| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08302886B2 |
Fuel injection valve
In a fuel injection valve having a valve plug for opening and closing a valve seat in which fuel is injected from a plurality of orifices provided in an orifice plate mounted at the downstream side of the valve seat by operating the valve plug in response to an operation signal from a controller, a thin wall part is provided by concaving a center portion of an upstream-side end face of the orifice plate to the downstream side by press working, and the orifice plate is disposed so that a virtual circular conical surface extending to the downstream side of the valve seat surface and an upstream-side end face of the orifice plate of the outer peripheral side of the thin wall part intersect to each other to form one virtual circle. |
| US08302882B2 |
Area-programmable sprinkler
A sprinkler system which is controllable to provide water to an area to be sprinkled includes a sprinkler head to move between a first position and a second position. The sprinkler system further includes a sprinkler head positioner to move the sprinkler head between the first and second positions, a sprinkler head position determiner to determine a current sprinkler head position between the first and second positions, a flow control valve to control flow of water from a water supply to the sprinkler head, a flow control valve positioner to establish a current control valve position for the flow control valve between an essentially fully closed control valve position and an essentially fully open control valve position, and a controller to receive a sprinkler head position signal from the sprinkler head position determiner and send a control valve control signal to the flow control valve positioner in response thereto. |
| US08302881B1 |
Method and system for soil and water resources
A system and method for monitoring soil and water resources is disclosed herein. Sensors capable of monitoring soil temperature, moisture and salinity are utilized with other sensors capable of monitoring such values as air temperature in order to provide real-time parameters to users/operators of land area. |
| US08302880B2 |
Monodisperse droplet generation
A method of creating substantially monodisperse droplets comprising supplying a first fluid (1) and a second immiscible fluid (2) within a set of channels, the second fluid surrounding the first fluid and filling the channels to form a composite jet. The composite jet passes through an entrance channel (4) into a wider cavity (3), where the first fluid breaks into droplets (5), the resulting composite of droplets of the first fluid within the second fluid passing through an exit channel (6). The cross sectional area of the exit channel perpendicular to the flow is smaller than the cross sectional area of the cavity and the passage of a droplet of the first fluid out of the cavity via the exit perturbs the composite flow field within the cavity such that the incoming jet of the first fluid is perturbed. |
| US08302878B2 |
Method and arrangement to insulate rail ends
A rail joint arrangement comprises two rails. The rails have adjacent rail ends separated and thereby forming a gap. The rails have a top end containing a rail head and a bottom end. The gap is defined between the top end and the bottom end of the rails, and the width of the gap is non-uniform throughout its entire length. In addition, the rail joint arrangement comprises at least one electric insulator positioned within the gap. The rail joint arrangement is fastened together by a rail joint bar attaching the two rails together. |
| US08302877B2 |
Wheel guard device
The first object of the present invention is to provide a derailment prevention guard which can be easily shunted outside the range of the ballast tamping work, the rail grinding work and the rail maintenance work, and has no problem on safety.A derailment prevention guard comprises a guard member installed within a gauge and a support member fixed to a sleeper or a concrete slab track, and the guard member is held by a hold member which can turn around a central axis supported by the support member as turning center between a main rail and the inside of the gauge on the sleeper or the concrete slab track, and the support member is engaged with the hold member by means of a bolt through turning the hold member toward the main rail around the central axis as turning center on the sleeper or the concrete slab track, and the guard member can be shunted inward within the gauge by turning the hold member toward the inside of the gauge around the central axis as turning center on the sleeper or the concrete slab track after loosening the bolt. |
| US08302874B2 |
Waste heat reusing system
When the detected temperature by the first temperature sensor is greater than the preset temperature value, the controller controls the airflow capacity of the waste heat inputted into the first intake apparatus to be reduced and controls the airflow capacity of the cold air inputted into the second intake apparatus to increase, therefore, the temperature of the waste heat inputted into the first intake apparatus is reduced. When the detected temperature by the first temperature sensor is less than the preset temperature value, the controller controls the heater to heat the waste heat inputted into the first intake apparatus, when the detected temperature by the first temperature sensor reaches the preset temperature value, the controller controls the first valve to open, to output the waste heat. |
| US08302873B2 |
Air conditioner having pleasant sleep driving mode
An air conditioner having a pleasant sleep driving mode including a parameter changing unit (142) for independently changing the respective values of plural parameters for determining a variation pattern of the set room temperature, and a controller (42) for receiving the changed parameters from the parameter changing unit (142) and controlling the operation of the air conditioner according to the pleasant sleep driving mode having the variation pattern of the set room temperature determined by the changed parameters. |
| US08302868B2 |
Parallel decoding scheme for an indicia reader
A method for collecting and processing information bearing indicia (IBI) comprising the steps of: converting light reflected off an IBI into IBI signals representative of the IBI; running at least one signal process for processing the IBI signals on a first processor if the IBI is of a first type; and running at least one signal process for processing the IBI signals on a second processor if the IBI is of a second type, wherein the first processor and second processor are configured to run in parallel. |
| US08302859B2 |
Apparatus, method and system for facilitating payment of monetary transactions
An apparatus, method and system for facilitating payment of a monetary transaction using a card device, the card device comprising a microchip for storing encrypted information including a denomination-specific balance having a plurality of selectable digital monetary amounts associated with a plurality of selectable denominations and a denomination non-specific balance, wherein the card device is rechargeable with further monetary amounts and allows a balance of a transaction to be credited to the card. |
| US08302851B2 |
Automated print production
A printing system includes a printer configured to render items based on customer requirements; a sorting and packaging system configured to automatically sort and package printed items; and a processor configured to print, sort and package items based on predetermined physical locations within a customer's business establishment where the printed items are to be displayed. A method of printing is also provided. |
| US08302846B2 |
Paper container
A paper container includes four body portion panels forming a cylindrical body portion having a square section. The paper container is configured so that upper ends of the body portion panels are continuously provided with a pair of gable roof-forming panels which include exterior top seal panels opposed to each other, and provided with a pair of gable wall-forming panels which include interior top seal panels opposed to each other. Any one of the panels serves as a spout and is to be opened. The gable wall-forming panels are folded out between the gable roof-forming panels, and the exterior top seal panels and the interior top seal panels are heated and sealed with each other at a predetermined position so as to be hermetically sealed. |
| US08302845B2 |
Shipper display container
A container comprises a front panel including a stationary front portion and a removable front portion separated by a first line of weakness. The container comprises a rear panel including a stationary and a detachable rear portion separated by a second line of weakness. The container comprises a first and an opposing second side panel separated from the removable front portion by third and fourth lines of weakness. The container comprises a top front major flap extending from the removable front portion and hingedly coupled to the removable front portion by a first fold line. The container comprises a top rear major flap extending from the rear panel and hingedly coupled to the stationary rear portion and the detachable rear portion by a second fold line. The container is configured to be converted into a display configuration. |
| US08302844B2 |
Wrapper having a predetermined line of weakness
A package having a wrapper having a length, a top, a bottom, an outer surface having a periphery, a longitudinal axis, and one or more predetermined lines of weakness. The one or more predetermined lines of weakness can be disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. The wrapper can enclose an article for feminine hygiene. |
| US08302843B2 |
Process for producing semiconductor device and apparatus therefor
A process for producing a semiconductor device, includes: first melting by heating only a superior portion of a bump formed on an electrode on one principle surface of a semiconductor substrate; and second melting the entire bump by also heating an inferior portion of the bump. |
| US08302833B2 |
Power take off for cordless nailer
A power tool that includes a structure; a flywheel coupled to the structure; a driver that is translatable along a driver axis; and a follower assembly having an actuator and an activation arm assembly. The actuator is coupled to the activation arm assembly. The activation arm assembly is coupled to the structure and includes a pinch roller. Actuation of the actuator causes the pinch roller to translate toward and engage the driver to initiate driving engagement between the driver and the flywheel. |
| US08302827B1 |
One sided holster
A holster apparatus includes a taller outside and a shorter inside panel joined together to form a shallow bottom pocket. The holster apparatus is generally open to the inside. The outside of the holster apparatus substantially completely covers the handgun so that the holster apparatus and handgun may be carried in a user's pocket and give the general appearance of a wallet carried within the pocket. The handgun is not discernible to a viewer when the handgun and holster are carried in the user's pocket. |
| US08302825B2 |
Dispenser device
A dispenser is provided including a first part for fixing on a receptacle and a second part suitable for turning relative to the first part between a dispensing position in which substance contained in the receptacle can leave the device through a dispenser orifice opening out directly to the outside, and a closed position in which substance is prevented from passing from the receptacle to the dispenser orifice, wherein the dispenser orifice is formed between two surfaces belonging respectively to said two parts. |
| US08302823B2 |
Anti-leak device for tube container
An anti-leak device for a tube container is disclosed, to have a predetermined amount of contents in the tube container be continuously extruded and then prevent more extrusion, and to prevent infiltration of external air. The anti-leak device includes a main body having a head with a tube outlets and a connection groove, and a leakage prevention unit having an opening and closing part, an insertion part and a fixed part. The opening and closing part is inserted in an inlet path of the insertion part. The insertion part is inserted in the fixed part having a discharge hole and engaged with the connection groove, thereby forming a movement space for the opening and closing part to reciprocate between the tube outlet and the insertion part. The opening and closing part directly opens and closes the tube outlet not to allow external air into the main body. |
| US08302821B2 |
Paste application device
There is provided a paste application device which can solve problems of an increased exclusively occupied space attributed to an arrangement of a syringe and of deterioration of a tube.In a paste application unit 15 (a paste application device) for applying a paste 7 stored in a syringe 16 to an application target material, a configuration is adopted in which a pump mechanism 18 for sending the paste 7 under pressure is formed by causing a discharge thread portion 32b provided at a lower portion of a rotary member 32 to rotate about an axis AX within a discharge space 31b provided in a casing portion 31, in which a discharge port 17a, which communicates with the discharge space 31b, is provided at an end portion of the casing portion 31, and in which the syringe 16 is disposed coaxially with the rotary member 32 for detachable connection thereto. By adopting this configuration, the problems can be solved of the increased exclusively occupied space that would occur when the syringe 16 is disposed in parallel to the pump mechanism 18 and of deterioration of the tube. |
| US08302819B2 |
Combination air freshener and fluid dispenser
An assembly includes a fluid dispenser, an engagement feature on a portion of the fluid dispenser and a fragrance element with one or more surfaces that define an opening through the fragrance element, wherein the portion of the fluid dispenser with the engagement feature can extend through the opening in the fragrance element to engage a mounting base on an opposite side of the fragrance element. |
| US08302817B2 |
Fluid dispenser
A fluid dispenser is disclosed having a storage chamber for storing a liquid, a collection assembly for collecting a portion of liquid, a pump assembly, and a tube extending from within the storage chamber to within the collection chamber through which the portion of liquid is pumped into the collection assembly. The pump assembly includes one or more pump actuators, and the fluid dispenser may have multiple storage chambers, each having a corresponding tube. In addition, the fluid dispenser may have multiple collection chambers. The pump actuators may be, for example, a flexible diaphragm or a trigger-actuated pump mounted on the side of the fluid dispenser. The pump mechanism may be incorporated into the capillary, and it may be, for example, a piston pump or any other type of pump known in the art. |
| US08302811B2 |
Carton with an improved dispensing feature
A carton with an improved dispenser at one of the carton which preserves the integrity of the carton when the carton is opened by permitting a bottom end flap attached to the bottom panel to remain in place and also a portion of each side end flap that is adjacent to the bottom end flap. This dispenser may also provide a safety net for the first container that is automatically dispensed when the carton is opened. |
| US08302808B2 |
Closure device with a pivoted door
A closure device includes: a main body having first and second shoulders; a door secured rotatably to the main body and having first and second door edges; an engaging member; an engaging mechanism; and a second pivot axle. The first shoulder and the first door edge respectively have a through hole and a first axle hole. The engaging member and the engaging mechanism are disposed respectively at an inner side of the main body. The engaging member includes a first pivot axle extending through the through hole and the first axle hole, and a positioning piece extending radially from the first pivot axle and engaging the engaging mechanism. One of the second shoulder and the second door edge has a second axle hole, while the other of the second shoulder and the second door edge has the second pivot axle extending through the second axle hole. |
| US08302807B2 |
Fitting part for fastening to a boiling or frying vessel
A fitting part includes a support part fastenable to the vessel wall of a boiling or frying vessel and comprises a grip part fastenable to the support part and fixed with a latching device, and a manual actuation element provided on the latching device for unlatching the latching device from a latched position, wherein a latching nib is provided on the support part and is gripped from behind by a complementarily formed latching projection of the grip part during downwardly direction tilting motion and fixes the grip part in position on the support part, wherein a motion guide element with a motion guide surface is provided on the actuation element, and the motion guide surface inclines at an acute angle obliquely against a linear travel path and glides on the contact area when the actuation element is displaced along the travel path. |
| US08302806B1 |
Drink vessel holder
A drink vessel holder holds a drink vessel on a target surface such as a plate of food allowing the user to hold both the plate and the drink vessel held thereon with the same hand in order to allow the other hand to be used for enjoyment of the products being held. The drink vessel holder has a flexible body member with an upper portion with a first top surface and a first bottom surface and a lower portion with a second top surface and a second bottom surface with an adhesive material disposed on the first bottom surface of the upper portion. |
| US08302805B2 |
Closure with utensil
A closure has a body and a lid is molded with the body. A utensil, such as a scoop or spear, is integrally formed with the closure body, and connected to the closure body via frangible connections. The lid includes a utensil-receiving structure for releasably holding the utensil, once it is initially broken away from the closure body, such that the utensil can be attached to the closure lid for storage. |
| US08302799B2 |
Container for installation in the interior of a motor vehicle
A container for installation in a vehicle has a housing and a lid mounted pivotably on the housing and connected operatively via a gear to a spring device prestressing the lid in an opening direction and supported on the housing. A cardiod control moves and locks the lid. It is in this case important that the cardiod of the cardiod control is disposed continuously on an outer circumference of a shaft having the spring device and co-operates with a movable pin arranged on the housing side. |
| US08302792B2 |
Child-safe closure device with a deformation engagement skirt
The invention is a child-safe closure device for a container (1) including i) a stopper having a base and a cylindrical side wall, the inside face of which has a screwthread and a first series of teeth (13), and ii) a collar (16) connected to the side wall and equipped with a second series of teeth (17), these two series of teeth engaged with corresponding series of teeth (4,7) positioned on a base of the neck (2) of the container (1), wherein a) the cylindrical side wall is made of a rigid zone (10), and a skirt (11), or a flexible and deformable zone, and b) the collar (16) is attached to the skirt (11) by frangible bridges (22), such that deformation of the skirt (11) does not result in deformation of the collar (16). |
| US08302791B2 |
Draft gear
A lower locking pin body for the hinge joint between a lower locking pin and a lower locking pin hook has a suspending hole of a coupler lock lifter to facilitate it rotating surrounding the lower locking pin hook under the effect of the hole. There are two coupler suspending holes which are respectively arranged on each side ends of the lower locking pin body to facilitate the workers opening the coupler on either side of a car. A two-side operating coupler with above said lower lock pin body and a draft gear are provided, wherein the draft gear also includes two lock lifters and two lock lifter seats. The lock lifters are mounted into a key-shaped hole of the lock lifter seats, and the lock lifter has a limiting segment on the matched position. Two hook head ends of the lock lifters pass respectively out from the key-shaped holes of the coupler lock lifter seats and hang with the coupler lock lifter suspension hole of the two-side operating coupler. It has clearance between the limiting segment of the coupler lock lifter and a stripe-shaped hole wall of the key-shaped hole. |
| US08302789B2 |
Rotating superstructure and crane
A rotating superstructure includes: a front block on which a power unit that includes a prime mover; and a rear block on which a unit for raising and lowering a boom that includes a winch, a, and an arm. And the rotating superstructure is configured to be split into the front block and the rear block. |
| US08302788B2 |
Demountable shelving unit
A demountable shelving unit with welded crossbar supports, open-channel upright supports, and channel support features. The welded crossbar supports and diagonal supports are slidably received within open-channel upright supports. Upper and lower crossbar supports include upright insertion blocks that are captured within the upright supports and horizontal connectors that extend through slots in the upright supports to connect two upright supports together to form an end unit. Shelf units are connected between two end units to create an assembled shelf. For a typical shelving unit, only eight bolts are needed to assemble each end unit and the shelf units attach to the end units with rivet-type quick disconnect fasteners that fit within teardrop shaped sockets in the upright supports. This results in a demountable shelf that can be assembled quickly and easily with only sixteen bolts per shelving unit. |
| US08302786B2 |
Tool hanger assembly
A tool hanger assembly has a frame and a hanger. The frame has a back plate and a bracket. The bracket is mounted securely on the back plate and has a recess formed in the bracket. The hanger is connected securely with the frame and has a base plate and multiple tool mounts. The base plate is mounted securely in the recess. The tool mounts are securely mounted on the base plate to allow screwdrivers to be hung on. Accordingly, to assemble the hanger having the multiple tool mounts with the frame is quick, reduces manufacturing cost and is convenient. |
| US08302781B2 |
High-flux dialysis membrane with an improved separation behaviour
A hydrophilic, semipermeable hollow-fiber membrane for blood treatment, with an integrally asymmetric structure based on a synthetic polymer. The hollow-fiber membrane possesses on its inner surface a porous separating layer and an open-pored supporting layer adjoining the separating layer, and has an ultrafiltration rate in albumin solution of 25 to 60 ml/(h·m2·mmHg). The hollow-fiber membrane is free from pore-stabilizing additives, and has a minimum sieving coefficient for cytochrome c of 0.8 and maximum sieving coefficient for albumin of 0.005. Method for the preparation of such membranes based on coagulation induced by a non-solvent, whereby a spinning solution of a synthetic first polymer and possibly a hydrophilic second polymer is extruded into a hollow fiber through the annular slit of a hollow-fiber die with simultaneous extrusion of a coagulation medium as the interior filler through the central opening of the hollow-fiber die, the interior filler initiating coagulation in the interior of the hollow fiber as a result of which a separating layer on the inner surface of the hollow-fiber membrane is formed as well as the membrane structure, the method being characterized in that the interior filler contains a polyelectrolyte with negative fixed charges. |
| US08302780B1 |
Industrial separator and dewatering plant
An industrial separator and dewatering plant has a filtering portion using an inclined conveyor belt for carrying away a watery cake from an aqueous mixture containing solid matter. The filtering portion further has a wash water spray nozzle directed at the conveyor belt so as to dislodge the watery cake penetrated within the conveyor belt. A dewatering portion has a compression auger screw positioned for receiving the dislodged watery cake and the wash water. An auger screw receives the wash water and cake which is transported to a compression cage where compression drives water out of the cake leaving a semi-solid cake which is pressed against a door where it exits the plant. |
| US08302779B2 |
Separator drum and compressor impeller assembly
A fluid handling assembly is for a fluid machine that includes a casing and a shaft disposed within the casing so as to be rotatable about a central axis. An impeller is mounted on the shaft and has an inlet and a rotary separator is mounted on the shaft and has axially spaced apart inlet and outlet ends and an interior separation chamber. The separator is coupled with the impeller such that the separator and the impeller generally rotate as a single unit about the shaft axis and fluid within the separation chamber flows from the separator outlet end directly into the impeller inlet. Preferably, the separator includes a plurality of generally radially-extending blades disposed proximal to the separator inlet end and spaced circumferentially about the axis, the plurality of blades being configured to accelerate fluid flowing into the separator inlet end during rotation of the separator. |
| US08302777B2 |
Reducing the content of heavy metals in recovered plastics
A method for reducing the content of a heavy metal in a mixture of solid plastic materials, wherein the mixture includes plastic flakes and there are at least two different colors of plastic flakes in the mixture. A percentage of each of two or more colors of flakes in the mixture is determined. A heavy metal content in the mixture based on the determined percentages is predicted. Whether the predicted content of the heavy metal in the mixture exceeds a pre-determined threshold is determined. If the predicted content exceeds the pre-determined threshold, a color sorting step is performed to obtain a subset of the mixture of plastic flakes, wherein the subset of the mixture of plastic flakes has a lower heavy metal content than the mixture prior to the color sorting step. |
| US08302773B1 |
Multi-compartment package assembly for medical implements
A package is provided to include first and second sheets being releasably sealed together in a manner to define multiple compartments, each having one or more medical implements. A perimeter sealed region can have a seal width greater than an intermediate sealed region. A longitudinal intermediate sealed region and a transverse intermediate sealed region can be arranged within the perimeter sealed region. Formation of the perimeter sealed region along first and second ends of the package can be subsequent to the perimeter sealed region along third and fourth ends of the package. Before the formation, compartments having an opening facing the first end can receive medical implements, and compartments having an opening facing the second end can receive medical implements. The medical implements can remain uncovered by individual pouches when inserted into the respective compartments, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and environmental wastes. |
| US08302770B2 |
Universal closure apparatus with delivery system
A universal bottle cap capable of threadably engaging two or more bottles of a different thread arrangement having a substance retained therein. The universal bottle cap threadedly engages a bottle containing a beverage therein. Such universal bottle cap includes a cylindrical member closed at a first end thereof and open at a second end thereof. There is a threaded portion disposed on an inner surface of the cylindrical member for engaging a threaded end of such bottle. A capsule like device is disposed inside the cylindrical member adjacent the closed end for retaining a substance to be dispensed into a beverage in such bottle. A device for piercing the capsule engages each of the threaded portion of the bottle cap and the capsule for piercing the capsule as the universal bottle cap is threaded onto such bottle thereby releasing contents of the capsule into such beverage for mixing therewith. |
| US08302766B2 |
Device for transporting freight
A device for transporting freight, especially freight containers in the cargo compartments of aircraft, especially to a power drive unit (PDU) having a drive roller (3) received in a frame (1) wherein the at least one drive roller (3) carrying the drive roll (4) placed thereon is mounted so as to be pivoted relative to the frame for the purpose of replacing the drive roll (4). |
| US08302765B2 |
Bar conveyor belt, particularly for the food industry
A bar conveyor belt includes two parallel longitudinal chains and a plurality of bars forming the conveying surface and fixed at their ends to the successive links of the two chains. Each chain link consists of a metal plate bent in the form of a U with its arms disposed to define a space intended to partially house that adjacent link positioned upstream with reference to the chain advancement direction, the arms being provided with a longitudinal slot for passage of that bar connected to the downstream link, the outer arm presenting an appendix engageable by the teeth of a drive sprocket. The appendix of each link is bent in the chain advancement direction to form a tooth with a complete involute profile, and the end of each bar extends into the appendix and is fixed to the top thereof, after passing through two holes provided in the arms of the link and the slots provided in the arms of the upstream link. |
| US08302759B2 |
Product accumulation device
To provide a product accumulation device with superior general-purpose capabilities, being able to cope with the modified specification of target products only by partially altering the structure thereof.An accumulation means of a product accumulation device includes: a rotary member having a product contact surface relative to products supplied from the product supply means, and a guide member that is provided with the rotary member and that shifts the products from the product contact surface to an approximately perpendicular direction relative to the product contact surface by means of the rotation of the rotation member, thereby being able to cope with the modified specification of target products only by partially altering its structure. |
| US08302758B2 |
Coin processing system
According to the invention, a coin processing system comprises a coin verifier (2) and a ring-shaped coin magazine (1), in particular a coin magazine (1) which forms an annulus. The coin magazine (1) comprises a coin input (4) fed by the coin verifier (2), a plurality of coin supports (7.1 . . . 7.5) for separately storing a plurality of coins (12.1 . . . 12.3) and a coin output (15). The coin processing system is further characterized in that the coin verifier (2) is at least partly situated within the cavity (13) defined by the ring-shaped coin magazine (1). Further a method for feeding a ring-shaped coin magazine (1) is presented, whereas the coin magazine (1) defines a cavity (13). In particular a method for feeding a coin magazine (1) which forms an annulus is disclosed, wherein the coin magazine (1) comprises a coin input (4) fed by a coin verifier (2), a plurality of coin supports (7.1 . . . 7.5) for separately storing a plurality of coins (12.1 . . . 12.3) and a coin output (15). The method is characterized in that a coin (12.1 . . . 12.3) being released from the coin verifier (2) is directly fed into the magazine (1) from the cavity (13) being defined by the ring-shaped magazine (1) in a first radially outward pointing direction. Further the coin (12.1 . . . 12.3) is stored within the magazine (1) and eventually the coin (12.1 . . . 12.3) is released from the magazine (1) in a second radially outward pointing direction. |
| US08302757B1 |
Media recycler
A media storage unit for a media recycler is described. The media storage unit comprises: a first rotary storage device; a second rotary storage device aligned with the first rotary storage device; and storage tape wound around each of the first and second storage devices and including calibration marks disposed along one side of the storage tape. The media storage unit also comprises a sensor for detecting the calibration marks; an entry/exit port between the first and second rotary storage devices through which media items can be inserted or removed; and a controller operable to rotate the first and/or second storage devices to move the storage tape forwards or backwards while sensing the calibration marks to locate either (i) a media item of the desired type for a dispense transaction, or (ii) a space on the storage tape of the required type for a deposit transaction. |
| US08302753B2 |
Crankshaft torque modulator
A decoupler with driven and driving members, a clutch, a torsional vibration damper and a lubricant. The clutch is received in a bore in the driven member and includes a carrier, a wrap spring and at least one spring. The wrap spring is formed of spring wire and has a plurality of coils disposed between a first end, which is received in a groove in the carrier, and a second end. The portion of the wrap spring outside the carrier has an outer circumferential spring surface that is abutted against the inner circumferential surface of the bore. The at least one spring is disposed between the carrier and the driving member to transmit rotary power from the driving member to the carrier. The torsional vibration damper is coupled to the driving member for rotation therewith. The lubricant is disposed on the remaining portion of the wrap spring. |
| US08302752B2 |
Multi-plate clutch
A multi-plate clutch includes a clutch inner member, having a cylindrical portion and a pressure-applying plate portion, and a pressure-receiving plate opposite the pressure-applying plate portion with plural driving and driven friction plates interposed therebetween. The multi-plate clutch also includes a center cam having a disc portion, an assist cam and a slipper cam disposed on the disc portion. The assist and slipper cams include identical material, and have substantially identical shapes. An outer circumference of the assist cam is splined to an inner circumference of the cylindrical portion of the clutch inner member, so the assist cam can move in the axial direction relative to the clutch inner member. An outer circumference of the slipper cam is splined to the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion, so that axial motion of the slipper cam, relative to the clutch inner member away from the disc portion, is limited. |
| US08302748B2 |
Multi-axis spring damping system for a payload in a spacecraft
A multi-axis spring damping element includes two spring damping cushion members received between caps on a bolt shaft, and an axial adjustment mechanism at a free end of the bolt shaft. The other end of the bolt shaft is connected to a support structure, and a load to be supported in a vibration-damped manner is carried by intermediate caps between the two spring damping cushion members. A plurality of such spring damping elements forms a spring damping system, for example for supporting a payload-carrying pallet on a load platform of a spacecraft. |
| US08302744B2 |
Automatic slack adjuster anchor unit with a one-way clutch
An improved automatic slack adjuster for reducing slack in the brake of a vehicle, in which a one-way clutch assembly is arranged at a side of the automatic slack adjuster housing, and one-way motion-inhibiting pawls in the one-way clutch assembly act on one-way gear teeth disposed on an inner radius of a gear wheel within the assembly whose outer circumference drives a slack adjuster unit. The incorporation of the one-way clutch within the anchor unit of the adjuster provides an automatic slack adjuster which can be produced at a reduced cost, manufactured more easily, and provides for improved adjustment performance with much reduced dependence on the lubricity of grease used. |
| US08302743B2 |
Support for supporting a structure on a surface
A support for supporting a structure on a surface, comprising at least one support element, each support element comprising a piston, a cylinder in which the piston is moveable, and a brake for maintaining the piston in a position that is stable relative to the cylinder, wherein the piston and the cylinder are arranged so that a loading associated with the structure effects an adjustment of the support element, and wherein an increase in hydraulic pressure within the cylinder, effected by the loading associated with the structure, activates the brake. |
| US08302737B2 |
Main-shaft lubrication device
The amount of lubricant oil supplied to a bearing is optimized. A main-shaft lubrication device includes a supply device for variably supplying lubricant oil to bearings which support a main shaft, a collection device for collecting, from the bearings, the lubricant oil supplied from the supply device, a measurement device for measuring the amount of lubricant oil collected by the collection device, and a control device for controlling the amount of lubricant oil to be supplied from the supply device. |
| US08302732B2 |
Silencer
A silencer, particularly rear silencer, for an exhaust system of a combustion engine, particularly of a motor vehicle, has a housing in which an outlet chamber is located. An outlet pipe arrangement leads out of the housing which on the inlet side is fluidically connected to the outlet chamber. A particularly compact design can be realized if the outlet pipe arrangement is configured as pipe-in-pipe arrangement including at least one deflection pipe closed on one side and arranged in the housing and an outlet pipe led out of the housing. |
| US08302729B2 |
Electrical power supply unit for vehicle
An electrical power supply unit for vehicle comprises: a Main Power Supply 100, a Voltage Converter 40 for converting the output voltage of the Main Power Supply 100 to supply electrical power to a Motor Drive Circuit 30, a Subsidiary Power Supply 50 to be charged by the Voltage Converter 40 and to aid the electrical power supply for the Motor Drive Circuit 30 with its stored electrical power, and an Electrical Power Supply Control Unit 62 to control the converted voltage of the Voltage Converter 40. The Electrical Power Supply Control Unit 62 controls the converted voltage of the Voltage Converter 40 based on the Voltage Converter Temperature Tb and the Subsidiary Power Supply Temperature Ts so that the heat generation condition of the Voltage Converter 40 and the heat generation condition of the Subsidiary Power Supply 50 are balanced. Thereby, the difference between the timing when a Voltage Converter Temperature Tb reaches an overheat prevention starting temperature and the timing when a Subsidiary Power Supply Temperature Ts reaches an overheat prevention starting temperature decreases, and the timing when an overheat prevention starts can be delayed as much as possible. |
| US08302728B1 |
Four-wheel steering system for radio-controlled cars
A four-wheel steering system for a remote control vehicle. The system includes a pair of steering actuators driving a pair of front bell cranks. A front toe link is pivotally connected to each of the spaced front bell cranks for lateral translation. Right and left front tie rods are each pivotally connected between corresponding ends of the front toe link and a corresponding front steering knuckle. An elongated center tie rod is pivotally connected between one front bell crank and one of a pair of rear bell cranks. An elongated rear toe link is dependently pivotally connected to the pair of rear bell cranks for lateral translation. Right and left rear tie rods are each pivotally connected between corresponding ends of the rear toe link and corresponding right and left rear steering knuckles whereby the front knuckles steer in one direction while the rear knuckles steer in an opposite direction. |
| US08302723B2 |
Vehicle shroud
A vehicle shroud can include a front projection, a middle projection and a rear projection. In a side view of the vehicle shroud, the front projection can be approximately wedge-shaped, and the middle projection can extend downward. |
| US08302717B2 |
Utility vehicle
A utility vehicle includes a hood which is flexible and is configured to cover a space between a pair of right and left front wheels from above; a pair of head lamp devices which are mounted to the hood on the space side; and a support member provided to extend between the pair of head lamp devices; wherein the support member is configured to support the pair of head lamp devices and the hood. |
| US08302710B2 |
Vehicle suspension system
A suspension system adapted to receive an endless belt drive is provided, the suspension system comprising a first wishbone adapted to be secured at a first end thereof to a frame of a vehicle a second wishbone adapted to be secured at a first end thereof to the frame, a hub connecting the first wishbone and the second wishbone at second ends thereof, a tandem member pivotally secured to the hub, and at least one pair of wheels attached to the tandem member, the at least one pair of wheels being adapted to contact the endless belt to support the vehicle. A method of using same and a kit providing same are also provided. |
| US08302709B2 |
Downhole tool leg retention methods and apparatus
A back reamer includes a drive stem configured to support a main reamer body, the main reamer body including a plurality of receptacles, and a plurality of cutting leg assemblies in positive locking engagement with the plurality of receptacles to restrict radial movement of the cutting leg assemblies. |
| US08302707B2 |
Down-the-hole drill reverse exhaust system
A DHD hammer that can exhaust working air volumes partially through a proximal end of the DHD hammer's actuator assembly includes a drive chamber, a return chamber, and a backhead that includes exhaust ports. Working air volumes from the drive chamber are exhausted through the backhead while working air volumes from the drive chamber are exhausted primarily through a drill bit. |
| US08302705B2 |
Steering system
A downhole steering system comprises a first full gauge stabilizer 34, a bias unit 28, a universal joint 26, and a second full gauge stabiliser 22, the bias unit 28 and universal joint 26 being located between the first and second full gauge stabilizers 34, 22. The system further comprises a drill bit 10 and a fluid powered downhole motor 14, the motor being located, at least partially, between the drill bit 10 and the second stabilizer 22. |
| US08302701B2 |
Electric power tool and motor control method thereof
An electric power tool is provided with: a motor; a hydraulic pressure generator driven by the motor and configured to generate a plurality of impacts in one revolution thereof; an impact angle detector configured to detect an impact angle in one impact of the hydraulic pressure generator; an electric current detector configured to detect an electric current applied to the motor; a determination unit configured to determine an impact failure based on the impact angle and the electric current detected by the impact angle detector and the electric current detector; and a rotation controller configured to decrease a rotation speed of the motor when the determination unit determines the impact failure. |
| US08302700B2 |
Vertical tillage system
A vertical tilling implement to be pulled behind and agricultural vehicle having a number of gangs of fluted-concave disc blades, rolling baskets, and wheels connected to a main frame. As the vertical tilling implement is pulled, the fluted-concave disc blades move the soil in a direction lateral to the side of the blades as well as up. Meanwhile, the rolling bars aid in leveling the seedbed and crushing the remaining large pieces of soil. The vertical tilling implement reduces the amount of subsoil compaction and cuts through heavy residue making it ideal for use in the fall or in the spring. |
| US08302699B2 |
Plastic mulch retriever
A plastic mulch retriever comprising a body and at least one cutting or digging element mounted to the body to loosen plastic mulch embedded in the ground. A conveyor is mounted to the body rearward of the at least one cutting or digging elements to engage the loosened plastic mulch and remove at least some of the ground material attached to the extracted plastic mulch. At least one storage device is mounted to the body rearward of the conveyor to store the retrieved plastic mulch. |
| US08302698B2 |
Activation-device launcher for a cementing head
An activation-device launching system, mounted on a cementing head, allows the deployment of a combination of darts, balls, bombs, canisters in order to activate downhole equipment, launch cementing plugs, deliver chemical products, or the like. A valve controls the flow of process fluid, and holds an activation device in place until it is time for launching. The valve also has a hollow axle through which balls may be launched into the process-fluid stream at any time. |
| US08302690B2 |
Method of drilling and opening reservoir using an oriented fissure to enhance hydrocarbon flow
A system and method for increasing hydrocarbon production from a subsurface reservoir by utilizing an intersection of two well bores and a flexible linear cutting device, such as a segmented diamond wire saw, to form a fissure beginning at the intersection of the well bores and extending along a specified the length of the well bores. The ends of the cutting device can be actuated above ground. The shape of the fissure can be a substantially ruled surface defined between the two bores between which the fissure is formed. Configurations for the well bores include both bores extending from the surface and, alternatively, a first bore extending from the surface and a second bore extending from a whipstock in the first bore. The fissure may be located and oriented to maximize the extent of the fissure formed within the hydrocarbon bearing horizon and to intersect with a maximum number of natural and/or previously formed fractures. |
| US08302686B2 |
Use of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) in well treatments
A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising placing at least one piece of equipment in the wellbore comprising micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) sensors, wherein the MEMS sensors are disposed in one or more composite or resin portions of the equipment, and gathering wellbore data from the MEMS sensors. A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising placing at least one piece of equipment in the wellbore comprising a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) sensor data interrogation unit, wherein the data interrogation unit is disposed in one or more composite or resin portions of the equipment, and gathering wellbore data from MEMS sensors located in the wellbore via the data interrogation unit. |
| US08302678B2 |
Fracturing isolation sleeve
An apparatus operatively coupled to a well having a production casing positioned therein, the apparatus including a first device having and internal bore, a second device having an internal bore, and a fracture isolation sleeve disposed at least partially within the internal bores of the first and second devices, wherein the fracture isolation sleeve has an internal diameter that is greater than or equal to an internal diameter of the production casing. |
| US08302675B2 |
Safety heat exchanger for combining a heat pump with a device of a public drinking water supply facility
A safety heat exchanger for combining a heat pump with a device of a drinking water supply facility for obtaining heat from drinking water. The heat exchanger includes a primary circulation loop (4) with drinking water, a secondary circulation loop (6) with antifreeze as a material that does not pose a health risk, and a tertiary circulation loop (7) with a coolant. The primary circulation loop (4) includes an inlet (3) connected to a drinking water supply facility and an outlet (5) with electrically controllable magnetic valves (16). The secondary circulation loop (6) and tertiary circulation loop (7) each have any dedicated difference pressure monitor (9, 18), which difference pressure monitors (9, 18) are controllably connected with the magnetic valves (16) such that when the difference pressure monitors (9, 18) detects a pressure difference in the secondary circulation loop (6) and/or in the tertiary circulation loop (7), the inlet (3) and the outlet (5) of the drinking water to the drinking water facility are closed, wherein the difference pressure monitor (9) of the secondary circulation loop (6) comprises an expansion vessel (11), a safety valve (12) and a manometer (13). |
| US08302666B2 |
Method of continuous casting of beam blank
A method of continuous casting a beam blank adapted for impact absorption is disclosed. The method includes: introducing molten steel into a continuous casting mold from a tundish through an immersion nozzle to perform non-oxidation casting, wherein the immersion nozzle is disposed at one side of the continuous casting mold forming both side flanges of a beam blank, and the molten steel is introduced into the continuous casting mold through the immersion nozzle. The method is advantageous in that it is possible to produce steel adapted for low-temperature impact absorption, and productivity is improved due to the increase of the number of consecutive heats of continuous casting. |
| US08302663B2 |
Casting nozzle for a horizontal continuous casting system
The invention relates to a casting nozzle for a horizontal strip casting system, especially for casting steel strip. The casting nozzle is connected to a feed channel and is designed as a rectangular refractory hollow block, the outlet region of which being only slightly above the cooled continuous belt which accommodates the outflowing melt. The hollow block is subdivided at least once in the direction of casting and a narrow sealing element is arranged on the partition side of the segments, the width of the remaining gaps in the partition area being selected as to close when the casting nozzle is operated. |
| US08302662B2 |
Continuous casting plant particularly for long steel products, and a method for continuous casting
A continuous casting plant in particular for long steel products is provided with a mould (1), from which a cast strand (2) is continuously cast. The cast strand (2) is guided along a, in particular curved, guideway formed by guide rollers (11, 12, 13, 14) arranged one after the other, and at the same time in a cooling chamber having spray members. The guide rollers (12, 13, 14) and/or the spray members are contained in a plurality of centring modules (10) or spray modules (3) arranged one after the other and are adjustable in a controlled manner substantially concentrically with respect to the desired axis of the cast strand. As a result, on the one hand, the risk of thermally overloading the rollers and damaging the strand surface is considerably reduced and symmetrical cooling is ensured. |
| US08302659B2 |
Method and device for casting a cast part from a metal melt
A method and a device for casting a cast part from a metal melt. A casting mould in a pivoted mounting comprising a mould cavity shaping the cast part, a feed system and a pour channel, is rotated into a fill position and filled with metal melt. Due to the effect of gravity, the melt flows through the pour channel, wherein the main flow direction of the melt makes an angle relative to the acting direction of gravity. Filling is continued until the casting mould, including the pour channel, is completely filled. Then, the casting mould is sealed with a stopper and rotated into a solidification position, in which the melt in the feed system is pushed against the melt in the mould cavity. The casting mould is held in the solidification position until the metal melt has reached a solidification state in which the cast part can be de-moulded. |
| US08302655B2 |
Spring drive device for a sunshade assembly
A spring drive device is for use with a sunshade assembly which includes a coupling shaft coaxial to and rotatable with a winding shaft and formed with a guided path. The spring drive device includes a spring member disposed in and connected to a shell unit. A connecting shaft is formed with a guideway which has an initial region engaged with the spring member, such that when the connecting shaft is moved along a coupling route, the guideway is kept in slidable engagement with the spring member until a relay region of the guideway reaches the spring member. The connecting shaft is engageable with the coupling shaft to align the guided path with the guideway such that when the movement of the connecting shaft is continued after the relay region reaches the spring member, the guided path is brought to take over the slidable engagement with the spring member. |
| US08302640B2 |
Medical vial capture and retention system and method
A system and method is provided for capturing and releasably retaining one or more vials of medication in an at least partially inverted orientation. Embodiments include a housing partially defining one or more vial engagement stations. Each station includes a clamp element and a latch element which, upon insertion of a vial into the respective station, cooperate to capture and releasably retain the vial. A handle portion may be provided by which the clamp element may be returned to and latched in its open configuration, thereby also releasing the vial from the respective station. Each station may accommodate vials of various diameters. The housing may be mountable to a pole stand in vertically-adjustable fashion. The system may allow the vials to be retained at an angle with respect to the stand or local horizontal surface. Embodiments may further comprise a tray support bracket and removable drip tray element. |
| US08302635B2 |
Dosage-dispensing element on a container for free-flowing or pourable bulk materials
A dosage-dispensing element (30) on a container (10, 11) for free-flowing or pourable bulk materials has an outlet spout (12) that reaches into the element. The element has an inlet opening (32) on the side facing towards the container, a clamping profile (42) and/or a quick-tightening device (44) which makes a releasable connection between the outlet spout and the element, a slot-shaped outlet opening (34) on the side that faces away from the container, a ring gap (22) between the outlet spout and the inlet opening, a wall (36) extending between the respective openings with an inside (37) and an outside (38), and a foil-shaped material (20), especially a foil hose or foil section, stored in the area of the outlet spout. The inlet opening, the inside of the wall and the slot-shaped outlet opening are covered with the foil-shaped material. |
| US08302631B2 |
Control valve for a fluid treatment system
A control valve assembly for a fluid treatment system including a valve housing defining a plurality of compartments and a piston assembly associated with each of the compartments. Each of the piston assemblies is configured to be independently movable in each of the compartments. The control valve assembly also includes a gearbox that is associated with the housing and includes a plurality of cams driven by a motor, where each of the cams is configured to drive a corresponding one of the piston assemblies. |
| US08302630B2 |
Gate valve with equalizer port
A gate valve has a gate movable between open and closed positions within a valve body, and walls in the gate defining an equalizer port between opposite sides of the gate. The equalizer port is adapted and arranged to be shiftable by actuation of the gate between closed and opened positions and between opened and closed positions. |
| US08302629B2 |
Valve unit
A valve unit 1 includes a first valve body 14 which is slidable in a valve housing 11 and a second valve body 13 which is slidable with respect to the first valve body 14, and the valve housing 11 has a first passage 11a and a second passage 11b in both of which pressure fluid flows to slide the second valve body 13, a pump port 11c, a tank port 11e, a first cylinder port 11d, and a second cylinder port 11f. A first state 1a, a third state 1c, a second state 1b, and a fourth state 1d are realized by a combination of a position of the first valve body 14 after sliding and a position of the second valve body 13 after sliding with respect to the first valve body 14. |
| US08302624B2 |
Linear valve position measuring apparatus
There is provided an apparatus for measuring a position of a linear type valve which is open/shut by operation of a hydraulic cylinder. More particularly, the apparatus more accurately measures a valve position by outputting a rotation angle of a rotation sleeve which rotates by being operatively connected to a hydraulic cylinder which moves linearly, and by calculating a vertical movement distance of a valve gate which changes in proportion to the rotation angle. Further, since the structure of the apparatus is very simple, the cost of production is significantly reduced. In addition, for use, the apparatus is installed on the hydraulic cylinder by a simple method. |
| US08302615B2 |
Applicator for a cosmetic product
Applicator for a cosmetic product on the skin, intended to be mounted on the body of a container containing the product to be applied, comprising a support strip, means of application borne by the support strip, and fastening means by clipping of said support strip along the body of the container, in such a way that this container forms a handle for using the applicator. |
| US08302614B2 |
Compact case
A compact case with improved assembly and producibility, and stability in opening and closing the lid is provided. A compact case 1 comprises a body 2 having a bottom plate 25 with a pair of slots 27 formed therein at a front side part or a rear side part thereof along respective side walls 23, 24 of the body 2, and a pair of elastically deformable pushing walls 29 formed in the respective side walls 23, 24 facing the respective slots 27, a lid 3 rotatably provided to a rear wall 21 of the body 2, a cosmetic dish 4 that fits into the body 2 between the respective side walls 23, 24 and is slidable in a longitudinal direction of the body 2, a hook part 41 engaging the cosmetic dish 4 the lid 3 so as to hold the lid 3 at a closed position and to release the engagement through sliding movement of the cosmetic dish 4, a projection 26 integrally provided to an inner surface of the pushing wall 29, and a slope-defining part 42 integrally provided to the cosmetic dish 4 facing the projection 26. Squeezing the pushing wall 29 causes the projection 26 to move slidably to make the cosmetic dish 4 slide forward or rearward. |
| US08302610B1 |
Spine immobilizer with removable straps
A spine immobilizer with removable straps for efficiently providing removable straps upon a spine immobilizer for cleaning, maintenance, replacement, or inspection purposes. The spine immobilizer generally includes an immobilizer panel comprised of a semi-rigid structure, wherein the immobilizer panel has a central support, first wings laterally extending from a first end of the central support, and second wings laterally extending from a second end of the central support, a plurality of connectors extending from a back side of the immobilization panel along the first wings and the second wings, and a plurality of strap assemblies removably connected to the plurality of connectors. The plurality of strap assemblies are adapted to removably connect to a correlating strap assembly via a buckle-connector structure and join the first wings and join the second wings of the immobilization panel about a patient. |
| US08302609B2 |
Snoring and sleep apnea prevention device
A mouth appliance for maintaining effective airflow in a wearer's airway comprises a frame formed to engage the wearer's upper and lower teeth to retain the frame in a selected position in the wearer's mouth in accord with the wearer's natural bite. A tongue depressor is mounted to the frame and formed to extend to a rear portion of the wearer's throat and exert pressure directly on the tongue in the area of the wearer's soft palate, thereby facilitating comfort and ease in occasional swallowing, while providing airflow effectiveness to prevent the wearer from snoring and experiencing sleep apnea. |
| US08302607B2 |
Adhesive nasal respiratory devices
Whole-nose nasal respiratory devices and methods of making and using whole-nose nasal respiratory devices are described and illustrated herein. These devices are typically configured to be adhesively secured to a subject so that they engage both of the subject's nostrils and allow airflow from both nostrils to communicate with an airflow resistor. The airflow resistor is configured so that it inhibits exhalation through the nostrils more than it inhibits inhalation through the nostrils. |
| US08302603B1 |
Aircrew rebreather system
A rebreather system for aircrew that includes a double counter lung having a void between inner and outer bladders that allows selective pressurization of the inner bladder. |
| US08302597B2 |
Medical tube securing device
A medical tube securing device for a patient is disclosed, comprising at least one bite block and a support frame integral with said bite block, said support frame comprising a protruding extension with at least one inwardly recessed portion so as to avoid contact with the patient's mouth, said protruding extension operable to receive an adjustable medical tube retaining device without contacting the face of the patient. |
| US08302594B2 |
Air control regulator for combustion chamber
An air control regulator regulates the amount of air flowing into the inlet of a combustion chamber by causing flowing air to support a disc located in the air passage against the force of gravity. Air passes around the edges of the disc and is channeled into a plurality of airflows by ovoid depressions in the inner surfaces of the regulator forming a venturi chamber. By regulating the airflow into the combustion chamber, combustion efficiency is improved. |
| US08302589B2 |
Transmission method and transmission mechanism for toy gun
A transmission method and a transmission mechanism for a toy gun are provided. The method comprises the steps of: moving a firing action backward by means of a gear assembly; moving the firing action forward by disengaging the gear assembly from the firing action and utilizing a spring to drive the firing action to move forward; controlling the movement of the gear assembly by means of a movement control assembly such that the gear assembly cannot mesh with the firing action; re-meshing the gear assembly with the firing action wherein after the firing action moves forward to a locating position, the gear assembly can mesh with the firing action again by the operation of the firing action and the movement control assembly; and repeating the step of moving the firing action backward to the step of re-meshing. |
| US08302587B1 |
Projectile loading, firing and warning system
Methods are presented which improve the performance of semi and fully automatic paintball guns include sensing paintball and gun bolt position during loading to coordinate and pace the gun for maximum automatic feed rate and minimal chopping. In addition, methods are presented for indicating a need for servicing through an alarm when the magazine nears empty based upon various conditions such as sensed magazine feed rate fall-off. Additional apparatus are discussed for carrying out the methods, and for performance of other tasks such as selection of pre-wind in spring-type forced-feed loaders. |
| US08302584B1 |
Rail gun launcher
A rail gun launcher consists of an armature where a magnetic core with a multiple turn conductive coil, two parallel conductive rails on which terminals of the coil contact and slide, and a non-magnetic conductive barrel enclosing the rails and the armature. The coil partially encloses the magnetic core to shift magnetic equilibrium. When an AC power source is connected to the rails, the coil generates a source magnetism around the coil as well as an induced magnetism on the conductive barrel in an opposite direction through the magnetic core. The source magnetism and the induced magnetism are shifted in magnetic equilibrium and in opposite direction thereby repelling the armature forward. This repulsive force travels with the armature and is continuous from breech to muzzle and propels the armature forward to a high velocity without control circuitry or commutation. |
| US08302576B2 |
Variable intake system
A variable intake system may include a single plenum that is connected to runners and that has a space formed therein, a first barrier that divides the space inside the plenum into a first space and a second space, a first variable valve that is mounted on the first barrier to connect or isolate the first space and the second space to/from each other, a variable pipe of which one side thereof is connected to the plenum and the other side is closed, a second barrier that divides the variable pipe into at least two spaces, and a second variable valve that is mounted on the second barrier to connect or isolate the at least two spaces to/from each other to improve intake efficiency. |
| US08302575B2 |
System for restarting internal combustion engine when engine restart condition is met
In a system installed in a vehicle, an automatic stop of an engine is carried out when an engine automatic stop condition is met during the vehicle being decelerated. The automatically stopped engine is restarted when an engine restart condition is met before the vehicle is stopped. A vehicle speed obtaining unit obtains a vehicle speed, and a threshold determining unit determines a threshold based on a predetermined-timing value of the vehicle speed. The predetermined-timing value is obtained at a predetermined timing when or after the engine restart condition is met. The threshold is used to determine whether to enable a next automatic stop of the engine. A stop enabling unit enables the next automatic stop of the engine when the speed of the vehicle obtained after the engine restart condition is met is equal to or higher than the threshold. |
| US08302571B2 |
Air to fuel ratio control device
An air-fuel ratio control device of an internal combustion engine is provided. The control device includes a learning section, a correction section, and an inhibiting section. When an execution condition is met, the learning section learns, as a deviation amount learned value, a constant deviation amount between a correction amount and its reference value in different manners between a case in which the lift amount of the intake valve is in a first lift amount region used only when the execution condition is not met and a case in which the lift amount is in a second lift amount region used only when the execution condition is met. The learning section computes and stores the relationship between the deviation amount and the lift amount based on the deviation amount learned value. A correction section computes the deviation amount correction value from the stored relationship based on the lift amount, and corrects the fuel injection amount command value using the deviation amount correction value. When there is no record of completing learning of the deviation amount when the lift amount is in the first lift amount region, an inhibiting section inhibits the lift amount from being shifted from the first lift amount region to other lift amount region. |
| US08302570B2 |
Oil control valve assembly for engine cam switching
An oil control valve assembly for an engine is provided that has a control valve with a valve body, and a manifold that defines a control passage in fluid communication with a valve lift switching component and an exhaust passage for exhausting fluid from the valve. The control valve is controllable to selectively direct fluid from a supply source to the control passage to actuate the valve lift switching component. An elongated tubular member is positioned adjacent the engine component and is operatively connected to the exhaust passage such that fluid flows from the exhaust passage to the elongated tubular member and through the elongated tubular member onto the engine component. |
| US08302569B2 |
Spark-ignited internal combustion engine and method of controlling the same
A spark-ignited internal combustion engine includes a variable compression ratio mechanism (A) that changes a mechanical compression ratio and an actual compression ratio start timing-changing mechanism (B) that changes a start timing at which actual compression starts. The maximum mechanical compression ratio while the engine is in operation is reduced with increase in engine speed. |
| US08302568B2 |
Variable compression ratio apparatus for vehicle engine
A variable compression ratio apparatus for a vehicle engine that is mounted at the engine receiving combustion force of an air-fuel mixture from a piston and rotating a crankshaft mounted between upper and lower cylinder blocks, and that changes compression ratio of the air-fuel mixture by changing a mounting height of the crankshaft according to a driving condition of the engine, may include a bearing having a hollow space eccentric to a center thereof and rotatably mounted between the upper and lower cylinder blocks, the crankshaft being rotatably inserted in the hollow space; and an operating unit provided at the lower cylinder block and controlling a rotational displacement of the bearing. |
| US08302567B2 |
Cooling air passage for a motor chain saw
A motor chain saw has a motor housing with a drive unit for driving a saw chain on a guide bar. The drive unit is an internal combustion engine with a cylinder and a crankshaft extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the motor chain saw. A drive pinion is mounted on a first end of the crankshaft. A cooling air blower with a blower wheel is mounted on the second end of the crankshaft. A cooling air stream of the blower flows transversely to the longitudinal axis of the motor chain saw about the cylinder and exits through a housing opening. A hand guard arranged between a handle and a front end of the guide bar is connected with one leg near the housing opening for the cooling air stream. In front of the housing opening a baffle element is supported on the leg of the hand guard. |
| US08302563B2 |
Sow feeder
A sow feeder includes a feed storage hopper comprising an upper funnel, an intermediate feed discharging tube, and a ring fixedly secured under the feed discharging tube; a feed transport mechanism comprising a cylindrical solid post having a diameter less than inner diameters of both the ring and the feed discharging tube, and a base having a diameter greater than an outer diameter of the ring; a hollow fastening mechanism releasably secured to the post passing through the ring and the feed discharging tube; and a feed collection container releasably secured to the feed discharging tube to dispose below the base. Feed material in the feed storage hopper is adapted to discharge into the feed collection through the feed discharging tube by lifting the base. |
| US08302561B2 |
Teat cup shell
A teat cup shell for holding a milking liner includes a body being made from a first material. The body has an upper end, a lower end; and a middle portion with the upper end adapted to receive the teat of the animal being milked. One configuration of the body may have enlarged upper and lower ends to define a dog-bone shape. The middle portion of the body may define gripping features at its middle portion. The body of the shell has a first weight. An insert is carried by the body with the insert being heavier than the remaining portion of the body. The insert is disposed closer to the lower end of the body than the upper end of the body such that the center of mass of the shell is disposed in the lower two-thirds of the shell. |
| US08302560B2 |
System and method for implementing an adaptive milking process
An adaptive milking system comprises a milk meter, a controller, and a detacher. The milk meter measures a flow rate of milking an animal during a first period of time, and continues to monitor the flow rate of milking the animal. The controller is communicatively coupled to the milk meter and calculates a percentage of the measured flow rate. The controller triggers a delay timer when the monitored flow rate of milking the animal becomes lower than the larger of (a) a default threshold flow rate and (b) the calculated percentage of the measured flow rate. The detacher is communicatively coupled to the controller and removes a milking unit from the animal when the delay timer reaches a threshold time. |
| US08302559B2 |
Method of producing lithium ion secondary battery
A method for producing lithium ion secondary batteries includes the steps of: (A) preparing an electrode sheet with lead-forming parts, (B) intermittently forming porous insulating layers containing an inorganic oxide filler and a binder on a surface of the electrode sheet excluding the lead-forming parts, (C) connecting a lead to each of the lead-forming parts, and (D) fabricating batteries by using the electrode sheet to which the leads are connected. The step B includes: the step of applying a slurry containing the inorganic oxide filler and the binder to the outer surface of a gravure roll, and transferring the slurry applied to the outer surface of the gravure roll on a surface of the electrode sheet that is being transported by a plurality of guide rolls excluding the lead-forming part; and the step of moving at least one selected from the gravure roll and the guide rolls to make the electrode sheet away from the gravure roll in the lead-forming part. |
| US08302558B2 |
Apparatus for coating a cylinder, in particular a wiping cylinder of an intaglio printing press
There is described an apparatus (1) for coating a cylinder (C), in particular a wiping cylinder of an intaglio printing press, with a plastic composition comprising inter alia heating means (6) for applying radiant heat to the cylinder throughout its length as the cylinder is rotated, the heating means including a plurality of discrete heating elements (60) distributed along the length of the cylinder and around at least part of the peripheral surface of the cylinder, the heating elements being arranged at least in separate columns (60a to 6Oh) disposed parallel to one another along the length of the cylinder. The apparatus further comprises a temperature sensing system (9) for measuring the surface temperature of the cylinder along the length of the cylinder and a processing unit coupled to the temperature sensing system (9) for controlling operation of the heating elements (60) as a function of the measured surface temperature and a desired temperature setting (tc). The temperature sensing system (9) is adapted to output a temperature measurement profile (Tm) representative of the surface temperature of the cylinder measured along the length of the cylinder, the temperature measurement profile being subdivided into a plurality of zones (Z1 to Z8) each associated to one corresponding column of heating elements (60a to 6Oh). Operation of each column of heating elements (60a to 6Oh) is controlled by the processing unit on the basis of the surface temperature measured within at least one of the zones (Z1 to Z8). |
| US08302557B2 |
Device and method for coating base material
A device and a method which is capable of uniformly coating, without waste, any flow passages formed in a raw material with a slurry even if a slurry having high viscosity is fed thereto by an amount required for the use of coating without excess and shortage. When the slurry (S) fed to one end of the base material (M) in which a large number of flow passages (2 . . . ) are formed parallel with each other is forced into the flow passages (2 . . . ) by an air pressure to coat the inner walls (2w) of the flow passages, the slurry (S) is fed from a slurry feeding device (6) by a required amount to a slurry storage part (5) formed at the upper surface part of the base material (M) disposed so that both ends of the flow passages (2 . . . ) can be opened in the upper and bottom surfaces thereof. Then, before the slurry (S) is forced into the flow passages (2 . . . ), a centrifugal force and vibration are allowed to act on the slurry (S) by a liquid level uniformalizing mechanism (7) to uniformalize the level of the slurry. |
| US08302552B2 |
Retractable caution flag for mounting on a vehicle
An apparatus includes a housing unit having a hollow cylinder shape with a longitudinal slot and a short section of slot situated at a right angle to the longitudinal slot. A flagpole is inserted into the housing unit for movement within the housing unit, where the flagpole is completely contained within the housing unit at a first position. A lower guide is joined to the flagpole for guiding movement of the flagpole. A caution flag is joined to the flagpole proximate a flagpole end. At least one bracket assembly joins the apparatus to a vehicle. A compressible spring is disposed within the housing unit for driving the flagpole in a first direction to a second position to display the flag. A trigger lever extends through the longitudinal slot where a placement of the trigger lever in the short section of slot prevents the compressible spring from moving the flagpole. |
| US08302544B2 |
Burner structure
To provide a burner structure that is capable of efficiently cooling a nozzle main body with a small amount of air, and takes an efficient countermeasure against a falling clinker or radiation heat. The burner structure includes: a pulverized coal-air mixture path provided in a burner central portion and supplying a mixture of a fuel and a primary air; a secondary air path provided around the pulverized coal-air mixture path and supplying a secondary air; a cooling air path provided around or above and below the secondary air path and supplying a cooling air; a nozzle main body attached to furnace-side end portions of the pulverized coal-air mixture path and the secondary air path in a tiltable form and provided with a flame holder at its tip end; and a cooling air nozzle attached to a furnace-side end portion of the cooling air path in a tiltable form. |
| US08302543B1 |
Method and apparatus for burning particulate matter
A steel sided double-walled bottom fed sawdust, woodchip and other particulate matter burning furnace where combustion air is pre-heated by passing around the combustion area between the double walls and further having an automatic fuel shut-off feature. |
| US08302540B1 |
Extendable folding table
An improved folding table includes an extension table having a pair of frame members, a top member, a pair of foldable legs, a slide, a corner bracket and a corner hinge. One top member is attached to one side of its frame member and the top members are stacked when the table is unextended. The legs are carried by each frame member and are located at a frame joint. The slide connects the frame members and includes a plurality of interlocking and movable members. The corner bracket and corner hinge are located at a frame joint and the corner hinge foldably connects the leg to the frame and bracket. The invention is also considered a corner bracket for use in an extension table having foldable legs and a frame with the corner bracket mountable at each frame joint and a method of making an extendable folding table. |
| US08302534B2 |
Radial-linear shaped charge pipe cutter
A radial-linear shaped charge pipe cutter is constructed with the booster explosive packed intimately into a booster aperture that is bored axially through the charge upper end plate. The cutter explosive is initiated at the interface between the upper margin of the cutter explosive and the contiguous inside surface of the upper end plate. This interface is within a critical initiation distance from the half charge juncture plane. In one embodiment, a half charge liner is configured as the assembly of two, coaxial, frusto-cones with the smaller cone diverging from the half charge juncture plane at a smaller angle than the outer cone. In another embodiment, the liner thickness increases from the juncture plane out to the liner perimeter. |
| US08302532B2 |
Printing machine
A printing machine in which substantial automation of the replacement procedure is achieved, and thus significant simplification of replacement procedure, and reduction of time required for the procedure are achieved is provided. The printing machine comprises an ink fountain member 2, an ink fountain roller 3, a strip of sheet 39 of which middle part is placed over the ink fountain member 2, a sheet moving device 40, a pair of barrier plates 53 attracted to the ink fountain member 2 under the sheet 39 and attracted to the outer peripheral surface of the ink fountain roller 3 by a permanent magnet, a cleaning tank 56, a cleaning blade 57, a reciprocating device 58, a barrier plate replacing device 85, a plurality of ink containers 65 accommodating different types of ink and being stored in a container storage unit 66, and an ink supply device 86 for holding the desired ink container 65 and supplying the ink therein to the ink fountain 1. |
| US08302530B2 |
Stamp
The invention relates to a stamp (1) comprising a first housing part (3) with a second housing part (4) which can be pivoted relative to the first housing part (3) and with a stamp plate (5) which can be pivoted about an axis (13) disposed in a first end region (12) of the first housing part (3) from a non-operating position into an operating position (10), which stamp plate (5) is disposed between the first housing part (3) and the second housing part (4) in the non-operating position, and when the first housing part (3) is in the operating position (10), the second housing part (4) and the stamp plate (5) form what is approximately a triangle. The second housing part (4) has a guide track (25) locating with the stamp plate (5) and a cam track (18) is disposed on the stamp plate (5) which locates with or can be moved to locate with an operating element (6). Also described is a stamp (1) with a first housing part (3), with an operating element (6) which can be pivoted relative to the first housing part (3) and with a stamp plate (5). |
| US08302528B2 |
Cooking method and apparatus
An ovenable cooking apparatus for facilitating the cooking of food components while maintaining the separateness thereof may include a first container for holding a first food component, and a second container for holding a second food component. The separation of the first food component from the second food component maintains the surface area for the first and second food components to facilitate heating of the first and second food components. The first food component may have a liquid based content for producing steam when heated, and one or both of the first container and the second container may define a passage for providing airflow and steam flow for contacting the second container and/or the second foodstuff and heating or steaming the second food component. Additionally, the second container may be steam impermeable for cooking bread and the like. |
| US08302521B2 |
Die with a punch module
A punch module includes a fixing plate, a clamping member, an engaging member, a number of latching members, and a punch. The fixing plate defines an assembly space. The clamping member detachably fixed to the fixing plate and received in the assembly space of the fixing plate defines a first receiving space. The engaging member received in the first receiving space of the clamping member defines a second receiving space. The latching members are movably received in the first receiving space of the clamping member and the second receiving space of the engaging member. The punch extends through the clamping member, the engaging member, and the fixing plate, and defines a latching slot engagable with the latching members. |
| US08302515B2 |
Support element for strengthening connection between a tool and its holder
A support element is attachable to a tool receivable in a tool holder bore so as to strengthen a connection between the tool and a tool holder and provide increased rigidity and vibration damping. The support element has a first support element end adapted for disposition adjacent to a forwardly facing mounting surface of the tool holder and a second support element end adapted for disposition adjacent to a forward end of the tool. The support element is mountable on the tool so as to be disposed completely between the forwardly facing mounting surface and the forward end of the tool. In one configuration, the support element includes a base having an underside configured for abutment with the tool holder and an extension protruding in a longitudinal direction from the base. The base is adapted to receive at least one element operable to produce adjustable canting of the base with respect to the tool holder and corresponding adjustable frictional engagement between the support element and the tool. |
| US08302508B2 |
Two-way propelling type transmission mechanism for bicycle
A two-way propelling type transmission mechanism for bicycle is disclosed having a control line operable to pull a bearing ring and a directional gear away from the series of clutch teeth of a first gear into engagement with the series of clutch teeth of a second gear so that pedaling the pedals to rotate cranks either forwardly or backwardly can drive the first gear to rotate a gear cluster in moving the bicycle forwards. |
| US08302506B2 |
Power transmission device
A power transmission device includes: a main case having an inside storing an oil; a drum carrying up the oil; and a partition wall partitioning the inside of the main case into a transmission gear housing containing the drum and a catch tank. An inner wall of the main case includes a down-extending portion extending down toward a feed opening of the catch tank, and extending toward the drum rather than along a vertical plane extending in the vertical direction as the down-extending portion extends downward, and a receding portion bordering on the down-extending portion and extending away from the drum from a bordering point where the receding portion borders on the down-extending portion. |
| US08302501B2 |
Multistage transmission
A multistage transmission is provided that smoothly operates with a small force without the necessity of a shift clutch, that does not cause a loss of switching time during shifting, and that does not cause escape of a driving force as well as provides a small shift shock. When shift drive means executes upshift to a one-step-upper speed-change stage reduced in reduction ratio by one stage, normal rotation odd-numbered stage cam rods Cao and normal rotation even-numbered stage cam rods Cae alternately operate normal rotation odd-numbered stage engaging members Rao and the normal rotation odd-numbered stage engaging members Rae for shifting. |
| US08302499B2 |
Linear transmission system with a lubrication device
A transmission system with a lubrication device is disclosed. The lubrication device is defined with an accommodation trough and an oil hole. In the accommodation trough is disposed a guiding assembly. The guiding assembly cooperates with the accommodation trough to define an oil storage space for accommodation of lubricating grease. The oil storage space is in communication with the oil hole. A power module is connected to the guiding assembly to drive the guiding assembly at regular intervals to make the lubricating grease overflow to the linear transmission system through the oil hole to perform the lubrication. |
| US08302498B2 |
Sealed linear actuator unit
A linear actuator unit has a slide plate which is allowed to freely move along the outer rail while causing a cover to retreat. The linear actuator unit includes: an outer rail, which is formed into a cylindrical shape, and includes the slit-opening portion formed along an axial direction thereof; the slide plate (3), which is coupled to an inner block in the hollow portion through the slit-opening portion; a cover belt, which is tensioned between both ends in a longitudinal direction of the outer rail so as to cover the slit-opening portion; a belt-guiding member, which separates the cover belt from the outer rail correspondingly to movement of the slide plate; and a seal member, which seals between the belt-guiding member and the cover belt and between the belt-guiding member and the outer rail. |
| US08302495B2 |
Diluting sampler and a method for collecting and diluting a gaseous sample
In the method, for collecting and diluting a gaseous sample disposed at a temperature substantially higher than the normal temperature from a sample space (2), a flow of sample is collected into a sampling tube (3); the flow of sample is introduced from the sampling tube into a sample channel (8) formed by a gas permeable first jacket (7); dilution gas is introduced into a dilution gas space (10) formed by a second jacket (9) enclosing the first jacket and connected by its end to the sampling tube, and further from it, through the first jacket into the sample channel; and heat is conducted from the sample space (2) into the dilution gas space (10) for warming up the dilution gas that comes into contact with the sampling tube (3). According to the invention, in the method, a substantially laminar protection flow, which encloses the flow of sample being released from the sampling tube (3) into the sample channel (8) and is disposed longitudinally to the sample channel, is formed from the warmed up dilution gas. |
| US08302494B2 |
Sensor for quantitative measurement of electromechanical properties and microstructure of nano-materials and method for making the same
A sensor for quantitative testing electromechanical properties and microstructure of nano-materials and a manufacturing method for the sensor are provided. The sensor comprises a suspended structure, pressure-sensitive resistor cantilevers, support beams, bimetallic strip and other components. When the bimetallic strip produces bending deformation, one of the pressure-sensitive resistor cantilevers is actuated and then stretches the low-dimensional nano-materials which drive the other pressure-sensitive resistor cantilever to bend. Through signal changes are outputted by the Wheatstone bridge, the variable stresses of low-dimensional nano-materials are obtained. Meanwhile, the variable strains of low-dimensional nano-materials are obtained by the horizontal displacements between two cantilevers, so the stress-strain curves of low-dimensional nano-materials are worked out. When the low-dimensional nano-materials are measured in the power state, the voltage-current curves are also obtained. In addition, by the help of high resolution imaging system in the transmission electron microscopy, the mechanical-electrical-microstructure relationship of the nano-materials can be recorded in situ and in atomic lattice resolution. |
| US08302491B2 |
Vibratory flow meter and method for determining a fluid temperature of a flow material
A vibratory flow meter (5) for determining a derived fluid temperature Tf-derive of a flow material is provided according to the invention. The vibratory flow meter (5) includes a flow meter assembly (10) including one or more flow conduits (103), a meter temperature sensor (204) configured to measure a meter temperature Tm, an ambient temperature sensor (208) for measuring an ambient temperature Ta, and meter electronics (20) coupled to the meter temperature sensor (204) and to the ambient temperature sensor (208). The meter electronics (20) is configured to receive the meter temperature Tm and the ambient temperature Ta and determine the derived fluid temperature Tf-deriv of the flow material in the vibratory flow meter (5) using the meter temperature Tm and the ambient temperature Ta. |
| US08302490B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring relative speed between a fluid and a reference
A pair of electro-acoustic transducers, one functioning as a speaker and the other functioning as a microphone, are operatively coupled to a reference which in turn is in communication with a fluid. A regenerative frequency filtering loop is operatively coupled between the transducers and functions to apply amplified signal to the speaker and produce an acoustic signal which propagates through the medium. The acoustic signal is sensed by the microphone and coupled to the regenerative loop input. For certain frequencies, the spacing between the transducers together with the speed of propagation of sound through the fluid combine with the frequency filtering of the regenerative loop to cause the loop to regenerate at a frequency indicative of the relative speed between the reference and the fluid. |
| US08302489B2 |
Flow meter system and method for measuring flow characteristics of a three phase flow
A vibratory flow meter (5) for measuring flow characteristics of a three phase flow is provided according to the invention. The vibratory flow meter (5) includes a meter assembly (10) including pickoff sensors (105, 105′) and meter electronics (20) coupled to the pickoff sensors (105, 105′). The meter electronics (20) is configured to receive a vibrational response from the pickoff sensors (105, 105), generate a first density measurement of the three phase flow using a first frequency component of the vibrational response, and generate at least a second density measurement of the three phase flow using at least a second frequency component of the vibrational response. The at least second frequency component is a different frequency than the first frequency component. The meter electronics (20) is further configured to determine one or more flow characteristics from the first density measurement and the at least second density measurement. |
| US08302487B2 |
Multi-staged audible/ visible indicator for progressive overload condition
An elongated assembly, such as a belt or a sling, having a first end and a second end. The first and second ends are configured to accept a tensile load applied thereto. The elongated assembly comprises a first folded region audibly/visibly ruptureable at a first threshold loading condition and a second folded region audibly/visibly ruptureable at a second threshold loading condition, the first threshold loading condition being lower than the second threshold loading condition, to provide a physical indication in stages for a progressively increasing overload condition. |
| US08302486B2 |
Reinforced panel
A reinforced panel (1) comprising: a composite skin (2); a plurality of stringers (3, 4) bonded to the skin; and one or more strain actuators (5), each positioned between an adjacent pair of stringers. A load is applied to the panel in the plane of the skin, and a local strain is applied to the skin by the strain actuators when the compressive load exceeds a predetermined threshold. This causes the skin to buckle and reduce interface stresses between the skin and the stringers. |
| US08302485B2 |
Testing device for stress corrosion cracking
The present disclosure provides a testing method for stress corrosion testing of materials, e.g., a test specimen, in corrosive materials. The method comprises: providing a test device having: a base configured to house a reservoir for containing the corrosive media and a holder configured to secure the test specimen, the holder includes at least a sleeve to secure the test specimen in place and apply compressive stress against the test specimen, the holder is rotatably connected to the base to lower the test specimen into the reservoir; mounting the test specimen onto the holder; pivoting the holder towards the reservoir to lower at least a portion of the test specimen in the reservoir; adjusting the sleeve to apply a sufficient amount of stress on the test specimen; and filling the reservoir with a sufficient amount of the corrosive media for stress corrosion testing. |
| US08302484B2 |
Pressure sensor system
A pressure connection concept for pressure sensor modules is provided, using which the influence of assembly-related stresses in the sensor system on the sensor diaphragm and accordingly on the measuring signal detection is kept very low. The sensor system includes a sensor module for pressure detection and a connecting piece and at least one seal for coupling the sensor module to a measuring system. The sensor module includes at least one sensor element having a diaphragm and means for signal detection. Together with the means for signal detection, the sensor element is provided with packaging having a pressure connection opening and electrical contacts. A pressure channel is provided in the connecting piece, the pressure channel being coupled to the pressure connection opening of the sensor module using the seal. The packaging of the sensor module includes a tube-shaped projection which forms the pressure connection opening, and the pressure channel of the connecting piece terminates in a connecting tube. The tube-shaped projection of the sensor module and the connecting tube of the connecting piece fit into each other, and the seal designed as a radial seal is situated between the walls of the tube-shaped projection and the connecting tube. |
| US08302482B2 |
Pressure switch
A pressure switch includes a piston accommodated for sliding movement in a chamber formed in the interior of a casing and which communicates with an introduction port, a coil spring for elastically applying a force to one surface of the piston, an adjustment screw which is capable of variably adjusting an elastic force applied to the one surface, a swivel plate engaged with the adjustment screw and on which the coil spring is seated, and a pointer formed from a resin material integrally with the swivel plate for indicating a pressure of air detected by a switch unit. The adjustment screw variably stretches and compresses the coil spring by movement of the swivel plate, while also maintaining the coil spring at a position at which a predetermined elastic force is obtained. The swivel plate is colored together with the pointer in a high saturation color. |
| US08302481B2 |
Self-supporting and self-aligning vibration excitator
A vibration excitator including a main body, a stinger which is adapted to move relative to the main body, in a particular working direction, an actuator coupled to the main body and the stinger, wherein the stinger has a first end that is coupled to the main body, and an opposite second end that is intended for attachment to an object to be examined, wherein the stinger has an elastic center point, wherein the main body has a center of gravity, and wherein L1=L3 applies, wherein L1 is the distance between the elastic center point and the second stinger end, measured along the said working direction, and wherein L3 is the distance between the center of gravity and the second stinger end, measured along the said working direction. |
| US08302478B2 |
Magnetostrictive substance detection system and method
There is provided a method of detecting the presence of a substance comprising providing a cantilever (30) comprising a magnetostrictive material (34) and having an original resonant frequency. The method also comprises receiving the substance on the cantilever (30, 36) causing the resonant frequency of the cantilever (30) to change. The method also comprises applying a magnetic field to the cantilever (30) causing the resonant frequency to change to a reference resonant frequency and sensing when the resonant frequency becomes the reference resonant frequency. |
| US08302475B2 |
Exhaust gas analyzer and probe unit
A probe unit includes a gas sensor having multiple gas introduction bores for introducing a gas into an inside of the gas sensor, and a sensor holder inside of which the gas sensor is held and that is arranged inside of a duct so as to introduce an exhaust gas flowing in the duct into the gas sensor. A calibration gas flow channel is arranged in the sensor holder and has an opening at an inner surface of a side wall, surrounding the gas introduction bores of the gas sensor, of the sensor holder so as to supply a calibration gas to the gas sensor. A guide groove is arranged continuous to the opening of the calibration gas flow channel and arranged on the inner surface of the side wall along an arranging direction of the multiple gas introduction bores to face the multiple gas introduction bores. |
| US08302472B2 |
Fuel delivery unit with a filling level sensor operating with ultrasonic waves
A fuel delivery unit for insertion into a fuel tank of a motor vehicle has a swirl pot, a flange for closing an opening in the fuel tank, and a support element arranged between the flange and the swirl pot that prestresses the swirl pot towards a bottom of the fuel tank. A filling level sensor is arranged on the swirl pot. The swirl pot has at least one receptacle. The receptacle extends to a bottom of the swirl pot and completely surrounds the periphery of the support element and has an opening in the bottom region through which fuel from the fuel tank can enter the receptacle. The filling level sensor comprises a transmission and receiving unit for ultrasonic waves arranged in the fuel delivery unit such that the ultrasonic waves run in the receptacle and the support element. |
| US08302471B2 |
Calorimetric flow meter having high heat conductivity strips
A flow meter includes a heater for heating a fluid flow along a membrane. A temperature difference is measured between and upstream point and a downstream point. There are additionally provided one or more strips of material having a relatively high heat conductivity. Strips that are substantially perpendicular to the flow direction direct heat from the heater to the sides of the membrane, causing a large proportion of the heat that would otherwise drive heat flows to be dispersed and decreases inaccuracies or bias in the measured flow rate. Strips of material that are provided parallel to the flow direction act to direct heat from the heater along the direction of flow. This increases the proportion of heat that flows along this axis and guides the flow and hence reduces the proportion of heat available to drive heat flows that cause inaccuracies and bias in the measured flow rates. |
| US08302468B2 |
Adjustable belt dynamometer
An adjustable chassis dynamometer includes a fixed roller, an adjustable roller that moves with respect to the fixed roller, and at least one sensor that detects a rotational speed of the fixed or adjustable roller. A belt drive synchronizes rotation of the rollers. The belt drive includes a fixed pulley associated with the fixed roller, an adjustable pulley associated with the adjustable roller, and a tensioner pulley. A belt is provided with an inner surface and an outer surface, and surrounding the fixed, adjustable, and tensioner pulleys, such that each pulley engages the belt's inner surface. The belt drive further includes an idler pulley that moves with the adjustable pulley, is located outside of the belt, and engages the belt's outer surface. |
| US08302467B2 |
Throttle opening detection apparatus for a saddle-type vehicle
A throttle opening detection apparatus can include a throttle pipe, a throttle sensor, a resisting force application unit, and a cancel switch. The throttle pipe is configured to partly project into a case fixed to a bar handle and is configured to support rotation at an end portion of the bar handle. The throttle sensor is configured to detect a rotating operation amount of a throttle grip, which is mounted against relative rotation on the throttle pipe, in response to the rotation of the throttle pipe. The throttle sensor is disposed at a fixed position in the case. The resisting force application unit is configured to apply a resisting force to the rotating operation of the throttle grip. The resisting force application unit is accommodated in the case. The cancel switch configured to cancel operation of an auto-cruise controlling apparatus. The cancel switch is accommodated in the case together with the throttle sensor and the resisting force application unit. |
| US08302464B2 |
Automatic sequential sampler for roof-top runoff of rainwater
There is provided an automatic sequential sampler for roof-top runoff of rainwater, which comprises: a sensing part, a controlling part and a sampling part, and more particularly, which takes samples of rainwater, at regular intervals, by sensing whether it rains and controlling the rotation and stop of a sample bottle shelf in the sampling part, using a timer and a counter. |
| US08302463B2 |
Loss detection system for open channel networks
The invention discloses a loss detection system to determine and monitor containment losses for open channel networks. One exemplary method comprises monitoring a flow of liquid from an open channel into a pool, the open channel comprising channel banks and a bed, controlling the flow of liquid such that a level of liquid within the pool is constant, and determining theft loss of liquid based on the monitored flow of liquid. |
| US08302461B2 |
Gas detector having an acoustic measuring cell and selectively adsorbing surface
A gas detector with a selectively adsorbing surface (3) and an acoustic measuring cell (5) is presented. The detector is characterized in that the selectively adsorbing surface (3) and the acoustic measuring cell (5) can be arranged with respect to one another such that gases desorbed by means of thermal desorption from the adsorbing surface (3) reach the acoustic measuring cell (5) and there trigger a pressure wave that can be measured by one or more acoustic pick-ups (13, 14), in particular microphones, which are arranged in the acoustic measuring cell (5). Furthermore, a corresponding method is provided. The detector is particularly suitable for measuring contaminants in interior spaces and ventilation systems. |
| US08302457B2 |
Collision sensor for wood processing equipment
A sensor system for detecting a collision between first and second parts moving relative to each other. The sensor system comprises at least one sensor for detecting a collision between the first and second parts, the sensor comprising first and second elongate conductive elements and a non-conducting spacing element partially extending between the first and second elongate conductive elements to separate the conductive elements from each other and to define spaced, adjacent portions of the conductive elements. A signal transmitting wire is in communication with each elongate conductive element. A housing retains the sensor for mounting in a region between the first and second parts such that any collision between the parts will tend to deform the spaced, adjacent portions of the conductive elements into contact with each other at the point of collision to complete a circuit via the signal transmitting wires to indicate the collision has occurred. In a preferred arrangement the moving parts are part of a wood processing unit, and the signal is used to shutdown the unit to prevent damage. The sensor and sensory system described offer improved reliability as compared to previous designs. |
| US08302455B2 |
Determining delay times for ultrasonic flow meters
A system and method for calibrating an ultrasonic flow meter. In one embodiment, a method includes disposing a fluid circulating device within a flow meter. Fluid is circulated in the flow meter by operation of the fluid circulating device. An acoustic signal transit time within the flow meter is measured during the circulating. Based on the measuring, a portion of the acoustic signal transit time caused by latency induced by components of the flow meter is determined. |
| US08302454B2 |
Method for calibrating a mass spectrometric sniffing leak detector
Usually, a sniffing leak detector must be calibrated for each tracing gas. The calibration comprises ranging of the spectral positions into the mass spectrum and the amplitude height. At least one mass line is determined with a calibrating gas. The mass lines lying between two mass lines and/or between a zero point and a line are determined by interpolation and/or extrapolation. In this manner, a sniffing leak detector can be used for such tracing gases which have not previously been used for calibration purposes. |
| US08302450B2 |
Incremental forging
Any of various features of a workpiece are forged by a common set of tools. The feature is incrementally forged as the tool set is moved to successive forging locations on the surface of the workpiece. One of the tools is used to plasticize and extrude a portion of the workpiece while one or more of the other tools are used to form dams that contain and shape the extruded portions. |
| US08302448B2 |
Expansion tool and method for cold expansion of holes
A method for cold expansion of a hole formed in a work piece. The method comprises providing a body comprising at least a cylindrically shaped part having an inner hole in axial direction of the body. The body further comprises along its circumferential direction a plurality of members which are movable in radial direction of the body, such that the outer diameter of the cylindrical part of the body can be changed. The method comprises introducing the body into the hole formed in the work piece; inserting a core into the inner hole of the cylindrically shaped part, wherein at least one of the core or the inner hole comprises a portion having changing diameter and the inner hole and the core get into contact with respect to each other upon insertion of the core, such that in dependency of the insertion depth of the core into the inner hole in axial direction the members move in radial direction outwardly and the outer diameter of the cylindrical part of the body increases and, accordingly, acts on the inner circumference of the hole formed in the work piece so that a boundary zone of the hole is compressed, which leads to a compression or hardening and, accordingly, to the introduction of compressive stress in the boundary zone. The inner hole and the core have a polygonal cross section in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and the hole formed in the work piece is expanded over the entire thickness of the work piece in which the hole is formed. |
| US08302447B2 |
Device for forging bush-shaped objects and a forged part produced therewith
A device and method are provided for forging sleeve-shaped parts such as pistons. The device includes a form with: an upper form mandrel (C); an outer form ring (A); a lower form mandrel (B); an ejector device with an upper ejector (G) for ejection through the upper form mandrel (C); a lower ejector (H) for ejection through the lower form mandrel (B). Optional support devices for the form include a lower reinforcement ring (D) for the lower region of the outer form ring (A), a form mandrel housing (F) for the upper region of the outer form ring (A), and a clamping base (E) to support the lower form mandrel (B), by means of which the lower ejector (H) may be operated. The device and method advantageously facilitates the manufacture of pistons having a long skirt length and a minimal wall thickness. |
| US08302446B2 |
Roll stand
The invention relates to a roll stand (1) with a number of rollers (2, 3) and with an incoming guide (4) and/or an outgoing guide (5) which is/are fixed on the roll stand (1) before or after the rolling gap (6) in the rolling direction (W), respectively, and which is/are adjustably arranged in the direction perpendicular to the axis (7) of the rollers (2, 3) and perpendicular to the rolling direction (W), particularly in the vertical direction (V). To minimize damage in case of an accident, the invention provides for a predetermined breaking point (9) in the fixing means which fixes the incoming guide (4) and/or the outgoing guide (5) on the roll stand (1). |
| US08302444B2 |
Method for folding an edge of a sheet component in particular a sheet component of a motor vehicle chassis
According to the invention, folding a sheet edge at high folding speed with no faults may be achieved, wherein a conically contoured folding roller is used with an inclined attitude to the direction of movement thereof, firstly engaging the edge of the sheet for folding with the front region of the largest diameter thereof and then continuously folding the edge of the sheet until contact is made with the limiting part of the sheet component continuously over the conical region until the region of the smallest diameter thereof is reached. |
| US08302443B2 |
Spring manufacturing apparatus
A spring manufacturing apparatus includes a supporting body which moves in X, Y, and Z-axes directions of a XYZ orthogonal coordinate system representing a moving direction of a wire rod fed from a wire rod feeding unit as a Z-axis. The supporting body is formed with an opening in which the quill is arranged. The supporting body further includes a tool holder for holding a processing tool for processing the wire rod to a spring. The supporting body arranged at the vicinity of the quill is moved to accurately adjust the relative position of the quill and the processing tool, thereby manufacturing a desired spring. |
| US08302441B2 |
Straightening device
The present invention relates to a device (6) and method for repairing an upright profile (2) which has been bent out of an original position, in particular a profile of a warehouse rack upright for mounting of warehouse rack girders (3), wherein an inner space (13) accessible from an open side is defined in the profile. The device comprises an outer template (7) adapted to the form of the outer surface of the profile, an inner template (16,17) adapted to the form of the inner surface, wherein during use the inner template is arranged in the inner space of the profile via the open side, and pressing means for pressing the outer template against the outer side of the profile and pressing the inner template against the inner side of the profile with pressing force such that the upright profile is bent back into its original position. |
| US08302437B2 |
Locking assembly for a door
A locking assembly for a door having an outer side, an inner side and a sidewall and has an exterior assembly, a cylinder and an interior assembly. The exterior assembly is mounted on the outer side of the door and has an outside mounting seat, a press-button, a transmitting device, a transmitting board, an engaging wheel and a rotating spindle. The cylinder is mounted in the exterior assembly and has a cylinder-transmitting panel. The multi-point latch is mounted in the sidewall of the door and is connected to the exterior assembly and the cylinder. The interior assembly is mounted on the inner side of the door, is connected to the exterior assembly and the cylinder and has an inside mounting seat, a operating handle, a switch, a linking device, a seat board, an inside reset spring and a switch mount. |
| US08302435B2 |
Pin locking device
A locking device includes a shaft, a locking head joined to the shaft, and a lock body having a lock opening for receiving a locking end of the shaft. A latch member is disposed within the lock body and includes a shaft aperture for receiving the locking end of the shaft therethrough. The shaft aperture includes an edge portion spring biased radially inward of the lock opening to engage the recessed portion with the edge portion when the locking end of the shaft is disposed in the lock opening. A locking member is disposed within the lock body. Rotation of the locking member from a locked condition to an unlocked condition moves the edge portion of the shaft aperture out of engagement with the recessed portion of the shaft to permit withdrawal of the shaft from the lock opening. |
| US08302434B2 |
Drum-type washing machine
A drum type washing machine is provided. The drum type washing machine may include a cabinet, a tub fixed to an inner side of the cabinet, a drum rotatably arranged in the tub, and a driving motor positioned at a rear side of the drum for generating a driving force that rotates the drum. The washing machine may also include a supporting plate to rotatably support a rotational shaft extending between the motor and the drum, and a plurality of supporters connected between the supporting plate and the cabinet. Such an arrangement may increase washing capacity by increasing a diameter of the drum without increasing an external size of the cabinet. |
| US08302433B2 |
Damper, washing machine with the same and control method thereof
A damper including a cylinder, a piston inserted in the cylinder, a movable member disposed in the piston to be movable in the cylinder in a length direction of the cylinder, and a weight sensor mounted on an inner surface of the cylinder, facing an end of the piston, to perceive weight loaded on the piston through contact with the movable member. When applied to a washing machine, the damper is capable of perceiving accurate weight of the laundry supplied in the washing machine. |
| US08302431B2 |
Method and apparatus for using steam in a commercial laundry machine as an environmentally-friendly replacement of conventional dry cleaning or wet cleaning processes
A commercial steam-cleaning laundry machine is configured to use steam instead of dry-cleaning chemicals or water as a primary cleaning agent for garments rotating in a drum of the commercial steam-cleaning laundry machine. In one embodiment of the invention, a steam injector at least partially exposed to an inner surface of the drum is configured to provide a MCU-controlled fresh steam injection into the drum during a cleaning cycle of the commercial steam-cleaning laundry machine. The fresh steam into the commercial steam-cleaning laundry machine is from an outtake of a standalone boiler system which is typically used for a variety of fabric treatment machines in a commercial laundry operation. A debris and clean steam/air separation chamber periodically or continuously separates and/or filters debris, chemicals, and/or other undesirable elements from the drum and evacuates clean or cleaned-up air and moistures to an air-out duct. |
| US08302427B2 |
Evaporator
An evaporator includes two heat exchangers including an entry-side heat exchanger and an exit-side heat exchanger which are arranged opposite each other. The entry-side heat exchanger has a first path, a second path, and a third path, and the exit-side heat exchanger has a fourth path, a fifth path, and a sixth path. The sectional area of heat exchange passages of the first path in which refrigerant from an entry firstly flows downward is set smaller than the sectional area of heat exchange passages of the fifth path in which the refrigerant lastly flows downward. The sectional area of heat exchange passages of the sixth path in which the refrigerant to an exit lastly flows upward is set smaller than the sectional area of heat exchange passages of the second path in which the refrigerant firstly flows upward. |
| US08302424B2 |
Refrigerator
A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include an evaporator that generates cold air supplied to a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, a first fan that supplies the cold air generated by the evaporator to a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber of the refrigerator, and a second fan that circulates the cold air within the refrigerating chamber. |
| US08302419B2 |
Computer cooling apparatus
An improved computer cooling apparatus includes: at least one evaporator installed on a surface of at least one heat generating source which is a central processing unit in a computer system unit; a compressor, connected to the evaporator; a condenser, connected to the compressor; an expansion valve, connected between the condenser and the evaporator; a fan, installed on a side of the condenser; and a coolant, circulating among the evaporator, the compressor, the condenser and the expansion valve. The evaporator, compressor, condenser, fan, expansion valve and coolant are used for achieving the effect of quickly dispersing a heat generating source in the computer system unit. |
| US08302418B2 |
Indoor unit and air conditioning system with faulty wiring discrimination
An air conditioning system comprising an outdoor and an indoor unit connected through common power supply lines. The outdoor unit including a first communication circuit using one of the plurality of common power supply lines and one signal line independent of the power supply lines. The indoor unit comprising terminals connected to the first communication circuit; a switch configured to set the first and second communication circuits to a connection state or a disconnection state; a detection circuit configured to detect a voltage between the terminals; and a controller configured to control the switch. The switch sets the first and second communication circuits to the disconnection state when the voltage detected by the detection circuit equals or exceeds a predetermined threshold value; otherwise the switch sets the first and second communication circuits to the connection state. |
| US08302417B2 |
Air conditioning system with cold thermal storage and evaporator temperature control
A system and method of operating a vehicle air conditioning system having an engine driven, fixed capacity refrigerant compressor and a compressor clutch is disclosed. The method may comprises setting a preliminary evaporator air temperature target; charging a cold storage apparatus in the vehicle air conditioning system; determining if the cold storage apparatus has reached a predetermined threshold; if the cold storage apparatus has reached a predetermined threshold, determining a new evaporator air temperature target by: determining a maximum allowable dewpoint evaporator air temperature for maintaining a passenger compartment humidity below a predetermined value; determining a maximum allowable mode evaporator air temperature based on a mode to which the vehicle air conditioning system is set; and setting the evaporator air temperature target to the lower of the dewpoint evaporator air temperature and the mode evaporator air temperature. The compressor clutch is controlled to achieve the evaporator air temperature target. |
| US08302416B2 |
Liquid refrigerant composite cooling system
A system for cooling components comprises a composite of a sponge or sponge-like material with liquid refrigerant absorbed thereon and encased in a containment material configured to rupture or otherwise release evaporating refrigerant when internal composite pressure reaches a threshold ΔP from the outside pressure and/or at a pre-selected composite temperature, and thermal conduction means in thermal contact with the composite and one or more components for directing thermal energy to cool the components. |
| US08302414B2 |
Refrigerant system detection method, refrigerant system detection system and storage component with refrigerant system detection program
A refrigerant system detection method for detecting refrigerant systems in an air conditioning system includes a drive step, an operation inhibition step and a recording step. The air conditioning system includes a plurality of indoor units having temperature sensors respectively connected to a plurality of outdoor units. The drive step puts the plurality of outdoor units into a driven state after a start-up time. The operation inhibition step stops or weakens the outdoor units one unit at a time after the drive step. The recording step correlates and records the outdoor units in which operation has been inhibited and the indoor units in which detection values of the temperature sensors have changed as a result of the outdoor units being inhibited. A refrigerant system detection system includes the connected indoor and outdoor units and a management component configured to perform the method. A storage component includes a program to perform the method. |
| US08302413B2 |
Air conditioner
Out of switching mechanisms (30A, 30B), the switching mechanism (30A) connected to an indoor heat exchanger (41) performing a heating operation is configured so that the opening of a supercooling control valve (53) is adjusted according to the air conditioning load of another indoor heat exchanger (41) performing a cooling operation downstream of a liquid connection pipe (13) connected to the former indoor heat exchanger (41). |
| US08302409B2 |
Cryopump and regenerating method of the cryopump
A cryopump and a regenerating method of the cryopump whereby temperatures of a first stage and a second stage can be securely increased to target temperatures and time required for regenerating can be shortened are provided. At the time of regenerating, the temperature of the second stage cooling stage is controlled based on the temperature detected by the second temperature detection part. In the case where the temperature of the first stage cooling stage reaches the limiting temperature, namely critical temperature, of the first stage displacer, the rotation in the reverse direction of the reversible motor is controlled or stopped and thereby the regenerating process is stopped for a while. |
| US08302408B2 |
Temperature control device for liquid medicines
In a temperature control device for liquid medicines provided with a flow path block having flow paths for liquid medicines at both of front and back surfaces, heat-transmitting plates respectively disposed at both of the front and back surfaces of the flow path block in a manner so as to face the flow paths, and thermo-modules for performing a cooling operation or a heating operation on the liquid medicines that flows through the flow path via the heat-transmitting plates, respectively, at least one ridge of mountain-shaped sealing projection portion surrounding a periphery of the flow path are integrally formed with the flow path block at sealing surfaces respectively surrounding the flow paths at both of the front and back surfaces of the flow path block, and the heat-transmitting plates are fixed to the flow path block in a state of pressure-contacting the sealing projection portion. |
| US08302405B2 |
Dynamic control of a gas turbine engine compressor during rapid transients
A gas turbine engine is disclosed that has with two or more compressors. A first one of the compressors include a compressor variable geometry mechanism that may be in the form of adjustable vanes, bleed valves, or the like. A first one of the compressors is turned at a first speed and the second one of the compressors is turned at a second speed. The first speed is maintained approximately constant while the second speed varies and position of the compressor variable geometry mechanism is modulated in accordance with the second speed of the second one of the compressors to regulate surge margin for the first one of the compressors. |
| US08302399B1 |
Organic rankine cycle systems using waste heat from charge air cooling
The present application and the resultant patent provide a waste heat recovery system for recovering heat from a number of turbocharger stages. The waste heat recovery system may include a simple organic rankine cycle system and a number of charge air coolers in communication with the turbocharger stages and the simple organic rankine cycle system. The charge air coolers are positioned in a number of parallel branches of the simple organic rankine cycle system. |
| US08302398B2 |
Work machine with drive train coupled turbo compounding
A work machine having an internal combustion engine such as a diesel is connected to a transmission by a flexible coupling. The engine may have a turbocharger to increase its output. A power turbine is connected to receive exhaust products from the turbocharger turbine via an exhaust aftertreatment device. The power turbine is connected to either the transmission downstream of the flexible coupling or to an external load. In either case, the power turbine in the form of a centripetal turbine is isolated from the torsional vibrations of the IC engine. |
| US08302392B2 |
Exhaust control device for vehicle engine
An exhaust control device for a vehicle engine includes an exhaust control valve capable of changing the opening area of an exhaust passage. The exhaust control valve is disposed in exhaust passage forming means so as to be able to change a bent-internal side partial passage sectional area of the passage sectional area of an exhaust passage. Specifically the exhaust control valve is disposed at a bent portion of the exhaust passage that is closest to an exhaust valve port. With this configuration, the exhaust flow rate can be controlled satisfactorily. |
| US08302387B2 |
Method and apparatus for de-sulfurization on a diesel oxidation catalyst
A diesel exhaust after-treatment system (110, 210) for a vehicle includes a precious metal primary diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC1) and a precious metal secondary diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC2). The primary diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC1) is located on an exhaust pipe (116, 250) and in fluid communication with and between an engine (12) and an exhaust gas outlet (126, 226). The secondary diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC2) is disposed in fluid communication with the primary diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC1) on a second exhaust pipe (130, 230, 232) and in fluid communication with the engine (12). At least one valve (128, 228, 246) is disposed on the exhaust pipe (116, 216) for selectively permitting the continuous, positive flow of exhaust gas through the secondary diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC2). When the primary diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC1) has a pre-determined amount of sulfur saturation, the valve (128, 228, 246) is switched to permit the continuous, positive flow of exhaust gas through the secondary diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC2). |
| US08302384B2 |
Motor vehicle and method for operating a motor vehicle having an exhaust gas heating device
A method for operating a motor vehicle which has a drive and an exhaust system with at least one controllable heating device to be placed in contact with exhaust gas, includes at least the following steps: (a) detecting at least one operating parameter of the exhaust system, (b) determining at least one influential variable of the heating device, (c) comparing the at least one influential variable with a target parameter of the exhaust system, and (d) activating the heating device in such a way that the operating parameter reaches the target parameter. A motor vehicle having a drive and an exhaust system is also provided. |
| US08302378B2 |
Degradation diagnosis device for catalyst
A temperature increasing degree of the catalytic outflow exhaust temperature at the time the exhaust air-fuel ratio is changed to the rich side is found in respect to each of a plurality of the catalytic inflow exhaust temperatures. A grade (S) of the temperature increasing degree is found based upon the inflow exhaust temperature and the temperature increasing degree to determine degradation of the catalyst based upon at least one of a maximum value (Smax) of the grade and the inflow exhaust temperature (Tinmax) corresponding to the maximum value. An accurate catalyst degradation diagnosis can be carried out since not only the temperature increasing degree but also the inflow exhaust temperature are taken into account. |
| US08302369B2 |
Modular angle trim
An angle trim (20) is provided. The angle trim (20) includes a first elongated strip (22) having first (24) and second (26) opposed ends. A second elongated strip (28) projects at an angle from an elongated side (30) of the first strip (22) along the length of the elongated side (30). A tongue member (32) extends from the first end (24) of the first strip (22) at a raised height above the upper surface of the first strip (22). A channel (34) is arranged adjacent the second end (26) of the first strip (22) above the upper surface. The channel (34) is adapted to receive the tongue member (32) of another angle trim to connect the angle trims in an end to end relationship without requiring overlap of the first strips of the angle trims. |
| US08302368B1 |
Interconnectable utility pole members
A metal utility pole including a hollow, centrifugally cast, ductile iron utility pole member having a tapered exterior and variable wall thickness for providing a shortened press-fit, slip joint between interconnected pole members. The shortened joint length requires less metal than conventional press-fit, slip joints while maintaining or improving the overall strength of the joint. This is accomplished by increasing the wall thickness of one or both interconnected pole members along the joint relative to the wall thickness of the body or mid-section of the pole members. |
| US08302367B2 |
Floor covering and installation method
Floor covering comprising a plurality of unit panels (1) laid in a pattern, these panels being provided on their head sides (2, 3) and on their longitudinal sides (4, 5) with locking strips (6, 7) which engage with one another in the assembled position in which unit panels (1) are arranged adjacently within a covering, wherein grooves (19, 20) are provided in the head sides (2, 3) and wherein the grooves (19, 20) of two abutting head sides (2, 3) correspond and form a locking channel (21) intended to accommodate a head tongue (22, 22a-k). The head tongue (22) is preassembled in the groove (20) and projects beyond an end of the groove (20) that faces the longitudinal side (5) of the unit panel (1). At the same time, the head tongue (22) in the preassembled state is embedded completely within the groove (20) and can be displaced at least partially from one groove (20) into the corresponding groove (19) of the adjacent unit panel (1) by sliding the projecting end (24) of the head tongue (22) into the groove (20). |
| US08302365B2 |
Partially self-erecting wind turbine tower
A partially self-erecting wind turbine tower and a method for carrying out the assembly thereof. A central extendable pylon is provided. This is placed in an upright position, with its base on a temporary foundation. A plurality of legs is then attached to the extendable pylon. The upper extreme of each of the plurality of legs is temporarily attached to the upper extreme of the extendable pylon. With the pylon and legs thus secured, a nacelle is attached to the upper extreme of the extendable pylon. A hub with attached blades is then affixed to the nacelle. The extendable pylon is then forced upward through the collar to extend the height of the assembly. |
| US08302363B1 |
Composite interlocking structure
An interlocking support structure has an array of rectangular cells arranged in at least one layer, each cell having four sides, opposite ends, and eight corners, and sharing common sides and corners with any adjacent cells. The cells are formed by sets of spaced, parallel elongate members extending in x, y and z directions, with the x, y and z members interlocked with one another at the corners of the cells to form interlocking corner joints. Each structural member is hollow at least in the vicinity of each corner joint with which it intersects, and communicates with the other structural members at the respective corner joints. A plug of hardened, initially flowable material fills the hollow interior of the interlocking structural members at least at the corner joints and adheres to the internal surfaces of the members at the corner joints to secure the members together at each corner in the rectangular array. |
| US08302360B2 |
Wooden roof truss
A roof truss is provided comprising a bottom chord, a first top chord, and a second top chord forming a triangle with an apex at a distance A above the bottom chord. At least a web member is disposed between the top chords and the bottom chord such that, in a first state of operation, the at least a web member is capable of transmitting at least one of a tension force and a compression force between the top chords and the bottom chord. The roof truss further comprises at least an expandable interface for expandable interfacing at least one of the at least a web member with one of the chords for enabling, in a second state of operation, expansion of the distance A to an extent that uplift of the bottom chord is substantially reduced. |
| US08302359B2 |
System of protecting the edges and construction joints of cast in place concrete slabs
An improved joint edge assembly, of the type used in the construction of concrete slabs, is disclosed. The assembly comprises a longitudinal joint rail, preferably of steel, which is supported off the ground by formwork. The joint rail comprises first and second joint edge members that are connected to each other by interference-type connectors with self-release elements. A plurality of studs extends downward and outward from each of the joint edge members into the concrete slabs provide a positive mechanical connection between the slab and the joint rail. As the concrete shrinks during hardening, the self-release elements of the interference-type connectors allow the joint to freely open. The joint edge assembly thus provides a self-releasing joint between adjacent slab sections, and protects the edges of the adjacent slab sections from damage. A dowel aligner may also be integrated into the assembly, to allow proper positioning of dowels within the slab. |
| US08302358B2 |
Shingle layer or shingle having thick appearance
A shingle layer of shingle is provided having an increased thickness adhesive coating on at least a portion of its rear surface, with granules embedded therein, with the granules being of a size range that is larger than the fine particles normally applied to the rear surface of a shingle layer. |
| US08302357B1 |
Blast-resistant foundations
Blast-resistant foundations are presented that can be used to support a tower, a building, a building supporting a tower, and a tower supporting a building. These foundations can be transported to an installation site and rapidly deployed. They are comprised of one or more precast foundation blocks that do not penetrate the ground beneath them, do not require adjacent foundation blocks to be bound to one-another at their sides with interconnecting steel, and do not require the buildings and/or towers they support to use guy-wires. They can include protected cavities that contain utility equipment and supplies, and they can include conduits from these cavities that can be extended upward through one or more legs of a tower. |
| US08302354B2 |
Window or door frame receptor buck and receptor buck system
A receptor buck and receptor system for securing a window or door frame. The receptor buck includes a longitudinal rack, a surface of the rack that includes an aperture for accepting a first fastener to fasten the rack to a wall opening surface, and another surface that includes another aperture for accepting a second fastener to fasten the window or door frame to the rack. The receptor system includes the rack, the first and second fasteners, and the fasteners extend in generally the same direction. |
| US08302352B2 |
Roof ventilation system
A roof vented closure strip 200 comprises profile piece 210, filter material 220, and top layer 230, the strip manufactured with at least two different materials combining to fill the space between a ridge cap 140 and a sloped roof 112. The profile piece includes a lower surface 213, side surfaces 215, a front exterior surface 216, a rear interior surface 217. The strip is disposed on the sloped roof such that a lip is formed between strip rear interior surface, and the ridge slot. Filter material fills between the profile piece, the top layer, the front exterior surface, and the rear interior surface wherein the rear interior surface slopes at an angle 206 toward front exterior surface, and one or more moisture channel 250 extends laterally across the width of the strip, such that moisture flows from the lip down and drains through the moisture channel exiting the structure. |
| US08302351B2 |
Vibration damper
A vibration damper comprises a first plate 11 that is fixed to one framework member 51, a second plate 13 that is fixed to another framework member 53, and an elastic material 15 that is filled in the interstices between the first plate 11 and the second plate 13. A first clearance W1 is formed between the another framework member 53 and a first fixing portion 21, and a second clearance W2 is formed between the first framework member 51 and a second fixing portion 29. The first plate 11 is made of a steel plate that is formed directing from the first fixing portion 21 to the second fixing portion 29, and the second plate 13 is made of a steel plate that is formed directing from the second fixing portion 29 to the first fixing portion 21. A space portion 50 constituted by the first clearance W1, the second clearance W2, the first plate 11, and the second plate 13 has a dimension which is at least sufficient for insertion of a joist 57 therein. |
| US08302350B2 |
Fixing structure of opening weather strip for vehicle
A fixing structure of an opening weather strip for a vehicle may include a door frame molding having a variable cross-sectional width and installed at a front end portion of a door frame, an opening weather strip fixing molding having a cross-sectional height, which varies according to the variable width of the door frame molding and installed at a top end portion of the door frame, and the opening weather strip mounted between the opening weather strip fixing molding and the door frame molding and supported upwards by the opening weather strip fixing molding with a predetermined height to match a vehicle body, thus sealing a space between the vehicle body and the door frame. |
| US08302344B2 |
Fishing lure retriever
A lure retriever for retrieving a snagged fishing lure attached to a fishing line includes a hollow central body member having a first threaded end and a second end, and a longitudinal slot extending through part of the central body member, at least one chain member connected to the central body member, and a first end cap having a complementary threaded surface to enable threaded connection to said first threaded end and having a longitudinal slot extending at least through part of the first end cap and wherein when the first cap is connected to the first threaded end the slots can be both positioned in alignment to permit line passage therethrough and nonalignment to prevent line passage therethrough. |
| US08302341B2 |
Stress induced crystallographic phase transformation and texturing in tubular products made of cobalt and cobalt alloys
A method of producing a cobalt-based tubular product includes forming a cobalt or cobalt alloy tubular workpiece having at least about 30% by weight of fcc phase and subjecting the workpiece to at least about a 20% wall reduction at a temperature below a recrystallization temperature of the workpiece using a metal forming process. The metal forming process may include radial forging, rotary swaging, pilgering and/or flowforming. A gun barrel includes a tubular component made of a cobalt-based superalloy material. The component has at least about 25% by weight of hcp phase with basal planes radially oriented perpendicular to an inner diameter of the component. |
| US08302331B2 |
Harness hinge member attachment for snowshoe
The snowshoe has a hinge member for mounting a harness to the snowshoe's frame, the hinge member having a rigid pivot rod for extending between first and second side segments of the frame and comprising opposite first and second end portions, the pivot rod for pivotally receiving the harness. The hinge member also includes a first rigid rod attachment mount having a first frame socket for pivotal attachment to the frame first side segment so as to be pivotable about the frame first side segment, and a first rod socket wherein the rigid pivot rod first end portion is pivotally mounted, the first rod socket being spaced apart from the first frame socket so as to allow the pivot rod to pivot about an axis which is generally parallel to and spaced from the first frame socket. The hinge member further includes a second rigid rod attachment mount having a second frame socket for pivotal attachment to the frame second side segment so as to be pivotable about the frame second side segment, and a second rod socket wherein the rigid pivot rod second end portion is pivotally mounted, the second rod socket being spaced apart from the second frame socket so as to allow the pivot rod to pivot about an axis which is generally parallel to and spaced from the second frame socket. |
| US08302323B2 |
Hemostatic patch
The present disclosure relates to a surgical patch and methods of using the same. The surgical patch includes a body having a substrate, a longitudinal slit bisecting at least a portion of the body, and at least one additional slit extending from the longitudinal slit defining a retractable section. The surgical patch of the disclosure may be used, for example, to provide hemostasis at a site of anastomosis. The present disclosure also provides kits including such surgical patches, as well as templates that permit one to cut the patch to a desired size and/or shape. |
| US08302318B2 |
Aiming system for slingshots and projectile-launching devices
An aiming system is disclosed. The aiming system may be used with various slingshot and projectile-launching devices, but is particularly useful for use with “shoot-over” slingshots. The aiming system comprises a clip or other device with an integrated aiming or sighting system. In the preferred embodiment, the integrated aiming system comprises a plurality of fiber optic strands disposed within the clip and terminating at the rearward face of the clip. In this matter, the tips of the fiber optic strands provide a series of illuminated points allowing the user of a device to look forward while shooting and to align the points with the target. The points may be color coded to aid in the aiming process. |
| US08302315B2 |
Method for operating a hair removal apparatus
An electric hair removal apparatus includes a housing adapted to be held in the hand, a guard cap mounted on the housing for pivotal movement about a pivot axis, and a control element with which a switch can be activated. The control element is arranged inside an at least locally circular recess of the guard cap. The pivot axis of the guard cap is constructed to be eccentric relative to the recess of the guard cap. |
| US08302314B2 |
Method for producing internally or externally profiled rings and arrangement therefor
In a method for manufacturing internally and/or externally profiled rings from pipe material or solid material, machine-cutting processes and forming processes are combined with one another sequentially, parallel, or sequentially and parallel, wherein one of the forming processes is roll forming. During roll forming a counterforce is generated relative to a flow direction of the starting material so that a material flow in at least one of an axial direction and a radial direction of the starting material is controlled such that flowing material is integrated into a profile to be shaped on the ring. |
| US08302313B2 |
Method of manufacturing a base
A method of manufacturing a base includes the following steps. First, a plate is provided. Next, the plate is machined to form a bottom frame. The bottom frame has a bottom portion and a plurality of side walls disposed at the bottom portion. Next, whether the bottom frame is designed for being assembled to a first display panel or a second display panel is determined. The size of the first display panel is different from that of the second display panel. Next, if the bottom frame is designed for being assembled to the first display panel, a pad is formed on the bottom portion of the bottom frame such that a first base is formed. Next, if the bottom frame is designed for being assembled to the second display panel, the bottom portion is punched to form a plurality of barricades such that a second base is formed. |
| US08302312B2 |
Method for producing a fuselage airframe of an aircraft
Disclosed is a method for producing a fuselage of an aircraft, wherein several fuselage sections that are arranged one behind another are joined together, comprises the following steps: a) production of an outer skin segment, the outer skin segment having on the underside a continuous longitudinal opening, b) widening the outer skin segment in order to introduce at least one floor frame, c) joining the outer skin segments to a rigid fuselage section which is already present, with the formation of a partial transverse seam, d) positioning a prefabricated lower shell in the longitudinal opening, in order to close the outer skin segment on the peripheral side, e) completing the partial transverse seam to form a transverse seam and joining the lower shell together with the outer skin segment with the formation of at least two longitudinal seams, and f) joining the floor frame together with the outer skin segment. |
| US08302309B2 |
Process for producing bearing device for wheel
A method is directed to a production of a bearing device for a wheel including an inner member and an outer member rotatable relative to each other through a plurality of rolling elements, in which a component part forming one of the inner member and the outer member is a hot forged product. In the practice of this method, during or at the end of a hot forging step for hot forging the component part, a portion of the component part is cooled by spraying a coolant or by controlling an atmospheric temperature, to thereby render a matrix of the component part to represent a standard structure and render a surface portion of the component part to represent a non-standard structure. |
| US08302308B2 |
Method of forming a printhead
A method of manufacturing a printhead includes providing a polymeric substrate having a surface; providing a patterned material layer on the surface of the polymeric substrate; and removing at least some of the polymeric substrate not covered by the patterned material layer using an etching process. |
| US08302307B2 |
Method of forming protrusions on the inner surface of a tube
A method of forming a plurality of protrusions on the inner surface of a tube to reduce tube side resistance and improve overall heat transfer performance. The method includes cutting through ridges on the inner surface of the tube to create ridge layers and lifting the ridge layers to form the protrusions. In this way, the protrusions are formed without removal of metal from the inner surface of the tube, thereby eliminating debris which can damage the equipment in which the tubes are used. |
| US08302306B2 |
Method for making two-piece catalytic converter with double wall mid-section
An exhaust gas treatment device for internal combustion engines and the like includes inlet and outlet end caps, two catalyst substrates, and a two-piece housing. A first, cylindrically-shaped housing member has a hollow interior in which one of the substrates is retained, a first end sealingly connected with the inlet end cap, and an opposite second end with a radially reduced section. A second cylindrically-shaped housing member has a hollow interior in which the other one of the substrates is retained, a first end sealingly connected with the outlet end cap, and an opposite second end with a radially enlarged section sized to receive therein the second end of the first housing member, whereby the reduced section of the first housing member and the enlarged section of the housing member are spaced radially apart a predetermined distance to define an annularly-shaped space or gap which thermally insulates the associated portion of the exhaust gas treatment device. |
| US08302304B2 |
Wire lock ring insertion tool kit and method
A process is disclosed for inserting a piston pin wire lock ring, particularly Circlips, into a locking groove of a wrist pin bore of a piston. The wire lock ring is radially pre-compressed and thus reduced in size in such a manner that its outside diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the piston wrist pin bore, by insertion of the ring into a sleeve/tube. While still in the sleeve/tube, the wire lock ring is subsequently inserted, in its compressed state, into the pin bore where it is then uncompressed and released into the locking groove of the piston bore through the use of a plunger inserted in the sleeve/tube to push the lock ring past the end of the sleeve/tube. |
| US08302303B2 |
Process for producing a contact piece
The disclosure relates to a method for producing a contact piece, for use in a vacuum interrupter chamber, especially in a low, medium or high voltage vacuum interrupter chamber. The aim of the disclosure is to improve multi-layer contact systems in such a manner that even larger layer thicknesses can be used to improve the electrical properties. For this purpose, the contact piece is comprised of at least two layers of powder-metallurgical pressed green compacts with a solder film inserted thereinbetween, the layers being soldered together in a soldering furnace in a desired relative position to each other at the same time the layers are sintered. |
| US08302299B2 |
Method of manufacturing a multilayer printed circuit board with a built-in electronic device
A method of manufacturing a multilayer printed circuit board of a built-in electronic device provides a substrate having a copper clad laminate and a first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer is laminated onto the copper clad laminate and has a cavity for accommodating the electronic device. A second dielectric layer is laminated onto the substrate and electronic device to produce a base circuit board with an embedded electronic device. A build-up circuit layer is formed on the base circuit board. The first and second dielectric layers are made of a plastic material. |
| US08302298B2 |
Process for fabricating circuit substrate
A process for fabricating a circuit substrate is provided. A patterned conductive layer having an inner pad is provided on a base layer, a dielectric layer is disposed on the base layer and covers the patterned conductive layer, and a covering layer is disposed on the dielectric layer. A part of the covering layer is removed by dry etching to form a first opening. A part of the dielectric layer exposed by the first opening is removed to form a dielectric opening exposing a part of the inner pad. A patterned mask having a second opening to expose a part of the inner pad is formed on the covering layer. A conductive structure including a conductive block filling the dielectric opening, an outer pad filling the first opening and a surplus layer filling the second opening is formed. Finally, the patterned mask, surplus layer and covering layer are removed. |
| US08302295B2 |
Very thin coaxial cable end processing method
A method for processing an end of a very thin coaxial cable which includes sequentially from its center to outer side a center conductor, an inner insulator, a shield conductor formed of a helically wound or a braided conducting wire, and a jacket. The method includes cutting the jacket to expose the shield conductor, cutting a circumferential portion of the exposed shield conductor in plural longitudinal portions of the very thin coaxial cable, and pulling and removing the jacket and the shield conductor between the end of the very thin coaxial cable and a farthest end-processing portion from the end of the very thin coaxial cable, to expose the inner insulator. |
| US08302294B2 |
Method of making a coaxial cable including tubular bimetallic inner layer with folded over edge portions
A method for making a coaxial cable including an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and a dielectric material layer therebetween may include forming the inner conductor by at least forming a bimetallic strip into a tubular bimetallic layer having a pair of longitudinal edge portions at a longitudinal seam. The bimetallic strip may include an inner metal layer and an outer metal layer bonded thereto and coextensive therewith. Each of the longitudinal edge portions may be folded over. The method may also include forming a welded joint between adjacent portions of the folded over longitudinal edge portions and defining surplus material at the welded joint. The method may further include removing the surplus material at the welded joint and forming the dielectric material layer surrounding the inner conductor. The method may also include forming the outer conductor surrounding the dielectric material layer. |
| US08302290B2 |
Apparatus for mounting electronic parts
An apparatus for mounting electronic parts includes a bulk feeder into which electronic parts in a bulk form are introduced, at least one inspection unit to inspect and align the electronic parts directed from the bulk feeder, an electronic part insertion unit to receive the electronic parts which have been completely inspected in the inspection unit, a positioning wheel installed to rotate along the bulk feeder, the inspection unit, and the electronic part inspection unit and serving to transfer the electronic parts, and a part supply unit to pick up the electronic parts received in the part insertion unit. |
| US08302288B2 |
System and method for assembling a closure
A system and method for assembling a closure for a vehicle. The system includes first, second and third closure manipulators adapted to engage different areas of the closure, a first hinge manipulator configured to receive and fasten a first hinge to the closure, and a nab pin manipulator configured to position and secure a nab pin in a fixed position relative to the door and the hinge. |
| US08302286B2 |
Method for manufacturing a stator winding
A stator winding is manufactured by a forming step, a winding step, and a expanding step. In the forming step, an S-shaped offset shape is formed on a conductor part corresponding to a coil end part. Thereby, in a coil end part, it is possible to provide an expected shape stably at the coil end part. The conductor is wound around a bobbin in the winding step. In the winding step, a twisted shape is given to the conductor parts to be the inclined part of the coil end and the conductor part to be accommodated in a slot. In the expanding step, a preform product removed from the bobbin is expanded into a shape of the stator winding. |
| US08302281B2 |
Motor vehicle body assembly apparatus
A method and apparatus for providing motor vehicle sub-assemblies with unrestricted model mix and quick changeover between models. The apparatus includes a track; a carriage mounted for longitudinal movement along the track between first and second positions; and first and second turrets rotatably mounted on the carriage at longitudinally spaced locations and each including a plurality of circumferentially spaced individual faces and unique tooling fixtures on the respective faces for receiving unique work piece components corresponding to a plurality of motor vehicle body styles. |
| US08302280B2 |
Appliance comprising polyurethane foam
An appliance includes a housing having top and bottom panels disposed opposite each other and a plurality of walls connected to the top and bottom panels. The top and bottom panels and the plurality of walls define a cavity of the appliance. The housing also has an outermost surface about which a polyurethane foam is disposed. The polyurethane foam reduces noise and vibrations emitted from the appliance during use and has a density of from 20 to 50 pounds per cubic foot (pcf). The polyurethane foam also has a damping factor of at least 0.2 measured at a temperature of from 40° C. to 60° C. Furthermore, the polyurethane foam has a k-factor of less than 2.0 btu-in/hr-ft2-° F. which reduces an amount of energy required to operate the appliance. The appliance is formed by applying the polyurethane foam to at least one of the top panel, bottom panel, and plurality of walls. |
| US08302276B2 |
Anchor bolt and annularly grooved expansion sleeve assembly exhibiting high pull-out resistance, particularly under cracked concrete test conditions
A wedge-type anchor assembly, capable of meeting cracked concrete testing standards, comprises an anchor bolt component and a substantially C-shaped expansion sleeve component annularly disposed about the anchor bolt component. A plurality of annular grooves, threads, or teeth are disposed only about the forward end portion of the expansion sleeve component, as opposed to throughout the entire axial length thereof, so that when the anchor bolt component is moved axially through the expansion sleeve component, the maximum interference area (M.I.A.) and maximum interference volume (M.I.V.) can be generated between the anchor bolt component and the expansion sleeve component in a controlled and predictable manner, as well as between the expansion sleeve component and the internal peripheral side wall portions of a concrete substrate or substructure can be generated so as to enhance pull-out resistance and reliability of the anchor assembly within the concrete substructure or substrate. |
| US08302267B2 |
Load fixing device
There is provided a load fixing device capable of effectively preventing collapse of burdens stacked in multiple stages by wrapping with a sheet, providing excellent work efficiency, providing large binding force, and excellently stabilizing the fastened burdens.A load fixing device according to the present invention includes a belt-like sheet having a predetermined length to be wounded around an outer periphery of loads; a first fastening section provided at an upper part in a width direction of a first end of the belt-like sheet and having an engagement means; a first-fastening-section passing section provided at the upper part in the width direction of a second end of the belt-like sheet; a second fastening section provided at a lower part in the width direction of the second end of the belt-like sheet and having an engagement means; and a second-fastening-section passing section provided at the lower part in the width direction of the first end of the belt-like sheet. |
| US08302261B2 |
Electronic device and hinge thereof
A hinge comprises a rotatable bracket, a fixed bracket, a torsion spring, a locknut element and a shaft penetrating through the rotatable bracket, the fixed bracket, the spring and the locknut element. The rotatable bracket forms a through hole therein. The hinge further comprises an elastic hook and a driving element. The elastic hook is inserted into the through hole of the rotatable bracket to lock the electronic device when the electronic device is closed. A driving element mounted in the main body receives an operation of the user to push the elastic hook out of the through hole in order to open the electronic device. |
| US08302259B2 |
Spring hinge for spectacles
A spring hinge for spectacles includes a housing, a hinge element, at least one spring element, and a blocking body. The housing has a recess which at least partially accommodates the hinge element, the at least one spring element, and the blocking body. The spring element and the blocking body are coupled directly to one another. At least one spring element subjects the blocking body to a prestress force on account of which the blocking body can be displaced out of an unlocking position into a locking position in which it interacts with a locking surface. |
| US08302253B2 |
Cyclone separation dust cup and vacuum cleaner using the same
A cyclone separation dust cup, which includes a cup body and a cyclone tube, the cyclone tube being provided with an air inlet, an ash ejection outlet, and an air exhaust outlet; and the ash ejection outlet communicates with a dust storage cavity in the cup body, the air exhaust outlet with an air outlet positioned on the cup body through an air exhaust pipe, and the dust storage cavity with the air exhaust pipe. The dust storage cavity, by communicating with the air exhaust pipe, enables part of the air current entering the cyclone tube to enter the dust storage cavity in the cup body, thus producing suction in the ash ejection outlet of the cyclone tube that can draw the dust into the dust storage cavity. This enables the impurities with a lighter weight (e.g. hair and downy floc), which cannot fall into the dust storage cavity under gravity, to be inhaled into the dust storage cavity successfully, thus greatly improving the separating and filtering effect of this cyclone separation dust cup. |
| US08302248B2 |
Handheld vacuum attachment with ultraviolet light
A vacuum cleaner attachment and a method of control of the vacuum cleaner attachment are described. The vacuum cleaner attachment comprises an ultraviolet light source to irradiate and disinfect various cleaning surfaces. Various embodiments of the attachment include one or more safety features concerning activation, enabling, and disabling of the ultraviolet light source based on various parameters such as distance between the attachment and a cleaning surface, time that such a distance is greater than a predetermined time period, and temperature of the ultraviolet light source in order to enable safe and effective operation of the attachment. |
| US08302247B2 |
Releasable paint roller cover retainer
A paint roller including a roller cover retainer that is releasable to permit a roller cover to be easily removed. The device includes a locking lever pivotable relative to the frame which actuates retainers located within the roller assembly. The locking lever also exerts an axial force adapted to disengage the roller cover from the roller assembly when the retainer is disengaged. A used roller cover can be removed without the need to grasp the used roller cover. Installation of a roller cover onto the roller assembly automatically engages the retainers and shifts the locking lever into the locked position. |
| US08302246B2 |
Hair brush with retractable bristles
A hair brush includes a brush head and a bristle/handle assembly. The head includes a cylindrical barrel with a plurality of apertures in it, and the bristle/handle assembly includes a handle and a bristle tree assembly. The bristle tree assembly includes a central bristle rod, a plurality of bristles radially extending from the rod, and a connecting rod extending between the bristle rod and the handle. The bristle rod is positioned within the barrel, and the bristles extend through the barrel apertures in an extended position. The brush head and the bristle/handle assembly are not attached to each other, and instead they slide longitudinally relative to each other. When the handle and the barrel are slid apart from each other, the bristle rod travels with the handle to retract the bristles to a retracted positioned further within the barrel. |
| US08302245B2 |
Retainer for mop
A mop with a handle includes a plurality of mop fibers coupled to the handle. The mop includes a grip mounted on the handle, and a collar that is slidably positioned on the handle. The collar can be secured to the grip when not in use. The collar may include one or more tabs with a ramp for engagement with a ridge located on the grip that, in operation, allows for detachably coupling of the collar to the grip. The ramp is configured so that it extends a sufficient distance from the tab so as to cause the tab to flex when the collar is attached to the grip. In operation, a user can uncouple the collar from the grip and slide the collar over the mop fibers and use the collar to wring the mop fibers. |
| US08302242B2 |
Apparatus and method for cleaning substrates/media disks
An apparatus and method for cleaning workpieces (5) using two pairs of substantially vertical rotating roller brushes (15) at each brush station whereby rotation of said brushes (15) propel workpieces (5) from one brush station to the next. Workpieces (5) are held for a predetermined period of time at each station by edgewheels (30, 31) which also rotate the workpieces (5). Cleaning fluid is sprayed onto workpieces (5) as they rotate to assist in removing particulate contamination. Method involves inserting a single workpiece (5) in between two pairs of rotating roller brushes (15) which scrub said workpiece as it is rotated by a pair of edgewheels (30, 31). There may be a divider shield (9) in between each brush station to prevent a large proportion of particulate matter and used cleaning fluid from traveling between the brush stations. |
| US08302241B2 |
Wheel washer
A wheel washer includes a frame. The wheel washer also includes a arm attachable to the frame, the arm being capable of movement with respect to the frame. The wheel washer further includes a brush attachable to the arm, the brush being capable of movement both in and out with respect to a surface of the frame and being capable of rotation in either a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction. The arm can be an articulated arm or a multi-axis arm. |
| US08302238B2 |
Motorized toothbrush tip having inner and other heads counter around different axes
A toothbrush tip for a motorized toothbrush with a first brush head and a second brush head. The second brush head encircles the first brush head. The first and second brush heads has different axes of rotation. The first and second brush heads are driven by an elongated shaft. The shaft engages the second brush head. Interactive gear teeth associated with each first and second brush heads allows the first and second brush heads to rotate at opposite direction, upon being driven by the shaft. |
| US08302231B2 |
Medical unit attachment system and method
An attachment system and method for attaching a medical unit to a transport using connection brackets. The medical unit attaches to the connection brackets and restricts the movement of the medical unit during transportation. Use of the connection brackets enables quick and efficient attachment and removal of the medical unit from the transport. A connection bracket may be placed at one end of the transport and the medical unit may be attached to the connection bracket. Once the medical unit is placed on the transport, another connection bracket may be attached to the medical unit and connected to the transport. After the second connection bracket is connected, the medical unit can be transported to another location. |
| US08302229B1 |
Furniture cushion
A furniture cushion comprises a matrix of interconnected pocketed springs, each spring of which is contained within a pocket of fabric, and a fiber pad overlying an upper surface of the matrix of pocketed springs, the fiber pad having a first layer in contact with the upper surface of the matrix of pocketed springs and a second layer in contact with the first layer, the first layer having a first density and said second layer having a second density, the first density being greater than the second density. |
| US08302226B2 |
Negative pressure care bed
A negative pressure care bed, including at least a worktable, an armrest, a rocking bed having an upper bed surface and a lower bed surface, a mattress, a body including an upper part and a lower part, multiple excretion holes, a pair of trousers, a bed pan, a waste container having an inlet and an outlet, and a noise reduction oven. The upper part is connected to the lower part via a hinge. A first lifter is disposed on the upper part. A groove is disposed at the bottom of the negative pressure care bed and formed via the worktable and the armrest. The rocking bed is disposed on the groove via multiple bearing supports. The excretion holes are disposed on the mattress and on the lower bed surface of the rocking bed. The trousers are disposed on the excretion hole. The bed pan is disposed in the excretion hole and on the trousers. |
| US08302224B2 |
Bed covering
A bed covering made of a substantially rectangular fabric having a head end, a foot end and an unfolded width. A first series of fastening elements, proximate to the foot end, is arrayed on one side of a center line of the bed covering. A second series of fastening elements, proximate to the foot end and complementary to the first series, is arrayed on an opposing side of the center line. The first and second series of fastening devices allow the bed covering to be placed in a fastened configuration where the width of the foot end of the bed covering is less than the width of the head end of the bed covering. |
| US08302221B1 |
Medical assist device with lift seat
A medical assist device for a patient has a rotatable platform with a seat adjacent the platform and a lift mechanism for moving the seat from a lowered position for supporting a patient to a raised position and likewise able to move said seat from a raised position for supporting a patient to a lowered position. The rotatable platform can be rotated only if the seat is in the lowered position and the lift mechanism for raising the seat can be actuated only if the rotatable platform is in a predetermined position at which an open space between support bars is facing the seat. |
| US08302217B2 |
Valve mechanism for controlling release of pressurized fluid
A valve mechanism for controlling release of pressurized fluid includes a fluid chamber. A plunger is received in an aperture in the fluid chamber, and is movable between a fluid retention position in which fluid is substantially trapped in the fluid chamber and a fluid release position in which fluid can escape from the fluid chamber through passages in the plunger. The plunger is biased into the fluid retention position. A driver drives a plunger actuator, and the plunger actuator is guided into engagement with the plunger to cause the plunger and the plunger actuator to move in unison and move the plunger into the fluid release position during a first portion of a stroke of the driver towards the fluid chamber, and the plunger actuator is further guided to permit the plunger to return to the fluid retention position during a second portion of the stroke. |
| US08302215B2 |
Glove and manufacturing method thereof
A glove which can ensure flexibility thereof and can prevent peeling-off of a resin film formed on a surface of a glove base body is provided. Also provided is a manufacturing method of the glove. The glove (G) includes a glove base body (1) constituted of a knitted glove, a first resin film layer (2) formed on a surface of the glove base body (1), and a second resin film layer (3) formed on the first resin film layer (2). The first resin film layer (2) and the second resin film layer (3) cover a palm portion and side portions of the glove base body (1), a palm side and side parts of respective fingers, and areas ranging from fingertip portions to a back portion of the glove base body (1) including the fingertip portions. An uncovered back portion (4) where a resin film layer is not present is formed on a remaining portion of the back portion. The second resin film layer (3) is formed on the first resin film layer (2) in an overlapping manner. A peripheral portion (31) of the second resin film layer (3) extends beyond a peripheral portion (21) of the first resin film layer (2) and is brought into direct contact with the glove base body (1), and the resin liquid in contact with the glove base body (1) permeates into the inside of the glove base body (1) and forms a peeling-off preventing portion. |
| US08302214B2 |
Breast cancer recovery garment
The breast-cancer recovery system comprises a breast cancer recovery garment, an organizational subsystem and a needs kit. The breast cancer recovery garment comprises a body portion defining an opening, positioned, configured and dimensioned to allow the performance of a breast cancer treatment procedure and a closure device suitable for closing the opening when a procedure is not being performed. The body portion of the garment defines the elongated pocket proximate the bottom edge, extending along the bottom edge and defines slits in at least one of the sleeves. The body portion of the recovery garment comprises of a warm material and/or of decorative pattern. The organizational subsystem comprises a frame configured to support a plurality of color-coded files, and marked with identification tabs which relate to breast cancer patient needs, and customized medical information. A breast cancer patient needs kit comprises a basket-like container, a canvas tote bag, a canvas tote bag with a zipper closure, or a basket and clear wrap around it, at least one drug and/or medication and at least one edible item. |
| US08302212B1 |
Athletic garment
An athletic pants having a body joined to a waist band and legs. A cup pouch accommodating a jock cup is releasably connected to the waist band for adjusting the location of the cup pouch relative to the parts. Knee supports secured to the legs have cushions to protect a person's knees. |
| US08307456B2 |
Systems and methods for a secure guest account
An embodiment relates generally to a method of creating a secure environment in a computer device. The method includes providing a secure guest account in a multi-user operating system and enforcing a policy on the secure account to allow a user to log-in to the secure guest account while preventing access at least one network port of the computer device. The method also includes enforcing a rule to allow the secure guest account access to an application and the at least one network port. |
| US08307453B1 |
Zone breakout detection
Zone breakout detection is disclosed. A system call is monitored. It is determined if the system call stays within a zone in which a process associated with the system call was started. If it is determined the system call does not stay within the zone in which the process associated with the system call was started, appropriate action is taken. |
| US08307452B2 |
Application controlled encryption of web browser cached data
A browser cache-securing component facilitates online communication of confidential data, such as for financial information, purchasing transactions, or user identification. Caching webpages for subsequent presentation enhances user productivity and efficiency while reducing burdens on network resources. Yet, the security risks of intrusions into cache memory are mitigated by retaining encrypted data in cache memory without prior decryption. A modest overhead in decrypting when and if the webpage is to be presented again gains a security and privacy advantage without taking away functionality. Decrypted versions of confidential data can thereby be relegated to volatile memory. Upon termination of a session, a session key shared by a network server is deleted, preventing subsequent decryption. Executing the browser cache-securing component in a virtual machine environment allows multiple browser types to benefit from the security feature. |
| US08307451B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program for supporting determination on degree of confidentiality of document
Determining confidentiality of an office document shared by multiple organizations. Each block of a document data set is stored in association with confidentiality information indicating whether the block is confidential. The document data set is dividable into blocks each being a unit including properties evaluated as having a certain characteristic. A document data set targeted for the confidentiality determination is acquired, and it is determined whether a document data set, including a block similar to each block of the acquired document data set, is stored. If the document data set including the similar block is stored, it is determined whether the confidentiality information indicating that the block is confidential is assigned to the block of the acquired document data corresponding to the similar block. If the confidentiality information indicating that the block is confidential is assigned, the acquired document data set is determined as confidential. |
| US08307450B2 |
Method and system for hiding information in the instruction processing pipeline
A system, article of manufacture and method is provided for transferring secret information from a first location to a second location. The secret information is encoded and stalls in executable code are located. The executable code is configured to perform a predetermined function when executed on a pipeline processor. The encoded information is inserted into a plurality of instructions and the instructions are inserted into the executable code at the stalls. There is no net effect of all of the inserted instructions on the predetermined function of the executable code. The executable code is transferred to the second location. The location of the stalls in the transferred code is identified. The encoded information is extracted from the instructions located at the stalls. The encoded information may then be decoding information to generate the information at the second location. |
| US08307448B2 |
Storage device, storage method, and image display device
When data whose storage period is limited by copy control information is temporarily stored in a removable recording medium, the data are encrypted and decoding information (encryption key) necessary to decrypt the encrypted data is held on the device side. By doing so, the data cannot be used beyond a permitted period of the temporary storage. A storage device has an external input/output I/F for removably connecting a removable recording medium; a reception section for receiving copy control information and data (such as video data), the storage period of which data is limited by the copy control information; an encrypting section for encrypting the received data; and a control section for storing the encrypted data in the removable recording medium and storing decryption information (encryption key), necessary to decrypt the encrypted data, in a place in the storage device, outside the removable recording medium. The data stored in the removable recording medium can be reproduced only by the storage device. |
| US08307442B2 |
Method of preventing infection propagation in a dynamic multipoint virtual private network
A method, apparatus and computer program product for preventing infection propagation in a DMVPN is presented. An infected spoke router site is isolated from the DMVPN network such that the spoke router may (bi-directionally) completely or partially limit communicating with any network devices (including the hub router, any other spoke routers etc.) within the DMVPN which prevents the DMVPN melt-down, isolates a worm-infected spoke router site from the rest of the DMVPN and restricts the spread of the worm within the DMVPN network. |
| US08307440B1 |
Non-blocking shared state in an intrusion-prevention system
A system includes a plurality of deep packet inspection engines for performing deep packet inspection on packets in a network. The deep packet inspection engines share at least some state. One of the deep packet inspection engines is assigned responsibility for writing data to the shared state. For one of the deep packet inspection engines to write data to the shared state, the deep packet inspection write provides a write request to the assigned “writer” deep packet inspection engine, which queues the request on a write queue. The writer deep packet inspection engine may queue multiple write requests from multiple deep packet inspection engines. The writer deep packet inspection engine dequeues the write requests and processes them serially, thereby avoiding the need to manage contention using locks. |
| US08307439B2 |
Add-in card based cheat detection platform for online applications
In general, in one aspect, an add-in card includes inaccessible memory to store an identity key, wherein the identity key is to enable a secure communication link. The add-in card also includes an isolated execution environment and a machine-accessible medium comprising content. The content when executed by the isolated execution environment causes the isolated execution environment to route secure communications between an on-line application and a remote service provider through the isolated execution environment to provide a secure communication link therebetween, detect on-line application code modifications, detect on-line application process flow modifications, and notify, via the secure communication link, the remote service provider when a modification is detected. |
| US08307436B2 |
Transformative rendering of internet resources
Apparatus and method for transforming internet resources into safely rendered versions of the same. The invention provides transformative rendering of internet resources to remove malicious code before displaying in a browser or its associated application. Malicious code blockage is accomplished by re-writing all code that is to be transferred to the client browser. Since malicious code is often disguised (or obfuscated), the invention will not attempt to rewrite the entire code set on the page but will still make available the functionality of that code through frequent interaction between the invention's rendering processor and the client browser. |
| US08307433B2 |
Client side username/password credential protection
A method of protecting username/password (U/P) credentials operates on a client computer that cooperates with an anti-phishing scheme that generates a client warning at the client computer when a suspected phishing website issues a U/P request. At the client computer, a set of S fake U/P credentials is generated when the client warning is heeded, or a set of (S−1) fake U/P credentials are derived from a client-supplied U/P credential provided after the client warning is ignored. The client computer then transmits to the suspected phishing website one of (i) the set of S fake U/P credentials, and (ii) the client-supplied U/P credential along with the set of (S−1) fake U/P credentials. |
| US08307431B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying phishing websites in network traffic using generated regular expressions
According to an aspect of this invention, a method to detect phishing URLs involves: creating a whitelist of URLs using a first regular expression; creating a blacklist of URLs using a second regular expression; comparing a URL to the whitelist; and if the URL is not on the whitelist, comparing the URL to the blacklist. False negatives and positives may be avoided by classifying Internet domain names for the target organization as “legitimate”. This classification leaves a filtered set of URLs with unknown domain names which may be more closely examined to detect a potential phishing URL. Valid domain names may be classified without end-user participation. |
| US08307430B1 |
Method and system for UDP flood attack detection
A system and method is provided to identify UDP attacks. A processor determines a spectral density of packet timing intervals, a natural distance between the spectral density and a uniform distribution, and a non-linear amplifier applying a non-linear amplification to the natural distance to detect a denial-of-service attack. It uses the concept of traffic statistics analysis, i.e., spectral densities of arrived-packet timing intervals, calculates the KL-distance measurement and makes decision based on the output of a non-linear Gaussian amplifier, with which one can easily adjust the amplifier via selecting different parameters of mean and variance to satisfy system requirements of false-positive and false-negative UDP attack detections. |
| US08307429B2 |
System and method of generically detecting the presence of emulated environments
A method of determining that protected software is running in a virtualized environment includes obtaining a set of baseline measurements of system call timings in native operating system environments. Statistical thresholds are established based on the baseline measurements such that there is a predetermined probability that protected software running in a native environment will experience system call durations that exceed the thresholds. The protected software is analyzed and instructions are incorporated within the software such that particular system calls, demonstrated to be differentiating using the set of baseline measurements and the threshold analysis, are executed during the normal running of the protected software. The incorporated instructions are used to estimate the parameter values that are to be compared with the established statistical thresholds. Repeated comparisons of the estimates obtained during the normal running of the protected software are executed to determine whether the software is running in a virtualized environment. |
| US08307426B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling the use of processing algorithms, and applications thereof
The present invention provides systems and methods for controlling the use of processing algorithms, and applications thereof. In an embodiment, authorization to use an algorithm is validated in a system having a processor capable of executing user defined instructions, by executing a user defined instruction that writes a first value to a first storage of a user defined instruction block, uses the first value to transform a second value located in a second storage of the user defined instruction block, and compares the transformed second value to a third value located in a third storage. Use of the algorithm is permitted only if the comparison of the transformed second value to the third value indicates that use of the algorithm is authorized. In another embodiment, authorization to use an at least partially decrypted algorithm is validated via a key for enablement. |
| US08307425B2 |
Portable computer accounts
User accounts, authentication information and user home directories are stored on an external storage media that can be transferred from one device to another. Measures are included for detecting tampering of stored information and for preventing possibly conflicting or damaging account and file information from entering a host device. |
| US08307423B2 |
Migrating a network to tunnel-less encryption
A method comprises, in a network comprising VPN gateway devices configured only for plaintext data communication, configuring a policy server with a security policy including DO NOT ENCRYPT statements temporarily overriding PERMIT statements defining which packets should be encrypted; selecting one sub-group of the VPN gateway devices in which tunnel-less encryption is not configured; configuring of the VPN gateway devices in the sub-group for tunnel-less encryption by: configuring each device in a passive mode of operation in which the device is configured to receive either encrypted packets or plaintext packets matching encryption policy; configuring local DO NOT ENCRYPT statements matching traffic that is currently being converted to ciphertext; removing, from the access control list of the policy server, DO NOT ENCRYPT statements referring to protected LAN CIDR blocks behind the VPN gateway devices in the selected sub-group; configuring the sub-group to send encrypted packets by removing, from each of the VPN gateway devices in the selected sub-group, the local DO NOT ENCRYPT statements for the CIDR blocks currently being converted and protected by the selected sub-group; repeating the configuring each of the VPN gateway devices in the selected sub-group for tunnel-less encryption, and the configuring the sub-group to send encrypted packets, for each other one of the sub-groups; and removing the passive mode on each of the VPN gateway devices. |
| US08307416B2 |
Data structures for use in firewalls
A system-on-chip (SOC) that includes a plurality of initiator components, and a target memory component coupled to the initiator components and having a target firewall, wherein the target firewall is configured to be programmed with a data structure which indicates, for at least one portion of the target memory component, access conditions for each initiator component. |
| US08307415B2 |
Safe hashing for network traffic
Secure network communications between a source computer and a destination computer utilizing a firewall. The firewall determines a remote endpoint and the local physical memory address associated with a local endpoint included in the outbound request. The remote endpoint and the local physical memory address are hashed to generate an index value corresponding to an entry in an internal state table of the firewall. When an inbound request is received, the firewall determines a remote endpoint and the local physical memory address associated with a local endpoint included in the inbound request. The remote endpoint and the local physical memory address of the inbound request are hashed to generate an index value corresponding to an entry in the internal state table of the firewall. The firewall forwards the inbound request to the local endpoint if a matching entry is found in the internal state table at the index value. |
| US08307407B2 |
Selectable captchas
A system for displaying a set of selectable CAPTCHAs produces a first set of CAPTCHAs whose images are based at least partially on an alphanumeric sequence, where a respective CAPTCHA in the first set is associated with a CAPTCHA property. The system also produces a second set of CAPTCHAs whose images are based at least partially on an alphanumeric sequence, where a respective CAPTCHA in the second set is not associated with a CAPTCHA property. Next, the system displays the first and second sets of CAPTCHAs. Finally, the system makes respective CAPTCHAs in the first and second sets of CAPTCHAs selectable, thereby allowing a user to pass a CAPTCHA challenge by distinguishing the first set of CAPTCHAs from the second set of CAPTCHAs without typing the words associated with the images. |
| US08307406B1 |
Database application security
A method allows access to a set of secure databases and database applications over an untrusted network without replicating the secure database. The method involves authenticating a user using a first authentication application. When the user is verified, then the user's credentials are directed to a second authentication application associated with a secure database based on a first set of user settings retrieved for the user. The second authentication application, based on a second set of user settings, grants the user access to the secure database and database applications associated with the secure database. |
| US08307404B2 |
Policy-management infrastructure
Described herein are one or more implementations of a policy-management infrastructure that provides a universal policy-based solution across a spectrum of scenarios in a computing environment. At least one implementation of the policy-management infrastructure defines how policy-based data is structured or layered relative towards the data in other layers. Furthermore, a described implementation provides a mechanism for determining “overlap” and “conflicts” in policies. |
| US08307400B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and data processing method
A method of processing data in a transmitter includes separating ensembles including mobile service data; building a Reed-Solomon (RS) frame including the mobile service data, dividing the built RS frame into RS frame portions; encoding signaling data including fast information channel (FIC) data including cross layer information for mobile service acquisition and transport parameter channel (TPC) data including FIC version information for identifying an update of the FIC data, wherein the TPC data is RS-encoded at a first code rate, and the FIC data is block-interleaved after being RS-encoded at a second code rate; forming a data group including data of an RS frame portion and the signaling data; and transmitting a broadcast signal including the formed data group. |
| US08307398B2 |
Apparatus for receiving and displaying cellular television content and method for billing for same
An apparatus and method are provided for receiving and displaying cellular television content. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a wireless communication device for establishing a connection to a wireless telecommunications network and for receiving video content over the connection. The apparatus includes a processor for receiving the cellular television content and the television signal. The processor generates a signal for display on a video display screen from the television signal and the video content. A video display screen is also provided in the apparatus for displaying the signal. The apparatus may also include a remote control interface and a remote control device that includes a keypad for establishing a wireless telephone call through the apparatus over the wireless telecommunications network. The apparatus may alternatively include an interface for receiving and communicating with a wireless telephone capable of establishing a connection to a wireless telecommunications network and receiving cellular television. |
| US08307393B2 |
Method of processing non-real time service and broadcast receiver
A method of processing a non-real time service of a broadcast receiver, which receives and processes a service being transmitted in non-real time, and a broadcast receiver are disclosed. Herein, the method of processing a non-real time service of a broadcast receiver includes receiving a signaling information table including additional information on contents configuring a non-real time service and a content identifier for each content, acquiring the additional information on contents and the content identifier for each content from the signaling information table, storing contents being downloaded through a FLUTE or an internet in a storage medium, based upon the additional information on contents and the content identifier for each content, and displaying a list of recordings including the contents stored in the storage medium, wherein a list of recordings screen displaying the list of recordings includes at least one of a content name, a channel name, a date of recording, and a content size. |
| US08307388B2 |
Automatic adjustment of devices in a home entertainment system
A method of detecting missing devices in a home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub includes obtaining a registration of at least one device that includes a source device. An instruction is received from a user to present program content from the source device. A set of one or more sink devices missing from the home entertainment system for a presentation of the program content based on an assessment by the wireless home entertainment hub of presentation capabilities of the home entertainment system using the at least one device registered with the wireless home entertainment hub is determined. The set of one or more sink devices is presented to the user. |
| US08307387B2 |
Disk case and determining method thereof
It is an object of the invention to provide a disk case capable of easily determining a disk without changing hardware of a drive unit. A disk case of the present invention includes a case body in which a disk is held, an opening through which a portion of the disk is exposed, a shutter for opening and closing the opening, and a bridge portion located at an outer periphery of the disk and at the opening, wherein a dent having a diameter greater than an inner peripheral diameter of the bridge portion is formed at a position of a pickup moving path of the bridge portion. |
| US08307385B2 |
Mounting device for disk in spindle motor
A spindle motor including a base, a bearing housing supported on the base, a bearing provided within the bearing housing, a rotating shaft rotatably supported by the bearing, a stator including a core fixed to the bearing housing and coils wound around the core, a rotor including a rotor yoke fixed to the rotating shaft, and a first magnet installed on the rotor yoke facing the stator, a turntable positioned on the rotor yoke, rotating together with the rotating shaft, a center guide member coupled to the rotating shaft at an upper side of the turntable, an elastic member disposed between the turntable and the center guide member for elastically supporting the center guide member. |
| US08307376B2 |
Auxiliary output device, portable computer having the same, and method for switching operating systems of the same
A method for switching from an OS of a portable computer to another OS of an auxiliary output device, and the portable computer containing the auxiliary output device, are discussed. According to an embodiment, the auxiliary input/output device includes a control unit configured to control a data storage unit of the portable computer once an OS switching signal is generated in a main device of the portable computer; and an interface unit configured to enable communication between the main device and the auxiliary input/output device, wherein in response to the OS switching signal, the control unit is configured to execute a task that a main controller of the main device has been executing. |
| US08307374B2 |
Methods and apparatus for service and network management event correlation
Service and network management events are correlated, enabling a user to correlate all the application and network events that stem from a common fault without requiring repeated and exhaustive capturing of detailed knowledge of the network assets, the topological relationships and all possible events. |
| US08307367B2 |
Smart scheduling of automatic partition migration by the use of timers
Partition migrations are scheduled between virtual partitions of a virtually partitioned data processing system. The virtually partitioned data processing system is a tickless system in which a periodic timer interrupt is not guaranteed to be sent to the processor at a defined time interval. A request is received for a partition migration. Gaps between scheduled timer interrupts are identified. The partition migration is then scheduled to occur within the largest gap. |
| US08307364B2 |
Multi-threaded annotator for hypertext information
The present invention relates to a system for handling client/server traffic and communications pertaining to the delivery of hypertext information to a client. The system includes a central server which processes a request for a web page from a client. The system operates by receiving a request for a web page from a client. If information for the requested web page is available in a cache, it is forwarded to the client. Otherwise, the relevant information for the requested web page is retrieved from the pertinent server and processed to generate additional relevant information for creating an annotated version of the requested web page which includes additional displayable hypertext information. In handling its communications with various processing/storage entities, the operating system running behind the central server utilizes a pool of persistent threads and an independent task queue to improve the efficiency of the central server. |
| US08307362B1 |
Resource allocation in a virtualized environment
In a virtualized environment, provisioned virtual machines may be migrated between different servers as needed and, accordingly, may be clustered according to particular configurations and requirements. The system described herein provides techniques for controlling the provisioning of users' virtual machines among clusters based on determined requirements obtained from users' service level agreements (SLAs) and in accordance with an optimized allocation of resources to service the processes corresponding to the virtual machines. The provisioning of virtual machines according to the system described herein may be dynamically controlled and allow for over-provisioning of virtual machines to a cluster beyond that which would normally be supported at the cluster absent the provisioning control techniques provided by the system described herein. The over-provisioning may be controllable according to specific requirements identified in each user's SLA. |
| US08307360B2 |
Caching binary translations for virtual machine guest
In one embodiment, a method comprises in response to an intercept of a first instruction in a guest that is controlled by a virtual machine monitor (VMM), updating first tracking data corresponding to the first instruction in an intercept tracking table; determining, from the first tracking data, that a translation of the first instruction into a first routine is to be performed; and caching the first routine to be executed in response to a subsequent intercept of the first instruction, wherein the first routine is formed from instructions defined in a same instruction set architecture as the first instruction. In some embodiments, a routine for an intercepted instruction that is within a merge window of the first instruction in a guest may be merged into the same routine with the first instruction. |
| US08307359B1 |
Embedded virtual storage area network using a virtual block network fabric
Described are a system and method of embedding a virtual storage area network on an electronic device. A virtual machine runs on the electronic device. The virtual machine provides a virtual storage target for responding to block storage requests from storage initiators. A virtual fabric is coupled between the virtual machine and an external storage area network (SAN). The virtual fabric routes a storage request from a storage initiator to the virtual storage target. |
| US08307358B1 |
Method and system for unattended installation of guest operating system
A method and system for an unattended installation of any type of a guest operating system (GOS) on a Virtual Machine (VM). Proposed method and system allow users to create an executable script, which provides automation of any GOS installation on the VM. User actions, such as mouse clicks and keyboard strokes, performed during GOS installation are recorded. The delays, time periods between clicks and strokes are recorded as well. All of this information is incorporated into an executable script. The script, when executed, simulates/reproduces GOS action sequence. This sequence reflects the behavior of GOS itself executed on a VM. The executable script is OS-independent and runs on top of system OS. |
| US08307352B2 |
Classpath optimization in a Java runtime environment
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable program are provided by the aspects of the present invention. Aspects of the present invention identify required classes of a software program in the import statements in the source code. Next, the aspects of the present invention identify an element in a classpath environment variable that contain only the required classes and generate a new classpath environment variable with the identified element. Aspects of the present invention then store the new classpath environment variable in a classpath file that is specific to the software program for subsequent invocation. |
| US08307351B2 |
System and method for performing code provenance review in a software due diligence system
A system and method is provided for performing code provenance review in a software due diligence system. In particular, performing code provenance review may include sub-dividing source code under review and third-party source into logical fragments using a language-independent text fracturing algorithm. For example, the fracturing algorithm may include a set of heuristic rules that account for variations in coding style to create logical fragments that are as large as possible without being independently copyrightable. Unique fingerprints may then be generated for the logical fragments using a fingerprint algorithm that features arithmetic computation. As such, potentially related source code may be identified if sub-dividing the source code under review and the third-party source code produces one or more logical fragments that have identical fingerprints. |
| US08307349B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for internationalizing user interface control layouts
Methods, systems, and computer program products internationalize a user interface (UI) control layout for an application by extracting a translatable text resource comprising a pattern of a message for performing the control layout from a source code of the application. Language information is received that is indicative of one or more languages for the UI control layout. Based upon the received language information, the pattern is constructed and dynamically laid out at run time for graphical presentation to one or more users. The graphical presentation is used to implement the UI control layout in accordance with the one or more languages. |
| US08307340B2 |
Hardware abstraction in embedded systems
A system and a machine-implemented method are provided. The system may include a platform, in which one or more application domains may be specified. At least some of the application domains may abstract a hardware device. Partitioning of the system into a number of independent applications with fixed public interfaces may provide each application domain with isolation, or protection, from other application domains. Application domains may be specified via programming language constructs. An application, within one application domain, may access a hardware device, or software, in another application domain via similar generic interfaces provided in a managed code environment enforced by the platform. |
| US08307339B2 |
Software reuse in model based software systems
In a model based software system, a set of business rules is scanned, and patterns are identified. The patterns are then compared, and similarities identified which indicate that software can be reused in the system. In one embodiment, identifiers of the rules are scanned. In another embodiment, usage patterns are used for designing a middle layer and generating code. In another embodiment of the invention, a data model is generated by capturing data from a user interface for a business document. |
| US08307338B2 |
Converting rules in a rule-based system to ontological information
A method and system provides one or more product type descriptions, and constructs a map between the sub-conditions of the product type descriptions and constructs in a Web Ontological Language (OWL). The method converts the product type description rules into new OWL classes by creating a new OWL class for each corresponding rule; adding the new OWL class to the OWL ontology; for each condition of the corresponding rule, extracting sub-conditions; for each the sub-condition extracted; creating new constructs for the new OWL class using the map; and adding new class restrictions to the new OWL class, wherein each of the new class restrictions relates to a corresponding condition of the corresponding rule. |
| US08307337B2 |
Parallelization and instrumentation in a producer graph oriented programming framework
Embodiments of parallelization and/or instrumentation in a producer graph oriented programming framework have been presented. In one embodiment, a request to run an application program is received, wherein object-oriented source code of the application program includes methods and producer dependency declarations, wherein the producer dependency declaration for a given method identifies a set of zero or more producers with outputs that are an input to the given method, wherein a producer is at least an instance and a method associated with that instance. Further, execution of the application program may be parallelized based on dependency between producers of the application program using the runtime. In some embodiments, the application program is instrumented using the runtime. |
| US08307335B2 |
Determination of a set of candidate code insertions for insertion in program code
A code assistance feature provides a user with a set of suggested program code insertions at a given point in the program code being edited. For example, in response to a user command, the feature identifies syntactically correct possible insertions derived from a search for insertions of a compatible type. The feature identifies members in the set of possible code insertions that can be expanded via a field dereference or subroutine call to provide further possible code insertions for selection by the user. |
| US08307334B2 |
Method for assisting a user in the process of creating software code
A method for assisting a user in creating software code. In one implementation, the method includes receiving user input editing software code through a code editor, in which the software code is associated with a programming language having a plurality of software constructs. The method further includes receiving user input invoking a code assistant associated with the code editor. The code assistant comprises a plurality of panels that correspond to the plurality of software constructs. One or more of the plurality of panels contain a set of user-selectable options associated with a given software construct to assist the user in editing the software code. |
| US08307327B2 |
Using customizable templates to retrieve and display a system configuration topology graph
A method, system, and computer program product for implementing a customizable visual configuration (VC) template to retrieve and display a working set of system configuration objects. The computer-implementable method includes selecting a current system configuration object. Once a system configuration object is selected, a VC utility examines all available VC templates. The VC utility displays available VC templates whose starting configuration object matches the selected current system configuration object. In response to a selected VC template, the VC utility retrieves and displays system configuration objects defined by the selected VC template. |
| US08307321B2 |
Method for dummy metal and dummy via insertion
A method for dummy metal and dummy via insertion is provided. In one embodiment, dummy metals are inserted using a place and route tool, where the place and route tool has timing-awareness. Then, dummy vias arrays are inserted inside an overlap area of dummy metals using a design-rule-checking utility. Fine-grained dummy vias arrays are inserted in available space far away from main patterns. The dummy-patterns resulting from the inserted dummy vias are compressed using the design-rule-checking utility to reduce the size of a graphic data system file generated from the integrated circuit design. The dummy vias can be inserted with relaxed via spacing rules. The dummy metals are inserted with a constant line-end spacing between them for better process control and the maximum length of the dummy metal can be limited for smaller coupling effects. The dummy vias can have various sizes and a square or rectangular shape. |
| US08307319B2 |
Integrated circuit reliability
A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit having minimized electromigration effect, wherein the integrated circuit comprises one or more interconnect, said the or each interconnect comprising a dielectric layer having an intrinsic parameter at a first defined value, characterized in that said method comprises: identifying one or more characteristics of the or each interconnect; determining a minimal process distance from the or each interconnect for the application of one or more first metal elements; calculating a required correction parameter which can correct the intrinsic parameter at said first defined value; calculating a required number of the first metal elements which have the intrinsic parameter at a second defined value, such that the second defined value provides the required correction parameter for the first defined value; applying a plurality of said first metal elements around the interconnect at said minimum process distance to overcome the problem of electromigration caused by the intrinsic parameter at the first defined value. |
| US08307316B2 |
Reducing critical cycle delay in an integrated circuit design through use of sequential slack
A method is provided that includes: determining a minimum clock cycle that can be used to propagate a signal about the critical cycle in a circuit design; wherein the critical cycle is a cycle in the design that has a highest proportionality of delay to number of registers; determining for a circuit element in the circuit design, sequential slack associated with the circuit element; wherein the sequential slack represents a minimum delay from among respective maximum delays that can be added to respective structural cycles of which the circuit element is a constituent, based upon the determined limit upon clock cycle duration; using the sequential slack to ascertain sequential optimization based design flexibility throughout multiple stages of a design flow. |
| US08307314B2 |
Write error verification method of writing apparatus and creation apparatus of write error verification data for writing apparatus
A write error verification method of a writing apparatus verifying a write error after a write operation being started in the writing apparatus to which layout data containing a figure pattern to be formed is input and which forms the figure pattern on a target object based on the layout data input, the write error verification method includes: if a write error occurs in a process between input of the layout data into the writing apparatus and inspection of the target object on which the figure pattern is formed, selecting a part of the layout data necessary for operation of a function that has caused the write error; extracting parts of the layout data corresponding to a selected part of the layout data for all of a plurality of portions of the target object if a pattern indicated by the selected part of the layout data is arranged at the plurality of portions of the target object; creating verification data by deleting at least one parts extracted for at least one portions other than a portion that has caused the write error from extracted parts of the layout data and by using remaining data; and reproducing the operation of the function that has caused the write error using the verification data to output a result of the reproducing. |
| US08307313B2 |
Minimizing memory array representations for enhanced synthesis and verification
Mechanisms are provided in a design environment for minimizing memory array representations for enhanced synthesis and verification. The design environment comprises one mechanism to compress the width of arrays using disconnected pin information. The design environment comprises another mechanism to simplify the enable conditions of array ports using “don't care” computations. The design environment comprises yet another mechanism to reduce address pins from an array through analysis of limitations of readable addresses. |
| US08307311B2 |
System and method for assisting circuit design
A system and method for assisting printed circuit board design are characterized by a circuit pre-configuration interface capable of synchronously performing circuit design and performing pre-configuration layout of electronic parts in the circuitry to thereby solve a known problem, wherein engineers spend considerable time arranging electronic parts at a late stage due to layout engineers' unfamiliarity with a circuit's characteristics. The circuit pre-configuration interface also directly adjusts and modifies electronic parts in the finalized circuitry, thereby providing a data exchange platform for the circuit design software and circuit layout software to increase the circuit layout efficiency. |
| US08307310B2 |
Pattern generating method, method of manufacturing semiconductor device, computer program product, and pattern-shape-determination-parameter generating method
A pattern generating method includes: extracting, from a shape of a pattern generated on a substrate, a contour of the pattern shape; setting evaluation points as verification points for the pattern shape on the contour; calculating curvatures on the contour in the evaluation points; and verifying the pattern shape based on whether the curvatures satisfy a predetermined threshold set in advance. |
| US08307308B2 |
Updating assets rendered in a virtual world environment based on detected user interactions in another world
A virtual world controller receives an identifier of a detected interaction by a user within another world, separate from a particular virtual world environment accessible by the user, from a device that detects and reports user interactions within the other world. The virtual world controller identifies at least one particular trigger tag name assigned to the identifier of the detected interaction from among a plurality of separate detectable user interactions in a trigger tag database. The virtual world controller identifies at least one particular asset class from among a plurality of asset classes specified with the particular trigger tag name within a particular trigger asset coupling from among at least one trigger asset coupling in a trigger asset coupling database. The virtual world controller accesses at least one particular asset assigned to the at least one particular asset class in an asset class database. The virtual world controller renders the at least one particular asset within the particular virtual world environment in a virtual location within the particular virtual world triggered by the particular trigger asset coupling. |
| US08307307B2 |
Method for prompting user confirmation
Prompting user confirmation of an action in a display window on a display of a mobile electronic device including displaying a pair of soft key icons, receiving a request to initiate an action from a user and displaying a confirmation message to confirm that a user wishes to proceed with the action. When the confirmation message is displayed, the pair of soft key icons are modified to create a pair of updated soft key icons. The receiving of the request may include detection of a soft key event. The updated soft key icons provide a first response and a second response to the confirmation message for selection by the user. The soft key icons and updated soft key icons may be displayed at the bottom portion of the display in a manner that does not obstruct the display window. |
| US08307304B2 |
Screen processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer program product
A storage unit stores an item to be displayed on a display screen and a display order indicating a screen transition until a display of the display screen in a hierarchical structure. An input processing unit inputs screen definition data including an additional item to be added to the display screen and a display order for the additional item. A registering unit registers the display order and the additional item included in the screen definition data in the storage unit. A creating unit creates a display screen including a display order for the display screen and the item and the additional item associated with the display order in the storage unit. |
| US08307299B2 |
Virtual office management system
A virtual office management system has an image output module that displays as a single view web page. A series of defined sections are included in the single view web page, a defined section being a divisible frame capable of displaying separate content within that divisible frame, a physical office module, a desktop module, and a resource module. The physical office module is connected to the single view web page and displayed within the divisible frame, the physical office module providing a layered physical office environment with tags assigned to file directories. The desktop module is connected to the single view web page and displayable through the divisible frame, the desktop module being linkable to content of a pre-determined file directory that is then displayed as a system file folder, and changeable through assigned tags associated with the layered physical office environment. The resource module is connected to the single view web page through a series of separate embedded links, the links individually layered into another frame of the single view web page and connected to both internal and external content. |
| US08307294B2 |
System and method for enabling assisted visual development of workflow for application tasks
A method of enabling assisted visual development of workflow for an application task. A workflow wizard provides a tasking page from which a user selects a desired one of a plurality of candidate tasks. The workflow wizard then provides a data selection page from which the user selects a desired set of data components from a plurality of candidate data components. A target selection page is then provided, from which the user can select a desired one of a plurality of candidate objects. Finally, an assignment page is provided, to enable the user to specify a detailed assignment relationship between the selected set of data components and fields of the selected target. The workflow wizard then auto-generates code that, when executed, will implement the selected task using the selected set of data components, the selected target and the specified assignment. |
| US08307290B2 |
Remote control device and method
The present invention discloses a remote control device. Via the present remote control device, a remote computing device can operate a plurality of computing devices and further administrate the whole system constituted by the plurality of computing devices and a KVM switch via a network. The remote control device and the method used therein firstly generates a menu in response to a request from the remote computing device, and the menu has at least one option for a remote control action. The menu is then transmitted to the remote computing device via the network. Once a cursor position representing a chosen option is received from the remote computing device via the network, the cursor position corresponds to the option. The remote control action is carried out according to the cursor position. |
| US08307286B2 |
Methods and systems for online video-based property commerce
Video data may be extremely useful in online property commerce. However, the current methods of handling this video data fail to provide users of the data with effective and convenient ways of conveying and consolidating footage of multiple viewpoints and other property features. Among other things, embodiments of the invention address these failures by providing methods and systems for better handling of video data for property marketing, reporting, and analysis. |
| US08307279B1 |
Smooth zooming in web applications
A system for smooth zooming in web applications includes a structured document defining a plurality of display elements including a scalable element defined to be located at least partially within a resizable container element when rendered; a rendering component operable to receive the structured document as an input, execute a rendering function that calculates a display position for each of the plurality of display elements, and define rendered content based at least in part on the display position for each of the plurality of display elements; a display component operable to output a viewable area of the rendered content; and a scaling component operable to receive a scaling input, redefine the scalable element based at least in part on the scaling input, and selectively redefine the resizable container element based at least in part on the display position of the resizable container element with respect to the viewable area of the rendered content. |
| US08307275B2 |
Document-based information and uniform resource locator (URL) management
The present invention enables users to dynamically manage historical data within documents bearing one or more links, and retain the relationships defined by the links. The present invention tracks the links not just from source documents to destination documents, but also from destination documents back to the source documents, organizes the links in a hierarchical manner based on the content/naming of the links, and displays the link information to the user in a real-time and meaningful way. |
| US08307270B2 |
Advanced memory device having improved performance, reduced power and increased reliability
An advanced memory having improved performance, reduced power and increased reliability. A memory device includes a memory array, a receiver for receiving a command and associated data, error control coding circuitry for performing error control checking on the received command, and data masking circuitry for preventing the associated data from being written to the memory array in response to the error control coding circuitry detecting an error in the received command. Another memory device includes a programmable preamble. Another memory device includes a fast exit self-refresh mode. Another memory device includes auto refresh function that is controlled by the characteristic device. Another memory device includes an auto refresh function that is controlled by a characteristic of the memory device. |
| US08307269B2 |
Scalable folded decoder architecture for low density parity check codes
A layered message updating method and system for the decoding of LDPC codes with high sub-matrix degree has a scalable foldable and flexible decoder architecture to support LDPC codes with arbitrary high sub-matrix degree with very small hardware overhead and high throughput. Embodiments of the invention support LDPC codes with sub-matrix degree W=>1. |
| US08307267B2 |
Programmable soft-output Viterbi algorithm system and method
In a particular embodiment, a channel detector is disclosed that includes a programmable look-up table (LUT) to relate user bits to channel bits. The programmable LUT is adapted to be implemented on a state trellis of arbitrary radix. The channel detector further includes a sectional precoder coupled to a channel and having access to the programmable LUT. The sectional precoder is adapted to map channel bits to user bits and vice versa using a programmable LUT. |
| US08307266B2 |
Chained checksum error correction mechanism to improve TCP performance over network with wireless links
Data communication, with improved error detection, of a signal having a plurality of data blocks, by: error checking a received data block in a first sequence using a first polynomial, beginning with a first predetermined initial error checking state, producing a first CSUM; error checking the received data block in a second sequence using a second polynomial, using the first CSUM as a second predetermined initial error checking state, producing a second CSUM; comparing the second CSUM to the first predetermined initial error checking state to detect errors in the data communication; and repeating the above steps for sequential data blocks of the data communication, wherein the first polynomial is an inverse of the second polynomial. |
| US08307263B2 |
Method and apparatus for dispersed storage of streaming multi-media data
A method begins by a processing module determining dispersed storage preferences for streaming multi-media data. The method continues with the processing module transcoding the streaming multi-media data into transcoded data when the dispersed storage preferences include transcoding. In addition, the method continues with the processing module encoding the transcoded data in accordance with an error coding dispersed storage function of the dispersed storage preferences to produce pluralities of error coded data slices. In addition, the method continues with the processing module outputting the pluralities of error coded data slices to a plurality of data storage units for storage therein. |
| US08307257B2 |
Decoding method and device using error correction codes
The invention provides a method of decoding a decided signal received from a decision circuit to supply a decoded signal, said method comprising: a step of detecting a word of N bits in said received decided signal to supply a detected word; a step of selecting an admissible word of N bits in a dictionary of the error correction code used for encoding in accordance with a criterion of the shortest distance between said detected word and said selected admissible word; and a step of decoding a word of L bits constituting said decoded signal from said selected admissible word. According to the invention, the distance used in the selection step takes account of the relative reliabilities of 2K sequences of K bits, 0 |
| US08307254B2 |
Radio communication system
A base station creates a dummy pattern added with an error correction code, during occurring of a control channel not allocated for transmission of control information, transmits the dummy pattern instead of control information at a power level lower than a normal power level. A mobile station decodes control information transmitted through the control channel, examines whether or not a value specified by the decoded control information is within a suitable range, and performs error detection of the decoded control information. The mobile station stops decoding of data transmitted through a data channel, upon judging that the value is not within the suitable range or detecting an error in the error detection. |
| US08307253B2 |
Reconfigurable two's-complement and sign-magnitude converter
In one embodiment, a reconfigurable two's-complement-to-sign-magnitude (2TSM) converter has two five-bit non-reconfigurable 2TSM converters and is selectively configurable to operate in a five-bit mode or a ten-bit mode. In five-bit mode, the first and second non-reconfigurable 2TSM converters concurrently convert first and second five-bit messages, respectively, from two's-complement-to-sign-magnitude format. In the ten-bit mode, the first and second non-reconfigurable 2TSM converters concurrently convert first and second halves of a ten-bit message, respectively, from two's-complement-to-sign-magnitude format. The reconfigurable 2TSM converter then generates a ten-bit sign-magnitude message based on the conversions of the two non-reconfigurable 2TSM and a carry-over bit. In another embodiment, a reconfigurable sign-magnitude-to-two's-complement (SMT2) converter comprises the reconfigurable 2TSM described above. The reconfigurable SMT2 is selectively configurable to operate in (i) a five-bit mode to convert two five-bit messages concurrently and (ii) a ten-bit mode to convert one ten-bit message at a time. |
| US08307249B2 |
At-speed bitmapping in a memory built-in self-test by locking an N-TH failure
In a sophisticated semiconductor device including a large memory portion, a built-in self-test circuitry comprises a failure capturing logic that allows the capturing of a bitmap at a given instant in time without being limited to specific operating conditions in view of interfacing with external test equipment. Thus, although pipeline processing may be required due to the high speed operation during the self-test, reliable capturing of the bitmap may be achieved while maintaining high fault coverage of the test algorithm under consideration. |
| US08307245B2 |
Scenario creating apparatus, scenario creating method, and storage medium storing scenario creating program
A scenario creating apparatus which creates a scenario for verifying operation of an information processing system in which a plurality of servers including a database server are connected, includes a collector that collects messages transmitted and received between the plurality of servers, when operation of the information processing system is being verified by a terminal apparatus that performs verification of operation; an association unit that associates the collected messages with each other; a sorter that sorts work models in ascending order of time at which access is made to the database server, the work models each being a group of the associated messages; and a scenario creating unit that creates the scenario on the basis of the sorted work models. |
| US08307240B2 |
Small computer system interface input output (SCSI IO) referral
The present invention is a method for communication between an initiator system and a block storage cluster. The method includes receiving a command at a first storage system of a block storage cluster. The command is transmitted by the initiator system to the first storage system via a network and includes a request for data. The method further includes transferring the stored data from the first storage system to the initiator system via the network when data requested in the data request is stored by the first storage system. The method further includes transmitting a referral response from the first storage system to the initiator system when a portion of the data requested in the data request is not stored by the first storage system, but is stored by a second storage system of the block storage cluster. The referral response indicates to the initiator system that: a) not all of the requested data was transferred; and b) that the second storage system stores the portion of the requested data. |
| US08307239B1 |
Disaster recovery appliance
A disaster recovery appliance is described herein. The disaster recovery appliance is coupled to one or more servers. The disaster recovery appliance continuously receives backup data for each of the one or more servers. When a server fails, the disaster recovery appliance, replaces the failed server. While the failed server is inaccessible, the disaster recovery appliance is able to mimic the functionality of the failed server. In some embodiments, the disaster recovery appliance is able to act as a server in addition to a backup device for the other servers. |
| US08307234B2 |
Maintaining connectivity during low power operation
Generally this disclosure describes methods and systems for conserving energy in a client platform by maintaining connectivity between the client platform and a remote resource when the client is in a low-power state. An example method may include receiving notification that the client platform is transitioning to the low-power state, receiving at least one payload from the client platform, the at least one payload being configured to maintain connectivity with a remote resource while the client platform is in the low-power state, transmitting a packet including the at least one payload and receiving a packet including an acknowledgement. |
| US08307231B2 |
Method and apparatus for adaptive bluetooth low power discovery and wake up
A method for adaptive Bluetooth low power wake up and discovery is provided whereby wake-up triggers are uploaded to Media Access Control (MAC) firmware. A data stream representing a trigger arrives as either an interpretable binary stream of instructions, or as a concatenation of events listed in a preset table. Various parameters allowing flexible wake-up triggering, such as Service Set Identifiers (SSIDs) to scan for probability likelihoods, are also uploaded. Both table-based and interpretable instructions are designed to ensure the security of the trigger by limiting the functionality of the trigger to only trigger-related events (e.g., scanning, pre-reserved memory). Both the table and the instruction set are designed in a minimalistic fashion to allow a slim and fast firmware-side implementation. Insignificant modifications to existing computer or Operating System (OS) architecture take advantage of the already existing MAC processor in many 802.11 interfaces, offering enormous flexibility. |
| US08307230B2 |
Methods for managing process activity data using a system-wide daemon
Techniques for managing process activity statistics using a system-wide daemon are described herein. A power management daemon retrieves process activity status data from a system monitoring file stored within a data processing system, in response to a request received from a session client via an application programming interface (API). The power management daemon is a single system-wide component within the data processing system to provide the process activity status data to a plurality of session clients. The retrieved process activity status data is returned to the client via the API, where the system monitoring file requires a predetermined accessing privilege for accessing. Thus, through the power management daemon, the session client does not have to satisfy the predetermined accessing privilege in order to access the process activity status data stored in the system monitoring file. |
| US08307226B1 |
Method, apparatus, and system for reducing leakage power consumption
Described herein are method, apparatus, and system for reducing leakage power consumption. The method comprises determining an input vector for input to a logic unit, the input vector for generating a least leakage power dissipation in the logic unit; and applying the input vector to the logic unit when a clock signal associated with the logic unit is gated. The method results in reduced leakage power consumption for the logic unit when the logic unit is not active with performing its normal operation, i.e. when the logic unit is idle. |
| US08307220B2 |
Managing power consumption of a computer
Methods, computers, and products for managing power consumption of a computer, the computer including a computer processor and managing power consumption of a computer includes: dynamically during operation of the computer, setting, by an in-band power manager in dependence upon performance metrics of the computer processor, a current performance state (‘p-state’) of the computer processor; and providing, by the in-band power manager to an out-of-band power manager, the current p-state of the computer processor. |
| US08307219B2 |
Enterprise black box system and method for data centers
A system to enable an enterprise to obtain an insight into the functioning and behavior of a data center that hosts the enterprise's IT infrastructure through the alerts raised by the system is provided. These alerts are based on the exhibited abnormal behavior while processing transactions of the data center and are raised by analyzing exhibited behavior with respect to the expected behavior. The system depicts the expected behaviors in the form of model sequences related to the transactions and elaborates an approach for determining these model sequences. |
| US08307218B2 |
System and method for creating, vaulting, transferring and controlling transferable electronic records with unique ownership
A system for securely vaulting, auditing, controlling and transferring electronic transferable records (TRs) with unique ownership, including at least one registry for registering the electronic transferable record with unique ownership in a TR registry record; at least one secure storage manager (SSM) associated with the registry, the SSM storing the transferable record registered in the registry as an authoritative copy, the secure storage manager being distinct from said registry. The transferable record can be transferred in a transaction between an originating party and a receiving party with a transaction descriptor including information about the parties involved in the transaction and an identification of the TR being transferred. The transaction descriptor is initially signed by the originating party with the TR, subsequently verified and countersigned by the registry and signed by said accepting party. The transaction descriptor, upon completion of the transaction, is stored in the TR registry record and serves to identify the authoritative copy of the TR. |
| US08307206B2 |
Cryptographic policy enforcement
Objects can be extracted from data flows captured by a capture device. In one embodiment, the invention includes assigning to each captured object a cryptographic status based on whether the captured object is encrypted. In one embodiment, the invention further includes determining whether the object violated a cryptographic policy using the assigned cryptographic status of the object. |
| US08307205B2 |
Home node-B apparatus and security protocols
A Home Node B or Home evolved Node B (HN(e)B) apparatus and methods are disclosed. The HN(e)B includes a Trusted Environment (TrE) and interfaces including unprotected interfaces, cryptographically protected interfaces, and hardware protected interfaces. The H(e)NB includes security/authentication protocols for communication between the H(e)NB and external network elements, including a Security Gateway (SGW). |
| US08307198B2 |
Distributed multi-core memory initialization
In a system having a plurality of processing nodes, a control node divides a task into a plurality of sub-tasks, and assigns the sub-tasks to one or more additional processing nodes which execute the assigned sub-tasks and return the results to the control node, thereby enabling a plurality of processing nodes to efficiently and quickly perform memory initialization and test of all assigned sub-tasks. |
| US08307193B2 |
User-level segmentation mechanism that facilitates safely executing untrusted native code
A system that uses segmentation to safely execute native code. This system includes a processing element that executes the native code and a memory which stores code and data for the processing element. The processing element includes a segmentation mechanism which limits the native code executing on the processing element to accessing a specified segment of memory. The processing element also includes an instruction-processing unit, which is configured to execute a user-level instruction that causes the segmentation mechanism to limit memory accesses by the native code to the specified segment of the memory. |
| US08307191B1 |
Page fault handling in a virtualized computer system
The invention relates to page fault handling in a virtualized computer system in which at least one guest page table maps virtual addresses to guest physical addresses, some of which are backed by machine addresses, and wherein at least one shadow page table and at least one translation look-aside buffer map the virtual addresses to the corresponding machine addresses. Indicators are maintained in entries of at least one shadow page table, wherein each indicator denotes a state of its associated entry from a group of states consisting of: a first state and a second state. An enhanced virtualization layer processes hardware page faults. States of shadow page table entries corresponding to hardware page faults are determined. Responsive to a shadow page table entry corresponding to a hardware page fault being in the first state, that page fault is delivered to a guest operating system for processing without activating a virtualization software component. On the other hand, responsive to a shadow page table entry corresponding to a hardware page fault being in the second state, that page fault is delivered to a virtualization software component for processing. |
| US08307190B2 |
Memory control device, memory device, and memory control method
The memory control device according to the present invention includes a command generating unit which divides the memory access request issued by the master into access commands each of which is for one of the memory devices, a command issuing units which issue each of the access commands to the memory devices, a data control unit which switches data between a master and memories, and the command generating unit switch between control for outputting an identical physical address to the memory units and control for outputting different physical addresses to the memory devices, depending on when the physical addresses of the memory devices are identical and when the physical addresses of the memory devices are different, each of the memory devices corresponds to one of the divided access commands. |
| US08307189B2 |
Information processing apparatus and semiconductor storage device
An information processing apparatus includes: a processor configured to perform a computation processing; a storage device configured to store first data in a first number of physical blocks and store second data in a second number of physical blocks, wherein the second data are read more frequently than the first data, and the second number is larger than the first number; and a read control module configured to read the second data from the storage device and send the second data to the processor, wherein when the processor reads the second data N times as much as the second number, N being a positive integer, the same number of the second data are read from each of the second number of physical blocks. |
| US08307187B2 |
VDI Storage overcommit and rebalancing
A method for managing storage for a desktop pool is described. The desktop pool includes a plurality of virtual machines (VMs), each VM having at least one virtual disk represented as a virtual disk image file on one of a plurality of datastores associated with the desktop pool. To identify a target datastore for a VM, a weight of each datastore is calculated. The weight may be a function of a virtual capacity of the datastore and the sum of maximum sizes of all the virtual disk image files on the datastore. The virtual capacity is a product of the data storage capacity of the datastore and an overcommit factor assigned to the datastore. The target datastore is selected as the datastore having the highest weight. The VM may is moved to or created on the target datastore. |
| US08307184B1 |
Communication and memory capacity enhancement method and apparatus
A method and corresponding apparatus for enhancing the capacity of communication and memory devices, said method comprising the representation of information by lattice points confined to a cubic region of an n-dimensional space, by means of which for example capacity gains of 50% or 100% and more may be achieved, relative to ‘conventional’ communication and storage methods. |
| US08307183B2 |
Recording/reproducing method, recording/reproducing apparatus and information storage medium
A recording and/or reproducing method, a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, and an information storage medium are provided. The method of recording data to an information storage medium includes: according to a change in a method of using the information storage medium, rearranging the order of a first information structure with a variable size and a second information structure with a fixed size, both of which are included in management information of the information storage medium, so that the first information structure with the variable size can be positioned following the second information structure with the fixed size; and recording the rearranged management information on the information storage medium. According to the method and apparatus, recording management information can be found in a fixed location of a finalized information storage medium, thereby allowing the recording management information to be found easily and quickly. |
| US08307182B1 |
Method and apparatus for transferring data to or from a memory
An embodiment of a technique to transfer data includes: operating a memory interface using memory access cycles that each include T successive time slots each provided for transfer of B bits of data, where T and B are positive integers; selecting one of first or second predetermined integers as one of T or B; and transferring a quantity of data Q between the memory interface and another interface. The transferring includes: automatically determining a value of M memory access cycles as a function of the one of T or B; causing a data transfer sequence on the memory interface that includes M successive memory access cycles and thus M·T time slots; automatically determining a subset of the M·T time slots as a function of the one of T or B; and transferring the quantity of data Q through the memory interface during the subset of time slots. |
| US08307179B2 |
Method of improving efficiency of replication monitoring
Copy pair monitoring is provided for a storage system having plural host computers, at least one storage subsystem, and a management computer. The storage subsystem including volumes storing data requested by the host computer, the management computer being accessible to the host computer and the storage subsystem. The copy pair monitoring includes obtaining every piece of copy pair definition information that is stored in the host computer, removing duplicate copy pair definition information from the whole copy pair definition information obtained, and collecting the copy pair status based on the obtained copy pair definition information from which duplicate copy pair definition information has been removed. Each host computer is assigned a priority level, and, when more than one host computer includes the same copy pair, the host computer with the lowest priority obtains the copy pair information to reduce the load on the higher priority host computers. |
| US08307178B2 |
Storage system, remote copy and management method therefor
A copy source storage controller received write data added with a time and issued from a host computer transfers the write data with the time to a copy destination storage controller. If there are a plurality of copy destination storage controllers, a representative copy destination storage controller compares times of write data copied to the plurality of copy destination storage controllers, and writes the write data in copy destination logical volumes in the sequential order of time. The representative copy destination storage controller judges that integrity of the write data is established, if a communication procedure is established with the copy destination storage controller and if the statuses of the copy source/destination logical volumes are coincident. In remote copy which guarantees integrity of write data and traverses a plurality of storage controllers, it is possible to judge at an optional time point whether integrity of write data can be guaranteed. |
| US08307176B1 |
Method and system for efficient space management for single-instance-storage volumes
A method and system for efficient space management for single-instance-storage volumes is provided. A backup module storing data within a collection of containers according to access locality and retention time of the data, wherein the retention time defines an amount of time the data is stored within the collection of containers before deletion of the data, and the access locality comprises an order in which the data is to be accessed is further provided. A compaction module compacting the stored data by selecting at least two containers among the collection of containers, wherein the selection is performed using a predetermined criteria that includes access locality and retention time of the data is also provided. The compaction module distributes the data among the at least two containers. The compaction criteria creates an imbalance among the containers to create more empty, full, or nearly full containers. |
| US08307175B2 |
Data recovery and overwrite independent of operating system
Methods and systems to access data in a computer system independent of an operating environment of the computer system, including to recover data to a remote system, to overwrite data, and to copy data to a hidden partition. A management system may directly access a storage device of the computer system and communicate with the remote system over a data channel that is secure from an operating environment of the computer system. The management system may access the storage device on a block basis, using a device driver associated with a storage device controller, and may include a virtualization engine to access the storage device. The remote system may include logic to request meta-data, to identify disk blocks corresponding to files of interest from the meta-data, and to construct the files of interest from the disk blocks. |
| US08307173B2 |
High performance real-time read-copy update
A technique for reducing reader overhead when referencing a shared data element while facilitating realtime-safe detection of a grace period for deferring destruction of the shared data element. The grace period is determined by a condition in which all readers that are capable of referencing the shared data element have reached a quiescent state subsequent to a request for a quiescent state. Common case local quiescent state tracking may be performed using only local per-reader state information for all readers that have not blocked while in a read-side critical section in which the data element is referenced. Uncommon case non-local quiescent state tracking may be performed using non-local multi-reader state information for all readers that have blocked while in their read-side critical section. The common case local quiescent state tracking requires less processing overhead than the uncommon case non-local quiescent state tracking. |
| US08307172B2 |
Memory system including memory controller and separately formatted nonvolatile memory to avoid “copy-involving write” during updating file data in the memory
A memory system includes a nonvolatile memory including a memory space of logical addresses which is formatted from outside by an additional-write type file system, and a memory controller controlling the nonvolatile memory, the memory controller transmitting n error to the outside of the system if the memory controller is instructed to write data in a logical address which is equal to or smaller than a logical address of previously written data in an address area of the memory space. The memory controller controls the logical address and a physical address of the nonvolatile memory, and in conjunction with the additional-write type file system makes it possible to avoid “copy-involving write” each time file data in the nonvolatile memory is updated, thereby to promote high-speed operation by prevention of decrease in file update speed. |
| US08307168B2 |
Integrated memory control apparatus and method thereof
An integrated memory control apparatus including a first interface decoder, a second interface decoder and an interface controller is provided. Wherein, the first interface decoder is coupled to a control chip through a first serial peripheral interface (SPI), the second interface decoder is coupled to a micro-processor unit through a general transmission interface, and the interface controller is coupled to a memory through a second SPI. When the interface controller receives the request signals from the control chip and the micro-processor unit, the control chip may correctly read data from the memory through the first and second SPI. On the other hand, the micro-processor unit may stop reading data from the memory through the general transmission interface. Therefore, the control chip and the micro-processor unit may share the same memory. |
| US08307164B2 |
Automatic determination of read-ahead amount
Read-ahead of data blocks in a storage system is performed based on a policy. The policy is stochastically selected from a plurality of policies in respect to probabilities. The probabilities are calculated based on past performances, also referred to as rewards. Policies which induce better performance may be given precedence over other policies. However, the other policies may be also utilized to reevaluate them. A balance between exploration of different policies and exploitation of previously discovered good policies may be achieved. |
| US08307161B2 |
Caching for structural integrity schemes
A method for data integrity protection includes storing items of data in a plurality of data blocks in a storage medium. Respective block signatures are stored in an integrity structure in the storage medium. A block signature of the given data block is computed in response to a first request to read a first data item from a given data block, and the computed signature is verified against a stored signature read from the integrity structure. The verified block signature is saved in a secure cache. The block signature is recomputed upon receiving a second request to read a second data item, subsequent to the first request, and is verified against the verified block signature in the secure cache. The data item is output from the storage medium in response to verifying the recomputed block signature. |
| US08307160B2 |
Interface apparatus, calculation processing apparatus, interface generation apparatus, and circuit generation apparatus
There is provided is an interface apparatus including: a stream converter receiving write-addresses and write-data, storing the received data in a buffer, and sorting the stored write-data in the order of the write-addresses to output the write-data as stream-data; a cache memory storing received stream-data if a load-signal indicates that the stream-data are necessarily loaded and outputting data stored in a storage device corresponding to an input cache-address as cache-data; a controller determining whether or not data allocated with a read-address have already been loaded, outputting the load-signal instructing the loading on the cache memory if not loaded, and outputting a load-address indicating a load-completed-address of the cache memory; and at least one address converter calculating which one of the storage devices the allocated data are stored in, by using the load-address, outputting the calculated value as the cache-address to the cache memory, and outputting the cache-data as read-data. |
| US08307159B2 |
System and method for providing performance-enhanced rebuild of a solid-state drive (SSD) in a solid-state drive hard disk drive (SSD HDD) redundant array of inexpensive disks 1 (RAID 1) pair
The present invention is a method for implementing a storage system. The storage system may include a disk array having a disk drive pair which includes a solid-state disk drive and a hard disk drive. The method may include the step of copying a data subset of a data set from the hard disk drive to a spare solid-state disk drive during a solid-state disk drive rebuild process. The data subset includes a first amount of data and the data set includes a second amount of data, where the first amount of data is less than the second amount of data. The method may further include the step of receiving a read request from a host server requesting the data subset. The method further includes the step of directing the read command to the spare solid-state disk drive. |
| US08307157B2 |
Disk array system and traffic control method
Proposed are a disk array system and a traffic control method with which reliability can be improved by preventing system shutdown. A disk array system comprises a controller for controlling data I/O to and from a backend unit; a plurality of expanders provided in the backend unit and connected to the controller by way of a tree-structure topology; a plurality of storage devices provided in the backend unit and each connected to the corresponding expander; and a control unit for controlling the controller on the basis of an I/O request from a host device. The disk array system is configured such that the controller notifies the control unit of a link fault that has occurred in the backend unit, and the control unit, when supplied with the link fault notification from the controller, restricts issuance of I/O requests from the host device or restricts receipt of I/O requests sent from the host device as necessary. |
| US08307156B1 |
Adaptively modifying pre-read operations within a rotating media storage device
A rotating media storage device (RMSD) that adaptively modifies pre-read operations is disclosed. The RMSD schedules a pre-read data segment on a second track of disk, commands a movable head to seek to the second track, and if an on-track condition is not met for the scheduled pre-read data segment, modifies the pre-read operation. In one example, modifying the pre-read operation includes canceling the pre-read operation and then performing a read data operation. |
| US08307149B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device including a logical-to-physical logig-to-physical address conversion table, a temporary block and a temporary table
A nonvolatile memory device (101) includes a plurality of physical blocks, each of which is provide with a nonvolatile memory (103), a logic/physical address conversion table, a temporary block and a temporary table. The nonvolatile memory (103) includes a plurality of pages which are predetermined writing units, respectively. The logical-physical address conversion table (106) stores correspondence information between logic addresses and physical addresses of data to be stored in the physical blocks. The temporary block is a physical block to store data that are smaller in size than those of the page. The temporary table (107) stores correspondence information between logic addresses and physical addresses with respect to data to be stored in the temporary block. |
| US08307148B2 |
Flash management techniques
Various flash management techniques may be described. An apparatus may comprise a processor, a flash memory coupled to the processor, and a flash management module. The flash management module may be executed by the processor to receive a write request to write data to the flash memory, write a first control sector with a sequence number to the flash memory, and write the sequence number, an address for a logical sector, and data to at least one physical sector corresponding to the logical sector of the flash memory. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08307146B2 |
Communication between a host device and an accessory via an intermediate device
A host device and an accessory exchange information (e.g., commands and data) via an intermediate device. The host device and accessory can each connect to the intermediate device through a direct wired path and can exchange commands and data with the intermediate device. The host device and the accessory can also “tunnel” information to each other through the intermediate device, by packaging the tunneled information as a payload of a command recognizable by the intermediate device; the intermediate device can repackage and forward the payload. In some embodiments, the tunneled information relates to configuring a wireless link (e.g., a Bluetooth pairing) between the host device and the accessory. |
| US08307143B2 |
Interface card system
There is provided an interface card system for SD bus control. The interface card system for SD bus control includes a CPU bus interface 11a and/or an SD bus interface 11b, a host interface module 16 connected to the interfaces which interprets an SD command and controls operation of the whole of the interface card system, first and second internal SD host engines 15a and 15b which function as a host controller, first and second selectors 14a and 14b respectively connected to the internal SD host engines which each select a path for data or a command, first and second SD bus interfaces 13a and 13b respectively connected to the selectors, and a data pass-through control section 17 connected to the SD bus interfaces connected to the selectors which allows an SD command and data to pass through. |
| US08307140B2 |
Content reception apparatus and content reception method
Disclosed is a content reception apparatus capable of receiving a content distributed from a server apparatus via a first network and a second network, the content reception apparatus including a plurality of content reception apparatuses capable of being connected to the second network that is local and connected to the first network, the server apparatus being capable of distributing a content and capable of being connected to the first network. The content reception apparatus includes an arbitration condition storage unit to store an arbitration condition for an arbitration, an arbitration table storage unit to store an arbitration table, an input unit with which a content reception request is input, an arbitration start request transmission unit to generate and transmit an arbitration start request, and an arbitration unit to execute arbitration processings. |
| US08307139B1 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically granting access of a shared resource among a plurality of requestors
A communication system including a resource and an arbiter. The resource is shared among a plurality of requestors such that, at any given time, only one of the plurality of requestors has access to the resource. The arbiter is configured to receive a request from each of the plurality of requestors to access the resource, in which each request has a priority level associated with the request. The arbiter is further configured to age each request at a different rate relative to that associated with another request, and grant each requestor access to the resource based on i) the priority level and/or ii) the age of the request corresponding to the requestor. |
| US08307138B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling issuing of transaction requests
Transaction requests requesting a service from the slave device are received from a master device at a transaction interface. The transaction requests are selectively issued to the bus system under control of an issue control circuit. A target outstanding transaction value N.x is received at a control interface. The target outstanding transaction value has an integer portion N and a fractional portion x. The issue control circuit controls the transaction interface to issue the transaction requests to the bus system in dependence upon the target outstanding transaction value so that a time averaged number of outstanding transaction requests corresponds to the target outstanding transaction value. |
| US08307136B2 |
Data movement system and method
Provided is a method of streaming transfer of data between a plurality of devices of a computer system. The method includes providing data to be sent from a source device to a target device and includes receiving, at the source device, one or more transfer credits from the target device. A transfer credit may be indicative of an amount of data that the target device is authorizing to be sent to the target device. The method also includes determining whether or not an accumulated transfer credit value satisfies a threshold value. If the accumulated transfer credit value satisfies the threshold value, the source device sends data to the target device and modifies the accumulated transfer credit value based on a quantity of data sent. If the accumulated transfer credit value does not satisfy the threshold value the source device does not send data to the target device. |
| US08307132B2 |
Control of an external storage device with a plurality of storage units
A control device controls an external storage device with a plurality of storage units which can be driven and stopped independently. The control device comprises: a display control unit; a setting unit; and a control signal output unit. The display control unit displays on a display a selection screen that allows a user to select which storage unit from among the plurality of storage units to operate. The setting unit sets a storage unit selected by the user as an operating storage unit to be operated. The control signal output unit outputs to the external storage device a control signal for having the operating storage unit be operated. |
| US08307126B2 |
Output pin expansion using shift register receiving data bit each software counted clock for parallel output strobe
A control device having an output pin expansion function and an output pin expansion method thereof are provided. The method includes: connecting at least a shift register unit having a plurality of data transmission pins to a control unit such that the shift register unit can receive strobe signals, a multi-bit data stream, clock signals and enable signals generated by the control unit; sending an enable signal by the control unit so as to allow the shift register unit to shift and store each bit of a multi-bit data stream according to a clock signal generated by the control unit; and sending a strobe signal by the control unit so as to allow the shift register unit to output the multi-bit data in parallel format as opposed to the received serial format through the plurality of data transmission pins, thereby allowing a processing device to interface with more devices (such as LED state indicators) than its fixed number of dedicated output pins would conveniently allow, thus saving costs and board space. |
| US08307125B2 |
Field instrument management apparatus
A field instrument management apparatus, which manages a field instrument by communicating with the field instrument via a field bus, transfers a request for an instrument address to the field instrument, and provides the instrument address to an outside when the instrument address is acquired from the field instrument. |
| US08307123B2 |
Content distribution system, distribution method, content processing device, and processing method
The present invention provided a content delivery system that can deliver content by way of the Internet. In the system, a browser requests a content server to deliver a startup file. The content server transmits the startup file to the browser. The startup file describes that the content is to be delivered by streaming or that it is to be delivered by downloaded files. A content reproducing section determines if the content is that to be delivered by streaming or that to be delivered by downloaded files according to the description of the startup file it receives from the browser. A television receiving set may be used as content processing apparatus for receiving the delivery of the content from a content delivery apparatus of such a system. |
| US08307122B2 |
Close-coupling shared storage architecture of double-wing expandable multiprocessor
A close-coupling shared storage architecture of double-wing expandable multiprocessor is provided in the close-coupling shared storage architecture with p processors scale, the close-coupling shared storage architecture of double-wing expandable multiprocessor comprises: j processor modules PMs; wherein, each processor module is formed by coupling and cross-jointing i processors Cs, and each processor is directly connected with a node controller NC through only one link; each processor module PM comprises 2 pairing node controllers NCs, and each node controller NC is connected with the processors through m links and is connected with an interconnect network through n links; the interconnect network comprises two groups, and each group comprises k cross switch route chips NRs, each of which has q ports. By adopting the connection method above, the close-coupling shared storage architecture of double-wing expandable multiprocessor is formed. On the premise that the processor scale is kept expandable, the balance between the processor bandwidth and the network bandwidth is achieved, and the lower average delay of the interconnect network is kept simultaneously. |
| US08307121B2 |
Method and a type of transmit and receive ends for data synchronization
The present invention discloses a method for data synchronization and the transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) ends used. The data synchronization method applies to distributed systems that comprise a Tx end and at least one Rx end, wherein the Tx end (i) uses one or more bulk data channels to transmit bulk data and a real-time data channel to transmit real-time data, (ii) before a continuous bulk data transfer, sends a message through the real-time data channel to instruct the Rx end(s) to switch to the bulk data channel(s), and (iii) after a continuous bulk data transfer, sends a message through the bulk data channel(s) to instruct the Rx end(s) to switch to the real-time data channel. This invention can guarantee data synchronization for distributed systems with a simple implementation. |
| US08307117B2 |
System and method for data exchange in multiprocessor computer systems
A system for data exchange in multiprocessor computer system is disclosed. The system includes at least one processing module adapted to communicate with at least one of a plurality of routing modules or a plurality of buffer modules or both and at least one communicating interfaces to facilitate data exchange in multiprocessor computer system. |
| US08307109B2 |
Methods and systems for real time integration services
Methods and systems for enterprise data integration are described. The methods and systems take elements of a data integration process typically operating in a batch-mode, transform the elements in real time, and expose the results as a service that can be accessed by a business enterprise in real time, and optionally also in batch mode. The service can be accessed through a graphical user interface, providing automatic data integration in real time without additional coding. The service can also operate with mobile devices. |
| US08307106B2 |
System and method for providing connectivity between two different networks using different protocols
A system and method for providing message connectivity between a first network using a first protocol and a second network using a second protocol is described. If a message is received from the first network, the message is processed using one or more digital signal processors, a destination in the second network is determined, the processed message is logged and translated into the second protocol, and the translated message is sent to the destination in the second network. If the message is received from the second network, the message is translated into the first protocol, a destination in the first network is determined, the translated message is logged and processed using one or more digital signal processors, and the processed message is sent to the destination in the first network. One example method can be implemented as a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium. |
| US08307104B2 |
Submit report handling in SMSIP
Submit report handling in Short Message Session Initiation Protocol (SMSIP) is provided. For example, a method can include preparing a submit report, wherein the preparing includes using a combination of forking and an in-reply-to header to find an appropriate terminal. The method can also include sending the submit report to the appropriate terminal. Likewise, another method can include receiving, by an apparatus, a session initiation protocol message request including a submit report. The method can also include processing the submit report to determine whether the request corresponds to a message sent by the apparatus. The method can further include sending, when the submit report is determined not to correspond to any message sent by the apparatus, a not-acceptable-here session initiation protocol response. The method can additionally include sending, when the submit report is determined to correspond to the message sent by the apparatus, an ok session initiation protocol message. |
| US08307103B2 |
Tear-free remote desktop protocol (RDP) display
Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for reducing the tearing of display data received across a communications network. A server determines at least two logically related drawing orders in an order heap and warps those orders with a begin marker and an end marker. It sends those wrapped orders across the communications network to a client. The client receives those orders and renders them to a shadow buffer. When the client processes the end marker, it moves the drawing orders in the shadow buffer to a client display surface. |
| US08307102B2 |
Method and arrangement for providing information on multimedia options
A method and arrangement for providing updated information on the availability of multimedia options to terminal users. A first terminal (A) is initially engaged in a voice call with a second terminal (B) by using a first access (100) admitting simultaneous multimedia communication. At least one available multimedia option (104,106) is indicated based on capabilities of the first and second terminals. A change of connection is then detected from the first access to a second access (200) not admitting simultaneous multimedia communication. In response thereto, a multimedia disabling notification is sent to the second terminal, and said at least one multimedia option is indicated as being no longer available (204,206). Preferably, the multimedia disabling notification is sent as an SMS message. |
| US08307101B1 |
Generic format for storage and query of web analytics data
Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer program products, for storing web analytics data in a generic format. Multiple data elements are stored in a database in association with project identifiers, data type identifiers, and index numbers. |
| US08307099B1 |
Identifying use of software applications
Techniques are described for identifying the use of software applications, such as to determine an identity of a user interacting with a Web site or other electronic information service based on information regarding an application copy used by the user. When a communication is received from a software application, the communication is analyzed to attempt to identify a particular software application copy that sent the communication. Various types of information about a client software application copy may be used in the analysis, including information about particular configuration settings for the client software application and for the client computing device on which the client software application is executing. After a matching software application copy is identified for a received communication, possible inappropriate activities related to the received communication may be identified in various ways, including based on previous communications received from the same software application copy. |
| US08307098B1 |
System, method, and program for managing a user key used to sign a message for a data processing system
A system, method, and program for managing a user key used to sign a message for a data processing system having an encryption chip are disclosed. A user is assigned a user key. In order to encrypt and send messages to a recipient(s), the messages are encrypted with the user key. The user key, in turn, is encrypted with an associated key. The associated key is further encrypted using an encryption chip key stored on the encryption chip. The encrypted messages are communicated to a recipient to validate an association of the user with the encrypted messages. The associated key is decrypted with the encryption chip key. The user key is decrypted with the associated key, and the messages are decrypted with the user key. Thereafter, validation of the association of messages with the user is removed by revoking the associated key. In a preferred embodiment, encryption resources are centralized in a server system having the encryption chip. The server system is coupled to and provides encryption services to a plurality of client systems. Messages to be encrypted are sent from a user's client system to the server system, which encrypts the messages using the encryption chip. The encrypted messages are sent from the server system to the client system, which then transmits the encrypted messages to their intended recipient(s). All data relating to the encrypted messages are erased from the server system after the encrypted messages are sent from the server system to the client system. |
| US08307097B2 |
System and method for automatic discovery of topology in an LTE/SAE network
A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for monitoring a telecommunications network that comprises a plurality of Mobility Management Entity (MME) nodes and a plurality of evolved UTRAN NodeB (eNodeB) nodes coupled by S1-MME interfaces. A Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) association identifier is assigned to an SCTP association between interconnected MME and eNodeB nodes. Specific S1-MME messages allow discovering the MME nodes and the eNodeB nodes with their network identifiers, identifying the connections between them and populating proper tables for this topology information. |
| US08307090B2 |
System and method for updating information using limited bandwidth
A system and method detects an amount of data attributed to a device including reports sent to the device, and reduces the amount of data being used to provide reports to the device if the amount of data attributed to the device exceeds an amount assigned to the device. Data uploaded from the device is also minimized. |
| US08307082B2 |
Method, system architecture and computer software for communication between devices
A system architecture for communication between devices connected through a network including a hierarchy. Each device has at least one service for controlling and/or monitoring the device. At least one communication module enables a first device service to detect a second device, to detect a second device service, to retrieve information about functions of the second device service, arrange with the first device services and second device services into the hierarchy, wherein one of the devices is the parent of the other, generate messages with at least one device and transmit the messages to another device, wherein the information about functions and messages are received only by devices that have a same parent as one of the devices and by the parent of the devices, and to invoke a function of the second device service, wherein the devices are interchangeable at least to detect, to retrieve information and to invoke. |
| US08307080B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring functions of distributed data
A method and system of monitoring computer network activity including determining a first phase frequency estimate, associated with a first frequency vector, determined in response to receiving first bits from a first plurality of remote computer network devices. The first bits received from the first plurality of remote devices in response to satisfying a first activity threshold. Also, determining a second phase frequency estimate associated with a second frequency vector and determined in response to receiving second bits from a second plurality of remote devices. The second bits received from the second plurality of remote devices in response to a second activity threshold being satisfied. The second phase frequency estimate determined in response to the first phase frequency estimate exceeding a global threshold. Further, providing a frequency moment Fp in response to the second phase frequency estimate exceeding a refined threshold. |
| US08307073B1 |
URL rescue by correction of encoding errors
A server system is disclosed that is capable of providing responsive content to a user when a request for an invalid URL is received. In a preferred embodiment, the server system implements multiple rescue strategies for attempting to rescue the invalid URL. One such rescue strategy involves repairing the URL by correcting for encoding errors, such as errors introduced by some web clients. Another rescue strategy involves determining that the URL contains an obsolete or outdated item identifier (e.g., product identifier) that renders the URL invalid, and returning information regarding one or more related items to the user. Another rescue strategy involves mining the invalid URL for one or more text strings reflective of the type of content desired, and then using the one or more text strings to execute a keyword search to identify content to provide to the user. The various rescue strategies may be attempted in sequence according to a hierarchy. |
| US08307071B2 |
Fine-grained location determination of networked computers
Location of a communication network subscriber is determined employing confidence metrics such as remote vs. local computer usage, primary user in a multi-user computing environment, likelihood of forgery, and comparable ones. A fine-grained location determination is then made based on the metric results and directory information for the particular subscriber such that services like emergency services can be provided with accurate location information. |
| US08307063B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing data traffic associated with a user on a network
A method and processing device for controlling the communication of data associated with a user on a network 1 is described, in which the communication of data to and from a user is controlled according to user profile information. In a preferred embodiment, the user profile information is maintained in a database 9 accessible to processing devices 5 providing access to the network 1, and includes a volume allowance for a predetermined time period, a maximum transmission rate and current usage information for the user. Each time a user connects to the network 1, the method determines whether the user is within the volume allowance, and if so, permits access to the network 1. The communication of data is controlled according to the maximum transmission rate. The method may be implemented in software. |
| US08307062B2 |
Standardized mechanism of remote management of embedded radio modules
A standardized mechanism of remote management of mobile devices using Low Level Reader Protocol (LLRP) is disclosed. An LLRP provider application runs on a server. A remote management application runs on a mobile device. The LLRP provider application and the remote management application communicate using LLRP. The remote management application uses a specific interface, like Device Service Provider Interface (DSPI), to communicate with hardware on the mobile device. The LLRP provider application discovers a mobile device, requests at least one of configuration or metadata information, and receives at least one of configuration or metadata information. The remote management application receives a request for at least one of configuration or metadata information and sends at least one of configuration or metadata information. |
| US08307054B2 |
Systems and/or methods for location transparent routing and execution of processes
The example embodiments disclosed herein relate to networks and, more particularly, to systems and/or methods that enable processes to be routed and/or executed in a distributed, location transparent manner. A process engine for use across instances of a service-oriented integration server is provided to a network having a messaging layer. The process engine executes a process in accordance with a process model defined at design time. Each instance of the process engine comprises runtime artifacts such as deployable units of executable logic; a publishing service for publishing a process transition document (PTD) that includes routing data as a part of the message itself; a subscription service for subscribing to the PTDs to be routed to the corresponding instance of the process engine; and a filtering service for filtering other PTDs published to the messaging layer. The messaging layer includes a first queue to process PTDs that trigger new process instances, and a second queue to accommodate transitions between steps of the process model. After a step in the process model is executed, the publishing service publishes a new PTD to cause a next step in the process model to be executed. |
| US08307051B2 |
Message send queue reordering based on priority
A method and system for communicating serialized data provides a mechanism for ordering the data in response to a priority. In an embodiment, a server sending the data uses the priority to order the data in a message send queue for sending the data to a requesting device. The server may comprise a gateway and the second device a wireless device communicating with the gateway. The wireless device may send a priority indication in association with a request for the data to facilitate the ordering. |
| US08307049B2 |
Method and device for obtaining media description information of IPTV services
A method and device for obtaining media description information of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services are provided. The method includes: receiving, by a network device, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) request for obtaining media description information, where the SIP request is sent by a User Equipment (UE) through a core IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and carries a content identifier; sending, by the network device, a SIP response that carries the media description information corresponding to the content identifier to the UE through the core IMS. According to the present disclosure, a SIP message is used to obtain media description information, so that a session of the Content on Demand (CoD) service is set up. |
| US08307048B2 |
Network system with initiator subnetwork communication to target subnetwork communication including fibre channel over ethernet to fibre channel over internet protocol conversion
A network system supports multiple network communication protocols. An Ethernet component gateway in a Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) initiator system converts FCoE data packets from host devices to Fiber Channel over Internet Protocol (FCIP) data packets for transmission to a Storage Area Network (SAN) target system. The SAN target system may include a target Fiber Channel (FC) storage device and a SAN component gateway. The SAN component gateway converts FCIP data packets to SAN data packets for use by the target FC storage device. The SAN data packets may be either FC protocol data packets or FCoE protocol data packets. The SAN target system may provide for discovery of target FC storage device adapter information. |
| US08307046B2 |
Method and system for setting up a system for sharing images over a communication network between multiple users
A method for setting up a system for sharing images among a plurality of users in a first image sequence. The method includes providing a plurality of digital images to a controlling computer having software for controlling the sharing of the digital images among a plurality of designated users in the first image sequence; providing a list of list of electronic addresses for the designated users; forwarding an invitation to the designated users for gaining access to the plurality of images over a communication network by the controlling computer; forwarding user software to the designated users that accept the invitation; and automatically forwarding the plurality of digital images in a predetermined sequence to the designated users that accepted the invitation. |
| US08307044B2 |
Circuits, systems, and methods to integrate storage virtualization in a storage controller
Methods and systems for improved performance in virtualized storage systems. Features and aspects hereof provide for a virtualization circuit integrated in each storage controller of a storage system. The virtualization circuit is operable to determine whether a request received from an attached host system will be processed locally by the receiving storage controller or will be processed by another storage controller of the storage system. If another storage controller is to process the request, the virtualization circuit is operable to transfer the request to the appropriate other storage controller. The virtualization circuit then receives result information from the other storage controller and returns such result information to the requesting host system. Integration of the virtualization circuit at below level of request processing of storage controllers improves performance of virtualization as compared to prior techniques. |
| US08307043B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing data on a computing device
A method and computing device for processing data are provided. Rule data for visually coding incoming data is stored. First and second profile data are stored, independent of the rule data. Each profile data comprises a respective range of time and a respective recurrence pattern that repeats indefinitely. Each profile data is associated with a respective subset of the rule data. Respective indications are received that first profile data and second profile have been activated. In response, the respective subset is automatically applied during the respective range of time such that incoming data is visually coded at the display device according to the respective subset during the respective range of time. Automatic application of the respective subset during the respective range of time repeats indefinitely according to the respective recurrence pattern until another indication that the respective profile data has been deactivated is received. |
| US08307041B2 |
Multi-application follow-up
A system that responds to a user setting a follow-up flag on a message within a first communication application by associating the flagged message with another user, such that the flagged message is available to a second communication application. When a user sets a flag on an electronic mail message contained in an electronic mail mailbox provided by an electronic mail application, the system responds by associating the flagged message with another user in a list of other users with whom flagged messages are associated. When a communication session occurs with the other user through another communication application, the system checks the list and determines that a flagged message is associated with the other user. The flagged message is then brought to the attention of the local user, for example within a list of flagged messages associated with the other user displayed simultaneously with the instant messaging session. |
| US08307038B2 |
Email addresses relevance determination and uses
A computer implemented method for assisting email users. The method determines the relevance of email addresses to users and utilizes the relevance information to assist users in addressing emails. The method may include gathering email addresses from one or more sources including inbound user emails associated with an email user, and determining a relevance of the email address to the user based on a heuristic. Once relevance is determined, the method includes applying relevant email addresses to a user's store of relevant addresses. |
| US08307037B2 |
Inter vehicle communication system
A method and network for transmitting a message from a sender to a recipient wherein the sender has no previous knowledge of the recipient's identity. A method is provided for registering a user with a web-enabled database service by providing correlating data on the user's identity and vehicle license plate number and/or other vehicle identifying information. A sender observing a vehicle can send a message to the recipient by logging onto the service and sending a message including the license plate number of the vehicle or other vehicle identifying information. The service will forward the message to the recipient by looking up the vehicle information, discerning the most appropriate communications method(s), and causing the message to be transmitted to the recipient or stored for later delivery. |
| US08307036B2 |
Email server with enhanced least recently used (LRU) cache
An electronic mail (email) server includes a proxy that obtains mappings for unique identifiers (UID's) corresponding to new electronic messages that have been determined from a polling operation. A Least Recently Used (LRU) cache caches each new message and releases from cache least recently used messages. A memory in which all messages within the LRU cache are spooled. |
| US08307035B2 |
Virtual Aggregation Processor for incorporating reverse path feedback into content delivered on a forward path
The Virtual Aggregation Processor enables end user devices to share a common wireless forward path of a multicast communication architecture in which the forward path delivered content is dynamically changed or modified based on a real-time, near-real-time, or delay-time basis via aggregated reverse path feedback from at least one of a plurality of end user devices. The Virtual Aggregation Processor periodically or continuously aggregates the feedback input received via the reverse path (having wired and/or wireless connectivity), modifies the forward path multi-media content, and delivers this dynamically modified multi-media content to the then connected population of end user devices via a wireless forward path multicast in a repetitive closed loop fashion. |
| US08307031B1 |
Processing data requests using multiple request timers
The present disclosure relates to techniques for processing data requests using multiple request timers. An example method includes sending a request for data to an external device and starting a first request timer using a first request timeout value, the first request timeout value specifying a first amount of time to wait for receiving data that is responsive to the request. When first data responsive to the request is received prior to expiration of the first request timer, the method includes starting a second request timer using a second request timeout value, the second request timeout value specifying a second amount of time to wait for receiving additional data that is further responsive to the request. The method further includes determining whether the request is unsuccessful based upon expiration of the first request timer or the second request timer. |
| US08307030B1 |
Large-scale timer management
In general, techniques are described for managing timers for large scale service statistics collection. For example, as described herein, a network device includes a timing wheel data structure defining a plurality of slots. A rate limiter selects up to a rate limit value of timer events stored in a first one of the slots, wherein the rate limit value is less than a total number of the plurality of timer events stored in the first one of the time slots. A timer service module services the selected timer events during the first time interval, wherein the timer service module defers at least one of the unserviced timer events from the first one of the slots to a second one of the slot. During a second time interval, the timer service module services at least one of the timer events deferred from the first one of the slots. |
| US08307028B2 |
Organizing resources into collections to facilitate more efficient and reliable resource access
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for organizing resources into collections to facilitate more efficient and reliable resource access. Namespace managers communicate with one another to form a federation namespace infrastructure. The infrastructure can efficiently route, migrate, and process namespace requests, such as, for example, namespace registration requests from providers requesting to manage portions of namespaces and lookup requests from consumers requesting access to managed resources. Resources can be registered in and made accessible from multiple different namespaces. Resources can be identified using nested queries that filter results at multiple levels of a hierarchical namespace. |
| US08307022B2 |
Random number generating device
A random number generating device includes: a pulse voltage generator configured to generate a pulse voltage having an amplitude of 26 mV or more; a random noise generating element including source and drain regions formed at a distance from each other on a semiconductor substrate, a tunnel insulating film formed on a portion of the semiconductor substrate located between the source region and the drain region, and a gate electrode formed above the tunnel insulating film and to which the pulse voltage is applied, the random noise generating element configured to generate a random noise contained in a current flowing between the source region and the drain region; and a random number generating unit configured to generate a random number signal based on the random noise. |
| US08307021B1 |
Hardware architecture and scheduling for high performance solution to cholesky decomposition
A matrix decomposition circuit is described. In one implementation, the matrix decomposition circuit includes a memory, one or more memory counters to track one or more memory counter values regarding data stored in the memory, a processing unit that calculates elements of an output matrix, and a scheduler that determines an order for calculating the elements of the output matrix, where the scheduler uses one or more memory counter values to determine whether data needed for processing an element of the output matrix is available in the memory. In one specific implementation, the scheduler schedules processing of a diagonal element of the output matrix to occur as soon as the scheduler determines that each element of the output matrix needed for calculating the diagonal element is available in the memory. |
| US08307018B2 |
Method for managing file using network structure, operation object display limiting program and recording medium
A computer file management system allowing at least one of one file (F1) and/or one directory (D3) to belong to two or more directories (D1, D2). The file management system is characterized in that a file or directory specified by an operator of the computer or the program operating on the computer as an object to be operated has all the directories present on the directory path as parent directories. This system is a novel file management system capable of classifying/organizing files and directories more easily and naturally in the conventional system without requiring additional operation. |
| US08307014B2 |
Database rebalancing in hybrid storage environment
A method, computer program product, and system for rebalancing database table space in a hybrid storage environment of heterogeneous storage units used by a plurality of users to store associated extents. The storage units are ranked according to various performance characteristics such as IOPS rates and power consumption, and the users are ranked according to various characteristics such as whether they have subscribed to standard or premium storage subscriptions. Upon detection of a change in the relative ranking of the users or the storage units, the stored extents are mapped, characterized as standard or priority extents, and redistributed across the storage units if needed to provide higher ranked storage for priority extents and for higher ranked users. |
| US08307011B2 |
System and method for determining overall utilization
The present disclosure is directed to a method and system for determining overall utilization. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present disclosure, utilization metrics are received from at least one entity. Each utilization metric indicates resource availability for the entity. The utilization metrics are converted to mapped values by comparing the utilization metrics to configured thresholds. The mapped values are converted to percentage values. An overall utilization is calculated for the entity by identifying an average value of the percentage values. A graphical representation of the overall utilization is generated. |
| US08307010B2 |
Data feature tracking through hierarchical node sets
A data set may be represented as a hierarchical node set, comprising interrelated nodes that respectively include various data features (e.g., versions in a version-controlled software architecture.) Queries may be formulated regarding the inclusion of a particular feature in the nodes of the hierarchical data set (“does this node include this data feature?” and “what is the path of the data feature through the node set?”) Such queries may be evaluated by identifying a source node that includes the data feature, identifying candidate merge paths from the source node to the taget node, and determining whether the nodes of any candidate merge path include the data feature. The results may be presented to the user, e.g., as a visual layout of the portion of the hierarchical node set that includes the data feature or a timeline of nodes illustrating the path of the data feature over time. |
| US08307008B2 |
Creation and management of electronic files for localization project
Creation and management of electronic files for a localization project. The electronic files are based on a data structure that defines the format and content of the electronic files and includes a first data structure portion that contains data that represents a plurality of references to localization project files. Moreover, the data structure includes a second data structure portion that is associated with the first data structure portion that contains data that represents a plurality of references to standard files. |
| US08307006B2 |
Methods and apparatus to obtain anonymous audience measurement data from network server data for particular demographic and usage profiles
Methods and apparatus to obtain anonymous audience measurement data from network server data for particular demographic and usage profiles are disclosed. An example method to provide anonymous audience measurement data to an audience measurement entity disclosed herein comprises obtaining a demographic profile and a network usage profile, sampling customer data stored in a customer database not accessible by the audience measurement entity to generate a customer sample representative of the demographic profile and the network usage profile without customer intervention, the customer sample including customer identification information, processing log data obtained from a network server not accessible by the audience measurement entity using the customer identification information to determine audience measurement data associated with customers in the customer sample, and removing the customer identification information from the audience measurement data to prepare the anonymous audience measurement data for the audience measurement entity. |
| US08307002B2 |
Image forming apparatus, data processing method, computer-readable storage medium on which a program is stored, and program
In an image forming apparatus, a user of the image forming apparatus is authenticated, and a search is performed for user information stored in the storage unit by the authenticated user. Of all user information detected in the searching, deletable user information is displayed on a category-by-category basis on a display unit. In a mode selected from a plurality of modes, user information displayed on a category-by-category basis on the display unit is deleted from the storage unit. |
| US08307000B2 |
Common point authoring system for the complex sharing of hierarchically authored data objects in a distribution chain
The Common Point Authoring system functions to provide Livestock Informational Objects via the use of a centralized repository of uniquely identified, immutable Livestock Informational Objects. This system automates the authoring, maintenance, and distribution of the Livestock Informational Objects by using an Internet-based paradigm and a centralized repository of uniquely-identified, immutable Data Elements. The Common Point Authoring system provides a set of software modules that the manufacturers can use to author, maintain, and distribute Livestock Informational Objects and their customers, as Members of the system of Livestock Informational Objects, can use to retrieve, maintain, and distribute the Livestock Informational Objects. The system's interconnectivity allows for the use of an Internet-based paradigm for the purchase and sale among Members of the system of Livestock Informational Objects as commodities, and for reducing the burden costs among Members of compliance with government regulations. |
| US08306998B2 |
Method for sending an electronic message utilizing connection information and recipient information
A method comprises displaying a mail server information screen, and receiving connection information via the mail server information screen. Further, the method comprises displaying an address page, and receiving recipient information via the address page. In addition, the method comprises displaying a content page, and receiving content in the content page. Additionally, an electronic mail message having the content is compiled, and the electronic mail message is sent to a recipient utilizing the connection information and recipient information. |
| US08306993B2 |
Method, system and computer readable medium for addressing handling from an operating system
A method, system and computer readable medium for information handling within an operating system, including providing a record retrieval program; providing an input device within a window or screen of the operating system and configured to enter an execute command which initiates a record retrieval from local and remote information sources using the record retrieval program; using the record retrieval program to enter first information into search fields provided in the record retrieval program; entering the execute command using the input device after the step of entering the first information; searching, using the record retrieval program, the local and remote information sources for second information associated with the first information; and displaying the second information in the record retrieval program, when one of the local and remote information sources includes second information associated with the first information. |
| US08306991B2 |
System and method for providing a programming-language-independent interface for querying file system content
A system and method for providing a programming-language-independent interface for querying file system content. In one embodiment, the system may include a storage device configured to store a plurality of files and a file system configured to manage access to the storage device and to store file system content. The file system may include a programming-language-independent interface whereby an application queries the file system content. In various specific implementations of the system, file system content may include file data stored in one or more of the plurality of files, or metadata stored in a named stream corresponding to a given file, respectively. In another specific implementation of the system, the application querying file system content may include the application generating a query in a query language, the application submitting the query to a query engine via the programming-language-independent interface, and the query engine evaluating said query. |
| US08306987B2 |
System and method for matching search requests and relevant data
A system and methods for matching between search requests and relevant data (web pages, online documents, essays, online text in general, images, video, footage etc.). The system comprises three components that can work separately or together and can be integrated with other search engine methods in order to further improve the relevancy of search results. The system can find similarity between different document and measure the distance (in similarity) between documents. The three components are: Context based understanding, comprising putting the documents in the context of aspects of the human knowledge external to the documents, Partial Sentence analysis and 100 percentage points to keyword/tag sets. |
| US08306986B2 |
Method, system, and computer program product for linking customer information
In a business where a database tracks customers and manages customer accounts, a method and system correctly link accounts with customers. The method entails reading customer information for a first customer and for a second customer, and then utilizing personal identification information obtained from other sources to determine if the first customer is the same as the second customer. If the first customer and the second customer are the same person, the first customer and the second customer are identified as being the same unique person. Accounts associated with the two customers are identified as belonging to the same unique person. Viewed another way, the method and system of the present invention takes an existing database of personal identification information, and cross-references that database against other sources of personal identification information to identify persons who appear to be separate persons, but who are actually one and the same individual. |
| US08306982B2 |
Method for associating and manipulating documents with an object
A non-transitory computer-readable medium adapted to store thereon computer-readable instructions that, when executed with a computer, provide a method for managing information elements in relation with an object on a display of a computer, the method comprising providing an information element, providing a visual distinctive element associated with the information element, providing an object, associating a visual distinctive element at a location on the object and displaying the object on the display, with the associated visual distinctive element thereon, to provide a graphical reference at a location on the object, the visual distinctive element being adapted to draw a link with the information element. |
| US08306979B2 |
Service query, selection, routing and propagation
Improvements are provided in a service registry in SOA and in service propagation, query, and service selection and routing methods during service invocation. The service registry is connected with a local service domain and a remote service registry and comprises: a local service information manager for registering local services in the local service domain; and a local service information repository connected with the local service information manager for storing service metadata of the local services. The service registry further comprises: a remote service information manager connected with the local service information manager and the remote service registry for receiving a remote service index from the remote service registry; and a remote service information repository connected to the remote service information manager for storing the remote service index received from the remote service registry. The service registry makes it easy to realize service control and share among different service registries. |
| US08306976B2 |
Methods and systems for utilizing contextual feedback to generate and modify playlists
Systems and methods of generating and modifying a playlist using contextual information are disclosed. For example, a user may provide an input seed such as a song name or artist name. The input seed is compared to database items and a playlist is generated as a result. In some examples, the contextual information is used to enhance the comparison and to select better content objects for a user's playlist. Meanwhile, in some examples the content objects in the playlist may be arranged in an enhanced order using ranking and/or contextual information. |
| US08306974B2 |
Ranking database query results using an efficient method for N-ary summation
Ranking database query results using an efficient method for N-ary summation is provided. Such operation, referred to herein as “mid-fold N-ary summation” significantly reduces costs of computation for large numbers of queries, as are common in enterprise database applications. Thus, ranking query results using mid-fold N-ary summation offers improved runtime performance and reduced latency relative to using conventional N-ary summation. |
| US08306964B2 |
Extraction of rich search information from index servers via an alternative asynchronous data path
A search engine system is described herein that provides an alternative data path for collecting results provided by index servers. The alternative data path collects the results in a direct and asynchronous manner; this is in contrast to a synchronous path used to deliver search results to end users via one or more aggregator modules. An analysis system can use the alternative data path to collect a large amount of richly descriptive information regarding the performance of the search engine system, circumventing bottlenecks and other constraints that would otherwise be imposed by the synchronous data path. The analysis system can analyze the information collected from the index servers to improve the performance of the search engine system. |
| US08306960B2 |
Medical image retrieval system
A medical image retrieval system includes an image database which stores medical images. An interpretation unit acquires a currently diagnosed image for use in performing interpretation of one of the medical images and provides the currently diagnosed image to a computer terminal. An image requesting unit issues an image request associated with the currently diagnosed image. An image retrieval unit retrieves a reference image from the image database in accordance with the image request and provides the reference image to the computer terminal in order to propose the reference image as references for diagnosis. An evaluation input unit prompts to input an evaluation indicating whether the reference image has been helpful for diagnosis based on the currently diagnosed image. |
| US08306958B2 |
Time-outs with time-reversed linear probing
A current key is received at a current arrival time at a computer. An index in an array corresponding to the current key is determined using a hash function. A previous key and a previous arrival time are retrieved from the array at the index. The array is transformed by replacing the previous key and the previous arrival time with the current key and the current arrival time in the array at the index. The previous key and the previous arrival time are inserted into a nearest eligible sequential index in the array. |
| US08306957B2 |
Information managing apparatus and computer-readable medium in a multi-layer file system
An information managing apparatus includes an acquiring unit, a condition setting unit, a condition judging unit and a correlating unit. The acquiring unit acquires information from storage unit which stores information therein. The condition setting unit sets a condition on at least one layer of a file system. Information to be correlated with the at least one layer satisfies the condition as the information locates under the at least one layer. The condition is referred along with an attribute value of one or a plurality of lower layers provided under the at least one layer. The correlating unit correlates the acquired information with a lower layer if the condition judging unit judges that the acquired information satisfies the set condition when the attribute value of the lower layer is referred to. The lower layer corresponds to the condition judged to be satisfied by the condition judging unit. |
| US08306956B2 |
Method and apparatus for compressing a data set
A configuration management system that uses a data compression method to compress entries in a data set. An entry is selected as a prefix value and prefix compression of the data set is performed. The entry to serve as the prefix value is quickly selected using an iterative approach. In each iteration, subgroups of entries are formed from groups formed in prior iterations based on the values of characters at successive positions in the entries. The approach is readily implemented using data structures represented as lists. |
| US08306950B2 |
Managing data access requests after persistent snapshots
A client node on which a file system is mounted can be configured to efficiently handle content access requests after a snapshot is created. The client node can maintain generation numbers at a data block, a file, and a fileset level to determine whether a data block is part of a snapshot generation and consequently whether the data block is writable in a current generation. Data block mappings and write access permissions associated with the data blocks need not be revoked at the client node prior to creating the snapshot. Cached data block mappings can be accessed to identify data blocks for servicing a read request. The data block can be updated in place if the data block is not part of the snapshot generation. The write request can be serviced at a new data block if the data block is part of the snapshot generation. |
| US08306949B2 |
Method and system for copying a file using a portable electronic device
A method, system and computer-usable medium for copying a file are disclosed.A plurality of location identifiers are stored that include a location identifier of a removable memory and a location identifier of a memory of a portable electronic device. A file is stored in a memory of the portable electronic device, where the file is associated with the location identifier of the memory. In response to a user interaction with a user interface of the portable electronic device, the location identifier of the removable memory is associated with the file, where the user interaction includes a user selection of the file to copy. In response to the associating the location identifier of the removable memory with the file, the file is copied from the memory of the portable electronic device to the removable memory. |
| US08306944B2 |
Apparatus, method and system for providing content of media server
Provided are an apparatus, a method and a system for providing content in a media server, and, more particularly, an apparatus, a method and a system for providing content in a media server, in which content in the media server can be expressed as RSS data which can allow users to access the content through an RSS reader. The apparatus includes an RSS-converting unit which converts content information collected through a browse action or a search action into RSS data, and a web service unit which provides RSS data generated by the RSS-converting unit to external devices. |
| US08306940B2 |
Interactive visualization for generating ensemble classifiers
A real-time visual feedback ensemble classifier generator and method for interactively generating an optimal ensemble classifier using a user interface. Embodiments of the real-time visual feedback ensemble classifier generator and method use a weight adjustment operation and a partitioning operation in the interactive generation process. In addition, the generator and method include a user interface that provides real-time visual feedback to a user so that the user can see how the weight adjustment and partitioning operation affect the overall accuracy of the ensemble classifier. Using the user interface and the interactive controls available on the user interface, a user can iteratively use one or both of the weigh adjustment operation and partitioning operation to generate an optimized ensemble classifier. |
| US08306930B2 |
Learning device, learning method, and program for learning a pattern
A learning device, learning method, and program for learning a pattern are disclosed. A learning device includes: a plurality of learning modules, each of which performs update learning to update a plurality of model parameters of a pattern learning model that learns a pattern using input data; model parameter sharing means for causing two or more learning modules from among the plurality of learning modules to share the model parameters; and sharing strength updating means for updating sharing strengths between the learning modules so as to minimize learning errors when the plurality of model parameters are updated by the update learning. |
| US08306929B2 |
Emotion engine, emotion engine system and electronic device control method
An emotion engine and an emotion engine system adapted to an electronic device are provided. The emotion engine system includes a behavior control unit, a sensing unit, a time unit, and a behavior data bank. The behavior control unit provides a first behavior mode and a second behavior mode. When the sensing unit is enabled, it generates a trigger sensing signal or an initial sensing signal for the behavior control unit. The time unit generates a timing signal for the behavior control unit. The behavior data bank stores a plurality of behavior data, wherein the first and the second behavior modes are respectively corresponding to at least one of the behavior data. The behavior control unit determines the behavior data corresponding to the second behavior mode according to the timing signal, the trigger sensing signal and the first behavior mode. Additionally, an electronic device control method is also provided. |
| US08306924B2 |
Method and system for online submittal exchange
A method and system is provided for facilitating exchange and review of electronically submitted construction submittals. The method and system also provide for management and review of construction submittals associated with a construction project. The method and system provides convenience and reduces expenses for architects, contractors and consultants involved in a construction process. The method includes providing an application adapted to provide a first level of access to a contractor to submit construction submittals, a second level of access to an architect to review and manage construction submittals, a third level of access to consultants to review construction submittals, and a fourth level of access to facilities owners, construction managers, and other parties to monitor the submittal process. The application is adapted to display the status, review dates, actions, and other relevant information of all project submittals, whether electronic, paper, or physical samples, in a linear log format. |
| US08306923B1 |
Systems and methods for certifying business entities
Systems, methods, and computer program products for certifying business entities are provided. Input is received regarding a location of a business entity that is visited as part of a parcel delivery transaction, and the business entity is then associated with a verified address corresponding to the location visited. The verified address and an indication that the business entity is certified may be displayed to a user. Furthermore, a rating indicative of the legitimacy of the business entity may be determined, associated with the business entity, and displayed. The rating may be determined based on a total number of parcel delivery transactions of the business entity, a trend in its delivery transactions, the length of time the business entity has been involved in delivery transactions, or a geographic scope of the business entity. A directory of business entities that includes certification information and other features may also be provided. |
| US08306922B1 |
Detecting content on a social network using links
In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving at information related to users of a social network site, and determining a social network graph for at least a portion of the social network, the graph including a plurality of nodes connected by links, each node corresponding to a user that has a profile page on the social network. The method can also include identifying first nodes from the plurality of nodes as including content associated with a particular subject of interest, and seeding the identified first nodes with first scores. The method can additionally include determining second scores for second nodes based on propagation of the first scores from the first nodes to the second nodes using the links of the social network graph; and providing the determined second scores for the second nodes. |
| US08306919B2 |
IC card and authentication method in electronic ticket distribution system
Between an IC card (1) and a electronic ticket server (2), upon purchasing an electronic ticket a public key cryptosystem is employed for a mutual authentication to keep a strict security, and a shared secret between the electronic ticket and a ticket collecting machine is sent on a secure channel as well as the electronic ticket. Upon usage of the electronic ticket, the IC card (1) and the ticket collecting machine (6) mutually judge whether they carry out the mutual authentication by using a public key cryptosystem or a symmetric key cryptosystem. When they determine to use the symmetric key cryptosystem, they carry out the mutual authentication by using the shared secret exchanged beforehand. When they determine to use the public key cryptosystem, they carry out the mutual authentication by using the same method as that used upon purchasing the electronic ticket. This method of mutual authentication can dynamically switch cryptosystems for cryptographic communication between the IC cards or between the IC card and a tamper resistant device having an equivalent function to an IC card installed in related servers or the ticket collecting machine, based on their judgment of the types of bearers, the required degree of security and the required processing speed. |
| US08306916B2 |
Method and system for digital document management on a mobile device
A method and system are described for tracking a process of provisioning, by a middleware server to a portable device in a mobile payment system, electronic wallet data for authorizing a payment transaction. In an embodiment, a user request for a payment account product is transmitted by the portable device to the middleware server. In response, the middleware server initiates a provisioning process for the requested payment account product, including storing status data indicative of an initiated state of the provisioning process. The middleware server then transmits a digital document to the portable device, including information that must be viewed by the user, and updates the status data indicative of a transmitted state of the digital document. In response to receiving an indication that the digital document has been viewed, the middleware server updates the stored status data indicative of a digital document viewed state. The middleware then provisions an electronic wallet data for the requested payment account product to the portable device. |
| US08306908B1 |
Methods and apparatus for intelligent selection of goods and services in telephonic and electronic commerce
The invention provides methods, systems, and computer readable media of performing account acquisitions while associating pending transactions with applications for such accounts. One embodiment includes obtaining transaction information for preliminary transaction(s) by which a customer orders goods and/or services, proposing one or more additional transactions relating to goods and/or services to the customer, along with new accounts to pay for such preliminary or additional transactions, and associating the preliminary or additional transactions is with the new account application as pending transactions. Finally, the method can include requesting approval of the new application, with the transaction for goods/services associated with the application in a pending status. In another embodiment, a method includes receiving and approving an application for a new account, evaluating whether one or more pending transactions are associated with the new account or the application for the same, with the pending transaction(s) having been proposed before the application was approved. |
| US08306907B2 |
System and method for offering risk-based interest rates in a credit instrument
A system and method for communicating an offer to apply for a credit instrument is provided. A processing allows for processing credit history data. A calculating step allows for calculating a first plurality of interest rates based on the credit history data. A determining step allows for determining a second plurality of interest rates based on the first plurality of interest rates, wherein the second plurality of interest rates corresponds to a plurality of credit risk scores. Finally, a communicating step allows for communicating the offer to apply for a credit instrument in an initial communication with an offeree, the offer disclosing the second plurality of interest rates. An apparatus that calculates the interest rates used in the offer is also provided. |
| US08306906B2 |
Systems and methods for trading a trade list in financial markets
Systems and methods are provided for maintaining neutrality while trading a list of securities using an algorithmic trading facility coupled with at least one destination. This destination includes at least one alternative trading system (ATS). This facility is coupled, via an electronic data network, to a plurality of trading clients, and configured to receive a trade request to trade a list of securities from a trading client. This request includes user defined trading constraints that are used to generate and transmit trade orders to at least one ATS. The orders are transmitted based on trading data related to the destinations, the trade list, and the trading constraints. The facility can identify each executed trade corresponding to the trade orders and calculate a trade imbalance. The facility can determine whether the trade imbalance exceeds the trading constraints, and reallocate one or more of said submitted orders based on this determination. |
| US08306905B2 |
System and method of implementing massive early terminations of long term financial contracts
A method of and system for terminating or assigning outstanding OTC derivative transactions between a plurality of financial institutions (banks). The system comprises: a processing station arranged to receive transaction data describing a plurality of transactions from a plurality of banks via the Internet. The processing station comprises: a linking module for linking different versions of the same transaction received from different parties to that transaction; an analysis module for determining a set of linked transactions between a plurality of different banks, wherein each bank has debts and claims towards other banks in the set; a calculation module arranged to calculate an aggregated value of each set of linked transactions and select the set of linked transactions which has an aggregated value within bank-specified tolerance limits acceptable for executing a termination; and an execution module for executing a termination or assignment of the selected set of linked transactions. |
| US08306903B2 |
Commission calculator and display
Commission allocations in transaction management of auction-based trading for specialized items such as fixed income instruments. A plurality of workstations that are connected to a server, and a structured commission allocation protocol may be provided. Through the workstations, the server and the commission allocation protocol, the systems and methods may allocate commissions or fees when trading securities at accelerated levels with minimal errors and costs, control commission elements during real-time trading, reward customers and brokers who participate in transactions, and distribute commission and transaction data in real time. |
| US08306902B2 |
Method and system for providing option spread indicative quotes
A computer network and method for electronically trading combinations of derivatives. One preferred method of trading includes providing quotes information to a central server, and determining indicative quotes for combination trades, and providing the non-binding, indicative quotes to market participants (which typically includes subscribers, but may also include market makers). A participant may then submit an e-RFQ, which is a request for a binding quote for the combination of derivatives. Market Makers may then elect to submit a binding quote for the corresponding derivative combination. Market participants may then elect to enter a binding order. |
| US08306891B1 |
Potential-based asset comparison
Measurements for comparing one financial asset to another are provided. For example, in one aspect a comparison measurement is generated between a model estimate and an observed market value for an asset and then such comparison measurements are compared for two different assets. In another aspect, tracking error and performance differences between two assets are measured simultaneously, thereby providing better isolation of important information. |
| US08306887B1 |
Project engineering workflow and tracking integration
A system is provided comprising a computer, project forecast, workflow allocations, and incurred expense databases, and an application on the computer extracting from the project forecast database a list of costs and revenues associated with a first and second project, costs comprising approved expenses described in the workflow allocations database and incurred expenses in the incurred expense database. The system determines the first project is operational and for a first subscriber base and the second project is incomplete and is to be for a second subscriber base, completion of the second project pending release of a remaining cost item. The system analyzes an alternate allocation of the cost item to improve the profitability of the first subscriber base, delaying the second project. The system determines the proposed alternate allocation increases the first subscriber base profitability more than a reduction of second subscriber base profitability resulting from the proposed alternate allocation. |
| US08306885B2 |
Stochastic modeling module for providing financial planning and advice
The present invention provides systems and methods for facilitating financial advising and planning for a user. The system includes a portfolio integration module that integrates goals, assets, savings, and risk tolerance to develop a customized strategy for financial portfolio planning. A portfolio reconciler module facilitates comparison of the customized strategy to other strategies and projected user financial decisions in order to further facilitate the financial portfolio planning. A stochastic modeling module uses data from the portfolio integration module and the portfolio reconciler module in a stochastic modeling analysis using a synchronous stationary bootstrap sampling method to construct a proposed situation portfolio. A simulator module forecasts the effects of the proposed situation portfolio on the user's portfolio, and monitoring, simulating, designing, and testing the portfolio integration module, the portfolio reconciler module, and the stochastic modeling module. |
| US08306884B2 |
Management of volumetric product delivery
A billing system for supply contrasts in an industrial network is disclosed. In the case of a pipeline, a process flow computer installed at each customer site may each receive instantaneous flow readings from a flow meter. The process flow computer may be configured to accumulate product volumes in different volume groups, where each volume group corresponds to a range of instantaneous flow rates. Different volume groups may be associated with different rates ultimately charged to a customer. The volume groups may be assigned by a computing system running a billing application at a pipeline operations control center. Volume groups may be set for individual customers based on a contract summary of an agreement between a given customer and the operator of an industrial network. |
| US08306877B2 |
System and method for managing consumable return refund processing
Account manager systems and methods are disclosed for managing consumable return refund programs for repaid document processing devices, in which automated or semiautomatic refunds are provided by adding account credits to prepaid customer accounts and/or by directly applying print units to specific document processing devices for customers who return spent consumable products. |
| US08306871B2 |
Methods and systems for readily accessing commodity information
A commodity inspection method, including gathering inspection information from a commodity lot; collecting grower, field, and packing information associated with the commodity lot; recording purchase orders associated with the commodity lot; assigning a trace code to each of the purchase orders; entering the inspection information, the grower, field, and packing information, the purchase orders, and the trace codes into a central database; updating a content of a web-based application with the inspection information, the grower, field, and packing information, the purchase orders, and the trace codes within the central database; and allowing the customer to access the inspection information, and the grower, field, and packing information, by entering one of the trace codes into the web-based application. According to one embodiment, each of the purchase orders associated with the commodity lot is linked within the web-based application and incorporates Global Standards One (GS1) standards. |
| US08306867B2 |
Reproducing apparatus, portable communication apparatus, administrative server, and content distribution system
A reproducing apparatus (2) of the present invention receives information of a WEB site from a service-providing server (3) that administrates the WEB site, and reproduces the information. The service-providing server (3) holds identification information (40) of a user of a portable communication apparatus (1) that is permitted to access the WEB site. The reproducing apparatus (2) includes: a data receiving section for receiving, from the portable communication apparatus (1), invitation information (51), identification information (40), and transmission time point information (50); a reproducing apparatus infrared communication section; a destination determination section that establishes a connection to the service-providing server (3) based on the received invitation information (51), and transmits the invitation information (51), the identification information (40), and transmission-instruction time (50); and a reproducing apparatus communication control section. This allows the administrative server to confirm an authorized destination, based on the content request information received from the portable communication apparatus, when a content is provided from the administrative server managing the content. |
| US08306866B2 |
System and method for enabling an intellectual property transaction
A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards. |
| US08306864B2 |
Control system interface for flexible order transaction system
The present invention provides a control system interface for accessing a plurality of functions relating to a flexible order transaction system. |
| US08306859B2 |
Dynamic configuration of an advertisement
Systems and methods for dynamically sizing, structuring and operating advertisements that include a variety of content, including interaction prompts and other elements, which enable an engagement-based revenue generation model. According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method comprises storing advertising content, serving an XML file from an advertising server to an advertisement manager in order to control a player on a user computer, dynamically generating the advertisement through the player based on directions from the advertisement manager and the stored content, and tracking and reporting a user's engagement with the advertisement in order to determine compensation for the publisher. |
| US08306857B2 |
Dynamic content selection and delivery
A system for selecting and delivering content items includes a primary system and a secondary system. Each system includes a server and a datastore of content items that is accessible by the server. The primary system receives a request for a content item, selects an appropriate content item from the primary datastore, and sends a query containing information regarding the selected content item to the secondary system. The secondary system receives the query, searches the secondary datastore, and determines whether to deliver the content item contained in the query, another content item, a default content item, or a pass-back to the requester. |
| US08306854B1 |
Payroll time measurement and reporting
A system is provided comprising a computer and application, that when executed, observes login and logout events at a client workstation enabling and disabling access to an operating system executing on the workstation. The system observes a first login and logout event and a second login and logout event occur in order. The system determines first and second exceptions when the time of the first login and second logout events vary from scheduled first login and second logout times by greater than first and second predetermined time intervals, respectively. The system determines a third exception when the time between the first logout and second login event exceeds a third predetermined interval. The system determines a fourth exception when either the first logout or second logout event does not occur before the end of the period. The system also reports the first, second, third, fourth exceptions to a workforce management function. |
| US08306851B2 |
Automated price management system
A price management system that is capable of automatically or manually determining price adjustments based on current competitor pricing, retail site sales and other price related factors, such as cost of the product, freight charges, state and federal laws and state and federal taxes. Once price adjustments are determined they are able to be instantaneously and automatically implemented at the point of sale. In one of the most relevant applications, retail automotive fuel pricing, the system is able to automatically adjust and display prices on the fuel pumps as well as the advertising signs in the vicinity of the retail site. This system and methods provide for a comprehensive and efficient means of determining price adjustments and implementing the price adjustments in real-time fashion at the point-of-sale. |
| US08306848B1 |
Estimation of transit demand models for enhancing ridership
A method of estimating a transit demand graph includes collecting conditional information that includes at least one condition that when satisfied converts at least one non-rider into a rider, generating a non-rider transit demand graph by satisfying one of the conditions, and generating a normalized transit demand graph from the non-rider transit demand graph and a rider transit demand graph. The riders use public transit and the non-riders do not use public transit. The non-rider transit demand graph shows the demand of the non-riders for a public transit route. The rider transit demand graph shows the demand of riders for the same public transit route. |
| US08306844B2 |
Methods and apparatus to generate a smart text market change descriptor
Methods and apparatus to generate smart text are disclosed. An example computer implemented method includes receiving at an input module a query input associated with at least one of a product of interest or a market of interest during a time-frame of interest and identifying at least one candidate external application based on the query input. The example method also includes retrieving volume information from the at least one candidate external application, the retrieved volume information associated with a current time-frame and the time-frame of interest, calculating a change associated with the retrieved volume information, and assigning a market change descriptor to the at least one of the product of interest or the market of interest related to a magnitude of the calculated change, the assigned market change descriptor output to a user via an output module. |
| US08306840B2 |
Providing an electronic marketplace to facilitate human performance of programmatically submitted tasks
A method, system, and computer-readable medium is described for facilitating interactions between task requesters who have tasks that are available to be performed and task performers who are available to perform tasks. In some situations, the tasks to be performed are human performance tasks that use cognitive and other mental skills of human task performers, such as to employ judgment, perception and/or reasoning skills of the human task performers. In addition, in some situations the available tasks are submitted by human task requesters via application programs that programmatically invoke one or more application program interfaces of an electronic marketplace in order to request that the tasks be performed and to receive corresponding results of task performance in a programmatic manner, so that an ensemble of unrelated human agents can interact with the electronic marketplace to collectively perform a wide variety and large number of tasks. |
| US08306837B2 |
Shipment option selection method
A computer-implemented method of offering shipment options for selection is disclosed. The method includes receiving shipment-related criteria from a user and defining at one or more one shipment options that meet the shipment-related criteria. Environmental data corresponding to the shipment options are received and an corresponding environmental impacts, based on the environmental data, are determined. The method further includes displaying the shipment option with the corresponding environmental impact to the user and storing a selection by the user of one shipment option of the one or more shipment options. |
| US08306835B2 |
User interface for inputting multi-passenger multi-route travel planning query
A user interface displayed on a computer monitor includes fields for entering data for a multiple passenger, multiple route query, the fields including a first set of fields corresponding to travel segments of a first passenger group, a second set of fields corresponding to travel segments of a second passenger group, and a third set of fields corresponding to shared travel features between the first travel group and second travel group. |
| US08306833B2 |
Collective transportation system and process
A system is provided for the collective transport of people using a plurality of vehicles within a urban territory equipped with parking structures near transfer stations. Each parking structure comprises boxes for parking available vehicles in rows that provide a handling platform comprising a return area in front of a first row and a pick-up area in front of a second row. A mechanism displaces the boxes and brings, at the level of the handling platform, an empty box and an occupied box. The vehicle is thereafter advanced from the occupied box onto the pick-up area and taken therefrom. The vehicle is thereafter brought to the return area of a second parking structure, advanced and introduced in the empty box thereof. The empty box thereafter containing the vehicle is raised by the mechanism and replaced by a second empty box ready to receive a further vehicle. |
| US08306832B2 |
Insurance benefits estimator
A computerized method allowing insurance customers to enter details of their individual risk factors like age, as well as various customer designed risk scenarios, and receive information on the payout amounts that various insurance plans will deliver based upon both the individual risk factors and the customer designed risk scenario. In one embodiment, a method for allowing travelers going to a foreign country, where the traveler may be unaware of prevailing costs for various medical contingencies, to enter the traveler's risk factors like age and various adverse medical scenarios, and be informed both as to the costs of medical treatment in that country and the benefits that a variety of travel medical insurance plans will provide under these scenarios. These plans may then be evaluated according to different user selected parameters. The method can be implemented using computerized servers and client devices communicating using standard internet protocols over the internet. |
| US08306818B2 |
Discriminative training of language models for text and speech classification
Methods are disclosed for estimating language models such that the conditional likelihood of a class given a word string, which is very well correlated with classification accuracy, is maximized. The methods comprise tuning statistical language model parameters jointly for all classes such that a classifier discriminates between the correct class and the incorrect ones for a given training sentence or utterance. Specific embodiments of the present invention pertain to implementation of the rational function growth transform in the context of a discriminative training technique for n-gram classifiers. |
| US08306814B2 |
Method for speaker source classification
A method for classifying a pair of audio signals into an agent audio signal and a customer audio signal. One embodiment relates to unsupervised training, in which the training corpus comprises a multiplicity of audio signal pairs, wherein each pair comprises an agent signal and a customer signal, and wherein it is unknown for each signal if it is by the agent or by the customer. Training is based on the agent signals being more similar to one another than the customer signals. An agent cluster and a customer cluster are determined. The input signals are associated with the agent or the customer according to the higher score combination of the input signals and the clusters. Another embodiment relates to supervised training, wherein an agent model is generated, and the input signal that yields higher score against the model is the agent signal, while the other is the customer signal. |
| US08306812B2 |
Method and apparatus to vary audio playback speed
An audio playback speed control method and apparatus to control an audio playback speed using an optimal frame length with a small amount of calculation. The audio playback method includes extracting an audio sampling frequency and audio playback speed information from an audio signal which is reproduced, determining a length of an input frame, a length of an output frame, and a length of an overlapping region between frames, on a basis of the audio sampling frequency and the audio playback speed information and performing different overlapping and adding methods, according to the audio playback speeds, on a basis of the length of the input frame, the length of the output frame, and the length of the overlapping region between the frames. |
| US08306811B2 |
Embedding data in audio and detecting embedded data in audio
A method of embedding data into an audio signal provides a data sequence for embedding in the audio signal and computes masking thresholds for the audio signal from a frequency domain transform of the audio signal. The masking thresholds correspond to subbands of the audio signal, which are obtained from a masking model used to compress the audio signal. The method applies the masking threshold to the data sequence to produce masked data sequence and inserts the masked data sequence in the audio signal to produce an embedded audio signal. A method of detecting data embedded in an audio signal analyzes the audio signal to estimate the masking threshold used in embedding the data and applies the estimated masking threshold to the audio signal to extract the embedded data. |
| US08306810B2 |
Systems and methods to enable interactivity among a plurality of devices
Methods and systems to exchange and display data among a plurality of devices in response to one or more of user input and context-based information. User input may include one or more of motion, speech, text, pointing, and touch-selecting. Context-based information may include one or more of user location, which may be relative to one or more devices, background audio, information related to one or more products and/or services, and user-based context information. User context-based information may correspond one or more of prior transactions, prior activities, prior content exposure, and demographic information. Also disclosed herein are methods and systems to correlate user speech to one or more of commands and data objects, with respect to context-based information. Methods and systems to recognize speech may be implemented in combination with methods and systems to exchange and/or display of data among a plurality of devices, and in other environments. |
| US08306809B2 |
System and method for suggesting recipients in electronic messages
A system and method for dynamically recognizing a potential recipient of an electronic message. The method includes receiving content input for an electronic communication. The electronic communication includes at least one field of a plurality of fields, including a subject line, a message body, and a recipient address field. The at least one field of the electronic communication is populated with the content input. The method also includes parsing the content input of the at least one field of the electronic communication. The method also includes semantically analyzing the parsed content input of the at least one field of the electronic communication to identify a content qualifier of a recipient rule. The method also includes suggesting a potential recipient of the electronic communication based on the content qualifier of the recipient rule associated with the content input of the at least one of field of the electronic communication. |
| US08306807B2 |
Structured data translation apparatus, system and method
An apparatus is provided that includes a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to determine a category for a group of isolated noun phrases in a structured or semi-structured data source stored in the memory. The group of isolated noun phrases includes one or more isolated noun phrases. The processor is also configured to translate the group of isolated noun phrases from a source language to a target language using a category-driven isolated noun phrase translation. The determination of the category and the category-driven isolated noun phrase translation are performed based on context derived from the group of isolated noun phrases. |
| US08306805B2 |
Scenario generation method and scenario generation apparatus
Disclosed is a scenario generation program that is used to generate a scenario given to a plurality of virtual web clients each of which applies access load to a web server device of a test target. According to the program, a computer stores some first request messages transmitted to a web server device and some second request messages transmitted to the web server device based on the same operation. The computer extracts the differences between the request parameters in the first and second request messages in the same order of the same operation. If page data of a response message includes the extracted request parameters, rewriting-item information is generated corresponding to the request parameter and is incorporated into the scenario. The computer replace the parameter shown by the rewriting-item information whenever the computer executes the scenario. |
| US08306804B2 |
System, an apparatus and a method for performing chip-level electrostatic discharge simulations
A modeler for components of an IC under ESD conditions, a method of simulating ESD behavior of an IC and an ESD simulation system. In one embodiment, the modeler includes: (1) a circuit analyzer configured to provide identified ESD cells and circuitry of the IC by comparing component information of the IC with predefined ESD protection elements and predefined circuit topologies and (2) a model generator configured to create linearized models of the identified ESD cells and the identified circuitry based on physical attributes associated with the identified ESD cells and the identified circuitry, wherein a combination of the linearized models represent operation of the IC component under ESD conditions. |
| US08306802B2 |
Method for modeling an HDL design using symbolic simulation
A method for digital circuit design. The first step of the process is the step of providing a circuit design in the form of a hardware definition language. Then, the process produces a binary simulation of the design by setting out for each unit of time during execution of the hardware design the a control state and a program state of the design and assigns a symbol to each signal of the design. The process proceeds by executing a symbolic simulation of the design, concluding with identifying and capturing the combinational logic expression of the simulation output and the next state functions of the simulation. |
| US08306801B2 |
Virtual reservoir sensor
One or more computer-readable media include computer-executable instructions to instruct a computing system to receive simulation results for future behavior of a reservoir that includes a material production well and a fluid injection site; define a virtual sensor as being located between the material production well and the fluid injection site; determine fluid saturation at the virtual sensor based at least in part on the simulation results; and issue a notification if the fluid saturation at the virtual sensor exceeds a fluid saturation limit. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed. |
| US08306799B2 |
Devolatilization performance prediction apparatus and devolatilization performance prediction method
A devolatilization performance prediction apparatus for a solution devolatilization process using a twin-screw extruder is described. The devolatilization performance prediction apparatus determines a flow state of the solution in the twin-screw extruder, simulates the solution devolatilization process based on the flow state, and predicts a performance of a devolatilization process conducted with the twin screw extruder based on the simulation. |
| US08306797B2 |
System and method for remotely analyzing machine performance
Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise obtaining and analyzing data from at least one discrete machine, automatically determining relationships related to the data, taking corrective action to improve machine operation and/or maintenance, automatically and heuristically predicting a failure associated with the machine and/or recommending preventative maintenance in advance of the failure, and/or automating and analyzing mining shovels, etc. |
| US08306795B2 |
Product configuration method and system
An object-oriented product configuration system generally includes a model tool for modeling a particular product line and a runtime tool for making the modeled information available to one or more external software applications. More specifically, the model tool enables a modeler to create a ProductModel object, which is an automatically populating electronic file containing all of the necessary information about a particular product line. Once the ProductModel is created, the runtime tool provides an external application with an interface for accessing and utilizing the information. Thus, a single source can deploy useful information to various types of software applications. |
| US08306791B2 |
Method and system for modeling the performance of a gas turbine engine
A method for modeling the performance of a gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes the steps of: 1) providing a processor; 2) inputting flight condition parameter data and engine output parameter data into a gas turbine engine model operating on the processor, which model includes a physics-based engine model that uses the flight condition parameter data to produce estimated engine output parameter data, and determines residuals from the engine output parameter data and the estimated engine output parameter data; 3) partitioning the flight condition parameter data and residuals into training data and testing data; 4) performing a correlation reduction on the training data, which analysis produces correlation adjusted training data; 5) performing an orientation reduction on the correlation adjusted training data, which reduction produces orientation adjusted training data; 6) reviewing the orientation adjusted training data relative to at least one predetermined criteria, and iteratively repeating the steps of performing a correlation reduction and an orientation reduction using the orientation adjusted training data if the criteria is not satisfied, and if the criteria is satisfied outputting the orientation adjusted training data; 7) producing estimated corrections to the orientation adjusted training data using one or more neural networks; 8) evaluating the neural adjusted data using the partitioned testing data; and 9) modeling the performance of the gas turbine using the estimated corrections to the orientation adjusted training data. |
| US08306788B2 |
Computer-implemented systems and methods for executing stochastic discrete event simulations for design of experiments
Computer-implemented systems and methods for executing stochastic discrete event simulations for a stochastic model through a design of experiments approach. In the design of experiments approach, virtual mappings are generated between model component parameters in a model and the factors/responses contained in the design of experiments. The virtual mappings are used during execution of the model to generate values for the response contained in the design of experiments. |
| US08306785B2 |
Electronic device for measuring leaktightness
To solve a leakage problem in a box, it is proposed to provide the box with an electronic circuit for measurement of its specific humidity. It is shown that by comparing this current specific humidity to an initial specific humidity and by evaluating the difference found in relation thereto, one has a reliable tool for measuring the permanence of tightness. |
| US08306779B2 |
Detectable defect size and probability-of-detection
Predicting the probability of detection of major and minor defects in a structure includes simulating a plurality of N defects at random locations in a region specified by an array of transducers. Defect size is incremented until it intersects one path between two transducers. The defect size is again incremented until it intersects two or more adjacent paths between pairs of transducers. The number of major defects up to a selected size is determined by the total number of single path intersections by defects up to the selected size. The number of minor defects up to a selected size is determined on the basis of the total number of defects intersecting two or more paths up to the selected size. The probability of detection up to a selected size is the cumulative number of major or minor defects up to the selected size normalizing by N. |
| US08306776B2 |
Method and system for calculating misalignment of rotational body
In a method of calculating misalignment of a rotational body, radial displacement values are measured using a displacement gauge. A calculation part performs the steps of deriving radial displacement amounts of the rotational body for at least four or more measurement points along an outer surface while rotating the rotational body, selecting three arbitrary points to calculate a circle, calculating circle values for all the measurement points, calculating differences between the calculated circle values and the radial displacement amounts as error amounts, summing the error amounts to derive a total error amount, repeating circle calculation for different combinations and calculating a total error amount for each calculated circle, selecting a circle with a minimum total error amount as a most probable circle, and calculating deviation between the center of the most probable circle and the center of rotation of the rotational body. |
| US08306769B2 |
Method, device and system for calibrating positioning device
Embodiments of the present invention provide not only a technical solution for calibrating a positioning device but also a technical solution for characterizing an area of interest in a space. Specifically, there is provided a system, which may include: a tag capable of emitting ranging signals, placed at location points which are selected as space feature points in the space; a positioning device in the space, configured to obtain relative coordinates of the space feature points in relation to the positioning device based on the ranging signals from the tag; and a server, configured to determine location parameters of the positioning device in the space based on said relative coordinates, so as to calibrate the positioning device. The positioning device can be calibrated automatically, fast and accurately using the system. |
| US08306768B2 |
Game apparatus and computer-readable recording medium recording game program for controlling attitude and position of an object in a virtual space
Operation data including at least acceleration data and angular speed data is obtained from an input device including at least an acceleration sensor and a gyroscopic sensor. Next, at least one of an attitude and a position of a predetermined object in a virtual space is controlled based on the angular speed data. When at least one of the attitude and the position of the predetermined object is controlled based on the angular speed data, it is determined whether or not the acceleration data satisfies predetermined conditions. As a result, if the acceleration data satisfies the predetermined conditions, the predetermined object is caused to start a predetermined motion. |
| US08306767B2 |
Sensor output correcting device
A sensor output correcting device includes: a sensor element for detecting a variation in an object to be measured, and for outputting this variation as a signal; an A/D converter for converting the analog signal outputted from the sensor element into a digital signal; a zero reference value calculating unit for calculating a zero reference value which is a drift amount of the sensor element from the signal outputted from the sensor element; a zero point correcting unit for correcting a zero point of the signal outputted from the A/D converter on the basis of the zero reference value calculated by the zero criterion calculating unit; an output limiting unit for limiting a value of an output signal inputted from the zero point correcting unit on the basis of a correction amount provided by the zero point correcting unit, and a high frequency removing unit for removing a high frequency component. |
| US08306763B1 |
Particle characterization via doppler distribution
Systems and methods are provided for determining information about particle geometry are provided. As such, an ultrasonic transducer acts as both a transmitter and a receiver. The transducer insonifies a particle and scattered waves are then received by the transducer—now acting as a receiver. A small flat target moving relative to a stationary receiver will lead to the same radiated field as waves propagating through an equivalent moving aperture. Based on the Doppler distribution of the scattered or radiated waves resulting from relative motion between the particles and a receiver, the acoustic pressure field in the plane of the equivalent two-dimensional aperture can be inferred. The equivalent aperture geometry can be obtained from the inferred field. Hence, the particle geometry can be determined. |
| US08306762B2 |
Systems and methods for analysis of downhole data
Systems and methods for analysis of data associated with fluid flow through a conduit and potential control of the fluid flow. In one embodiment, a method includes a data processing unit obtaining from a sensor a signal representing a series of measurements of a physical parameter associated with fluid flow through the conduit. The data processing unit performs singular spectral analysis of this signal and thereby identifies recurring, possibly non-sinusoidal patterns in the signal. The data processing unit may construct a second signal from some or all of the recurring patterns identified in the first signal. Alternatively, the data processing unit may identify recurring patterns in the signal which are indicative of corresponding conditions associated with the fluid flow through the conduit. The data processing unit may then initiate control functions responsive to the recurring patterns and associated conditions. |
| US08306760B1 |
Defect detection on optical fiber specimen using 3D surface data
A computing system includes an interferometer and a processor. The interferometer is configured to generate at least two phase shifted images of an optical fiber specimen. The processor is configured to acquire the at least two phase shifted images from the interferometer, generate a first intermediate data set based on the at least two acquired phase shifted images and perform two-dimensional defect detection on the first intermediate data set. |
| US08306758B2 |
Systems and methods for maintaining the precision of mass measurement
Reference features are updated based on a previous scan during each mass spectrometry scan of a sample. Reference features with reference feature confidence values are generated from a plurality of initial scans. For each subsequent scan of a sample, sample features and sample feature confidence values are calculated. The reference features and sample features are aligned to determine common features. Constants are determined for an equation of mass of the mass spectrometer using confidence weighted regression of the common features. The constants and the equation of mass are used to calculate new mass values for the sample features. The reference features are updated using the sample features and the reference feature confidence values are recalculated in order to maintain the accuracy of reference features for calibration. |
| US08306756B2 |
Method of determining base sequence of nucleic acid
To enable accurate analysis of a base sequence even in an electrophoretic pattern containing a degraded part. The base sequence of a nucleic acid is determined by conducting the following steps (A) to (C) in this order: (A) a basic peak extracting step wherein basic peaks are extracted from electrophoretic data involving the respective peaks of the four bases obtained by electrophoresing a sample nucleic acid; (B) a condition determining step wherein a basic peak at the search starting point, from which the search is started, and a standard peak-to-peak distance are determined based on the time-series data composed of the basic peaks extracted above; and (C) a base sequence determining step wherein peak-to-peak intervals are successively scanned forward and backward in the above-described time-series data starting from the basic peak at the search starting point and then the peak-to-peak distance is compared with the standard peak-to-peak distance as determined above so as to add an interpolation peak to a peak-missing area. |
| US08306751B2 |
Testing additives for production enhancement treatments
Fluid tests may be performed to determine suitability of an additive for a production enhancement treatment. In one aspect, a measuring device is used to determine a result of adding a sample of solid material to a test fluid that includes an additive. The result may include, for example, a change in surface tension, a change in contact angle, and/or another result. The measured result is used to determine the suitability of the additive for use in a stimulation treatment for a subterranean formation. For example, the additive may be determined suitable for use during a pad phase of a fracture treatment, during a proppant-laden phase of a fracture treatment, and/or for other phases and/or types of stimulation treatments. |
| US08306741B2 |
Method and apparatus for navigation system using routing data created by remote navigation server
A navigation method and apparatus uses routing data created by a remote navigation server for a route guidance operation by an individual navigation system. The navigation method and apparatus makes use of the most currently updated map data and the high calculation power of the remote navigation server for creating the calculated route and utilizes the calculated route for the route guidance operation by the individual navigation system. The navigation method and apparatus decreases an amount of routing data indicating the calculated route by employing a concept of strategic road segments for sending the routing data to the individual navigation system. The individual navigation system recreates the calculated route based on the routing data received from the navigation server for the route guidance operation to the destination. |
| US08306739B2 |
System and method for tracking a vehicle based on driver status
In at least one embodiment a system and a method for tracking locations for one of a primary driver and a secondary driver is provided. The apparatus comprises a communication module configured to receive a driver status signal indicative of the driver being the secondary driver. The communication module is further configured to detect the presence of a memory map device that provides map data for one or more locations capable of being visited by the secondary driver and to receive a location signal having coordinate data that corresponds to one or more locations visited by the secondary driver. The communication module is further configured to store the coordinate data when the memory map device is not detected so that the coordinate data is available for transmission with the map data when the memory map device is detected. |
| US08306738B2 |
Apparatus and method for building map
An apparatus and method for building a map are provided. According to the apparatus and method, a path is generated on the basis of the degrees of uncertainty of features extracted from an image obtained while a mobile robot explores unknown surroundings, and the mobile robot travels along the generated path. The path based on the degrees of uncertainty of the features is generated and this may increase the accuracy of a feature map of the mobile robot or accuracy in self localization. |
| US08306737B2 |
Navigation system with route planning and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a navigation system includes: providing travel modes of a current travel community; checking current power levels of the travel modes; and generating a navigation instruction based on the current power levels for displaying on a device. |
| US08306735B2 |
System and method for managing geographical maplet downloads for a vehicle to support stop sign violation assist and similar applications
A method is provided for managing map data for intersections having stop sign indicators. A request is initiated for turn-by-turn navigation instructions for a destination from a vehicle to an infrastructure. A turn-by-turn navigation maplet is transmitted from the infrastructure to the vehicle. A geographical region associated with the received turn-by-turn navigation maplet is identified. A determination is made whether stop sign locations already retained within a memory of the vehicle relate to the identified geographical region. The vehicle on-board device requests stop sign maplets for the identified geographical regions from the infrastructure if the stop sign locations retained within the memory of the vehicle do not relate to the identified geographical region. The stop sign maplets are transmitted for the identified geographical region from the infrastructure to the vehicle. The stop sign maplets relate to stop sign intersection data within the identified geographical region. |
| US08306733B2 |
Road map data learning device and method for detecting and learning new road
A new road detection unit detects a new road according to a travel locus of a vehicle and road map data of a road map data learning device. The new road is not included in the road map data. A road learning unit learns the new road, which is detected by the new road detection unit, as a learned road being functional additionally to the road map data. A storage device stores a feature of an erroneous new road, which is erroneously detected by the new road detection unit, as learning-prohibited pattern information. The road learning unit restricts learning of a new road detected by the new road detection unit when the feature of the new road detected by the new road detection unit coincides with the learning-prohibited pattern information stored in the storage device. |
| US08306732B2 |
Model based method to assess road curvature effect on travel time and comfort for route planning
Methods and systems for assessing the effect of road curvature on the travel time and the comfort level of a path determined by a ground based route planning system. The methods and systems identify a path and determine an allowable speed profile of the path, wherein the allowable speed profile satisfies a cross track acceleration constraint. Thereafter, the methods and systems determine an optimal speed profile of the path, wherein the optimal speed profile satisfies both an along track acceleration constraint and a speed constraint. Using the optimal speed profile, the road curvature of a path may be factored into a determination of the traversal time of the path. Additionally, using the optimal speed profile, the road curvature of a path may be used to derive a comfort level of the path and/or to provide driver assistance. |
| US08306731B2 |
System and method for reporting productivity
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for assessing the productivity of workers employing vehicles at worksites. Devices are provided for characterizing vehicle usage into a variety of vehicle status categories. The time spent by the vehicle in the various status categories may be compared against relevant standards in order to provide useful measures of the vehicle's productivity. This productivity information may be further provided to a interface device on a continuous or periodic basis so as to allow the operator, construction managers and clients to easily access the information. These measures of productivity may be further combined with geographical information systems (GIS) in order to provide reports of productivity having a geographical context which yield further insights. From this information, appropriate incentives and sanctions may be provided to vehicle operators in order to reward or change behaviors, helping to maintain and enhance productivity. |
| US08306723B2 |
Method to control fuel injector pulsewidth in a compression-ignition engine
A direct-injection, compression-ignition internal combustion engine control adapts nominal minimum pulsewidth parameters controlling the fuel injectors to minimize pilot fuel delivered to the cylinders required to initiate a preliminary combustion event. |
| US08306717B2 |
Reaction force apparatus
When a target vehicle speed setting unit switches from a target vehicle speed to a higher target vehicle speed, a reaction force controller of a reaction force apparatus lowers, at the same ratio, a reaction force applying characteristic, which corresponds to the target vehicle speed before being switched to the higher target vehicle speed. |
| US08306707B2 |
Transmission shifting with speed dither and torque dither
A system and method of dithering speed and/or torque for shifting a transmission of a vehicle having an engine, a reversible, variable displacement hydraulic motor/pump which can be driven by the engine, a hydraulic accumulator supplied by said motor/pump, and at least one reversible hydraulic driving motor for propelling the vehicle supplied with fluid by the hydraulic accumulator and/or by said motor/pump operating as a pump. A transmission unit connects the engine with the variable displacement hydraulic motor/pump during a first mode of operation (city mode) and connects the engine to a vehicle drive wheel during a second mode of operation. The system utilizes stored hydraulic energy to dither the output of the driving motor in order to achieve quick and smooth shifts between city and highway mode, or between various ranges within the city mode. |
| US08306706B2 |
Storage container loading/unloading and transporting apparatus
Disclosed is a storage container loading/unloading and transporting apparatus, which loads one storage container or a plurality of storage containers on a loading table of a vehicle, transports the storage container(s) to a designated place, and then unloads the storage container(s). |
| US08306701B2 |
Vehicle toe angle controller
It is possible to drive a motor (7) with a high output during a low-speed travel and perform steering with a high resolution during a high-speed travel. An electric power steering device (1) causes the motor (7) to generate an auxiliary torque based on the steering torque specified by a driver for operating steering wheels (9), thereby reducing the steering torque specified by the driver. A control device (10) uses the vehicle speed signal (Vs) from a vehicle speed sensor (11) so as to drive the motor (7) with a high output during a low-speed travel and perform steering with a high resolution during a high-speed travel without increasing the motor output. Moreover, during a low-speed travel, a large steering torque is required and during a high-speed travel, steering should be performed with a high resolution. Thus, the driver's feeling in steering is not affected. |
| US08306698B2 |
Steering device
When the magnitude |ω| of a steering angular velocity w is equal to or greater than a determination angular velocity ωth, an electric motor is estimated to be in a predetermined power use state, and a restriction determination threshold Vonth is set to a first voltage value V1. When the magnitude |ω| of the steering angular velocity ω is less than the determination angular velocity ωth, the restriction determination threshold Vonth is set to a second voltage value V2 (>V1). When a state in which a power supply voltage Vx is lower than the restriction determination threshold Vonth continues for a predetermined time t1, a power use restriction instruction is output to specific vehicle electrical loads. Thus, power restriction is properly imposed on the vehicle electrical loads, whereby a delay in control of the electric motor is prevented, and excessive imposition of power restriction is prevented. |
| US08306697B2 |
Integrated control system for stability control of yaw, roll and lateral motion of a driving vehicle using an integrated sensing system with pitch information
An integrated stability control system using the signals from an integrated sensing system for an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of sensors sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle. The sensors include an IMU sensor cluster, a steering angle sensor, wheel speed sensors, any other sensors required by subsystem controls. The signals used in the integrated stability controls include the sensor signals; the roll and pitch attitudes of the vehicle body with respect to the average road surface; the road surface mu estimation; the desired sideslip angle and desired yaw rate from a four-wheel reference vehicle model; the actual vehicle body sideslip angle projected on the moving road plane; and the global attitudes. The demand yaw moment used to counteract the undesired vehicle lateral motions (under-steer or over-steer or excessive side sliding motion) are computed from the above-mentioned variables. The braking control is a slip control whose target slip ratios at selective wheels or wheel are directly generated from the request brake pressures computed from the demand yaw moment. |
| US08306691B2 |
On-board interactive electronic system for a vehicle
An on-board interactive electronic system for a vehicle including an operating module with a plurality of operating elements for selecting a parameter of a plurality of parameters or a specific value of the parameter. The value and the parameter may be addressed by operating at least one operating element of the operating module. The on-board interactive electronic system includes a configuration module for determining a specific parameter or a specific value of the parameter that a user wants to address, and for assigning the parameter or the value to at least one operating element, so that the parameter or the value is addressed when the at least one assigned operating element is activated. |
| US08306690B2 |
Battery tester for electric vehicle
Testing or diagnostics are performed on an electric vehicle. The vehicle is operated and current flow through a system of the vehicle is monitored. A voltage related to the system is also monitored. Diagnostics are provided based upon the monitored voltage and the monitored current. |
| US08306689B2 |
Integrated net-centric diagnostics dataflow for avionics systems
A net-centric avionics diagnostics and automated maintenance environment system includes a storage medium on which is stored diagnostic data concerning the operation of systems of an aircraft and diagnostic data of aircraft systems, including BIT data, an organizational level automated maintenance environment server to transport maintenance and diagnostic information throughout the automated maintenance environment. The system also includes an organizational level diagnostics avionics tester that has a processor to execute diagnostics software for gathering, storing, and processing avionics diagnostics information. The tester is linked to an interface device that includes data acquisition hardware, standard interfaces for an avionics unit under test, and instrumentation for troubleshooting the unit under test. The organizational level diagnostics avionics tester is in network communication with the organizational level automated maintenance environment server. The system also includes a common intermediate level tester for testing a plurality of avionics modular assemblies, and an intermediate level maintenance environment server that stores historical maintenance data for use by the common intermediate level tester and by the organizational level diagnostics avionics tester. |
| US08306688B2 |
Electronic control device
An electronic control unit performs a process that stores into a buffer selected diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) currently in a volatile trouble code storage by selecting, from among multiple codes, a code that is to be saved in an EEPROM, when an ignition switch of a vehicle is turned off. Further, the DTC stored in the buffer is written in the EEPROM. If the electronic control unit receives, from a scan tool, a command that instructs erasure of the DTC in the volatile trouble code storage, the above-described process is performed before erasing the DTC from the volatile trouble code storage. |
| US08306685B2 |
Electronic logbook flight preparation system and method
A method for carrying out a logbook flight preparation process to present pre-flight information to a flight crew member of an aircraft prior to a flight mission. The method may involve electronically accessing a database to obtain a quantity of pre-flight information relating to an airworthiness of the aircraft, with the database being at least one of on-board the aircraft and remote from said aircraft. The quantity of pre-flight information is displayed in accordance with a desired sequence in which the information is to be presented to said flight crew member. The quantity of preflight information may be presented on a visual display in the desired sequence. |
| US08306683B2 |
Guide-by-wire vehicle steering
Guide-by-wire vehicle steering involving (a) preparing a vehicle lane in a roadway with a passive, lane-following, elongate, lateral-triangulation responder, (b) equipping a selected vehicle having signal-controllable steering mechanism with a lateral-triangulation transceiver operatively associated, and interactive, with the responder, and signal-control-linked to the selected vehicle's signal-controllable steering mechanism, (c) with such a vehicle traveling along the roadway, interacting the transceiver and the responder, and (d) by such interacting, applying, as necessary, control signals from the transceiver to the vehicle's signal-controllable steering mechanism, thereby to control vehicle steering so as to assure vehicle following of the prepared vehicle lane. Also disclosed is system structure capable of performing these vehicle-steering steps, and selectively, additionally, communicating non-position roadway information in addition to steering-control information. |
| US08306678B2 |
Devices and methods for filtering terrain and obstacle anti-collision alerts for aircraft
The present invention relates to a device and methods for filtering anti-collision alerts for aircraft having a locating system charting the position of the aircraft and estimating the precision of its position. A navigation system of the aircraft calculates at least the actual speed of the aircraft, the speed instruction and a first deviation between the instruction and the actual speed, and the deviation being compared with a first reference overshoot threshold. An anti-collision system generates alerts. An alarms manager of the aircraft centralizes the alerts transmitted by the terrain anti-collision equipment of the aircraft to the crew. The alerts each posses a coding of the danger level, and the danger levels form part of a first predetermined set. The alert filter according to the invention filters sets of alerts according to the coding of their danger level. |
| US08306676B1 |
Systems and methods for differential altitude estimation utilizing spatial interpolation of pressure sensor data
Systems and methods for differential altitude estimation utilizing spatial interpolation of pressure sensor data are provided. In one embodiment, a method for mobile navigation comprises: measuring a horizontal location of a mobile navigation unit to generate two-dimensional horizontal coordinate data; measuring a barometric pressure at the mobile navigation unit with a sensor to obtain local pressure data; processing information representative of pressure data derived from a network of a plurality reference stations to obtain a correction factor; performing a calculation using the two-dimensional horizontal coordinate data, the local pressure data, and the correction factor to calculate an altitude coordinate; and determining an altitude of the mobile navigation unit from the altitude coordinate. |
| US08306673B1 |
Electronic controls and options for powered riding machines
The present invention relates to a power riding apparatus with electronic options, a wireless user interface for control such apparatus, and a wave-information-system. One embodiment of the power riding apparatus is a surfboard configured with a booster system. An alternative embodiment is a motorized land board, such as a skateboard with a motor.The booster system or land board motor is electrically associated with an onboard controller. The onboard controller is in wireless communication with a user interface associated with a user. The user activates the user interface as desired to control the booster system and activate other board features such as: lighting system, repellant system, anti-theft system, entertainment system, recording system, and communication system. |
| US08306669B1 |
Method for operating a thermostatically controlled heater/cooler with fresh air intake
A thermostat-controlled heater/cooler is used to condition air in a temperature-controlled region. A target temperature is obtained and compared to the temperature of the region to determine if heating/cooling is required. If yes, then outside air is directed into the region without operating heater/cooler and updated temperatures of the region are measured. The directing and measuring are continued until (1) the measured temperature equals the target temperature, at which time control returns to the obtaining a target temperature step, or (2) the updated measured temperature differs from the target temperature by a chosen amount, and in some examples, if the updated temperature does not reach the target temperature within a chosen length of time, or the target temperature changes, or the program segment ends, at which time directing outside air into the temperature-controlled region is stopped and the heater/cooler is operated under control of the thermostat. |
| US08306667B2 |
Air-conditioning apparatus
To achieve a reduction in power consumption by allowing a plurality of air conditioners to communicate with each other and thereby leveling their air-conditioning capacities with no load variations involved by temperature variations. An air-conditioning apparatus 100 may include a plurality of air conditioners and a computing section for control, where each air conditioner includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit that form a closed refrigeration cycle. The indoor units of the plurality of air conditioners are installed in an area to be air-conditioned. The computing section for control may allow the plurality of air conditioners to communicate with each other, thereby leveling their air-conditioning capacities based on air-conditioning load detected by each air conditioner. |
| US08306665B2 |
Control system for the conversion of carbonaceous feedstock into gas
The present invention provides a control system for the conversion of carbonaceous feedstock into a gas. In particular, the control system is designed to be configurable for use in controlling one or more processes implemented in, and/or by, a gasification system for the conversion of such feedstock into a gas, which may be used for one or more downstream applications. Gasification processes controllable by different embodiments of the disclosed control system may include in various combinations, a converter, a residue conditioner, a recuperator and/or heat exchanger system, one or more gas conditioners, a gas homogenization system and one or more downstream applications. The control system operatively controls various local, regional and/or global processes related to the overall gasification process, and thereby adjusts various control parameters thereof adapted to affect these processes for a selected result. Various sensing elements and response elements are therefore distributed throughout the controlled system and used to acquire various process, reactant and/or product characteristics, compare these characteristics to suitable ranges of such characteristics conducive to achieving the desired result, and respond by implementing changes to in one or more of the ongoing processes via one or more controllable process devices. |
| US08306664B1 |
Self-balancing robot having a shaft-mounted head
Mobile self-balancing robots for telepresence are provided. The robots comprise a base, a head, and a shaft therebetween. The shaft can be telescoping to allow the head to be extended above the base to about the height of a normal sized person, or can be retracted to make the robot more compact for easier storage and transportation. The head includes components for telepresence such as cameras, a speaker, a microphone, a laser pointer, and a display screen, as well as protection from impacts and falls. The base provides locomotion and balance, and a narrow shaft between the head and base minimizes the robot's weight and reduces the likelihood of collisions with protrusions like table edges. |
| US08306663B2 |
Robot with 3D grasping capability
A robotic harvester has a mobile platform. A programmable multi-axis robot arm is connected to the platform. The robot arm is mounted to a computer controller. A stereovision camera connected to the computer is mounted on the mobile platform. The camera views the area under the mobile platform and identifies objects in geometric coordinates. The robot arm is directed to the location of the object and a gripper on the robot arm grasps the object. The stem is separated from the object and the object is deposited on a sorting conveyor. The harvester is incrementally moved. A method of harvesting is disclosed. |
| US08306658B2 |
Field device for processing data and parameters in a decentralised automation system
A field device for data- and parameter-processing in a decentralized automation system, wherein other connected fieldbus components of the decentralized automation system communicate with one another via a fieldbus connected to the field device, and wherein a unified automation system is formed from a plurality of encapsulated function blocks, which run decentralized in the individual fieldbus components of the fieldbus and communicate with one another. An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a function block for field devices of process automation technology, which enables a simple, controlled storage of data and/or parameters from the various function blocks of the decentralized units of the automation system and which permits an autonomous re-parametering of the function blocks of the relevant field device. |
| US08306655B2 |
Systems and methods for providing portion control programming in a product forming dispenser
Disclosed are systems and methods for configuring portion control for a dispenser apparatus. A plurality of beverage ingredients may be associated with the dispenser apparatus, and a plurality of selectable beverages may be formed from the plurality of beverage ingredients. Input for one or more preferences associated with portion control may be received. Stored information associated with at least one of the plurality of selectable beverages may be accessed. At least one portion control for at least one of the plurality of selectable beverages may be determined based at least in part on at least a portion of the received input and at least a portion of the accessed information. |
| US08306653B2 |
Uniform turnover mechanism and method for controlling the same
A uniform turnover apparatus comprises a turnover body, a linear advance device, and a fixed base. The linear advance device has a fixed end and a movable end. The fixed end is turnably provided on the fixed base by a first fulcrum. The turnover body is movably connected with the movable end of the linear advance device by a second fulcrum. The turnover body is turnably provided on the fixed base by a third fulcrum. The first, the second, and the third fulcra form a triangle. The uniform turnover apparatus comprises a control device connected with the linear advance device. The control device acquires an actual angular velocity at which the turnover body is turned, and compares the actual angular velocity with a set angular velocity, and according to the comparison, adjusts the linear velocity of the linear advance device in real time, so that the actual angular velocity of the turnover body approximates or equals to the set angular velocity. The apparatus can make the turnover body turn placidly and effectively reduce the impact force during turning over. |
| US08306646B2 |
Coating and developing apparatus, coating and developing method, and storage medium
When a product substrate passes a reference module which is an n-th module ahead of an inspection module in a transfer path, an inspection reservation signal for performing an inspection to a lot to which the product substrate belongs is outputted to the inspection module. When the inspection module is in trouble, the output of an inspection reservation signal for a product substrate is forbidden, and the product substrates to be transferred to the inspection module are transferred to a module which is next to the inspection module in a transfer order. When the trouble of the inspection module has been resolved and a substrate for confirmation inspection is preferentially transferred to the inspection module, an inspection reservation signal for the substrate for confirmation inspection is outputted, the substrate for confirmation inspection is transferred to the inspection module, and the confirmation inspection for the inspection module is performed. |