| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08317311B2 |
Metallic ink jet printing system for graphics applications
A multi-phase system for creating a metallic effect on a substrate, includes applying to the substrate a first ink jet ink having a dispersion of reflective metallic particles in a suitable carrier system, to form a reflective coating layer; and applying a second ink jet ink over the reflective coating layer to form a protective coating layer. Optionally, an undercoat layer is printed on the substrate prior to applying the first ink jet ink. The second ink jet comprises at least one crosslinkable polymer or is otherwise energy curable. The second ink jet ink optionally imparts a color to the metallic image. |
| US08317308B2 |
Solid ink stick with motion control inset
A solid ink stick for use in solid ink printers is provided that enables adjacent ink sticks to be separated and retained at a predetermined location in the feed channel. |
| US08317305B2 |
Ink tank holder and ink jet printing head cartridge having a light guiding portion
In a configuration to inform conditions of an ink tank such as an ink residual quantity by use of a light emitting portion such as a light emitting diode, a display in a position easily viewable to a user is achieved without requiring electric wiring that hinders user visibility and operability. A display section for displaying information by letting light out is separated from a light emitting portion, and a light guiding portion for achieving optical connection between both of the constituents is provided on an ink tank holder. In this way, it is possible to dispose the light emitting portion and the display section respectively in optimum locations, and to ensure freedom of disposing the display section in a position achieving fine user visibility. |
| US08317303B2 |
Liquid-droplet jetting apparatus and method for producing the same
A liquid-droplet jetting apparatus includes a pressure-applying mechanism and a channel unit. The channel unit has a stacked body made of a plurality of metal plates. A plurality of pressure chambers arranged in a row in one direction, a plurality of manifolds which are arranged to be mutually adjacent and which extend in the one direction, and a plurality of communication channels each communicating one of the pressure chambers with one of the manifolds are formed in the stacked body. Here, the communication channels have channel resistances which are same. It is possible to divide the manifold into a plurality of divided manifold portions, and the construction of the channel unit as a whole can be made compact while suppressing the variation in jetting characteristic, thereby making the size of the liquid-droplet jetting apparatus to be small. |
| US08317301B2 |
Printing nozzle arrangement having fault detector
A printing nozzle arrangement is provided having an electrical current source, a fluid chamber having a fluid inlet and fluid ejection port, a heating element within the chamber electrically connected to the electrical current source, and a microprocessor. The heating element is configured such that electrical current applied by the electrical current source at a predetermined energy level causes resistive heating and ejection of the fluid from the fluid ejection port. The microprocessor is configured to test for faulty operation of the heating element by causing application of electrical current for a predetermined duration which does not result in fluid ejection. When faulty operation is determined, the microprocessor is configured to cause application of electrical current at an energy level significantly greater than the predetermined energy level in an attempt to clear fluid blockages associated with the chamber. |
| US08317300B2 |
Inkjet printer
An inkjet printer includes a carriage guide including a carriage guide direction; an inkjet nozzle array that is movable back and forth along the carriage guide direction; an ink tank for providing ink to the inkjet nozzle array; and a holding receptacle for the ink tank, the holding receptacle includes a base surface for supporting the ink supply, the base surface including a first end and a second end that is opposite the first end; a latch including a latching member proximate the first end of the base surface for retaining the ink tank in the holding receptacle; and a wall that includes an ink inlet port configured to receive ink from the ink tank, wherein the wall is proximate the second end of the base surface. |
| US08317298B2 |
Inkjet ejector arrays aligned to a curved image receiving surface with ink recirculation
A printhead assembly includes a plurality of inkjet ejector arrays having corresponding ink receptacles. Each inkjet array is formed from a plurality of inkjet stack layers that are bonded to a single aperture layer, and the inkjet arrays are positioned with a predetermined alignment about a curved image receiving surface. |
| US08317297B2 |
Ink-jet recording apparatus
An ink-jet recording apparatus is provided, the ink-jet recording apparatus including an ink-jet head, a first carriage on which the ink-jet head is carried, a guide member, a moving mechanism which moves the first carriage along the guide member, a transport mechanism which transports a medium along a transport surface, and a second carriage which is reciprocatively movable while following movement of the first carriage and which is constructed relatively movably in a direction perpendicular to the transport surface with respect to the first carriage. The second carriage has a protective member which protects a jetting surface from the medium and a regulating member which regulates movement of the second carriage in relation to a third direction. |
| US08317295B2 |
Microparticle/aerosol-collecting device for office machine
A microparticle/aerosol-collecting device for office machine. The microparticle/aerosol-collecting device is positioned near a printing section or a printer head. The microparticle/aerosol-collecting device includes a housing having an upper section and a lower section defining a space. The space has an opening. An absorption section is arranged in the space. The absorption section is formed with a chamber and multiple passages communicating with the chamber. The microparticle/aerosol-collecting device further includes a cleaning unit disposed in the chamber of the absorption section. The absorption section is rotationally drivable by a motor to create a negative pressure effect around the absorption section, whereby the airflow is collectively taken into the chamber of the absorption section through the passages thereof. Accordingly, the microparticles or ink aerosols are entrained by the airflow to go into the chamber. The microparticles or ink aerosols are then absorbed and removed by the cleaning unit. |
| US08317294B2 |
Liquid ejection apparatus
A liquid ejection apparatus includes: an ejection head that ejects a liquid from a nozzle; a cap that can seal an opening of the nozzle; an absorber disposed in the cap; a first ejection unit that allows to perform a first ejection operation toward the cap for maintenance of the nozzle; a suction unit that sucks the liquid from the cap; a second ejection unit that allows to perform a second ejection operation for replenishing the cap with a liquid before the suction, and a capping unit that covers the opening of the nozzle by the cap after the second ejection operation is performed. |
| US08317293B2 |
Color consistency for a multi-printhead system
A printing system using multiple printheads maintains color consistency between the printheads by printing a first color patch (102) with a first color with a plurality of printheads (30) at a first pressure and with a first pixel fill coverage. A second color patch (104) is printed with the first color with the plurality of printheads at a second pressure with the first pixel fill coverage. The print density of the first patch and the second patch is measured for each of the plurality of printheads and the print density for each of the plurality of printheads is compared. A pressure for each of the plurality of printheads is adjusted to compensate for differences in density between the first patch and the second patch for each of the printheads. |
| US08317292B2 |
Method of position detection with two-dimensional sensor in printer
A method for monitoring relative position of a carriage and a recording medium in an inkjet printing system having a roller for advancing the recording medium along a recording medium advance direction, the method includes sending light from a light source toward at least a portion of the roller; receiving reflected light in a two-dimensional sensor mounted on the carriage; sending a signal from the two-dimensional sensor to a controller, wherein the signal indicates the pattern of reflected light received by the two-dimensional sensor; comparing the received signal by the controller to a signal stored in memory; and calculating a shift between the received signal and the signal stored in memory. |
| US08317291B2 |
System and method for attenuating rotating member contamination affecting uniformity measurements in an inkjet imaging device
A method enables an inkjet printing system to attenuate image noise in an image of a test strip obtained as print media bearing the test strip travels over a roller in the printing system. The method includes illuminating blank media as the media travels over a rotating member, generating electrical signals corresponding to light reflected by the blank media as the blank media travels over the rotating member, converting the electrical signals to image data of the blank media, printing a test strip on media, illuminating the media as the media on which the test strip is printed travels over the rotating member, generating electrical signals corresponding to light reflected by the media as the media on which the test strip is printed travels over the rotating member, converting the electrical signals to image data of the media on which the test strip is printed, modifying the image data of the media on which the test strip is printed with the image data of the blank media, and storing the modified image data in memory. |
| US08317287B2 |
Inkjet printing apparatus and inkjet printing method
An inkjet printing apparatus and an inkjet printing method are realized which can improve a print quality while minimizing the volume of waste ink, running cost and throughput degradations. For this purpose, the scan width is set according to the size and position of the print medium and then, based on that scan width, a location where the preliminary ejections are to be executed and the number of times that the preliminary ejection is to be executed in a single preliminary ejection session are determined. |
| US08317285B2 |
Printer sensor system
A printer that provides improved image placement on documents including identification documents such as identification cards, credit and debit cards, and the like, and passports. The printer eliminates blind moves and mechanism errors to achieve repeatable image placement on the document surface with the correct horizontal image placement dimension. The printer senses an edge of the document to immediately initiate printing. The edge of the document can be either the leading edge or the trailing edge. The edge of the document can also be sensed by a separate sensor to initiate movement of a print head of the print station toward a print position. |
| US08317284B2 |
Method and apparatus to provide variable drop size ejection by dampening pressure inside a pumping chamber
Described herein is a method and apparatus for driving a droplet ejection device with multi-pulse waveforms. In one embodiment, a method for driving a droplet ejection device having an actuator includes applying a multi-pulse waveform having two or more drive pulses and a cancellation pulse to the actuator. The method further includes generating a pressure response wave in a pumping chamber in response to each pulse. The method further includes causing the droplet ejection device to eject a droplet of a fluid in response to the drive pulses of the multi-pulse waveform. The method further includes canceling the pressure response waves associated with the drive pulses with the pressure response wave associated with the cancellation pulse. |
| US08317283B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method, remote monitoring system, and method of providing maintenance service
An image forming apparatus includes: a recording head which has a plurality of nozzles for ejecting an ink onto a recording medium; a movement device which causes relative movement between the recording head and the recording medium; an image forming controller which controls the recording head according to image data in such a manner that an image corresponding to the image data is formed on the recording medium; an ejection abnormality detection device which detects ejection abnormality including at least one of non-ejection and ejection direction deviation of the plurality of nozzles; a compensation device which compensates an image defect caused by the ejection abnormality; and a determination device which determines whether or not the head is in a state where the compensation device can compensate the image defect, according to detection result of the ejection abnormality detection device. |
| US08317282B2 |
Image forming apparatus and recording medium
An image forming apparatus includes a head to eject liquid droplets, a sub-tank having a container to store an amount of liquid supplied to the head, a negative pressure generator unit generating a negative pressure and an air introducing mechanism to introduce air, a main-tank to supply the amount of liquid into the sub-tank, a pressure detector unit to detect a pressure inside the sub-tank, and a controller to control an image forming operation using a remaining amount of liquid in the sub-tank while the main-tank is at an end status, where the controller determines whether the pressure inside the sub-tank is within a normal range, causes, if the detected pressure is not within the normal range, the air introducing mechanism to introduce air to raise the pressure inside the sub-tank, and causes the head to eject non-image forming liquid to cause the pressure to fall within the normal range. |
| US08317280B2 |
Refrigerator sealing loops
A storage compartment comprises a container defining an access aperture closable by a closure that can be sealed to the container around the aperture and that can be opened by relative movement between the container and the closure in a lateral direction with respect to the aperture, the container having a first sealing loop around the aperture and the closure having a second sealing loop co-operable by alignment with the first sealing loop to maintain a seal when the closure closes the aperture. The sealing loops are moved into and out of mutual alignment by said relative movement between the container and the closure and at least one of the sealing loops includes magnetic means for attracting the other of the sealing loops to maintain a seal when the sealing loops are mutually aligned. |
| US08317279B2 |
Electronic assembly
An electronic assembly includes a rack, two connecting arms, a case and two guideways. The connecting arms are mounted on opposite sides of the rack, spaced from and facing each other. The case includes a supporting housing and a cover. The supporting housing is sandwiched between the connecting arms, and secured on the connecting arms. Two tracks are formed on the lateral sides of the supporting housing. The cover are formed with two spaced slideways. The cover covers the supporting housing; and two slideways enclose the two tracks and are slidable along the tracks. The guideways are mounted on the connecting arms, respectively. The slideways of the cover slide along the tracks oriented toward the guideways, and engage with the guideways to make the cover slide away from the supporting housing. |
| US08317273B2 |
Modular display and dispensing system and module device for building a display and dispensing system
A merchandising display and dispensing system for displaying and dispensing articles, including cylindrical shaped articles or rolls of disk-shaped articles. In particular, the invention relates to a modular display and dispensing system having a plurality of modules fitted with one another. Each module comprises a left side panel and a right side panel which are fitted together and form a serpentine chute which feeds articles by gravity to an access tray where an article can be removed by hand, thus permitting another article to enter the tray. The front of the module receives a front cover for covering the chute and provides a surface for indicia of contents inside the module. The front cover is preferably hinged at the bottom to permit reloading product in the top of the chute. Various connecting structures can be formed on the side panels and adapted to join the module to a front cover, to another adjacent module, to a module base, and/or to a module header to form a modular display and dispensing system. |
| US08317272B2 |
Braking system for a vehicle to control a regenerative braking
An embodiment of a braking system for a vehicle to control a regenerative braking; the braking system is provided with: a plurality of hydraulically operated mechanical brakes; a hydraulic braking circuit connected to the mechanical brakes; a brake pump to raise pressure in the hydraulic braking circuit; a brake pedal mobile between a resting position and a maximal braking position; a connecting cap, which mechanically connects the brake pedal to the brake pump, and is divided into two reciprocally independent parts; an elastic system which tends to push the brake pedal towards the resting position; a position sensor to read the position of a part of the connecting cap integral to the brake pedal; and a pilot system to pilot an energy recovery system for effecting a regenerative braking and uses the position of the part of the connecting cap integral to the brake pedal provided by the position sensor. |
| US08317261B2 |
Bicycle seat height adjusting assembly
A bicycle seat height adjusting assembly comprises of a seat post that axially slides into an insert tube that fits into a bicycle frame in the place of a conventional seat post. The front of the insert tube has a plurality of evenly spaced locking holes sized to receive a locking pin. The locking pin with supplemental spring is positioned within the lower section of the seat post. A main air spring is positioned within the seat post to keep the main air spring free from dirt interference, allow the post to fully rise and lower, and enable the use of a maximum height pre-adjustment system. A first longitudinal groove positioned along the inner wall of the insert tube contains a spline rod with wedging projections. The spline rod is connected to a cable that extends out to an actuation lever that is positioned on the handlebars. As the actuation lever is pulled, the wedging projections push the locking pin out of the locking holes where the main air spring causes the seat post to rise. |
| US08317258B2 |
Frame structure for vehicle
A frame body comprises a first face portion on which a compressive force acts in case a load is applied, a second face portion on which a tensional force acts, and third and fourth face portions which connect the first and second face portions. The third and fourth face portions are respectively equipped with a reinforcing member which comprises a base portion which is away from the frame body and plural base portions which project from the base portion and are joined to the frame body. The convex portions have plural convexities which are arranged so as to extend both in the longitudinal and sectional directions of a frame. |
| US08317255B2 |
Vehicle seat assembly
A vehicle seat assembly includes a side support capable of supporting a side portion of the torso of an occupant seated in the seat. The seat has a seatback capable of being tilted up or down relative to a seat cushion. A support shaft extending from a lateral surface part of the seatback in a widthwise direction toward an outside of a vehicle is rotatably supported by a bracket. A spring for urging the seatback in a forward-tilting direction is disposed between the support shaft and the bracket. The bracket and the spring are positioned proximately to a rear surface part of the side support. |
| US08317253B2 |
Vehicle door assembly
A door assembly for a vehicle includes an outer panel configured for defining an exterior surface of the vehicle, and an inner panel matable to the outer panel to define a cavity therebetween. The inner panel includes a lower portion having a first longitudinal axis and a B-pillar assembly extending from the lower portion. The B-pillar assembly includes a casting having an external surface configured for defining the exterior surface of the vehicle, an internal surface spaced apart from the external surface, a length, and a second longitudinal axis. The casting extends from the portion along the second longitudinal axis, and the second longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis. |
| US08317249B2 |
Combination load bed and platform for a vehicle
This invention relates to load bed for a vehicle, and in particular to a load bed adapted to carry elongate articles upon the public roads. The load bed could for example be the trailer of an articulated vehicle, or it could be part of a rigid truck, as desired. The load bed (214) has a set of retaining posts along the longitudinal sides of the bed, and at least one platform (224) is mounted upon the load bed and is movable between a stowed condition and an in use condition, the retaining posts being between the load bed and the platform in its in use condition. |
| US08317246B2 |
Assist grip mounting structure
In an assist grip mounting structure, a pair of mounting parts 15 of an assist grip 10 are attached individually to a pair of mounted parts 5 on the roof side inner panel 2 side, and a coat hook part 20 projects from the one mounting part 15 side, a reinforcing plate 30 for reinforcing the coat hook part 20 overlaps a back surface 20U of the coat hook part 20. |
| US08317244B1 |
Apparatus and method for positioning an object in a building
An offset hoisting apparatus comprises a rigid boom having a hook at a distal end thereof. The offset hoisting apparatus further includes a front mount having a front boom aperture and a rear mount having a rear boom aperture, each being adapted for confining the boom to slidably move therethrough. The invention has a slip collar having a slip collar boom aperture therein for receiving the boom therethrough and an offset hoisting apparatus attachment having a flexible linkage fixed at a distal end thereof with the slip collar. The boom is selectively slid between a retracted and an extended position and the load is secured to the hook. The crane apparatus then lifts and positions the load to a building. |
| US08317243B2 |
Gripping device for load structure
A device for gripping a load structure includes a first jaw member having a proximate end and a distal end, a second jaw member slidably mounted to the first jaw member and having a proximate end and a distal end. Each of the two jaw members is provided with a gripper. The device further includes a fulcrum member mounted to the first jaw member near the proximate end thereof and a flexible element secured to the second jaw member near the distal end thereof operatively coupled to the fulcrum member for causing an externally applied pulling force on the flexible element to move the distal end of the first jaw member towards the distal end of the second jaw member so as to yield a first inward force between the first and second grippers. |
| US08317242B2 |
Tool holding grip assist
Apparatus and method for holding tools securely with a grip assist are provided. A preferred grip assist preferably includes a wristband having a strap and buckle, a first strap attached to the wristband with a hinge. The first strap also has a ring attached to an end of the strap opposite the hinge. Behind the ring on the first strap, is a first segment of a two segment closure system. A second strap is also attached to the wristband with a second hinge. The second strap has a second segment of the two segment closure system attached to an end opposite the wristband. The two segment closure system is closed to form a grip assist position. The second strap can be held open by a secondary two segment closure system to form an open position. |
| US08317240B2 |
Bumper for a motor vehicle
A bumper for a motor vehicle has a cross member disposed transversely in relation to side rails of a vehicle frame and is supported on the side rails by crash boxes. The cross member includes a central longitudinal section having opposite ends, a crash box attachment section with a substantially vertical rear wall and two legs, and an end section having in cross-section a U-shaped configuration defined by two legs and a web which interconnects the legs and forms an outward-projecting bulge. The bulge is joined with the substantially vertical rear wall of the attachment section. |
| US08317239B2 |
Flip-up bumper assembly
A flip-up bumper assembly for a motor vehicle having a at least one attachment assembly, a support member, a bumper frame, a lift height adjustment member, an extendable member. Additionally, the flip-up bumper assembly may further include a variable height bumper frame and/or a pivot member. The flip up bumper assembly is generally coupled to the motor vehicle. The bumper frame is operably connected to the support member wherein the bumper frame rotates about a pivot point on the support member. The extendable member is coupled to both the attachment member and the bumper frame. The extendable member extends in a generally horizontal direction and causes the bottom of the bumper frame to angularly deflect about the pivot point, resulting in an outward and upward translation. The variable height flip-up bumper assembly of the present invention allows for the use of a plurality of bumper sizes as selected by the vehicle owner. The flip-up bumper assembly of the present invention also allows the installer or owner of the assembly to select from multiple bumper lift heights. |
| US08317233B2 |
Tube coupling apparatus having liquefiable metal sealing layer
A coupling apparatus that may have a first component having a first sealing surface and a second component having a second sealing surface. The first and second sealing surfaces are in facing relationship with one another when the first and second components are coupled together. One of the first and second sealing surfaces has a metallic film layer that transforms into a liquefied metal layer when the metallic film layer is exposed to a temperature that exceeds a melting temperature of a metal from which the metallic film layer is formed. The liquefied metal layer forms a seal between the sealing surfaces. |
| US08317229B2 |
Adjustable ski pole basket
The invention relates to an adjustable ski pole basket that can adjust the basket area from a position useful in low-buoyancy-need conditions, such as packed powder, to a position useful in high-buoyancy-need conditions, such as powder. The basket has a fixed based and a movable petal. The petal moves from a compact position useful in low-buoyancy-need conditions to an expanded position useful in high-buoyancy-need conditions, and back. In certain embodiments, the petal is biased toward the expanded position. |
| US08317228B2 |
Belt tensioner
A belt tensioner of a vehicle occupant restraint system, especially a belt buckle tensioner, comprises a coupling member (12) to the vehicle seat belt, a drive unit (18), a flexible tension transmitting means (14) and a deflector (26). The flexible tension transmitting means (14) is connected at least indirectly to the coupling member (12) and is moved via the drive unit (18) in the event of tensioning. The deflector (26) deflects the tension transmitting means (14) in the direction of the coupling member (12). The tension transmitting means (14) is moved along the deflector (26) in the event of tensioning. According to the invention, the drive unit (18) is coupled in terms of drive to the deflector (26) such that the drive unit (18) moves the deflector (26) upon activation and thus displaces the coupling member (12) in the tensioning direction (R). |
| US08317226B1 |
Foundationless pole installation system
A pole installation system employing a pole, a base member connected to the pole having a pivot edge segment forming a stable support pivot, and counter weight structure incorporated in or connected to the base member for countering forces exerted by gravity on the pole during tilting of the pole and base member. |
| US08317222B2 |
Inflatable seat belt system
An inflatable member is inflated by compressed gas that flows through the latch and hollow tubular tongue of a seat belt anchor. The inflatable member is retained in an uninflated condition in a split two layer belt. The latch is pivotally secured to a conduit that receives compressed inflation gas from a cylinder that is provided with a diffuser. |
| US08317219B2 |
Wheeled cart for transporting outdoor equipment
A rolling cart for transporting items commonly used at outdoor gatherings in a secure and convenient manner. The cart comprises a frame having two or more tires 20, an open-ended bag connected to the frame, and a strap that holds one or more items of equipment against the frame. The strap is positioned near the open end of the bag and is used to cinch equipment that extends outside the bag against the frame. |
| US08317218B2 |
Multi-function binding system
A multi-function binding system configured for use on a sliding board comprising: (a) a binding operable with a boot assembly, the binding comprising a support surface and toe and heel pieces extending therefrom; (b) a base assembly configured to be rotatably and removably secured to a deck of a sliding board and to releasably couple the binding during use of the sliding board, the base assembly comprising: (i) a support disc configured to be removably coupled to the deck of the sliding board and to secure the base assembly to the sliding board; (ii) a deck plate rotatable about the support disc and configured to be positioned adjacent the deck; (iii) a bonnet also rotatable about the support disc and configured to receive and engage the binding, the bonnet operable with the deck plate to support one or more components of the base assembly; (iv) adjustment means for facilitating the rotational adjustment of the bonnet and the deck plate about the support disc and with respect to the sliding board, thereby facilitating a plurality of stance orientations of the boot assembly with respect to the sliding board, the adjustment means configured to selectively engage the support disc at any one of a plurality of adjustment positions; (v) coupling means configured to releasably couple the binding to the base assembly, and therefore the boot system to the sliding board, thereby securing a user thereto; and (vi) release means for actuating the coupling means to release the binding from the base assembly, and therefore the boot system from the sliding board. |
| US08317216B2 |
Coupling apparatus
The present invention relates to a coupling apparatus for the pivoted coupling of a vehicle having two vehicle sections, with coupling elements which are arranged to pivot towards each other, and which can be permanently coupled to a vehicle section. A brake arrangement operates between the coupling elements and forms an adjustable frictional grip between the coupling elements, which blocks the ability of the vehicle sections to pivot toward each other. In addition, the brake apparatus includes a hydraulic cylinder unit which operates on multiple radially acting brake elements. |
| US08317213B1 |
Slipper clutch for a model vehicle
A model vehicle slipper clutch is provided, comprising a spur gear for receiving torque from an actuator, a clutch driver plate secured to the spur gear for receiving torque from the spur gear, a transmission input shaft for transmitting torque from the slipper clutch to a model vehicle transmission, a spring for applying a load to the driver plate in the axial direction of the transmission input shaft, a bearing positioned between the spring and driver plate for supporting the spur gear for rotation about the transmission input shaft and for applying a load from the spring to the drive plate in the axial direction of the transmission input shaft. |
| US08317209B2 |
Wheel axle suspension
A wheel axle suspension for suspending a round hollow axle (10) from a vehicle comprises on both sides of the vehicle a trailing arm (1,41,51) to which the axle (10) is attached. The trailing arm is hingedly connected at the front to a bearing bracket (42) which is arranged on the vehicle chassis (43). A pneumatic spring (44) is operational between the trailing arm and the chassis. The axle body bears directly against a contact region (5,45,55) of the trailing arm. The contact region is essentially complementary to the outer contour of the axle body, wherein, on that side of the axle body opposite the contact region, a support part (20,46,56) is provided with a recess (21) for accommodating the axle. The support part is clamped against the axle by means of clamping means (23,24,47,48). At the location of the contact region, the trailing arm is wider than in the region (2,41a, 52) which is situated immediately in front thereof. |
| US08317207B2 |
Leaning vehicle with tilting front wheels and suspension therefor
A leaning vehicle has a frame pivotally connected to the lower end of a shock tower, the pivotal connection defining a frame leaning axis wherein the frame is adapted to lean to a right side and to a left side relative to the shock tower about the frame leaning axis. An actuated lock locks the frame to the shock tower and prevents relative movement between the frame and the shock tower about the frame leaning axis. |
| US08317206B1 |
Skateboard and storage compartment combination
A skateboard that includes a storage compartment. The deck of the skateboard forms a storage compartment and includes a bottom panel, a sidewall, and a top panel. The sidewall extends upwardly from, and is disposed along, the periphery of the bottom panel. The top panel is hingedly connected to the sidewall and opens and closes to form a storage compartment in conjunction with the sidewall and bottom panel. A latch is used to securely fasten the top panel in the closed position. A handle is provided to carry the skateboard like a suitcase. |
| US08317202B2 |
Method of mounting a structure to a shaft
Mounting rings and methods for mounting structures to shafts are provided. The rings and methods may be used to mount other rings or housings to a shaft. The rings are characterized by having flexible inner diameters that can deflect under a radial load. The radial deflection of the inner diameter permits the rings to deflect and engage an outer diameter of a shaft. The engagement of the rings with a shaft provides at least some resistance to movement, for example, rotation and/or axial displacement, of the shaft relative to the ring and structure. In one aspect, the ring has a closed, hollow, construction, for example, a circular, oval, or polygonal closed, hollow construction. The ring may include a plurality of indentations, such as slots, on the inside diameter of the ring that may relieve at least some of the circumferential stress in the ring. Methods for using the rings to mount a structure to a shaft are also disclosed. |
| US08317201B2 |
Device for a rotating gland seal
The present invention relates to a machine arranged to operate in explosive environments, comprising a rotatable shaft (16) extending through a stationary part (10) of said machine, a gland (20) which is mounted in said stationary part (10) and which is provided with a through hole in order to accommodate said rotatable shaft (16) such that a flame path is provided between the rotatable shaft (16) and the gland (20). The invention is characterized in that the machine comprises dampening means (42) arranged between and separates the gland (16) and the stationary part (10) in the axial and radial directions such that a flame path (50, 56) is provided, the dampening means (42) maintaining the flame path (50, 56) and permitting axial and radial movement of the gland (20) in relation to the stationary part (10) upon rotation of the rotatable shaft (16). |
| US08317200B2 |
Precompressed sealing tape
Precompressed sealing tape for sealing a joint has a foam strip and a foil-type wrapping, which completely surrounds the foam strip and thus holds it in a precompressed state. A first transverse surface of the foam strip is pressed against a strip-like element, which is arranged inside the wrapping and has a certain resistance to bending in the transverse direction of the foam strip. A second transverse surface of the foam strip, which is arranged opposite to the first transverse surface, is firmly connected to the foil-type wrapping. |
| US08317199B2 |
Video poker game employing stripped deck
A method, system, and computer readable storage medium to provide a variation of a video poker game. The video poker game offers the player an ability to earn having the very next game dealt from a stripped deck. A stripped deck is a standard 52 card deck with certain cards removed. For example, one type of stripped deck is a standard 52 card deck with all 2s through 9s removed, thereby providing the player with a huge advantage. |
| US08317194B2 |
Method and device for guiding value documents
There is described an apparatus for guiding a value document along a portion of a transport path in a specified transport direction, having a film forming device which is configured for respectively forming on mutually opposing sides of the transport path portion a film of gas flowing in the transport direction, the film extending at least over the total width of the transport path portion and thus the total width of value documents transported along the transport path, so that the value documents are guided between the gas films. |
| US08317192B2 |
Sheet conveyance unit and image forming apparatus including same
A sheet conveyance unit includes first and second conveyance rollers facing each other, a first stopper provided at an axial end portion of the first conveyance roller, projecting radially beyond a circumferential surface of the first conveyance roller, downstream rollers positioned downstream from the first and second conveyance rollers in a sheet conveyance direction, an engaging and disengaging unit to disengage the first and second conveyance rollers from each other, and a controller. The first stopper rotates to a contact position projecting into the sheet conveyance path and to a non-contact position away from the sheet conveyance path as the first conveyance roller rotates. The first stopper moves to the non-contact position after stopping a sheet. The first and second conveyance rollers are disengaged from each other after a leading end of the sheet reaches the downstream rollers, before the first stopper moves to the contact position. |
| US08317191B2 |
Sheet registration using multiple elongated sensors
A method and system have a media path having moving devices that move a media sheet in a processing direction. At least two elongated sensors within the media path are positioned diagonally relative to the processing direction. The media sheet has two lateral sides, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. A registration controller is operatively connected to the media path and to the elongated sensors. Each of the elongated sensors simultaneously identifies: a location of one of the lateral sides of the media sheet, such that a combination of the elongated sensors simultaneously outputs at least two lateral measures of locations of the lateral sides of the media sheet; and at least one measure leading edge or at least one measure of the trailing edge of the media sheet. |
| US08317190B2 |
High throughput right angle turn module
A right angle turn module having a first transport that transports side-by-side sheets in a first direction. Downstream of the first sheet transport a barrier is positioned to stop the sheets. A sensor device detects an arrival of the side-by-side sheets at the stop arrangement. Then, an actuated second sheet transport, triggered by the sensor device, is activated to transport the sheets serially in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. In a preferred embodiment, a horizontal guide plate is positioned at a downstream end of the first sheet transport. With the guide plate thus positioned, a sheet traveling in the first direction and a sheet traveling in the second direction can temporarily be overlapped and a collision can be avoided. In a further preferred embodiment, the first transport further comprises overhead belts to urge the side-by-side pair of sheets in the first direction. The overhead belts may be tensioned so as to slip over a top surface of the side-by-side pair of sheets while urging the pair of sheets towards the stop arrangement. |
| US08317189B2 |
Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus
A movable side regulating plate is provided on a frame body. The movable side regulating plate regulates side edges in a width direction of sheets stacked on a sheet stacking plate, and is movable in the width direction. A sheet pressing portion configured to press the side edges of the sheets and press the sheets onto a stationary side regulating plate is provided on the movable side regulating plate. The sheet pressing portion has a relief shape for reducing a pressing force exerted on the sheets when an amount of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking plate becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined amount. The relief shape is formed so that a downstream edge in a sheet feeding direction of a lower surface is located higher than an upstream edge in the sheet feeding direction of an upper surface. |
| US08317183B2 |
Device and process for taking over and further processing of flexible, flat objects
Receiver units (10, 90) for taking over objects (100, 101, 102) are moved past a take-over location (S1, S2) and include an abutment (95) which limits the position of the object (100, 101, 102) which is fed in the feed direction (F). At least one holding element and/or braking element (45) acts in a direct or indirect manner on the objects to be taken over, for realising a defined product position, in particular so that the object (100, 101, 102) does not bend up or rebound from the abutment (95). In one variant, the holding element and/or braking element (45) brakes the object (100, 101, 102) by way of direct friction. In another variant, the object (100, 101, 102) to be taken over transmits its momentum onto an object (100, 101, 102) which is already held in the receiver unit (10, 90) by way of the holding element and/or braking element, and is braked by way of this. |
| US08317176B2 |
Magnetic cutting board
A cutting board comprising a base and a working board held together by magnets, aligning pins, or fingers on the base gripping the working cutting board. The base has cut-outs so that a plate, tray, or shallow bowl can be slid under the board permitting the cuttings to be slid off the board into the bowl without having to lift the board, likely tilting it and spilling the cuttings and/or juices or dumping separated portions of the cut food. |
| US08317173B2 |
Vibration damping system
A vibration damping system includes a laminated body (3) formed by alternately laminating rigid hard plates (4) and viscoelastic soft plates (5), and pair of shoe plates (1, 2) at both ends in the laminating direction of the laminated body (3), to form a vibration damping body (6). The show plates (1, 2) are connected to each other by a displacement restriction member (7), so as to applying a pre-compression to the laminated body. The vibration damping body (6) is divided into a plurality of segments (3A, 3B, 3C) in the laminating direction, for allowing the vibration-proof main body (6) to be separated and displaced at the parting faces (8), without causing an excessive tensile force in the vibration damping system, even if the displacement restriction member (7) has worn to degrade the pre-compression function and a tensile force is applied due to a prying deformation. Thus, the soft members (5) of the laminated body (3) are effectively protected from isostatic fracture, to provide a significantly improved durability of the vibration damping system. |
| US08317172B2 |
Multistage jounce bumper
A multistage jounce bumper, including a jounce bumper cushion integrated with a hydraulic jounce bumper, wherein provided are the damping characteristic of the hydraulic jounce bumper and the damping/spring characteristics of a jounce bumper cushion. The hydraulic jounce bumper hydraulic response is tunable via adjustment of hydraulic flow with respect to a communicating hydraulic fluid reservoir. When maximum jounce is approached, jounce force and energy are exchanged, at a first stage, with the jounce bumper cushion, then at a predetermined compression, jounce force and energy are exchanged, at a second stage, with the hydraulic jounce bumper. Thereafter, a mechanical abutment is provided as a third stage of jounce management. |
| US08317170B2 |
Retention spring for a multi-disc brake hub assembly with disc slide pins
A spring for applying a biasing force to a disc of a brake hub assembly including a hub having a circumferential groove, at least one disc, and a plurality of guide pins for rotatably coupling the hub and the disc wherein the spring comprises a band for circumferentially engaging the hub. The spring is characterized by a plurality of axial position retention tabs circumferentially spaced and extending radially inwardly from the band for engaging the circumferential groove of the hub and for preventing axial movement between the spring and the hub. The spring is further characterized by a plurality of circumferential position tabs circumferentially spaced and extending radially outwardly from the band and being generally U-shaped and defining a guide pin opening for at least partially engaging one of the guide pins for rotatably coupling the spring and the hub. |
| US08317161B2 |
Air balancer
An air balancer has a rotary drum on which a rope member is to be wound and that is supported rotatably by a stationary shaft in a casing, a conversion system that converts pressure of first air supplied into the casing into rotational force of the rotary drum for winding the rope member on the rotary drum, a rotary member that is rotatably supported by the stationary shaft and linked with the rotary drum to integrally rotate therewith, a rotation restriction member to be in contact with the rotary member to restrict rotation thereof, a disengagement mechanism that causes the rotation restriction member to retract by pressure of second air supplied into the casing to thereby disengage the contact between the rotary member and the rotation restriction member, and a control module having an air circuit that supplies the second air into the casing only when the first air is supplied into the casing or when the first air is discharged from the casing. |
| US08317160B2 |
Restraint device for traction sheaves
A restraint device is disclosed that limits the movement of the cable or rope relative to the traction, thus reducing or eliminating the popping noise associated with the cable or rope snapping back against the traction sheave. In one embodiment, the restraint device comprises a molded component that is fitted to encompass the region of the sheave where separation of the wire rope from the sheave is most likely to occur. The restraint device may be mounted so that it is removable and replaceable with minimal dismantling of the hoist containing the sheave. The restraint device may be reversible so that one restraint device may by used for at least two cycles before being replaced. Indication of the need for replacement may be provided by including a second color material at the depth where wear reaches the allowable limit, thereby providing a visual signal to initiate replacement as seen during service. |
| US08317159B2 |
Lift assembly systems and methods
A lift assembly system and method can include: a funnel-shaped drum having a constant diameter portion and a gradually increasing diameter portion; a cable management system adapted to position a cable in a single layer in a tray; a beam clamp tube receiver adapted to allow a tube to slide relative to a beam and be secured to the beam; a cable keeper and a slack line detector adapted to maintain cables in position about a drum upon loss of cable tension; a horizontally oriented low profile cable adjuster adapted to adjust the length of a cable; an overspeed braking mechanism; a fleet pivot arm pivotable on the end of a tube so as to guide cables along a desired fleet angle; and/or a pull-type load sensor connected between a tube and a drum adapted to sense changes in a load force and adjust movement of a load. |
| US08317157B2 |
Automobile high pressure pump solenoid valve
A module solenoid valve (14) includes a valve body (16) defining an inlet opening (22) and an outlet opening (20). The valve body includes a seating surface (18) at a distal end thereof. A valve member (24) controls flow of fuel through the outlet opening. A movable armature (26) is coupled with the valve member such that movement of the armature moves the valve member between a closed position and an open position. A stator (38) is associated with the armature. A first spring (32) biases the armature and thus the valve member to the closed position. A cover (28) is coupled to the stator. A second spring 34 is between the cover and the armature to provide a biasing force on the armature. An electromagnetic coil (36) is associated with the stator and armature for causing movement of the armature towards the stator. |
| US08317156B2 |
Metering valve arrangement
A method is described for controlling the operation of a metering valve driven by a stepper motor, a position sensor normally providing position information to allow control over the metering valve in a closed loop manner. The method comprises the steps of: performing a calibration operation to derive a relationship between stepper motor position and metering valve position; controlling the operation of the metering valve in a closed loop manner; and controlling the operation of the metering valve in an open loop manner in the event that the position sensor output is thought to be unreliable; wherein, when operating in the open loop manner, the metering valve is moved to a desired angular position by using the relationship derived in the calibration operation to determine the stepper motor position associated with the desired metering valve position and moving the stepper motor to the determined stepper motor position. |
| US08317153B2 |
Stop element for contacting and positioning a formwork
The invention relates to a stop element with a stop for contact of a formwork element on the stop element, an abutment for contact with a fixation element, a bottom support for contact of the stop element on an underlying surface, and a support foot for bracing the stop element on the underlying surface, wherein the support foot has a reinforcement rib. |
| US08317146B2 |
Supporting device and dual display unit having the same
A supporting device is installed between an auxiliary display unit and a main display unit to variously change the position and pose of the auxiliary display unit and a dual display unit having the same are disclosed. The dual display unit includes a main display unit which displays an image, a supporting device which is coupled to the main display unit, and an auxiliary display unit which is installed on the supporting device. The supporting device is configured to adjust the distance between the main display unit and the auxiliary display unit. |
| US08317144B2 |
System and method for stabilizing vertically stacked sheet material
A system and method for stabilizing vertically stacked sheet material is disclosed. The sheet material may be construction wallboard. The system includes a bracket and an elongate flexible link element. The method includes attaching the bracket to the sheet material, attaching the flexible link element to a support structure such as vertical stud framing member, and attaching the flexible link element to the bracket to stabilize the vertically stacked sheet material. |
| US08317140B1 |
Tripod
A tripod includes three legs and a connecting apparatus. The connecting apparatus includes three screws and three nuts. Each of the screws is inserted through a related one of the legs before it is engaged with a related one of the nuts to connect the legs to one another. The legs can be retained in an opened position for use by the connecting apparatus. |
| US08317135B2 |
Flexible mounting assembly for an air frame structure
A flexible mounting assembly allows relative movement between a top and a bottom structural member of an air frame, for instance, a helicopter. The flexible mounting assembly comprises a vertical frame member and an isolation frame member where one of the vertical frame member and the isolation frame member has a pin and the other of the vertical frame member and the frame isolation member has an aperture adapted to slidingly receive the pin in a way to accommodate relative vertical motion therebetween while substantially restraining lateral movement therebetween. The flexible mounting assembly may also include a horizontal shear wall assembly extending between adjacent vertical frame members that accommodates relative vertical motion between top and bottom structural members while substantially restraining lateral movement therebetween. |
| US08317134B2 |
Stiffened casing for an aircraft or spacecraft with a laminate stringer of high rigidity and corresponding laminate stringer
The present invention provides a casing structure of low weight provided with a laminate stringer of high rigidity. The stringer has the form of a laminate with a plurality of metallic layers and at least one synthetic fiber layer, which is produced at least partially from Zylon fibers, provided between two metallic layers. |
| US08317132B2 |
Quick-change fastening system for mounting an element to a fastening structure
The present application describes a quick-change fastening system for demountably mounting an element to a fastening structure. The element comprises an engagement element that is designed to engage a bearing element of the fastening structure, wherein the element is hingeably held around the bearing element between a hooked-in position and a fastened position. The element further comprises a fastening element that can be affixed to a locking element of the fastening structure when the element is in its fastened position. The engagement element and the bearing element are designed such that along a hingeing movement of the element a form-fit connection is established when the element is in its hooked-in position, and that a force-fit connection is established when the element is in its fastened position. |
| US08317130B1 |
Landing gear mount
Landing gear mount techniques for aircraft are described. The landing gear is mounted to composite structures of the aircraft in a manner that distributes landing loads, including out-of-plane loads, adequately so that the landing gear and its mounting to the aircraft is tough and can withstand variable landing loads. The landing gear is disposed between and fastened on each side to composite bulkheads. The composite bulkheads are also bonded to the outer skins of the aircraft. The described mounting distributes the loads into the composite bulkheads and from there into the outer skins. This distribution of the loading helps the landing gear withstand variable landing loads and helps maintain the integrity of the composite materials. |
| US08317127B2 |
Helicopter drip pan
A drip pan apparatus for a “M” model BLACK HAWK® helicopter and the like includes an expanded corner structure for accommodating an access port also positioned further outwardly in the corner than in prior drip pan apparatuses, facilitating filter viewing while retaining peripheral o-ring seal. An expanded corner of the airframe skirt is accommodated by the expanded corresponding corner of a frame, which also defines a small radius internal curve. The removable pan has a small radius curve cooperating with the small radius curve of the frame and is sealed thereto by the peripheral o-ring seal sealing the entire pan to the frame. Physical access to the filter is enhanced. |
| US08317126B2 |
Aircraft having a lift/propulsion unit
An aircraft having a lift/propulsion unit which includes a power unit such as a turboshaft engine which drives a fan through a transmission mechanism. The fan discharges to vectoring nozzles which can be independently swivelled to provide lift or propulsion thrust. An output shaft of the transmission mechanism serves as the main shaft of a motor/generator of modular form. The motor/generator can act as a generator to charge an electrical storage device such as a battery, or as a motor to drive the fan, either alone or to supplement the output of engine. Reaction control nozzles are provided at extremities of the aircraft to provide stabilizing thrust. The aircraft is capable of vertical take off and hovering, with the vectoring nozzles swivelled to a lift position, and forward thrust with the vectoring nozzles swivelled to a propulsion position. |
| US08317125B2 |
Strap spool mountable to a shaft
The strap spool is mountable to drive shafts in various strap winding apparatus, such as winches and torsion spring counterbalances. The strap spool has a two piece design where two symmetrical spool halves slidably mate to form a drum around which the strap is wound. Each spool half has a central hub with an axial opening, which allows the spool halves to mount onto a drive shaft. An annular flange extending radially around the hub and a barrel sleeve extends from the hub perpendicular to the flange. When spool halves are mated together on a drive shaft, the barrel sleeves slidably extend into axial openings in the hub of the opposite spool half and form a tubular drum overlying the drive shaft around which the strap is wound. |
| US08317122B2 |
Device and method for preparing mandrels, device for collecting the wound mandrels and device and method for handling the mandrels
A device and a method for preparing mandrels (1′) to be fitted on a rod (7) and spaced from one another. The device includes two grooves (2, 3) arranged in the vicinity of one another, i.e. a supply groove for receiving the mandrels (1) along the axis of the groove, the groove being combined with elements for juxtaposing the mandrels, and a groove for receiving the mandrels selected from the mandrels of the supply groove, the receiving groove being fitted with abutment members (6) for defining individual housings (18) for the selected mandrels, and an element (5) for transferring the selected mandrels towards the housings. A device for collecting coiled mandrels, and a device and method for handling the mandrels are also described. |
| US08317121B2 |
Reel apparatus with decorative housing
A reel includes a substantially spherical housing configured to enclose a rotatable reel drum and an aperture sized to closely surround a linear material extending through the aperture. The linear material is spoolable and unspoolable from the reel drum while the housing encloses the reel drum. The housing includes decoration depicting a ball indicative of a game or type of recreation, a globe, a robot, a gazing ball, at least one flag, camouflage, foliage, diamond plate, or a race car. |
| US08317118B2 |
Panel emptying bin for shredders of sheet like material
A chad containment bin includes a chad containment space formed by a pair of opposing longitudinally extending sidewalls connected by a pair of opposing, laterally extending sidewalls. A shredder head assembly is situated above the chad containment bin. A cabinet body supports the shredder head assembly while removeably housing the chad containment bin. A generally vertically oriented support member extends upwardly from a first of the longitudinally extending sidewalls. The support member includes a handle on an outer face for carrying the chad containment bin. A panel is pivotally connected to the chad containment bin for providing access to the chad containment space when the chad containment bin is suspended by the handle over a waste receptacle. |
| US08317108B2 |
Chip card with dual communication interface
The invention relates to a chip card with a dual contact and contactless communication interface, including a microelectronic module (11) and a card body (22) provided with a cavity (23) which can receive the microelectronic module, said microelectronic module (11) being formed by a substrate (15), the first face thereof bearing a terminal block of electric contacts (4) and a second face thereof bearing a first microelectronic chip (9) electrically connected to the terminal block of electric contacts (4) and a second chip (10) electrically connected to the terminals of an antenna (13), the coils of which are disposed on the second face of the substrate of the electronic module. The invention is characterised in that the card body (22) includes a device (18) for concentrating and/or amplifying electromagnetic waves, which can channel the electromagnetic flow received, in particular, from a contactless chip card reader toward the coils of the antenna (13) of the microelectronic module (11). |
| US08317102B2 |
Multi-mode ring scannner
A multi-mode ring scanner (MMRS) has a ring unit for wearing on a finger. The MMRS optionally has a wrist unit coupled to the ring unit, such as via a cable. The MMRS optionally communicates wirelessly with a computing device. The ring unit has one or more scanners (such as an optical scanner or an RFID tag reader). The ring unit optionally has two paddle switches for activation by inward pressure from fingers adjacent to the finger. The two switches enable specifying operation of the MMRS in a plurality of modes and/or to communicate a plurality of information codes to the computing device. The computing device is optionally enabled to assign a function to each combination of activation of the two switches. A scanning system including the MMRS optionally provides feedback to a user based on feedback from a host processor. |
| US08317101B2 |
Produce data collecter which collects internal produce information
A produce data collector which collects internal produce information. The produce data collector includes a sonograph for directing acoustic energy in the form of sound waves into a produce item, for receiving return sound waves from the produce item, for converting the return sound waves into electrical signals, and for sending the electrical signals to a computer that identifies the produce item. |
| US08317099B2 |
Systems and methods for managing information relating to medical fluids and containers therefor
The present invention relates to management of information relating to medical fluids, containers therefore, and medical fluid administration devices for administering such medical fluids to patients. Data tags (e.g., RFID tags) are generally associated with containers of the invention and may be electromagnetically read from and/or written to using an electromagnetic device, for example, that may be associated with a medical fluid administration device of the invention. |
| US08317094B2 |
Methods and systems for displaying loyalty program information on a payment card
A method for displaying loyalty program information on a payment card using a computer coupled to a database is described. The payment card includes a processing device coupled to a display screen. The method includes receiving, at the computer, a loyalty program request message that includes payment card identification data. The payment card identification data is associated with the payment card. The method also includes determining that the payment card is registered in a loyalty program based on the payment card identification data and cardholder account data stored in the database. The method also includes electronically generating a loyalty program response message that includes loyalty program update data. The method further includes transmitting the loyalty program update data from the computer to the payment card for displaying as loyalty program information on the display screen. |
| US08317088B2 |
Information kiosk terminal system
An information kiosk terminal system includes a pedestal, a transaction unit provided at an upper part of the pedestal and adapted to be pulled out away from the pedestal, and a display unit provided above the transaction unit. The transaction unit includes an upper portion located on the upper side of the transaction unit, and a lower portion located under the upper portion and having a projected portion projecting forward from a front surface thereof. The upper portion is provided inside with a printer unit and is formed at the front surface thereof with a paper discharge port for projecting paper from the printer unit. |
| US08317086B2 |
Communication of transaction data within a self-checkout environment
Systems and method for communication of transaction data within a self-checkout environment are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes controlling a display device to display a machine-readable representation of transaction data. The method may include receiving a signal that indicates acknowledgement of reading of the machine-readable representation of the transaction data. Further, the method may include controlling the display device to display a machine-readable representation of other transaction data in response to receipt of the signal. |
| US08317082B2 |
Carton with locking sections
A carton with locking sections comprises a male panel section and a female panel section. The male panel section has an edge with protruding wings, and edge tabs are formed along the edge portion inboard of the wings. The female section has a pair of females configured to receive and interlock with the males. For locking the sections together, the edge tabs are hooked beneath the edge of the female section and the males extend over the top of the female section and are pressed and locked into the females. With this arrangement, the two sections are securely locked together with the edge tabs preventing the sections from moving toward one another and the males and females preventing them moving away from each other. The sections thus do not tend to disengage during transport or as containers of product within the carton are sequentially removed. |
| US08317080B2 |
Methods to fabricate fully enclosed hollow structures using friction stir welding
A method is taught for creating a hollow sphere that is created by joining two cylinders together that have a semispherical hollow formed in the ends being joined together, wherein a metallic reinforcing disk is inserted at an interface between the two ends of the cylinders, wherein the two cylinders and reinforcing disk are joined using friction stir welding to create an inner sphere from the two hemispherical hollows that is bisected by the metallic reinforcing disk, and wherein the joined cylinders and reinforcing disk are machined to thereby create an outer spherical surface that is centered around the inner sphere. |
| US08317079B2 |
Clinching method and tool for performing the same
A clinching method includes establishing a first layer on a second layer. The first layer has an aperture formed therein and is thinner than the second layer. A rotating punch is engaged with the second layer through the aperture in the first layer, thereby generating frictional heat and softening the second layer. The rotating punch is configured with at least a first diameter, a shoulder, and a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter. The rotating punch is pressed into the softened second layer, thereby causing at least some of the second layer to: back extrude through an annulus defined by the aperture in the first layer and at least one of the diameters of the punch; contact the shoulder of the rotating punch; and extend onto a surface of the first layer adjacent the aperture. |
| US08317075B2 |
Raised boss for staple guide
A surgical stapling device including a handle assembly, a body portion, and a head portion is disclosed. The handle assembly includes a firing trigger. The body portion extends distally from the handle assembly. The head portion includes an anvil assembly and a shell assembly. The anvil assembly is movable in relation to the shell assembly between spaced and approximated positions. The shell assembly includes a pusher and an inner guide portion. The pusher includes at least one slot therein and is movable in relation to the anvil assembly between retracted and extended positions. The inner guide portion is disposed adjacent at least a portion of the pusher and includes a raised boss extending therefrom. The raised boss is configured to shroud the slot in the pusher when the pusher is in the retracted position. |
| US08317073B2 |
Surgical instrument with indicator
A surgical stapling instrument including a handle assembly, an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly, and a head portion. The handle assembly includes a firing trigger and a firing indicator. The firing trigger is movable between a first non-actuated position and a second actuated position. The head portion is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated body portion and includes an anvil assembly and a shell assembly. The anvil assembly is movable in relation to the shell assembly between spaced and approximated positions. Engagement structure of the firing trigger moves the firing indicator from a first position to a second position when the firing trigger is moved from its first non-actuated position toward its second actuated position. |
| US08317072B1 |
Feeder belt for true multi-fire surgical stapler
An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt configured as a continuous loop; staples fixed to and shearable from the continuous feeder belt; apertures defined in the continuous feeder belt; and a gear positioned at the distal end of the feeder belt within the continuous loop, where the gear engages at least one of the apertures to move the continuous feeder belt around the gear. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt; a plurality of staples fixed to and shearable from the continuous feeder belt; and a plurality of teeth defined on the continuous feeder belt. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include a continuous belt assembly that has a flexible rack with two ends, and a feeder belt with two ends, each end of the feeder belt connected to a corresponding end of the flexible rack; and staples fixed to and shearable from the continuous feeder belt. |
| US08317064B2 |
Small storage receptacle for food with air influx hole
The present invention relates to a small-sized food storage receptacle with an air inlet that includes a receptacle body having a food storage space adapted to be squeezed out of shape by the application of an external pressure thereto and be returned to its original shape if the external pressure is removed, a food outlet adapted to discharge the food to the outside when the food storage space is squeezed out of shape, and the air inlet formed along the top portion of the food storage space so as to supply external air to the food storage space, while having a size enough to allow the food to be smoothly fed therein by means of an automatic feeding device in a food manufacturing company. |
| US08317063B2 |
Anti-unscrewing system between a dispenser head and a container
A connection system between a dispenser head of a liquid and a container of a liquid includes a base area of a structure and a flange screwed tight onto the neck of the container. Free rotation of the structure is prevented by a resistant torque, but the base area of the structure is made in such a way as to allow the accidental rotation of the head without unscrewing the flange. |
| US08317062B2 |
Two-way valve
A valve for distributing two fluids contained in a rigid flask by propulsion, the first fluid contained in a first flexible pouch, and the second fluid in the flask so as to be isolated from the first fluid before the fluid leaves through the valve. When the valve is placed on the flask, an internal part of the valve is inside the flask, an external part of the valve is outside the flask. A first passage which can be closed connects the inside of the first pouch and the space surrounding the external part of the valve, and a second passage which can also be closed connects the space intended to receive the second fluid and the space surrounding the external part of the valve. The valve has a second flexible pouch for receiving the second fluid, which is fixed to the valve and placed around the first pouch. |
| US08317056B2 |
Liquid tight sealing of heat-insulating walls of a liquefied natural gas carrier
A structure and method for bonding heat-insulating protection walls of a liquefied natural gas carrier is provided. Each of the heat-insulating protection walls is formed of an insulation foam layer and a fiber-reinforced composite reinforcing sheet attached to a surface of the insulation foam layer. The heat-insulating protection walls are provided in a tank of the liquefied natural gas carrier in a mutually adjoining relationship and bonded to one another at a junction to keep the tank cold. The structure includes a fiber-reinforced composite joint sheet positioned in alignment with the juncture of the heat-insulating protection walls and bonded to the fiber-reinforced composite reinforcing sheet by an adhesive agent and a spacer interposed between the fiber-reinforced composite reinforcing sheet and the fiber-reinforced composite joint sheet for keeping the adhesive agent uniform in thickness. |
| US08317052B2 |
Container, lid and clip therefor
A container (1) for meat storage, treatment and distribution has an external rib (5) to facilitate handling and provide strength. Clips (32) are provided for attaching a lid (6) to the container, and a clip removal tool (52) which allows clips to be removed to open the container. |
| US08317049B2 |
Vacuum breaker arrangement with externally protruding collapsible valve part
A vacuum breaker arrangement for use with a container includes body parts holding a resilient valve member captive. The valve member includes an intermediate body part, intermediate and enlarged head and a valve part. The valve part is made of resilient material which defines an internal passageway communicating with an opening in the body parts. The valve part includes an end portion defining a slit which is closed at a first pressure and which is automatically opened at a second, reduced pressure. |
| US08317048B2 |
Self-actuating closure mechanisms for closable articles
A self-activating closure mechanism is described. In certain embodiments, containers or closures have closure elements, which, upon being brought into proximity to each other, are drawn together and urged into alignment to engage locking members by magnets or other mutually attractive or repulsive elements, thereby providing a self-closing assembly. |
| US08317043B2 |
Beverage containers
A beverage container comprises a receptacle (2) which has a central axis (3) and is sealed by a lid (6) of resilient material. The receptacle includes a neck (8) defining an opening and the lid includes a closure plate (30, 32), integral with which is a depending skirt (18) extending around the outer surface of the neck. The inner surface of the skirt (18) carries a continuous annular flange (20), which is in sealing engagement with the underside of a continuous downwardly directed annular shoulder (14) on the outer surface of the neck and thus prevents movement of the lid in the axial direction away from the receptacle. The annular flange (20) on the lid is connected thereto by a resilient hinge connection (22). The annular flange (20) is elongate in axial sectional view. The end surface of the free end of the flange (20) is in sealing engagement with the underside of the shoulder (14) and the resilience of the resilient hinge connection (22) urges the side surface of the free end of the annular flange (20) into sealing engagement with the external surface of the neck. |
| US08317042B2 |
Lightweight container
The present invention concerns a package that includes (i) a container with a body and a neck, a container opening with an opening diameter (d), a screw thread, and a flange extending outwardly and having a flange diameter (D), and (ii) a removable closure adapted to be unscrewed from the screw threads of the container, with the closure having a top, a skirt and a tamper-evident ring attached to the lower edge of the skirt and is adapted to catch the flange of the container's neck when the closure is first screwed onto the neck. The ring is detachable from the skirt upon first removal of the closure from the neck. The container has a top load resistance inferior or equal to 30 daN, and the height h between the neck top edge and the lower part of the flange is such that it satisfies the relationship h≦(d/3). |
| US08317040B2 |
Magnetic divider system
A magnetic divider system for forming one or more sub-compartments to isolate and organize articles therewithin in the interior region of a compartment having a ferruginous surface is provided. The magnetic divider system includes at least one rail member for defining one or more sub-compartments in the interior region of the compartment, the rail members having a base portion, a distal portion, and a channel extending therethrough. The magnetic divider system further includes one or more attachment members comprising magnets for fixedly restraining the rail members in the interior region of the compartment. The attachment members are disposed in the channel to magnetically attract the ferruginous surface of the interior region of the compartment to, in turn, restrainably affix the at least one rail member to the ferruginous surface of the interior region of the compartment. |
| US08317039B2 |
Rolling quarter pallet display system and shipping container
A display system is provided having a base and a plurality of trays supported by posts. The base includes a pallet having a plurality of wheels extending from a lower surface. The base supports a first tray formed from a corrugated material. A plurality of posts extending from an upper surface of the pallet support a second tray formed from a corrugated material. Subsequent trays can be supported by additional posts. The trays support a plurality of goods for sale. Corrugated spacer pieces can be positioned in the trays as necessary depending on the size and shape of the goods supported in the tray. |
| US08317038B2 |
Modular display and dispensing apparatus with plural dispensing tiers
A modular apparatus displays and dispenses merchandise at first and second dispensing locations placed at plural dispensing tiers at a point-of-purchase adjacent a display shelf. A first pusher-track assembly extends along a first path of travel of first serially arranged packages, and dividers are spaced apart to straddle the first path of travel and the first serially arranged packages. A second pusher-track assembly is secured to each of the dividers, elevated altitudinally above the first pusher-track assembly, and extends along a second path of travel of second serially arranged packages. A securing arrangement integrates the second pusher-track assembly with the dividers within the apparatus, and a stabilizing arrangement stabilizes the dividers against inadvertent movements relative to the display shelf to complete a stable apparatus. Multiple dividers and counterpart pusher-track assemblies enable the modular apparatus to provide any selected number of display and dispensing bays. |
| US08317036B2 |
Apparatus and method for removing impurities from water or wastewater
A filter or clarification system for removing impurities from a liquid to be treated, i.e., influent. The system preferably includes a chamber for receiving a liquid to be treated. The chamber has a settling plate assembly including a plurality of inclined liquid passageways through which the liquid to be treated is directed to remove impurities from the liquid to be treated. An efficiency enhancement unit is operably associated with the settling assembly to improve the filtration efficiency of the settling assembly. Preferably, the efficiency enhancement unit includes a vibrator for imparting a vibration force to at least a portion of the settling assembly to improve the filtration efficiency of the settling assembly. Preferably, the vibrator acts to prevent impurities from collecting on one or more settling members in the settling assembly. The settling members can be settling plates or settling tubes. In the preferred form, the vibrator is operated during substantially the entire filtration cycle. |
| US08317035B2 |
Debris filter
A debris filter for reactor coolant includes a plurality of adjacent plates defining a plurality of channels therebetween, each of said channels being at an angle to the flow path of the coolant into the filter. |
| US08317033B2 |
Method and device for concentrating substances in solid particle state
A method for concentrating a particulate matter, comprising at least two constituents of different densities, in which a slurry of particulate matter is subjected to centrifugation and to centripetal pulses in a centrifugation chamber. A dense fraction of the slurry and a light fraction of the slurry are drawn off separately from the centrifugation chamber. In order to produce the centripetal pulses, a fluid is injected into the slurry, in a direction oblique or tangential to the direction of centrifugation. The fluid is injected substantially continuously into the slurry. |
| US08317032B2 |
System for sorting and packaging fruit
A system for sorting and packaging products, chosen from the group consisting of eggs and fruit (10), the system comprising: —a sorting machine with at least one single sorting track (1) with carriers; —at least one sensor for determining at least one characteristic of each product (10); —the control being adapted to classify a said product in accordance with the at least one characteristic; —a plurality of packaging conveyors (2) for supplying and discharging packaging units, such as boxes, crates or trays, crossing the sorting track and extending above the sorting track; —wherein adjacent each packaging conveyor a transferring device (3) is provided at the level of or higher than the packaging conveyor, arranged for taking over a said product from a carrier and for placing the product from above into a packaging unit (20) on the corresponding packaging conveyor. |
| US08317031B2 |
Method and apparatus for separating fine particulate matter from other materials
A method and apparatus for separating fine particulate matter from debris and bulk material is presented which includes a frame, a screen connected to the frame that is adjustable in height relative to the frame at one of its ends, a removable trough positioned near the back end of the frame, and a motor for vibrating the frame to assist in separation of materials. |
| US08317022B2 |
Package of folded disposable absorbent pants
The package includes a housing portion having a transparent window region. A plurality of disposable absorbent pants is disposed within the housing portion. Each pant defines a waistband region which abuts a waist end. Each waistband region comprises a front waistband portion and a back waistband portion. Each pant further defines a crotch region which abuts a crotch end. At least a first pant is folded and positioned such that at least a portion of the waistband region of the first pant is visible through the transparent window region. Specified portions of the first pant may be obscured by an opaque border region. The first pant may include a back-label indicator that is visible through the transparent window region. A second pant may also be visible through the transparent window region. |
| US08317021B2 |
Tool set package
A packaging arrangement is provided for displaying a tool set and a plurality of interchangeable work pieces at a point of sale that is useable as a carrying case after it is purchased. The packaging arrangement has an insert with a plurality of receptacles at spaced apart intervals between the outer ends for individual reception of the interchangeable work pieces. A locking member is provided with the insert and is moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position to selectively secure the interchangeable work pieces in the receptacles of the insert. |
| US08317020B2 |
Storage receptacle for used suture needles
A method for disposing of suture needles. The method includes attaching the needle storage receptacle to a mounting surface by positioning a first adhesive surface against the mounting surface, peeling back a strip of protective material from a second adhesive surface of a needle storage unit and placing a suture needle between the protective material and the second adhesive surface, removing the protective material from the second adhesive surface and a third adhesive surface adjacent the second adhesive surface, and folding the second adhesive surface into contact with the third adhesive surface to permanently trap the needle. |
| US08317019B2 |
Golf ball picker basket and method
There is disclosed a method and a basket for use with a golf ball range picker having a support frame. The basket may include a pair of inwardly offset handles in the basket side walls for ease of lifting when a series of two or more like baskets are arranged in a closely spaced side by side configuration. A pair of front edges of front side wall sections are each tapered outwardly toward the front to minimize or at least greatly reduce the surface area formed by abutting vertical edges with a like basket, to help guide the golf balls being thrown by the range picker into the baskets, and not deflect them inadvertently away from entering the baskets by otherwise providing thick abutting vertical edges which could block the path of travel of the golf balls. A front flange is disposed substantially along the entire length of the front of the basket for resting securely on a front portion of the support frame, and a rear flange is adapted for resting securely on a back portion of the support frame. |
| US08317016B2 |
Screw cap package for contact lens
A contact lens package includes a holder having a receptacle for holding a contact lens and a cap having a seal for sealing a contact lens within the receptacle. The cap is attached to the holder and is movable from an end of the holder where the receptacle is formed toward an opposite end of the holder. As the cap moves toward the opposite end of the holder, the end of the holder where the receptacle is formed ruptures the seal such that the contact lens can be removed from the package. |
| US08317013B2 |
Auger with an extendible feed auger section
An auger assembly transfers particulate material from a source area to a target area using a main auger, an open top swing auger or U-trough, and an extendable loading swing auger connected to one another. The main auger is supported on a wheeled frame similar to conventional grain augers while the U-trough is pivoted thereon, and the extendable loading swing auger is mounted on a rail system on the top of the U-trough. The inlet hopper of the extendable swing auger can be extended out to reach away from the main auger thus can be more easily positioned for proper alignment with the discharge hopper of a particulate material container even when the discharge hopper is within a confined space. |
| US08317011B2 |
Apparatus for feeding containers to a downstream processing unit
An apparatus (1) for feeding containers (4) to a downstream processing unit (2), which receives the containers (4) with a distance (D) between them. At the input end (16) of the infeed worm (6) the containers (4) arrive bunch to bunch and at an exit end (26) of the infeed worm (6) they exhibit the required distance (D) between them. At least two conveyor belts (11, 12), drivable with a constant velocity, are arranged such with respect to the infeed worm (6) that the containers (4) are in contact with a groove (7) of the infeed worm (6). The first conveyor belt (11) at the input end (16) of the infeed worm (6) has a smaller velocity in the direction of transport (T) than the conveyor belt (12) at the exit end (26) of the infeed worm (6). |
| US08317010B2 |
Transfer system co-operating with a machine for producing tobacco and filter product rods as well as method of transferring such rods within the transfer system
Transfer system cooperating with a machine for producing tobacco and filter product rods having a rod receiving unit, a cutting head, and a control system. The machine enables adjustment of the length of the produced rods, whereby the rod receiving unit of the transfer system is synchronized with the cutting head by the control system. The transfer system is situated between the machine for producing rods and a machine for further processing or transmitting the rods. A rejection unit is provided for rejecting the rods outside the transfer system during the synchronization of the rod receiving unit of the transfer system with the cutting head after a new length is entered into the control system. The rejection unit is located between the cutting head of the machine and the rod receiving unit. |
| US08317008B2 |
Friction clutch, vehicle equipped with the same, and assembly method of friction clutch
A clutch 44 has a clutch boss 441, a clutch housing 442, a friction plate 64, a clutch plate 65, and a pressure plate 450. The clutch boss 441 is attached to the main shaft 41 so as to be integrally rotated therewith. The clutch housing 442 encloses the periphery of the clutch boss 441 and is attached to the main shaft 41 so as to be rotated with respect to the main shaft 41. The friction plate 64 has a plate main body and a friction material and rotates together with the clutch housing 442. The clutch plate 65 faces the plate main body via the friction material and rotates together with the clutch boss 441. The pressure plate 450 rotates together with one of the clutch boss 441 the clutch housing 442 which is engaged with the friction plate 64. |
| US08317007B2 |
Clutch device
A clutch device includes a sleeve-shaped first drive member, a first seal member, a second seal member, a plug, a second drive member, and a control member. The first drive member, the first seal member and second seal member cooperate to form a sealed chamber filled with hydraulic liquid. The plug divides the sealed chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber, and the plug defines a screw hole and an opening communicating the first chamber with the second chamber respectively. An output shaft is extended from the plug. The second drive member is driven by the first drive member, and includes a screw shaft threadedly engaged with the screw hole of the plug. The control member is configured for covering or uncovering the opening of the plug. The clutch device is used for prevent overload. |
| US08317006B2 |
Double clutch comprising a torsional vibration damper
A double clutch transmission comprising a wet dual clutch, a dual mass flywheel and a centrifugal force pendulum and an electric motor which is connected to the primary side of the dual mass flywheel. |
| US08317003B2 |
Wheel suspension for motor vehicles
The invention relates to a wheel suspension for motor vehicles, with a suspension strut which is formed from a shock absorber and a bearing spring, the bearing spring being supported by way of spring plates on the body of the motor vehicle and on the tube of the shock absorber, and a spring plate being movably guided relative to the body and able to be moved axially by means of an actuator relative to the shock absorber tube, and the suspension strut having a preloaded spring with a spring force which is opposite the bearing spring, which is supported on the body of the motor vehicle and also on the movable spring plate of the bearing spring. According to the invention, the actuator is located outside, in particular radially outside the suspension strut. |
| US08317000B2 |
Wheel stop made of metal pipe and capable of transmitting power to electric car while being parked
A wheel stop is disclosed which is engaged by a wheel of a vehicle in an attempt to be parked in a parking lot, to limit movement of the vehicle. The wheel stop includes a middle extending portion, first and second leg portions, all of which are integrally formed with a metal pipe. The wheel stop further includes first and second anchor plates affixed to the first and second leg portions, respectively, the anchor plates being anchored to the parking lot; an electric cable disposed within the metal pipe; and an electric outlet disposed on an outer surface of the metal pipe, and connected with the electric cable, to thereby allow, when the vehicle parked in the parking lot is an electric car, a power supply cable extending from the electric car to be plugged into the electric outlet. |
| US08316999B2 |
Stroller brake
A brake assembly for a stroller has a wheel rotatable about a wheel axis and a plurality of pockets on the wheel spaced from and circumferentially around the wheel axis. A brake lever has an actuator arm and a link arm fixedly connected to one another and is movable between a braking orientation and a released orientation. A boss is driven by the link arm between a braking position and a released position corresponding respectively to the braking and released orientations of the brake lever. A biasing mechanism is configured to bias and retain the boss into engagement with one of the plurality of pockets when the brake lever is moved to the braking orientation and to bias and retain the boss out of engagement with the plurality of pockets when the brake lever is moved to the released position. |
| US08316993B1 |
Ladder safety device and method of using the same
A house clamp assembly having a fixed jaw and a slide bar mounted movable jaw, the fixed jaw opposing the movable jaw. A one-way drive means, by operation of a trigger handle grip, releasably engages the slide bar and advances the movable jaw towards the fixed jaw. The one-way drive means is incapable of moving the slide bar and movable jaw away from the fixed jaw. A return motion of the movable jaw (separating) is accomplished manually when the one-way drive means is disengaged. A braking lever, which is biased to bind the slide bar, prevents reverse motion of the slideable jaw away from the fixed jaw, except when the first lever is disengaged from the slide bar. A device for securing a ladder to a building, wherein the removed end of the slide member has a hook shape; wherein the jaws include jaw faces having multiple raised portions, wherein the releasable braking means of the building clamp assembly means includes a pivoting lever; wherein the locking member of the ladder hook assembly includes a pivoting lever, attached at one end to the body, and having a slot dimensioned to slideably receive the hook slide member therethrough; wherein the body of the ladder hook assembly includes a pair of slots dimensioned for and adapted to slideably receive the slide member therethrough; and wherein the slots are arranged to maintain the hook slide member substantially parallel to the slide bar of the building clamp assembly. |
| US08316992B2 |
Method and apparatus for securing a scaffold to a building
An anchoring system for securing a scaffold to a building includes a connection member configured to attach to a scaffold component and an anchor member. The anchor member includes a base configured to attach to at least one structural component of a building and a coupling fixedly connected to the base. The coupling is configured to receive a connection member to rigidly join the connection member to the anchor member, and thus, the scaffold to a building. |
| US08316991B2 |
Device of an evacuation system
There is disclosed a device of an evacuation system, in particular a foldable evacuation means which is arranged to be lowered from a parked folded up position on the vessel to be evacuated to stretched out position on a rescue device, the bottom section of which including a weight device to keep the evacuation means sufficient extended in use position, an including a set of one or more cables/wires connected to a winch arrangement for lowering and lifting the evacuation means. The evacuation device is characterized in that the weight device is arranged to be positioned on the rescue device, and the system includes means to compensate for varying distances between the vessel to be evacuated and the rescue vessel. |
| US08316990B2 |
Fall arrest self rescuing trolley and system including the same
A trolley and fall arrest safety system is disclosed for movement along an elevated track to support a person who has fallen off of a structure adjacent the track. The trolley is arranged to roll on along a surface of the track in a longitudinal direction to suspend a person therefrom in the event that the person falls from an elevated position adjacent the track. The trolley includes an immobilizing assembly including a flexible strap. The strap is arranged to be pulled by the suspended worker to releasably fix the trolley at a longitudinal position on the track, so that the person can swing himself/herself to move the trolley to a desired safety position. |
| US08316986B2 |
Sound attenuation canopy
A sound attenuation canopy for reducing levels of sound passing through an opening comprises a sound absorbing member. The member is comprised of a flexible sound absorbing material and has a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion extending therebetween. The first end is configured to attach to the opening's periphery at a first location, the second end is configured to attach to the periphery at a second location and the intermediate portion is configured to be spaced apart from the opening. When the first end and the second end are attached to the periphery of the opening, at least one side opening is at least partially defined by the intermediate portion and the perimeter of the opening, and a sound transmission flow path through open space between the opening and the side opening comprises at least one change of direction greater than 45 degrees. |
| US08316985B2 |
Methods and devices for sound abatement of an abdominal stoma
The present invention provides methods and devices for the abatement of noise emanating from surgically created abdominal stomas. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a sound abatement device for an abdominal stoma. The device includes a noise suppressor formed of sound dampening material, which defines an opening and cavity suitable in size and shape for receiving and enveloping a stoma formed through a body wall of an individual. The device further includes a support arm extending from the noise suppressor, which includes a first end connected to the noise suppressor and a second end disposed opposite thereof. The device further includes a base member disposed proximate the second end of the support arm, which includes an attachment for connection to an individual. The device also includes an attachment feature for releasable attachment of the second end of the support arm to the base. |
| US08316982B2 |
Passenger's weight measurement device for vehicle seat with improved accessibility
A vehicle seat includes a load sensor for measuring a load applied from an occupant and a seat cushion frame, wherein the seat cushion frame comprises right and left side frames extending in a front-and-rear direction, the load sensor is attached to the seat cushion frame, and a concave portion is formed in at least one of the right and left side frames at a position opposite to the load sensor. |
| US08316979B2 |
Arrangement structure for evaporated fuel treatment device of saddle-type vehicle, and vehicle incorporating same
An arrangement structure for mounting an evaporated fuel treatment device including a canister for a saddle-type vehicle includes an under cowl arranged at a front lower portion of an engine. The canister is arranged below the engine and inside the under cowl. Such arrangement structure enables mounting of the canister on a vehicle body in a compact manner while protecting the canister from traveling wind during vehicle operation, and also from direct sunlight during a parked state of the vehicle, thereby favorably ensuring charge performance and purge performance of the canister. |
| US08316977B2 |
Utility vehicle
A utility vehicle comprises a vehicle body frame to which the engine is mounted; a seat frame fastened to the vehicle body frame and including a seat bottom support member; and a seat bottom detachably fastened to the seat bottom support member; wherein a portion of an upper wall surface of an engine room in which the engine is disposed is defined by at least a portion of a lower surface of the seat bottom. |
| US08316974B2 |
Adjustable radiator grill arrangement
An adjustable radiator grill arrangement for a motor vehicle comprises at least one air channel, through which an air flow for the incident flow of a radiator can be guided. The grill arrangement has a first grill element and a second grill element, which are moveable relative to one another, in order to open or to close the air channel. The first grill element comprises a closing edge, which is disposed at a distance from a counter-edge when the air channel is opened and adjacent to the counteredge when the air channel is closed. The first grill element comprises an elastically deformable closing element, which forms the closing edge. |
| US08316973B2 |
Electric driving unit for a vehicle
An electric drive unit for a motor vehicle includes an electric motor having a stator that is fixed with respect to a stub axle and a rotor that is rotatably supported with respect to the stub axle. A gear system has its input connected to the rotor for torque transmission. A wheel carrier is connected to the output of the gear system for torque transmission. A first bearing of the wheel carrier is provide on a first axial side of the electric motor facing away from the gear system. A second bearing of the wheel carrier is provided either on the first axial side of the electric motor, or in the gear system, realized in the form of a bearing of a rotatable gear system part connected to the wheel carrier. |
| US08316969B1 |
Superabrasive materials and methods of manufacture
Methods of manufacturing sintered superabrasive structures are disclosed. For example, a plurality of agglomerated granules comprising at least one superabrasive material may be provided and exposed to a pressure and a temperature sufficient to sinter the at least one superabrasive material. In another example, a plurality of agglomerated granules comprising diamond may be provided and exposed to a pressure and a temperature sufficient to form polycrystalline diamond. Articles of manufacture including at least one superabrasive material are disclosed. For example, a polycrystalline diamond compact may comprise a volume of polycrystalline diamond bonded to a substrate, wherein the volume of polycrystalline diamond includes a plurality of agglomerated granules which have been sintered. A drill bit comprising at least one cutting element including a volume of polycrystalline diamond bonded to a substrate wherein the volume of polycrystalline diamond includes a plurality of agglomerated granules which have been sintered is disclosed. |
| US08316960B2 |
Hammer device
The present invention relates to a drop hammer assembly including a drop hammer configured with at least two end conditions, characterized in that the position of the end conditions can be reversed when required. Also claimed is a method of reversing the drop hammer with respect to the drop hammer housing. |
| US08316959B2 |
Hand-held power tool, in particular cordless power tool
The invention is based on a hand-held power tool, in particular a cordless power tool, having a torque-limiting device that is provided for setting a maximum torque that a motor output is able to transmit to a tool-driving element. A spring mechanism equipped with at least one first disk spring is provided such that the at least one disk spring acts on at least two detent mechanisms arranged in a circumferential direction. |
| US08316957B2 |
Hand-held power tool
A hand-held power tool has a main element having a tool axis, a center of gravity, and a normal axis which extends perpendicular to the tool axis and through the center of gravity. The tool axis and the normal axis define a plane of motion. A handle supported in the plane of motion such that it is movable relative to the main element. A spring unit connects the handle with the main element and includes a spring element. The handle has a handle body, a rotary element which connects the handle body and the main element. The rotary element is rotatable relative to the main element and to the handle body. |
| US08316952B2 |
System and method for controlling flow through a sand screen
A technique enables an improved filtering of sand, a desired distribution of produced or injected fluid, and a reduction in erosion of completion components positioned in a production or injection well. The technique employs a base pipe and a sand screen surrounding the base pipe. The base pipe comprises a plurality of flow restriction elements arranged in a selected pattern along the base pipe to provide a desired distribution of the fluid flowing into or out of the sand screen. The pattern of flow restriction elements also maintains a flow rate of the flowing fluid below an erosive flow rate across the entire sand screen. |
| US08316946B2 |
Subsea completion with a wellhead annulus access adapter
A subsea completion assembly for a subsea well including installed casing and a wellhead. The assembly includes a production casing forming a B annulus between the outside of the production casing and the installed casing. The assembly also includes an annulus access adapter installed in the wellhead, the adapter including a manipulatable valve controlling fluid communication with the fluid in the B annulus across the annulus access adapter. A property of the fluid in the B annulus can be monitored by fluid communicated across the annulus access adapter. |
| US08316943B2 |
Methods and apparatus for a downhole tool
An apparatus and method for operating a packer and a fracture valve. The packer may include a tubular mandrel having a longitudinal bore with an annular packing element and a first piston disposed around the mandrel, wherein the first piston is operable to set the packing element, and a second piston operable to isolate fluid communication between the first piston and the mandrel bore. The fracture valve may include a tubular mandrel having a longitudinal bore and a port, a piston operable to close fluid communication between the bore and the port, and a latch disposed between the piston and the mandrel operable to resist movement of the piston. |
| US08316942B2 |
ESP for perforated sumps in horizontal well applications
The present invention relates to a process for cooling an electrical submersible pump. More specifically, the invention relates to blocking a portion of wellbore fluid from entering a sump, thereby causing the pump to draw fluid from below the pump motor past the exterior of the pump motor toward a pump inlet. |
| US08316937B2 |
Multi-window lateral well locator/reentry apparatus and method
A down-hole assembly used to locate an existing window in a main cased well bore and guide equipment through the window and into a lateral well bore after removal of a whip stock. The down-hole assembly includes a running tool with a convex section detachably connected to a concave section of a guide member. The running tool includes a window locator that locates the window. The window locator may contain a selectively reciprocating shear rod operatively associated with a stop/shear block to enable the window locator to locate a plurality of lateral well windows in a main well bore. The guide member includes an inclined or wedge shaped portion for guiding tools or equipment through the window and into the lateral well bore so that remedial work can be carried out. |
| US08316934B2 |
Isotopic identification of production by individual formations in commingled gas wells
A computer system and computerized method for allocating production among multiple formations produced by a hydrocarbon well, using isotopic concentration analysis. According to an aspect of the system and method, multiple single-formation isotopic concentration measurements of multiple hydrocarbon gases are taken from each formation. Within each formation, groups of similar isotopic concentration values are defined, and are mapped to geographic regions of the formations. Mixing equations are developed between regions of the different formations, for use in allocating production for a well intersecting those regions. According to another aspect of the system and method, allocation among three or more formations is performed using Monte Carlo analysis of an underspecified mixing equation, and at a measured isotopic concentration value for the commingled flow from the well. |
| US08316930B2 |
Downhole tubular connector
A hydraulic connector to provide a fluidic connection between a fluid supply and a downhole tubular, the connector comprising: a body; an engagement assembly comprising an extendable portion selectively extendable from the body, the engagement assembly being configured to extend and retract a seal assembly disposed at a distal end of the extendable portion into and from a proximal end of the downhole tubular; and a valve assembly operable between an open position and a closed position, the valve assembly being configured to: allow a fluid to communicate between the fluid supply and the downhole tubular through the seal assembly when in the open position; and prevent fluid communication between the fluid supply and the downhole tubular when in the closed position. |
| US08316927B2 |
Loop heat pipe waste heat recovery device with pressure controlled mode valve
A waste heat recovery device includes a heat pipe in which a working fluid for transporting heat is enclosed, and a mode-switching valve for switching a heat recovery mode and a heat insulation mode. The heat pipe has a heating part for heating and evaporating the working fluid and a cooling part for cooling and condensing the evaporated working fluid. The heating part is made of a steel through which hydrogen gas permeates about at 500° C. and higher. In the heat recovery mode, the waste heat recovery device recovers heat of exhaust gas by using the heat pipe. Furthermore, in the heat insulation mode, a heat transport from the heating part to the cooling part is stopped. |
| US08316921B2 |
Plate type heat pipe and heat sink using the same
A heat sink includes a fin assembly including a plurality of fins and a plate type heat pipe attached to the fin assembly. The plate type heat pipe includes a sealed shell in which a working fluid is filled, a wick layer formed on an inner face of the shell and a supporting member disposed in the shell. The supporting member includes a plurality of supporting portions and a plurality of bodies connecting the supporting portions. Each supporting portion includes a plurality of convex portions contacting a top of the wick layer and a plurality of concave portions contacting a bottom of the wick layer. The convex portions and the concave portions of each supporting portion are alternately arranged. Each convex portion and an adjacent concave portion cooperatively enclose a first through hole for the working fluid flowing therethrough. |
| US08316920B2 |
Brush roll for casting roll
A metal strip casting apparatus and method of casting metal strip include assembling a pair of counter-rotatable casting rolls positioned laterally forming a nip between for casting, and assembling a pair of brush rolls, each of the brush rolls associated with one of each of the casting rolls. Each brush roll includes at least one spaced apart brush line extending substantially along the axial length of the casting roll. The brush lines may form a spiral, zigzag, wave or crisscross array about the brush roll. The brush roll may include one or more staggered rings with regularly or irregularly spaced apart bristles which form the brush lines. The brush lines may be between 10 to 50 mm apart and separated by between 2 mm to 45 mm of open space. The brush lines may be one line per 10 mm to 90 mm of axial length of brush roll. |
| US08316919B2 |
Apparatus for setting a core in a molding machine, a molding machine, and a method for setting a core
The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for setting a core, a molding machine, and a method for setting a core where the configuration of the apparatus and the machine is simplified and the accuracy of the core-setting is high. The apparatus is one for setting a core in a molding machine that comprises an upper flask, a lower flask, a match plate clamped between the upper flask and the lower flask, and an upper and a lower squeezing member for forming molding spaces by having the upper and lower squeezing members be inserted into the upper and lower flasks, respectively, wherein a core is set in the lower mold in a state that the upper mold, the lower mold, and the match plate are separate from each other, the apparatus comprising: a jig for a core having a means for holding a core and a rotary shaft and being rotatably supported by the rotary shaft wherein the means for holding a core detachably holds the core at the jig; and a carriage for a core for rotatably supporting the rotary shaft of the jig and being transported to and from a position above the lower mold; wherein an actuator for elevating the match plate transported between the upper flask and lower flask elevates the jig for the core and the carriage for the core that are transported to a position above the lower mold, which actuator is attached to the molding machine. |
| US08316914B2 |
Movable partitions, header assemblies for movable partitions, and methods of forming header assemblies for movable partitions
Movable partitions and movable partition system include a header assembly and a movable partition. The header assembly may comprise an elongated overhead track including a first channel, a second channel, and a central channel between the first and second channels. A plurality of support bracket attachment features may be included with at least one support bracket attachment feature on each of an outer surface of the first channel and an outer surface of the second channel. A support bracket may be coupled to each of the support bracket attachment features. The movable partition may comprise a plurality of panels connected to one another with hinge-like member and may be suspended from the overhead track. Embodiments of overhead tracks and methods of forming header assemblies are also disclosed. |
| US08316910B2 |
Awning assemblies
Awning assemblies include at least one arm assembly. In accordance with example aspects, the arm assembly can include a first segment, a second segment pivotally connected to the first segment and a biasing member extending between portions of the segments with the biasing member being substantially hidden within an area defined by the first and second segments in a closed orientation. In accordance with further example aspects, a biasing member can be provided to resist rotation of a link member with respect to a mounting bracket with an adjustment device configured to adjust the compression of the biasing member. In accordance with yet further examples, the awning assembly can include a support leg and a pivot assembly connecting the support leg to a lead rail. The pivot assembly can include a stop member to limit a pivoting movement of the pivot assembly. In further examples, the awning assembly can include first and second support legs that each include a locking device configured to selectively lock the support legs in one of a plurality of predetermined incremental lengths. |
| US08316905B2 |
Press and a method for manufacturing a press
An isostatic press is disclosed in which tunnel-like passages are formed between the envelope surface of a force absorbing body and a prestressing device. A method and a press are further disclosed, wherein a cylindrical element is prestressed simultaneously with obtaining a tunnel-like passage on the cylindrical element. |
| US08316904B2 |
Construction comprising tie layer
This disclosure relates to a vulcanizable layered composition comprising at least two layers and at least one tie layer. The first of the two layers comprises a fluid permeation prevention layer and the second comprises at least one high diene rubber. The tie layer comprises, a mixture, in parts by weight relative to 100 weight parts of rubber, of suitable amounts of: (1) epoxidized natural rubber; (2) at least one high diene elastomer; (3) at least one filler; (4) least one tackifier; and (5) a rubber curing system. The fluid permeation prevention layer preferably comprises suitable amounts of: (A) at least one thermoplastic engineering resin component, preferably one or more nylon resins; and (B) at least one elastomer component, preferably a brominated isobutylene p-methylstyrene copolymer/and where the total amount of (A) and (B) is not less than 30% by weight, and wherein (B) is dispersed in a vulcanized or partially vulcanized state, as a discontinuous phase, in a matrix of component (A). |
| US08316903B2 |
Pneumatic tire having built-in sealant layer and preparation thereof
The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a built-in sealant layer and its preparation. In one embodiment, the pneumatic tire includes an outer circumferential rubber tread and a supporting carcass. An optional rubber inner liner is disposed inwardly from the supporting carcass. A built-in sealant layer is disposed inwardly from the rubber inner liner. The built-in sealant layer provides self-sealing properties to the pneumatic tire. A gas permeable layer is situated adjacent an innermost rubber inner liner and the built-in sealant layer. The innermost rubber inner liner has a plurality of spaced apart openings extending therethrough, which are covered by the gas permeable layer. The tire, with its innermost inner liner with holes and the gas permeable layer, allows for elimination or reduction in blister formation in the tire by permitting gas from the built-in sealant layer to escape. |
| US08316901B1 |
Cutter attachment and method of using
A device and method for cutting and mulching material such as trees, bushes, roots, stumps, vegetation, and other debris. The device includes a frame adapted to be combined with a prime mover vehicle. The frame supports a rotating cutting element having a plurality of rotating cutters. The cutting element is actuated by a motor to spin at a speed and with a force suitable for cutting trees and other material. The frame further includes a supporting surface that helps to support the material and guide it toward the cutting element as the device is moved downward to cut and mulch the material. |
| US08316900B2 |
Fluid receiver having removable sleeve
Described herein are several embodiments and implementations of a fluid receiver with a removable sleeve. According to one representative embodiment, an apparatus for receiving a fluid from a fluid source includes a base having an inlet and an outlet. The base defines an interior cavity through which fluid is flowable from the inlet to the outlet. The apparatus also includes a valve that is movable relative to the base between a closed and open position. In the closed position, the valve is in sealing engagement with the base to prevent fluid flow through the inlet. In the open position, the valve allows fluid flow through the inlet. The apparatus further includes a removable sleeve that is removably securable about a portion of the base. The valve remains in the closed position as the removable sleeve is removed from and secured about the base. |
| US08316893B2 |
Fastening of pipes
A plastics pipe provided with engageable fastener elements on an outer surface thereof, a method for manufacturing the pipe, and a fastener system comprising inter-engageable fastener elements on an outer surface of a pipe and a support therefore. |
| US08316892B2 |
Lateral liner with seal
A lateral liner assembly provides for sealing of the junction between a lateral sewer line and a main sewer pipe. The lateral liner assembly includes a body portion attached to a collar portion. A flange assembly is secured to the collar to provide a rigid base for a seal. The seal supported on the flange seals against the inner surface of the main sewer pipe. The seal provides a desired water tight seal for the junction between the main sewer line and the lateral sewer line. |
| US08316882B2 |
Mechanical fuse to seal pipes upon unintended rupture
The present invention relates to a mechanical fuse to seal pipes upon unintended rupture. When a pressure difference between a first pressure and a second pressure in a pipe is below a pressure threshold, a first spring retains a flap in a first position allowing gaseous fuel to flow from a first portion to a second portion and when the pressure difference between the first pressure and the second pressure is not below the pressure threshold the flap moves to a second position preventing the gaseous fuel from flowing from the first portion to the second portion. |
| US08316877B2 |
Component holding device
A component holding device includes: a fixing member that has a first inner wall surface that forms a first hole into which gas can be entered and a component can be inserted; a component holding section that is fit to the first hole of the fixing member and that holds the component; a sealing section that is provided in the first hole and that seals the component holding section to prevent water from entering into the first hole of the fixing member; and a vent path that is provided in at least one of the fixing member and the component holding section so as to communicate with a gas residual section in the component insertion hole and that discharges leaked gas in the gas residual section to outside air. |
| US08316875B2 |
Methods, apparatus and/or systems relating to fuel delivery systems for industrial machinery
An assembly for delivering a supply of liquid fuel and a supply of purge air to a gas turbine engine, the assembly comprising: an annular dual-flow check valve for controlling the flow through concentric channels that have a common outlet, the annular dual-flow check valve comprising: an outer body and an inner body that define the concentric channels, which include an outer channel and an inner channel formed therein; a spring activated annular poppet that resides in the outer channel and has a range of motion in the axial direction; and an opening through the inner body that connects the outer channel to the inner channel; wherein the axial movement of the annular poppet is regulated by the pressure of the flow upstream of the annular poppet in the outer channel; and the axial range of motion of the annular poppet includes at least two axial positions. |
| US08316865B2 |
Process for winding dental tape
This present invention relates to a process for winding tape to prevent or reduce telescoping of the tape (e.g., dental tape) as it is wound onto a bobbin spool. Dispensers comprising such bobbins are also discussed herein. |
| US08316857B2 |
Oral appliance for treating a breathing condition
An apparatus for use in treating a breathing condition includes a first dental arch, a second dental arch, two bodies coupled to the first dental arch, and two receivers coupled to the second dental arch. The first dental arch is configured to receive at least some of a wearer's teeth. The second dental arch is configured to receive at least some of a wearer's teeth. Each body includes a front stop, a rear stop, a threaded member, and a hook. The threaded member is configured to be coupled between the front stop and rear stop of the body and configured to rotate relative to the body. The hook comprises a threaded passage configured to engage the threaded member, and an arm configured to engage a second dental arch. The hook is configured to travel between the front stop and rear stop of the body in response to rotational adjustment of the threaded member to adjust the lower dental arch relative to the upper dental arch. Each receiver comprises a first rail configured to engage the arm of the hook of a respective one of the two bodies. The first rail is disposed exterior to an internal area defined by a span of the second dental arch. The two receivers are entirely disposed, with respect to each other, on opposite sides of a plane bisecting left and right halves of the second dental arch. |
| US08316856B2 |
Systems and methods for moving and/or restraining tissue in the upper respiratory system
Systems and methods place a first magnetically interactive material in or on a tongue in an airway. The systems and methods place a second magnetically interactive material in or on tissue in a desired relationship with the tongue. The first and second materials magnetically interact to stabilize a preferred orientation of the tongue. |
| US08316850B2 |
Breathing apparatus with sensor
A self-contained breathing apparatus or a respirator can be equipped with a sensor of ambient airborne conditions. A display unit can be carried by a face mask for the apparatus or respirator. Responsive to output signals from the sensor, the display unit can present an air quality indicator, or a breathability indicator to a user of the apparatus or respirator. |
| US08316847B2 |
Automatic positive airway pressure therapy through the nose or mouth for treatment of sleep apnea and other respiratory disorders
A method of providing ventilatory support or treatment of sleep disordered breathing, implemented using an electrically operated and computer controlled fan or blower, a gas delivery tube, and an atmospherically vented face mask or nasal prongs. The method, over a single respiratory cycle, includes cycling administered pressure between and including an upper pressure and a lower pressure to a user's airway. The lower pressure is greater than atmospheric pressure and is maintained only for as long as is required to allow the immediately prior administered gas volume to be at least substantially expelled from the user's respiratory system by its elastic recoil. The lower pressure is immediately thereafter returned to the upper pressure. |
| US08316844B2 |
Protective hood
The invention relates to life-saving engineering. The inventive protective hood is embodied in the form of a bag comprising a sorbing-filtering insert, a sorbent container, an exhalation valve, a mouthpiece assembly and a spring element for compressing and the extending the bag. Said hood is a small-sized, has a simple structural design, provides a high protection level and is easy to use. |
| US08316839B2 |
Range exhaust cleaning system and method
A cleaning system for a cooking range exhaust having a hood, a backsplash, and a flue for exhausting cooking effluent is disclosed. The cleaning system includes a fluid delivery system constructed for placement within the cooking range exhaust. The fluid delivery system includes a hood spray conduit constructed for placement within the hood and comprising spray openings for directing a degreasing composition to the backsplash. The fluid delivery system includes a flue spray conduit constructed for placement within the flue and comprising spray openings for directing the degreasing composition to an interior surface of the flue. The cleaning system includes a pump system constructed for conveying the degreasing composition from a degreasing composition source and through the fluid delivery system. The cleaning system includes a collection reservoir constructed to collect degreasing composition runoff from the cooking range exhaust. A method of cleaning a cooking range exhaust and a self cleaning exhaust system are also disclosed. |
| US08316835B2 |
Anti-chop eyes for a paintball marker
An anti-chop system for a pneumatic paintball marker that is automatically cleaned. The anti-chop eye system includes a transmitter and receiver arranged so as to sense the presence of a paintball within a breech using a beam of light. A moving member of the paintball marker automatically wipes at least one surface of the transmitter and/or receiver to remove contaminants such as paint, grease, dirt and the like. By automatically cleaning the anti-chop eye system, the reliability of the system is improved. |
| US08316834B2 |
Control device and control method for internal combustion engine
A control device for an internal combustion engine includes: an abnormality determination portion determining the presence of an abnormality in a fuel system, such as an injector, by comparing an air-fuel ratio detected by an A/F sensor and a learning value of the air-fuel ratio with a preset abnormality determination value; an alcohol concentration estimating portion estimating the alcohol concentration in fuel based on the air-fuel ratio detected by the A/F sensor and the learning value; and an abnormality determination value changing portion changing the abnormality determination value depending on the alcohol concentration estimated by the alcohol concentration estimating portion. |
| US08316833B2 |
Ignition enhancer for a vehicle engine
An ignition enhancer for a vehicle engine is installed between a conducting wire of a high voltage coil and a plug connector, provided with a capacitor, two conducting rods respectively extended outward from two ends of the capacitor, an insulation sleeve wrapping around the capacitor and filled with a waterproof resin to fully surround the capacitor, and two engaging grooves respectively formed in two ends of the insulation sleeve. Thus, with the conducting rods inserted in a core of the conducting wire of the high voltage coil and the plug connector respectively, the capacitor, storing an electric charge, is able to stabilize voltage and fulfill filtering to strengthen ignition power after starting a vehicle engine, not only advancing combustion efficiency to lower carbonization but also augmenting engine power. |
| US08316832B2 |
Diagnosis of the fouling condition of sparkplugs in a radiofrequency ignition system
A radiofrequency ignition device including: a control capable of generating an ignition control signal; a supply circuit controlled by the ignition control signal for applying a supply voltage on an output interface of the supply circuit at a frequency defined by the control signal; at least one plasma generation resonator connected on an output interface of the supply circuit and capable of generating a spark between two ignition electrodes of the resonator upon an ignition control; a mechanism measuring an electric parameter representative of a variation in a supply voltage of the resonator; and a module determining the fouling condition of the electrodes based on the measured electric parameter and on a predetermined reference value. |
| US08316831B2 |
Control device for internal combustion engine and control method for internal combustion engine
An engine includes: a valve stop mechanism that varies the number of operating cylinders as a cylinder cut-off mechanism; and a blow-by gas recirculation system that has a blow-by gas passage that returns blow-by gas, flowing from a combustion chamber to a crankcase, to an intake passage and a PCV valve that is equipped with an electric motor and that adjusts the flow rate of gas returned to the blow-by gas passage. A control device variably sets the opening degree, corresponding to a target value of the flow rate of gas, of the PCV valve on the basis of an intake pressure in an intake passage to adjust the opening degree of the PCV valve so that the flow rate of gas becomes the target value. |
| US08316825B1 |
Adjustable racing injector
An adjustable racing injector injects fuel by carrying out an opening and closing of a fuel orifice in a valve seat. The fuel orifice is controlled by a signal, typically provided by an engine control unit, which energizes a magnetic circuit including coil which in turn will effect movement of a needle. The adjustable racing injector is field reconfigurable and may be provided as discrete components, or may be provided as an assembly together with a collection of replaceable components that are designed to controllably alter the performance of an engine to which the injector is attached. Performance components that may be readily replaced in the field are preferably provided with visual indicia that indicate specific performance characteristics. |
| US08316824B2 |
Control apparatus for internal combustion engine
Control apparatus for an internal combustion engine including: a second knock detection unit for detecting occurrence of a second knock due to an effective compression ratio when ignition timing is on a retard side of a predetermined value in the case where a first knock is detected; a second knock suppression unit for suppressing the second knock when the second knock is detected; a first abnormal ignition detection means for detecting occurrence of first abnormal ignition due to the pre-ignition or the post-ignition when a knock intensity of the second knock is equal to or larger than a predetermined value; and a first abnormal ignition suppression unit for suppressing the first abnormal ignition by performing fuel control for the internal combustion engine when the first abnormal ignition is detected. |
| US08316823B2 |
Plasma jet ignition plug ignition control
A control system for controlling the ignition of a plasma-jet spark plug provided in an internal combustion engine senses an operating condition of the internal combustion engine, and determines an ignition mode of the plasma-jet spark plug in accordance with the sensed operating condition. The control system performs an ignition control of breaking down the insulation across a spark discharge gap by applying a first electric power to the plasma-jet spark plug, and producing plasma in the vicinity of the spark discharge gap by applying a second electric power to the spark discharge gap in a state of dielectric breakdown. The control system performs this ignition control according to the ignition mode determined as mentioned above. |
| US08316817B2 |
Rotary piston engine
The rotary reciprocating piston engine as a rotor rotatably journaled in a housing and a plurality of pistons movable in radial direction in the rotor between outer and inner dead points. Each piston has a piston rod mounted on a transverse shaft carrying at each end a sliding element which is displaceable in radial grooves formed in the rotor on both sides of the piston. The sliding elements are each provided on the outer side thereof facing away from the piston with a pin received in a housing-fixed star-shaped endless guide groove. The guide groove extends about the axis of rotation of the rotor and controls the movement of the pistons in radial direction between the inner and outer deadpoints. |
| US08316816B2 |
Internal combustion engine and vehicle having the internal combustion engine
An engine (internal combustion engine), in accordance with an embodiment, includes: a crankcase having an oil pan; a crankshaft disposed inside the crankcase; a second crank gear disposed inside the crankcase to rotate about the crankshaft; a driven gear meshed with the second crank gear to be rotated as the second crank gear rotates; an oil pump drive gear meshed with the driven gear to rotate together with the driven gear; and an oil pump gear to be rotated as the oil pump drive gear rotates. The oil pump gear is disposed to overlap the driven gear as viewed from an axial end of the crankshaft. |
| US08316815B2 |
Oil storage structure for engine, engine incorporating same, and vehicle incorporating same
An internal combustion engine includes an oil storage structure defining an oil storage chamber provided for storing oil therein. The engine is configured such that a crankcase cover, covering a clutch mechanism, is joined to a crankcase for forming an oil storage chamber. The oil storage structure is applied to an engine having a vertically split crankcase, and is configured to prevent the clutch mechanism from dipping into stored oil so that clutch disengagement performance is not affected, and reliability of the liquid-tight sealing performance is extended. The crankcase cover is formed with a partition wall extending along the outer circumference of the clutch mechanism. The partition wall splits a space between the crankcase and the crankcase cover into two chambers. Of these chambers, a chamber separate from a clutch mechanism is used as the oil storage chamber, which is formed only by a lower crankcase and the crankcase cover. |
| US08316809B1 |
Two-mode valve actuator system for a diesel engine
A two mode valve lifter for Diesel engines which varies the compression ratio between higher for cold starting and other selected operating conditions, and lower for warmed-up running. This is accomplished during engine starting and selected other conditions by causing the intake valve to close early (near bottom center), providing for example, up to three ratios additional compression. The invention incorporates a conventional valve lifter packaged within a sleeve, the sleeve being moved by the engine cam. In its conventional operating mode, the sleeve is rigidly attached to the lifter and the cam moves the assembly to lift the valve in the ordinary manner. When the sleeve is not attached, partial lost motion occurs, causing the valve to open later and close earlier. In the modified mode and as needed, optional damping can be introduced to allow the valve to open and close gradually and quietly. Similarly, a two mode valve lifter which retains additional exhaust gas in the cylinder to assist cold starting and warm-up by closing the exhaust valve earlier can be incorporated either alone or in combination with the intake two mode lifter. |
| US08316804B2 |
Pet game board detail and board game
This invention relates to a pet game cover, comprising a body (8) having a height (h), a width (w) and a length (L) arranged to be gripable by the mouth of a pet, said body (8) or body portion (76′) having outer walls comprising outer wall portions, a lower end and a top end, said body (8) or body portion (76′) being arranged with an inwardly protruding void (v) to form an open space within said body (8) or body portion (76′), wherein said void (v) is formed by having a main portion of the total area exposed by said outer walls provided by wall portions having a limited wall thickness (t), and formed in a durable and washable polymeric material, preferably thermo formable. |
| US08316803B2 |
Pet door hood
A pet door hood is adapted to partially enclose the exterior and/or interior of a pet door or other animal access opening. The pet door hood may be formed to protect the pet door from weather, from entry by stray animals, and/or from entry or access by humans. The pet door hood may be formed integrally with a pet door or optionally integrally with a panel having a pet door. Optionally, the pet door hood may be formed separately from the pet door or aperture, or panel having a pet door therein The pet door hood may be adapted for assembly with a pet door or aperture. |
| US08316801B1 |
Waste disposal system for canines
An automatic pet training pad having a training pad area, an absorbent pad bin and a waste collection bin. A roll of absorbent pad material extends from the absorbent pad bin, across the training pad area and into the waste collection bin. After a pet uses the training pad, a sensor activates a disposal cycle. The used absorbent pad material is withdrawn into the waste collection bin, rolled into a disposable waste pouch, and severed off from the clean absorbent pad material. The absorbent pad comprises an upper, fluid-absorbent layer and a lower, fluid-impervious layer bonded together in a continuous sheet. The absorbent pad material is further impregnated with an odor suppressing substance to control pet waste odor. |
| US08316800B2 |
Bird feeder
A bird feeder that includes a bird feed holder having open top and bottom ends, a plurality of feeding ports disposed in a sidewall defining the holder, a plurality of perches each associated with an inlet of an associated feeding port and a removable base for engaging with the bottom end of the holder, the removable base having a closed position for sealing the bottom end of the holder so as to retain the bird feed therein and an open position in which the base is removed from the holder to enable access to the bottom end of the holder. One embodiment has a manually operated latch member supported by the base and supported for radial engagement so as to enable releasable securing of the removable base to the holder. In another embodiment a manually operated latch couples to a main body portion, the latch being supported for rotation with respect to the main body portion to releasably secure the base assembly to the housing. Also disclosed is a feeder support apparatus. |
| US08316799B2 |
Installation for supplying liquid feed to an animal and an autonomously displaceable vehicle for use in such an installation
An installation for supplying liquid feed to an animal, such as a calf. The installation comprises one or more feed loading places and one or more feed unloading places, and one or more vehicles that are autonomously displaceable, controlled by a microprocessor or the like, between one or more feed loading places and one or more feed unloading places, each vehicle comprising a drinking nozzle, such as a flexible teat, which is movably mounted relative to the remaining part of the displaceable vehicle, and a height adjusting device for adjusting a height of the drinking nozzle. |
| US08316793B2 |
Film coating apparatus
A coating apparatus includes a housing, a number of coating chambers, a first lifting rod, a second lifting rod, and a third lifting rod. The housing includes a bottom wall with an opening defined thereon, a first side wall, and a second side wall opposite to the first side wall. The coating chambers are vertically aligned with each other and received in the housing. Each coating chamber defines an inlet and an outlet at two opposite sides thereof, two inlets of each two adjacent coating chambers faces the first side wall and the second side wall respectively. The first lifting rod and the second lifting rod are disposed adjacent to the second side wall and the first side wall respectively for moving a substrate among the coating chambers. The third lifting rod is disposed between the first lifting rod and the second lifting rod for carrying the substrate into and out of the housing through the opening. |
| US08316791B2 |
Multi-environment coating device
A coating device includes a main body defining a first and a second receiving rooms, a base received in the first receiving room for supporting work-pieces, a cleaning device opposing the first receiving room, a spraying device positioned on the top of the first receiving room for spraying coating materials to the work-pieces, a rotary drum device received in the first receiving room for uniformly coating the coating materials on the work-pieces, a heating device opposing the first receiving room for heating the coating materials to form a first film, a drive device for rotating, raising and lowering the base, a transportation device positioned in the second receiving room for transporting the base from the first receiving room to the second receiving room, a vacuum coating device opposing the second receiving room for coating a second film on the work-pieces after completing coating the first film on the work-pieces. |
| US08316789B2 |
Shielded meat temperature sensing device
A temperature sensing device includes a casing having top and bottom walls with at least one wall connecting the top and bottom walls so that the casing is sealed, the top, bottom, and side walls being constructed of a heat resistant material. The sensing device includes a probe having a first portion attached to the casing bottom wall and extending downwardly and a second portion situated inside the interior space, the first and second portions being operatively connected to one another to transfer thermal energy therebetween. The probe second portion is coated with a thermochromic material that is color responsive to temperature. At least one wall of the casing defines an aperture that is covered by a material that is heat resistant, the probe second portion being viewable through the aperture for determining a temperature of an article of meat. |
| US08316787B2 |
Braking system for watercraft
A braking system for a watercraft moving upon a body of water. A hull has a bow portion, a bottom portion and a port opening in the bow. A water inlet is formed in the bottom of the hull. A duct extends between the water inlet and the port opening. A generally U-shaped hub has an intake portion and an output portion. The hub is selectably movable between a stowed position with the intake portion within the hull and a deployed position with the intake portion extending into the body of water. The intake portion of the hub, when deployed, diverts water from the intake portion to the output portion of the hub. The moving watercraft is braked by drag induced upon the hull by the deployed hub extending into the body of water and by the diverted water urged through the duct and out of the port opening. |
| US08316780B2 |
Support device for materials handling
A support device for materials handling includes a plurality of leg members used to form a support structure. A deck member is mounted on the support structure to form the support device. In particular, the deck member comprises a plurality of recesses on a first side shaped to receive the plurality of leg members. |
| US08316773B2 |
Sub-calibre projectile of the fin-stabilised type incorporating a sabot and a penetrator
A sub-caliber projectile of the fin-stabilized type incorporating a sabot and a penetrator linked together by shape matching linking means, said linking means incorporating a first profile machined at a bore of said sabot and cooperating with a second profile on said penetrator, each of said first and second profiles having a shape according to a section in an axial plane that alternates teeth and grooves, the axial play between one of said teeth of said penetrator and one of said grooves forming the housing of said one of said teeth in said sabot being variable along the axis of said projectile, wherein said linking means incorporate a front part (F) and a rear part (R) in which the play, at a mean temperature, between said penetrator teeth and the housings of said teeth in said sabot is variable, the play, firstly, increasing between said median zone (M) of said sabot and a front end of said sabot and, secondly, increasing between said median zone (M) of said sabot and a rear end of said sabot. |
| US08316772B1 |
Wall breaching fragmentation warhead
The invention describes a wall breaching explosive fragmentation ammunition and further a warhead having means for efficiently penetrating concrete and masonry walls, effectively delivering an explosive fragmentation case payload with minimum structural damage to the ammunition's projectile body. The effective wall breaching is achieved using an ogive-shaped, high strength, light weight boron carbide ceramic nose cone cap disposed adjacent to a tungsten alloy nose insert, at the fore of the ammunition. The projectile body is generally cylindrically shaped, preferably made of steel or aluminum to withstand expected forces in the launch environment. The ogive-shaped nose cone may be secured circumferentially to the projectile body with a rubber O-ring to ensure a tight seal. The ogive-shaped nose cone minimizes the penetration resistance force and provides more favorable loading onto the ammunition projectile's wall structure, ultimately minimizing the damage to the projectile's fragmenting case and the explosive payload which follows it. The remaining back projectile area may be filled with propellant. Use of light-weight boron carbide material also minimizes interference with possible steel fragment and tungsten alloy fragment spray. The projectile body includes rotating bands to trap propellant gases from escaping during launch which bands can be attached to the projectile body as a separate part. |
| US08316770B1 |
Munition having payload of high-density spheroids
A munition round includes a cartridge case; a canister disposed at a forward end of the cartridge case, the canister including a piston movable in the canister; a plurality of high-density spheroids having a diameter in a range of about 0.25 inches to about 0.5 inches; a rear container disposed in the canister adjacent the piston, and fully loaded with the high-density spheroids; a front container disposed in the canister and partially loaded with the high-density spheroids, a remaining volume of the front container occupied by a spacer disc disposed atop the high-density spheroids; and a cap that closes a forward end of the canister. |
| US08316768B2 |
Linear incendiary strand and method for prescribed fire ignition
An elongate, flexible, incendiary device for producing a nearly instantaneous source of flaming combustion along a linear pathway of indeterminate length. The incendiary device is provided in the form of a solid, continuous strand, such as, for example, a ribbon, tape, cord, filament, rope or tube. The device is comprised of means for rapid ignition along the longitudinal axis of the strand in co-linear arrangement with a solid or semi-solid combustible fuel composition. Upon ignition, the device produces flames from its exterior surface for a duration of time suitable for igniting nearby combustible matter. The incendiary device provides a nearly instantaneous line of fire for igniting prescribed fires, controlled burns, and backfires. A method for igniting vegetative matter over an area of land using one or more indeterminate lengths of a rapidly igniting linear incendiary strand. |
| US08316766B2 |
Media inversion system for a continuous web printer
A continuous web inversion system for use in a continuous web imaging device includes a first turn bar positioned to receive a substantially continuous web moving in a first direction with a first surface facing in a printing direction and to flip the web and direct it in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A second turn bar is positioned to receive the continuous web from the first turn bar to flip the web and direct it in a third direction opposite the first direction. A third turn bar is positioned to receive the continuous web from the second turn bar to flip the web and direct it in the first direction with a second surface of the web facing in the printing direction. The second and the third turn bars are coupled together and supported for translation along an axis perpendicular to the first direction. A sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a lateral position of the continuous web exiting the third turn bar. A driver is operably coupled to at least one of the second and the third turn bars to adjust a position of the third turn bar along the axis based on the signal. |
| US08316765B2 |
Carrier device for carrying marker elements
A marker carrier device has carrier elements for carrying respective markers, the device being re-configurable between a compact configuration and a selection configuration in which the markers are accessibly presented for selection. Carrier devices loaded with markers are received at a receiving station of a marking unit. The markers are selected from the carrier individually whilst in the marking unit and marked by a marking device with a predetermined indicium. |
| US08316760B2 |
Single-serving device for the display and cooking of in particular kernels of corn for making popcorn
A device for displaying and cooking food such as kernels of corn includes a container with a base that can store kernels of corn extended by a compensation zone that can assume at least two positions, one folded and the other unfolded. The compensation zone includes four faces: two retractable faces and two stiffening faces opposite, whereby the retractable faces each include a fold that is approximately at the center of each of these faces and parallel to the base. The stiffening faces each include a first fold that is approximately at the center of each of these faces and parallel to the base and diagonal folds, whereby the base is rigid over a height so as to delimit a restricted space in which kernels of corn are likely to be stored when the compensation zone is in the folded position. |
| US08316759B2 |
Capsule piercing module
A capsule-based beverage production machine comprises a module (2) designed for producing a beverage on the basis of ingredients (5) which are contained in a capsule (1). The module (2) comprises: —means (3, 4) for retaining the capsule (1) in a fixed position, and—means (6) for perforation the capsule (1), wherein the perforation means (6) are controlled to perforate the capsule (1) after the capsule (1) is retained in the fixed position by the retaining means (3, 4). |
| US08316757B2 |
Hydraulic control valve assembly with monolithic body and single spool port lock
A hydraulic control valve with a monolithic body having four sides located between a top and a bottom, and all pilot ports on a body front side, valve work ports on the top side, three bores running within the body from the front side to a rear side, a spool in each bore, and a single three section spool port lock that locks two or three ports at the same time, the pilot ports present machined female quick-connect connections, with spring wet cavities being provided for mechanically operated control spools. |
| US08316755B2 |
Cotter pin anti rotation mechanism for accommodating sub caliber ammunition utilized in an AR-15 type firearm
An anti-rotation feature incorporated between a cotter pin and a sub caliber action device installable within an upper receiver of a firearm. A receiver plate exhibits a notched interior for seating a bolt in reciprocating fashion. A chamfer formed in a side of the bolt intersects a length extending channel of the bolt for seating within the notched interior. The chamfer seating a head of the cotter pin to prevent rotation during bolt travel. A rearward support sleeve seats an opposing guide rod associated with the receiver plate and in order to maintain the bolt assembly. A firing pin exhibits a notch at a location along its shaft and, upon installation within an interior aperture of the bolt, is retained in position by the cotter pin. The firing pin is configured so as to exhibit a reduced diameter end projection upon which is supported a coil spring. |
| US08316752B2 |
Acoustic shock wave attenuating assembly
An assembly for attenuating shock waves is made of two flexible sheets arranged one over the other and joined by a plurality of seams, the flexible sheets being confined to form cells or recessed when joined together. The seams are arranged so as to surround the cells or recesses in the sheets, and the cells or recesses are filled with a shock attenuating material. |
| US08316749B2 |
Finisher for cutting or scoring receiver
A finisher for a receiver moving in a feed direction includes a cutting device having a cutting blade and a scoring blade on opposite sides of the receiver and oriented perpendicular to the feed direction, and a scoring notch on the opposite side of the receiver from, and parallel to, the scoring blade. An actuator selectively causes the scoring blade to engage the scoring notch as the receiver moves between the scoring blade and scoring notch, so that the receiver is scored, or causes the cutting blade to engage the scoring blade, so that the receiver is cut. A controller receives a job specification including one or more cut or score location(s) on the receiver and causes the receiver to be cut at the cut location(s) or scored at the score location(s). |
| US08316748B2 |
Table saw with alignment plate
A power tool in one embodiment includes a latch hold mechanism, a swing arm pivotable about a pivot along a swing arm path, at least one alignment plate positioned adjacent to a portion of the swing arm when the swing arm is in a first position, a latch pin movable between a first latch pin position whereat the swing arm is biased against the at least one alignment plate and a second latch pin position whereat the swing arm is not biased by the latch pin, an actuating device configured to transfer a force to the swing arm resulting in a bias on the latch pin in a direction toward the second latch pin position, and a control system configured to control the actuating device to transfer a force to the swing arm when the swing arm is maintained at the first swing arm position. |
| US08316742B2 |
Cutting tool with integrated circuit chip
A system manages a machine tool operation. The system includes a cutting tool, which includes a tool body; an integrated circuit chip securely mounted within the tool body and capable of being read and written upon; and a read/write device for communicating with the integrated circuit chip. The integrated circuit chip is an RFID chip. The tool body may be a mounting chuck, adapter, twist drill, thread tap, indexable drill, milling cutter or a square shank lathe tool. |
| US08316740B2 |
Strap pipe wrench for driving an object having a generally cylindrical shape
A strap pipe wrench for driving an object having a generally cylindrical shape includes a handle which extends along a longitudinal axis, a connecting member which is movable relative to the handle in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a strap formed in a loop and having two opposing end portions which cooperate with two zones integral with the handle when the strap surrounds the object tightly, the two opposing end portions of the strap being attached to the connecting member, a displacement device for displacing said connecting member, and enabling the size of the loop of the strap to be adjusted and the strap to be tensioned when it surrounds the object tightly, and a shoe disposed between the two zones for abutment on the object, the shoe having an abutment face of generally arcuate shape. |
| US08316739B2 |
Screwdriving system with variably adjustable screwdriving spindles
A method for attaching a plurality of fasteners located along a circular path uses a screwdriving device that has feed drive outputs. The drive outputs correspond to the fasteners, are located on a circular path and include a screwdriving tool bit. During the method, the drive outputs are extended from a position of repose to a working position and the screwdriving tool bit, located at the fastener, screws in the fastener. The feed drive outputs are located on circular paths of different diameters and only those drive outputs located on a particular circular path, which corresponds with a circular path on which the fasteners are located, leave their position of repose. The number of feed drive outputs corresponds to the number of fasteners. |
| US08316736B2 |
Steering column cover
A cover assembly for covering a steering column of a telescoping steering assembly is provided. The cover assembly includes a roller portion, a blind portion, and a clip portion. The roller portion is attached within a meter panel, and includes a rod mounted between a pair of tensioners. The blind portion includes a film that is attached at a proximal end to the rod, such that the film is wound and unwound around the rod. The rod is biased by the tensioners to pull the film in a wound direction. At a distal end, the film is attached to the clip portion. The clip portion engages a hook in the film and attaches the film to a steering base. As the steering column moves in a linear, telescoping manner, the film covers the steering column while remaining taut. |
| US08316731B2 |
Power transmission device with torque-resistant seal
A power transfer unit that includes a structure, a tube and a seal. The structure defines a boss that projects along an axis. The boss has a first portion, which defines a gripping surface, and a second portion that defines a sealing surface. The tube has an end that is disposed concentrically about at least a portion of the boss. The seal is received between and sealingly engaged against the structure and the tube. The seal includes a seal body with a seal member and a coupling portion. The seal member sealingly engages the sealing surface and the coupling portion frictionally engages the gripping surface. |
| US08316728B2 |
Break away slide mechanism with enhanced positioning accuracy
An actuator for selectively extending and retracting a probe in a measuring instrument comprises an actuator body, a carriage having a first aperture slidably attached to the body, and a second aperture receiving a probe holder having a probe. The first aperture of the carriage, which surrounds the actuator body, includes a first plurality of magnets disposed around an inner circumference of the aperture. The actuator body includes a lead screw, a round lead screw nut mated with the lead screw, and a second plurality of magnets arranged on a periphery of the lead screw nut, generally aligned with the first plurality of magnets. The magnets are arranged so that the carriage may be displaced with respect to the actuator body a sufficient amount that the magnets do not significantly restrain the further movement of the carriage. |
| US08316727B2 |
Method for determining COP generation factors for single-crystal silicon wafer
A whole determination area of a targeted wafer is concentrically divided in a radial direction, COP density is obtained in each divided determination segment, a maximum value of the COP density is set as COP densityRADIUSMAX, a minimum value of the COP density is set as COP densityRADIUSMIN, a value computed by “(COP densityRADIUSMAX−COP densityRADIUSMIN)/COP densityRADIUSMAX” is compared to a predetermined set value, and a non-crystal-induced COP and a crystal-induced COP are distinguished from each other based on a clear criterion, thereby determining the COP generation factor. Therefore, a rejected wafer in which a determination of the crystal-induced COP is made despite being the non-crystal-induced COP can be relieved, so that a wafer production yield can be enhanced. |
| US08316724B2 |
Measuring device including a layer of a magnetoelastic alloy and a method for production thereof
A measuring device including a layer of a magnetoelastic alloy formed on a load-carrying member. The layer is intended for measuring stresses induced by a force applied to the load-carrying member. An average grain size of the layer is in the range of 100 nm to 10000 nm. A method for production of the layer. |
| US08316723B2 |
Combination of bearing component and sensor
A combination of a bearing component and a sensor, wherein: (a) at least a portion of the bearing component is formed from a bearing steel; (b) the sensor comprises a sensor element and a support therefor; (c) at least a portion of the support is formed from a low carbon steel comprising no more than 0.2 wt. % carbon or from nickel or an alloy thereof or from titanium or an alloy thereof; and (d) the bearing component and the support are welded or brazed to one another via said respective portions. |
| US08316721B2 |
Apparatus and method for non-destructive measurement of bending stiffness of GDL for fuel cell
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for non-destructive measurement of bending stiffness of a gas diffusion layer (GDL) for a fuel cell by measuring a sagging length of a GDL sample, which can be used for a fuel cell, without damaging or destroying the GDL sample. |
| US08316720B2 |
Torque testing device
A torque testing device is for testing the torque of a hinge. The torque testing device includes a main board, two sidewalls respectively located at two sides of the main board, and a loading board rotatably mounted between the sidewalls. The loading board is for retaining the hinge. Additionally, a sensor is mounted on the loading board. a measuring element is mounted on the sensor, and a testing ring is mounted on the main board. The hinge is rotated to drive the loading board to rotate relative to the sidewalls so the measuring element move toward and presses the testing ring, thereby the testing ring applies torque to the measuring element and the sensor senses the torque applied to the measuring element, which is equal to the torque of the hinge being tested. |
| US08316714B2 |
Scan patterns for electronically positioned apertures on an array
A plane or volume is scanned with ultrasound. Electronic movement of apertures is used during the scanning. Scanning with the apertures is interleaved. The apertures move along the array in opposite directions, preventing or limiting large temporal discontinuity. For example, two apertures begin at similar angles on a two-dimensional array. Planar scans are performed for each aperture location. The apertures are counter rotated (i.e., one clockwise and the other counter clockwise). |
| US08316713B2 |
Scanning near field ultrasound holography
A high spatial resolution phase-sensitive technique employs a scanning near field ultrasound holography (SNFUH) methodology for imaging elastic as well as viscoelastic variations across a sample surface. SNFUH uses a near-field approach to measure time-resolved variations in ultrasonic oscillations at a sample surface. As such, it overcomes the spatial resolution limitations of conventional phase-resolved acoustic microscopy (i.e. holography) by eliminating the need for far-field acoustic lenses. |
| US08316710B2 |
Physical quantity measuring apparatus
The physical quantity measuring apparatus includes a first function of generating voltage used for position-controlling a movable body, a second function of detecting a position of the movable body during a position detecting period, a third function of calculating a control amount necessary to keep the movable body at a predetermined position on the basis of a detection result by the second function, and causing the first function to generate a control voltage corresponding to the calculated control amount to keep the movable body at the predetermined position during a position controlling period, and a fourth function of setting the position detecting period and the position controlling period in a time-sharing manner so that the position detecting period and the position controlling period do not overlap with each other. |
| US08316707B2 |
Method for measuring the level of liquid cryogen in a cryogen vessel
In a method for measuring the level of liquid cryogen in a cryogen vessel, a current pulse is applied to a cryogen level probe includes an ignition current pulse part of sufficient magnitude to ensure that a resistive front propagates down the probe to below the liquid cryogen surface; a recovery current pulse part allowing that part of the superconducting wire below the surface of the liquid cryogen to return to a superconducting state; and a measurement current pulse part of sufficient magnitude and duration to allow an accurate measurement of the superconducting wire's resistance to be measured. |
| US08316706B2 |
Connecting element for connecting a measurement recorder to a sealed fluid system
A system element for releasably sealed connecting of a measurement recorder to a fluid system, having a measurement chamber that can be connected to the fluid system allowing flow through the same, wherein the measurement chamber is formed in a housing and a part of the wall of the measurement chamber is formed by a membrane, wherein the part of the wall adjacent to the membrane forms an outer wall having an edge whereon the membrane bears, and the membrane comprises a circumferential bead facing the measurement chamber, wherein the bead engages in a recess formed in the housing about the outer wall; and running around the measurement chamber, and protruding pins are disposed in the region of the recess about the outer wall, and wherein holes are provided in the bead of the membrane, so that the pins engage in the holes in the bead of the membrane. |
| US08316699B2 |
Method and device for measuring and adjusting valve clearance
The present invention provides a method and a device for accurately measuring and adjusting a valve clearance value to a desired value in an engine having a rocker-arm-type valve. According to a valve clearance measuring and adjusting method of the present invention, a pair of probes 60 each having a round tip end 611 are brought into direct contact with a valve clearance CV of an engine having a rocker-arm-type valve 105, and a center-to-center distance between the two tip ends 611 is measured. An actual valve clearance value is calculated and measured on the basis of the center-to-center distance between the tip ends 611. The actual valve clearance value is adjusted to a desired valve clearance value, while the actual valve clearance value is measured in real time. |
| US08316694B2 |
Device, system, and method for detecting and locating malfunctions in a hydraulic structure, and a hydraulic structure with said device
The invention relates to a device (10) for detecting and locating fluid leakage from a hydraulic work, the device being characterized in that it comprises a geotextile fabric (12) made of yarns or fibers and provided with: at least one first optical cable (14) in contact with said geotextile (12) and formed by a protective tube within which at least one multimode optical fiber (141) is placed, said multimode optical fiber (141) being suitable for detecting a temperature variation and transmitting a signal that is modified when temperature varies and at least one second optical cable formed by a sheath receiving tightly at least one monomode optical fiber (142) suitable for detecting a deformation of the geotextile (12) and for transmitting a signal that is modified when the deformation is detected in that said second optical cable being bonded to the geotextile (12). The invention is applicable to detecting and locating leakage from hydraulic works. |
| US08316691B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring and recording data from violent events
An apparatus for mounting to a head protector including a housing having a plurality of parts each defining a portion of the housing, one or more components to be accommodated in the housing, and one or more apertures in the housing for introducing a compound for securing the one or more components in the housing, a protrusion on the exterior surface of the housing for abutting against the exterior surface of the head protector, and a sensor and a coupling for mechanically coupling the sensor to the protrusion to minimize relative movement between the head protector and the sensor. |
| US08316686B2 |
Press tool arrangement
A press tool arrangement for use in hot creep forming, a method of hot creep forming a component of titanium alloy, and a resilient urging arrangement usable at elevated temperatures are described. The press tool arrangement includes a die, a holder member engageable with a blank of material in the die, and a resilient urging arrangement engageable with the holder member to urge same against a blank of material in the die. |
| US08316683B2 |
Method of manufacturing a bent product and an apparatus and a continuous line for manufacturing the same
A product intermittently having a bent portion which curves three-dimensionally and a quenched portion is manufactured by performing bending downstream of a support means while feeding a metal material which is supported by the support means from an upstream side towards a downstream side. A portion of the metal material is heated by a heating means downstream of the support means. A bending moment is imparted to the portion of the metal material heated by the heating means to three-dimensionally change the position of a movable roller die which is disposed downstream of the heating means and has a plurality of rolls which feed the heated metal material in the axial direction, and the metal material is quenched by spraying a cooling medium at the portion of the metal material which was heated by a cooling means disposed between the heating means and the movable roller die. |
| US08316679B2 |
Boronized laying pipe
A laying pipe for use in the laying head of a rolling mill is configured for rotation about an axis, with an entry end aligned on that axis to receive a hot rolled product, and with a curved section leading to a delivery end spaced radially from that axis. The curved section defines a guide path configured to form the hot rolled product into a helical formation of rings. The laying pipe comprises a tubular ferrous wall having an interior surface comprising a wear resistant boronized layer against which the hot rolled product is confined for movement along the guide path. |
| US08316677B2 |
Method and apparatus for high velocity electromagnetic sealing of containers
Methods and apparatus for high velocity electromagnetic metal forming are described for sealing containers. The methods include applying an electromagnetic field to the container to seal a metal containing cap to the container. One or more containers may be simultaneously sealed. The apparatus includes an actuator that emits the electromagnetic field to seal the caps to the containers. The containers may contain a medicine. |
| US08316675B2 |
Dual locking device
A dual locking device includes a first casing and a second casing. A receiving space is defined between the first casing and the second casing. The second casing has a through hole defined therein. An axial shaft passes through the through hole. A latch member is connected with the axial shaft. A locking mechanism and a key operated mechanism are received in the receiving space. The locking mechanism is connected with the axial shaft for driving the axial shaft. The key operated mechanism has a lock core disposed therein and having a key hole defined therein for being inserted and rotated by a key, such that the lock core drives the axial shaft. Accordingly, the locking mechanism and the key operated mechanism are separately operable to move the latch member between a locking position and an unlocking position. |
| US08316672B2 |
Net and process for producing the net
A net is made from a multi-layer film which is used to produce at least two layers of synthetic yarns that are unified by application of a thermal process. |
| US08316665B2 |
Integration of LNG regasification with refinery and power generation
Contemplated plants thermally integrate operation of a refinery component, and most preferably of a hydrocarbon splitter with LNG regasification to provide refrigeration duty and with a power cycle to provide the reboiler duty of the component. It should be noted that such configurations advantageously allow operation of the splitter at a reduced temperature and at reduced pressure, thereby increasing separation efficiency, while the power output is boosted using air intake chilling. Most notably, such process advantages are achieved by satisfying the heating duty of LNG regasification. |
| US08316664B2 |
Refrigeration cycle apparatus and fluid machine used therefor
A fluid machine (10) includes a closed casing (11) in which an oil reservoir (16) for holding oil is formed in a bottom part. Disposed in the closed casing (11) are: a main compression mechanism (3), for compressing a working fluid, to which the oil held the oil reservoir (16) is supplied; a rotary electric motor (8) disposed above the oil reservoir (16) in the closed casing (11); a main compressor shaft (38) for coupling the main compression mechanism (3) and the rotary electric motor (8) to each other; a power recovery mechanism (5) for recovering motive power from the working fluid by performing a suction process for drawing the working fluid and a discharge process for discharging the drawn working fluid; a sub compression mechanism (2), which is driven by the power recovery mechanism (5), for compressing the working fluid and discharging the working fluid to the main compression mechanism (3) side; and a power recovery shaft (12) for coupling the power recovery mechanism (5) and the sub compression mechanism (2) to each other. |
| US08316651B2 |
Superconducting magnet system with radiation shield disposed between the cryogenic fluid tank and a refrigerator
A superconducting magnet system with a superconducting magnet coil system disposed in a cryogenic fluid tank (2) of a cryostat (1), and a refrigerator (6) for cooling the cryogenic fluid that cools the magnet, is characterized in that a radiation shield (5; 21; 31; 41; 51) is provided which separates a refrigerator space (4) from the cryogenic fluid tank (2), wherein the entire cooling region (9) of the refrigerator (6) is disposed in the refrigerator space (4), and wherein the radiation shield (5; 21; 31; 41; 51) has openings (11; 22; 44, 45; 53) for gas or fluid exchange between the refrigerator space (4) and the cryogenic fluid tank (2). Should the refrigerator fail, the thermal input into the cryostat is reduced, and the safety of the maintenance staff is improved in case of a quench. |
| US08316648B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a heating value of a low energy fuel
A method and apparatus to determine a first heating value of a low BTU fuel, determine a target fuel quality level based on a state of a turbine system, control a second heating value of a high BTU fuel, and inject the high BTU fuel into the low BTU fuel to achieve the target fuel quality level. |
| US08316646B2 |
Fan variable area nozzle for a gas turbine engine fan nacelle with drive ring actuation system
A fan variable area nozzle (FVAN) includes a flap assembly which varies a fan nozzle exit area. The flap assembly generally includes a multiple of flaps, flap linkages and an actuator system. The actuator system radially and axially translates a drive ring relative an engine centerline axis. A slot within the drive ring receives the flap linkages to asymmetrically and symmetrically vary the fan nozzle exit area in response to movement of the drive ring. |
| US08316645B2 |
Triple swirl gas turbine combustor
Disclosed is a triple swirl gas turbine combustor using various fuels such as coal gas, DiMethyl Ether, and waste gas generated in an ironworks in a gas turbine. The triple swirl gas turbine combustor combusts three different fuels simultaneously or individually and various fuels such as LCV gas and HCV gas so that fuel flexibility can be improved. Swirl generated in a second swirler of the triple swirler is reversely jetted to increase a mixing degree of a fuel-air mixture and an intensity of a turbulent flow so that combustion efficiency can be increased, harmful exhaust gas can be reduced and vibration can be reduced. |
| US08316644B2 |
Burner having swirler with corrugated downstream wall sections
The invention relates to a burner, in particular a gas turbine burner, comprises: at least one swirler, the swirler having at least one air inlet opening, at least one air outlet opening positioned downstream to the air inlet opening and at least one swirler air passage extending from the at least one air inlet opening to the at least one air outlet opening which is delimited by swirler air passage walls, the air passage walls comprising downstream wall sections adjoining the at least one air outlet opening; and a fuel injection system which comprises fuel injection openings arranged in at least one swirler air passage wall so as to inject fuel into the swirler air passage; in which at least the downstream section of one air passage wall is corrugated. |
| US08316642B2 |
Multi-stage turbocharger system
A turbocharger system comprises a first relatively small high-pressure (HP) turbocharger (1) and a second relatively large low pressure (LP) turbocharger (2). The turbine (6) of the LP turbocharger (2) is connected in series downstream of the turbine (4) of the HP turbocharger (1) in a first exhaust gas passage (11). An exhaust bypass flow passage (12) provides a bypass flow path around the HP turbine (4). A rotary valve (8) is located at a junction of the bypass flow passage (12) and a first exhaust gas flow passage (11). The rotary valve (8) comprises a valve rotor (19) which is rotatable to selectively permit or block flow to the LP turbine (6) from either the first exhaust gas passage (11) or the bypass gas passage (12). |
| US08316640B2 |
Drain structure of torque converter
A drain structure where oil sucked from the oil pan by the oil pump is supplied to the torque converter and circulates therein, and the oil is drained into the transmission case through a drain oil passage; and the drain oil passage passes through a gap between the torque converter and the oil pump, is guided to an upper part facing a fitting surface between the oil pump and the transmission case, and is further guided from the upper part to a part under the oil pump and opens above an oil level in the transmission case, and drain oil from the drain oil passage is discharged toward the oil pan. |
| US08316638B2 |
Control system for a particulate matter filter
A method comprises determining a temperature of a particulate matter (PM) filter in communication with an exhaust gas from an engine; and reducing a power output of the engine when the PM filter is not being regenerated and the temperature exceeds a first predetermined temperature. A control module comprises a PM filter temperature determination module that determines the temperature of a PM filter in communication with an exhaust gas from an engine; and a reduced engine power module in communication with the PM filter temperature determination module that reduces the power output of the engine when the PM filter is not being regenerated and the temperature exceeds a first predetermined temperature. |
| US08316637B2 |
Exhaust emission purification method and exhaust emission purification system
In emergency regeneration, i.e., after a judgment is made that purification is insufficient after ending forced regeneration, forced regeneration has expired before completion, or when a pressure difference across a diesel particulate filter exceeds a predetermined first judging pressure difference when traveling distance of a vehicle is shorter than a predetermined distance, an alarm for urging manual regeneration is issued. When manual regeneration is designated thereafter by the vehicle's user, manual regeneration is performed. When predetermined conditions are satisfied before receiving a designation of manual regeneration, automatic regeneration is performed. |
| US08316634B2 |
Ammonia load control for SCR catalyst prior to DPF regeneration
A method and control system for a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalytic converter and a diesel particulate filter (DPF) includes a DPF control module that determines a particulate matter (PM) load progress of the DPF and generates a DPF regeneration request based on the PM load progress. The control system also includes an SCR control module that selectively adjusts an ammonia load of the SCR catalytic converter prior to regeneration of the DPF based on a storage capacity of the SCR catalytic converter and the PM load progress. |
| US08316630B2 |
Flow equalizing override assembly for fuel divider system
A flow equalizing override assembly is provided for use in conjunction with a gas turbine engine (GTE) and a fuel divider system. In one embodiment, the flow equalizing override assembly includes a housing assembly, a fuel divider (FD) valve, a remotely-actuatable valve, and a controller. The FD valve includes: (i) a piston slidably disposed within the housing assembly and movable between a default position and a flow equalizing position, and (ii) a control chamber defined by the piston and the housing assembly. The remotely-actuatable valve is fluidly coupled to the control chamber and is configured to selectively adjust the fuel pressure therein. The controller is configured to command the remotely-actuatable valve to adjust the pressure within the control chamber such that the piston moves from the default position to the flow equalizing position after ignition of the GTE. |
| US08316626B2 |
Protective garment for livestock
A protective garment for livestock, such as a horse, has a first portion and a second portion defining a planar sheet of material. The first portion substantially covers a left leg and shoulder of the livestock, while the second portion substantially covers a right leg and shoulder of the livestock. The garment can comprise a one-piece protective cover or a two-piece protective cover. In one embodiment, the first portion and the second portion are connected to each other by an attachment member extending across a back of the livestock. In use, the protective garment is sufficiently secured to the livestock to protect it from undesirable external elements, such as insects and sunlight, yet somewhat loose to allow the livestock to freely move while wearing the garment. |
| US08316624B2 |
Cassette for receiving flexible packs, as well as method for the formation of a group of packs
Cassette system with cassette (17, 27, 37, 47) and method for grouping a number of flexible packs (10). It is proposed that the cassette be produced from two parts which are hinged with respect to one another, one or more flexible packs being placed in each part. The parts of the cassette with the flexible pack or flexible packs placed thereon are then moved relative to one another, and more particularly are rotated, in order thus to obtain a group of packs where the packs lie close together. The group thus obtained is then placed in an outer pack such as a box. |
| US08316620B2 |
Interlocking door assembly and method of manufacturing thereof
An interlocking door includes a first skin with at least one protrusion and at least one mounting slot and a second skin with at least one protrusion. An end cap is slidingly engaged with the first skin and secured with an adhesive. The first and second skins are secured to one another upon sliding engagement of the first skin at least one mounting slot and the second skin at least one protrusion. The skins are fixedly secured with an adhesive. |
| US08316619B1 |
Integrated photovoltaic rooftop modules
Photovoltaic modules including a solar panel integrated with a supporting frame, and which are configured to be installed on a building rooftop. Modules according to the present teachings may be at least partially pre-assembled, with a solar panel oriented at a predetermined angle relative to the rooftop mounting surface of the supporting frame. |
| US08316618B1 |
Integrated photovoltaic rooftop modules
Photovoltaic modules including a solar panel integrated with a supporting frame, and which are configured to be installed on a building rooftop. Modules according to the present teachings may be at least partially pre-assembled, with a solar panel oriented at a predetermined angle relative to the rooftop mounting surface of the supporting frame. |
| US08316613B2 |
Shrapnel containment system and method for producing same
A shrapnel containment system is provided which is adapted to be installed at an interior of a building wall to contain shrapnel from a blast, the system including a panel made of a layer of elastomeric material and fastener elements to fasten the layer to a wall of a structure, with the panel optionally including a fabric reinforcing layer. A method for producing the panel is also provided. |
| US08316610B2 |
Bulk liquid and material delivery device and construction block
A plastic construction block for storage of water, food, medicine, staples, construction materials, or any other item that needs to be contained for storage and shipping. The construction block can also be used in the construction of a bunker, wall, or the like structure through conventional building construction by filling of the block with sand or dirt. The construction block is substantially rectangular in shape having an enlarged fill port on one end with a resealable cap. The interior of the block is hollow and sized to hold about 3.4 fluid gallons. Apertures extend through the block and are used for receipt of anchoring posts. Each aperture further having a raised protrusion formed integral along one surface and a receptacle placed around each aperture on the rear surface. The raised protrusion interlocking with a receptacle on a rear surface of an adjoining construction block for aligning similar shaped construction blocks. The construction block further including at least one anchoring pipe retaining socket, said pipe retaining socket having a depth of approximately one half the diameter of an anchoring pipe allowing retention for use in storage and shipping. |
| US08316607B2 |
Metal ceiling system having locking panels without visible access holes
A suspended metal ceiling system having a grid of support members suspended from a structural ceiling and a plurality of ceiling panels positioned on the grid of the support members having a locking mechanism for connecting the ceiling panels to the grid actuatable from a side wall of the ceiling panels. |
| US08316606B2 |
Fastening system for panels and trim
A fastening system for panels and trim having a fastening element including a reveal edge and a serpentine edge. A projection and a recess is disposed adjacent to each other on the same serpentine edge. The fastening element guides and connects adjacent panel faces into a flush horizontal alignment with each other. Panels with the fastening element on each side may be combined together in a multiple course structure. The fastening element accommodates dimensional changes in adjacent wood panels from moisture and temperature fluctuations by allowing for expansion both with the elimination of the gap in the serpentine edge expansion area and with the compression of the expansion relief aperture adjacent to the expansion bulge in the recess of the adjacent panel. An expansion relief aperture on the projection of a fastening element can receive a trim fastener for applying perimeter trim with a hidden fastener onto many structurally different panel designs. |
| US08316605B2 |
Insulated metal roofing and wall systems and related methods
An insulated roof deck or wall system which can be used in installing roofs and wall is set forth. The system includes a plurality of metal purlins (10), a plurality of outer panels (2), a plurality of thermal insulation blocks (4), cleats (14), fasteners (12), a first insulation layer (6) and a second insulation layer (7). The metal purlins (10) can form a parallel array of purlins. The outer panels (2) can be attached to the metal purlins (10) in the parallel array. The thermal insulation blocks (4) can be disposed between the metal purlin (10) and the outer panel (2). The cleat (14) can be disposed between the thermal insulation blocks (4) and the outer panel (2) and has a protrusion which is capable of securing the thermal insulation block (4) and inhibits lateral movement between the thermal insulation block (4) and the cleat (14). The first and second insulation layers can be placed on either side of the thermal insulation blocks. |
| US08316601B2 |
Under deck drainage system
A drainage system comprising a frame and a plurality of drainage basins. The frame has at least three pairs of frame engaging elements. Each drainage basin has an outer and an inner surface. Additionally each has a central region with first and second side ends, as well as, first and second frame engaging structures. The first frame engaging structure is positioned at the first side end and includes an inwardly directed leg having a retention lip engagement flange configured to engage one of the frame engaging elements. The second frame engaging structure is positioned at the second side end and includes an inwardly directed leg having an inboard retention lip engagement nub and an outboard retention lip engagement flange configured to engage opposing adjacent frame engaging elements. A slot covering flange extends over the first frame engaging structure. The slot covering flange covers the area formed by the cooperation of the first frame engaging structure of a first drainage basin with the second frame engaging structure of a second drainage basin. |
| US08316600B2 |
Wall conforming suspended ceiling molding
A wall molding for a suspended ceiling comprising a roll-formed sheet metal body having a generally upright component to be fixed to a wall and a projecting component extending generally transversely to the upright component and adapted to underlie and support the edges of ceiling tiles and ends of grid runners, the projecting component in a free state extending across a plane defined by the upright component to a line adapted to abut the wall when the upright component is drawn towards the wall. |
| US08316596B2 |
IG unit membrane valve and pressure modification
An IG unit includes a perimeter structure having a port, a first pane supported by the perimeter structure, a second pane supported by the perimeter structure opposite the first pane with an interior space defined between the first and second panes that is sealed and connected to the port, and a membrane valve assembly adapted to act as a self-sealing access to the port. The membrane valve assembly optionally includes a first sealant layer, a second membrane layer, and a third sealant layer, for example. |
| US08316594B2 |
Stair tread assembly and method
A replacement or repair stair tread assembly for covering over an existing worn stair tread includes a core that is surrounded by hardwood edge members, of which at least on edge has a bullnose. The edge members and core are mated at tongue and groove joints. The bullnose has a greater depth of section than the core. The core is a multi-ply matrix with veneer surface skins of the same grain orientation and type of wood. The multiple plies are arranged such that successive layers have cross-wise grain orientation. The plies of the core have symmetrically balanced properties relative to the neutral axis or neutral plane of the core in bending, both cross-wise and length-wise. The balanced properties may pertain to water absorption and to resistance to bending. |
| US08316591B2 |
Solar cell module device
A solar cell module device includes a solar cell module formed by arranging plural solar battery cells; a reinforcing frame arranged on a back surface of the solar cell module; and a buffer material made of a rigid material and arranged between the solar cell module and the reinforcing frame. The buffer material has a size not causing the back surface of the solar cell module to come in contact with the reinforcing frame when the solar cell module is bent relative to a length of the reinforcing frame in a longitudinal direction. Therefore, the reinforcing frame does not bury into the buffer material, moreover, the buffer material does not abrade by coming in contact with the reinforcing frame. |
| US08316590B2 |
Support system for solar panels
An array of photovoltaic panels is supported in rows and columns spaced from one another using a foldable bi-directional span of support members. The support members include a plurality of support joists and support rails braced at an incline. Each support rail is tubular and generally rectangular, having a lower wall section with a T-slot channel for acceptance of the head of a bolt for adjustable attachment with the support joist. Also, the support rail may have a C-slot channel for retaining electrical wires. Clips are used to secure each panel to upper wall portions of underlying support rails. Each clip has a generally U-shaped gasket and is retained to a corresponding support rail through a threaded hole in a top wall of the support rail that receives a bolt or similar threaded fastener. |
| US08316587B2 |
Eaves protector
An eaves protector includes a soffit receiver and a soffit/fascia lock which are fastened to the eaves. A fascia plate and a soffit panel are engaged to the soffit receiver and the fascia/soffit lock. Some versions of the eaves protector require no fasteners to keep the soffit and fascia plate in place. The eaves protector can be simply and inexpensively manufactured from single pieces of folded material, and may be manufactured to standard dimensions that will fit any building, or custom-cut on site. |
| US08316586B2 |
Archable flashing
An archable flashing is disclosed for flashing around rectangular windows and doors and arch top windows and doors. The flashing has an elongated cap with an outside drip edge formed of a rigid plastic material. A flexible flange made of a flexible and stretchable plastic material is bonded to the inside edge of the cap and a rigid plastic nailing strip is bonded along the distal edge of the flexible flange. Spaced slits in the nailing strip subdivide it into segments and each segment is provided with one or more nail holes. The slits terminate at circular notches formed in the flexible flange adjacent to its junction with the nailing strip. The flashing is installed by placing its cap atop the straight or arched brick mold of a window or door while flexing the flange upwardly to rest against the adjacent wall. For arched brick mold, the flexible flange stretches differentially to accommodate the curve and the slits allow the nailing strip segments to separate. The flashing is then permanently installed by driving nails through the nail holes in the nailing strip segments and into the wall beneath. |
| US08316583B2 |
Sliding window assembly including a drain hole
A sliding window assembly for a vehicle includes a fixed panel and a sliding panel moveable relative to the fixed panel between an open position and a closed position. An elongated member is connected to the fixed panel and defines a channel extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end. The channel receives the sliding panel for movement of the sliding panel relative to the fixed panel. A rail is disposed in the channel along the longitudinal axis and is spaced along the longitudinal axis from the first end. The elongated member defines a drain hole molded into the elongated member in the channel. The drain hole is defined between the rail and the first end of the channel along the axis for draining water from the channel. |
| US08316580B2 |
Soil stabilizer carrier
A method for applying a water soluble soil stabilizer to soil wherein the soil stabilizer is added to a solid carrier. |
| US08316579B1 |
Landscape stabilization systems and methods
A system for stabilizing a plant comprises a plurality of stakes and a plurality of horizontal stabilization members, wherein the stakes are inserted through a root ball of the plant into undisturbed soil, and wherein the horizontal stabilization members resist lateral movement of at least one of the stakes. |
| US08316577B2 |
Fish set line
The fish set line 100 is an apparatus or kit that a fisherman may use: to be alerted when a fish has been caught; to provide for adjusting the proper line length; and to provide for storing the fishing combination. The fish set line 100 may include a housing 110; an attachment 120 and an attachment line 130 for attaching the fish set line 100 with a fixed structure; a swivel 136 attached with the attachment line 130; a motion activated light 140 for detecting motion related to fish engagement; a fish hook 150; a hook line 152; a weight 158; a hook line shaft 160; and a locking crank 162 for reeling in the hook line 152 and locking the hook line 150 in place. |
| US08316575B2 |
Swivel mount for bird-shaped decoys
A bird-shaped decoy is supported on a swivel that is supported on a tubular component which allows the decoy to rotate. A bird-shaped decoy is mounted on a first swivel and a second swivel is mounted on a tubular component. An offset support rod connects the two swivels allowing the decoy to simultaneously orbit or rotate. The tubular component mounted swivel can have multiple support rods mounted thereon each extending to a swivel that supports a bird-shaped decoy. |
| US08316574B1 |
Modular hand guard and lighting assembly
A modular hand guard assembly serves both as a hand guard system and as an integrated interface system for mounting various weapon accessories and attachments thereto. The modular hand guard assembly includes a removable forward rail section that can be removed from the forward portion of the hand guard to provide for the installation of additional weapon accessories such as lights, optics or lasers in highly a desirable forward location adjacent to the barrel of the weapon. The modular hand guard assembly further includes an integrated modular switching and control system for use in connection with the various powered accessories mounted thereto. |
| US08316573B2 |
Gun sight adjustment device
A device for adjusting a gun sight disposed in a dovetail groove on a gun slide is presented. The device includes a pushing member having a protrusion and an opening formed for receiving the gun sight therethrough, where the pushing member is movable in a first direction. The device further includes a pressure plate moveable in the first direction and a tail assembly opposing the pressure plate and movable in a second direction, where the tail assembly and the pressure plate are for securing the gun slide therebetween. When the gun slide is secured between the tail assembly and the pressure plate, moving the pushing member moves the gun sight. |
| US08316572B2 |
Suspended gun rest
The suspended gun rest includes a pivoting arm adjustably mounted to a rigid support by a mount. The mount comprises an L-shaped bracket having a mounting hole and three holes for adjustment screws. A cradle is provided, the cradle including two strings, a string routing system, a locking mechanism and a spindle. A hook is connected to one end of the pivoting arm. The two strings are connected to the spindle and routed through the cradle by the routing system and attached to the hook on the pivoting arm. |
| US08316568B2 |
Composite firearm barrel reinforcement
A chamber reinforcement for composite firearm barrel and method for forming the same. In one embodiment, the barrel includes an inner tube defining a bore that provides a bullet path and an outer sleeve preferably made of a material lighter in weight than the tube. In some embodiments, the inner tube is made of a material that preferably has a greater density and strength than the outer sleeve. The reinforcement in one embodiment may be in the form of an end cap disposed on a portion of the sleeve. The reinforcement preferably is made of a material comparable to the inner tube in density and strength to reinforce the area where a chamber is formed for receiving a cartridge. In the preferred fabrication, the reinforcement, tube, and sleeve are forged together to provide a strong and unitary structure for withstanding combustion pressures and forces associated with discharging the firearm. |
| US08316566B2 |
Separable composite labeling articles in sheet or roll form
The disclosure relates to a linear series of connected unitary sheet-like merchandise labeling articles, each of which comprises a labeling tag flatly cojoined along a unifying flat bond zone with a flexible elastic layer that extends away from the tag and includes an elastic fastening loop. Adjacent labeling articles of the series are ruptureably connected in a manner permitting the series to be handled as a unit while at the same time permitting ruptureable separation of individual merchandise labeling articles from the series. In one embodiment, the linear series is wound into roll form. |
| US08316564B2 |
Earth leveling and moving apparatus
An earth leveling and moving apparatus designed to move and level dirt and is compact for getting into tight areas that are needed to be reached for landscaping and other similar purposes. The apparatus includes a handle assembly, a blade assembly, a blade coupled to the blade assembly, a basket and two wheel assemblies. The handle assembly is connected to the blade assembly which is coupled to the blade. The blade may be removable and may have a straight edge or a ripper edge with teeth for cutting through hard surfaces. The basket is coupled to the handle assembly and to two wheel assemblies. The blade height is determined by adjusting the wheel assemblies and varying the force used on the handle assembly. The basket may have materials for weight in order to aid in applying a downward force to cut or gouge the land and level the land as the user desires. The basket may also be used to move debris and materials around the worksite. |
| US08316562B2 |
Footwear cleat with cushioning
A cleat for footwear. The cleat includes a base layer that attaches to the outsole of the footwear, a cushioning layer and a traction element layer. The traction element layer is attached to the base layer solely by the cushioning layer. Each of the cleat layers provides friction with the ground when the cleat engages the ground. The durometer of the base layer and the durometer of the traction element layer are greater than the durometer of the cushioning layer. When a user steps on a surface wearing a shoe outfitted with these cleats, the resilience of the cushioning layer at once both lessens the impact of the traction elements on the ground surface and lessens the reaction force on the user's foot transmitted through the shoe's outsole. The user's comfort is thereby enhanced. |
| US08316561B2 |
Lace and toungue configuration
The present invention uses a particular configuration of intermediate stitches between eyelets and elastic connection to provide supplemental support for shoelaces. The intermediate stitches also called inter eyelet stitches provide connection between the shoe and a tongue for supplemental support. The elastic connection additionally provides connection between the shoe and the tongue. The laces having received the stitch support can then be omitted, or styled in a variety of different configurations according to fashion requirements. The intermediate stitches preferably are placed between the third and fourth eyelet, between the first and second eyelet, and below the first eyelet. The elastic connection is preferably configured by the top eyelet also called the fifth eyelet connecting to the tongue. |
| US08316560B2 |
Air cushioning outsole window
A sole structure for an article of footwear is provided and includes an insole and an outsole. The outsole includes a ground-contacting surface and an inner surface formed on an opposite side of the outsole from the ground-contacting surface. The outsole further includes a first elongated aperture extending through the outsole and between the ground-contacting surface and the inner surface. A midsole is disposed between the insole and the outsole and includes a second elongated aperture at least partially aligned with the first elongated aperture. A window is disposed between the midsole and the outsole and extends over the first elongated aperture and the second elongated aperture. A bladder is disposed between the insole and the midsole and is visible through the window. |
| US08316556B2 |
Zeolite dehydration unit
An installation for dehydrating products, the installation having an enclosure, a member for sucking out the air contained in the enclosure, and a container for products that is received inside the enclosure and that is provided with a top opening having an air- and water-permeable bottom of a cassette extending in register therewith. The cassette contains zeolites. A sealing gasket extends between a perimeter of the bottom of the cassette and an edge of the container, defining the opening. |
| US08316555B2 |
Non-contact data transfer from moving systems
Systems, devices, and methods are described that facilitate the transmission of image data collected by a sensor within a gimbal assembly. A gimbal assembly includes one or more sensors positioned within the gimbal assembly. The one or more sensors collect data. The gimbal assembly is controllable to aim the one or more sensors. The gimbal assembly further includes a communications module within the gimbal assembly. The communications module transmits at least one directional optical signal to communicate data collected by the sensor. At least one transducer is positioned to receive the at least one directional electromagnetic signal. |
| US08316552B1 |
Systems and methods for three-axis sensor chip packages
Systems and methods for three-axis sensor chip packages are provided. In one embodiment, a directional sensor package comprises: a base; a first sensor die mounted to the base, the first sensor die having a first active sensor circuit and a first plurality of metal pads electrically coupled to the first active sensor circuit; a second sensor die mounted to the base, the second sensor die having a second active sensor circuit located on a first surface, and a second plurality of metal pads electrically coupled to the second active sensor circuit located on a second surface. The second sensor die is positioned such that the second active sensor circuit is oriented orthogonally with respect to the first active sensor circuit region and is perpendicular to the base. The second surface is adjacent to the first surface and angled with respect to a plane of the first surface. |
| US08316551B2 |
Auto-correcting bow sight
A bow sight automatically corrects and compensates for various dynamically changing aiming, shooting, and/or environmental conditions. The bow sight can perform situation-specific aim evaluations and corrections to correct or compensate for situation-specific shooting and environmental factors, at a given time and on a per-shot basis. The bow sight includes integrated sensor-type devices, such as a range finder, an inclinometer, and an anemometer, which detects values of situation-specific shooting and environmental factors and communicates such detected values with a processor or other control device. The processor uses the situational specific data, as well as bow and arrow performance data, and data from shot calibrations, to calculate precise vertical and horizontal aim compensations required to accurately hit the desired target point. The bow sight displays a new crosshair, dot, or multiple dot set, to direct the archer to a situation-specific aiming point for the most accurate shot under those particular circumstances. |
| US08316548B2 |
Hand-held electrical shears
Hand-held electrical shears has a housing with a tool head and a grip part, an electric motor, a drive shaft driven by the electric motor via a transmission, a rotatable tool mounted on the drive shaft, and a rechargeable energy accumulator in the grip part. The transmission and a portion of the electric motor are in the tool head, an actuating element of an on/off switch is on an underside of the grip part, a grip cover is attached to a top side of the grip part. A shaft end section extending laterally out of the housing carries a bearing flange with a driving element for the tool, and a blade retaining plate with a counter-blade and a supporting base are detachably attached in a flattened region of the housing. |
| US08316534B2 |
Method for packaging airtight multi-layer array type LED
A method for packaging an airtight multi-layer array type LED is disclosed. The method includes: integrally forming a metal substrate with an airtight metal frame surrounding an accommodating space; forming a light outlet platform surrounding a light outlet opening on a bottom of the accommodating space; forming two horizontal sealing through holes in the airtight metal frame, wherein each sealing through hole has one lead frame inserted therethrough, and all interstitial space in the two horizontal sealing through holes is completely sealed with a sealing material; disposing the optical units and optical components in the accommodating space; sequentially forming a dice protection layer, a fluorescent layer, and a silicone layer on the LED dices; and installing an optical glass cover on the top surface of the airtight metal frame to seal the packaging structure of the present invention. |
| US08316533B2 |
Media-compatible electrically isolated pressure sensor for high temperature applications
A method for manufacturing a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System pressure sensor. The method includes forming a gauge wafer including a diaphragm and a pedestal region. The method includes forming an electrical insulation layer disposed on a second surface of the diaphragm region and forming a plurality of sensing elements patterned on the electrical insulation layer disposed on the second surface in the diaphragm region. The method includes forming a cap wafer with a central recess in an inner surface and a plurality of through-wafer embedded vias made of an electrically conductive material in the cap wafer. The method includes creating a sealed cavity by coupling the inner recessed surface of the cap wafer to the gauge wafer, such that electrical connections from the sensing elements come out to an outer surface of the cap wafer through the vias. The method includes attaching a spacer wafer with a central aperture to the pedestal region with the central aperture aligned to the diaphragm region. |
| US08316529B2 |
Tag tool protective device, system, and method
A product tagging system includes a tag tool having a housing and a tag tool needle that extends from the housing. The system includes a protective assembly that is mounted to the housing, a first retaining member adjacent the needle, and a second retaining member adjacent the first retaining member. The first retaining member includes a first aperture and the second retaining member includes a second aperture substantially aligned with the first aperture. The retaining members define a gap therebetween that is adjustable to receive at least a portion of a tag. The system further includes a protective member that is adjacent the second retaining member and includes a third aperture substantially aligned with the first and second apertures with a curved surface disposed around at least a portion of the third aperture. The first, second, and third apertures may receive at least a portion of the needle therethrough. |
| US08316527B2 |
Method for providing at least one magnetoresistive device
The method provides a magnetoresistive device. The magnetoresistive device is formed from a plurality of magnetoresistive layers. The method includes providing a mask. The mask covers a first portion of the magnetoresistive element layers in at least one device area. The magnetoresistive element(s) are defined using the mask. The method includes depositing hard bias layer(s). The method also includes providing a hard bias capping structure on the hard bias layer(s). The hard bias capping structure includes a first protective layer and a planarization stop layer. The first protective layer resides between the planarization stop layer and the hard bias layer(s). The method also includes performing a planarization. The planarization stop layer is configured for the planarization. |
| US08316526B2 |
Method for forming an electroactive polymer
The present invention provides electroactive polymers, transducers and devices that maintain pre-strain in one or more portions of an electroactive polymer. Electroactive polymers described herein may include a pre-strained portion and a stiffened portion configured to maintain pre-strain in the pre-strained portion. One fabrication technique applies pre-strain to a partially cured electroactive polymer. The partially cured polymer is then further cured to stiffen and maintain the pre-strain. In another fabrication technique, a support layer is coupled to the polymer that maintains pre-strain in a portion of an electroactive polymer. Another embodiment of the invention cures a polymer precursor to maintain pre-strain in an electroactive polymer. |
| US08316524B1 |
Rivet fastening system
A system and method for rivet setting comprising a micro-adjustable bucking bar coupled to a control system that measures the rivet head during the rivet setting process and stops the rivet gun when the rivet head achieves a desired head height above the work surface. In preferred embodiments, the control system also communicates the stage of the rivet driving cycle to the operators to expedite the rivet driving process. |
| US08316517B2 |
Pompon making tool
A pompon making tool includes a first member and a second member to be superposed on each other. The first member includes a pair of arms movable relative to each other, and each arm includes an arcuate portion. Likewise, the second member includes a pair of arms movable relative to each other, and each arm includes an arcuate portion. The arcuate portions of the first and the second member each include a base plate portion, and a pair of thread support portions spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the base plate portion. The thread support portions each include a top portion on the outer side of the base plate portion and extend in the longitudinal direction of the arcuate portion. |
| US08316512B2 |
Apparatus at a protective helmet
The present technology relates to a locking device (2) for fixation of the position of an outer layers (4) relatively an inner layer (6) of a protective helmet (3), which protective helmet has a sliding layer (8) arranged between the outer layer and the inner layer, for facilitating displacement of the outer layer relatively the inner layer during an oblique impact towards the protective helmet. The locking device (2) comprises a layer-guiding member (10), that has an upper portion (12), which upper portion (12) is intended to be arranged in an opening (13) in the outer layer (4), and a resilient lower portion (16), extending from the upper portion (12), that in its free end (17) is arranged in connection to the inner layer (6). The present technology also relates to a protective helmet (3) comprising the locking device (2). |
| US08316510B2 |
Walk-behind work machine
A walk-behind work machine having a foldable operating handle is disclosed. The operating handle is swingable and foldable about a first linking pin relative to a handle-attachment part of a work-machine body from a usage position to a storage position and can be locked in a usage position by a second linking pin. The second linking pin is present on one of the operating handle and the handle-attachment part, and the distal end part of the second linking pin is formed in a tapered shape. The other of the operating handle and the handle-attachment part has a second pin-fitting hole allowing insertion and retraction of the distal end part. When the distal end part is fit into the second pin-fitting hole, no gap is present in the second pin-fitting hole due to the tapered surface of the distal end part, and the operating handle is locked in the usage position. |
| US08316509B1 |
Combination closure cap and carrying handle useable on beverage bottles and the like
A multi-function carrying handle and suspender either for engaging a cap and a shoulder of a bottle simultaneously in such a manner so as to better distribute carrying load so as to avoid puncturing the shoulder of the bottle when being carried or for facilitating turning the cap of the bottle or for suspending a suspendable article, which includes a body, an arm, and fingers. The body has a through bore engaging the cap of the bottle when used to carry the bottle or when used to facilitate turning the cap of the bottle. The arm extends arcuately outwardly from the body to a terminal end, and carries the bottle when used to carry the bottle or facilitate turning the cap of the bottle when used to facilitate turning the cap of the bottle. |
| US08316507B2 |
Vacuum cleaner and dust separating apparatus thereof
A dust separating apparatus for a vacuum cleaner is provided. The dust separating apparatus includes a cyclone configured to provide a plurality of cyclone airflows therein and a dust container provided separate from the cyclone. The cyclone includes a first air inlet configured to receive an airflow containing dust and a dust outlet configured to discharge dust separated by the plurality of cyclone airflows. The dust outlet is located in a central portion of the cyclone. The dust container is removably placeable into communication with the dust outlet to collect dust separated in the cyclone. A vacuum cleaner including the dust separating apparatus is also provided. |
| US08316504B1 |
Windshield roller
A windshield roller assembly that may be retrofitted to existing wiper arms and that provides a rolling surface so that it is able to conform to surface irregularities and expel dirt and debris from low spots. The rolling surface avoids scraping the windshield glass and is not subject to the shear forces incurred by scraper type blades. The windshield roller is generally a simple cylindrical shape about a flexible shaft such as carbon fiber rod. The geometry of the roller is most typically an elongated frusto-conical shape so as to trace an arced path. |
| US08316502B2 |
Spin dry mop
A spin dry mop includes an outer tube and a handle fitting over the outer tube. The handle is made of a different material than the outer tube. The inner tube is sized to fit telescopically within the outer tube. A fastness key is bonded to the handle and fits inside the outer tube. A corkscrew screw is made of a strip of flat metal having a plurality of turns. The fastness key is made of a different material than the corkscrew screw. The fastness key is bonded to the handle at a key top end and bonded to the corkscrew screw at a key lower end. A screw tube has a keyed opening with an internal profile of the corkscrew screw and receives the corkscrew screw within the keyed opening. |
| US08316499B2 |
Apparatus for holding a cleaning sheet in a cleaning implement
Cleaning devices which use cleaning sheets affixed in traps are disclosed. The traps comprise first and second jaws, each comprising base and forward portions, each forward position having a forward surface. The forward portion of the second jaw is flexible in at least a first direction, such as towards a surface over which the device is configured to move. When the second jaw is relaxed, the forward portion of the second jaw is substantially coplanar with the forward portion of the first jaw and the forward surfaces are proximate or touching. When the second jaw is flexed in the first direction (e.g., by the application of a force from a user), the forward surface of the forward portion of the second jaw moves in the first direction, away from the forward surface of the first jaw. This opens a gap through which a portion of a sheet may be inserted. |
| US08316497B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus
A substrate processing apparatus includes: a brush for cleaning a substrate; a seesaw member which is swingable with a support member serving as a fulcrum and which has a force point section at one side with respect to the fulcrum and an actuating point section at the other side with respect to the fulcrum; a pushing actuator arranged to give a driving force to the force point section of the seesaw member, thereby to swing the seesaw member around the fulcrum, thus giving, to the seesaw member, a pushing force for pushing the brush to the substrate; and a transmission member which has an affected point section for receiving, from the actuating point section of the seesaw member, a driving force given to the force point section, and which transmits, to the brush, a pushing force for pushing the same to the substrate. |
| US08316495B2 |
Method to compress prefabricated deck units with external tensioned structural elements
A structural system comprised of prefabricated deck units spaced along longitudinal load-carrying members with tensioned structural elements, typically anchored in longitudinal load-carrying members, which produce longitudinal axial compression in these units. During construction, prefabricated deck units are erected on top of and supported by the longitudinal load-carrying members via leveling devices. Leveling devices permit relative motion between the longitudinal load-carrying members and the prefabricated deck units, except at two ends of a structural unit, where deck connection units are connected to longitudinal members. In the longitudinal direction, each girder line contains more than one girder or girder segment and the girders or girder segments are not continuous during tensioning. The girder support allows the girder or girder segments to move in the longitudinal direction. When the tensioned structural elements are stressed, the longitudinal component of the tensioned structural element can become compression in the deck. Tensioned structural elements in the girder or girder segments are deviated relative to the horizontal plane of the prefabricated deck units, subsequently enhancing the load-carrying capacity of the longitudinal load-carrying members. |
| US08316491B2 |
Mattress and bedpan cushion system using an air pressure switch and relief valve
A support structure, such as a mattress, is provided for the placement and removal of a human waste container, such as a bedpan, with minimal exertion by the attendant and minimal movement of the person. The mattress is provided with a cavity equipped with a controllable expandable cushion operatively coupled with the cushion to control an expansion and contraction of the cushion, wherein the control system includes a fluidic pump arranged to pump fluid into the expandable cushion, a fluid relief mechanism arranged to allow fluid to escape the expandable cushion, a fluid pressure reservoir for maintaining a relatively constant pressure in the fluidic system, and a fluid pressure switch operable to automatically activate and deactivate the fluidic pump to maintain a defined pressure level in the expandable cushion. |
| US08316490B1 |
Diaper changing pad
A diaper changing device to mount to an infant car seat includes a cover having a first side, a second side, a plurality of individualized compartments spaced along a length of the cover and folding sections positioned between adjacent ones of the plurality of individualized compartments. The diaper changing device further includes a plurality of support members positioned within the individualized compartments and a plurality of fasteners attached to the cover. The plurality of fasteners are shaped to engage a lip formed on an edge of the infant car seat to secure the cover to the infant car seat in a position suspended over an interior region of the infant car seat with the second side of the cover facing the interior region and the first side of the cover facing outward. |
| US08316486B2 |
Support frame for elevating a bed covering
A plurality of hollow tubular frame members interconnected by a single internal elastic retaining member that ensures each frame member aligns relative to each remaining frame member in a manner that only one arrangement of frame members is possible when assembled. To assemble, the frame members interconnect forming a three-dimensional frame suitable for supporting a bed cover. The frame members are held in tension by the internal retaining member. The frame members interlock via an insert device between adjacent frame members. The entire assembly interlocks and selectively decouples for disassembly. When disassembled, the entire assembly lies relatively flat, which enables a compact design suitable for packaging, transport or storage. |
| US08316481B2 |
Child containment system with multiple infant support modes
A child containment system includes a child containment structure defining an interior space to be occupied by an infant and including an infant support surface within the interior space, and an infant support unit configured for use in a first operational mode in which the infant support unit is coupled to the child containment structure and disposed within the interior space above the infant support surface. The infant support unit and the child containment structure include respective connectors to secure the infant support unit in the first operational mode. The infant support unit includes a frame configured for use of the infant support unit in a second operational mode in which the infant support unit is independent of the child containment structure. |
| US08316480B2 |
Mobile cantilever transfer device
A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a mobile cantilever transfer device for transferring mobility-impaired patients. In one embodiment, the mobile cantilever transfer device includes a support surface that is cantilevered from a lift cart so that the support surface may be positioned over the origination or destination location for a transfer, such as a patient's bed. In yet another embodiment, the cantilevered support surface may be laterally extended from the lift cart in order to allow the support surface to be positioned at different points over a transfer location without moving the lift cart. In yet another embodiment, multiple sides of the support surface may be connected to the lift cart so that a transfer can be accomplished from multiple directions, such as on either side of a patient's bed. |
| US08316478B2 |
Emergency eyewash unit
An emergency eyewash unit includes a pair of water discharge ports oriented to produce a pair of upwardly directed, diverging water streams for inside-out flush flow of contaminants from a person's eyes. These eyewash streams can be combined with a plurality of smaller upwardly directed facewash streams for flushing contaminants from a person's face. The eyewash and/or facewash streams are produced by an eyewash body adapted for rotatable mounting onto a water supply conduit, with a locking clip normally preventing undesired rotational disassembly. The eyewash body may be used in combination with an overhead emergency shower which, in one preferred form, includes a shower spray head carrying multiple flow control and flow shaper elements to produce a substantially uniformly dispersed shower spray pattern. |
| US08316472B1 |
Swiveling toilet seat device
A swiveling toilet seat device for attaching to a rim of a toilet bowl comprising a toilet seat-shaped first base pivotally attached to the back of the rim of the toilet bowl; a toilet seat-shaped second base disposed above the first base, wherein a plurality of wheels extend from the bottom surface of the second base and fit into a track disposed in the top surface of the first base; wherein the second base can rotate in a first direction and second direction atop the first base. |
| US08316471B2 |
Modular system for dispensing active ingredient fluids to the flushing liquid of a toilet bowl
The invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing active ingredient fluids to the flushing liquid in a toilet bowl. Said dispensing device comprises at least two holders (6, 7) for accommodating respective reservoirs (2, 3), every reservoir (2, 3) having its own outlet opening via which the respective active ingredient fluid (4, 5) can be dispensed to the flushing liquid or to the surroundings of the dispensing device and the reservoirs (2, 3) being protected from flushing liquid entering their interior. At least one outlet opening of the reservoirs (2, 3) is arranged on the bottom when in the working position and a partial amount of the active ingredient fluid is dispensed to the flushing liquid from at least one of the reservoirs (2, 3) during flushing. The interior of at least one of the reservoirs (2, 3) communicates with a distribution element (9, 10) via the outlet opening, an arrangement preventing the free flow of the active ingredient fluid (4, 5) being interposed. One reservoir (2, 3), one holder (6, 7) and one plate-shaped distributing element (9, 10) each form an independently operative, separate metering unit (A, B), the metering units (A, B) of the dispensing device being immobilized in relation to each other by at least one connecting element (11). |
| US08316470B2 |
Eyewear lens attachment system and method
A goggle is disclosed having a frame with upper and lower frame portions with the upper frame portion being substantially more rigid than the lower frame portion. A fastener secures the upper perimeter of a lens to the upper frame portion. The lower portion includes slots receiving tabs extending from opposing sides of a notch in the lens for receiving the wearer's nose. The fastener includes an elongate member insertable within a slot formed in the lens and rotatable to a crosswise position hindering removal of the elongate member from the slot. |
| US08316467B2 |
Headgear with pockets for carrying an audio device and a method for using the same
A cap, hat or other head covering, with pockets for carrying an MP3 player or other portable audio device and the wires and other related accessories. One of the pockets is structured to secure an audio device and the other pocket is structured to secure the headphone wires therein. By disposing the pockets on the headgear, the audio device is in close proximity to the wearer's head, thereby minimizing the length of wire extended between the audio device and the headphones or earplugs and allowing the wearer to perform a desired activity without the wires getting in the way. |
| US08316466B2 |
Secure and absorbent elongated hood
A secure-fitting and absorbent elongated hood for containing, managing, and drying wet hair and preventing water from dripping onto flooring or onto the wearer's clothing during the hair drying or hair setting process, requiring no leaning forward of the head for application. Such elongated hood generally comprises an absorbent concave form-fitting cap having a centering button located thereon, a triangular wing of fabric extending from each of the left and right sides of said form-fitting cap of said elongated hood, reciprocal hook-and-loop fabric strips sewn onto each left and right triangular wing, an elongated tail region being progressively tapered from said concave form-fitting cap to a rounded and concave distal end and having an elastic loop for fastening purposes, and concave petal-shaped protuberances of absorbent fabric at such concave distal end for catching, retaining, and absorbing water dripping from the wearer's hair. |
| US08321961B2 |
Production scale fabrication method for high resolution AFM tips
A method of fabricating high resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM) tips including a single semiconductor nanowire grown at an apex of a semiconductor pyramid of each AFM tip is provided. The semiconductor nanowire that is grown has a controllable diameter and a high aspect ratio, without significant tapering from the tip of the semiconductor nanowire to its base. The method includes providing an AFM probe including a semiconductor cantilever having a semiconductor pyramid extending upward from a surface of said semiconductor cantilever. The semiconductor pyramid has an apex. A patterned oxide layer is formed on the AFM probe. The patterned oxide layer has an opening that exposes the apex of the semiconductor pyramid. A single semiconductor nanowire is grown on the exposed apex of the semiconductor pyramid utilizing a non-oxidized Al seed material as a catalyst for nanowire growth. |
| US08321958B1 |
Detecting presence of a subject string in a target string and security event qualification based on prior behavior by an end user of a computer system
A software-based security agent that hooks into the operating system of a computer device in order to continuously audit the behavior and conduct of the end user of the computer device. The detected actions of the end user can be stored in a queue or log file that can be continuously monitored to detect patterns of behavior that may constitute a policy violation and/or security risk. When a pattern of behavior that may constitute a policy violation and/or security risk is detected, an event may be triggered. A frequency vector string matching algorithm also is disclosed. The frequency vector string matching algorithm may be used to detect the presence or partial presence of subject strings within a target string of alphanumeric characters. The frequency vector string matching algorithm could be used to detect typos in stored computer records or to search for records based on partial information. In addition, the frequency vector string matching algorithm could be used to search communications for sensitive information that has been manipulated, obscured, or partially elided. In addition, an anomaly analysis is disclosed for comparing behavior patterns of one user against the behavior patterns of other users to detect anomalous behaviors. |
| US08321956B2 |
Remote access control of storage devices
An access control device can be communicationally coupled to a storage device and can control access thereto. The access control device can comprise information, such as identities of authorized entities, to enable the access control device to independently determine whether to provide access to an associated storage device. Alternatively, the access control device can comprise information to establish a secure connection to an authorization computing device and the access control device can implement the decisions of the authorization computing device. The access control device can control access by instructing a storage device to execute specific firmware instructions to prevent meaningful responses to data storage related requests. The access control device can also comprise storage-related cryptographic information utilized by the storage device to encrypt and decrypt data. In such a case, the access control device can control access by not releasing the storage-related cryptographic information to the storage device. |
| US08321955B2 |
Systems and methods for protecting against denial of service attacks
Systems and methods utilizing the network layer and/or application layer to provide security in distributed computing systems in order to thwart denial of service attacks. The systems and methods of the present invention utilize puzzles placed at the network layer level and/or application layer level to protect against denial of service attacks. Further, the systems and methods of the present invention advantageously provide a robust and flexible solution to support puzzle issuance at arbitrary points in the network, including end hosts, firewalls, and routers and thereby a defense against denial of service attacks. |
| US08321954B2 |
Informing recipient device of message content properties
According to an aspect of the invention, a content class of a data set for a message to be transmitted to the recipient device is defined. A network element transferring messages to the recipient device specifies at least one information element in a message to the recipient terminal such that the information element comprises an indication of the content class. The message is transmitted to the recipient device. |
| US08321947B2 |
Method and system for dynamically generating a watermarked document during a printing or display operation
A dynamic watermarking capability is implemented in an enterprise rights management (ERM) or similar system that comprises a central server to which end user client machines are connectable. The central server has a database in which watermark definitions created by authorized entities are centrally stored. An end user client machine is provided with a client component that typically includes wrapper code, and watermarking rendering code. The wrapper and rendering code are instantiated when a given calling application is started, or when the application initiates a given rendering function such as a print or display operation. When the calling application begins the rendering operation, the wrapper code intercepts a given rendering function call, connects to the central server and then retrieves a watermark definition. Alternatively, the watermark definition is retrieved when a document to be rendered is first accessed on the client machine. The watermark definition is then applied by the watermark rendering code, preferably using local rendering resources. |
| US08321939B1 |
Method and an apparatus to perform multiple packet payloads analysis
A method and an apparatus to perform multiple packet payload analysis have been disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a plurality of data packets, each of the plurality of data packets containing a portion of a data pattern, determining whether each of the plurality of data packets is out of order, and making and storing a local copy of the corresponding data packet if the corresponding data packet is out of order. Other embodiments have been claimed and described. |
| US08321938B2 |
Multi-tiered scalable network monitoring
A network analysis architecture provides a suite of complementary logic operable at different temporal and spatial timescales. The distinct temporal and spatial scales define different tiers, each analyzing network events according to predetermined temporal and spatial scales of progressive magnitude. Particular event detection logic may be operable on an immediate temporal scale, while other logic identifies trends over a longer time period. Similarly, different spatial scales are appropriate to different algorithms, as in logic that examines only headers or length of packets, or inspects an entire payload or transferred file. Deployment of logic that is focused on different timing and scope of data allows timely action in the case of readily apparent deviations, and permits longer term analysis for identifying trends that emerge over time. By selecting a suite of complementary logic directed at different deviant behavior, the focus of a single logic scheme is not charged with producing absolute screening of all traffic. |
| US08321937B2 |
Methods and system for determining performance of filters in a computer intrusion prevention detection system
An intrusion prevention/detection system filter (IPS filter) performance evaluation is provided. The performance evaluation is performed at both the security center and at the customer sites to derive a base confidence score and local confidence scores. Existence of new vulnerability is disclosed and its attributes are used in the generation of new IPS filter or updates. The generated IPS filter is first tested to determine its base confidence score from test confidence attributes prior to deploying it to a customer site. A deep security manager and deep security agent, at the customer site, collect local confidence attributes that are used for determining the local confidence score. The local confidence score and the base confidence score are aggregated to form a global confidence score. The local and global confidence scores are then compared to deployment thresholds to determine whether the IPS filter should be deployed in prevention or detection mode or sent back to the security center for improvement. |
| US08321935B1 |
Identifying originators of malware
A malware analysis component receives information concerning malware infections on a large plurality of client computers, as detected by an anti-malware product or submitted directly by users. The malware analysis component analyzes this wide array of information, and identifies suspicious malware detection and submission activity associated with specific sources. Where identified suspicious patterns of malware detection and submission activity associated with a specific source meet a given threshold over time, the malware analysis component determines that the source is an originator of malware. |
| US08321932B2 |
Program-based authorization
Techniques which allow definition and enforcement of program-based action authorization policies. On a computer, an action or execution attempt is intercepted in real-time. The subject process, the program file of the subject process, the attempted action and the object of the attempted action are determined. An authorization policy considering the program file indicates whether the attempted action is authorized or not. In a tracking mode, the attempted action and its authorization are logged and the attempted action is allowed to proceed. In an enforcement mode, unauthorized attempts are blocked and logged, thereby enforcing the authorization policy. |
| US08321930B1 |
Keyboard input coordinate-based login system
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer-readable media for granting access to a component of a computing device. In particular, embodiments provide methods of presenting a plurality of images on a screen of the computing device. Keyboard-based inputs are received, where the inputs are based on relationships between the images. Based on the accuracy of the inputs received, access is granted to the component of the computing device. |
| US08321921B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing authentication and encryption services by a software as a service platform
An extensible servicing hosting platform is provided that supports the design, build and concurrent deployment of multiple web accessible services on a services hosting platform. The services hosting platform comprises a services hosting framework capable of hosting multiple service applications, each of which may be shared by multiple tenants that each customize their use of a particular application service by extending the application service to exploit run time platform services within a service execution pipeline. The services hosting framework may easily be leveraged by applications to decrease the time associated with developing, deploying and maintaining high quality services in a cost effective manner. |
| US08321920B2 |
Image forming system and image forming apparatus
An image forming system comprising: a server device including user information, for performing a user authentication via a computer network and for receiving and adding up count data on a user basis; and an image forming apparatus including: a storage unit to which a data area for storing therein the count data including a count value of an occurrence of a predetermined event can be allocated; a login processing unit for determining whether or not to permit a user to log in; a count unit for updating, when the predetermined event occurs based on an operation performed by the user permitted to log in, the count data for the user; and a transmission unit for transmitting, when the user logs out, the count data for the user to the server device. |
| US08321919B2 |
Framework for delegating roles in human resources ERP systems
Embodiments presented herein provide transaction delegation systems and methods that allow a delegator to select any user to act as a proxy on that manager's behalf with respect to certain transactions. In embodiments, a manager is able to select different users to manage different transactions. A user can accept a proxy request and obtain the necessary security access when the delegation is active. Thus, the proxy user is able to approve and/or initiate the selected transactions even if the security for those transactions is higher than what the proxy user would normally have. In embodiments, an administrator is able to configure the delegations and can ensure that the delegated authority is revoked when the delegated authority expires. |
| US08321917B2 |
Connection authentication system, terminal apparatus, connection authentication server, connection authentication method, and program
The first terminal apparatus includes a key information acquiring unit that acquires key information from a connection authentication server, a key information notifying unit that notifies the first user of the key information, and a connection information acquiring unit that acquires connection information from the connection authentication server. The second terminal apparatus includes a key information input unit that receives the key information transmitted to the second user and an information providing unit that provides the key information and the connection information to the connection authentication server. The connection authentication server includes a key information providing unit that provides the key information to the first terminal apparatus, an information acquiring unit that acquires the key information and connection information of the second terminal apparatus from the second terminal apparatus, and a connection information providing unit that provides the connection information to the first terminal apparatus. |
| US08321912B2 |
Centralized identity authentication for electronic communication networks
A method of centralized identity authentication for use in connection with a communications network includes registering users of the communications network such that each registered user's identity is uniquely defined and determinable, and registering a plurality of vendors having a presence on the communications network. The registered vendors selectively transact with registered users, wherein the transactions include: (i) the registered vendor selling goods and/or services to the registered user; (ii) the registered vendor granting the registered user access to personal records maintained by the registered vendor; and/or (iii) the registered vendor communicating to the registered user personal information maintained by the registered vendor. The method also includes each user's identity being authenticated over the communications network prior to completion of transactions between registered vendors and registered users. |
| US08321909B2 |
Identity mediation in enterprise service bus
A system, and computer usable program product for identity mediation in an enterprise service bus are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A security information is received at the enterprise service bus from a first application executing in a first data processing system. The security information is a part of a request for service from a second application executing in a second data processing system. A part of the security information is identified to be transformed such that the part upon transformation is usable for handling the request by the second application. A security policy applicable to the identified part is selected and the identified part is transformed according to the security policy. The transforming results in a transformed security information. The transformed security information is sent to the second application. |
| US08321903B2 |
External services allocation in closed on-demand systems
Integrating external on-demand services is performed through embedding a pseudo on-demand video-title for each new on-demand external service, which is activated by an original session manager (SM) once a particular set-top converter box (STB), which belongs to a particular group_id, initiates a request for the external service. An STB application intercepts SM tuning information on the selected transport_id and service_id of the pseudo service and recovers the address of the selected edge device and QAM in the original system, associated with the intercepted transport_id, through the inverse mapping the couple (group_id, transport_id) to the edge and QAM IP and UDP port addresses which map is set by external management system. The STB application initiates the external on-demand service with same edge and QAM but with a different unique external_service_id , through streaming of the external service to the recovered edge IP address and to a new UDP port number where the new UDP port number encodes the original QAM address with the new unique external_service_id number of the external service, and tunes to the new external_service_id. |
| US08321898B2 |
Content display-playback system, content display-playback method, and recording medium and operation control apparatus used therewith
A content display-playback system includes a content providing apparatus, a content display-playback apparatus, and an operation control apparatus for controlling the apparatuses. On the basis of operation control by the control apparatus, content is transmitted from the providing apparatus to the display-playback apparatus for display and playback through a network. The control apparatus includes an input operation receiving unit for receiving an operation input, a control signal generating unit for generating a control signal for transmitting and receiving the content among the providing, display-playback, and control apparatuses in response to the operation input, and a storage unit for storing selection-history information. When the receiving unit receives an operation input for transmitting the content from the providing apparatus to the display-playback apparatus, the generating unit generates a control signal for selecting a display-playback apparatus on the basis of the selection-history information and transmitting the content to the selected display-playback apparatus. |
| US08321895B2 |
Selecting program items depending on a period of time in which the program items are to be stored
The invention relates to an apparatus for selecting at least one program item to be stored on the basis of user preferences. The apparatus comprises a receiver (110) for obtaining program schedule data related to at least one program item, and a timer (150) arranged to ascertain a period of time in which at least one program item is to be stored, a user preference module (130) arranged to obtain user preferences for at least one program item to be stored in the ascertained period of time, and a selection unit (140) arranged to select, using the program schedule data and the user preferences, at least one program item to be stored over a long period of time which is substantially longer than regular periods of nonusage of the apparatus. The invention takes into consideration that the user preferences for storing the program items may depend on the period of time in which the program items are to be selected. |
| US08321894B2 |
Transmission apparatus, reception apparatus
A transmission apparatus and a reception apparatus have improved characteristics such as entertainment and convenience for a user who receives content received by a digital satellite broadcast receiver. A broadcasting side, along with a first content (video/audio content), broadcasts content (second content) as data for forming a GUI related to a broadcast content as the video/audio signal. A reception apparatus side receiving the content executes a process for outputting a GUI together with a picture of the first content in accordance with the description in a script of the second content. Further, a process is executed to generate use history information in accordance with the user's use of the first content in the reception apparatus and to change the content of a service provided on the GUI based on the use history information. According to this structure, the service content provided on the GUI varies in accordance with the operation and behavior of the user in response to a screen picture/audio of the first content. |
| US08321893B2 |
Apparatus and method for discovering ESG bootstrap entry point in CBMS system
A method of providing discovery information of an Electronic Service Guide (ESG) bootstrap entry point is provided. The method includes listing at least one piece of ESG bootstrap characteristic information for an ESG bootstrap proper for a status of a terminal, creating a Management Object (MO), which connects the ESG bootstrap entry point with said at least one piece of ESG bootstrap characteristic information and transmitting the created MO to the terminal through an interactive channel. |
| US08321891B2 |
Method and system for assigning categories to channels in a subscriber television system
In a subscriber television system, assigning categories to a channel as an entity reduces the searching requirements associated with searching a database of thousands of individual program records, identifying the channel on which an identified program will be displayed, and then sorting the resultant information. The channel information is searched for the assigned category information and the associated program information for just those channels is retrieved. This reduces the processor requirements for searching the thousands of records in the program records database. With the reduced processor requirements and the increased efficiency of information organization for searching, a single machine state change is possible between viewing full screen video and a browse banner or between viewing full screen program information and video with a browse banner. |
| US08321886B2 |
Method of providing controlled-access information and video receiving apparatus to use the same
In a controlled access broadcast system, a method of providing controlled-access information to a user includes determining whether a selected channel is a controlled-access channel, determining whether a smart card mounted in a smart card mounting part is configured to access the selected channel, if the selected channel is determined to be a controlled-access channel, and displaying indicia that indicates the configuration of the mounted smart card with respect to access to the selected channel. Therefore, a user can mount a smart card to access the controlled-access channel, thus increasing user convenience. |
| US08321883B2 |
Disk drive with encoder holder indentation
A disk drive is disclosed. The disk drive can include includes a spindle motor, which can rotate a disk; an encoder, which can detect the rotational speed of the disk; an encoder holder, which secures the encoder; and a base plate, which supports the spindle motor, and in which a holder indentation is formed for inserting the encoder holder in. Certain embodiments of the invention allow easy height adjustments for the encoder holder, so that the encoder may maintain a particular distance from the disk, and also allow the encoder to be fitted onto the base plate, even in cases where the base plate has a limited mounting area. |
| US08321881B2 |
Media processing device and control method for a media processing device
A media processing device does not execute a media transportation process if the height of media stacked in a media storage unit is at an over capacity level, and reliably prevents problems such as damage to the media transportation mechanism caused by collision with the stacked media. If in the media processing device 200 the height of media stacked in a media storage unit 121, 122 is at a full stack level or over capacity level (step S33 returns yes or step S35 returns yes), an appropriate warning is output (step S34 or step S36) and collision accidents of the media transportation mechanism 131 can be prevented. |
| US08321875B2 |
Selectively updating web pages on a mobile client
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for enabling the selective updating of web pages provided to a mobile client using, for example, AJAX technology. The system, method, and computer program product are optionally further extended to harmonize synchronization of data retrieved by other methods with data updated using AJAX. The use of AJAX technology is disclosed within the context of additional technology suites which may be substituted to achieve the same function. Additionally, the use of queuing AJAX updates is discussed. |
| US08321873B2 |
System and method for offline data generation for online system analysis
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and/or method offline data generation for online system analysis. |
| US08321872B2 |
Reusable, operating system aware hardware mutex
Hardware resources sharing for a computer system running software tasks. A controller stores records including a mutex ID tag and a waiter flag in a cache. Lock and unlock registers are readable by the controller and loadable by the tasks with a mutex ID specifying a hardware resource. The controller monitors whether the lock register for loading with a mutex ID, and then determines whether it corresponds with the tag of a record in the cache. If so, it sets the record's waiter flag. If not, it adds a record having a tag corresponding with the mutex ID. The controller also monitors whether the unlock register for loading with a mutex ID, and then determines whether it corresponds with the tag of a record in the cache. If so, it determines whether that record's waiter flag is set and, if so, it clears that record from the cache. |
| US08321866B2 |
System and method for data synchronization for a computer architecture for broadband networks
A computer architecture and programming model for high speed processing over broadband networks are provided. The architecture employs a consistent modular structure, a common computing module and uniform software cells. The common computing module includes a control processor, a plurality of processing units, a plurality of local memories from which the processing units process programs, a direct memory access controller and a shared main memory. A synchronized system and method for the coordinated reading and writing of data to and from the shared main memory by the processing units also are provided. A processing system for processing computer tasks is also provided. A first processor is of a first processor type and a number of second processors are of a second processor type. One of the second processors manages process scheduling of computing tasks by providing tasks to at least one of the first and second processors. |
| US08321865B2 |
Processing of streaming data with a keyed delay
A keyed delay is used in the processing of streaming data to decrease the processing performed and the output provided. A first event, within a particular window, having a particular key starts a delay condition. Arriving events with the same key replace the previous arrival for that key until the delay condition is satisfied. In response thereto, the latest event with that key is output. |
| US08321863B2 |
Security management device and method
In a case where a master virtual machine, which is constructed on the basis of master information for configuring either part or all of a virtual machine, and an individual virtual machine, which is constructed on the basis of individual information that is configured partially or entirely in accordance with the master information, exist as the types of virtual machines that a physical client provides to a user terminal, a security check of a plurality of virtual machines is selectively executed, with respect to each check item, for a virtual machine of the type corresponding to the contents of the check item. |
| US08321860B2 |
Local collector
Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for remotely collecting data from the local storage of a machines. For example, embodiments of the method involve deploying a collection tool to the machine via a network, automatically installing the collection tool on the machine, generating a snapshot of the data, storing the snapshot in a storage area on the machine, and transmitting the data from the storage area to a remote collection server. Because the data is transmitted from the snapshot stored in the storage area rather than from the original data stored on the local storage of the machine, the data may be transmitted to the remote collection server without substantially affecting a user's ability to use the machine and interact with the data stored on the machine. |
| US08321859B2 |
Method and apparatus for dispensing on a data-storage medium customized content comprising selected assets
An apparatus and method for obtaining a storage medium with a deeply customizable set of installed content. Soft assets (e.g., programs, songs, videos, etc.) that form the content are selected from among a much larger set of preinstalled soft assets previously stored on storage media, such as disk drives. In some embodiments, based on a user's selections, the non-selected assets are permanently erased from a storage medium, while the remaining assets are available as installed (wherein substantially no further processing is required to install them). In some embodiments, a new device uses the storage medium to provide its user with a fully functional device without the need to separately install the soft assets from a plurality of sources (e.g., from program-distribution CDROMS and the like). Some embodiments include the storage medium having the soft assets installed, and including a program that elicits selections from a user and erases non-selected assets. |
| US08321857B1 |
Automated generation of application data for application distribution
An application registration module executes on a client, extracting metadata from a local application designed for an operating system of the client, formulating installation instructions, and providing the application, metadata, and installation instructions to a distribution server. The distribution server can then be used to facilitate installation of the application on other clients having the same operating system as the source client. |
| US08321853B2 |
Type and property definition support for software
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to type and property definition support for software. In aspects, new types can be added to an application model after the software has been created without changing the software. After software is created and embodied in computer code, a new type definition may be received by a user type service. The user type service may then place the new type definition in a data store in which other types native to the software are located. The software may then use the new type definitions and properties associated therewith in queries and in user interfaces provided by the software. |
| US08321852B2 |
System and method for extending a component-based application platform with custom services
A system and method for dynamically associating an application with an extension service to generate an extended, dynamically linked version of the application. The application is configurable for deployment on an electronic device and for subsequent interaction with the extension service during execution through communication messages defined in a structured definition language. The system and method include a parser module configured for analyzing a set of service metadata descriptors to identify a communication interface associated with the extension service, such that the service metadata descriptors describe the communication interface including structure and type of parameters expected by the extension service for use in manipulation of the communication messages. The system and method also include a linking module coupled to the parser module for using the communication interface and a reference to the extension service in the code of the application to build a runtime dynamic link between the extension service and the application to produce the executable application. |
| US08321850B2 |
Sharing and persisting code caches
Computer code from an application program comprising a plurality of modules that each comprise a separately loadable file is code cached in a shared and persistent caching system. A shared code caching engine receives native code comprising at least a portion of a single module of the application program, and stores runtime data corresponding to the native code in a cache data file in the non-volatile memory. The engine then converts cache data file into a code cache file and enables the code cache file to be pre-loaded as a runtime code cache. These steps are repeated to store a plurality of separate code cache files at different locations in non-volatile memory. |
| US08321849B2 |
Virtual architecture and instruction set for parallel thread computing
A virtual architecture and instruction set support explicit parallel-thread computing. The virtual architecture defines a virtual processor that supports concurrent execution of multiple virtual threads with multiple levels of data sharing and coordination (e.g., synchronization) between different virtual threads, as well as a virtual execution driver that controls the virtual processor. A virtual instruction set architecture for the virtual processor is used to define behavior of a virtual thread and includes instructions related to parallel thread behavior, e.g., data sharing and synchronization. Using the virtual platform, programmers can develop application programs in which virtual threads execute concurrently to process data; virtual translators and drivers adapt the application code to particular hardware on which it is to execute, transparently to the programmer. |
| US08321847B1 |
Dynamic function wizard
A device receives selection of a function category associated with a dynamically-type programming language, receives selection of a function associated with the selected function category, dynamically generates one or more function signatures associated with the selected function, and stores at least a subset of the one or more function signatures in a memory or displays at least a subset of the one or more function signatures to a user. |
| US08321844B2 |
Providing registration of a communication
A computer-implemented method for providing registration of a communication includes locating a reference in metadata for an object-processing framework. The reference identifies a portion of logic that performs a specific service. The method includes storing at least part of the located reference in a trace object. The method includes replacing the located reference in the metadata with a reference to the trace object. |
| US08321841B2 |
Validation framework for service oriented architecture (SOA) application adoption
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to business process model validation and provide a method, system and computer program product for validating a service oriented architecture (SOA) oriented application. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for validating an SOA oriented application can be provided. The method can include transforming a business process model for an SOA oriented application into a directed and connected, acyclic graph, further transforming service groupings for the business process model into corresponding directed and connected, acyclic graphs, computing all paths from root node to leaf node in the graph for the business process model, and validating the business process model by ensuring no loops or cycles in the graph for the business process model, and further validating the business process model by ensuring no shared vertices amongst the graphs for the service groupings. |
| US08321837B2 |
Techniques for minimum permissions detection and verification
Techniques are provided for determining a minimum set of permissions for a software component. A first set of minimum permissions is determined for proper execution of the software component. The first set designates one or more permissions. Determining the first set includes performing iterative testing to determine whether one or more user permissions are included in the first set by only disabling one of the user permissions on an iteration. Verification processing may be performed in which a second set of minimum permissions is determined and the first set may be compared to the second set to determine whether the first set is equivalent to the second set. |
| US08321831B2 |
Architectural design for internal projects application software
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing an internal projects application useful for planning and executing internal projects and measures, including network scheduling, resource staffing, cost estimation and management, time confirmation, and progress monitoring. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service interface operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include a Costing process component that maintains project cost estimates; an Accounting process component that records relevant business transactions; a Project Processing process component that structures, plans and executes simple, short-term measures and complex projects; and a Time and Labor Management process component that supports the definition of employees' planned working times as well as the recording of the actual working times and absences and their evaluation. |
| US08321830B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing timing information while designing a multi-cell circuit
A method and apparatus are described for providing timing information to a view placement interactive (VPI) tool user designing a multi-cell circuit. A circuit design comprising a plurality of cells is displayed to the user. Each cell includes a pre-characterized circuit structure. A graphical user interface (GUI) may be used to request a cell placement change, a design connectivity change or a cell type change. The circuit design is modified to implement the requested change, an incremental static timing analysis is performed, and the resulting timing information associated with the requested change is presented on the displayed circuit design. Timing information may be displayed directly on a cell that receives an output from the particular cell, and/or may be displayed adjacent to the particular cell. The timing information may include current and previous frequency slack information associated with each input and output pin of the particular cell. |
| US08321828B2 |
Dummy fill to reduce shallow trench isolation (STI) stress variation on transistor performance
A method of forming an integrated circuit structure on a chip includes extracting an active layer from a design of the integrated circuit structure, forming a guard band conforming to the shape of the active layer, the guard band surrounds the active layer, and the guard band is spaced from the active layer at a first spacing in the X-axis direction and at a second spacing in the Y-axis direction, removing any part of the guard band that violates design rules, removing convex corners of the guard band, and adding dummy diffusion patterns into the remaining space of the chip outside the guard band. The first and second spacing can be specified as the same spacings in a Spice model characterization of the integrated circuit structure. The dummy diffusion patterns with different granularities can be added so that the diffusion density is substantially uniform over the chip. |
| US08321827B2 |
Power supply design
In one embodiment, there is provided a method for a computer aiding a design of a power supply that includes extracting data of one of a plurality of power supplies of an apparatus from product data about the apparatus, extracting data of a power supply system from power supply system data, the one of the plurality power supplies system is not allocated to any of the plurality of power supplies of the apparatus and associating the extracted data of the power supply with the extracted data of the power supply system in power supply allocation result data. |
| US08321826B2 |
Method and apparatus of core timing prediction of core logic in the chip-level implementation process through an over-core window on a chip-level routing layer
A method and/or an apparatus of core timing prediction is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method may include generating a core timing model of a core logic that is accurately transferable to any chip-level integration process. The method may reduce performance degradation and/or performance variation of the core logic caused by a number of interactions between core logic components and chip-level components in the chip-level integration process. In addition, the core timing model of the core logic may be generated by filling un-wired tracks with metal in any of an outermost layer of the core logic after a core logic routing and constructing a layer at least an area of and adjacent to any of the outermost layer of the core logic with grounded metal that is orthogonal to those of the metal used in the outermost layer of the core logic. |
| US08321824B2 |
Multiple-power-domain static timing analysis
Embodiments of a computer system, a method, an integrated circuit and a computer-program product (i.e., software) for use with the computer system are described. These devices and techniques may be used to perform STA for circuits that include multiple power domains. Power-domain crossing information and optionally the delay in each power domain can be propagated during the full circuit graph-based STA to accurately perform STA without enumerating all paths. Some embodiments can use a tag-based engine to track power-domain crossing(s) during graph-based STA. If a power-domain is crossed in a path, pessimism may be added to the cumulative delay at the end point of the path. For those paths that do not cross a power domain, pessimism may be removed from the cumulative delay at their end points. In some embodiments, pessimism may be removed from the cumulative delay at end points for paths that cross power domains. |
| US08321822B2 |
Method and computer-readable medium of optical proximity correction
A method optical proximity correction includes the following steps. First, a layout of an integrated circuit with an exposure intensity specification is provided. The integrated circuit includes a plurality of patterns and each pattern has an exposure intensity distribution. Second, a quadratic polynomial equation of each exposure intensity distribution is approximated. Third, a local extreme intensity of each exposure intensity distribution is computed by fitting the quadratic polynomial equation. Fourth, the local extreme intensity is determined whether violating the exposure intensity specification or not. Then, the layout is corrected when the local extreme intensity violates the exposure intensity specification. |
| US08321820B2 |
Method to compensate optical proximity correction
A method to compensate optical proximity correction adapted for a photolithography process includes providing an integrated circuit (IC) layout. The IC layout includes active regions, a shallow trench isolation (STI) region and ion implant regions overlapped with a part of the STI region and at least a part of the active regions. Subsequently, at least a photoresist line width compensation region disposed in the STI region is acquired in a photoresist covering region outside the ion implant regions according to the IC layout. Afterwards, the IC layout is corrected according to a width of the photoresist line width compensation region, a length of a side of the active region facing a side of the photoresist line width compensation region and a distance from the side of the photoresist line width compensation region to the active region facing the side. Then, the corrected IC layout is transferred to a photomask. |
| US08321818B2 |
Model-based retargeting of layout patterns for sub-wavelength photolithography
Mechanism are provided for model-based retargeting of photolithographic layouts. An optical proximity correction is performed on a set of target patterns for a predetermined number of iterations until a counter value exceeds a maximum predetermined number of iterations in order to produce a set of optical proximity correction mask shapes. A set of lithographic contours is generated for each of the set of optical proximity correction mask shapes in response to the counter value exceeding the maximum predetermined number of iterations. A normalized image log slope (NILS) extraction is performed on the set of target shapes and use the set of lithographic contours to produce NILS values. The set of target patterns is modified based on the NILS values in response to the NILS values failing to be within a predetermined limit. The steps are repeated until the NILS values are within the predetermined limit. |
| US08321817B2 |
Model-based fill
Various aspects of this disclosure relate to increasing pattern density in a circuit layout design of a circuit layer so as to control the thickness of material in a manufactured integrated circuit. For example, a layer in circuit design may be divided into separate areas, and a target thickness range may be established for all of the tiles in the integrated circuit design. Each area may be analyzed to determine if it has a sufficient pattern density for a thickness estimation model to accurately estimate its expected material thickness upon manufacture. Each tile may be analyzed to determine if the expected thickness for that tile is within the target thickness range. |
| US08321814B2 |
Integrated handheld computing and telephony system and services
Disclosed is an integrated handheld computer and telephony system. Integration of the handheld computer and telephony system is at the physical and operational level. For example, the integrated handheld computer and telephony system physically integrates a handheld computer with a mobile (e.g., cellular) telephone. In addition, the handheld computer is distinct from telephony system in that they are logically separable. However, they are also operationally integrated, for example, the telephony system executes a telephone application on the processor of the handheld computer. Likewise, the handheld computer can execute applications, for example, a phone book, that can be used to launch the telephony application. |
| US08321813B2 |
Pointing device operation modification program
An apparatus and method for modifying and improving pointing device operation. The apparatus comprises a signal detector, a signal modifier, and a signal transmitter. The apparatus intercepts pointing device signals before application programs receive them. The signal detector continuously listens for signals generated by a pointing device, or a pointing device program. Responsive to the signal detector detecting a pointing device signal, the signal modifier determines what type of GUI element is located at the current pointer location. Based upon the identified GUI element, the signal modifier modifies the pointing device signal appropriately. The signal transmitter then relays the modified signal to any other programs that would have received the original signal if not for the action of the apparatus. |
| US08321810B2 |
Configuring an adaptive input device with selected graphical images
One exemplary system for configuring an adaptive input device includes a display and an adaptive input device having a plurality of depressible buttons. The system also includes a computing device operatively coupled to the display and the adaptive input device. The computing device includes a menu module to display a plurality of graphical images on the display, each graphical image associated with a computing function. The computing device also includes a detection module to detect a selected graphical image, from the plurality of graphical images, for display on a depressible button of the adaptive input device. The computing device also includes a presentation module to visually present the selected graphical image on the depressible button. |
| US08321806B2 |
Visualization of process control data
Graphical representations of operational process control data associated with monitored processes is displayed within the context of the geographical locations at which the processes operate, and in a manner as to model individual components of the processes. |
| US08321805B2 |
Service architecture based metric views
Scorecard associated content is provided to limited user interfaces of desktop visualization applications on a user's computing device (e.g. a mobile computing device, an ultra-mobile computing device, a personal digital assistant, an in-car computing system, and a tablet computing device) for delivery of personalized and scalable metrics. Users are enabled to set up personalized metric views based on predefined or user-defined desktop visualization applications employing indicators, partial report views, audio, video, and the like. Data delivery attributes from local or remote data sources can be set for deployment of the desktop visualization applications in a service based architecture. Computing device visualization applications may also be used to activate local or remote applications for various scorecard operations. |
| US08321800B2 |
Methods for creating dynamic lists from selected areas of a power system of a utility company
Methods are provided for creating dynamic lists from selected areas of a power system of a utility company. The utility company has an energy management system with a control panel. The energy management system is used to access one or more source displays of a site. Rubber-banding or lassoing is used to create selected areas from at least a portion of the source displays. Lists are dynamically created. Operator defined information is displayed for each element type in a list of network elements from the selected areas that have been rubber-banded or lassoed. |
| US08321798B2 |
Containing and accessing multiple web browsers
A container browser or a super browser stores browsers and enables a user to launch any stored web browser and display a designated web page from a preferred browser. This container browser can track and bookmark the browsers such that the browsers could be easily selected and initiated. The container browser could present the content in tabbed form, meaning that a tab that the user can click on will represent every open window. Once the user has designated a particular browser to display particular web page, then this information is stored in the container browser. Further accesses to that web site would be displayed using the designated web browser. Other designated web pages would be displayed on other designated web browsers. |
| US08321797B2 |
Immersive visualization center for creating and designing a “total design simulation” and for improved relationship management and market research
Embodiments of the invention include methods, apparatuses, and articles of manufacture for generating and using virtual reality simulations to conduct market research and related activities. An immersive visualization center may be used to manage relationships with customers, choosers, shoppers, and users. The visualization center may allow customers (or other relevant parties) to interact with virtual representations of products or solutions in a virtual reality environment appropriate for the product. The immersive visualization center may also include a physical mock-up of the environment and or products simulated by the virtual reality simulation. |
| US08321796B2 |
Dynamic meeting agenda generation based on presenter availability
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to C&S e-meeting scheduling and provide a method, system and computer program product for dynamic agenda updating in a C&S system. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for dynamic agenda updating based upon presenter participation in an e-meeting can be provided. The method can include creating a new e-meeting in a collaborative computing environment for attendees and presenters selected from amongst the attendees. The method also can include generating an invite with an agenda for the new e-meeting including a time block and time slots for presentations by different ones of the presenters. Finally, the method can include dynamically changing a view to the agenda for viewing ones of the attendees to reflect changes in the time slots resulting from replies to the invite received by individual ones of the presenters. |
| US08321794B2 |
Rich conference invitations with context
Systems and methods that enable conference attendee(s) to invite others to the conference and provide a rich set of contextual information about the conference upfront to the invitee(s). A communicator component enables document related to the conference to be automatically shared and can further supply the name of the document and the location of the document. Hence, an invitee can make an informed decision about joining the conference and evaluate relevance of the conference up front (e.g., prior to joining). |
| US08321792B1 |
Method and system for capturing and using mashup data for trend analysis
A computer system includes a display interface, a user input device interface, and a processor cooperatively operable with the display interface and the user input device interface. The processor is configured to facilitate displaying, via the display interface, a mashup or service; interacting with the user to input, via the user input device interface, an indication to take a snapshot of the mashup or service being currently displayed via the display interface; and storing a snapshot artifact of live data from the mashup or service at the instant the snapshot is taken. |
| US08321791B2 |
Indicating website reputations during website manipulation of user information
An aspect of the present invention relates to methods and systems involving receiving an indicator of an attempted interaction of a client computing facility with an item of content associated with a website and presenting an indicator of reputation to a client computing facility attempting to interact with the web content. The indicator of reputation may be based at least in part upon whether an entity associated with the web content seeks to manipulate a user in order to obtain information from the user. |
| US08321787B2 |
Managing multiple virtual world accounts from a single virtual lobby interface
A virtual lobby client automatically interfaces with multiple virtual world instances, each provided by a separate virtual world provider from among multiple virtual world providers, each interfaced with to access a separate virtual world account, to retrieve a separate selection of inventory items from each virtual world account. The virtual lobby client renders an inventory directory index of each separate selection of inventory items within a single lobby interface with at least one selectable option for managing each of the items in the inventory directory from the single lobby interface. The virtual lobby client renders, within the single lobby interface, a separate graphical portal for each virtual account, wherein entry of each of the separate graphical portals triggers the virtual lobby client to automatically open a virtual world specific interface window into a particular virtual world instance provided under the particular virtual world account associated with the entered graphical portal. |
| US08321784B1 |
Reviewing objects
Reviewing Objects. An example method includes generating a plurality of sections corresponding to an object. The plurality of sections includes a suggestion section and a support section. An input is received for at least one section of the plurality of sections. Further, one or more functions associated with the suggestion section are performed. |
| US08321783B2 |
Visualizing content positioning within a document using layers
It can be difficult to predict what the layout of a document will be if the document contains several content elements, some of which are associated with different positioning schemes. In one embodiment, elements are shown in different layers based on their positioning schemes. For example, a first layer includes elements that are associated with non-overlapping positioning schemes, and a second layer includes elements that are associated with overlapping positioning schemes. When the document is viewed from above, the layers “collapse” onto each other, and the document appears to have a conventional (two-dimensional) page rendering. However, when the document is viewed from an angle, the layers appear separately in three-dimensional space, similar to an exploded view. The separate layers reveal the positioning schemes of the various elements and the layout interactions between those elements. This visualization technique helps a user understand how various elements are positioned within the document. |
| US08321778B2 |
Efficient in-band reliability with separate cyclic redundancy code frames
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for efficient in-band reliability with separate cyclic redundancy code (CRC) frames. In some embodiments, a memory system uses data frames to transfer data between a host and a memory device. The system also uses a separate frame (e.g., a CRC frame) to transfer a CRC checksum that covers the data frames. |
| US08321777B2 |
Cyclic redundancy check code generating circuit, semiconductor memory device, and method of driving semiconductor memory device
Disclosed are a semiconductor memory device, and a method of driving the same, and a cyclic redundancy check code generating circuit capable of performing cyclic redundancy check. A semiconductor memory device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a memory cell array, a data processing unit receiving data that is read from the memory cell array and selectively outputting at least some of the data according to ordering information, bit structure information, and burst length information, and a check code generating unit generating a cyclic redundancy check code to detect an error in the data being output, the check code generating unit generating and outputting the cyclic redundancy check code by using the read data, the ordering information, the bit structure information, and the burst length information. |
| US08321773B1 |
Hardware true random number generator in integrated circuit with tamper detection
Circuits and methods to generate a True Random Number Generator (TRNG) with tamper-detection are presented. In one embodiment, the circuit includes two identical TRNG circuits and logic circuitry that combines and correlates the outputs of the two TRNG circuits. The two identical TRNG circuits are located in close proximity to each other inside an Integrated Circuit (IC). The logic circuitry analyzes the outputs of the two TRNG circuits and the historical values of the relation between the outputs of the two TRNG circuits to determine if the outputs are correlated. If the outputs are not correlated, the logic circuitry outputs a true random number sequence based on the combination of the two TRNG circuits. As a result, circuit tampering, such as changes in temperature or voltage supplies, is detected in the IC. |
| US08321767B2 |
Packet processing apparatus and method capable of generating modified packets by modifying payloads of specific packets identified from received packets
A packet processing apparatus includes a packet identifying unit and a packet modifying unit. The packet identifying unit is utilized for receiving a plurality of packets and checking identification information derived from the received packets to identify first packets from the received packets. The packet modifying unit is coupled to the packet identifying unit, and is utilized for checking payloads of the first packets to identify second packets from the first packets, where each of the second packets has specific data included in a payload thereof, and for modifying at least the payload of each of the second packets. |
| US08321766B2 |
IP-data transmitting apparatus and IP-data transmitting method
An IP-data transmitting apparatus performs an error correction coding by classifying data into a layer indicative of the priority order of the data based on importance and vulnerability of information included in the data, and combining a plurality of data components into combination patterns. The number of the combination patterns is specified with respect to each layer with predetermined priority order. |
| US08321765B2 |
Method of reading data in non-volatile memory device
In a method of reading data from a non-volatile memory device, read data is generated based on a word line voltage. The read data includes data read from a plurality of sectors included in the non-volatile memory device. Bad sector data is transferred data based on read data and bad sector information. The bad sector data corresponds to data read from at least one bad sector included in the plurality of sectors. The bad sector information is updated by checking error bits of the bad sector data. The word line voltage is generated based on the updated bad sector information. |
| US08321761B1 |
ECC bits used as additional register file storage
A memory module includes a plurality of register files. Each register file is associated with a set of error-correcting code (ECC) bits and ECC check/correct logic that can provide error-correcting functionality, if required. When error-correcting functionality is not required, ECC bits are grouped together to form additional register files, thereby providing additional storage space. |
| US08321759B2 |
Method and apparatus for error correction on a mobile device
A method and apparatus for distributing dynamically reconfigurable content to a mobile device is provided. One embodiment of a method for encoding a data stream to enable error correction by a receiver of the data stream includes storing a block of the data stream in a first memory array, processing the first memory array to produce a second memory array, inverting the second memory array, and storing the second memory array, as inverted, as a third memory array. |
| US08321758B2 |
Data error correction device and methods thereof
A method of accessing a memory includes accessing multiple ECC words via a single memory channel. Portions of each ECC word are retrieved from different memory ranks, so that a failure in a memory device at one memory rank is less likely to result in uncorrectable errors in the data segment. By accessing the data segments via a single memory channel, rather than multiple memory channels, the single memory channel can be accessed independently, providing for lower cost memory modules, higher memory bandwidth, and lower power dissipation. |
| US08321757B2 |
Method and apparatus for error correction
Methods, apparatus and computer readable medium for handling error correction in a memory are disclosed. In some embodiments, after an attempt is made to write original data to a ‘target’ memory, data is read back from the target memory in a ‘first read operation’, thereby generating first read data. After the first read operation, the first read data is compared to the original data and/or an indication of a difference between the original data and the first data is determined. The information obtained by effecting the data-comparison and/or information related to the difference indication is used when correcting errors in data read back from the target memory in a ‘second read operation.’. The presently-disclosed teachings are applicable to any kind of memory including (i) non-volatile memories such as flash memory, magnetic memory and optical storage and (ii) volatile memory such as SRAM or DRAM. |
| US08321754B2 |
Method for transmitting multimedia data in ad hoc communication networks
A method for transmitting multimedia data in an ad hoc network including receiving a packet on a radio interface, and if the node is not its destination, is copied into a local buffer Q while awaiting the verification of the packet, the packet is also uploaded to the top layers for on the one hand verification of its possible corruption and on the other hand optional storage in a local stack P of long duration with additional information about the data fragment. In the case where the transmission on the last hop before the current node has corrupted the packet, it is verified that the headers are intact so as to be able to route the packet appropriately, after having verified whether the stack P is present and whether it contains an intact version of the packet, in which case it is the intact payload which will be substituted for the erroneous payload in the buffer Q. If the stack P is not present or does not contain the packet, then the method will nevertheless propagate the packet when only the payload has been corrupted since a robust multimedia decoder might be able to use this packet correctly. |
| US08321752B1 |
Integrated 2-level low density parity check (LDPC) codes
An encoding system includes a first low density parity check (LDPC) module and a second LDPC module. The first LDPC module is configured to generate a first encoded codeword by encoding a first codeword using a first LDPC code. The second LDPC module is configured to generate a second encoded codeword by encoding a second codeword using a second LDPC code. Signals based on the first encoded codeword and signals based on the second encoded codeword are transmitted over a communications channel. The first LDPC code is defined by a first parity check matrix and the second LDPC code is defined by a second parity check matrix. The second parity check matrix includes the first parity check matrix, a zero matrix, and a supplementary matrix. |
| US08321751B2 |
Configurable parallel computation of cyclic redundancy check (CRC) codes
An apparatus (1) for implementing a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) error detection methodology to compute a CRC error detection code for data according to the methodology, comprising computation means (2) which uses parallel computation (4) to compute the CRC error detection code, and configurator means (3) which uses the CRC error detection methodology to determine a configuration of the computation means required to compute the CRC error detection code, and configures (25) the computation means accordingly, wherein the configurator means is able to use each of a plurality of CRC error detection methodologies to determine a configuration of the computation means required for parallel computation of a CRC error detection code according to each of the methodologies, and the computation means is configurable to allow configuration thereof for parallel computation of each CRC error detection code. |
| US08321745B2 |
Apparatus and method for channel encoding and decoding in communication system using low-density parity-check codes
An apparatus and a method for channel encoding/decoding in a communication system are provided. The apparatus and the method generate LDPC-encoded blocks with various lengths from an LDPC code with fixed length in a communication system using a Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) code. The apparatus and the method perform shortening using a predetermined number of shortened bits and perform LDPC encoding. The apparatus and the method apply predetermined rules according to the predetermined number of shortened bits and determine the number of bits to be punctured, and perform puncturing based on the determined number of punctured bits. |
| US08321743B2 |
Information storage medium and information storage medium processing apparatus
An information storage medium according to one embodiment of the invention includes a card main body embedded with a module, in which the module includes a communication control unit for interpreting received data, and selectively executing normal processing for returning response data to a transmission source of the received data based on a determination result indicating that the received data is correct data complying with a predetermined communication protocol, and error processing for returning an error to the transmission source of the received data based on a determination result indicating that the received data is error data. |
| US08321742B2 |
Adaptive automatic repeat-request apparatus and method for a multiple input multiple output system
The present invention relates to an adaptive automatic repeat-request apparatus and method for an MIMO system including a transmitter and a receiver. The apparatus comprises an adaptive retransmission component located at the transmitter. The adaptive retransmission component uses a special frame structure that divides the transmission data in a frame into several sections according to the number of transmission antennas, and adds an individual error detecting code within each section. The transmission data are sent to the receiver through the several antennas. The receiver responds to the adaptive retransmission component with feedback information of an acknowledgement or negative acknowledgement signal, and detected signal strength of data for each transmission antenna. After receiving the signal strength of transmission data, the retransmission signal vector for error data is determined. |
| US08321737B2 |
Data transfer apparatus and data transfer control method
A data transfer apparatus in which, in a failure state such that an error packet is received at a reception end, the error packet is returned and is recorded in the transmission end, the error packet is analyzed and an error bit is identified at the transmission end, and data transmission/reception units are initialized and restarted in order to recover from the failure state. |
| US08321735B2 |
Joint channel code for data non-associated control signalling type
A length Nd≧2 of a vector is determined, the vector indicating a type of data non-associated control signaling (e.g., CQI+ACK, CQI+NACK, or CQI-only). The length Nd may be sent individually to UEs or broadcast in the cell. The network decodes a received message using a sub-code word from its memory having the determined length Nd. From the sub-code word the network determines what type of data non-associated control signaling is in the received message, and may jointly decode CQI and the ACK/NACK. Varying the length Nd achieves an error performance: longer Nd deteriorates CQI performance and increases ACK/NACK performance. The UE receives the indication of the length Nd, determines a channel quality vector and also a type-vector from its memory having the length Nd, and multiplexes and jointly encodes the vector of length Nd with the channel quality vector. |
| US08321734B2 |
Method and apparatus to transmit and/or receive data via wireless network and wireless device
A method of and an apparatus to improve stability and efficiency during data transmission performed over a wireless network includes transmitting a first data frame containing a plurality of data units to a receiving device, receiving from the receiving device a receipt of confirmation for each data unit received by the receiving device, and transmitting a second data frame containing at least one of the plurality of data units that have not been transmitted or received, according to the receipt of confirmation for each data unit received by the receiving device. |
| US08321730B2 |
Scan architecture and design methodology yielding significant reduction in scan area and power overhead
A scan architecture and design methodology yielding significant reduction in scan area and power overhead is generally presented. In this regard, an apparatus is introduced comprising a plurality of combinatorial logic clouds, scan cells coupled with the combinatorial logic clouds, the scan cells to load test vectors, wherein the scan cells comprise a plurality of first type scan cells and second type scan cells sequentially coupled with separate combinatorial logic cloud outputs, and a first scan clock and a second scan clock, wherein the first scan clock controls the first type scan cells and the second scan clock controls the second type scan cells. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08321729B2 |
Divided scan path segments maintaining test pattern of stimulus/response connections
Scan architectures are commonly used to test digital circuitry in integrated circuits. The present invention describes a method of adapting conventional scan architectures into a low power scan architecture. The low power scan architecture maintains the test time of conventional scan architectures, while requiring significantly less operational power than conventional scan architectures. The low power scan architecture is advantageous to IC/die manufacturers since it allows a larger number of circuits (such as DSP or CPU core circuits) embedded in an IC/die to be tested in parallel without consuming too much power within the IC/die. Since the low power scan architecture reduces test power consumption, it is possible to simultaneously test more die on a wafer than previously possible using conventional scan architectures. This allows wafer test times to be reduced which reduces the manufacturing cost of each die on the wafer. |
| US08321727B2 |
System and method responsive to a rate of change of a performance parameter of a memory
Systems and methods are disclosed that are responsive to a rate of change of a performance parameter of a memory. In a particular embodiment, a rate of change of a performance parameter of a non-volatile memory is determined. The rate of change is compared to a threshold, and an action is performed in response to determining that the rate of change satisfies the threshold. |
| US08321718B2 |
Clock control
The present invention provides a processor comprising: an execution unit arranged to execute a plurality of program threads, clock generating means for generating first and second clock signals, and storage means for storing at least one thread-specific clock-control bit. The execution unit is configured to execute a first one of the threads in dependence on the first clock signal and to execute a second one of the threads in dependence on the second clock signal. The clock generating means is operable to generate the second clock signal with the second frequency selectively differing from the first frequency in dependence on the at least one clock-control bit. A corresponding method and computer program product are also provided. |
| US08321717B2 |
Dynamic frequency adjustment for interoperability of differential clock recovery methods
A system and method for dynamic frequency adjustment for interoperability of differential clock recovery, including one or more of the following: a frequency generator for receiving a frequency reference clock signal and generating a plurality of frequency signals by operating on the frequency reference clock signal, the plurality of frequencies signals being output from the frequency generator and each having a different frequency; a flexible distributor for receiving the plurality of frequency signals from the frequency generator and selecting ones of said plurality of frequency signals and transmitting said selected ones of said plurality of frequency signals; and a plurality of differential units, each for receiving one of said selected ones of said plurality of frequency signals, each for applying a differential signal to said selected ones of said plurality of frequency signals, and each for adding time stamps to the selected ones of said plurality of frequency signals and outputting respective time stamped differential selected frequency signals. |
| US08321715B2 |
Communication apparatus having clock interface
A communication apparatus having a clock interface unit supplying a clock signal for synchronization, includes a clock extracting section for extracting a clock component from a receive signal, a decoding section for generating a decoded signal by decoding in a predetermined encoding form the clock component extracted by the clock extracting section, a frame converting section for creating a receive frame by converting the decoded signal to a frame in a predetermined frame form, a determining section for determining whether the predetermined encoding form and the predetermined frame form are right or not on a basis of the receive frame, a setting section for performing setting regarding the clock signal on a basis of the encoding form and frame form determined to be right by the determining section, and a clock signal output section for outputting the clock signal generated on a basis of the setting by the setting section. |
| US08321714B2 |
Serial controller and bi-directional serial controller
A serial controller is adapted to receive an external clock and an input data, and output an inverted clock and an output data. The serial controller includes an inverter, a serial position detector, a synchronous clock generator, a serial register, and a half-cycle delay unit. Thereby, through the serial controller, the problem that the data signal and the driving clock are not synchronous when the clock series are inverted is avoided. Besides, a bi-directional serial controller further includes an identification unit and a data directing unit, and the serial controller is enabled to return the current status to a central control unit to serve as the reference for error detection. |
| US08321711B2 |
Semiconductor device having a threshold voltage control function
The invention provides a semiconductor device that power is stabilized by suppressing power consumption as much as possible. The semiconductor device of the invention includes a logic portion and a memory portion each including a plurality of transistors, a detecting portion for detecting one or both of operation frequencies of the logic portion and the memory portion, a Vth control for supplying a Vth control signal to one or both of the logic portion and the memory portion, and an antenna. Each of the plurality of transistors has a first gate electrode which is input with a logic signal, a second gate electrode which is input with the Vth control signal, and a semiconductor film such that the second gate electrode, the semiconductor film, and the first gate electrode are provided in this order from the bottom. |
| US08321708B2 |
Interfacing media access control (MAC) with a low-power physical layer (PHY) control
An apparatus and method of interfacing physical layer (PHY) control with media access control (MAC) is disclosed. One method includes signaling to the PHY control to operate in a low-power mode when the MAC is detected to be transmitting idle patterns. The MAC transitioning from transmitting the idle patterns to transmitting data can be detected. When the transition is detected, the PHY control is signaled to transition to a wake up mode. Data from the MAC is buffered while the PHY control is in the wake up mode. The buffered data is provided to the PHY control after the PHY control has completed the wake up mode. |
| US08321707B2 |
Main computer for vehicle and power management method thereof
A main computer for vehicle includes a central processing unit and a programmable logic device. The central processing unit is configured for controlling operations of the main computer. The programmable logic device is coupled to the central processing unit and includes a built-in power state machine for managing power statuses of the main computer. The power state machine includes a turn-off status, an operating status, and a predetermined status located between the turn-off status and the operating status. |
| US08321703B2 |
Power aware memory allocation
A computer system may place memory objects in specific memory physical regions based on energy consumption and performance or other policies. The system may have multiple memory regions at least some of which may be powered down or placed in a low power state during system operation. The memory object may be characterized in terms of access frequency, movability, and desired performance and placed in an appropriate memory region. In some cases, the memory object may be placed in a temporary memory region and later moved to a final memory region for long term placement. The policies may allow some processes to operate while consuming less energy, while other processes may be configured to maximize performance. |
| US08321700B2 |
Using a single terminal for a power enable output signal and detecting an over-current condition
A power controller for a peripheral bus interface. A peripheral bus power controller includes a first terminal, a second terminal coupled to receive an power enable input signal from a host controller, and a third terminal coupled to provide an over-current output signal indicative of an over-current condition to the host controller. The peripheral bus power controller further includes an enable circuit configured to assert a power enable output signal on the first terminal responsive to receiving the power enable input signal and a first buffer configured to provide the over-current output signal to the host controller responsive to the power controller detecting the over-current condition on the first terminal. |
| US08321697B2 |
Memory device, host device, memory system, memory device control method, host device control method and memory system control method
A memory card 100 having a NAND type flash memory connectable to a host device 200, capable of transmitting/receiving a signal to/from the host device 200 at a first voltage (3.3 V) or a second voltage (1.8 V) and safely changing a signal voltage of a transmission/reception signal that mutually checks a signal voltage through handshake processing with the host device 200 when the signal voltage is switched. |
| US08321688B2 |
Secure and private backup storage and processing for trusted computing and data services
A digital escrow pattern is provided for backup data services including searchable encryption techniques for backup data, such as synthetic full backup data, stored at remote site or in a cloud service, distributing trust across multiple entities to avoid a single point of data compromise. In one embodiment, an operational synthetic full is maintained with encrypted data as a data service in a cryptographically secure manner that addresses integrity and privacy requirements for external or remote storage of potentially sensitive data. The storage techniques supported include backup, data protection, disaster recovery, and analytics on second copies of primary device data. Some examples of cost-effective cryptographic techniques that can be applied to facilitate establishing a high level of trust over security and privacy of backup data include, but are not limited to, size-preserving encryption, searchable-encryption, or Proof of Application, blind fingerprints, Proof of Retrievability, and others. |
| US08321686B2 |
Secure memory card with life cycle phases
A secure memory card with encryption capabilities comprises various life cycle states that allow for testing of the hardware and software of the card in certain of the states. The testing mechanisms are disabled in certain other of the states thus closing potential back doors to secure data and cryptographic keys. Controlled availability and generation of the keys required for encryption and decryption of data is such that even if back doors are accessed that previously encrypted data is impossible to decrypt and thus worthless even if a back door is found and maliciously pried open. |
| US08321685B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing confidential information
The invention is a method and apparatus for managing the secure acquisition, storage and disclosure of confidential information using biometric keys to lock data storage devices, a secure data input/output device and authorization procedures to facilitate identity rights management; and/or data querying techniques to preserve the anonymity of disclosed personal data. |
| US08321682B1 |
System and method for generating and managing administrator passwords
A password management system and method for securing networked client terminals and mobile devices is provided. More specifically, the present invention provides a system and method for encrypting randomly generated administrator-level passwords and providing a means for decrypting the randomly generated passwords for single-use unrestricted access to a designated terminal or mobile device. When unrestricted access to the terminal or mobile device is required, the encrypted administrator-level password is decrypted using a shared symmetric key, which is generated during encryption of the administrator password, to reveal the administrator-level password for the terminal or mobile device. The administrator-level password is a single-use password, wherein upon use of the administrator-level password a new administrator-level password may be automatically generated for the corresponding terminal or mobile device. |
| US08321681B2 |
Managing user accounts
The present disclosure relates to managing user accounts in one or more computer systems. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of storing on a client computing device a first cookie containing plaintext representations of one or more user identifications, and a second cookie containing encrypted versions of the one or more user identifications; updating the cookies in coordination with each other based on communications received from a central server system in response to actions by a user of the client computing device to log on or off of accounts managed by the computer server system; and mediating user access to data stored locally on the client computing device by using the first and second cookies and determining whether the data is associated with one of the user identifiers. |
| US08321680B2 |
Multisigning—a protocol for robust multiple party digital signatures
Embodiments describe a system and/or method for multiple party digital signatures. According to a first aspect a method comprises establishing a first validity range for a first key, establishing a first validity range for at least a second key, and determining if the validity range of the first key overlaps the first validity range of the at least a second key. A certificate is signed with the first validity range of the first key and the first validity range of the at least a second key if the validity ranges overlap. According to another embodiment, signage of the certificate is refused if the first validity range of the first key does not overlap with the first validity range of the at least a second key. |
| US08321679B2 |
Pre-processed information embedding system
Methods are provided for embedding auxiliary information in a host content signal which reduce the memory, bandwidth and computational complexity of the embedding and transmission systems. In one embodiment, a first reduced-scale signal is produced which corresponds to the host content embedded with a first logical value and producing a second reduced-scale signal corresponding to the host content embedded with a second logical value. A first set of segments from the first reduced-scale signal may be combined with a second set of segments from the second reduced-scale signal in a pre-defined manner to produce a composite embedded host content. Thus the storage and transmission requirements of the watermarking system are reduced to having to deal with only the original content plus two reduced-scale signals. |
| US08321678B2 |
System and method to send a message using multiple authentication mechanisms
A system may include a sender computing system to transmit first authentication data in association with a message, the first authentication data conforming to a first authentication mechanism, and to transmit second authentication data in association with the message, the second authentication data conforming to a second authentication mechanism. The system may also include a component to receive the first authentication data in association with the message from the sender computing system, and to receive the second authentication data in association with the message from the sender computing system. |
| US08321665B2 |
Apparatus and method for using contents information in digital rights management
An apparatus and method for determining contents information corresponding to a Rights Object (RO) by transmitting information on contents together when the RO is moved from a mobile device to a memory card or a smart card or when the RO is moved from the memory card or the smart card to the mobile device are provided. The apparatus includes a meta information manager for determining information on contents corresponding to the RO when the RO is moved, and for generating meta information containing the determined contents information, and a controller for providing control to transmit the RO and the meta information generated by the meta information manager to a portable storage device. Accordingly, the conventional problem can be solved in which information on contents cannot be determined by using a Contents IDentifier (CID) if the RO does not exist together with the contents. |
| US08321664B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient certificate revocation
Revocation of digital certificates in a public-key infrastructure is disclosed, particularly in the case when a certificate might need to be revoked prior to its expirations. For example, if an employee was terminated or switched roles, his current certificate should no longer be valid. Accordingly, novel methods, components and systems are presented for addressing this problem. A solution set forth herein is based on the construction of grounded dense hash trees. In addition, the grounded dense hash tree approach also provides a time-communication tradeoff compared to the basic chain-based version of NOVOMODO, and this tradeoff yields a direct improvement in computation time in practical situations. |
| US08321662B2 |
Certificate renewal using secure handshake
A method, system, and computer usable program product for certificate renewal using a secure handshake are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A determination is made, forming an expiration determination, whether a validity period associated with a certificate ends within a predetermined period from a time of receiving the certificate. If the expiration determination is true, a holder of the certificate is notified about the expiration. The holder may be an application executing in a data processing system or the data processing system itself. A new certificate is requested on behalf of the holder. The requested new certificate is received. The new certificate is sent to the holder of the certificate over a network. |
| US08321656B2 |
Timer use in extensible firmware interface compliant systems
Methods, systems, apparatuses and program products are disclosed for providing timer use and timer based execution parallelism during the DXE phase of computer start-up.Provision is made for loading a microkernel (or other kernel program) which presents itself as though it were a DXE Driver and changes a single threaded environment into a multithreaded environment. |
| US08321654B2 |
Methods for initial bootstrap during activation and initial configuration of user terminals in network
Methods and devices for initial bootstrap of a user terminal are provided. The user terminal transmits at least one first message to an initial bootstrap server. The first message includes device management capability information for the user terminal. The initial bootstrap server selects a device management protocol to be used by the user terminal and sends the selected device management protocol to the user terminal in at least one second message. |
| US08321652B2 |
Process and method for logical-to-physical address mapping using a volatile memory device in solid state disks
An embodiment of the invention relates to a mass storage device including a nonvolatile memory device with a plurality of memory management blocks and an address translation table formed with pointers to locations of the memory management blocks. A volatile memory device is included with an address index table formed with pointers to the pointers to the locations of the memory management blocks. The address index table is stored in the nonvolatile memory upon loss of bias voltage. Changes to the address translation table are accumulated in the volatile memory and written to the address translation table when at least a minimum quantity of the changes has been accumulated. The changes to the logical block address translation table accumulated in the volatile memory are written to a page in the address translation table after prior data in the page has been updated, written to another page, and then erased. |
| US08321650B2 |
Alignment-unit-based virtual formatting methods and devices employing the methods
In various embodiments, the present invention provides virtual disk formatting by intermediate devices including: (1) a storage shelf router and the storage shelf in which the storage-shelf is included, to external computing entities, such as disk-array controllers and host computers; (2) an I/O controller; and (3) a storage-bridge device. Additional embodiments of the present invention enhance virtual formatting by using additional padding, in a dual-abstraction method, to efficiently align virtual-block reads with underlying device blocks. Yet additional embodiments of the present invention allow for tracking and correcting device blocks corrupted during READ-MODIFY operations that occur during virtual-block WRITE operations. Various intermediate devices may employ two or more of the virtual formatting, dual abstraction, and corrupted-device-block tracking methods. |
| US08321649B2 |
Memory controller address and data pin multiplexing
A system and a method for configuring a memory controller that communicates with a memory device muxes selected pins for the data transfer. The memory controller includes a set of pins where each pin of the set is associated with a data bit and an address bit. A programmable logic block is connected to the set of pins and uses a subset of the set of pins to enable data transfer between the memory device and the memory controller depending on the size of the memory device such that the pins not included in the subset are available for other applications. |
| US08321648B2 |
Use of similarity hash to route data for improved deduplication in a storage server cluster
A technique for routing data for deduplication in a storage server cluster includes computing, for each node in the cluster, a value collectively representative of the data stored on the node, such as a “geometric center” of the node. New or modified data is routed to the node which has stored data identical or most similar to the new or modified data, as determined based on those values. Each node stores a plurality of chunks of data, where each chunk includes multiple deduplication segments. A content hash is computed for each deduplication segment in each node, and a similarity hash is computed for each chunk from the content hashes of all segments in the chunk. A geometric center of a node is computed from the similarity hashes of the chunks stored in the node. |
| US08321646B2 |
Method and apparatus for rebalancing storage components within a storage tier
A method for a storage controller to rebalance storage components within a storage tier is provided. The method maintains a linked list for each component, and each component includes a plurality of pages. Each linked list is ordered according to hot and cold pages and includes an identifier for each page. The method calculates a percent range of hot and cold pages for each component, and identifies a fullest and least full component. The method compares a random percent to the hot and cold percent ranges for the fullest component. If the random percent falls within the hot range, the method moves a selected hot page from the fullest component to an empty page in the least full component. If the random percent falls within the cold range, the method moves a selected cold page from the fullest component to an empty page in the least full component. |
| US08321642B1 |
Information storage system, snapshot acquisition method, and data storage medium
The information storage system of an aspect of the present invention includes a first differential data storage area which stores differential data of a higher volume from a first point of time to a second point of time, a lower snapshot manager which provides a lower snapshot at the second point of time of the higher volume, and a second differential data storage area which stores differential data of the higher volume after the second point of time. The higher snapshot manager acquires a plurality of generations of higher snapshots from the lower snapshot and the data in the first differential data storage area and acquires a plurality of generations of higher snapshots from the data of the higher volume and the data in the second differential data storage area. |
| US08321640B2 |
Data mask system and data mask method
A data mask system includes a processor providing control signals including a command signal, an address signal, and a data signal, a data mask processor receiving the control signals and providing either write data or masked data in response to the control signals, and generating data mask information and a data mask selection signal from at least one of the control signals, and a data mask register unit receiving the data mask selection signal, storing the data mask information, selecting a subset of the stored data mask information in response to the data mask selection signal, and returning selected data mask information to the data mask processor. The data mask processor receives the selected data mask information from the data mask register unit and provides the masked data as a result of performing a data mask operation on the data signal according to the selected data mask information. |
| US08321638B2 |
Cooperative mechanism for efficient application memory allocation
System, method and computer program product for allocating physical memory to processes. The method includes enabling a kernel to free memory in a physical memory space corresponding to arbitrarily sized memory allocations released by processes or applications in a virtual memory space. After freeing the memory, the system determines whether freed physical memory in the physical memory space spans one or more fixed size memory units (e.g., page frames). The method further includes designating a status of the one or more page frames as available for reuse; the freed page frames marked as available for reuse being available for backing a new process without requiring the kernel to delete data included in the freed memory released by the process. The kernel may organize pages marked as available for reuse in one or more local “pools” that is organized according to a variety of schemes which provide system efficiencies in that the kernel can eliminate the need for deleting of old data in those page frames without compromising data security. |
| US08321637B2 |
Computing system with optimized support for transactional memory
A computing system processes memory transactions for parallel processing of multiple threads of execution by support of which an application need not be aware. The computing system transactional memory support provides a Transaction Table in memory and a method of fast detection, of potential conflicts between multiple transactions. Special instructions may mark the boundaries of a transaction and identify memory locations applicable to a transaction. A ‘private to transaction’ (PTRAN) tag, directly addressable as part of the main data storage memory location, enables a quick detection of potential conflicts with other transactions that are concurrently executing on another thread of said computing system. The tag indicates whether (or not) a data entry in memory is part of a speculative memory state of an uncommitted transaction that is currently active in the system. |
| US08321633B2 |
Memory card and method for storing data on memory card
A memory card, connected to a host, includes a NAND flash memory and a memory controller. The NAND flash memory includes multiple pages, and each page includes multiple sectors. The memory controller receives sector data and a corresponding sector address from the host. The memory controller enables the sector data to be transferred to the NAND flash memory over a first data bus, via a buffer memory, when the sector address is an address for accessing a first sector in a selected page. The memory controller enables the sector data to be transferred to the NAND flash memory over a second data bus, bypassing the buffer memory, when the sector address is an address for accessing a sector other than the first sector in the selected page. |
| US08321630B1 |
Application-transparent hybridized caching for high-performance storage
Systems, apparatus, and computer-implemented methods are provided for the hybridization of cache memory utilizing both magnetic and solid-state memory media. A solid-state cache controller apparatus can be coupled to a host computing system to maximize efficiency of the system in a manner that is transparent to the high-level applications using the system. The apparatus includes an associative memory component and a solid-state cache control component. Solid-state memory is configured to store data blocks of host read operations. If a host-read operation is requested, the controller communicates with a solid-state cache memory controller to determine whether a tag array data structure indicates a cached copy of the requested data block is available in solid-state memory. |
| US08321629B2 |
Storage system, control methods for the same with data migration on power capped chassis
The present invention calculates the power consumption of the storage system for each device which supplies power with a storage system, and controls the storage system to keep the power consumption not to exceed the upper limit. In order to achieve this, the power consumption of the chassis configuring the destination storage system is calculated with reference to the number of logical volumes configuring the pool which includes virtual logical volumes, and the logical volumes included in the source storage system are migrated to the virtual logical volumes included in the destination storage system, keeping the power consumption specified in advance per device supplying power to the chassis configuring the destination storage system not to exceed the upper limit value. (Refer to FIG. 27.) |
| US08321627B1 |
Memory operation command latency management
Methods and apparatus for managing latency of memory commands are disclosed. An example method includes receiving memory operation commands for execution by a data storage device, each memory operation command being associated, for execution, with one of a plurality of memory devices. The example method also includes maintaining, for each memory device, a respective cumulative latency estimate. The example method also includes, for each memory operation command, when received by the memory controller, comparing the respective cumulative latency estimate of the associated memory device with a latency threshold for the received memory operation command. In the event the cumulative latency estimate is at or below the latency threshold, the received memory operation command is provided to a respective command queue operatively coupled with the respective memory device. In the event the cumulative latency estimate is above the latency threshold, the received memory operation command is returned to a host device. |
| US08321624B2 |
Memory device and management method of memory device
A memory device includes a plurality of blocks, and the plurality of blocks may include a plurality of pages. The memory device may translate an external physical address into internal physical address using a non-volatile address translation memory. The memory device may access one page of a plurality of pages using the internal physical address. |
| US08321623B2 |
Ad hoc flash memory reference cells
In a nonvolatile memory, that includes cells organized in a plurality of bit lines and a plurality of word lines, user data are stored in respective portions of each of two of the word lines. Control information is stored in a cell that is common to one of the bit lines and one of the two word lines. A cell that is common to the bit line and the other word line is used as a reference cell. A flash memory, that includes a plurality of primary cells and a plurality of spare cells, is interrogated to determine which spare cells have been used to replace respective primary cells. At least some of the other spare cells are used as reference cells. |
| US08321620B2 |
Computer system for supplying electric power to external apparatus and control method thereof
A computer system includes multiple ports to which at least one external device is connected and which are connectable to multiple power supplying lines branched from a power supplying line for supplying electric power to the at least one external device; a switching unit which controls connections between the power supplying lines and the ports; and a controller which controls the switching unit so that two or more power supplying lines among the power supplying lines are connected to a first port, to which one of the at least one external device is connected, among the ports. |
| US08321617B1 |
Method and apparatus of server I/O migration management
In an information system, for I/O migration, the migration management module detects a first I/O function associated with a first I/O device to which the OS is connected, selects a second I/O function associated with a second I/O device which is the same type of the first I/O device, and instructs to hot-add the second I/O function to the OS. And the OS sets a teaming for a first virtual MAC address of a first virtual NIC corresponding to the first I/O function and a second virtual MAC address of a second virtual NIC corresponding to the second I/O function, and disconnects the first virtual MAC address of the first virtual NIC corresponding to the first I/O function. |
| US08321616B2 |
System and method for enabling interchangeable dedicated management network interface card access via fabric controller
Systems and methods for reducing problems and disadvantages associated with traditional approaches to providing dedicated network interface card access are provided. An information handling system may include a processor, a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, a non-dedicated network interface communicatively coupled to the processor, a dedicated network interface, and a baseboard management controller. The non-dedicated network interface may have a first sideband interface. The dedicated network interface may have a second sideband interface communicatively coupled to the first sideband interface. The baseboard management controller may be communicatively coupled to the second sideband interface. |
| US08321615B2 |
Source core interrupt steering
An embodiment of the invention includes (i) receiving a core identifier that corresponds with a processor source core; (ii) receiving an input/output request, produced from the source core, that is associated with the core identifier; (iii) and directing an interrupt, which corresponds to the request, to the source core based on the core identifier. Other embodiments are described herein. |
| US08321614B2 |
Dynamic scheduling interrupt controller for multiprocessors
Technologies are generally described herein for handling interrupts within a multiprocessor computing system. A priority level associated with a current task for each processor of the multiprocessor computing system can be maintained. Cache state information associated with each processor can also be maintained. Upon receiving an interrupt to the multiprocessor computing system, a cache locality score for each processor can be determined based on the maintained cache state information. A value can be computed that balances, for each processor, the priority level and the cache locality score. A processor for servicing the interrupt can be determined based on the computed value. The determined processor can be signaled to service the interrupt. Tracking state information related to processor cores can support rapid allocation of an arriving interrupt to a processor core without collecting processor core state information at interrupt time. |
| US08321612B2 |
Method and device for synchronizing two bus systems by transmission of a time associated trigger signal from one system to another
A device for synchronizing at least two bus systems, having a first communications module for a first bus system and a second communications module for a second bus system, wherein in the first communications module first trigger information is present by which a trigger signal is triggered in the first bus system, characterized in that the device is configured in such a manner that the first and second communications modules are connected to each other and the first trigger information is transmitted to the second communications module, and the second communications module is configured in such a manner that a time information value is determined from the first trigger information and that time information value is compared with a second time mark of the second bus system, a time difference being determined and the next reference message being triggered in the second bus system in dependence upon the second time mark and the time difference. |
| US08321610B2 |
Methods of multi-server application synchronization without stopping I/O
A method according to one embodiment includes receiving a request to perform a backup of data associated with an application running on multiple servers; communicating with I/O Handlers on the servers for initiating a coordinated backup operation on the data at about a same start time; and instructing the I/O Handlers to stretch communication between instances of the application and data storage volumes associated therewith during initiating the backup operation. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also disclosed. |
| US08321608B2 |
Pool I/O device operation confirmation method and computer system
In a computer system to which a plurality of I/O devices are connected and a pool I/O device is included therein, a periodical operation confirmation is performed on a pool I/O device to be used when a fault occurs. A pool I/O device operation confirmation section obtains pool I/O device status information from a pool I/O device status information storage section (provided inside or outside the computer system). The status information includes a pool I/O device ID for identifying the pool I/O device, a type of the pool I/O device, a status value indicating an operation confirmation result, and an update time indicating the most recent operation confirmation time. Then, the pool I/O device operation confirmation section activates the pool I/O device and performs an operation confirmation thereon; terminates the operation of the pool I/O device after the operation confirmation; and updates the pool I/O device status information using the operation confirmation result obtained by the operation confirmation. |
| US08321607B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and multilayered chip semiconductor device
Disclosed here is a semiconductor memory device including: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of pads formed on the semiconductor substrate and configured to permit data input and output; and a memory core block and an I/O block integrated on the semiconductor substrate. The data items are input and output to and from the plurality of pads at twice a maximum access rate in effect. |
| US08321593B2 |
Time synchronization of media playback in multiple processes
Systems, methods, devices that enable the efficient synchronization of timing information from first time-based process to a second time-based process using periodic or event-driven synchronization messages are provided. In one aspect, the invention includes a media processing system having a first process for processing media based, at least in part, on first timing information derived from a first timing source and a second timing source. The system may also include a second process for processing the media based, at least in part, on second timing information derived from the first timing source. The first process may send one or more timing synchronization messages, generated based at least in part on the first timing source and the second timing source, to the second process to synchronize the second timing information with the first timing information. |
| US08321587B2 |
Method for discovery and routing using a priori knowledge in the form of application programme within mobile ad-hoc networks
A mobile ad-hoc network device includes application software. The device constructs its routing table, listing reachable devices with the same application software. The routing table knowledge is dynamic, as devices enter and leave the network or their parameters change. |
| US08321583B2 |
Receive window auto-tuning
Methods of tuning a receive window. A receiving device and a sending device may be in communication over a network. The receiving device may advertise a receive window to the sending device. The size of the receive window may be adjusted over time based on one or more connection parameters, application parameters and/or operating system parameters. |
| US08321581B2 |
Telecommunication and multimedia management method and apparatus
A method for reliably transferring media over a network from a sending node to a receiving node. The method includes ascertaining at the sending node if the media to be transmitted is either time-sensitive or not time-sensitive. For media ascertained as non time-sensitive, the media is transmitted by adjusting the rate of transmission at the sending node based on network conditions. As the non time-sensitive media is received, the receiving node generates one or more low priority requests for the retransmission of any missing non time-sensitive media lost during the transmission. The method also includes transmitting the time-sensitive media from the sending node to the receiving node. As the time-sensitive media is received, the receiving node ascertains if a predetermined acceptable network transmission loss level is met. If met, the receiving node generates one or more low priority requests for the retransmission of any missing time-sensitive media lost during transmission. The sending node retransmits the missing time-sensitive and non time-sensitive media in response to the low priority requests when bandwidth on the network becomes available in excess of what is needed for the transmission of time-sensitive media. |
| US08321579B2 |
System and method for analyzing streams and counting stream items on multi-core processors
Systems and methods for parallel stream item counting are disclosed. A data stream is partitioned into portions and the portions are assigned to a plurality of processing cores. A sequential kernel is executed at each processing core to compute a local count for items in an assigned portion of the data stream for that processing core. The counts are aggregated for all the processing cores to determine a final count for the items in the data stream. A frequency-aware counting method (FCM) for data streams includes dynamically capturing relative frequency phases of items from a data stream and placing the items in a sketch structure using a plurality of hash functions where a number of hash functions is based on the frequency phase of the item. A zero-frequency table is provided to reduce errors due to absent items. |
| US08321577B2 |
Method for providing messaging using appropriate communication protocol
The invention relates to a low latency transport of an Internet message over a connection from an Internet message-sending node to an Internet Message-receiving node. Said Internet Message-sending node determines the size of the Internet message (40) and compares the size of with a pre-determined single-packet threshold (42). Thereafter, the Internet Message-sending node performs a TCP Internet message-transport (44) over said connection if the size of the Internet message is larger than said single-packet threshold, and a single-packet (UDP) Internet message-transport (45, 46) if the size of the Internet message is smaller than said single-packet threshold. |
| US08321576B2 |
Method and apparatus of data transfer controlling data transfer among a plurality of equipments connected to a network and medium recording the program thereof
A data transfer apparatus includes an attribute collecting unit collecting attribute of data managed by an equipment connected to a network, a transfer control unit selecting a method of data transfer based on the attribute information of data collected by the attribute collecting unit, a data receiving unit receiving data by the method of transfer selected by the transfer control unit, and a data transmitting unit transmitting data by the method of transfer selected by the transfer control unit. As the transfer control unit selects the method of data transfer based on the data attribute information collected by the attribute collecting unit, it becomes possible for a user or an application program to receive data by the same operation. |
| US08321574B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for secure information dissemination
An apparatus transfers the title of content to an ID-assigning unit which assigns an ID to the content and transmits the content ID to a broadcasting unit via a tagging unit. A broadcasting apparatus then broadcasts the content ID and a receiver extracts the content ID from a received signal and transfers the content ID to a verification unit which determines whether or not the content ID received from a reception functional unit matches a stored content ID. If the content ID received from the reception unit matches a stored content ID, user information of the receiver is transmitted to a privacy-guarding unit. The privacy-guarding unit searches privacy-guarding items and, in accordance with a result of the search, only necessary user information presented by the verification unit is transmitted to a provider unit. |
| US08321573B2 |
Communications terminal with optimum send interval
A communication terminal includes a CPU (28). The CPU (28) issues to a router (16) a send request for requesting the router (16) to send an ask signal for repetitive responses to a server (14). Then, the ask signal is sent to the server (14) by the router (16), and a receive port is temporarily opened. From the server (14), a response signal is repeatedly sent in response to the ask signal. To the response signal, time information representative of a waiting time from receiving an ask signal to its reply is attached. A response signal sent back while the receive port is opened arrives at the communication terminal through the router (16), but a response signal sent back after the receive port is closed is discarded in the router (16). The CPU (28) repeatedly issues a send request to the router (16) regarding a time indicated by time information attached to the response signal lastly received as an issuance cycle (T). |
| US08321572B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhancing discoverability and usability of data network capability of a mobile device
In a technique for enhancing discoverability and increasing usage of a web browser in a mobile device on a wireless network, a server system coupled to the wireless network receives a signal representing initiation of a voice call from the mobile device. In response, the server system performs a lookup to determine whether a website is associated with the telephone number being called. If a website is associated with the telephone number being called and the mobile device has the capability to access and display the website, the server system sends an Alert to the mobile device, causing the mobile device to notify its user about the website. The user may then input a selection to either access the website instead of completing the call or to proceed with the voice call. |
| US08321571B2 |
Local game-area network method
A local game-area network includes a plurality of gaming devices and local game-area servers. Each local game-area server is associated with a corresponding gaming device. Each local game-area server in the local game-area network is operatively associated with every other local game-area server in the local game-area network. Additionally, one of the local game-area servers is a host local game-area server while the remaining gaming devices and associated local game-area servers are clients. Furthermore, the host status of the host local game-area server moves dynamically to an available local game-area server in the local game-area network in response to the host local game-area server becoming non-operational. |
| US08321569B2 |
Server resource allocation
A method, programmed medium and system are disclosed which provide for end-to-end QoS for a set of processes that comprise a workload over nfs. A set of processes that comprise a workload such as the processes of a WPAR, or an entire LPAR are given a class designation and assigned priority/limits. The data are then passed to the server which allocates resources based on the sum total of all the current classes and their priorities and/or limits. This requires re-engineering the nfs client code to be workload-aware and the nfs server code to accommodate the resource allocation and prioritization needs of the nfs clients. |
| US08321567B1 |
IP pool management utilizing an IP pool MIB
A method for managing Internet Protocol (IP) addresses on a data communications network includes allocating multiple local IP address pools, requesting IP address usage data from one or more of the network edge devices, receiving the requested IP address usage data, determining whether the local IP address pools should be reallocated based upon the requested IP address usage data, reallocating one or more of the local IP address pools based upon the determination and updating one or more of the local IP address pool databases and a global IP pool database based upon the reallocating. Each of the local IP address pools is associated with a different network edge device that is capable of accepting connection requests requiring an IP address. The global IP address pool database includes the information maintained in each local IP address pool. A network edge device capable of managing IP addresses on a data communications network includes an allocator capable of allocating multiple local IP address pools, a receiver capable of receiving a communication, an allocator capable of allocating an available IP address from the local IP address pool if the communication includes a connection request, a determiner capable of determining whether the local IP address pool should be adjusted, a notifier capable of sending an alarm message to an IP pool manager when the IP address pool should be adjusted and a memory capable of storing an IP address allocation when the communication includes an IP address allocation. |
| US08321563B2 |
Third party verification using override IP addresses
Techniques for third party verification using override IP addresses is described, including detecting a request header from an endpoint, the request header being associated with a request for a media file, initiating a download of the media file to the endpoint, evaluating the request header to identify an address associated with the endpoint, generating a notification comprising the address, the notification being configured to indicate the address overrides a source address identified by a field in a packet associated with the request header, and sending the notification to report data associated with the media file, wherein the address overrides the source address to identify a source of the request. |
| US08321562B2 |
Determining a value according to a statistical operation in a monitored living area
A method for monitoring a user in a user living area in a system including a system controller having control parameters for controlling the operations of said system and a remote monitoring site, comprising; monitoring a user activity of said user; activating a control circuit in response to an occurrence of said user activity to provide user activity information to said system controller representative of said user activity; performing a statistical operation upon said user activity information to provide a statistical determination; and adjusting at least one of said control parameters in accordance with said statistical determination. |
| US08321558B1 |
Dynamically monitoring and modifying distributed execution of programs
Techniques are described for managing distributed execution of programs. In some situations, the techniques include dynamically monitoring the ongoing distributed execution of a program on a cluster of multiple computing nodes, and may include automatically determining the status of execution of the program on each of the multiple computing nodes and/or automatically determining the aggregate usage of one or more types of computing resources across the cluster of multiple computing nodes by the distributed program execution. The information obtained from the dynamic monitoring may be used in various manners, including to facilitate dynamically modifying the ongoing distributed program execution in various manners, such as to temporarily throttle usage of computing resources by the distributed program execution (e.g., to remove or reduce one or more bottlenecks). |
| US08321556B1 |
Method and system for collecting data on a wireless device
A method of storing collected data on a wireless device. User interaction with a wireless device and/or the performance of the wireless device is monitored and data related thereto collected. The collected data may be structured into a tagged hierarchical structure comprising a plurality of events that are separate and independent from one another. Each event may describe a specific application with a plurality of attributes. The tagged hierarchical structure formed as a tree structure is translated into a syntax generic language. The result may be formed into a compact format using a zipped format and/or a binary-equivalent format and then stored and transmitted to a central location (e.g., a server) for statistical analysis processing. The server transforms the received data into expanded format and forms a hierarchical tree structure for each event and its attributes. The result is processed for producing a statistical analysis of the collected data. |
| US08321550B2 |
Media access control address based service selection
In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a request from a computing device for an address. The request is to include a unique value associated with the computing device. The method also comprises generating a username based on the unique value. The username is associated with the computing device. Additionally, the username is bound to a context within a network element. The method also comprises assigning an address to the computing device within the context. A circuit is generated between the computing device and the network element based on the address. |
| US08321545B2 |
Service oriented platform architecture for a wireless network
Described is a framework system residing on a network including a plurality of services, wherein each of the services registers with the framework system, a service manager to manage each of the services which register with the framework system, the management including lifecycle management for each of the services and a communication broker to manage communication between the plurality of services. |
| US08321544B2 |
Method and system for the transfer of communication network administration information
In order to minimize a bandwidth required for the transfers of communication network administration information, said information relating to objects pertaining to hardware, software or network operation elements, catalogued in an administration information base (11) and with each of which is associated a formal language specification, the system comprises a translator module (10). The module (10) is designed to generate on the basis of the specification for each object, a pair of words the value of whose first word pertains to an indication of the object and the value of whose second word pertains to an information length of the object. The module (10) is also designed to generate one or more templates comprising an ordered set of pairs of words and an identifier, making it possible to subsequently send an ordered string of information corresponding to each template. |
| US08321541B1 |
Assigning internet protocol addresses in a network
Methods are provided for assigning a static IPv6 address to a mobile device by accessing a database to determine whether a static IPv6 address is stored in the database for that mobile device. A mobile device communicates a request for a static IPv6 address, and it is then determined that a static IPv6 address is defined in a customer-profile database in association with the mobile device. The network portion and the host portion of the static IPv6 address are sent to the mobile device so that the mobile device is able to communicate by way of a communications network. |
| US08321539B2 |
Peer-to-peer (P2P) network system and method of operating the same
A peer-to-peer (P2P) network system and a method of operating the P2P network system are provided. The P2P network system includes at least one edge peer storing resources and at least one super peer sharing and managing resource information corresponding to the resources of the at least one edge peer. By updating changes in characteristics of peers due to elimination and movement of any one of a plurality of edge peers and super peers included in the P2P network, path reconfiguration may be performed efficiently. |
| US08321538B2 |
Autonomous network device configuration method
An embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of configuring one or more target network devices for operation, that further comprises the steps of creating an object for deployment to a predetermined target network device, the object having configuration data for configuring the target network device, and at least one of identification data identifying the object, an autonomous encapsulated agent for executing necessary steps for installing the configuration data, identification data identifying the predetermined target network device, and authentication data for authenticating at least one of the predetermined target network device identification data and object identification data, transporting the object to the predetermined target network device, and the autonomous encapsulated agent begins an on-site process of installing the configuration data in the predetermined target network device. |
| US08321536B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing remote control key data in home network device
Provided are a method and apparatus for receiving remote control key data in a home network and requesting a server to perform an operation corresponding to the remote control key data. The method includes converting the remote control key data to a code which can be referred to in a web document received from the server, determining an operation corresponding to the code by referring to the web document, and requesting the server to perform the determined operation. Accordingly, even when an item corresponding to a function supported by the server is not displayed on a menu screen, a user receiving a service from the server using a client device in the home network can use the function by instinctively pressing a remote control key corresponding to the function. |
| US08321533B2 |
Systems and methods thereto for acceleration of web pages access using next page optimization, caching and pre-fetching techniques
A method and system for acceleration of access to a web page using next page optimization, caching and pre-fetching techniques. The method comprises receiving a web page responsive to a request by a user; analyzing the received web page for possible acceleration improvements of the web page access; generating a modified web page of the received web page using at least one of a plurality of pre-fetching techniques; providing the modified web page to the user, wherein the user experiences an accelerated access to the modified web page resulting from execution of the at least one of a plurality of pre-fetching techniques; and storing the modified web page for use responsive to future user requests. |
| US08321531B2 |
Personal criteria verification using fractional information
A method for verifying the identity of users connected to a computer network comprises providing fractional information queries to users, wherein responses to these individual queries are not sufficient to identify the user. This method further comprises receiving responses to these fractional information queries and comparing these responses to data available from within a computer network. A set of potential matches to the user is generated according to these responses and is used in determining whether the set of potential matches is sufficient to identify the user. |
| US08321528B2 |
Method of processing event notifications and event subscriptions
A method of processing event notifications and event subscriptions in a telecommunications or data network comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein an individual node performs the steps of maintaining a first repository for storing a set of event subscriptions encoded in a first summary and maintaining a second repository for storing the set of event subscriptions. The node encodes a received event notification into a second summary and then checks if the received event notification is a member of the set by comparing the first summary and the second summary. If the event notification is not a member of the set said notification is discarded. |
| US08321525B2 |
Method, device and system for creating a virtual local social network
There is provided a system and method for creating a local social network, based on a user's location and a user's virtual social profile (e.g. a facebook profile, a myspace profile) on a virtual social network (e.g. facebook, myspace). The method includes the steps of: (1) associating a communication device with a user's virtual profile, (2) detecting a communication device within an interactive region, (3) extracting unique parameters of the communication device, (4) retrieving data associated with the communication device and with the user's virtual profile, and (5) initiating data transfer based on the retrieved data. |
| US08321520B2 |
Intelligent offload of work to handle peak activity in an enterprise email system
A method and system for sending a message are disclosed. The method involves receiving a message at a mail server and determining that a load of the mail server exceeds a threshold. If it is determined that the load of the mail server exceeds a threshold, then the method involves determining whether the message needs to be sent immediately. If it is determined that the message does not need to be sent immediately, then the method involves delaying sending the message. |
| US08321519B2 |
Social network site recommender system and method
A document management system monitors proposed recipients for documents and provides recommendations on alterations to the distribution set, such as by adding or removing recipients. |
| US08321518B2 |
Linking sounds and emoticons
A method and apparatus for linking sounds and emoticons to allow a recipient of a message containing an emoticon to hear audio associated with the emoticon. In one aspect of the invention, a first user or sender establishes a link or association between the emoticon being sent and a sound file to be associated with that particular emoticon. The emoticon is then transmitted from the sender to the recipient along with the link or association such that the recipient can hear the audio when the emoticon is displayed. |
| US08321514B2 |
Sharing email
A trust relationship may be established between a first email user and at least a second email user. At least one email message received by the second user is automatically propagated to the first user based upon, at least in part, the trust relationship. |
| US08321513B2 |
Multiple-layer chat filter system and method
A computer network-based messaging system includes a multiple-layer chat filtering system for controlling the content of messages sent by users. A computer receives a message including a plurality of words entered by a sender. A word database includes a plurality of permitted words which are allowed to be transmitted. A phrase database includes a plurality of prohibited phrases which are not allowed to be transmitted. At least one of the plurality of prohibited phrases consists of a plurality of individual words that are each included in the word database. A message sending part that transmits the message over a computer network only if all of the plurality of words entered by the sender are contained in the word database and none of the plurality of prohibited phrases are contained in the message. |
| US08321512B2 |
Method and software product for identifying unsolicited emails
A method and software product for detecting unsolicited emails, e.g. spam, involves altering the case of at least some symbols comprising an email user's email address according to a predetermined criteria prior to transmitting an email message. The altered case sequence of the email user's address is stored in a database. Subsequently, as email's are received in the email user's mailbox their intended recipient addresses are processed to determine if they include symbols whose case sequence, i.e. uppercase and lowercase, matches one of the sequences that was previously stored. If no match is found then the incoming email is treated as potentially constituting spam and is handled as such. Embodiments of the invention take advantage of a property of most Internet post office email servers being that they are generally case insensitive in respect of the symbols that make up an email address. |
| US08321508B2 |
Controlling collaboration participation
A system and method is provided for controlling collaboration participation. The system includes a computing infrastructure configured to monitor endpoint collaboration devices and/or users. The computing infrastructure is also configured to authorize collaboration between one or more of the endpoint collaboration devices and/or users with an initiating device if the computing infrastructure finds a match between stored attributes and information related to the one or more endpoint collaboration devices and/or users. |
| US08321500B2 |
Method and system for generating messages
The present invention discloses a method and system for generating Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) message, wherein, at least one first information sets are pre-stored and each of the first information sets contains at least one piece of information. The method comprises: generating a first SOAP message which contains a second information set that contains at least one piece of information; retrieving a first information set that corresponds to the second information set; and generating a second SOAP message using the retrieved first information set and the first SOAP message. |
| US08321497B1 |
Data structure disposed in a computer readable memory that provides information corresponding to a location
A data structure disposed in a computer readable memory provides information corresponding to a location. The data structure includes a first data field for identifying the location and a second data field associated with the first data field containing information corresponding to the location. |
| US08321495B2 |
Byzantine fault-tolerance in distributed computing networks
A mobile intelligent agent is used in a Byzantine fault-tolerant computing network. The mobile intelligent agent ensures that only a single instance of the mobile intelligent agent performs processing in the processing host. The agent interrogates an environment in the processing host for presence of a sibling mobile intelligent agent or a trace left by a sibling mobile intelligent agent. If a sibling mobile intelligent agent or a trace left by a sibling mobile intelligent agent is detected, further execution by the mobile intelligent agent in the processing host is ended. The agent will then be forwarded onward to find a processing host wherein the agent has not been executed. |
| US08321494B2 |
Method and apparatus for reporting and invoicing of data downloads
The present invention provides an apparatus for reporting about a download of an item of digital data to an end user from a plurality of logged data sources. The item of digital data is downloadable in one or more sessions but also divisible into portions. The apparatus comprises multiple event logs being associated with the logged data sources of the plurality of logged data sources. The apparatus further comprises a retrieving device for retrieving the multiple event logs from the logged data sources. The apparatus further comprises multiple event logs indicating the portions of the item of digital data downloaded in at least one of the one or more sessions. The apparatus further comprises a reporting device for combining the at least one event log and producing a report of the download of the item of digital data. |
| US08321488B2 |
Singular value decomposing method and related singular value decomposing device
A method for performing a singular value decomposition (SVD) upon a matrix. The method includes the steps of: (a) simplifying the matrix to derive a simplified matrix; (b) performing an iterative matrix multiplication upon the simplified matrix to generate an iterated matrix; (c) extracting a vector of the iterated matrix according to an iteration number of the iterative matrix multiplication; (d) de-correlating the simplified matrix from the vector to update the simplified matrix; (e) repeating steps (b), (c), and (d) until a predetermined number of vectors have been derived; and (f) storing a first unitary matrix determined according to the predetermined number of vectors in the singular value decomposition. |
| US08321487B1 |
Recovery of directory information
Locating a file object in a storage system includes determining at least one characteristic of the file object, obtaining a subset of nodes in the storage system by applying the at least one characteristic to criteria for storing file objects at particular ones of the nodes in the storage system, and examining the subset of nodes to determine if any contain the file object. A metadata location server may be used to obtain the subset of nodes. The criteria may include at least one policy relating to placement of objects corresponding to files at the time the files are created. The policies may relate to owners of the files. The characteristic information may include the owner of a target file corresponding to the file object, the date that the target file was created, a business organization associated with the target file, and/or the size of the target file. |
| US08321485B2 |
Device and method for constructing inverted indexes
To achieve high speed document search, an inverted index is compressed at high compressibility by an encoding method decodable in a high process speed. In compressing an identification number of a document to obtain a byte sequence by the variable byte method, w bits are used to represent the number of occurrences of the indexing term in the document, and x bits are used to represent additional information of the posting, where x and w are integers given as parameters. When the number of occurrences cannot be represented within w bits, a certain value indicating a numeric value that cannot be represented by w bits is stored is written to the said w bits, and anther byte sequence that represents the value by the variable byte method follows. Additionally provided is a means for reading a compressed posting from any position of a list of postings called inverted lists, allowing a binary search on an inverted list. |
| US08321482B2 |
Selectively modifying files of a container file
A stub directory is written out to a storage device for multiple files in a container file, the stub directory including identifiers of the multiple files but excluding data of the multiple files. In response to a request to access one file of the multiple files, the data of the one file is written out to the storage device. A requested modification is allowed to be performed on the one file written out to the storage device to generate a modified version of the file. After modification of the one file is completed, a previous version of the file in the container file is replaced with the modified version of the file. |
| US08321481B2 |
Method for incremental anti-tear garbage collection
Persistent memory in an integrated circuit cars (ICC) must be managed in such a way that removal of power from the device at any moment does not leave the data stored in this memory in a faulty or inconsistent state. The mechanisms of this disclosure accomplish this end using the tag-length-value data structures found extensively in ICC software and standards. |
| US08321475B2 |
System and method for contextual data modeling utilizing tags
Sorting and displaying data objects is facilitated by displaying a collection of tags, each representing a respective data object, and each including identifying information for its respective data object. The organization of the tags with respect to one another is correlated with the organization of the data objects. Responsive to user input, the tags are displayed in a specified arrangement, and a new tag and an associated new data object associated with the new tag are created. A user is permitted to specify parameter values for the new data object, which is added to the existing data objects at a location that corresponds to a location of the new tag within the organization of the tags. The new data table thus includes the new data object arranged in order with the previous data objects as determined by the organization of the tags and the new tag. |
| US08321474B2 |
System and method for generating evaluation data
The invention relates to a system for generating evaluation data with a data base for storing original data, a memory for storing an evaluation program for the evaluation of original data stored in the data base and a control. In order to achieve rapid and reliable provision of evaluation data, an evaluation order for evaluating original data is generated upon the occurrence of a pre-specified event. It is checked by the control whether an evaluation order has been generated. In the event of an evaluation order being present, the evaluation program stored in the memory is started dependently upon the evaluation order, the evaluation program accessing original data stored in the data base dependently upon the evaluation order and the evaluation data being generated from this. |
| US08321473B2 |
Object customization and management system
An Object Customization and Management (OCM) system is configured to identify an object for creating a website based on a business objective. The OCM system includes a customizing module configured to determine qualitative attribute categories for a plurality of objects operable to be used in websites. The module assigns the plurality of objects to the qualitative attribute categories. The OCM system also includes a data management module configured to receive a request for one of the plurality of objects to be used to achieve the business objective. This module also matches the business objective with one of the qualitative attribute categories, and selects an object in the matched qualitative attribute category for the request. |
| US08321470B2 |
Heterogeneous multi-level extendable indexing for general purpose annotation systems
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for indexing annotations made for a variety of different type (i.e., heterogeneous) data objects are provided. A set of parameters uniquely identifying an annotated data object may be converted to an index comprising a set of index values, each corresponding to a column in a homogeneous index table. In order to accommodate the indexing of heterogeneous data objects, a mapping may be provided for each different type (or classification) of data object that may be annotated, that defines how the identifying parameters of that type will be mapped to the columns of the homogeneous index table. |
| US08321468B2 |
Web-based asset management
The method and system of the present invention provides an improved technique for replacing, implementing and managing computer-related assets. A technician accesses the World Wide Web through a user's computer. The information resident on the computer, including information regarding the computer and the user's preferences, are downloaded to a remote storage medium through the World Wide Web. Once downloaded, all information may be removed from the user's computer. Subsequently, the technician accesses another computer such as, for example, a new computer that has been assigned to the same user. The technician accesses the World Wide Web through the new computer and downloads the information previously stored on the remote storage medium. This information can then be used to install the user's prior applications, settings and preferences on the new computer. |
| US08321465B2 |
Systems and methods for data coding, transmission, storage and decoding
Systems and methods are provided for the provision of data for transmission and/or storage, the transmission and storage of data, and, more particularly, to data coding for transmission and/or storage and to decoding of received and/or accessed or retrieved coded data. In an embodiment of the invention, data is assembled into coded data structures comprising a plurality of fields that, e.g., may contain actual or implied field values, and data associated therewith that relates to the plurality of fields. Encoding and decoding of the data may take place with reference to one or more associated data models, and a coded data structure according to this embodiment may contain content only (field values and data identifying the structure). This allows for a reduction in size of the data structure as compared to, e.g., a data structure comprising program code or all data needed to describe the data in the data structure. |
| US08321460B2 |
Populating a cache system based on privileges
A cache system is updated upon determining that a current privilege has not been checked for the session. Updating the cache system includes receiving all data items that are accessible for the current privilege. The cache system stores each received data item in association with a privilege set. The privilege set is enabled to include at least one privilege that is granted for the corresponding data item. The current privilege is stored in the privilege set of each data item when the cache system is updated based on the current privilege. |
| US08321459B2 |
Method and system for facilitating access to always current contact information
The present invention provides a method and system for facilitating access to always current contact information. Users submit their personal contact information or a collection of third party contact information or both to a storage location, where records are being searched for identical or similar entries. In case of a match the third party contact information is replaced with a link or pointer to the personal contact information entry of the owner of the information. As long as the owner of the information updates his records in the storage location, all third party contact information collections are also kept up to date and users will benefit from the most accurate and current contact information available. |
| US08321458B2 |
Related contact and record recommendation for product design
In one embodiment, a description of a product design is received. The description is analyzed to determine terms describing the product design. The determined terms are compared to a plurality of stored records. A subset of the stored records is determined based on the comparison. The stored records are considered relevant to the description of the product design. A set of recommended contacts associated with the subset of stored records is then determined. The recommended contacts are considered to have knowledge relevant to the description of the product design. At least one of the subset of stored records and the set of recommended contacts is output. For example, at least one of the subset of stored records and the list of recommended contacts may be displayed on an interface that is being used to input the description of the product design. |
| US08321454B2 |
Double map reduce distributed computing framework
A method, apparatus, system, article of manufacture, and data structure provide the ability to perform a sorted map-reduce job on a cluster. A cluster of two or more computers is defined by installing a map-reduce framework onto each computer and formatting the cluster by identifying the cluster computers, establishing communication between them, and enabling the cluster to function as a unit. Data is placed into the cluster where it is distributed so that each computer contains a portion of the data. A first map function is performed where each computer sorts their respective data and creates an abstraction that is a representation of the data. The abstractions are exchanged and merged to create complete abstraction. A second map function searches the complete abstraction to redistribute and exchange the data across the computers in the cluster. A reduce function is performed in parallel to produce a result. |
| US08321453B2 |
Communication system
A communication system includes: a communication device; and a data receiver that is configured so as to be capable of being connected to the communication device. The communication device includes: a content summary receiving unit that is configured so as to be capable of receiving content summary data transmitted from an external device, the content summary data including at least positional data and title data for content data; and a positional data transmitting unit. The data receiver includes a scheduled port querying unit that is configured to transmit to the communication device a query querying the communication device for a scheduled port. The communication device further includes: a scheduled port notifying unit that, upon receiving the scheduled port query from the data receiver, transmits to the data receiver a scheduled port notification indicating the scheduled port. The data receiver further includes: a determining unit that determines whether the scheduled port indicated in the scheduled port notification is available; and an availability notifying unit that transmits to the communication device an availability notification indicating the scheduled port that is determined as being available. The communication device further includes: an active port setting unit that sets the scheduled port indicated by the availability notification as an active port; and an active port notifying unit that transmits to the data receiver an active port notification indicating the active port. The positional data transmitting unit transmits the positional data for the content data to the data receiver through the active port at a prescribed timing and according to the prescribed communication protocol. |
| US08321445B2 |
Generating content snippets using a tokenspace repository
A search engine server system receives from a client system a search query and identifies a set of documents in accordance with the search query. A content snippet corresponding to content in a respective document of the identified set of documents is generated, the content snippet associated with at least one query term of the one or more query terms in the search query. A response to the search query is returned to the client system, the response including information identifying at least the respective document and including the content snippet. Generating the content snippet includes performing a first decompression operation on first token identifiers, from a compressed document repository, to provide a set of second token identifiers, and performing a second decompression operation on the set of second token identifiers to recover uncompressed content comprising a portion of the respective document. |
| US08321443B2 |
Proxying open database connectivity (ODBC) calls
An Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) proxy infrastructure to transparently route incoming queries to one or more selected query engines. The ODBC proxy receives a query from an application, and determines based on the characteristics of the query and the capabilities of the query engines which one or more query engines are to perform the query. The proxy then routes the query to the one or more query engines, which perform the query. The results are then returned to the proxy, which provides the results to the application. |
| US08321440B2 |
String search scheme in a distributed architecture
Methods and apparatuses for searching network data for one or more predetermined strings are disclosed. In one embodiment, the string search is a multi-stage search where the stages of the search are performed by different hardware components. In one embodiment in a first search stage, a first processor performs a comparison of blocks of incoming data to determine whether the blocks potentially represent the beginning of one of the predetermined strings. If a potential predetermined string is identified, a second processor performs a further search to determine whether the string matches one of the predetermined strings. Because the first processor searches only for the beginning of the predetermined strings, the first stage comparison can be performed quickly, which improves network performance as compared to more detailed searching. The second stage is performed by second processor, which allows the first processor to search for potential matching strings. Because many strings do not match the one or more predetermined strings, the more detailed search performed by the second processor is performed selectively, which increases network performance as compared to more detailed searches on all network data. |