to contact the brake band and thus cause friction, whereby achieving the object of braking. |
| US07815018B2 |
Mechanical brake actuator
A mechanical brake actuator realizing the miniaturization of the entire device and the reduction of the parts costs is provided. When the brake lever rotates in the cable releasing direction, the connecting pin can be connected with the free end of the brake lever from one facing plate side while the other facing plate restricts the movement of the connecting pin, and the clip (30) is set on one facing plate (23b) so as to restrict the movement of the connecting pin after connecting the brake cable and the brake lever via the connecting pin. |
| US07815017B2 |
Lifting station in a surface treatment installation
A lifting station for vertically moving an object, in particular a vehicle body, in a surface treatment installation includes a fixed support structure and a vertically movable lifting cradle which is supported on the support structure and on which at least one conveying device is arranged. Energy for actuating the conveying device can be stored in an energy accumulator arranged on the lifting cradle. In this way, a trailing cable which supplies the conveying device with energy in different lifting positions is not required. |
| US07815015B2 |
Towable elevatable stand
A towable elevatable stand includes a platform that is always elevated above a trailer bed to at least a minimum elevation, but can be easily raised to selected elevations up to almost double the minimum elevation. This allows for carrying ATV, supplies, etc. on the trailer bed under the platform. Telescoping corner posts with latch pins for securing the platform at selected elevations can be combined with a simple winch, pulleys and cables for raising/lowering the platform. Commercially available parts, light weight materials, and a simple elevating apparatus produce a light weight, cost effective stand that is easy to use, tow and maintain, and which minimizes wind resistance. The platform is perforated for drainage and light weight, and the blind is a pop-up tent that is stowed for towing. |
| US07815011B2 |
Movable acoustic shell assembly
A movable acoustic shell assembly comprises a ground-supported crane and an acoustic shell mounted on the ground-supported crane. The crane is configured to move in a self-propelled and self-directed manner between a storage position and an in-use position within a performing arts venue. When the crane is in the in-use position, the sound shell substantially encloses a rear portion of a stage within the performing arts venue. |
| US07815002B2 |
Snowmobile
A snowmobile is provided that includes rearward portion comprising at least one vehicle component (e.g., a seat, or a fuel tank). The snowmobile also includes an exhaust pipe, a radiator, a fan, and a duct. The exhaust pipe extends from an engine compartment in a forward portion to the rearward portion of the snowmobile. The radiator is positioned in the engine compartment. The fan is positioned near the radiator and the duct is provided on a rear side of the fan. The duct extends from the engine compartment to the rearward portion of the snowmobile. The fan and the duct cause air to pass through the radiator and to be discharged outside of the engine compartment. The duct is located between the exhaust pipe and the at least one vehicle component. |
| US07814999B2 |
Hydraulic traction system for vehicles
A hydraulic traction system for vehicles is described. The system comprises a hydraulic vane motor mounted at each wheel of the vehicle, and equal number of identical hydraulic vane motors operated as engine driven pumps, and a control system for regulating the flow and direction of hydraulic oil during operation. The hydraulic motor is of a novel design that has a hollow non-drive shaft that accepts incoming hydraulic oil, this allows internal components of the hydraulic motor to be arranged in such a way to improve the efficiency of the hydraulic traction system. |
| US07814997B2 |
Interchangeable bearing blocks for drill bits, and drill bits including same
A bearing block is provided that may be used with a drag bit body or frame to limit depth of cut of cutters on a bit. The bearing block is designed so that it may be interchangeably replaced or repaired without necessitating alteration to a standardized bit frame. The interchangeable bearing block may be used to provide a target depth of cut (TDOC) and/or a selected contact or rubbing area to support weight on bit and limit depth of cut (DOC) for improving drilling performance of a bit. The interchangeable bearing block brings manufacturing selectability by providing a customizable product in terms of depth of cut selection and cutter penetration control for different formations, which is suitable for use with a common bit frame. A rotary drill bit assembly, a unitary cone insert bearing block for a drill bit, and a bit frame are also provided. |
| US07814994B2 |
Drill rod support, and drill rod support half
Drill rod support (10) comprising means capable of moving two opposing drill rod support halves (20), each half (20) comprising a surface (21) for direct contact with the drill string (30), and the half being provided with a recess (23) capable of forming a drill string opening (22) with an opposing drill rod support half (20), the recess (23) being generally V-shaped, for enabling guiding of drill strings (30) of different shape and dimension. The invention is characterized in that the drill rod support halves (20) are movable to and from each other, for enabling contact with the drill string (30). The invention also relates to a drill rod support half (20) for use in such drill rod support. |
| US07814992B2 |
Device for storage of tubulars, apparatus for handling tubulars and a method for disassembling a pipe string
An apparatus for storing tubulars on a floating semi-submersible drilling or production vessel. The apparatus comprises a storage device for storing tubulars in a submerged position, essentially below a splash zone. The storage device is generally open to the surroundings so that the tubulars are externally exposed to surrounding water. It is also described an apparatus for transporting tubulars between a storage and a derrick on an offshore drilling and/or production platform having a platform deck. The apparatus is situated below the platform deck and is adapted for movement under the platform deck. A method for disassembling a pipe string is also described. |
| US07814988B2 |
System and method for determining the rotational alignment of drillstring elements
A rotational alignment system determines the angular relationship between two or more elements of a drill string using one or more sensors that detect one or more reference objects positioned on the drill string. A control unit determines the rotational or angular offset between two or more elements on the drill string using measurements made by the sensor(s). In one application, rotational offset values are used by a surface logging computer to correlate sensor data provided by a logging tool. |
| US07814986B2 |
Lubricant system for powered hammer
A powered hammer includes a housing, a tool holder coupled to the housing and configured to hold a tool, a motor within the housing, a cylinder disposed within the housing, and a piston slideably mounted within the cylinder. A drive mechanism converts rotary output of the motor into a reciprocating motion of the piston. The drive mechanism includes a crank shaft rotationally driven by the motor, a drive pin eccentrically mounted on the crank shaft, and a con rod with a first end connected to the drive pin and a second end connected to the piston. A ram is slideably mounted forward of the piston that is reciprocatingly driven by the piston. A beat piece is slideably mounted forward of the ram. The beat piece is repetitively struck by the reciprocating ram, which in turn repetitively strikes an end of the tool when held in the tool holder to transfer the momentum of the ram to the tool. Lubrication fluid covers at least part of the drive mechanism. A rear piston chamber is formed within an end of the cylinder, rearward of the piston, the volume of which repetitively changes as the piston moves within the cylinder, causing air within the housing to be at least one of drawn into and blown out of the rear piston chamber. The movement of air causes the lubrication fluid to move within the housing. A longitudinal passageway defined in at least one of the crank shaft and the drive pin enables passage of air and the lubricating fluid to assist in movement of the lubrication fluid within the housing. |
| US07814979B2 |
Blowout preventers and methods of use
Methods and apparatuses for severing a wellbore tubular, the apparatus, in certain aspects, including: a first member movable toward a tubular to be severed; a second member with a second blade disposed opposite to the first member and movable toward the tubular; a first blade on the first member having a projection projecting from a center of a blade body with point structure on the projection for puncturing the tubular and cutting surfaces on the projection for cutting the tubular; and cutting surfaces, as needed, on the blade body adjacent the projection for cutting the tubular. |
| US07814977B2 |
Installation for enhanced oil recovery using water-soluble polymers and method of implementing
Installation for enhanced oil recovery comprising in succession: a polymer storage hopper, a grinding device and a pressurized injection pump. The grinding device has a chamber for grinding and draining the dispersed polymer comprising a rotor and a stator, and on all or part of the periphery of the chamber, a ring fed by a secondary water circuit. The ring communicates with the chamber for spraying of pressurised water on the blades of the stator. A method implementing the installation is also provided. |
| US07814975B2 |
Heavy oil recovery with fluid water and carbon dioxide
Diluted wet combustion forms a hot process fluid or VASTgas including carbon dioxide (CO2) and fluid water which is delivered to geologic formations and/or to surface mined materials to reduce the viscosity and/or increase hydrocarbon extraction. High water and/or CO2 content is achieved by reducing non-aqueous diluent and/or adding or recycling CO2. Power recovered from expanding the VASTgas may be used to pressurize the VASTgas for delivery by partial expansion through a Direct VAST cycle, and/or by diverting compressed oxidant through a parallel thermogenerator in a Diverted VAST cycle. Pressurized VASTgas may be injected into a well within the hydrocarbon formation or with mined material into a heavy hydrocarbon separator vessel to heat, mobilize, solubilize and/or extract heavy hydrocarbons. Light hydrocarbons may be mixed in with the hot process fluid to enhance hydrocarbon mobilization and recovery. Microwaves may further heat the VASTgas and/or hydrocarbon. Sulfur oxidation, calcining limestone and/or recycling may increase CO2. Oxygen enrichment may increase the specific power. VASTgas may be delivered through and back injection wells and/or production wells, and/or between sequential injection wells in alternating and/or paired zigzag formations with multiple wells per VAST combined heat and power recovery system. |
| US07814971B2 |
Drilling rig and vibration dampening support frame
A drill rig includes a carrier platform and a drilling unit. The drilling unit includes a support frame mounted on the carrier platform, a slider frame mounted upon and surrounding the support frame, a drilling support mechanism mounted on the slider frame, a drill portion rotatable relative to drilling support mechanism, and a means for effecting rotation of the drill portion. The support frame assumes a substantially vertical position, and the slider frame is moved along the support frame to an operative position for effecting a drilling operation. The support frame comprises two main tower beams partially covered in High-Density Polyethylene plastic, and the slider frame comprises plates positioned on the top and bottom of the tower beams, with inside and outside joiner plates encasing the sides of the support frame. These plates being covered with HDPE plastic on the surface which contacts the support frame to substantially reduce vibration. |
| US07814970B2 |
Downhole tool delivery system
A downhole tool deployment apparatus is disclosed, which preferably includes at least an in-ground well casing, a depth determination device providing a hermetically sealed electronics compartment, tool attachment portions, and a first flow through core. The depth determination device is preferably configured for sliding communication with the well casing. The hermetically sealed electronics compartment secures a processor and a location sensing system, which communicates with the processor while interacting exclusively with features of the well casing to determine the location of the depth determination device within the well casing. A preferred embodiment further includes a well plug affixed to the tool attachment portion, the well plug includes a second flow through core capped with a core plug with a core plug release mechanism, which upon activation provides separation between the second flow through core and the core plug, allowing material to flow through said first and second flow through cores. |
| US07814969B2 |
Wet mate connection for ESP pumping system
A submersible pumping system for use downhole, wherein the system includes tubing disposed in a wellbore having a wet connection formed for coupling with a pumping system disposable in the tubing. An electrical power cable connects to the wet connection through the tubing. The wet connection comprises receptacles configured to mate with electrically conducting pins, the receptacles and the pins are oriented substantially parallel with the tubing axis. The receptacles are formed to receive the pins therein and form an electrical connection for connecting electrical power from the cable to the pumping system. |
| US07814966B2 |
Variable flow heat exchanger system and method
A heat exchanger system is provided including a first and second heat exchanger each configured to pass air therethrough. The second heat exchanger is mounted upstream of the first heat exchanger. The second heat exchanger may be selectively movable between a first position and a second position such that an amount of the air is diverted from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger when the second heat exchanger is in the first position. Alternately, the second heat exchanger may be spaced from the first heat exchanger, with at least one selectively openable shutter mounted adjacent to the first and second heat exchangers. The at least one shutter is movable between a first position and a second position such that an amount of the air is diverted from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger when the at least one shutter is in the first position. |
| US07814964B2 |
Isolation valve for main and auxiliary vehicle air conditioning system
A rotatable electrically actuated valve having a spindle with axially spaced grooves and lands constructed and arranged to selectively connect an auxiliary air conditioning system to a truck cab while isolating the truck air conditioning system, and for connecting the truck air conditioning system to the truck cab, while isolating the auxiliary air conditioning system. |
| US07814963B2 |
Tractor cooling system
A cooling system for a work vehicle is disclosed that includes first and second heat exchangers disposed one above the other to create two discrete flow paths. The upper heat exchanger is an engine water cooler and the lower heat exchanger may be an intercooler, an oil cooler or a refrigerant condenser. The lower heat exchanger is disposed forward of the upper heat exchanger. Additional heat exchangers may be positioned in front of the first and second heat exchangers to provide additional cooling. The first and second heat exchanger may be cross-flow heat exchangers conducting the fluid to be cooled laterally through the core of the heat exchanger. |
| US07814961B2 |
Casting nozzle
A casting nozzle for supplying a molten alloy liquid of aluminum alloy or magnesium alloy to a movable mold for continuous casting from a tundish, in which the molten alloy liquid is stored. The casting nozzle is fixed to the tundish. The casting nozzle tip arranged on the movable mold side is made of a highly heat-conductive material having a heat conductivity of 0.2 W/mK or more, and a highly elastic material having an elastic modulus of 5000 MPa or more, etc. By making the tip of the casting nozzle with a material having superior thermal conductivity, the irregularity in solidification of the molten alloy liquid is decreased and thereby the surface quality of a cast alloy is improved. The nozzle tip is formed with a material having high elasticity and superior elastic deformability, whereby the interstice between the movable mold and the tip of outer peripheral edge of the nozzle is narrowed, and accordingly a cast alloy having superior surface quality can be obtained. |
| US07814957B2 |
Door assembly
A door assembly having a multi-panel door connected to a casing that is inserted into a structure opening. The multi-panel door can be operated by a control assembly operatively coupled to the casing and the multi-panel door. The multi-panel door can be a bi-fold door having an upper panel and lower panel operatively coupled together. The upper panel can be pivotally coupled to the casing at one end and pivotally coupled to a portion of the lower panel at its other end. The control assembly can control movement of the door between an open position and a closed position. |
| US07814955B2 |
Hydrolysis resistant woven corrugator fabric
A woven corrugator belt having a fabric body that has a base layer fabricated from a polyester material and has at least 1 layer of the polyester that runs in both the machine direction and cross machine direction of the belt. The fabric body has a first end and a second end that are joined by use of an inline seam. A material having greater hydrolysis resistance than the polyester may be woven into side portions of the belt for improved hydrolysis resistance. |
| US07814954B2 |
Sheet sticking apparatus and sticking method
A sheet sticking apparatus 10 comprises a sheet feed-out unit 12 that feeds out an adhesive sheet S to a position facing a surface of a semiconductor wafer W and a press roller 14 that presses the adhesive sheet S to stick the adhesive sheet S onto the wafer W. The sheet feed-out unit 12 includes a tension measuring means 35 for measuring a tension of the adhesive sheet S between the sheet feed-out unit 12 and the press roller 14 and a sticking angle maintaining means 37 provided with a feed-out head 49 for maintaining a sticking angle θ. After measuring and adjusting the tension immediately before sticking the adhesive sheet S, the feed-out head 49 is lowered in proportion to the movement amount of the press roller 14, thereby the sticking angle θ is maintained, and thus the tension is maintained at a constant level. |
| US07814949B2 |
Handbags with multi-function strap system
Handbags with multi-function strap systems and methods of utilizing handbags with multi-function strap systems are provided herein. According to one embodiment, a handbag with multi-function strap system includes a bag portion having an inside and an outside, a ring coupled to one side of the bag, and first and second fasteners coupled to the bag portion. The first and second fasteners are accessible at the inside of the bag, the first fastener is relatively distant to the ring, and the second fastener is relatively near the ring. A strap has first and second ends, and a hook is coupled to the strap adjacent the first end. A third fastener complementary to at least one of the first and second fasteners is coupled to the strap adjacent the strap second end. A fourth fastener complementary to at least one of the first and second fasteners is also coupled to the strap. |
| US07814947B2 |
Portable work bench
An improved portable work bench includes a structural body, and a platform disposed on and frictionally contacting the structural body. In addition, the platform includes an override mechanism for allowing horizontal movement of the platform along the structural body. Further, the portable work bench may include a plurality of legs for supporting the structural body. The structural body may be tubular and preferably has a trapezoidal cross-section. Such work bench can be used by disposing the platform on the structural body, so that the platform frictionally contacts the structural body. Then the user can mechanically override the static friction between the platform and the structural body and move the platform horizontally along the structural body. |
| US07814945B2 |
Compact log splitter
A log splitter comprises a support structure having a first end, a second end, and an open center portion defined therebetweeen, a splitting device slidably coupled to the support structure, and a drive mechanism for driving movement of the splitting device through a splitting zone. The splitting device comprises an elongate beam having an outer surface, a first end, a second end, and an open center portion between the first end and the second end, and a splitting wedge coupled to the outer surface of the elongate beam and having at least one splitting surface formed thereon. The elongate beam is disposed within the open center portion of the support structure. The drive mechanism is disposed within the open center portion of the elongate beam, and is coupled on a first end to the first end of the support structure and on a second end to the second end of the elongate beam. |
| US07814944B2 |
Forced air ventilation system for footwear
A shoe ventilation system for footwear that includes a shoe and a shoe ventilation device. The shoe includes a fitting for connecting to a pressurized air or gas source, such as refrigerated air from a refrigeration source, and the shoe ventilation device includes a fitting to connect to the shoe and a user-actuated valve for controlling the flow of air or gas. |
| US07814942B2 |
Vapor recovery system for low temperatures
A fuel dispensing apparatus for dispensing fuel to a motor vehicle tank comprises a fuel dispensing means, a vapor recovery system for recovering vapor from the motor vehicle tank, and a monitoring system for monitoring the functioning of the vapor recovery system. The monitoring system is arranged to shut off the fuel dispensing means in case of detection of a malfunction in the vapor recovery system. The monitoring system comprises a temperature sensor. The monitoring system is arranged to, in case the temperature measured by the temperature sensor lies in a predetermined temperature range, ignore any detected malfunction and refrain from shutting off the fuel dispensing means. |
| US07814941B2 |
Fluid transfer apparatus
A fluid transfer system includes a fluid container to receive a liquid and an apparatus for pressurizing liquid in the container including a deformable envelope defining a space for receiving a gas. Deformation of the envelope contracts the space to a contracted condition such that, when the space includes the gas, deformation of the envelope contracts the space to effect a transfer of a portion of the gas to the container to effect pressurization of the liquid in the container. A dispensing nozzle includes a fluid passage having a nozzle inlet and outlet, and an orifice defined by a valve seat. The nozzle inlet is in fluid communication with the container for effecting a discharge of the liquid from the container. A sealing member is biased into sealing engagement with the valve seat for sealing fluid communication between the nozzle inlet and the nozzle outlet. |
| US07814940B2 |
Beverage filling plant for filling beverage bottles or containers with a liquid beverage filling material having a beverage bottle or container treatment arrangement and a method of operation thereof
A beverage filling plant for filling beverage bottles or containers with a liquid beverage filling material having a beverage bottle or container treatment arrangement and a method of operation thereof. The container treatment arrangement has a nozzle structure designed to dispense treatment medium, such as an aerosol mixture of air and hydrogen peroxide, into additional sections of a container, such as a hollow handle or hollow projections on the mouth of the container, to sterilize the interior surfaces thereof. |
| US07814939B2 |
Method of operating a beverage bottling plant with a beverage filling machine for filling beverage bottles, and a method and apparatus for monitoring beverage bottle or container handling machines in the beverage bottling plant
Method of operating a beverage bottling plant with a beverage filling machine for filling beverage bottles, and a method and apparatus for monitoring beverage bottle or container handling machines in the beverage bottling plant. |
| US07814936B2 |
Sound pressure level feedback control
Methods and systems are provided for predicting internal sound pressure within a flow passage, by measuring a vibration velocity response of a wall of the flow passage, for example, using accelerometers. A radiation model may then be used for predicting externally radiated sound pressure to provide feedback to control a process control system. Methods and systems are also provided for predicting externally radiated sound pressure based on internally-mounted pressure transducer sensor data. |
| US07814934B2 |
Adsorbent fractionator directional flow control valve assembly apparatus and method
An adsorbent fractionator directional flow control valve assembly includes two inlet check poppet valves, two outlet check poppet valves, and a valve body. The valve assembly controls the directional flow of an influent gas mixture into one of two vertical desiccant tanks of an adsorbent fractionator, or desiccant dryer, and an effluent gas flowing in reverse through the opposite desiccant tank. The valve body is a single unitary piece, which may be a casting, and couples the inlet check poppet valves and the outlet check poppet valves, which may be four identical valve subassemblies, providing flow communication between these and an inlet port, two exit ports, and an outlet port. |
| US07814927B2 |
Faucet with accessible waterway assembly
Disclosed are faucets having a housing with a hollow main body, a lower inlet, a hollow side arm, and an upper outlet. A control valve is mounted to the side arm. A waterway subassembly is removably mounted in the main body using a catch located in the side arm which is accessible from outside the side arm and moveable between a first position that prevents the waterway from dropping out of the housing lower inlet and a second position that permits the waterway to drop out of the housing lower inlet. |
| US07814925B2 |
Relief valve device
Under emergency, a valve body displaced from a closed position to an open position in association with melting of a fuse member receives resultant of pressing forces of a primary pressure of gas guided through a primary port in an opening direction in a state where the valve body is disposed at the position closer to the open position including a fluid driving start position between the closed position and the open position. The valve body receives smaller resultant of the pressing forces of the primary pressure in the opening direction in a state where the valve body is disposed at the position closer to the closed position than to the fluid driving start position than the resultant of the pressing forces received by the valve body in the state where the valve body is disposed at the position closer to the open position including the fluid driving start position. |
| US07814920B2 |
Canopy for a stationary covering device having an asymmetrical shape
A canopy for a stationary covering device in accordance with the present invention comprises a cover that has a vertex point. The vertex point can be characterized by a fixed uppermost point or tip, at the highest culminating point of the canopy from which the cover projects. According to the invention, the cover includes unequal extensions from the vertex point. As such, the vertex point comprises an asymmetrically positioned vertex point. More specifically, the canopy of the invention is rotatable around a fixed longitudinal axis that is elevated from the ground. In this way, the canopy provides an adjustable coverage zone for a pre-determined stationary area beneath it when it is either rotated or tilted, and located at a suitable elevated level relative to the ground, from a first canopy position to a second canopy position. |
| US07814919B2 |
Ultrasonic cleaning apparatus
An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus which cleans a material at a surface by supplying an ultrasonic wave from an ultrasonic wave application head to a cleaning liquid on the surface, and cleans the surface, wherein the ultrasonic wave application head has an ultrasonic wave transmission member which is provided opposite the surface, and has a curved portion on a first plane placed close to the surface, an ultrasonic transducer which is provided on a second plane placed opposite the first plane of the ultrasonic wave transmission member, and generates and applies an ultrasonic wave to a cleaning liquid on the surface through the ultrasonic wave transmission member, and a preventive portion which is provided in the ultrasonic wave transmission member, and prevents the ultrasonic wave applied to the cleaning liquid and reflected on the surface from entering the ultrasonic transducer through the ultrasonic wave transmission member. |
| US07814916B2 |
Implantable marker, instruments and methods
An implantable marker, instruments for implanting the marker and method for implanting the marker are described. The implantable marker comprises a housing with an outer surface providing a bone anchor and having a cavity within which a marker detectable by a tracking system is secured. The kit includes a guide instrument having a guide channel for receiving an implantable marker, an insertion tool receivable within the channel and having a distal end for releasably engaging an implantable marker, and an implantable marker receivable within the channel. The insertion tool is operable to drive the implantable marker into the bone. The method includes puncturing the skin with an instrument, driving the implantable marker into the bone and withdrawing the instrument, leaving the marker implanted within the bone. |
| US07814909B2 |
Breathing mask
A full breathing mask including an inner face mask and an outer face mask. The outer face mask includes a basin-shaped intermediate wall which extends from the inside of the outer face mask and which has a free end, a con-cave side, which is intended to embrace and lie in abutment with the wearer's chin part, and a convex side. At least substantially the entire perimeter of the inner face mask is adapted to lie against the wearer's face. |
| US07814908B2 |
Method and device for reducing the carbon dioxide content in a dead volume
In a method and device for reducing the carbon dioxide content in a dead volume intended for connection to the respiratory system of a patient, and an anesthesia apparatus embodying such a device, a flow of gas is generated from an outlet associated with the dead volume and the gas is conducted through a carbon dioxide absorber, and the gas after passing through the carbon dioxide absorber is returned to an inlet associated with the dead volume. |
| US07814899B1 |
Solar panel mounting systems
In a first embodiment a framed solar panel is retained by a rod inserted through a hole in the panel frame. The rod is attached to the top of a bracket, which is mounted at its bottom to a substantially flat surface. In a second embodiment, a framed solar collector panel is retained by a clip which is designed to fit over the top edge of the frame. The clip is then attached to the top of a second bracket. In a fourth embodiment a tether is fastened between the through hole and the flat surface. These embodiments may be used at either or both ends of the frame. Each embodiment may include a safety tether that is connected between the frame and the bracket. |
| US07814891B2 |
Fuel pump set
A fuel pump set includes a cam shaft with a cam; a bridge contacting the cam shaft; a head cover attaching the bridge to the cam shaft; and a fuel pump, disposed in the bridge and operable by the cam. The bridge may include two supports, each contacting the cam shaft. One support may have a supporting face, with a shape corresponding to the shape of the cam shaft, with the cam shaft disposed therein. The two supports together may define a shape that widens downward. One support may narrow downward. The set may also include a rod extending from the fuel pump to the cam, reciprocated by the cam. The bridge may include a sealing face supported by the head cover, a groove for preventing rotation of the fuel pump, and/or a breather. The head cover may include an opening in which the fuel pump is disposed. |
| US07814889B2 |
Electric fuel pump
An electric fuel pump includes a pump unit, motor unit, fuel discharge unit, stator holder, magnet wire, connection terminal, first mold resin, driver board assembly, and second mold resin. The fuel discharge unit includes a discharge port member and discharges fuel supplied from the pump unit through the motor unit. The stator holder is provided to the motor unit and includes a partition which defines the motor unit and the fuel discharge unit. The partition includes a terminal insertion hole and a fuel passage. The connection terminal is connected to the magnet wire. The driver board assembly is stored in a space formed in the discharge port member and electrically connected to the connection terminal. The second mold resin molds the driver board assembly and a connecting portion where the driver board assembly is connected to the connection terminal. |
| US07814888B2 |
Method for operating an internal combustion engine
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a fuel system which feeds fuel at a given pressure to a metering valve provides that a controller defines the opening time and the closing time of the metering valve and correspondingly actuates the metering valve so that the metering valve opens and closes at the defined times. In order to permit precise metering of fuel even in high-speed internal combustion engines there is provision for the controller to define at least one of the times for the opening or closing of the metering valve while taking into account the counterpressure actually prevailing at the outlet opening of the metering valve. |
| US07814887B2 |
Method and device for controlling a pump connected to a fuel rail
In a method and a device for controlling a pump (14, 20) connected to a fuel rail (12) in an internal combustion engine, in order to provide a predetermined quantity of fuel in the fuel rail (12) for a predetermined operating state, the following steps are provided: determining whether a process occurs that switches the internal combustion engine into a next predetermined operating state; determining a pump output of the pump (14, 20) if the process for switching the internal combustion engine into a predetermined operating state was detected, whereby the pump output of the pump (14, 20) is selected such that the predetermined quantity of fuel is provided for the operating state; and actuating the pump (14, 20) so that the pump (14, 20) provides the predetermined quantity of fuel when the predetermined operating state is reached. |
| US07814886B2 |
Shut-off valve for controlling the flow rate of a fuel pump for an internal combustion engine
A shut-off valve of the flow rate of a fuel pump for an internal combustion engine; the shut-off valve is provided with: a tubular cylindrical body, which is closed on top, displays a cylindrical seat, the lower portion of which performs the function of fuel pipe, and comprises a number of radial through holes to allow the introduction of fuel within the cylindrical seat; a lower plate, which is arranged within the tubular cylindrical body and underneath the radial holes and has a central through hole which defines an outlet opening of the fuel; and a cylindrical shutter, which is coupled to the lower plate and is mobile between an open position, in which the outlet opening is in communication with the radial holes, and a closed position, in which the outlet opening is isolated from the radial holes. |
| US07814883B2 |
Internal combustion engine with auxiliary combustion chamber
An internal combustion engine, including a main combustion chamber serving as a main combustion chamber, an auxiliary combustion chamber adjacent to the main combustion chamber and smaller in capacity than the main combustion chamber, and a partition wall between the main combustion chamber and the auxiliary combustion chamber, the partition wall including an injection hole by which the main combustion chamber and the auxiliary combustion chamber communicate. A fuel supply device supplies fuel to the main combustion chamber and the auxiliary combustion chamber. A mixture forming device forms a mixture of air and the supplied fuel in the main combustion chamber, away from the partition wall before ignition. An ignition device ignites the fuel in the auxiliary combustion chamber, propelling an ejecting torch flame into the mixture of air and fuel in the main combustion chamber through the injection hole, thereby burning the mixture of air and fuel in the main combustion chamber. |
| US07814881B2 |
Engine connecting rod and crankshaft assembly
A four cycle piston engine has a crankshaft that includes a crank pin and a guide pin rotatable as a unit around the crankshaft rotational axis. The connecting rod has a linear trackway that slidably engages the guide pin so that the rod has linear slidable motion relative to the crankshaft. During the power stroke the connecting rod applies a pulling force to the crank pin via a special force-transmitting linkage. |
| US07814878B2 |
System and method for operation of an engine having multiple combustion modes and adjustable balance shafts
A method of operating an engine having an adjustable balance shaft may comprise adjusting operation of the balance shaft during engine operation in response to an engine combustion mode. For example, balance shafts may be disabled during SI mode and enabled during HCCI mode. Various alternative examples may also be used. |
| US07814873B2 |
Variable valve operating device and valve opening amount adjustment method
The present invention relates to a variable valve operating device and a valve opening amount adjustment method, and can accurately control the amount of in-cylinder air and the strength of a swirl flow. The variable valve operating device according to the present invention includes a valve mechanism that can select a dual valve variable control mode in which the valve opening amounts of a first valve and a second valve, which are of the same type and provided for the same cylinder, can be varied continuously or in multiple steps. A valve opening amount difference is provided when the valve opening amounts are minimized in the dual valve variable control mode so that the valve opening amount of the first valve is larger than that of the second valve. In addition, adjustments are made so that the minimum valve opening amount of the first valve does not vary from one cylinder to another. |
| US07814872B2 |
Multi-piston camwheel engine
An engine is disclosed. In one implementation, the engine includes a camwheel mounted to an output shaft. Eighteen cylinder-enclosed pistons are positioned in a circular plane about the camwheel such that the radius of the circular plane and the camwheel are coplanar. Lobes integrally formed on the camwheel define a guiderail including a continuously, substantially sinusoidal surface biased for rotation in the direction of the rotary motion of the output shaft. Drive bearings associated with each piston engage and maintain contact with the guiderail. The rotary motion is obtained by transferring the displacement of the plurality of pistons from respective top dead center positions and bottom dead center positions to the guiderail, thereby rotating the camwheel and output shaft. |
| US07814868B2 |
Fuel-fired, power vented high efficiency water heater apparatus
A fuel-fired water heater has a draft inducer fan assembly with a housing having an inlet for receiving hot combustion gases discharged from the water heater, and an outlet for discharging the combustion gases. A normally closed damper member within the housing is openable by fluid pressure force created by operation of a draft inducer fan portion of the assembly. With the damper in its open position the fan exhausts the received combustion gases through a housing outlet. When the damper closes it prevents convective outflow through the housing outlet of flue-heated air. In alternate embodiments of the assembly the fan is operative to also draw in dilution air that cools the fan motor and the discharged combustion gases, with the assembly having an internal configuration preventing convective outflow of flue-heated air through the housing dilution air inlet during standby periods of the water heater. |
| US07814866B1 |
Back and abdominal support, quick release, body band for hands-free dog walking
A rapid release, size adjustable, hands-free, back-supporting resilient band animal walking device is taught. The device provides a way to securely attach and position the leash so that the animal is constrained to walk within the filed of the walker's vision, reducing, if not eliminating, the ability of the animal to pull the walker backwards or sideways. The device provides for movements made by the person walking the animal to be transmitted to the animal minimizing the animal's urge to make sudden pulls and/or lunges, thus making animal walking a more comfortable, safe, and healthy experience. The belt part of the device is wide enough to prevent the belt from “digging into” the users back when a strong dog pulls against the leash. Moreover, the device is designed to prevent the belt/leash connecting parts from coming into contact with the groin area, which is especially appreciated by male users. |
| US07814856B1 |
Deep water operations system with submersible vessel
A deep water operations system includes a submersible vessel including a propulsion system for operating the vessel on and beneath the surface of a body of water. The vessel will operate on the water surface to travel to a designated site and then submerge beneath the surface to a depth sufficient to avoid surface wave and weather conditions. A surface power buoy is deployable from the vessel at the water surface and connected to the vessel by an umbilical cord and includes a propulsion system, RF vessel communication and a GPS receiver. An ROV launch cage is supported by the vessel by a second umbilical cord and stores and deploys an ROV remotely controlled from the vessel for deep water work and repair activities via the second umbilical cord. |
| US07814855B2 |
Swingable spacing dock
A swingable spacing dock is configured to berth a ship spaced from the shoreline and includes a support positioned on shore, a swingable dock arm pivotally mounted on the support, and a powered drive. The dock arm is driven by the powered drive to swing between a ship docking position where the dock arm extends outwardly beyond the shoreline to engage the berthed ship and a storage position where the dock arm is positioned substantially entirely over the shore. |
| US07814852B2 |
Article of footwear having an upper with thread structural elements
An article of footwear includes an upper that is at least partially formed from a base layer and thread sections that lie adjacent a surface of the base layer. The thread sections are positioned to provide structural elements that, for example, restrain stretch in directions corresponding with longitudinal axes of the thread sections. In some configurations of the footwear, a first portion of the thread sections may extend between forefoot and heel regions of the footwear, and a second portion of the thread sections may extend vertically. An embroidering process may be utilized to position the thread sections on the base layer. |
| US07814846B2 |
Method and apparatus for preparing a collection area for use in producing carbon nanostructures
A method includes producing deposition conditions in a collection area above a reactant liquid containing one or more catalyst metals. The reactant liquid is maintained under conditions in which atoms of the catalyst metal may escape from the reactant liquid into the collection area. A suitable carrier gas is directed to traverse a surface of the reactant liquid and flow along a collection path that passes over a collection surface in the collection area. This flow of carrier gas is maintained so that escaped atoms of catalyst metal are entrained in the gas traversing the surface of the reactant liquid and are deposited on the collection surface prior to or concurrently with nanocarbon structure formation at the collection surface. |
| US07814842B2 |
Hopper car gate with a laterally opening door
A hopper car gate for discharging cargo from a hopper car having a length greater than its width. The gate has opposed generally upright side walls and opposed generally upright end walls coupled with the side walls. The coupled walls present a top opening and a bottom opening. A first rail extends between and is coupled with the side walls adjacent the bottom opening. A first door is supported on the first rail and is moveable in a direction that is perpendicular to the length of the hopper car that the gate is joined with between a closed position which blocks the bottom opening and an open position which allows cargo to exit through the bottom opening. |
| US07814841B2 |
Rake of rail cars for passenger transport
A rake for use in trams and suburban vehicles comprising modules and single-articulation devices for connecting the modules, having an axis of rotation, or dual-articulation connection devices having two axes of rotation which are spaced-apart along the longitudinal line of the rake is disclosed.The rake comprises at least two sub-assemblies of modules, the modules of which are mutually connected by means of single-articulation connection devices, each sub-assembly being connected to the or each adjacent sub-assembly by means of a dual-articulation connection device.The rake comprises at least one sub-assembly of modules which comprises two carrier modules which are provided with supporting and guiding axles, and a module which has no axles and which is suspended between the carrier modules. |
| US07814837B2 |
Hunting bullet with reduced aerodynamic resistance
The invention relates to ammunition for hunting guns.The bullet is of the type comprising an internal shaft (4) with a rigidity equal to or greater than that of the body of the bullet, disposed in a hole drilled in the body of the bullet along its axis, and this internal shaft (4) is set back from the orifice (8) of the hole, the latter, situated on the axis, has a smaller diameter than that of the internal shaft (4), and the wall of the ogival head (3) of the bullet body (2) comprises one or more deformation notches close to the orifice of the hole.Applicable to the improvement of the terminal efficiency of small, medium or large caliber hunting guns with the caliber of the gun or undersizes. |
| US07814831B2 |
Printing module, and printing machine provided with such printing module
A printing module provided with a frame (12), an impression roller (13), a plate cylinder assembly (22), an anilox roller and a doctor roller, wherein the printing module comprises two receiving units disposed on opposite sides of the plate cylinder, which are connected with the frame, while fixation means are provided for fixating the plate cylinder assembly in the receiving units, the fixation means (26, 27) being situated substantially under the plate cylinder assembly (22), the fixation means preferably comprising two rods (46,46′) which, at an upwardly directed end, are provided with a hook (47,47′), the two hooks, on opposite sides of the plate cylinder, engaging a stationary shaft of the plate cylinder assembly, while on the rods a pull force is exerted for pressing the plate cylinder assembly into the receiving units. |
| US07814827B2 |
Locking bolt for mounting a tool on a hydraulic press
A locking bolt for mounting a tool in a hydraulic press, it being possible for the locking bolt to move in a bolt receptacle between a locking position and a release position, with a securing element, which is located in the bolt receptacle and secures the locking position by positive engagement in the locking bolt, the locking bolt also having a securing portion, and the locking bolt being secured against movement into the release position when the securing element is located in the securing portion. The locking bolt has a longitudinal groove, in that the securing portion is formed with a securing depth in any event corresponding to a groove depth of the longitudinal groove and in that the securing portion is formed such that it is adjacent to the longitudinal groove in the circumferential direction, with a direct transition from a groove base into the securing position. |
| US07814824B2 |
Coffee machine having a dispenser with independent heating
The present invention relates to a coffee machine, whose dispensing unit has a heat generator which is independent of the boiler of the machine, valves for opening and cutting off the cold water pipe and hot water pipe which supply the dispensing unit, a temperature sensor which is arranged in the dispensing unit and control means which are connected to the valves, the temperature sensor and the heat generator in order to allow the preparation of different types of coffee, even in succession. The present invention also relates to a method for making coffee. |
| US07814820B2 |
Method and apparatus for manufacturing wad-less ammunition
A wad-less shotshell ammunition cartridge may, if desired, have the hull inserted into a cup shaped metal head bottom portion. The hull is pressed into the cup shaped metal bottom portion. The primer is inserted into the center of cup. A measured amount of appropriate propellant is poured into the open end of hull. The measured amount of propellant. An amount of granulated obturating medium is poured into the open end of hull over the propellant. A selectively measured amount of spherically shaped projectiles are poured into the hull. A solid projectile is substituted for the spherically shaped projectiles. A packing tool presses the air out of the mixture of granulated obturating medium, spherically shaped projectiles and propellant. The air is pressed out of the mixture then the projectile is packed into the hull. The packing tool is removed and the open end of hull is reverse rolled and sealed. |
| US07814816B2 |
Power tool, battery, charger and method of operating the same
A power tool includes a housing assembly having a first housing portion and a second housing portion supported for pivoting movement relative to the first housing portion about a pivot axis. The first housing portion supports a motor. The second housing portion includes a chuck for supporting a tool element. The power tool also includes a gear supported within the housing assembly for rotation relative to at least one of the first and second housing portions about the pivot axis. The gear is operable to transfer drive force from the motor to the tool element. |
| US07814815B2 |
Tool head structure
A tool head structure is used to screw a regular screw or a damaged screw and comprises two cutting portions located at the center of the front portion thereof. Between the two cutting portions is formed a ridge line, and behind the two cutting portions are formed two concave flank portions, and the respective flank portions are correspondingly linked up with scraping grooves. By such arrangements, the tool head structure can solve the problems of easy slipping and being unable to remove the damaged screw. |
| US07814814B2 |
Tool kit for removal of broken spark plugs
A kit for removal of a broken spark plug from a cylinder head includes first and second tools. The first tool is designed to position a broken porcelain element into the spark plug tip so that the second tool may be utilized to engage the tip by threading into the tip and thereafter axially withdraw the plug tip from the cylinder head by rotation of the tool. |
| US07814810B2 |
Shifter with actuator incorporating shape memory alloy
A shifter includes an actuator incorporating a shape memory alloy wire to control movement of lever-position-controlling components of a vehicle transmission shift lever. In one arrangement, the actuator controls movement of a cam to prevent moving a pawl out of park position until predetermined vehicle conditions are met. Alternatively, the actuator can be directly attached to the pawl itself for controlling movement of the pawl, or connected to a toggle linkage arrangement for controlling movement of the pawl. In still another arrangement, a magnet arrangement is used to motivate a pawl-blocking member. When necessary, a mechanical fuse is operably connected to the system to prevent damage to the shape memory alloy wire where there is risk of the pawl being frictionally stopped from movement despite the contraction of the shape memory alloy wire actuator. |
| US07814809B2 |
Plastic gear
A plastic gear having a gear peripheral portion including a tooth portion is constituted by a plastic material, and a gear inner circumferential member with an annular shape or a disk shape is provided at the inner circumferential side of the gear peripheral portion. The gear peripheral portion includes an inner core and a surface layer member, the inner core being covered with the surface layer member and made of plastic with high elastic modulus and high strength, and the surface layer member being made of plastic with relatively low elastic modulus. The inner core is revolvably fitted around the gear inner circumferential member so as to revolve around the gear revolving axis, and an engaging portion is provided at an interface of the surface layer member and the gear inner circumferential member for preventing relative revolution around the gear revolving axis. |
| US07814800B2 |
Method and device for measuring the chain force in a bicycle
A method is described for measuring the chain force (FK) in a drive chain (26) engaging on a body (20) that is rotatable around an axle (21) which is fixed in a frame (10) at least two connecting points (22, 23). The method comprises the steps of: measuring the reaction force (FL) between axle (21) and frame (10) at a first connecting point (22); measuring the reaction force (FL) between axle (21) and frame (10) at a second connecting point (23); and adding the two measured reaction forces (FL; FR). |
| US07814799B2 |
Method for the determination of the stresses occurring in wood when drying
The present invention relates to a method for the determination of the stresses occurring in wood when drying or being dried. With the method in accordance with the invention, electrodes are used to generate an electric field in drying wood in order to measure the electric complex spectrum using the impedance spectroscopy method while at the same time employing sensors to measure acoustic emissions from drying wood and using the results for calculating the parameters required for determining the stress state existing in the wood and for monitoring and/or controlling the drying process. |
| US07814798B2 |
Diaphragm structure and method of manufacturing a diaphragm structure
In a particular embodiment, a process transmitter includes a corrosion resistive housing including a flange portion, where the corrosion resistive housing is formed from a first material. The process transmitter also includes an outer ring formed from a second material. The outer ring has an inner diameter and is brazed to the flange portion. The process transmitter further includes a deformable diaphragm formed from a third material, the deformable diaphragm is welded to the outer ring at a weld seam between the diaphragm and the outer ring adjacent to the inner diameter to form a fluid seal. |
| US07814795B2 |
Dual mode measurement system with quartz crystal microbalance
A dual mode measurement system with quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is provided, which includes a quartz sensing component, a first measurement circuit, a second measurement circuit and a switch unit. When the first measurement circuit is selected through the switch unit, the first measurement circuit and the quartz sensing component form an oscillation circuit and output a resonance signal. When the second measurement circuit is selected through the switch unit, the second measurement circuit outputs a frequency scanning signal to scan the quartz sensing component, so as to output an impedance sensing signal. |
| US07814792B2 |
Gyro-module
A gyro-module includes: a first gyro element component having a first detection axis and a second detection axis, and outputting at least a signal that is based on angular velocity around the first detection axis and the second detection axis; a second gyro element component having a first detection axis and a second detection axis, and outputting at least a signal that is based on angular velocity around the first detection axis and the second detection axis; a third gyro element component having a first detection axis; a first operation circuit conducting an operation of an output signal from the first gyro element component and an output signal from the third gyro element component; and a second operation circuit conducting an operation of an output signal from the second gyro element component and an output signal from the third gyro element component.The first gyro element component, the second gyro element component and the third gyro element component are arranged in such a way that the first detection axis of the first gyro element component, the first detection axis of the second gyro element component and the first detection axis of the third gyro element component extend in a same direction and a direction in which the second detection axis of the first gyro element component is extended crosses with a direction in which the second detection axis of the second gyro element component is extended. |
| US07814786B2 |
Wireless sensing system for non-invasive monitoring of attributes of contents in a container
A wireless sensing system monitors the level, temperature, magnetic permeability and electrical dielectric constant of a non-gaseous material in a container. An open-circuit electrical conductor is shaped to form a two-dimensional geometric pattern that can store and transfer electrical and magnetic energy. The conductor resonates in the presence of a time-varying magnetic field to generate a harmonic response. The conductor is mounted in an environmentally-sealed housing. A magnetic field response recorder wirelessly transmits the time-varying magnetic field to power the conductor, and wirelessly detects the harmonic response that is an indication of at least one of level of the material in the container, temperature of the material in the container, magnetic permeability of the material in the container, and dielectric constant of the material in the container. |
| US07814784B1 |
Dial a sail
A device for guiding the helmsman and crew of a sailing vessel in steering a correct point of sail course relative to the true wind by knowing the numerical compass degrees for every point of the compass rose for every point of sail. The device employs two dials coupled together to present the direction of the true wind in compass points to the point of sail on both a starboard tack and port tack in numerical compass degrees. This manual operated computer calculates the compass reading for all points of sail. |
| US07814782B2 |
Downhole gas detection in drilling muds
Apparatus and method are disclosed for detecting gas in return fluids. A semi-permeable interface is disposed on a tool sub, the semi-permeable interface being in communication with a fluid cell and with a return fluid in an annular region defined by an outside the tool sub and a borehole wall. A sensor responsive to a gas carried by the return fluid is disposed in the fluid cell to sense the gas that enters the fluid cell from the return fluid via the semi-permeable interface. |
| US07814779B2 |
Surface texture measuring instrument
A surface texture measuring instrument includes a force sensor (1), an actuator (11) and a detector (12). The surface texture measuring instrument further includes: a scanning controller (54) that collects a detection signal from the force sensor (1) and drives the actuator such that the detecting signal coincides with a target measurement value; a touch signal generator (51) that generates a touch signal when the detection signal from the force sensor (1) coincides with the target measurement value; and a measurement value collecting unit (55) that collects a measurement value from a counter (26) at a predetermined time interval in a state where a fluctuation range of the detection signal from the force sensor (1) is within a preset range when a scanning controller is in operation, the latch counter (52) collecting a measurement value from a latch counter (52) each time the touch signal is generated in a state where the detection signal from the force sensor (1) oscillates and an amplitude exceeds the preset range. |
| US07814778B2 |
Faceplate connection assembly and method
A faceplate connection assembly and method adapted to promote detection of a missing or defective seal element. The faceplate connection includes a surface member having a pair of opposing face elements. A seal seating depression adapted to accept a compressible seal element disposed at least partially across at least one face. A fluid transport channel of open groove construction is disposed in intersecting relation to the seal seating depression. The fluid transport channel is in fluid communication with a port at an exterior portion of the faceplate connection assembly. According to the method a tracer fluid is introduced at a predefined edge of the seal seating depression and migration of the tracer fluid across the seal seating depression is monitored. Detection of migration across the seal seating depression indicates a missing or defective seal element. |
| US07814773B2 |
Reference leak
A reference leak (10) includes a first substrate (20), a second substrate (40) disposed and bonded on the first substrate, and predetermined numbers of leak channels (14) defined in at least one of the first and second substrates. Oblique walls of the leak channels are formed by crystal planes of the at least one of the first and second substrates, the oblique walls thereby being aligned according to such crystal planes. A method for making a reference leak is also provided. |
| US07814768B2 |
Textile product treating apparatus having an ultrasonic cleaning device
The invention relates to a textile product treating apparatus, in particular washing machine (1), drying apparatus or refreshing apparatus, comprising a main body (2) of the apparatus including a washing, drying and/or refreshment device; and a handheld ultrasonic cleaning device (10) comprising an ultrasonic transducer and an ultrasonic wave emitting surface, wherein the ultrasonic cleaning device is connected by a flexible hose (11) to the main body (2). According to the invention a treatment area (6) is provided covering at least a portion of the top unit (3) of the main body (2) and adapted to place a textile product (15) to be treated thereon. |
| US07814764B1 |
Portable powered air conditioner
The present invention relates to an outdoor portable cooling system for patios, campsites, and other related areas. The invention is primarily to be used as a portable cooling system, but may be adapted as a permanently affixed cooling system. The invention includes a housing that contains an absorption system that would be powered by a propane burner. Heat generated by the burning propane gas can be used to operate the fan motor via a module that produces electricity from heat or whereby the motor is powered by a battery supply. The battery supply may be recharged by a solar panel or by a standard electrical line. |
| US07814763B2 |
Refrigeration appliance with a water dispenser
A refrigeration appliance includes at least one water reservoir and a piping system connecting the water reservoir to a water dispenser and device for maintaining the water reservoir at a predetermined temperature. The piping system is designed for allowing a recirculation of water from and to the water reservoir in order to assure that the water delivered by the dispenser is at the correct temperature. |
| US07814761B2 |
Air conditioner
An air conditioner according to the present invention prevents freezing of an outdoor heat exchanger in heating operation. A refrigeration cycle is formed by sequentially connecting a compressor 1, a four-way valve 2, an indoor heat exchanger 3, a pressure reducing device 4, and an outdoor heat exchanger 5. In the refrigeration cycle, a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant compressed by the compressor 1 flows through a receiver tank 6 before supplied for indoor heating. The receiver tank 6 is placed in the outdoor heat exchanger 5, and thus heat from the receiver tank 6 through which the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant flows can be used to prevent freezing of a fin or a tube 10 in the outdoor heat exchanger 5, thereby ensuring heating performance. |
| US07814758B2 |
Refrigeration system controller and method
A system and method of controlling components of a refrigeration system includes determining a desired rate of change of a refrigeration system operating parameter, using historical data to predict an expected rate of change of the operating parameter for cycling each component, calculating an appropriateness factor for each component corresponding to a difference between the expected rate of change for the component and the desired rate of change, ranking the components based on the appropriateness factor, and selectively cycling at least one component based on the ranking. |
| US07814751B2 |
Motor vehicle braking system with spring adjusted brake pedal feel
A compliance spring is disposed between the brake pedal and the primary piston of a master cylinder, preferably between the push rod and the primary piston of the master cylinder. Selection of the initial spring compression load of the compliance spring, its permitted spring compression travel and its spring constant, allow for both a simplified and fine adjustment of the brake pedal feel per a brake feel index. |
| US07814746B2 |
Exhaust device for a diesel engine
An exhaust device for a diesel engine supplies liquid fuel (6) from a supply source (5) of the liquid fuel (6) to a gas generator (3) which converts the liquid fuel (6) to flammable gas (7) and from which a flammable-gas supply passage (8) is conducted, the flammable-gas supply passage (8) having a flammable-gas outlet (9) communicated with an exhaust-gas route (1) upstream of a diesel-particulate-filter (2), the flammable gas (7) flowed out of the flammable-gas outlet (9) being burnt in exhaust gas (10) to generate combustion heat which can burn fine particles of the exhaust gas (10) remaining at the filter (2). In this exhaust device for a diesel engine, a case (11) for containing the filter (2) accommodates at least part of the gas generator (3). |
| US07814745B2 |
Approach for delivering a liquid reductant into an exhaust flow of a fuel burning engine
An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine for a vehicle is provided. The system comprises an exhaust passage with an angled injector and a plurality of mixing devices. |
| US07814743B2 |
Control apparatus for internal combustion engine
In an engine 5 including an in-cylinder injector, the valve timing of an intake valve is retarded by VVT (Variable Valve Timing) controlled by an engine ECU to decompress in a combustion chamber at engine startup. In accordance with a configuration in which the valve timing of intake valve is advanced in a stepped manner from an initial set value, fuel injection from in-cylinder injector is inhibited during the time when the advance is equal to or below a predetermined standard value, and fuel injection from in-cylinder injector is allowed when exceeding the predetermined standard value, whereby degradation in the exhaust emission level in accordance with start time decompression control can be suppressed. |
| US07814736B2 |
One piece tall feed drum
An improved crop conveying drum for a drive disc cutter mounted directly to the drive shaft mechanism providing rotational power to the cutterbar. The crop conveying drum includes a pair of mating segments, each forming a half of the drum. Each segment is formed from a single piece of plate material and stamped into the desired curvilinear configuration. A central mounting portion of each segment is contoured to match the drive shaft mechanism and allow connection thereto. Holes in the central mounting portion allow insertion fasteners to connect the drum segments directly to the drive shaft mechanism so that the crop conveying drum rotates in unison with the drive shaft. By forming the drum segments from a single plate of material, material characteristics can be more easily selected or more quickly modified compared to the fabricated weldments known in the art. |
| US07814732B2 |
Liquid containing bag, liquid cartridge, image forming device, and sealing method and sealing apparatus for the liquid containing bag
A liquid containing bag includes a liquid filling opening part having a tube configuration through which an inside of the liquid containing bag is filled with liquid. The liquid filling opening part is melt-sealed from directions which face each other in a part of the liquid filling opening part. The part which is melted has a non-symmetrical configuration. |
| US07814730B2 |
Profile for fitting a digger with a hoe bucket or loading shovel and method for production
The invention relates to a welded profile for fitting a digger with a hoe bucket or loading shovel, such as a boom or stanchion, comprising upper and lower webs and sidewalls cooperating therewith, whereby the sidewalls are provided with upper and lower profile reinforced end regions which form the corner regions for the upper and lower webs arranged between the end regions. |
| US07814725B2 |
Method for replacing concrete utility pole without interrupting power supply by adopting pole clamp and pole crusher
A method of replacing a concrete utility pole for the overhead distribution line without interrupting service is developed by adopting a pole clamp and pole crusher, whereby work stability is excellent and utility pole replacement work can be carried out quickly and effectively. The method is comprised of a process for connecting a pole clamp to the end portion of the boom of an auger crane, mounting the pole clamp onto the outer circumference of the old concrete utility pole to be replaced; mounting a pole crusher to the old utility pole below the pole clamp using a hot-line bucket truck, crushing the concrete of the old utility pole, cutting the reinforcing bars of the old utility pole, removing the lower portion of the old utility pole, erecting and installing a new utility pole, and relocating the arms and wires to the new utility pole. |
| US07814724B2 |
Method for building over an opening via incremental launching
Methods and systems for building a stress ribbon structure over an opening via incremental launching are disclosed. Temporary support structures are constructed adjacent to a permanent support structure. The stress ribbon structure is constructed in a staging area and in sections that are suspended between the temporary support structures. Anchorage panels at each end of a section engage a blister on the temporary and permanent structures. This arrangement allows completed sections to be launched from the temporary support structure onto and along the permanent support structure. Sections are individually constructed and launched and adjacent sections abut along a lateral edge. Adjacent sections are aligned by adjusting tension in integral support cables and their ends pivot or rotate about the blisters via a bearing system with both rotational flexibility and low friction to support sliding in the direction of launching. |
| US07814722B2 |
Roof truss
A prefabricated roof truss which includes a bottom plate which attaches to the bottom chord of the roof truss in such a way that the bottom plate does not lift away from the top plate of an interior wall despite the vertical movement of the bottom chord of the roof truss. |
| US07814720B2 |
Device for bridging a difference in height between two floor surfaces
A device for bridging a difference in height between two floor surfaces (1, 3) is described, with said device comprising a profiled cover (4) that is provided with a covering flange (5) which covers the edge of each of the two floor surfaces (1,3), with at least one clamping extension (6) that protrudes downward from the covering flange (5), extends longitudinally with respect to the profiled cover (4), and clamps into and engages with a fixture (7), with said device also comprising a compensating strip (10) located between the covering flange (5) of the profiled cover (4) and the lower of the two floor surfaces (1, 3). In order to create advantageous construction conditions it is proposed that the fixture (7) forms a clamping seat (11) for the compensating strip (10). |
| US07814719B2 |
Self-supporting construction element made of expanded plastic material, in particular for manufacturing building floors and floor structure incorporating such element
A self-supporting construction element (1) is described, comprising: a) an elongated body (2) made of expanded plastic material; substantially parallelepipedic and provided with respectively lower (8) and upper (9) opposite faces; b) at least one reinforcing section bar (12, 13) transversely extending in the body (2) between the faces (8, 9); wherein the elongated body (2) made of expanded plastic material is provided with at least one recess (14, 27) open at an upper side for housing a concrete casting (15) and wherein the reinforcing section bar (12, 13) extends at least in part in the aforementioned at least one recess (14, 27). Advantageously, the construction element (1) exhibits both optimum self-supporting characteristics and a good fire resistance in case of fire. |
| US07814716B2 |
Construction unit mounting system
A system for mounting a prefabricated construction unit in an aperture in a building structure comprises a plurality of clips. The clips have exterior ends adapted to be affixed to a frame of the construction unit and interior ends adapted to be affixed to the building structure. The exterior ends may be bent to provide deep grooves which receive a flange of the construction unit. The clips permit a construction unit to be installed without the need for a worker to insert fasteners through the flange from outside the building structure. |
| US07814715B2 |
Rollable roof ridge vent
A roof ridge vent comprises a one-piece, elongate body rollable into a spiral roll. The vent body has an elongate upper wall with a pair of longitudinally-extending side edges, an underside, and a plurality of bracing walls depending therefrom. The vent body further includes a pair of grillwork walls with ventilation openings extending downwardly and outwardly from the side edges of the upper wall. Still further, the vent body includes a pair of longitudinally-extending sidewalls that project from the outer edges of each of the grillwork walls and that are disposed upright with respect to the upper wall. Each of the sidewalls has a continuous, longitudinally-extending top strip and a spaced apart pair of longitudinally-extending walls depending from the top strip. The pair of walls includes a series of drainage openings which provide drainage paths through the sidewalls and which permit the sidewalls to be rolled into the spiral roll. |
| US07814714B2 |
Apparatus and system to increase capacity of granular material storage structures
An apparatus and method for increasing storage capacity of granular material storage structures. The apparatus includes a curtain assembly supportable from the roof structure of the granular material storage structure and above the sidewalls thereby defining a second volume within which the granular material may be filled which is above the first volume defined by the interior volume of the sidewalls and the volume defined by the angle of repose of the granular material. |
| US07814703B2 |
Multilayer vegetation support system
A method of supporting vegetation in a multilayer vegetation support system on a roof, the method includes disposing a reservoir substrate on the roof. The reservoir substrate also includes a plurality of concave dimples separated by land areas. The method further includes disposing a composite on the reservoir substrate to overlay the plurality of dimples and forms a corresponding number of chambers defined by the reservoir structure and the composite, the composite having a root barrier layer and a multitude of projecting loops, the loops being interconnected at a multitude of locations spaced from the root barrier layer. |
| US07814698B2 |
Connecting pieces for weapon rails
A connecting piece couplable to a rail of a weapon is described. An example connecting pieces includes a first retaining element including a first receiving region configured to engage a corresponding first counterface of the rail. The example connecting piece also includes a second retaining element including a second receiving region configured to engage a corresponding second counterface of the rail. In addition, the example connecting piece includes a guide slot running diagonally to a longitudinal direction of the rail via which the first retaining element and the second retaining elements are coupled. When one of the two retaining elements is displaced in the longitudinal direction of the rail, at least one of the first retaining element or the second retaining element moves obliquely relative to the other of the first retaining element or the second retaining element following the orientation of the guide slot to move the connecting piece between a working position in which the first receiving region is engaged with the corresponding first counterface and the second receiving region is engaged with the second counterface to a release position in which both the first receiving region and the second receiving region are no engaged with the corresponding first counterface and the second counterface, respectively. |
| US07814696B2 |
Projectile accelerator and related vehicle and method
A projectile system includes an enclosure, first and second propellants, and first and second projectiles. The first and second propellants are disposed within the enclosure. The first projectile is disposed within the enclosure between the first propellant and a first end of the enclosure, and is operable to exit the enclosure via the first end in response to detonation of the first charge. The second projectile is disposed within the enclosure between the second propellant and a second end of the enclosure, and is operable to exit the enclosure via the second end in response to the detonation of the second propellant. |
| US07814695B1 |
Composite receiver for firearms
A composite receiver for a firearm having a skeletonized body formed from a metal and having a series of ports formed therein. A cover shell is applied over the receiver body to cover and substantially seal the ports. |
| US07814668B1 |
Eye alignment assembly
An eye alignment assembly for aligning a tool with a user. The eye alignment assembly is mounted to the tool. The eye alignment assembly includes a sight point of an optical fiber positioned a distance behind an alignment indicia on a lens. An adjustment system is provided to reposition the sight point of the optical fiber relative to the alignment indicia on the lens. The eye alignment assembly provides an indication of orientation of the user relative to the tool in at least two degrees of freedom. |
| US07814666B2 |
Linkage drive mechanism for a reciprocating tool
Preferred embodiments of a reciprocating drive apparatus are disclosed that comprise a housing, a rotatable drive shaft assembly located in the housing an elongated plunger located in the housing for reciprocating motion, the plunger having a front end portion for attaching a tool thereto, a rotary joint rocker mechanism supported in the housing and operatively connected to the plunger and the drive shaft assembly so that rotation of the drive shaft assembly produces reciprocating motion of the plunger. Another preferred embodiment includes a reciprocating counterweight. |
| US07814658B2 |
Method for production of sandwich panels with zigzag corrugated core
A method for production of sandwich panels having a zigzag corrugated core made from sheet material to be used in aircraft construction, shipbuilding, and other branches of industry. The method improves the quality and ease of sheet blank folding into a 3-D relief structure. Folds are made in the sheet blank at locations of crimp zigzag lines protrusions and recesses. Holes are punched in the sheet with a diameter of the holes being greater than or equal to a sheet blank bending radius. |
| US07814656B2 |
Flexible barrier film structure
A barrier film for separating liquid and air, including a liquid crystalline polymer layer having a glass transition temperature less than about 115° C., and having a thickness less than about 15 microns. The barrier film further including a heat-sealable layer, and an adhesive layer interposed between the liquid crystalline polymer layer and the heat sealable layer, forming the barrier film. |
| US07814654B2 |
Method for removing a cable core from a cable sheath
The invention relates to a method for removing a cable core from a cable sheath, which cable core comprises an envelope (8), wherein, at an end of the cable (1), a flowable medium (22) is introduced under pressure into the cable tube (9) so as to reduce friction, and a tensile force (F) is exerted on the cable core at an end (5) of the cable (1). To provide a method by which existing cables can be freed from their core in as quick and inexpensive a manner as possible, it is provided for the flowable medium to be introduced precisely targeted into the annular space between the inner side of the cable sheath and the envelope (8) of the cable core. |
| US07814653B2 |
Method for electrically connecting a stinger into a network node
A spring-loaded device is installed into a node housing at a predetermined location. The predetermined location is selected to correspond to another predetermined location into which a stinger may be installed. These predetermined locations on the node housing are selected to further correspond to a predetermined internal location of an RF interface connector. A conducting pin of the RF interface extends through a dielectric between a nail head shaped end, which provides electrical connection with the stinger projection, and an end soldered to a PCB of the amplifier. The amplifier may be installed and the node housing closed before the stinger and spring-loaded device are installed into the housing. This facilitates installation of the stinger into the housing without having to open the housing and remove the amplifier. External threads on the spring-loaded device facilitate installation thereof, but a unique torque is not required therefor. |
| US07814651B2 |
Method for fabricating a through-hole interconnection substrate
A blind hole (3) is formed on a substrate (1) from a first side of the substrate toward a second side of the substrate (1). A conductor (11) is filled in the blind hole (3). The substrate (1) is removed from the opposite side to expose the conductor (13) filled in the blind hole (3). |
| US07814648B2 |
Method of disposing an electronic device on an electrode formed on substrate
The present invention includes: a pre-step of preparing a substrate having on its surface a hydrophilic region that is surrounded by a water-repellent region and provided with a hydrophilic electrode; a first step of applying an electroless plating solution in which a metal compound is dispersed in water to the substrate to dispose an electroless plating solution in the hydrophilic region; a second step of applying an electronic device-dispersed liquid in which an electronic device having a device electrode is dispersed in a first liquid to the substrate to move the electronic device from the first liquid to the electroless plating solution so as to bring the device electrode into contact with the hydrophilic electrode; a third step of coating a surface of the substrate with a second liquid before the water contained in the electroless plating solution volatilizes completely to cause a plating reaction between the hydrophilic electrode and the device electrode and to connect electrically the hydrophilic electrode and the device electrode; and a fourth step of removing the second liquid from the substrate. |
| US07814646B2 |
Tool for compressing a connector with sliding carriage
A compression assembly hand tool for attaching a connector to a coaxial cable tool includes a sliding carriage driven by handles through multiple stages of mechanical advantage to provide a very high level of compression assembly force in order to compress large diameter connectors. The middle and the back of a connector are engaged between relatively closely spaced, parallel, and opposed compression surfaces on the front of the tool and on the sliding carriage. Adapter inserts that slide into openings in the compression surfaces allow different connector sizes to be compressed. The tool allows the cable to extend outward from either end so that splice connectors may be attached. In the preferred design, a ratcheting system using two pawls provides the very highest level of compression force. |
| US07814645B2 |
Mounting apparatus mounting surface-mounted device on receiving device using ultrasonic vibration
A mounting apparatus applies ultrasonic vibration exactly to a junction between a SMD and a SMD receiving device and maintains the junction at the suitable temperature, in simple construction in ultrasonic bonding of the SMD and the SMD receiving device held by holding unit. This includes SMD holding unit, SMD receiving device holding unit, moving unit moving at least one of the SMD holding unit and SMD receiving device holding units to contact each other, vibration generating unit applying ultrasonic vibration to the a contact portion between the SMD and the SMD receiving device, pressing unit applying an bias force between the SMD and SMD receiving device, heating unit arranged movably so as to surround in a noncontact manner a portion of the SMD holding unit near the SMD and heating the SMD holding unit, and interlocking unit interlocking the heating unit with the SMD holding unit. |
| US07814644B2 |
Positioning assembly for composite structure
A positioning assembly for a composite structure is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the positioning assembly includes at least one vertical carriage support, at least one vertical carriage carried by the at least one vertical carriage support, at least one vertical motor drivingly engaging the at least one vertical carriage, a transverse carriage support carried by the at least one vertical carriage, a riser block carried by the transverse carriage support and at least one horizontal motor drivingly engaging the riser block. |
| US07814641B2 |
Method of forming a power tool
A method of forming a power tool includes forming and balancing an armature by securing a lamination stack having slots therein on an armature shaft securing a commutator on one end of the armature shaft, winding magnet wires in the slots in the lamination stack and securing ends of the magnet wires to the commutator, and molding plastic to at least partially encase the magnet wires in plastic and forming a balancing feature. Plastic is removed from the balancing feature during dynamic balancing of the armature. The armature is then disposed in a stator to form an electric motor and the electric motor is disposed in a power tool. |
| US07814640B2 |
Manufacturing method of die for manufacturing liquid ejecting head, and material block used in the same
In order to manufacture a die for forming recesses in a metallic plate which are adapted to be pressure generating chambers in a liquid ejecting head, it is prepared a metallic block adapted to allow a plurality of dies arrayed in a first direction to be cut out, and having a flat end face extending in the first direction. The dies are cut out from the metallic block. A distance between a first part of each of the dies which is adapted to be working members for forming the recesses and the flat end face is made uniform. |
| US07814636B2 |
Seating system and assembly
This invention relates specifically to a seating system or assembly which utilizes a modularized system of standard sized components. The system reduces manufacturing costs, simplifies storage and shipping and improves assembly efficiencies. The system of modularized components allows flexibility in seating use and design. |
| US07814635B2 |
Method of making a tissue shaping device
A tissue shaping device adapted to be deployed in a vessel to reshape tissue adjacent to the vessel. In some embodiments the device includes first and second anchors and a connector disposed between the first and second anchors, with the connector being integral with at least a portion of the first anchor. The invention is also a method of making a tissue shaping device including the steps of removing material from a blank to form a connector and an integral anchor portion; and attaching a non-integral anchor portion to the integral anchor portion. |
| US07814633B2 |
Pipe centralizer and method of forming
A centralizer for installing on a metal pipe. The centralizer includes a generally tubular body having a central opening sufficiently large to allow insertion therethrough of a pipe having an external diameter; a sidewall of substantially uniform thickness including an inner-facing surface directed to the central opening and an outer-facing surface onto which are formed a plurality of outwardly protruding ribs by hydroforming the sidewall. A method for hydroforming a centralizer including placing a length of metal tubular work piece, the work piece having a sidewall and an central opening, inside a confining surface comprised of mold elements, the mold elements including cavities spaced and shaped in the configuration of desired side wall centralizer ribs, the mold elements being supported substantially against expansion radially outward from their position about the tubular work piece; applying sufficient pressure to the side wall through the inner bore to force the tubular sidewall radially outward against the confining surface and into the mold cavities to plastically deform the side wall to form centralizer ribs on the side wall; and removing the tubular work piece from the confining surface. |
| US07814632B2 |
Method for break separation of pieces that can be re-assembled or their starting materials
A method for break separation of pieces that can be re-assembled or their starting materials achieves a break separation at a selected break surface. The method includes subjecting a piece to be subjected to break separation to a break force F3, F3′ perpendicular to the selected break surface. Also, the method includes applying, before the time at which the piece is subjected to the break force F3, F3′, a compressive force F1-F6′ to the piece in a manner such that a tensile stress is produced whose maximum occurs perpendicular to the plane of the break surface, the level of stress produced is below the elastic limit of the material of the piece, and the compressive force F1-F6′ continues at least until the piece is first subjected to the break force F3, F3′. |
| US07814631B2 |
Expansion anchor setting apparatus
Objects of the present invention provide an attachment for power tools that places and sets expansion anchors. One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a new and improved attachment apparatus for a rotary-hammer type drill, the attachment including a first anchor setting end, a second attachment end, and a handle portion connecting the setting end to the attachment end. The attachment apparatus can be efficiently and easily mounted to the rotary-hammer type drill to simplify the installation of expansion anchors. |
| US07814627B2 |
Process for treating threads by knitting-unraveling
Process for treating threads by knitting-unraveling includes: knitting several individual threads (2) on a multi-feed knitting machine (1); carrying out one or more heat, chemical or other treatments, in one or more chambers (7); carrying out, in an unraveling unit (4), an unraveling with pulling on the first knit thread and winding or beaming the unraveled threads (2) individually or carrying out on these individual threads another treatment operation or a production operation, optionally with an intermediate accumulation of the threads. The invention can be applied more particularly in the field of the textile industry, in particular the treatment of threads, particularly texturing by knitting-unraveling. |
| US07814626B2 |
Process for the preparation of polycarbonate by the melt transesterification process
The invention provides a process for the preparation of polycarbonate by the melt transesterification process, polycarbonate having a low electrostatic charge obtainable by this process, and moldings or extrudates, in particular optical data storage media or light-diffusing plates, made from this polycarbonate. |
| US07814625B2 |
Nonwoven spacer fabrics
The invention provides a non-woven fabric comprising at least two separate but interconnected layers, each of the layers being provided with discrete interconnections so as to provide discrete voids between the two layers of fabric. |
| US07814623B2 |
Blended fiber containing silver, blended filling containing silver fibers, and method for making same
A filling material is produced by separating fibers of polyester, processing the separated polyester fiber, obtaining silver nylon material, separating the silver nylon, processing the separated silver nylon, and blending the processed polyester fiber and the processed silver nylon to produce a blend of polyester and silver nylon. The blend is further processed, and is subsequently combined a number of times with processed polyester fiber to produce a blend of polyester and silver nylon having preferably between 5% and 10% by weight silver nylon. Pillows, blankets, comforters, sleeping bags, upholstered pieces of furniture and other items may be manufactured with the filling material. |
| US07814622B2 |
Device for compacting fiber flocks
A device for compacting fiber flocks into a flock mat has means for supplying the fiber flocks, a discharge belt for carrying the compacted flock mat away, and walls, which are arranged opposite each other between the means for supplying the fiber flocks and the discharge belt and thus form the boundaries of an essentially vertical chute feed, which defines the transport direction of the fiber flocks. At least one of the walls is supported in such a way that its movement during each cycle has a component in the transport direction of the fiber flocks and a component in the direction transverse to the transport direction. |
| US07814621B1 |
Stay-closed hinge
The present invention relates to a door hinge that allows a door to stay closed without the use of additional hardware. Conventional hinges merely support the door they are mounted on. The unique features of the hinge of the present invention allow a door to remain closed due to the integral strike and catch components of the hinge itself. This eliminates the time and expense for installation of traditional mechanical or magnetic closure systems on the non-hinge end of the door and frame. |
| US07814618B2 |
Furniture hinge
An example furniture hinge includes a saddle supporting the damping cylinder that engages a first mounting edge of the supporting arm from behind. A locking element supported movably on the saddle has a laterally protruding mounting lug, which in a locking position engages a second mounting edge of the supporting arm from behind. The second mounting edge is oriented counter to the first mounting edge. |
| US07814614B2 |
Suction brush for vacuum cleaner
The present disclosure relates to a suction brush for a vacuum cleaner, which is connected to a suction extension pipe connected to a main body of the vacuum cleaner and draws in foreign materials using a suction force generated in the main body. The suction brush includes a bottom housing with a dust entering port; a top housing connected to the bottom housing so as to cover the bottom housing; a connector disposed between the top housing and the bottom housing, the connector connected to the suction extension pipe; and a flow rate controller disposed at the connector, the flow rate controller controlling a volume of the air entering through the dust entering port so as to control a suction force. |
| US07814612B2 |
Linear agitator for wet extractor
A wet extraction floor cleaning device having a base assembly adapted for movement on a surface being cleaned, an operating handle pivotally attached to the base assembly, a supply tank having a supply tank outlet, and a recovery tank having a recovery tank inlet and a recovery tank outlet. The base assembly has an inlet nozzle that extends from an inlet slit proximal the surface being cleaned to a nozzle outlet. The device further includes a fluid deposition assembly that can be selectively placed in fluid communication with the supply tank outlet, a vacuum source, and first and second external pockets. The supply and recovery tanks are adapted to be selectively placed in the first and second external pockets, thereby placing the supply tank outlet in fluid communication with the fluid deposition system, the recovery tank inlet in fluid communication with the nozzle outlet, and the recovery tank outlet in fluid communication with the vacuum source inlet. |
| US07814609B1 |
Scraper with debris collecting means and associated method
A scraping apparatus includes an elongated tubular shaft with open proximal and distal ends in fluid communication with each other along an entire longitudinal length of the tubular shaft. The apparatus further includes a funnel, a scraping implement positioned above the funnel, a mechanism for securely maintaining the scraping implement at an elevated position above the top opening of the funnel, and a top protrusion monolithically formed with the apex and situated substantially parallel to the top opening of the funnel and juxtaposed proximal thereto. Such a top protrusion has a planar top surface. |
| US07814601B2 |
Vibrating hair brush having isolator support system for controlled vibratory movement
A vibrating hair brush provides enhanced detangling of user's hair. The brush has a bristle pad comprising a plurality of bristles disposed in a brush head. The bristle pad is supported within the brush head by a vibrating motor and isolator assembly disposed for directing a vibratory movement of the motor to a bristle pad movement in a plane generally parallel to a user's scalp. The motor and isolator assembly effectively translate a circular vibratory movement of the offset weight into an elliptical movement of the bristle pad while insulating the vibration caused by the movement of the weight from a handle of the brush. |
| US07814598B2 |
Article of footwear having a textile upper
An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may also have a first area and a second area with a unitary construction. The first area is formed of a first stitch configuration, and the second area is formed of a second stitch configuration that is different from the first stitch configuration to impart varying textures to a surface of the textile element. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes may be utilized to form the textile element. |
| US07814596B2 |
Method for controlling washing machine
The present invention discloses a method for controlling a washing machine for shortening a washing time period and extending lifetimes of components of the washing machine. For this, the present invention provides a method for controlling a washing machine including the steps of sensing a laundry amount, repeatedly supplying washing water to a tub of the washing machine with reference to the laundry amount sensed thus, and circulating the washing water for a predetermined time period for wetting the laundry, wherein the step of circulating is performed only once. |
| US07814592B1 |
Backboard with improved stiffness characteristics
A medical backboard for carrying patients is reinforced with 1″ bamboo poles extending substantially the length of the board's body on either side adjacent the handles. This board showed greater stiffness and flexibility than similar boards reinforced with carbon fiber rods. |
| US07814591B2 |
Patient positioning device
A patient positioning device is provided. The patient positioning device includes a patient positioning top and a u-shaped undercarriage that includes first and second parts that can be displaced relative to each other. An undercarriage length is adjustable with the first and second parts. |
| US07814585B1 |
Dental shower water pick
A show head water pick apparatus includes a first pipe segment for attachment to a shower pipe protruding outwardly from shower stall wall and having a first pipe segment outward end; a switch valve having a switch valve intake end connected to the first pipe segment outward end, and having a shower head output branch to which a shower head is connected and a water pick output branch, and having a valve operation handle for delivering water flow alternately to the shower head and to the water pulsing and pick assembly; a water pulsing unit connected to the water pick output branch; a water pick tube having a tube first end and a tube second end, the tube first end being connected to the water pulsing unit; and a water pick secured to the tube second end. |
| US07814581B1 |
Device for a person to reduce straining during expulsion of fecal matter into a toilet
A device for a person to reduce straining during expulsion of fecal matter into a toilet. The device comprises a block-shaped footrest placed on a floor in front of the toilet. The person sitting on the toilet will place both feet upon the block-shaped footrest to elevate his/her lower body into a quasi-squat position without any change to above-the-waste posture to reduce straining significantly. |
| US07814579B2 |
Modular helmet
A helmet is disclosed that includes a hinged chin guard and a hinged visor. The chin guard and the visor can each be independently raised or they can be raised together. That is, they can be rotated up and from in front of the face of a wearer of the helmet. A one-button release mechanism is provided on the chin guard to release detents that secure the chin guard to the cap body. The chin guard can lock into place when raised or lowered. The chin guard is adapted to rotate in a substantially elliptical trajectory about the sides and top of the cap body. The visor can be rotated through a series of ratchet positions and be removed from the helmet without tools and without removing the chin guard. |
| US07814576B2 |
Tights
A pair of tights restrains the knees from wobbling motions, stabilize running motions, and can be comfortably worn for a long time without causing fatigue. The pair of tights includes front parts for covering the front side of the body between the waistline and the front sides of the ankles, back parts for covering the back side of the body between the waist and the back sides of the ankles, outer side parts each covering a side region between the greater trochanter and the outer side of the ankle, back waist projections each formed integrally with the outer side part and projecting from the upper end of the outer side part over the back side of the waist, inner side parts each covering a region between the crotch and the inner side of the ankle, outer knee support parts for supporting the outer side of the knee, inner knee support parts each for supporting the inner side of the knee, and sartorius and adductors support parts each covering the back side of the waist, the sartorius and the adductors, and extending to the upper end of the inner knee support part. The outer side parts, the back waist projections, and the outer and inner support parts are formed of a stretchable material having a high elastic modulus higher than that of a material forming the rest. |
| US07814575B2 |
Belly covering garment
The present invention relates to a garment worn during different stages of pregnancy and different stages of postpartum body changes. A garment upper portion has a belly panel that is expansible to cover and fit over a growing abdomen during different stages of pregnancy, and a garment lower portion having a first torso encircling circumference that recedes downward to make way for expansion of the belly panel. The garment upper portion has a second torso encircling circumference to hold the garment up and in place over the torso. |
| US07814570B2 |
Latex gloves and articles with geometrically defined surface texture providing enhanced grip method for in-line processing thereof
Latex articles with geometrically defined surface structure providing enhanced grip characteristics in dry, wet or oily environments; and a method of making same comprising applying a polymeric coagulant coating to a smooth former surface, wherein the coating becomes tacky during drying, applying discrete coagulant particles of selected size, shape and distribution to the tacky coating to attach and protrude from the former surface with the polymeric coagulant coating, dipping the former into an aqueous latex emulsion, wherein the polymeric coagulant coating and the discrete coagulating particles destabilize the latex, thereby developing a latex layer, vulcanizing and stripping the latex article inside out, and dissolving the discrete coagulant particles in water or suitable solvents to reveal the geometrically designed texture with pre-selected size, shape and distribution of impressions providing improved dry, wet and oily surface grip by removal of a fluid boundary layer. |
| US07814567B2 |
Protective garment having a quick release system
A protective garment, such as a body armor vest, equipped with a quick-release system comprising a front portion, a rear portion, and a plurality of connectors for releasably attaching the front portion to the rear portion. Each connector includes a ring and a releasable hook, wherein the ring can be releasably clasped by the releasable hook. The protective garment further includes a pull cord, which can be attached to and capable of disengaging, at least two of the plurality of connectors to allow detachment of the front portion from the rear portion. |
| US07818816B1 |
Substrate patterning by electron emission-induced displacement
Disclosed are methods and devices for patterning micro- and/or nano-sized pattern elements on a substrate using field emitted electrons from an element. Disclosed methods and devices can also be utilized to form nano- and micron-sized depressions in a substrate according to a more economical process than as has been utilized in the past. Methods include single-step methods by which structures can be simultaneously created and located at desired locations on a substrate. Methods include the application of a bias voltage between a probe tip and a substrate held at a relatively close gap distance. The applied voltage can promote current flow between the probe and the substrate via field emissions. During a voltage pulse, and within predetermined energy levels and tip-to-surface gap distances, three dimensional formations can be developed on the substrate surface. |
| US07818811B2 |
Off-line economies for digital media
An off-line economy for digital media. In one implementation, exemplary media devices of buyer and seller participate in the off-line economy by performing secure off-line transfers of digital media content between themselves. The media devices store proof of the off-line sales transactions, so that a percentage of the sale price can be applied to a copyright owner and a percentage of the sale price can be applied to the seller as an incentive. Even resale of pirated media content benefits the copyright holder. The off-line economy opens an effective and inexpensive distribution channel for copyright holders and allows buyers to obtain media content anywhere, at any time, from any participant in the off-line economy without connecting to the Internet. The off-line economy allows copyright holders and media sellers to optimize pricing by market probing. |
| US07818809B1 |
Confidential data protection through usage scoping
Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for protecting confidential data on a network. An embodiment of the inventive method comprises the steps of: monitoring 110 data directed to a website; identifying 120 a data string having at least one confidential characteristic; categorizing the data string with a categorization level; examining 140 the website for at least one characteristic consistent with confidential data; creating 155 a website characteristic profile; comparing 170 the website characteristic profile with the data string's categorization level for compatibility; and determining 180 whether the data string can be communicated to the website. |
| US07818805B2 |
Methods and systems for network traffic security
The present invention is directed to methods of and systems for adaptive networking that monitors a network resource of a network. The method monitors an application performance. The method categorizes a first subset of traffic of the network. The categories for the first subset include trusted, known to be bad, and suspect. The method determines an action for a second subset of traffic based on the category for the first subset of traffic. Some embodiments provide a system for adaptive networking that includes a first device and traffic that has a first subset and a second subset. The system also includes a first resource and a second resource for the transmission of the traffic. The first device receives the traffic and categorizes the traffic into the first and second subsets. The first device assigns the first subset to the first resource. Some embodiments provide a network device that includes an input for receiving incoming traffic, an output for sending outgoing traffic, a categorization module that categorizes incoming traffic, and a resource assignment module that assigns the categorized traffic for a particular resource. A traffic category for the device includes suspect traffic. |
| US07818799B2 |
Tamper response mechanism
A tamper response mechanism introduces a delayed failure into a program in response to detected tampering with the program. The mechanism determines a manner of responding to the detected tampering. The manner of responding may include corrupting a global pointer or using other techniques. The mechanism also determines when to respond to the tampering and implements the response at the determined time. |
| US07818798B2 |
Software system with controlled access to objects
A computer system configured to intercept method calls placed on an object. By intercepting method calls, processing may be performed on a method call-by-method call basis. As part of the processing, metadata for an object is consulted to partition the methods for that object into subsets. The processing performed in response to any specific method call may be based on the subset to which the method belongs. The type of metadata may depend on the desired operation of the computer system. Metadata representing a white list or black list may be used in a computer system that implements a security zone that allows access to methods deemed to be safe or to deny access to methods deemed to be unsafe. In a performance monitoring system, metadata may identify methods to be logged or methods for which execution cost are to be measured. Values returned by a method call may also be processed when the method calls are intercepted. The returned value may be wrapped with a wrapper that holds data useful in implementing a security zone or for performing other processing. |
| US07818797B1 |
Methods for cost-sensitive modeling for intrusion detection and response
A method of detecting an intrusion in the operation of a computer system based on a plurality of events. A rule set is determined for a training set of data comprising a set of features having associated costs. For each of a plurality of events, the set of features is computed and a class is predicted for the features with a rule of the rule set. For each event predicted as an intrusion, a response cost and a damage cost are determined, wherein the damage cost is determined based on such factors as the technique of the intrusion, the criticality of the component of the computer system subject to the intrusion, and a measure of progress of the intrusion. If the damage cost is greater than or equal to the response cost, a response to the event. |
| US07818793B2 |
System and method of firewall design utilizing decision diagrams
A system, method and computer-usable medium for designing a firewall to protect a data processing system. A user first specifies a firewall decision diagram. The firewall decision diagram is then reduced and marked. Finally, a firewall is generated from the marked firewall decision diagram. |
| US07818792B2 |
Method and system for providing third party authentication of authorization
A method and system (100) for providing third party authentication when requesting content and/or services from an application server (106). The method is applicable to key management protocols that utilize the concept of tickets. The method and system include a client (102) being coupled with a third party application server (107), wherein the client submits a request for content from the third party application server and the third party application server returns requested information and corresponding authentication. The client further couples with a first application server (106), wherein the client submits a key request (KEY_REQ) including the third party server information and corresponding authentication to the first application server. The first application server authenticates the third party server information and verifies client authorization based on third party information. The first application server returns a key reply (KEY_REP) if the third party server information is authenticated and client authorization is verified. |
| US07818789B2 |
User controls for a computer
This invention is directed to provide a method for enabling an administrator to monitor and selectively limit the computer functions available to a user. The method is carried out on a personal computer by an administrator, and administrator decisions can be enforced on other personal computers in a local network. The invention enables an administrator to restrict a user's logon hours, logon duration, access to computer functions, and access to applications based on content rating. In addition, the administrator may temporarily restrict or extend normally allowed access privileges. The invention also allows for the monitoring, auditing, and reporting of a user's computer function usage to an administrator. |
| US07818788B2 |
Web application security frame
A web application security frame (e.g., schema) that can incorporate expertise into an engineering activity, for example, a threat modeling activity, is provided. The novel web application security frame component can be applied to a threat modeling component to converge knowledge into the activity by identifying categories, vulnerabilities, threats, attacks and countermeasures. The novel schema can create a common framework that converges knowledge with respect to any application engineering activity (e.g., threat modeling, performance modeling). Additionally, a context precision mechanism can be employed to automatically and/or dynamically determine a context of a web application environment. This context can be used to automatically generate an appropriate web application security frame component. |
| US07818783B2 |
System and method for global access control
The global access control system and method presents a solution to synchronizing the physical access devices that federal agencies must try to meet Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 201 requirements. The method encompasses wire and wireless technology, IP Security (IPSec), the assignment of IPv6 addresses to every device, integrating with logical access control systems, and providing a homogeneous audit and control format. As part of FIPS 201, Government identification badges (Personal Identity Verification (PIV) cards) will include an IPv6 address that uniquely identifies every card holder. By assigning an IPv6 address to every access device and using the card holder's IPv6 address, every access device can be used for global access control. Moreover, common and interoperable audit records throughout an entire enterprise (logical and physical) are possible. This unique combination of technologies provides a mechanism for integrating heterogeneous systems to provide merging of physical and logical access control systems. |
| US07818780B1 |
Method and compiler for routing policy
A routing policy compiler generates a configuration data abstraction layer of a routing policy which maps configuration to an intermediate layer comprising fields, operators and arguments. A policy repository verifies the intermediate layer against a set of verification rules for one or more client protocols including versions thereof. The policy repository may generate compiled policy transmission language for use by one or more client protocols including versions thereof. The policy compiler supports multiple software versions of client protocols with differing capabilities as well as differing client protocols. In some embodiments, an optimization may be performed on a compiled policy so that route updates are processed more efficiently. The policy compiler may permit the addition of new attributes to a routing protocol without having to recompile. Policy statements may be verified for more that one client protocol including more than one version of a client protocol. Routers may be transitioned between configuration states without transitioning between intervening states. |
| US07818772B2 |
System and method for improving the quality of video communication over a packet-based network
A system and method for improving quality of video communication includes a packets generator logical unit (PGU) coupled to a video source for receiving a compressed video stream and generating primary and secondary data chunks for transmittal to one or more destination nodes via a network. Each primary data chunk is associated with a secondary data chunk, and each secondary data chunk includes video data that covers a same portion of a video frame as video data included in each associated primary data chunk. The PGU encapsulates the primary and secondary data chunks in associated primary-secondary packet pairs composed of MB data fields, picture header fields, GOB and slice start header fields, and MB header fields, among others. The destination nodes process the secondary packets received via the network if the primary packets are damaged or lost in transmission. |
| US07818764B2 |
System and method for monitoring blocked content
A method for monitoring termination of blocked content. After unwanted content is blocked using substitution, user channel selection, or otherwise, a number of methods are available for monitoring blocked content and choosing content for presentation after the blocked content ends. Default content may be automatically presented. Default content includes content that was being presented prior to blocking, or any user selected default content. The user may opt to continue viewing substitute content. A termination notification may be generated, whereby the user the notified that blocked content is terminated, or will terminate imminently. One type of termination notification includes a prompt enabling the user to select among possible content to switch to. |
| US07818762B2 |
System and method for gathering information from users of mobile audiovisual broadcast content
A method of interactive broadcasting may include broadcasting audiovisual content for receipt by mobile electronic devices that are present within a communication range of a wireless access point. An information submission mechanism may be made available to the mobile electronic devices over the wireless access point. Users of the mobile electronic devices may submit information using the information submission mechanism to a server. The submitted information may be responsive to a request for user input related to the audiovisual content. |
| US07818757B1 |
Method for guaranteeing processing of messages in a continuous processing system
A method for processing messages ensures that every message that enters a continuous processing system is fully processed in its entirety, even in the event of a failure within the system. Messages are pushed through an execution plan that includes a set of connected “primitives” that process the message, where the primitives may be distributed across a group of servers. Messages are pushed through in accordance with a protocol that does not permit unprocessed messages to be permanently lost as they travel from input sources, between primitives, and to output sources within the execution plan. The input queue, output queue, and state (if any) associated with each primitive are saved in persistent storage at select checkpoints. If a failure occurs on a server, the server, after it starts up again, restores the primitives on that server to the input queues, output queues, and states saved at the last applicable checkpoint. |
| US07818756B2 |
SKU determination mechanism and API
Applications or operating system components requiring a SKU, or other indicator of an operating system, make a call to an API. The calling application passes an indicator of the most current version of an operating system known at the time of the application creation as an argument. This argument may be an indictor of the operating system version, build number, and service pack version, for example. The called API may reference a table of operating system SKUs with the indicator of the most current operating system known to the calling application. If found, the API returns the corresponding SKU to the calling application. If not found, the API returns the SKU corresponding to the closest sequential match to the passed in indicator. The calling application may then execute believing it is using the operating system corresponding to the returned SKU. |
| US07818749B2 |
Data processing method, data processing apparatus, and data processing program
In reference, update, and insertion processing, the lock of an un-transferred object is released, and then the lock of a transferred object is set when the pointer is traced for transfer between objects to thereby improve the parallel execution capability of the reference, update, and insertion. At that time, the IS-mode (in the case of reference processing) or the IX-mode (in the case of update and insertion processing) is set at the starting of the processing, and the lock is released at the time of completion of the processing. Furthermore, in deletion processing, after the pointer to a deletion target is separated or replaced and all the processing that acquires the lock of an object group has been completed, the region of the deletion target object is released. |
| US07818745B2 |
Dynamic transaction control within a host transaction processing system
A method and system is provided to dynamically adjust system administration criteria based upon current conditions of a transaction processing system. Granular autonomic administrative action relative to varying conditions results in more flexible response to particular system or transactional conditions. As certain criteria are met, at a system level, a transactional level, or a combination, appropriate action may be taken suitable to the particular condition encountered. A response more suited to a particular granular condition, provides for more focused event handling on a case by case basis rather than on a system-wide or undesired transient conditions. As a result, more efficient use of system resources occurs along with more reliable management of transactional processing. |
| US07818743B2 |
Logging lock data
A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that, in an embodiment, wait for expiration of a poll interval and in response to expiration of the poll interval, retrieve data regarding locks on objects and store the data in a log. In an embodiment, the stored data may include an identifier of the lock, a name of a class from which the threads were instantiated, a number of the threads, and a thread stack. The threads are waiting on the locks, and the lock wait times for the threads are calculated and stored in the log. The lock wait time is the time that the respective thread has waited on the lock. If any of the lock wait times exceeds a threshold, an identifier of the thread associated with the lock wait time that exceeds the threshold is stored in the log. |
| US07818740B2 |
Techniques to perform gradual upgrades
Techniques to perform gradual upgrades are described. An apparatus may include a database with a data set for a first version of an application program, and a computing device to couple to the database. The computing device may have a processor and memory, with the memory to store a first version of an application program, an installer program, and a gradual update engine. The processor may execute the installer program to install a second version of the application program, and said gradual update engine to convert the data set to a data schema used by the second version one data segment at a time. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07818737B2 |
Video device having software upgrade function using wireless communication and method for controlling the same
A method and apparatus for upgrading software of a video device is disclosed. A software program associated with the video device is downloaded using wireless communication to upgrade the video device. This allows the software program to be more quickly downloaded. The apparatus includes a tuner unit, a storage unit, and a controller. The tuner unit receives a plurality of ROM files into which a software program associated with a video device has been divided. The storage unit stores the received ROM files. The controller reads the stored ROM files and upgrades the video device. |
| US07818730B1 |
Automatic minimal build dependency determination and building an executable with source code
The present invention provides a method and system for building an executable using only the necessary source modules or a reduced set of source modules. The complete list of necessary source modules can be determined by checking for dependency of any already identified necessary source modules. Hence, if any of the source modules belongs to a library, the entire library will not need to be compiled in order to use any necessary source module to build the executable. The present invention has the advantage that the executable takes shorter time to build and the executable is smaller in memory size so that it is easier to be ported to a target system. The present invention may also be used to minimize or reduce the memory needed to load a model so that only the elements/blocks that are used in the model are loaded into memory when a model loads. The present invention may further be used to minimize or reduce efforts in validating a model by creating a new library containing only the library elements/blocks that are used in the model, so that it is easy to identify which library elements/blocks need to be validated. |
| US07818728B1 |
Maximizing system resources used to decompress read-only compressed analytic data in a relational database table
A method, computer program product and system for minimizing system resources used to decompress read-only compressed analytic data in a relational database table. An i-code list associated with a relational database table is converted into a programming language. The programming language is compiled in object code and stored in a module in the user's system. The object code is called with a pointer designating the particular row in the database containing the compressed data to be decompressed. The compressed data designated by the pointer is decompressed upon execution of the object code. By having the source code for decompressing the compressed data stored as object code in the user's system, the interpretation step (as used in the i-code method) is avoiding thereby reducing the number of machine cycles used to decompress the compressed data. As a result, query programs will be able to access large amounts of data more quickly. |
| US07818720B2 |
System and method for control logic code reordering based on stochastic execution time information
A method, computer program product, and data processing system for performing automated optimization of a control processing flow containing Boolean conditional expressions is disclosed. Each conditional expression is profiled using a representative set of test vectors to determine the probabilities of individual conditions and combinations of conditions in the expression. Next, the expression is restructured or reordered, including selective computation of subexpressions, based on the probability information, so as to maximize the probability of a short-circuit termination of evaluation of the expression and/or to minimize the statistical execution time of the expression. This process is performed for all Boolean conditional expressions related to the control processing flow. |
| US07818719B2 |
Extending expression-based syntax for creating object instances
Syntax for creating object instances utilizing expressions instead of statements. A syntax component facilitates extension of conventional object-creation-expression syntax. An initializer component provides for initialization of a newly-created entity via object and collection initializers. The initializer component provides initialization of the newly-created entity utilizing an object initializer where the object initializer specifies values for one or more fields or properties of the newly-created entity which is an object, and consists of a sequence of member initializers enclosed by tokens and separated by commas. The initializer component can also provides initialization of the newly-created entity utilizing a collection initializer when the underlying object implements a certain interface or implements a certain pattern. An overloading constructor can be called as part of the initialization process. In another aspect, code inferencing is disclosed whereby given a type, the corresponding code can be inferred by the compiler and inserted for compiling by a compiler. |
| US07818718B2 |
Undoing user actions in a client program
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing techniques for undoing user actions in a client program. The techniques include displaying a user interface in a client program, the user interface having a plurality of controls, the plurality of controls including multiple types of controls, each control having a state; for each control in the plurality of controls, storing the state of the control as a first state for the control; receiving user input comprising a change to the state of a control in the plurality of controls; updating the state of the control based on the user input; storing the updated state of the control as a second state for the control; receiving user input comprising a request to undo the change; and restoring the state of the control to reflect the first state for the control. |
| US07818715B2 |
Generating a hardware description from a graphical program in response to receiving a diagram with states and state transitions
A system and method for automatically generating a data flow diagram in response to a first diagram. The first diagram may specify one or more states and one or more state transitions, wherein each state transition specifies a transition from a first state to a second state. A data flow diagram may be automatically generated from the first diagram. A hardware description may be generated from the data flow diagram. The hardware description may be usable to configure a programmable hardware element such as, for example, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The configured programmable hardware element may implement a hardware implementation of the data flow diagram. |
| US07818713B2 |
Method, system and program product for generating requirement relationships for designing a solution
A method, system and program product for generating requirement patterns for designing a domain based solution. The method includes inputting, into a pattern tool, requirements for designing a solution based on a defined domain context, the requirements including attributes and specifications. The method further includes determining relationship requirement patterns using relationship mappings formed by mapping specifications to an attribute and defining affinities for the relationship mappings formed. Further, the method includes creating domain requirement patterns using the domain context defined, the relationship mappings formed and the affinities defined and generating domain trait requirement patterns using the domain requirement patterns created and using selected values assigned to the specifications mapped, such that the domain trait requirement patterns generated dictate a domain specific design for the solution. Furthermore, the method includes storing attributes, specifications, relationship requirement patterns, domain requirement patterns and domain trait requirement patterns in a repository. |
| US07818712B2 |
Reconfigurable memory module and method
A computer system includes a controller coupled to a plurality of memory modules each of which includes a memory hub and a plurality of memory devices divided into a plurality of ranks. The memory hub is operable to configure the memory module to simultaneously address any number of ranks to operate in a high bandwidth mode, a high memory depth mode, or any combination of such modes. |
| US07818710B2 |
Method and system for lithographic simulation and verification
Methods and systems for lithographic simulation and verification comprising a process in the frequency domain or in the spatial domain of calculating intensity at a location (x, y) for a number of defocus values. In addition, evaluating the intensity calculation result to determine if the intensity level will result in the mask pattern being written onto a wafer. The verification process may be calculated in the spatial domain or in the frequency domain. The calculations may be done such that full focus window calculations may be obtained by isolating the defocus parameter “z” in the calculations. |
| US07818705B1 |
Method and apparatus for implementing a field programmable gate array architecture with programmable clock skew
A skew generator unit includes a delay chain. The delay chain is coupled to a clock line that transmits a clock signal. The delay chain generates a skewed clock signal having a unit of delay from the clock signal. The skew generator unit also includes a selector. The selector is coupled to the delay chain and the clock line and may select one of the clock signal and the skewed clock signal. |
| US07818703B2 |
Density driven layout for RRAM configuration module
A system for layout of a module in an integrated circuit layout pattern has a cell library and a cell placement system. The cell library includes a plurality of cells. The cell placement system is adapted to select one or more cells from the cell library and to locally place each selected cell within the module layout so that each cell pin of the selected cells and each port of the module layout occupies a unique vertical routing track within the module layout. |
| US07818696B2 |
Architectural level throughput based power modeling methodology and apparatus for pervasively clock-gated processor cores
A method for estimating power dissipated by a processor core processing a workload-includes analyzing a reference test case to generate a reference workload characteristic, analyzing an actual workload to generate an actual workload characteristic, performing a power analysis for the reference test case to establish a reference power dissipation value and estimating an actual workload power dissipation value responsive to the actual and reference workload characteristics and the reference power dissipation value. |
| US07818692B2 |
Automated optimization of device structure during circuit design stage
A method of improving a circuit design for a very large scale integrated circuit is provided which represents a plurality of semiconductor devices interconnected in a circuit. It is determined whether an edge of a feature of one of the plurality of semiconductor devices in the design can be moved in a first direction by a distance within a permitted range, such that a performance goal and a matching goal for the circuit are served. If so, the edge is moved in the first direction by the distance calculated to best serve the performance goal and the matching goal. The foregoing steps may be repeated for each of the plurality of semiconductor devices. If necessary, the foregoing steps may be repeated until the performance goal and matching goal for the circuit are deemed to be adequately served. |
| US07818691B2 |
Zeroclick
A GUI interface, a method of programming a GUI interface, and an apparatus which enables functions of controls in the GUI to be activated by a movement to a control and then another subsequent movement related to that control. It may be defined more precisely below. A GUI in which, when a pointer 0 is immediately adjacent or passes over a control area 1, a procedure is initiated whereby subsequent movement of the pointer over a predetermined path area 3 generates a ‘click’ event which simulates direct clicking of the control 1 and moving outside the predetermined path area 3 prior to completion of the path 3 resets the control to as if the pointer has never started along the predetermined path area 3. |
| US07818688B2 |
Information browsing apparatus and method, program and recording medium
In a display device, items of information relating to specified information, which is displayed as the largest item, via a selected relation criterion, are displayed aligned on a selection axis, and items of information relating via other relation criteria are displayed aligned on non-selection axes. An item of information selected as the specified information can be sequentially changed in response to an input from up and down direction keys. The relation criteria for items of information displayed on the selection axis and the non-selection axes can be sequentially changed in response to an input from left and right direction keys. An information selection by the user is confirmed with present specified information by an input from a circle button, and a jump is made to a process according to the present specified information. |
| US07818685B2 |
Method for navigating between sections in a display space
A computer-implemented method for navigating between sections in a display space is furnished. The sections in the display space are each assigned to a particular location of the display space, and representatives are provided which are each assigned to a particular section in the display space using an unambiguous relation. The method for navigating includes the following steps: selecting at least one representative that is assigned to a particular section in the display space with the aid of the unambiguous relation; and navigating to the particular section in the display space with the aid of the unambiguous relation with the particular section in the display space. |
| US07818684B1 |
Rendition-based graphical layout management
Systems and methods which implement rendition-based graphical layout management techniques are shown. According to an embodiment, desired resizing of items within a program's user interface is managed through a developer graphically describing a plurality of different sized renditions of a desired user interface and other different sized renditions of the user interface being dynamically interpolated and/or extrapolated through operation of the program. According to embodiments, linear interpolation and/or extrapolation is provided with respect to windows sized differently than constraint images provided by a developer. In embodiments where more than two constraint images are provided, piece-wise liner interpolation and/or extrapolation may be provided. Non-linear interpolation and/or extrapolation may be implemented according to embodiments of the present teachings. |
| US07818683B2 |
Methods and systems for representing breadcrumb paths, breadcrumb inline menus and hierarchical structure in a web environment
A method of a navigational path includes enabling a user to successively display a plurality of web pages; maintaining a full breadcrumb path that includes a link to each of the previously displayed pages; displaying a shortened breadcrumb path on a current page, the shortened breadcrumb path including fewer links than the full breadcrumb path, and displaying the full breadcrumb path only upon request. A method of representing a current location within a hierarchical structure of a web site or web application includes maintaining a hierarchical map of the web site or web application; generating a web page that has a predetermined level within the hierarchical map; displaying a hierarchical structure selector on the web page, and when the displayed hierarchical structure selector is selected by a user, displaying an indication of the predetermined level and a link to each hierarchically higher level of the generated web page. |
| US07818682B2 |
Modeling editor
Methods and apparatus, including computer systems and program products, that implement a modeling editor associated with development objects. A computer program product includes instructions operable to receive user input including a user-defined graphical object, and a selection of a development object from a set of development objects in a development environment; generate an association between the selected development object and the user-defined graphical object; generate a graphical representation including the user-defined graphical object; and store the graphical representation and the association in a document. A graphical object need not be associated with any of the development objects. The user-defined graphical object can be presented to a user. Presenting the user-defined graphical object can include selectively presenting information associated with the user-defined graphical object based on user settings, such as abstraction information that can define an abstraction level for presenting the user-defined graphical object. |
| US07818681B2 |
Method and system for internally identifying a specific web browser for displaying a specific web page
Web browser information for the display of the web page is contained in HTML Meta tags of a web page for which access is desired. A web designer may incorporate preferred browser information within the meta tags. When the web page is accessed, the meta tags are inspected for such web browser preference information. When the preferred browser information is identified, availability of the preferred web browser on the particular computing device is determined. When the determination is that the preferred web browser is available, the web page is retrieved and display on the computing device using the identified preferred web browser. |
| US07818680B2 |
Method for deleting related messages
A method is provided which utilizes a threading service to offer enhanced features for a document management system including an email system. Various enhanced email features may be provided through one or more of the following components: a delete module, a reply module, a profile module, and a search module. The delete module enables a user to delete a selected message, a set of related messages, or the whole set except for the selected message. The reply module enables a user to send a reply message to all addresses associated and involved with an entire set of related messages. The profile module enables a dynamic interest profile to contain all relevant information from an outgoing message and a set of messages related to the outgoing message. The search module enables search results to include documents which match the user's query as well as documents related to the documents which match the user's query. |
| US07818674B2 |
Method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for interactive notification of events
A method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for the interactive notification of events is provided. A notification client application program executes in a background state and receives notifications from a business application server computer that an event has occurred. The notification may include a request to display a visual indication that the event has occurred, including a description of the event. In response to the request, the notification client application program displays a user interface window on the client computer including a description of the event that has occurred. The user interface window may include hyperlinks to additional Web content regarding the event, for scheduling appointments, for purchasing goods or services, or for placing a telephone call regarding the event. |
| US07818670B2 |
Information processing apparatus having detection unit and preview unit and program for same
An information processing apparatus includes: a multi-task operating system which displays a plurality of windows for displaying information on a display device; a detection unit which detects an active window among the windows; a determination unit which determines whether or not a task for managing the active window corresponds to a predetermined kind of tasks; a image data creating unit which creates print preview image data when the task corresponds to the predetermined kind of tasks; and a preview unit which displays an image on a dedicated window based on the print preview image data, wherein: the task performs display processing of user data on the active window; and the print preview image data corresponds to a print output result of the user data. |
| US07818667B2 |
Verification of semantic constraints in multimedia data and in its announcement, signaling and interchange
A collection of well-formed, but possibly semantically invalid, binary encoded multimedia data components or packages as well as the binary encoded announcement, signaling, and interchange protocols used in their transmission are converted into one or more well-formed extensible markup language (XML) files. Such XML files may then be validated according to one or more pre-defined XML schemas, or similar schema languages, in order to verify that the data and protocol structures and substructures adhere to prior defined semantic constraints. |
| US07818666B2 |
Parsing, evaluating leaf, and branch nodes, and navigating the nodes based on the evaluation
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for processing input data and for defining processing operations to be performed on such data. Input data is processed according to a data parser description associated with the input data format, and output data is generated based on the processing. The data parser description includes a plurality of leaf nodes and a plurality of branch nodes arranged in a tree structure. The leaf nodes each have an associated function. Each of the branch nodes has one or more associated child nodes selected from leaf nodes and other branch nodes. The nodes of the data parser description are evaluated in an order defined by the tree structure. For branch nodes, one or more of the associated child nodes are evaluated; for leaf nodes, the associated function is executed based on data in a current location in the input data. |
| US07818663B2 |
Editable information management system and method
An editable information management method for managing editable information. The method comprises storing a document as a plurality of segment objects, each segment object being editable independently of other segment objects. The method comprises combining said segment objects to create said document, displaying said document for editing, editing part of the displayed document corresponding to a predetermined segment object, and updating said predetermined segment object in response to said editing. |
| US07818660B2 |
Method of compound document comparison
A method and system for comparing compound documents. An original compound document and a modified compound document are analyzed to determine and mark the location of embedded objects. A comparison is performed between an original primary document and the modified primary document, ignoring the embedded objects, the output of which is a comparison output document. The embedded objects are compared by copying the contents of the embedded objects to compatible documents, comparing the embedded object from the original compound document and the embedded object from the modified compound document, the output of which is inserted into the comparison output document using the location markers of the embedded objects. |
| US07818659B2 |
News feed viewer
Techniques for presenting and managing syndication XML (feeds) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user can modify how a feed is displayed, such as which content (and how much) is displayed, in what order, and how it is formatted. In another embodiment, a modification regarding how a feed is displayed is stored so that it can be used again at a later time. In yet another embodiment, a user can create a custom feed through aggregation and/or filtering of existing feeds. Aggregation includes, for example, merging the articles of multiple feeds to form a new feed. Filtering includes, for example, selecting a subset of articles of a feed based on whether they satisfy a search query. In yet another embodiment, a user can find articles by entering a search query into a search engine that searches feeds, which will identify one or more articles that satisfy the query. |
| US07818658B2 |
Multimedia presentation system
A multimedia presentation system. The multi-presentation system is used to display a presentation using a presentation script and a plurality of presentation assets. The presentation script defines how the presentation assets are used to create a complete presentation. The presentation may be edited by editing the presentation script without editing the presentation assets. The separation of a presentation into a presentation script and presentation assets facilitates exchanges of presentations without necessarily exchanging all of the presentation. The multimedia presentation system may be used by a single user for replay of presentations. A plurality of multimedia presentation systems may also be coupled through a network to facilitate exchange of presentation scripts and presentation assets. |
| US07818656B2 |
Circuit for comparing two N-digit binary data words
The invention relates to a circuit for comparing two n-digit binary data words x[1](t), . . . , x[n](t) and x′[1](t), . . . , x′[n](t), which in the error-free case are either identical or inverted bit-by-bit with respect to each other, with a series connection of a combinatorial circuit for implementing a first combinatorial function, a controllable register and a combinatorial circuit for implementing another combinatorial function. |
| US07818653B2 |
Methods of soft-input soft-output decoding for nonvolatile memory
In a nonvolatile memory system, data is read from a memory array and used to obtain likelihood values, which are then provided to a soft-input soft-output decoder. The soft-input soft-output decoder calculates output likelihood values from input likelihood values and from parity data that was previously added according to an encoding scheme. |
| US07818652B2 |
Image forming system, image processing apparatus, determination device, and image processing method
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system, an image processing apparatus, a determination device, and image processing method that are capable of preventing users' convenience from reducing even when an image forming apparatus prints a coded image with a low print precision. A first MFP is connected through a LAN to a second MFP for performing error-correcting coding of original information, for creating a coded image by imaging the original information with the error-correcting code, and for forming the created coded image on a sheet. The first MFP extracts the original information from the coded image on the sheet obtained by reading the sheet on which the coded image is formed. Thereafter, the first MFP transmits to the second MFP an error detection rate at the time when the original information is extracted. |
| US07818650B2 |
Channel encoding apparatus and method
A channel encoding apparatus and method are provided in which part of the parity bits are set to erroneous bits, and full parity bits are created by correcting the erroneous bits using a channel decoding apparatus of a receiver in a communication system. In the channel encoding apparatus, in order to generate a coded bit stream by adding a parity bit stream to a message bit stream, a partial parity generator generates a partial parity bit stream as a part of the parity bit stream using the message bit stream, an erasure generator generates a bit stream having an erroneous value as the remaining part of the parity bit stream, and a decoder calculates the value of the parity bit stream by correcting the bit stream having the erroneous value using a parity-check matrix that determines the parity bit stream, the message bit stream, and the partial parity bit stream. |
| US07818649B1 |
Efficient message passing scheme of iterative error correcting decoders
A decoder and method for implementing an iterative error correcting decoder are provided for decoding a codeword consisting of a N-bit messages. In one implementation, the decoder includes a first set of nodes, and a second set of nodes, each having N bits of resolution. Each node of the second set is coupled to at least one node of the first set, each node of the second set being coupled to a node of the first set by a corresponding set of M wires. Each of the first set of nodes is operable to transfer the bits of a given N-bit message of the codeword over the corresponding set of M wires to a coupled node of the second set during a single iteration cycle, each of the M wires carrying i bits, where N is an integer greater than M, and N=M*i. |
| US07818648B2 |
GPON rogue-ONU detection based on error counts
A system, for identifying faults in a GPON that includes an OLT and a plurality of ONUs, including: a global error-counter, coupled to the OLT, for counting FEC-correctable errors, for each ONU, from a data stream from the GPON; and a CPU for extracting an ONU status, indicative of a faulty ONU, contingent on the errors from the global error-counter. A system, for identifying faults in a GPON that includes an OLT and a plurality of ONUs, including: a grant-start error-counter, coupled to the OLT, for counting grant-start errors, for each ONU, from a data stream from the GPON; a grant-end error-counter, coupled to the OLT, for counting grant-end errors for each ONU; and a CPU for extracting an ONU status, indicative of a faulty ONU, contingent on a parameter selected from the group consisting of the grant-start errors, the grant-end errors, and a combination thereof. |
| US07818647B2 |
Method for switching between asynchronous and synchronous HARQ retransmission mode
The present invention relates to method for controlling the transmission timing of data retransmissions in a wireless communication system wherein a HARQ retransmission protocol, is used to retransmit data from a transmitting entity to a receiving entity via a data channel. Further the present invention relates to a base station, a mobile terminal and a communication system employing the present invention. To overcome problems resulting from synchronous retransmissions in interference critical situations, the present invention introduces additional feedback signaling to a new HARQ protocol. The new NACK-S indicates to the transmitting entity to stop the synchronously transmitting retransmissions but to await a scheduling assignment for the retransmission from the receiving entity instead. |
| US07818645B2 |
Built-in self-test emulator
Systems, methods, and a computer program are disclosed. One embodiment comprises a compiler for developing verification tests of an integrated circuit. The compiler comprises an interface and a built-in self-test (BIST) emulator. The interface includes an input and an output. The interface receives and forwards operator-level instructions to the BIST emulator, which is coupled to the output. The BIST emulator simulates the operation of a BIST module within the integrated circuit. |
| US07818642B2 |
Hierarchical test response compaction for a plurality of logic blocks
In one embodiment, the present invention includes first level matrices, each including m input terminals and n output terminals, each coupled to a processor core, and second level matrices each coupled to the n output terminals of one of the first level matrices, where each of the second level matrices has n input terminals and p output terminals, and the p output terminals of the second level matrices correspond to a compacted output from the multiple processor cores. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07818641B2 |
Interface to full and reduce pin JTAG devices
The disclosure describes a process and apparatus for accessing devices on a substrate. The substrate may include only full pin JTAG devices (504), only reduced pin JTAG devices (506), or a mixture of both full pin and reduced pin JTAG devices. The access is accomplished using a single interface (502) between the substrate (408) and a JTAG controller (404). The access interface may be a wired interface or a wireless interface and may be used for JTAG based device testing, debugging, programming, or other type of JTAG based operation. |
| US07818640B1 |
Test system having a master/slave JTAG controller
A test system has a package containing a number of die. There is a JTAG controller for each of the die. There is also master/slave selector input for each of the JTAG controllers. A boundary scan register link connects at least two of the die. |
| US07818639B2 |
Fully-buffered dual in-line memory module with fault correction
A memory module comprises first memory that stores data in memory blocks; second memory that temporarily stores data from at least one of the memory blocks and third memory for storing a relationship between addresses of the at least one of the memory blocks in the first memory and corresponding addresses of the data from the at least one of the memory blocks in the second memory. Storage capacities of the second and third memories are less than a storage capacity of the first memory. A control module selectively transfers data in the at least one of the memory blocks in the first memory to the second memory and stores and retrieves data from the second memory for the at least one of the memory blocks based on the relationship during the testing. |
| US07818638B2 |
Systems and devices including memory with built-in self test and methods of making and using the same
Disclosed are methods, systems and devices, such as a device including a data location, a quantizing circuit coupled to the data location, and a test module coupled to the quantizing circuit. In one or more embodiments, the test module can include a linear-feedback shift register. |
| US07818637B2 |
Apparatus for formatting information storage medium
An apparatus according to the present invention is designed to perform formatting processing on an information storage medium. The storage medium has a data storage area including a user data area and a spare area. The user data area is provided to write user data on, while the spare area includes a replacement block to be used as a replacement for a block that has been detected as a defective block. The replacement block stores instruction information that instructs to read data from the defective block when data is read from the replacement block. The apparatus includes a control section for controlling the formatting processing. In performing the formatting processing, the control section updates information stored in the replacement block such that when data is read from the replacement block, the data is not read from the defective block. |
| US07818634B2 |
Detecting method and system for consistency of link scrambling configuration
A detecting method for the consistency of a link scrambling configuration, comprises: setting the first threshold of the data packet error rate received by the receiving end; when the receiving end receiving date from the link, counting the received data packet error rate; judging whether the error rate is above the set first threshold; if yes, determining that the link scrambling configurations between transmitting end and receiving end are inconsistent; if not, determining that the link scrambling configurations between transmitting end and receiving end are consistent. The invention provides that the ports could detect the consistency of the link scrambling configuration automatically when configuring the link scrambling code, thereby enables the receive device to adjust the configuration of scrambling code to achieve the consistency of scrambling code between both ends of the link, and improves the maintenance of devices. |
| US07818631B1 |
Method and system for automatically generating network trouble tickets
A method and system for are provided for generating a ticketing report in a communications networking environment. The method includes receiving an alarm event that has a set of event attributes, which includes an event identifier; automatically evaluating the attributes against a set of ticketing rules; determining whether a ticketing report should be generated, and if so, then identifying one or more target ticketing systems; generating a ticketing message based on the alarm-event attributes and the identified one or more target ticketing system(s); routing the event to the target ticketing system, whereby the ticketing report can be automatically generated; receiving a ticket identifier that identifies the generated ticketing report; and associating the ticket identifier with the event identifier. The system includes an alarm-event manager, a ticketing engine coupled to the alarm-event manager, a ticketing router coupled to the ticketing engine and to one or more ticket-outputting systems, and a data structure coupled to the ticketing engine and containing a set of ticketing rules that define criteria to be met to automatically generating a ticketing report. |
| US07818630B2 |
Framework for automatically analyzing I/O performance problems using multi-level analysis
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable code are provided for analyzing input/output problems. A monitoring agent collects input/output data from a plurality of levels in a multi-level input/output stack. The monitoring agent analyzes the input/output data from the plurality of levels to form an analysis. A determination is then made as to whether the analysis requires an action and an action is initiated in response to a determination that the analysis requires an action. |
| US07818623B2 |
Kernel debugging in a cluster computing system
An embodiment of a method of maintaining operation of a cluster of computing devices includes an initial step of detecting a suspended kernel process on a first of the computing devices. In addition to the step of detecting the suspended kernel process the method includes the step of issuing a first signal that causes a cluster management process to disregard the first of the computing devices when determining if there exists a quorum of the computing devices. |
| US07818622B2 |
Method for recovering data processing system failures
A method for recovering from software and/or hardware failures occurred in a data processing system is disclosed. A current version of boot code and an updated version of boot code are stored in a first memory region and a second memory region, respectively, of a non-volatile memory of the data processing system. The updated version of boot code is periodically replaced by a latest version of boot code downloaded from a support center. After an occurrence of a system crash, a determination is made if the system crash was caused by a known problem that can be remedied by the updated version of boot code. If so, the data processing system is rebooted using the updated version of boot code. Otherwise, data related to the system crash is collected, and the data processing system is rebooted using the current version of boot code. |
| US07818619B2 |
Method and apparatus for debugging application software in information handling systems over a memory mapping I/O bus
A test system includes a debugging system and a system under test (SUT). The debugging system includes a debugging processor that couples to an SUT processor in the SUT via a memory mapping interface bus therebetween. In one embodiment, the debugging processor operates as a master to conduct test operations on the SUT via the memory mapping interface bus. The debugging processor and the SUT processor operate together in a cluster mode to provide non-invasive debugging of the (SUT) while the SUT executes application software in a real time environment. |
| US07818614B2 |
System and method for reintroducing a processor module to an operating system after lockstep recovery
According to one embodiment, a method comprises, responsive to detection of loss of lockstep (LOL) for a processor module in a system, setting status information stored to the system for the processor module to indicate that the processor module has an error. The method further comprises reestablishing lockstep for the processor module without shutting down the system's operating system, and updating the status information for the processor module to indicate that the processor module no longer has the error. The method further comprises causing the system's operating system to recognize that the processor module having its lockstep reestablished is available for processing. |
| US07818613B2 |
Arrangement and method for connecting a processing node in a distribution system
An arrangement and method for interconnecting fail-uncontrolled processor nodes in a dependable distributed system. A node has a bus guardian with input switches which act in combination with a logic element as an input multiplexer under the control of a control unit.This provides the advantage of transferring the problem of fault containment from the output interface of a potentially faulty processing node to the input interface of fault-free processing nodes. By doing so, problems encountered by spatial proximity faults or functional dependencies within a faulty processing node that may jeopardize fault containment at its output interface are mitigated. |
| US07818612B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for performing storage device maintenance
An apparatus and system are disclosed for performing a storage device maintenance operation. A management module receives a command through an interconnection module configured as a non-blocking switch. The management module performs a maintenance operation on a storage device through the interconnection module in response to the command. In addition, the management module may receive queries on the status of the maintenance operation through the interconnection module and report the status of the maintenance operation through the interconnection module. |
| US07818607B2 |
Arrangement for recovery of data by network nodes based on retrieval of encoded data distributed among the network nodes
Distributed data, having been stored in a distributed storage system as a collection of distributed data elements, is recovered based on connection of multiple user nodes, each user node having stored selected distributed data elements as a corresponding portion of the distributed data during replication of the distributed data elements throughout the distributed storage system. Each distributed data element is identifiable by a corresponding unique object identifier (OID). Each user node includes a discovery resource for discovering reachable user nodes, a local cache configured for identifying at least the corresponding portion of the distributed data based on the respective OIDs, and an identification service module configured for resolving a data object to a corresponding OID, via the corresponding local cache, or based on sending a query to the reachable user nodes. Hence, user nodes can recover distributed data based on exchanging resolution information and OID information. |
| US07818606B1 |
Methods and apparatus for switch-initiated trespass decision making
Methods and apparatus for generating switch-initiated trespass commands. In an exemplary embodiment, a method includes recognizing that a first switch has a first path to a first target, which is coupled to a logical unit, and a second path to a second target, recognizing that a second switch has a first path to the first target and a second path to the second target, the second target being coupled to the logical unit, and determining whether the first switch should issue a trespass command. |
| US07818605B2 |
Method of managing reconfigurable terminals within a radio network
A respective agent platform in network elements and producer-specific agents that are installed directly on platform or by way of agent proxies of agent providers. The agents then receive raw information on arising operating errors by way of a defined interface of the agent platform, and, together with producer-specific information on the respective terminals or types of terminal that are known only to the respective producer, from corresponding compressed decision information for evaluating cases of error and/or for optimizing reconfiguration decisions. The agents then provide the information for the network element or the network operator and/or the agent provider or the terminal producer, via the defined interface. This leads to a higher reliability of the interoperability of terminals and network elements in mobile radio networks including reconfigurable terminals. |
| US07818603B2 |
Deriving accurate media position information
Various embodiments utilize different counters or clocks, working in concert, to smooth out position information that is derived for a rendering/capturing device. Specifically, in at least some embodiments, each counter or clock has a different speed. A faster counter or clock is used to determine intra-transition position offsets relative to a slower counter or clock. |
| US07818602B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device preventing logic transition during a failed clock period
A semiconductor integrated circuit device is disclosed. The semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a first circuit whose output never or seldom changes when the output from an Enable generator is off, a second circuit whose output frequently changes, an input controller which receives the respective outputs from the second circuit and the Enable generator and passes through the input from the second circuit only when the output from the Enable generator is on, a combination circuit which receives the respective outputs from the first circuit and the input controller, and a memory which receives the output from the combination circuit and is driven by the output from the clock controller. |
| US07818599B2 |
Statistical switched capacitor droop sensor for application in power distribution noise mitigation
A circuit and a method for detecting noise events in a system with time variable operating points is provided. A switched capacitor filter comprising a plurality of capacitor units, samples a first voltage to determine an average of a set of voltage measurements, forming an average voltage. A filter control unit controls the plurality of capacitor units in the switched capacitor filter. A comparing unit compares the average voltage to the first voltage to form a comparison. A signaling unit generates a signal to instruct circuits in a processor to initiate actions to keep the first voltage from drooping below a threshold level in response to the comparison. |
| US07818598B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device provided on a semiconductor substrate having a cell placing area disposed on a semiconductor substrate, the cell placing area including a plurality of basic cells supplied with power from a local power supply line, a global power supply line to supply power to the local power supply line, at least one switch cell having a terminal electrically connected to the global power supply line, another terminal electrically connected to the local power supply line and a switch to turn on and off power supply from the global power supply line to the local power supply line and a repeater circuit disposed in the cell placing area, the repeater circuit supplied with power from the global power supply line without interposing the switch. |
| US07818590B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling supply voltage using hierarchical performance monitors
An apparatus and method for controlling a supply voltage using hierarchical performance monitors includes a signal generator generating an operating frequency and a target operating frequency, a supply voltage generator generating the supply voltage, a plurality of local performance monitors, and a global performance monitor. Each of the plurality of local performance monitors implemented in each different domain is modelled on a relationship between a level of the supplied voltage supplied to each different domain of a predetermined system and an operating speed or the operating frequency of a predetermined circuit implemented in the interior of the domain. The plurality of local performance monitors, respectively, monitors continuously whether the level of the supply voltage supplied to the domain is suitable for the target operating frequency, and outputs a local feedback signal. The global performance monitor generates the global feedback signal based on the local feedback signals of the plurality of local performance monitors, the supply voltage generator adjusts the level of the supply voltage based on the global feedback signal, and the signal generator changes the operating frequency to the target operating frequency when the level of the supply voltage corresponds to the target operating frequency. |
| US07818586B2 |
System and method for data encryption keys and indicators
Systems and methods are provided for encrypting data, generating encryption keys, and generating encryption indicators. The encryption indicators may be stored on a storage medium in a location separate from the location of stored encrypted data. The encryption indicator includes information indicative of the encryption key used for encrypting and decrypting the data. In one example, the storage medium is a tape, and the encryption indicator is stored in the user header label of the tape. |
| US07818583B2 |
Personal authentication apparatus
The present invention relates to a personal authentication apparatus which registers biometric information unique to each individual person, captures biometric information on the person anew when authenticating the person, and checks the captured biometric information against registered biometric information, whereby the security of registration is improved. A keyhole into which a physical key is inserted and a sensor which detects biometric information such as palm vein patterns are provided. Registration of a user is permitted only if a key is inserted and turned in the keyhole and a person registered as an administrator is authenticated based on biometric information. |
| US07818581B2 |
Data management system
A data management system and method are provided. Specifically, the present invention includes a system for controlling access to data and ensuring that the confidentiality of the data maintained. In addition, the present invention provides a system for updating data so that confidential data, which has become non-confidential, can be identified and exposed. |
| US07818580B2 |
Control of port based authentication protocols and process to support transfer of connection information
Method, system, and program product for port based authentication protocols where addresses are dynamically assigned within a network environment, and more particularly to port based authentication in the network environment, where connection information is captured and stored. This facilitates administrator access to information created as a result of protocol exchanges involved in dynamic address assignment, authentication, and connection. |
| US07818577B2 |
Identifying material using a watermark and a signature
A method of identifying material comprises the step of inserting an identifying code into a signal as a watermark, and deriving a signature from the material. The code and signature are stored in a database. The watermarked signal may be distributed and/or transmitted through a network. The signal may be processed in the network. A monitor derives from the received signal, the signature and the code. They are compared with the stored signature and code to check the provenance of the material. |
| US07818574B2 |
System and method for providing dynamically authorized access to functionality present on an integrated circuit chip
A mechanism is provided in which access to the functionality present on an integrated circuit chip is controllable via an encrypted certificate of authority which includes time information indicating allowable periods of operation or allowable duration of operation. The chip includes at least one cryptographic engine and at least one processor. The chip also contains hard coded cryptographic keys including a chip private key, a chip public key and a third party's public key. The chip is also provided with a battery backed up volatile memory which contains information which is used to verify authority for operation. The certificate of authority is also used to control not only the temporal aspects of operation but is also usable to control access to certain functionality that may be present on the chip, such as access to some or all of the cryptographic features provided in conjunction with the presence of the cryptographic engine, such as key size. |
| US07818568B2 |
Multiple user authentication for online console-based gaming
A console-based multi-user authentication process allows multiple users of a game console to be authenticated together in a single request/reply exchange with an authentication entity. The results of which is the possession of a single ticket that can be used to prove authenticity of multiple authentication principals to one or more online services. Also described is a handshake process that can be used to initially establish an authentication account for each game console, in which the account creation server can trust that a genuine game console is making the request. |
| US07818566B2 |
Apparatus and method for sharing a cached security profile in a database environment
An apparatus, system, and method are provided for sharing a cached security profile in a database environment. The apparatus, system, and method include a cache module for caching a security profile accessible to primary tasks and secondary tasks. An identification module is provided that distinguishes between primary tasks authorized to refresh the security profile and secondary tasks. A refresh module cooperates with the cache module and identification module to selectively refresh the security profile in response to a refresh request and expiration of the security profile such that an old version of the security profile is retained for use by secondary tasks until an execution window closes. |
| US07818562B2 |
Method and apparatus for time synchronization in a network data processing system
A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for synchronizing time in a network data processing system. A request for time synchronization is received at a target data processing system. A current target time at the target data processing system is placed in a reply. The reply is sent to the source data processing system. A current source time from when the reply is received at the source data processing system is compared to the current target time to generate a comparison. A synchronization factor is generated using the comparison. |
| US07818560B2 |
System information synchronization in a links-based multi-processor system
Various embodiments described herein include one or more of systems, methods, firmware, and software to synchronize system information between processors during system boot in a links-based multi-processor system. Some embodiments synchronize data block by block through memory rather than piece by piece through registers by allowing a System Bootstrap Processor (“SBSP”) to directly access synchronization data in local memory of each of one or more Application Processors. These and other embodiments are described in greater detail below. |
| US07818559B2 |
Boot negotiation among multiple boot-capable devices
A first device discovers the capabilities of a second device. The first device determines which of the first device and the second device is to execute a controlling boot image based at least in part on the capabilities of the first device and the second device. A first boot image is executed by the first device when the first device is determined to execute the controlling boot image, the second device to be a resource for the first boot image. The first device sends a second boot image stored on the first device to the second device when the second device is determined to execute the controlling boot image, wherein the first device to be a resource for the second boot image. |
| US07818558B2 |
Method and apparatus for EFI BIOS time-slicing at OS runtime
A method and apparatus is described herein for executing firmware tasks during OS runtime. A thread slices execution time among entries in a control structure, such as process control block (PCB), maintained by an OS kernel. An entry in the control structure includes a reference to a firmware task, such as a system management operation, a BIOS task, and/or and EFI task. Based on that entry, the thread allocates an amount of execution time either directly to the firmware task or to a kernel mode driver to perform the firmware task. |
| US07818557B2 |
Method for re-imaging a computer system
The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for re-imaging a computer system. In one example, a method is provided for replacing an active system of a computer with a new image. The method may include copying files from the new image into a re-imaging directory on the active system. Processes of the active system that are not needed to keep the active system in a functioning state may be stopped. Files are moved from a top level space of the active system into a temporary directory after stopping the processes, and files from the re-imaging directory are moved into the top level space. The active system is then rebooted. |
| US07818555B2 |
Method and apparatus for changing a configuration of a computing system
Machine-readable media, methods, apparatus and system for caption detection are described. In some embodiments, during a non-quiesce state of a system, a configuration data for a configuration update of a configurable device of the system may be calculated, and it may be determined whether the configuration data is final configuration data or intermediate configuration data, wherein the final configuration data may be used to directly enact the configuration update during a quiesce state of the system, while the intermediate configuration data is used to indirectly enact the configuration update during the quiesce state of the system. Further, during the non-quiesce state of the system, if the configuration data is the intermediate configuration data, then codes associated with the configuration data may be determined, wherein the codes may be used to operate the configuration data to obtain the final configuration data during the quiesce state of the system. |
| US07818550B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically fusing instructions at execution time in a processor of an information handling system
One embodiment of a processor includes a fetch stage, decoder stage, execution stage and completion stage. The execution stage includes a primary execution stage for handling low latency instructions and a secondary execution stage for handling higher latency instructions. A detector determines if an instruction is a high latency instruction or a low latency instruction. If the detector also finds that a particular low latency instruction is dependent on, and destructive of, a corresponding high latency instruction, then the secondary execution stage dynamically fuses the execution of the low latency instruction together with the execution of the high latency instruction. Otherwise, the primary execution stage handles the execution of the low latency instruction. |
| US07818548B2 |
Method and software for group data operations
Methods and software are presented for processing data in a programmable processor, involving (a) decoding instructions for execution using an execution unit operable to execute instructions by partitioning data stored in registers in a register file into multiple data elements, the instructions selected from an instruction set that includes group arithmetic instructions and group data handling instructions, (b) in response to decoding different group arithmetic instructions, executing a plurality of different group floating-point and group integer arithmetic operations that each arithmetically operates on multiple data elements stored in registers in the register file to produce a catenated result that is returned to a register in the register file, wherein the catenated result comprises a plurality of individual results, and (c) in response to decoding different group data handling instructions, executing group data handling operations that re-arrange data elements in different ways. |
| US07818544B2 |
Processor livelock recovery by gradual stalling of instruction processing rate during detection of livelock condition
Mechanisms for placing a processor into a gradual slow down mode of operation are provided. The gradual slow down mode of operation comprises a plurality of stages of slow down operation of an issue unit in a processor in which the issuance of instructions is slowed in accordance with a staging scheme. The gradual slow down of the processor allows the processor to break out of livelock conditions. Moreover, since the slow down is gradual, the processor may flexibly avoid various degrees of livelock conditions. The mechanisms of the illustrative embodiments impact the overall processor performance based on the severity of the livelock condition by taking a small performance impact on less severe livelock conditions and only increasing the processor performance impact when the livelock condition is more severe. |
| US07818541B2 |
Data processing architectures
A data processing architecture comprising: an input device for receiving an incoming stream of data packets; and a plurality of processing elements which are operable to process data received thereby; wherein the input device is operable to distribute data packets in whole or in part to the processing elements in dependence upon the data processing bandwidth of the processing elements. |
| US07818539B2 |
System and method for performing efficient conditional vector operations for data parallel architectures involving both input and conditional vector values
A processor implements conditional vector operations in which, for example, an input vector containing multiple operands to be used in conditional operations is divided into two or more output vectors based on a condition vector. Each output vector can then be processed at full processor efficiency without cycles wasted due to branch latency. Data to be processed are divided into two groups based on whether or not they satisfy a given condition by e.g., steering each to one of the two index vectors. Once the data have been segregated in this way, subsequent processing can be performed without conditional operations, processor cycles wasted due to branch latency, incorrect speculation or execution of unnecessary instructions due to predication. Other examples of conditional operations include combining one or more input vectors into a single output vector based on a condition vector, conditional vector switching, conditional vector combining, and conditional vector load balancing. |
| US07818537B2 |
Method and system for dynamically determining hash function values for file transfer integrity validation
A method and system for dynamically determining hash values for file transfer integrity validation. In response to a request for a transfer of a data file between a first computing system and a second computing system, the first computing system loads a first portion of the data file to a buffer. The first computing system determines a first hash function value based on the first portion. The first computing system loads a second portion of the data file portion to the buffer and determines a second hash function value incrementally based on the first and second data file portions. The first and second data file portions are non-overlapping portions of the data file being transferred. |
| US07818534B2 |
Determination of sampling characteristics based on available memory
A portion of data records of a full input data set are imported into memory of a computer system for processing by an executing application. The full input data set includes data records of a dimensionally-modeled fact collection. An amount of the data of the full input set to import is determined based on an amount of available memory of the computer system. The sampling characteristics for sampling the full input data set are determined based on the amount of the data that can be imported and on characteristics of the full input data set and application involved. The full input data set is then sampled and a portion of the records are imported into the memory of the computer system for processing. The sampling characteristics are determined such that analysis as a result of processing by the executing application of the sampled portion of the records imported is representative of the analysis that could otherwise be carried out on the full input data set, with a calculable statistical relevance. |
| US07818532B2 |
Method and system for creating and restoring an image file
An image file format and a method of creating and restoring an image file is provided by the present invention. The image file format includes a plurality of streams such as a control stream, a data stream, a bitmap stream, and a cluster map stream. An audit trail stream, properties stream and fix-up stream may also be provided. The present invention allows the contents of a storage media to be captured and stored as an image file. The image file is used to restore the storage media to a previous state or allows multiple computers to be provided with a common configuration. The plurality of streams further allow the image file to be viewed, edited or otherwise manipulated. |
| US07818528B2 |
System and method for asynchronous clock regeneration
The present invention is a method of asynchronous clock regeneration. The method includes synchronizing a first write pointer and a second write pointer, the first write pointer being an offline write pointer, the second write pointer being an online write pointer. The method further includes swapping at least one bit from the first write pointer with at least one bit of the second write pointer when the bits are static. The method further includes regenerating a DQS (Data Strobe Signal) clock. |
| US07818522B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for incremental resynchronization in a data storage system
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for performing an incremental resynchronization between two unrelated volumes when a third volume fails. The apparatus, system, and method include initiating registration of changed tracks; keeping track of bytes in flight activities between a local volume and an intermediate volume; recording the changed tracks in bitmaps at the local volume; stopping the recording of the changed tracks; and starting a resynchronization process by sending the changed tracks to a recovery volume. |
| US07818520B2 |
Method of specifying access sequence of a storage device
The present invention is to provide a method of specifying access sequence of a storage device, wherein queues with different priority are created in the storage device for recording access requests from at least one server at the front-end of the storage device to manage the access operation, and are recorded corresponding to the front-end servers and the priority thereof respectively via a priority table. When the front-end server makes an access request, the request will be added to the corresponding queue according to the source front-end server, and each queue will be processed according to the priority thereof. The maximum workload of the access request processed every single time of each queue is set respectively. Thus, the access requests of the queues with higher priority will be processed within a shorter time. |
| US07818517B1 |
Architecture for virtualization of networked storage resources
An architecture for managing a switched storage network consisting of one or more data storage volumes and one or more hosts. The data storage volumes are in a switched storage network. One or more processors provide the switching capability for the switched storage network. The one or more processors are capable of embodying logical constructions of a storage presentation layer and a volume presentation layer. |
| US07818512B2 |
High capacity memory subsystem architecture employing hierarchical tree configuration of memory modules
A high-capacity memory subsystem architecture utilizes multiple memory modules arranged in a hierarchical tree configuration, in which at least some communications from an external source traverse successive levels of the tree to reach memory modules at the lowest level. Preferably, the memory system employs buffered memory chips having dual-mode operation, one of which supports a tree configuration in which data is interleaved and the communications buses operate at reduced bus width and/or reduced bus frequency to match the level of interleaving. |
| US07818511B2 |
Reducing number of rejected snoop requests by extending time to respond to snoop request
A cache, system and method for reducing the number of rejected snoop requests. A “stall/reorder unit” in a cache receives a snoop request from an interconnect. Information, such as the address, of the snoop request is stored in a queue of the stall/reorder unit. The stall/reorder unit forwards the snoop request to a selector which also receives a request from a processor. An arbitration mechanism selects either the snoop request or the request from the processor. If the snoop request is denied by the arbitration mechanism, information, e.g., address, about the snoop request may be maintained in the stall/reorder unit. The request may be later resent to the selector. This process may be repeated up to “n” clock cycles. By providing the snoop request additional opportunities (n clock cycles) to be accepted by the arbitration mechanism, fewer snoop requests may ultimately be denied. |
| US07818509B2 |
Combined response cancellation for load command
A cache coherency technique used in a multi-node symmetric multi-processor system that reduces the number of message phases of a read request from 5 to 4, canceling the combined response phase for read requests in most cases, thereby improving system performance and reducing the overall system power consumption. |
| US07818507B2 |
Methods and apparatus for facilitating coherency management in distributed multi-processor system
Methods and apparatus provide for sending a data command from a first of a plurality of devices to a first address concentrator within a first of a plurality of processing systems; selecting one of the other processing systems, the selected processing system having data addressed by the data command stored therein; sending the data command to a first address concentrator of the selected processing system; and broadcasting the data command from the first address concentrator of the selected processing system to a second address concentrator in each of the processing systems. |
| US07818505B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing a cache memory in a mass-storage system
In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a cache management module for managing a cache memory device, comprising a groups management module adapted to define groups of allocation units in accordance with at least an operative criterion and to create a new group of allocation units whenever it is determined that in accordance with at least the operative criterion none of the one or more existing groups is appropriate to include an allocation unit, and a replacement procedure module adapted to manage the cache in terms of groups of allocation units, rather than in terms of discrete allocation units. |
| US07818499B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for heat management in storage systems
An information system includes a storage system having a controller in communication with a plurality of storage devices. In some embodiments, the storage devices are divided into at least a first group and a second group, with a first temperature sensor sensing a temperature condition for the first group, and a second temperature sensor for sensing a temperature condition for the second group. A heat distribution rule designates the first groups to be high temperature groups and the second groups to be low temperature groups. The heat distribution rule is implemented by designating a higher load of input/output (I/O) operations to the high temperature groups than to the low temperature groups, such as by migrating volumes having high I/O loads to the high temperature groups. In other embodiments, there are multiple storage systems, and each storage system is designated as a high temperature system or a low temperature system. |
| US07818491B2 |
Nonvolatile memory and electronic device for use therewith
A nonvolatile memory may include a count data region provided in a memory region which is counted up according to an updating data and a fiat number of times managing region provided in a memory region which manages the full-counted number of times of the count data region. The nonvolatile memory may include a second number of times managing region which manages the full-counted number of times of the first number of times managing region. The nonvolatile memory is preferably utilized in an electronic device such as a card reader to detect the expiration of service lifetimes of the structural components of the electronic device. |
| US07818486B2 |
Method and apparatus for connecting USB devices to a remote computer
A method and apparatus are provided to enable a plurality of standard USB peripheral devices, utilizing the USB specification, to be distributed at various nodes across a network, wherein communications across the network may take advantage of any pre-existing network connectivity of a standard, non-modified USB host computer. In particular, a reflector function is added in order to reflect data communications towards a pre-existing transceiver. As a result, the host computer establishes a first profile and second profile for data communication purposes, and uses these profiles to communicate across the network using pre-existing data communication components. |
| US07818484B2 |
Multimedia data communication method and system
The present invention provides a multimedia processing system for communicating data among a baseband module, an image sensor module, and at least one display module in a wireless mobile phone. The multimedia processing system further comprises a serial baseband interface, an image sensor interface, and a display interface for transmitting and receiving data, including processing data, image data, and display data, to and from essential components. Certain embodiments of the invention describe the hardware implementations of the serial interface, including a serial peripheral interface and a universal asynchronous receiver and transmitter interface. Other implementations are also possible. Another embodiment of the invention provides a multimedia processing system that comprises a single chip with an embedded image sensor module. Moreover, another embodiment comprises a bypass mechanism to bypass incoming signals to other components directly. For example, to accelerate the image data transfer which has a changeless data structure, a direct bypass can improve the data transfer speed. The present invention also provides a method for communicating among a baseband module, an image sensor module, and at least one display module in a wireless mobile phone. The method comprises the steps of transmitting and receiving data among the mentioned modules and other components via at least one serial interface scheme. |
| US07818479B2 |
Interface apparatus and packet transfer method
A device interface circuit unit transfers a command and data in packet format between the unit and the host. A transport layer is provided with a receive FIFO, a command detection circuit and a send FIFO, and an application layer is provided with a receive task file register and a send task control file register. An available time is generated for each break point of a packet during data transfer in order to receive another command packet from the host. When the command packet is received from the host in the available time during data transfer, the data transfer is suspended and the received command is decoded to execute a process for continuing or canceling the data transfer, after which the data transfer is resumed. |
| US07818478B2 |
Input/Output completion system for a data processing platform
A mechanism is disclosed for performing I/O operations using queue banks within a data processing system that supports multiple processing partitions. A queue bank is a re-useable area of memory allocated for performing I/O operations. All memory locking and address-translation functions are generally performed only once for a queue bank to reduce system overhead. After a queue bank has been used to perform an I/O operation, some processing is performed to make it available for re-use. This processing determines whether the queue bank contains memory that is being removed from a current processing partition. If so, a delay is imposed so that the queue bank is not made available for immediate re-use. This creates a window of time wherein all queue banks that contain the affected memory are inactive, thereby allowing the affected memory to be removed from the partition without halting on-going I/O activity. |
| US07818467B2 |
Method of indentifying devices in mobile and desktop environments
A method of providing connectivity between a mobile device and a desktop computing device: providing the mobile device with software that can be installed in the desktop computing device to provide configuration data to application software operating on the desktop computing device, including device identification data for addressing the mobile device; using the mobile device to detect all desktop computing devices with which the mobile device can communicate; using the mobile device to select one of the desktop computing devices on which the application software is to be installed; transmitting the software from the mobile device to the desktop computing device; and using the desktop computing device to run the software to configure the application software using configuration data such that communications from the desktop computing device to the mobile device using application software are addressed directly to the mobile device from which the software originated. |
| US07818464B2 |
Apparatus and method for capturing serial input data
A serial input processing apparatus provides how to capture serial data without loss of a single bit while command interpretation is being performed in a command decoder at high frequency. Individual bytes of serial bits of a pre-defined sequence are latched and bit streams are temporarily stored with multiple clocks. The temporary store is conducted before transferring byte information to assigned address registers to register the address. The address registration and the data registration are performed by latching all bit streams of the serial input at the leading edges of clocks. While at a high frequency operation (e.g., 1 GHz or 1 ns cycle time), no additional registers are required for storing bit data during command interpretation with enough time margins between the command bit stream interpretation and next bit data stream. |
| US07818462B2 |
Cable interface
A method and apparatus for transmitting a signal to a remote location. The method splits the signal into a multitude of signals that are transmitted down cables. The split signals are collected into a single signal at the receiving end at the remote location. An apparatus for splitting the signals and collecting the split signals is illustrated. |
| US07818461B2 |
Systems and methods for allocating an asset to interconnected devices
Systems and methods for allocating assets to a plurality of devices are presented. In one embodiment, devices may be communicatively connected to one another through a device loop. Each device may be configured for determining a portion of an asset that it will use. A controller may also be communicatively connected to the communication medium and configured for determining a capacity of the asset. The controller may transfer control information to the devices so as to allocate the asset to the devices based on the capacity of that asset. In another embodiment, each of the devices may be communicatively connected directly to the controller rather than to one another. |
| US07818459B2 |
Virtualization of I/O adapter resources
A method and apparatus relates to hardware-to-hardware data transmission in computer systems, and in particular, it relates to method and system for operating I/O adapters attaching either one or more computing devices to an I/O periphery, to a network, or to other computing devices. It is proposed to operate a memory local to the network coupling adapter as a cache memory relative to a system memory associated with the one or more computing devices for storing transmission control information. |
| US07818458B2 |
Clipboard for application sharing
A software application can be shared by multiple users. A system clipboard of a first computing system is synchronized with a system clipboard of a second computing system when the user of the second computing system is in control of the shared software application. Information contained in the system clipboard of the first computing system is copied to a state buffer and associated with the user who copied the information. The information is returned to the system clipboard when the associated user regains control of the software application. |
| US07818456B2 |
Method and system for processing a file attached to an electronic document
A method and system for processing a communication comprising a file attached to an electronic document, the communication having been transmitted from a first link to a second link of a chain of links. The method is performed by a data processing system at the second link. The file is selected and an existing filename of the selected file is determined. The existing filename has a generic filename component denoted as Filename.ext that does not relate to any characteristic of any link in the chain. Referential data is selected from at least one field of the document, encoded according to an encoding rule and at least one lexicographic rule, and merged with Filename.ext to generate a new filename. The referential data includes at least one characteristic of the first link. The file is renamed with the new filename, detached from the document, and stored in the data processing system. |
| US07818455B2 |
Alias management platforms and methods
Systems and methods of managing aliases are disclosed. An alias management system can be configured to offer access to one or more aliases that point to distribution lists, where aliases can be managed as distinct objects relative to distributions lists or addresses. An alias user can submit desirable criteria for content distribution chain that includes properties of a desirable alias. An alias management server can be used to identify distributions lists that satisfy at least some of the desirable criteria. Additionally, an alias can be created that adheres to at least some of the properties or attributes of the desirable alias. Alias users can be permitted to utilize the alias subject to any rules or polices in place. |
| US07818454B2 |
Host migration system
A host migration system having an first server, a second server and a relay server is provided. The first server is currently hosting an internet service having a predetermined domain name. The first server has a first IP address. The second server has a second IP address and the relay server has a third IP address. The first data packet of a request from users is redirected to the first server from the third server and a second data packet of the request is redirected to the second server from the third server. The data packet redirection may occur as an IP address mapped to the domain name is changed from the first IP address to the second IP address via the third IP address. The host migration system may provide substantially minimized downtime and data loss and corruption may be prevented. |
| US07818452B2 |
Distributed virtual system to support managed, network-based services
Methods and systems are provided for allocating network resources of a distributed virtual system to support managed, network-based services. According to one embodiment, a VR-based switch having multiple processing elements is configured for operation at an Internet POP. An NOS is provided on each of the processing elements. Resources of the VR-based switch are segmented between a first and second subscriber by mapping VRs assigned to the first and second subscriber onto appropriate processing elements. Then, a first and second set of customized services are configured, each including two or more of firewalling, virtual private networking, encryption, traffic shaping, routing and network address translation (NAT), to be provided by the VR-based switch. Customized services are configured by allocating appropriate service object groups to the VRs, which can be dynamically distributed by the NOS to customized processors of the processing elements to achieve desired computational support. |
| US07818450B2 |
Method for selecting real-time service data transmission path
The present invention discloses a method for selecting a real-time service data transmission path, comprising establishing an independent bearer control layer comprising more than one bearer network resource manager between a service control layer and a bearer network. The method further comprises: after a source bearer network resource manager which is connected to the service control layer receives a connection request for a real-time service, orderly selecting and determining, from the source bearer network resource manager towards a destination bearer network resource manager, an intra-domain route path for the real-time service in a management domain corresponding to each bearer network resource manager, and an inter-domain route path between adjacent management domains corresponding to adjacent bearer network resource managers. In addition, the present invention discloses six methods for selecting a real-time service data transmission path based on different strategies. The methods according to the present invention can increase success ratio of routing, and can obtain an optimal route in simple and flexible manners, thus can guarantee reasonable allocation of resources. |
| US07818447B1 |
End-to-end broadcast based flow control in a switch fabric
Described is an end-to-end broadcast-based messaging technique used in controlling message flow in a data storage system. Each node stores flow control state information about all the nodes which is used in determining whether to send a data transmission to a receiving node. The flow control state information includes an indicator as to whether each node is receiving incoming data transmissions. If a node is not receiving incoming data transmissions, the flow control state information also includes an associated expiration time. Data transmissions are resumed to a receiving node based on the earlier of a sending node determining that the expiration time has lapsed, or receiving a control message from the receiving node explicitly turning on data transmissions. Each node maintains and updates its local copy of the flow control state information in accordance with control messages sent by each node to turn on and off data transmissions. Each node sends out control messages in accordance with predetermined threshold levels taking into account hardware and/or software resources for message buffering. |
| US07818440B1 |
Digital asset monitoring system and method
A system, method and computer program product are provided for monitoring digital assets communicated over a network. Initially, packets communicated between a first party and a plurality of other parties are passively inspected. Such packets collectively include at least a portion of data associated with a digital asset. Thereafter, based on the inspected packets, at least one aspect associated with the first party and at least one aspect associated with the digital asset are identified. |
| US07818435B1 |
Reverse proxy mechanism for retrieving electronic content associated with a local network
A method and apparatus for processing requests for delivery of electronic content is provided. According to one aspect of the invention, a request for delivery of first electronic content is received, where (1) the request is for delivery of the first electronic content to a destination client that is not on a local network, and (2) the first electronic content includes one or more links that are only resolvable within the local network. In response to the request, the first electronic content is retrieved, and first updated content is generated by modifying the one or more links associated with the first electronic content to include information identifying a server that can be addressed outside the local network. The first updated content is then delivered to the destination client. |
| US07818434B2 |
Mobile server with multiple service connections
A method of communicating between a mobile communications device and a plurality of services that are used by the mobile communications device. The method includes establishing, through a firewall and a wireless network, a first communications session between the mobile communications device and a mobile server located in an enterprise network with which the mobile communications device is associated; and establishing, concurrent with the first communications session at least one further communications session between the mobile server and a service, the at least one further communications session being established by the mobile server as a session proxy for the mobile communications device. |
| US07818433B2 |
System and method for minimizing retry delays in high traffic computer networks
A system, method, and program product is provided that requests, by a first computer system, a new network session with a second computer system. The new network session request occurs after a previous network session between the two systems and the new network session request includes a new sequence number that is different from a previous sequence number that was used during the previous network session. The first computer system receives an acknowledgement from the second computer system that references the previous sequence number instead of the new sequence number. In response to receiving the acknowledgement at the first computer system that references the previous sequence number, the first computer system modifies the new sequence number by setting it to a value that is higher than the previous sequence number, and the first computer system re-requests the new network session using the modified new sequence number. |
| US07818429B2 |
Registering a resource that delegates commit voting
A computer system and storage medium that, in an embodiment, receive an allocation request for a resource and registers the resource as a non-voting participant if the resource desires to delegate commit voting to another resource. The registered resource is then prohibited from participating in an enclosing transactional context and instead is informed when the transaction completes. The resource is enlisted as a voting participant if the resource does not desire to delegate commit voting. In this way, when multiple resources are used in a transaction, a resource may be registered and receive notifications of transaction completion instead of being enlisted and voting on commit decisions. The result of a transaction in which a single resource takes responsibility for a number of other resources is that transaction completion avoids the two-phase commit protocol and the resulting performance degradation. |
| US07818427B2 |
IT automation scripting module and appliance
A method for automating the performance of information technology (IT) tasks within an enterprise comprising a plurality of client devices is described. The method comprises the steps of receiving an input specifying a set of commands to be executed on a client device and generating a script based theron, wherein the script is configured to be executed by an agent on the client device, and receiving an input specifying to which of the plurality of client devices the script should be made available. The script is provided to a client device based on the input by publishing the script to a user portal, and by deploying the script to the client device. |
| US07818426B2 |
Method and system for processing a message by a message provider
A method for processing a message by a message provider that includes receiving, for a topic, a mutual exclusion function from each application instance of a plurality of application instances, receiving the message for the topic, and sending the message to one application instance of the plurality of application instances based on executing each of the mutual exclusion functions, wherein the mutual exclusion functions ensure that the message is sent to a single application instance of the plurality of application instances. |
| US07818422B2 |
Real-time monitoring of a routing server
Calculating the roundtrip delay between first and second computers due to the latency of a routing server. The first computer receives an incoming message from the second computer via the routing server. The incoming message includes incoming time information indicative of processing time at the second computer and outgoing time information indicative of a time when a first outgoing message was sent by the first computer. The first computer calculates an observed roundtrip time indicating the routing server latency for a first outgoing message and the incoming message as a function of a time when the first computer received the incoming message, the outgoing time information, and the incoming time information. |
| US07818418B2 |
Automatic root cause analysis of performance problems using auto-baselining on aggregated performance metrics
Anomalous behavior in a distributed system is automatically detected. Metrics are gathered for transactions, subsystems and/or components of the subsystems. The metrics can identify response times, error counts and/or CPU loads, for instance. Baseline metrics and associated deviation ranges are automatically determined and can be periodically updated. Metrics from specific transactions are compared to the baseline metrics to determine if an anomaly has occurred. A drill down approach can be used so that metrics for a subsystem are not examined unless the metrics for an associated transaction indicate an anomaly. Further, metrics for a component, application which includes one or more components, or process which includes one or more applications, are not examined unless the metrics for an associated subsystem indicate an anomaly. Multiple subsystems can report the metrics to a central manager, which can correlate the metrics to transactions using transaction identifiers or other transaction context data. |
| US07818414B2 |
Access authentication for distributed networks
The present invention provides an account management system and method for use within a computer network that allows for automated provisioning, configuration, and maintenance of the servers and other devices connected to a computer network. This account management system and method make use of a master directory structure which is replicated by way of a directory structure replication hub to multiple remote data centers in the form of multiple copies of a directory structure. The directory structure allows access to various customers, who may access information contained only within that particular customer's account. Authentication information for each of the customers is located within the copies of the directory structures contained at each customer data center, and therefore transmitting authentication information is not required. |
| US07818413B2 |
Authenticating a requestor without providing a key
A system for authenticating a requesting entity in a subnet communications environment includes determining a client identification of a client node associated with the requesting entity, and determining whether the requesting entity associated with the client node is acting in a supervisor capacity. A key to the requesting entity is returned from a resource provider node upon determining that the client identification of the client node indicates that the client node is permitted to access one or more resources of the provider node, and that the client node is acting in a supervisor capacity. |
| US07818411B2 |
Content management application for an interactive environment
The content management application is an intranet application which provides a process for implementing changes to an internet website of a company by providing the company the ability to define and enforce a common style of page layout. The application can be accessed via a desktop browser and multiple users may access the application for multiple reasons at the same time. The application also dynamically generates new page designs and new component design with various people assigned to groups or teams enabling the continuous creation and processing of content. Once the content is created and reviewed, it is then launched onto the company's internet site for viewing by the internet users accessing the company's web page. |
| US07818409B2 |
Dynamic virtual private network system and methods
A system and method for dynamically managing Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in a manner enabling subscriber access to VPN services on an as needed basis. |
| US07818407B2 |
Systems for distributing data over a computer network and methods for arranging nodes for distribution of data over a computer network
A system and method for preventing reconfiguring a binary tree topology network. The network includes a plurality of nodes, a root node and a first set of nodes, operatively networked together to provide a downtree communication path for data. A first node is docked downtree of, and with a parent node, and uptree of, and with a first and second child node. The first node, and the first and second child node, are each one of the first set of nodes, and the plurality of nodes includes each of the first set of nodes and the parent node. A please stand by message is sent from the first node to the first and second child nodes. The first and second child nodes are inhibited from reporting an issue with the performance of the first node for at least a predetermined period after the please stand by message is received. |
| US07818406B2 |
Enabling remote locale specific operations in multiple locale and user environments
A computer-implemented method of negotiating locale settings among a plurality of users communicating over a communication network can include determining a locale for each of a plurality of remotely located users, identifying at least one locale setting for each of the plurality of users according to the locale of each respective user, wherein the locale setting for each of the plurality of users forms at least one locale setting group, and determining whether each locale setting group is exclusive or non-exclusive. For each locale setting group that is exclusive, a locale setting from the locale setting group can be selected and, for each locale setting group that is non-exclusive, a locale setting union can be generated by taking a union of all locale settings of the locale setting group. The selected locale setting and/or the local setting union can be applied to a message exchanged between the users. |
| US07818405B2 |
Method and system for providing device-initiated software upgrades
A method for providing device-initiated software upgrades in a network comprising a plurality of devices is provided. The method includes identifying in the device an upgrade time window based on a set of predetermined conditions stored in the device and initiating in the device a software upgrade during the upgrade time window. |
| US07818402B1 |
Method and system for expediting peer-to-peer content delivery with improved network utilization
One embodiment provides a method and a system for expediting content delivery in a peer-to-peer overlay network. A local cache and directory server caches a multiplicity of segments for multi-media content, and maintains a mapping between cacheable content and one or more local partner nodes that transiently stage segments for the cacheable content. The local cache and directory server receives a request identifying requested content, which may or may not be cached or mapped. The cache and directory server determines a match to the requested content in the mapping and sends a list of local partner nodes that transiently stage segments for the requested content based on the match. |
| US07818396B2 |
Aggregating and searching profile data from multiple services
Profile data from multiple networking services can be combined and queried from one networking service. A primary networking service may store user profile data for one or more secondary networking services and the primary networking service. When stored, the data from the multiple networks may be aggregated or merged. The stored data may include user profile data and relationship data for each networking service that a primary networking service has a profile account with. A graph of user-contact relationships existing over the primary networking service and one or more secondary networking services may be constructed and queried against. |
| US07818394B1 |
Social network augmentation of search results methods and apparatus
A method for a computer server includes receiving search criteria from a first user at a remote client, receiving a first identifier associated with the first user, performing a search to determine a plurality of search results including a first and a second search result, determining a first rating from a second user associated with the first search result, determining a first social network indicia from the second user to the first user within a social network, determining a second rating from a third user associated with the second search result, determining a second social network indicia from the third user to the first user within the social network, providing the first search result to the remote client including the first rating and the first social network indicia, and providing the second search result to the remote client including the second rating and the second social network indicia. |
| US07818393B1 |
System and method for outage avoidance
Disclosed are systems and methods for outage avoidance in connecting to a remote system. The systems and methods dynamically adjust the number of requests allowed to attempt to access the remote system, resulting in a more efficient use of resources and an improved user experience. |
| US07818390B2 |
Method for transferring data between terminal apparatuses in a transparent computation system
A method for transferring data between terminal apparatuses in a network at least comprising a server, a first terminal apparatus and a second terminal apparatus, wherein the server has a storage device at least comprising a first and a second disk images; the method comprising: generating a message of data transfer request based on the information on the data to be transferred; transferring the generated message to the second terminal apparatus; receiving the message and transferring the message to the server if the requested data transfer is allowed; and transferring date between the first disk image and the second disk image, in response to the reception of the message. |
| US07818387B1 |
Switch
A combined switch and service processor module for a modular computer system is provided. The combined switch and service processor module comprises a switch portion; a service processor portion; and a data interface for communicating management information to other parts of the modular computer system. Wherein the service processor portion is operable to operate in master/slave relationship with a service processor portion of a further combined switch and service processor module of the modular computer system; and wherein the service processor portion is further operable automatically to synchronise management information with the service processor portion of the further combined switch and service processor via the data interface in accordance with the master/slave relationship. |
| US07818379B1 |
Notification and disposition of multiple concurrent instant messaging sessions involving a single online identity
Notifying a user of multiple concurrent instant messaging sessions includes receiving a first request to establish a first instant messaging session associated with an instant messaging online identity assigned to a user using a first instant messaging controller and establishing the first instant messaging session in response to the first request. A second request is received to establish a second instant messaging session associated with the instant messaging online identity assigned to the user using a second instant messaging controller that differs from the first instant messaging controller. The second instant messaging session is established in response to the second request. A notification is communicated to at least the first instant messaging controller indicating the establishment of the second instant messaging session. |
| US07818377B2 |
Extended message rule architecture
Embodiments provide for extending the architecture of a legacy messaging system that otherwise communicates message rules to a client as rows in a rule table. Due to architectural limitations of some messaging systems, rules larger than a specified size are prevented from being streamed between a server and a client. Example embodiments provides for extended rules that represent a combination of conditions, actions or exceptions to be performed on messages and are created by a client as message objects. Because they are created by a client as message objects, rather than rows on a table, the extended rules are allowed to be streamed between the client and server, thus extending the architecture of a legacy messaging system. The client also sets a property value on the message object created, thereby allowing the server to identify the message object as including the extended rule. The system, however, still supports legacy clients. |
| US07818373B2 |
Notifying co-recipients of others currently replying to communications
A mechanism for notifying co-recipients of a communication that other recipients are currently composing a reply to the received communication is provided. The notification may be provided regardless of which type of communication application is being used to reply to the communication. With this mechanism, attribute information for a communication currently being composed on a client communication device using one of a plurality of different communication types is obtained. The attribute information may include an identifier of a communication type currently being used to compose the communication. A previously distributed communication related to the communication currently being composed is identified and one or more recipients of the previously distributed communication are identified. A notification message is sent to one or more communication devices associated with the one or more recipients of the previously distributed communication. The notification message may identify a communication type currently being used to compose the communication. |
| US07818372B1 |
Web portal framework for open innovation
A system for a project web portal is provided. The system includes a plurality of user interfaces, a storage device, a processor, instructions, and an administrator user interface. When executed by the processor, the instructions provision the project web portal to the plurality of user interfaces, wherein the project web portal comprises a web log portlet, a forum portlet, and a survey portlet. The instructions also store project data in the storage device, wherein the project data comprises a user input received via the web log portlet, a discussion data received via the forum portlet, and an answer data received via the survey portlet. The administrator user interface accesses the project data in the storage device to develop a project. |
| US07818370B2 |
Event server using clustering
An event server receiving input streams of events and producing output streams of events is adapted to be clustered with other event servers. The event server uses configuration data to control the event processing. The event server multicasting updates of the configuration data to the other event servers of the cluster and receiving multicasted configuration updates from one of the other event servers of the cluster. |
| US07818367B2 |
Computer interconnection system
A computerized switching system for coupling a workstation to a remotely located computer. A signal conditioning unit receives keyboard and mouse signals generated by a workstation and generates a data packet which is transmitted to a central crosspoint switch. The packet is routed through a crosspoint switch to another signal conditioning unit located at a remotely located computer. The second signal conditioning unit applies the keyboard and mouse commands to the keyboard and mouse connectors of the computer as if the keyboard and mouse were directly coupled to the remote computer. Video signals produced by the remote computer are transmitted through the crosspoint switch to the workstation. Horizontal and vertical sync signals are encoded on to the video signals to reduce the number of cables that extend between the workstation and the remote computer. The signal conditioning units connected to the workstations include an onscreen programming circuit that produces menus for the user on a video display of the workstation. |
| US07818364B2 |
Method and data processing system for microprocessor communication in a cluster-based multi-processor system
A processor communication register (PCR) contained within a multiprocessor cluster system provides enhanced processor communication. The PCR stores information that is useful in pipelined or parallel multi-processing. Each processor cluster has exclusive rights to store to a sector within the PCR and has continuous access to read its contents. Each processor cluster updates its exclusive sector within the PCR, instantly allowing all of the other processors within the cluster network to see the change within the PCR data, and bypassing the cache subsystem. Efficiency is enhanced within the processor cluster network by providing processor communications to be immediately networked and transferred into all processors without momentarily restricting access to the information or forcing all the processors to be continually contending for the same cache line, and thereby overwhelming the interconnect and memory system with an endless stream of load, store and invalidate commands. |
| US07818363B2 |
Communications system, communications method, network manager, and transfer device
A communications system which allows data transfer not using a terminal ID assigned by an access network but using routing information distinct from the terminal ID is provided. The communications system transmits data including, as a destination address, a second terminal ID, from a first terminal to the second terminal via a plurality of transfer devices. A first transfer device includes a first memory for storing the second terminal ID and routing information for routing the data to a second transfer device, associating them with one another, and a routing processor for adding to the data the routing information for routing the data to the second transfer device associated with the second terminal ID included in the data, and transferring the data to the second transfer device. |
| US07818361B1 |
Method and apparatus for performing two's complement multiplication
Some embodiments provide a novel way of performing a signed multiplication. Each individual bit of a first operand is multiplied by every bit of a second operand to generate partial multiplication results. Each partial result is shiftably added to other partial results except one partial result which is shiftably subtracted. For the partial result that is subtracted, the most significant bit of the second operand is negated and is utilized as carry in of the subtraction operation. The most significant bit of each operand is considered to have a negative sign when generating the partial multiplication results. Also, one of the partial results is appended with the most significant bit of the second operand. Some embodiments utilize a configurable IC that performs subtraction with the same circuitry and at the same cost as addition. The configurable IC also utilizes hybrid interconnect/logic circuits to perform part of the multiplication operation. |
| US07818360B2 |
Processor and method for performing a fast fourier transform and/or an inverse fast fourier transform of a complex input signal
A processor for performing a Fast Fourier Transform and/or an Inverse Fast Fourier Transform of a complex input signal comprises a first stage for passing the input signal to a second stage when a Fast Fourier Transform procedure is to be performed and for swapping the real and imaginary components of the complex input signal before passing the signal to the second stage if an Inverse Fast Fourier Transform procedure is to be performed. The second stage has first and second radix-4 butterfly elements. A third stage is arranged to switch between first and second operating modes, the second operating mode being for processing a complex conjugate symmetrical input signal. A fourth stage has a plurality of processing units, one or more of the processing units comprising a radix-2 pipelined Fast Fourier Transform processor. The first and second radix-4 butterfly elements are arranged to perform a butterfly operation on the complex input signal to generate and deliver one or more components of a processed signal to the fourth stage. The fourth stage is arranged to process the processed signal received from the first stage according to a Fast Fourier Transform processing procedure to produce an output signal. There is also disclosed a method for performing a Fast Fourier Transform and/or Inverse Fast Fourier Transform of a complex input signal. |
| US07818353B2 |
Methods and apparatus for processing a context change request
A method and apparatus for use in a computer system comprising at least two software applications sharing context, wherein a context change may be requested by a user of at least one of the at least two software applications. In response to the user requesting a change from a first context to a second context, at least one business rule is applied to at least a portion of the first context and/or to at least a portion of the second context to obtain at least one result from the application of the business rule. In response to the at least one result, at least one act is performed selected from the group consisting of: denying the request to change from the first context to the second context; requesting the user to provide information relating to the requested change; and requesting the user to affirm information relating to the requested change. |
| US07818348B2 |
Timeline condition support for an abstract database
Embodiments of the invention relate data retrieved from the logical fields of an abstract database using a timeline. The logical fields specified by a database abstraction model are extended to include attributes that specify where data corresponding to a logical field occurs on a timeline. Query results may be displayed by ordering query results as points (for an event) or segments (for a duration) on the timeline. Further, query processing techniques disclosed by the present invention allow users to include temporal operators such as “before”, “after”, “during”, and “within” in an abstract query. Temporal operators provide users with the ability to include temporal relationships in an abstract query, without having to construct a complex conditional expression from more primitive logical operators (e.g., “ands” and “ors”). |
| US07818340B1 |
Computer-implemented method and system for enabling network communication using sponsored chat links
A computer-implemented method and system for enabling network communication using common search queries and sponsored chat links is disclosed. Various embodiments relate to a computer-implemented system and method for receiving a sponsored concept from a sponsoring company, receiving a search query from a user, determining if the sponsored concept and the user search query fit within a match criteria, and establishing a communication link between the sponsoring company and the user if the sponsored concept and the user search query fit within the match criteria. |
| US07818333B2 |
Universal address parsing system and method
A method and system for parsing of input addresses for further automated processing. A relevant locale for an input address is determined. Based on the locale, an applicable parsing tree is provided so that different address formats can be tested against the input address. The parsing tree is generated from a local address format specification that defines permissible formats for the locale. The local address format specification and the local address component rules are provided to a parsing engine to determine one or more potential parsed addresses based on compliance with specifications. The local address component rules specification is applied to the input address to determine one or more branches of the parsing tree for which the input address matches criteria of the component rules specification. Penalties may be assigned to branches of the tree when disfavored matches occur. The various branches can be ranked based on their penalties to determine the best matches to be provided to the geocoding system. |
| US07818326B2 |
System and method for word indexing in a capture system and querying thereof
Searching of objects captured by a capture system can be improved by eliminating irrelevant objects from a query. In one embodiment, the present invention includes receiving such a query for objects captured by a capture system, the query including at least one search term. This search term is then hashed to a term bit position using a hash function. Then objects can be eliminated if, in a word index associated with the object, the term bit position is not set. |
| US07818323B2 |
Discovering topical structures of databases
A system and method for automatically discovering topical structures of databases includes a model builder adapted to compute various kinds of representations for the database based on schema information and data values of the database. A plurality of base clusterers is also provided, one for each representation. Each base clusterer is adapted to perform, for the representation, preliminary topical clustering of tables within the database to produce a plurality of clusters, such that each of the clusters corresponds to a set of tables on the same topic. A meta-clusterer aggregates results of the clusterers into a final clustering, such that the final clustering comprises a plurality of the clusters. A representative finder identifies representative tables from the clusters in the final clustering. The representative finder identifies at least one representative table for each of the clusters in the final clustering. The representative finder also arranges the representative tables by topic as a topical directory and outputs the topical directory. |
| US07818318B2 |
Method and system for data classification in the presence of a temporal non-stationarity
A method and system for determining a feature of a particular pattern are provided. In particular, data records are received, and predetermined patterns that are associated with at least some of the data records are obtained. Using the system and method, particular information is extracted from at least a subset of the received data records, the particular information being indicative of the particular pattern in at least some of the data records. Then, it is determined whether the particular pattern is an unexpected pattern based on the obtained predetermined patterns. In addition, it is possible to classify and reduce data and/or parameters provided in the data records. First, the data records are received. Then, the data records which have at least one particular pattern are classified using a Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines technique. Thereafter, the data and/or parameters of the classified data records are shrunk using a Stein's Estimator Rule technique. |
| US07818316B2 |
Variable density query engine
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to search engines and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for a variable density query engine. In an embodiment of the invention, a search engine data processing system can be provided. The system can include a content index, and a variable density search engine coupled to the content index. The variable density search engine can include program code enabled to vary a density of entries in a result set according to a varying size of the result set. In this regard, in one aspect of the embodiment, the density can range from a title for each entry in the result set to a full textual description for each entry in the result set to an audiovisual element for each entry in the result set. |
| US07818315B2 |
Re-ranking search results based on query log
A system(s) and/or method(s) that facilitate improving the relevance of search results through utilization of a query log. The relevance of the search results for a target query can be judged based on one or more queries in the log that are related to the target query temporally and/or lexically. The diversity of the top-ranked search results can be increased and/or decreased based on an iterative re-ranking process of the search result set. |
| US07818312B2 |
Methods and apparatus for assessing web page decay
A signal-bearing medium is disclosed that includes operations including establishing a link threshold, wherein a web page will be assessed as lacking currency if a percentage of hyperlinks contained in the web page that link to an active page is less than the link threshold, accessing a web page containing hyperlinks, and testing the hyperlinks. Testing includes: selecting a hyperlink; and monitoring a number of redirects encountered by following the selected hyperlink until a final web page is reached or a failure occurs, and assessing the selected hyperlink as linking to a dead web page if a redirect limit is exceeded, the redirect limit greater than one, wherein exceeding the redirect limit causes occurrence of a failure. The operations also include calculating a percentage of hyperlinks that return active web pages, and comparing the percentage of hyperlinks that return active web pages with the link threshold. |
| US07818304B2 |
Conditional text manipulation
A document generation system for generating a customised document using content elements selected by rules operating on input information, the content elements comprising conditional and unconditional text is provided. The system provides means to generate a program structure, containing information about the space characters to be inserted between the conditional and unconditional text in the generated document. The program structure is evaluated to determine the positions of the space characters. The program structure may be an XML structure. |
| US07818302B2 |
System and method for performing file system checks on an active file system
A system and method for performing File System checKing (FSCK) allows a file system to be accessed while the file system is being checked for consistency in the background. In the event that a file is accessed prior to having been checked for consistency by the background FSCK process, the background FSCK process is interrupted, and an in-context FSCK is performed on the accessed file. In addition, an in-context FSCK method and system is described which uses a snapshot block bitmap, FSCK block bitmap and FS block bitmap to check block consistency in the context of handling a block access to handle consistency and corruption issues as part of the file access. |
| US07818299B1 |
System and method for determining changes in two snapshots and for transmitting changes to a destination snapshot
A method for backing up a computer file system is disclosed. A first snapshot of the file system is generated at a first time, the first snapshot having first pointers to data blocks of the file system at the first time. A network adapter receives storage operations to write new data to the file system. A second snapshot of the file system is generated at a second time, the second snapshot having second pointers to data blocks of the file system at the second time, the data blocks at the second time including the new data. The first pointers to the second pointers are compared. In response to the second pointers differing from the first pointers, data of the file system which have been changed between the first snapshot and the second snapshot are copied to a backup copy of the file system. |
| US07818296B2 |
Computer architecture and method of operation for multi-computer distributed processing with synchronization
The present invention discloses a modified computer architecture (50, 71, 72) which enables an applications program (50) to be run simultaneously on a plurality of computers (M1, . . . Mn). Shared memory at each computer is updated with amendments and/or overwrites so that all memory read requests are satisfied locally. During initial program loading (75), or similar, instructions which result in the application program (50) acquiring (or releasing) a lock on a particular asset (50A, 50X-50Y) (synchronization) are identified. Additional instructions are inserted (162, 163) to result in a modified synchronization routine with which all computers are updated. |
| US07818294B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for implementing an IMS SOAP gateway
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for implementing an Information Management System (IMS) simple object access protocol (SOAP) gateway. The gateway extracts an identifier from a SOAP-based web service request received from a web service client and selects a correlation mapping based on the extracted identifier. The gateway builds a modified web service request, updated with parameters from the correlation mapping. The added parameters allow the gateway to direct the web service request to a specific IMS Connect software product instance, a specific IMS software product instance, a specific IMS application instance, and a specific datastore. The gateway also returns a web service response containing response values related to the original request to the SOAP enabled web service client. |