最新美国发明专利第2013-11-12期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US08579744B2	Pneumatic inflation valve core for inflatable sports ball An inflatable sports ball and its pneumatic inflation valve core are provided. The pneumatic inflation valve core includes a passage penetrating the pneumatic inflation valve core in a lengthwise direction. The passage is provided for receiving an inflation needle which is served for inflating a ball bladder of an inflatable sports ball. When an inflation needle inserts into the passage of the pneumatic inflation valve core, since the pneumatic inflation valve core has adequate length, the pneumatic inflation valve core prevents the inflation needle from piercing through the ball bladder as the ball bladder is flat.
US08579743B2	Sport balls and methods of manufacturing the sport balls A sport ball may include a casing that incorporates a plurality of joined panel elements, which include a first panel element with a first edge and a second panel element with a second edge. The first edge and the second edge are welded to each other. In some configurations, the first panel element has a first edge with a projection that extends outward from the first edge, the second panel element has a second edge that is located adjacent to the first edge, and the projection of the first edge is located between the second edge and the bladder. In another configuration, the first edge and the second edge are formed to have a rounded configurations. The sport ball may also include an intermediate layer and a bladder within the casing.
US08579722B1	Golf club head A golf club head is described, in one embodiment, including a body with an exterior surface defining a first body volume of at least about 400 cm3. The body has a bottom portion, a top portion, a front portion, and a back portion. A face positioned at the front portion of the body and is configured to receive an impact. A top portion silhouette profile located along a perimeter of the top portion is further described. The top portion silhouette profile defines the outer bounds of the top portion in an X-direction and Y-direction. At least one indentation is located on the bottom portion below the crown silhouette profile. The removal of the at least one indentation from the bottom portion creates a second body volume that is at least 12 cm3 larger than the first body volume.
US08579717B2	Putter heads and putters including polymeric material as part of the ball striking face Golf clubs and golf club heads, such as putter heads, may include a putter body and an insert forming a ball striking face and engaged with the putter body. Portions of the insert may be formed of a metal material, while portions of the insert may be formed of a polymer material. The insert may include a base portion having grooves formed therein. This base may be joined with another material to form the insert. In some arrangements, the insert may be a two-sided, reversible construction and may have different performance characteristics associated with each side of the insert. Methods for making such putter devices are also described.
US08579714B2	Space orientating mechanism with two tetrahedrons and eight arc-links This new invented mechanism is geometrically defined by two concentric tetrahedrons. Four motors are mounted onto the four vertexes of an outer tetrahedron frame. Four outer arc-links which are driven by these motors are pivotally connected with another four inner arc-links which are pivoted by four vertexes of an inner tetrahedron frame. This mechanism not only extends the range in pitch, roll and yaw three rotational DoF for enlarging the limits of Stewart 6-axis motion platform but also increases two translational DoF for improving the shortage of gimbals type multi-ring mechanism. This mechanism can simulate high maneuvering motion (ex. Barrel roll or fast spin) as high-speed vehicles (ex. fighter or roller coaster) can to stimulate passengers with virtual-but-real and shocked-but-exciting sensation. This mechanism will be chosen as a motion platform or a space orientating mechanism for a theme park game machine or a military fighter trainer.
US08579708B2	Method of matching game users, and electronic device using the same A method of matching game users for a game in an electronic device, the method including: displaying a user interface screen to receive, from a user, a selection of an option for starting the game; and creating a match by searching a network and/or a subnet for one or more game participants in response to receiving a selection of an option, via the user interface screen, to match a plurality of users to play the game. Accordingly, it is possible to more rapidly create a match between a plurality of game participants.
US08579704B2	Multi-level progressive jackpot gaming systems and methods Various embodiments of progressive gaming systems and methods are disclosed. One method embodiment, among others, comprises enabling a player an opportunity to win, at a time corresponding to a game play session, a first progressive award that is based on wagers collected from machines associated with game play, an amount of the first progressive award augmented with data corresponding to the wagers, the data received over a wide area network, and enabling the player an opportunity to win, at a time corresponding to the game play session, a second progressive award that is based on wagers collected from machines associated with game play, an amount of the second progressive award augmented with data corresponding to the wagers, the data received over a local area network.
US08579701B2	Universal comp bank and regional servers for use in multi-property casino enterprise A multi-property comp bank allows comp points to be earned and redeemed in an aggregated manner at a plurality of affiliated casino properties. The comp bank includes a first bank account of comp points for each casino patron having a balance that is visible to the patron, accessible by the patron, and directly redeemable by the patron, and a second bank account of comp points having a balance that is invisible to the patron, accessible only by authorized casino employees, and redeemable on a discretionary basis only by authorized casino employees. Each award of comp points is apportioned between the patron's first and second bank accounts according to a predetermined ratio. The comp points in the first bank account can be aggregated across properties and redeemed at any property, whereas the comp points in the second bank account can be redeemed only at the property where they were earned.
US08579700B2	Method and apparatus for settlement of processor based tournament competition A method of providing or receiving value from or to a participant value in a game tournament wherein a plurality of participants play a casino-style game, includes calculating an expected value for the position of each participant in the tournament, the expected value based upon the number of wagering units held by the participant at the point in time, the number of wagering units held by each other participant in the tournament at the point in time and a payout table for the tournament.
US08579698B2	Multi-spin and wager slot video machine A video slot machine allows a player to make a plurality of wagers at the beginning of the game. The machine has a plurality (R) of reels which may be either mechanical or video. Each reel may have S symbols. The first wager made by the player is on the outcome of the spin of the first set of reels, a second wager is on the combined outcome of the first and second sets of the reels, etc. until the last wager is on the combined outcome of all of the reels. If a predetermined condition is met on the outcome of each spin, the subsequent spin is enabled. If at any spin the predetermined condition for that spin is not met, then the subsequent wagers are canceled and credited back to the player. The payout ratio increases for each subsequent spin in the series.
US08579696B2	Game of chance and system and method for playing games of chance A game of chance is provided in which a predetermined fixed number of winning cell content drawn from a predetermined set of cell content. The drawn content is matched to the content on game cards and if the matched game card content covers a predetermined winning pattern then the game card is a winner. In one example, numerous winners may occur per game session because the game continues until the predetermined fixed number of winning cell content is drawn and not until a win occurs.
US08579690B2	Gaming device having a changing multiple selection set bonus scheme A gaming device and method having a bonus round, where the bonus round forms a plurality of sets of symbols from a plurality of symbols, and enables the player to predict which set of symbols will include a randomly determined symbol. If the player predicts correctly, the player receives a bonus and the bonus round continues. If the player is wrong, the bonus round terminates.
US08579688B2	Video poker game with revealed cards 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 view “reveal cards” after the initial deal of five cards. The reveal card(s) show the values of some of the card(s) that are on top of the deck which would be dealt as replacement cards. The player, being able to view these reveal cards, can select his or her cards to hold using a more careful strategy than if the player had no such information.
US08579687B2	Electronic board game using reaction time Disclosed in this specification is an electronic board game. In use, a primary game (e.g. a card game) is played until one of the players presses an activation button. The other players attempt to quickly react and press their buttons. The faster they react, the more points the players earn. The initial activation of the timers can be done when that player perceives a predetermined event that occurred during the card game. The player may attempt to bluff the other players by pressing the button without having perceived the event but doing so risks the other players issuing a challenge. In certain embodiments, the cards are selected to help players learn basic skills, such as shapes, colors, or mathematical operations.
US08579685B2	Amusement pod entertainment center An amusement center has at least one game cell. The game cell has a first video game console system including at least one controller; a first projection screen; a first video game; and a first decor themed to correspond to the subject matter of the first video game.
US08579684B2	Meat-cutting machine, in particular for cutting meat with bone The invention discloses a meat-cutting machine used in particular for cutting meat with bone, including a containment channel 10 holding a piece of meat 20 to be cut, the walls 11, 12, 13, 14 of which form a guide for feeding the piece of meat 20 to an outlet opening 15. At the opening 15, cutting device 30 cuts the piece of meat 20 in a timing sequence established by a user control unit 80.
US08579682B2	Displacer FCA Y The invention relates to a clipping machine for partitioning and closing a tubular packaging casing accommodating a filing material, and in particular sausage meat. The clipping machine comprises at least a first and second displacer element pair which in relation to an axis of the tubular packaging casing are arranged axially one after the other, and, which comprise each an upper displacer element and a lower displacer element. Each pair of the displacer elements are linearly reversibly movable in a first and second plane from an open position to a closed position. A first linear guidance comprises a first and second guiding rod for guiding the two pairs of the displacer elements. The first and second guiding rods are positioned in a plane parallel to the first and second plane of the first and second pairs of the displacer elements.
US08579679B2	Conditioning method and conditioning apparatus for polishing pad for use in double side polishing device The present invention provides an apparatus capable of uniformly grinding an polishing pad. Further, the present invention provides a method of grinding an polishing pad by using the grinding apparatus. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of, in a double-side polishing device having a carrier for holding a work, a pair of upper and lower rotating surface plates disposed to face each other to sandwich the carrier therebetween, and the polishing pad provided on each of the facing surfaces of the rotating surface plates for polishing the work, grinding the polishing pad, the method comprising the steps of: separating the upper and the lower rotating surface plates away from each other when the polishing pads on the upper and the lower rotating surface plates are to be ground; inserting, between the separated upper and lower rotating surface plates, an arm having at a front end portion thereof a grinding plate of a diameter smaller than those of the rotating surface plates; and pressing the grinding plate against the polishing pad of each of the rotating surface plates and rotating the grinding plate, thereby grinding the polishing pad of each of the rotating surface plates. The present invention also provides an apparatus which enables the grinding method described above.
US08579666B2	Contact element with an electronically conductive spring element, plug connector and spring element The invention relates to a spring element, to a plug-in connection and to a contact element with an electrically conductive spring element which is in contact with the contact element and which is provided to establish an electrical contact to a mating contact element. The spring element has the form of an open band which is at least partially rolled up along a longitudinal axis.
US08579662B2	Electrical connector assembly having high speed signal pairs An electrical connector includes a connector housing and first and second differential contacts. A contact cavity is defined between opposed sides and opposed endwalls. First support members and second support members extend from the opposed sides into the contact cavity. Each of first support members is shorter than each of the second support members. The first and second differential contacts define a differential pair retained within the contact cavity. The first and second differential contacts are retained between two of the first support members. At least a portion of the first and second differential contacts extends past a level of the first support members. The portion(s) of the first and second differential contacts that extends past the level of first support members is exposed to air.
US08579655B2	Device connector A device connector (10) includes a service cover (30) to close a service hole (22) on a case (20). A case-side connector (60) is arranged in the case (20) and mounted in a mounting recess (42) in a terminal block (40). A cover-side connector (50) is provided integrally to the service cover (30) and is connected to the case-side connector (60) in a waiting state to form an interlock circuit when the service cover (30) is mounted on the case (20). Flexible pieces (65) hold the case-side connector (60) with a clearance (CL) between the case-side connector (60) and the inner wall of the mounting recess (42) when the case-side connector (60 is in the waiting state. On the other hand, the flexible pieces (65) bias the case-side connector (60) to return the case-side connector (60) to the waiting state when the clearance (CL) changes.
US08579653B2	Electrical plug connector having a contact element with inwardly and outwardly protruding knobs The invention relates to an electrical plug connector including a pin-shaped plug and a sleeve-shaped coupling which encloses the plug with an intermediary cavity and open washer shaped spring elastic contact elements which are arranged in the cavity. In order to provide a good electrical contact the invention proposes two inward protruding knobs of the contact elements, wherein the knobs are arranged opposite to one another. Outward protruding knobs limit a maximum deformation of the contact elements and thus prevent a mechanical overload of the contact elements.
US08579651B2	Connection device for conductors An electrical connector includes a U-shaped metal clamping frame having vertical base and side walls defining a chamber, a stationary electrical contact mounted in the chamber, and a clamping spring arrangement arranged at least partially within the chamber for biasing toward the electrical contact the bare end of an insulated conductor that is axially inserted downwardly into the chamber. The clamping spring comprises a conductive leaf spring having a clamping leg that is inclined, when in the conductor clamping position, at a first acute angle relative to the insertion axis of the conductor. In one embodiment, the clamping leg is supported by an attachment arrangement including an attachment leg arranged at second acute angle relative to the insertion axis. In another embodiment, the clamping leg is integrally connected with the clamping frame, and with the frame base wall defining the stationary electrical contact.
US08579634B2	Electrical connection system for a vehicle An electrical connection system for a vehicle, comprising an elongated dielectric component (3) equipped with at least one electrode electrically connected to electrical contact pads (7), two dielectric half-shells (14) assembled face-to-face, electrical contact fingers (19) connecting with the pads, interposed between at least one half-shell and the component, a spring collar (21) surrounding the half-shells (14) to provide for holding them in position. The half-shells (14) include at the proximal part a pivot (23) such that the half-shells open angularly relative to one another, the half-shells (14) together include on the outside a bearing surface for a tubular body providing for bringing the half-shells together.
US08579617B2	Oil pump rotor An oil pump rotor includes an inner rotor having (n) external teeth, an outer rotor having (n+1) internal teeth, and a casing forming a suction port and a discharge port for drawing/discharging fluid. In operation, fluid is drawn/discharged according to volume changes of cells formed between tooth faces. A tooth profile based on a mathematical curve has a tooth addendum circle A1 with a radius RA1 and a tooth root curve A2 with a radius RA2, a circle D1 has a radius RD1 satisfying Formula (1), and a circle D2 has a radius RD2 satisfying both Formulas (2) and (3): RA1>RD1>RA2 Formula (1) RA1>RD2>RA2 Formula (2) RD1≧RD2 Formula (3) A tooth profile of the external teeth includes a modification either, in a radially outer direction, on the outer side of the circle D1 or, in a radially inner direction, on the inner side of the circle D2.
US08579613B2	Vane pump and vapor leakage check system having the same A vane pump includes a housing defining a pump chamber; a rotor rotatably arranged in the pump chamber; and a motor to rotate the rotor. An imaginary plane is defined to bisect the pump chamber in an axis direction. The housing has a first inlet port and a second inlet port located symmetrical with each other with respect to the imaginary plane, and the housing has a first outlet port and a second outlet port located symmetrical with each other with respect to the imaginary plane.
US08579611B2	Load ring mounting of pumping plunger sleeve A clamping and seal loading technique for securing the plunger sleeve to the pump housing of a single plunger fuel pump. This is achieved by providing a load ring between a sleeve retainer and the sleeve, such that the axial force applied by the retainer during installation and attachment to the plunger bore wall of the housing, is distributed more evenly on the sleeve and the sealing surface of the sleeve against the housing adjacent to the pumping chamber. The even distribution of force minimizes misalignment of the sleeve and thus maintains concentricity between the sleeve and the plunger.
US08579601B2	Multistage dry vacuum pump The multistage dry vacuum pump is disclosed, in which it is possible to prevent a pump from being adhesively stuck, which problem occurs due to a difference in thermal expansions between a cylinder body and a rotor, by making thermal expansion conditions between a cylinder body and a rotor of a pump similar by concurrently cooling the cylinder body and the rotor of the pump. The gas passage for transferring gas compressed by each cylinder is provided at each cylinder body in a shape of surrounding an outer side of each cylinder, and a cooling water jacket for circulating cooling water is provided close to an outer side of the gas passage, and a communication passage is formed at a gas passage contacting with the cooling water jacket and is connected with an exhaust space of the cylinder.
US08579600B2	System and method for portable battery back-up sump pump Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for a backup sump pump kit. The kit is for use with a battery and an alternating current power source. The kit can be adapted to be a portable power source for an external electric device. The kit can include a portable case, a battery-operated back-up sump pump removably stored in the portable case, and a control charger integrated into the portable case. The control charger can include a battery chargers cables, a power input socket to charge the battery, and a power output socket to provide power from the battery to the external electric device. The portable case can include a handle and wheels.
US08579597B2	Variable capacity type rotary compressor A variable capacity type rotary compressor, in which a refrigerant sucked in via one suction pipe can be alternately sucked into each compression space via a communication passage between cylinders so as to reduce a number of components and a number of assembly processes, thereby reducing fabrication costs. A refrigerant within an idling cylinder is prevented from flowing back into another cylinder so as to improve performance of the compressor. A welding space can be ensured when connecting connection pipes so as to realize a welding automation, thereby further reducing the fabrication cost, and a mode switching valve is stably fixed to an appropriate position so as to attenuate noise due to vibration of compressor.
US08579590B2	Turbomachinery blade having a platform relief hole, platform cooling holes, and trailing edge cutback A method is disclosed that includes providing a turbomachinery blade having an airfoil connected to a platform in a root region of the turbomachinery blade. The airfoil has a trailing edge extending from the root region to a tip distal from the root region. The method further includes forming a blind relief hole in the platform proximate the trailing edge of the airfoil, and forming a plurality of cooling holes in the platform.
US08579588B1	Hub assembly for a large cooling fan A fan assembly having a motor with a shaft. A hub member is mounted to the shaft so as to be rotated thereby. The hub member defines slots that receive arm members in the slots. The arm members are secured via bolts or other fasteners in the slots and can be replaced if broken or worn. Fan blades are positioned over or otherwise mounted to the arm members. The fan blades and the arm members can be contoured to engage with each other along the length of the arm members so that force is transmitted therebetween.
US08579581B2	Abradable bucket shroud The present application provides an abradable bucket shroud for use with a bucket tip so as to limit a leakage flow therethrough and reduce heat loads thereon. The abradable bucket shroud may include a base and a number of ridges positioned thereon. The ridges may be made from an abradable material. The ridges may form a pattern. The ridges may have a number of curves with at least a first curve and a second curve and with the second curve having a reverse camber shape.
US08579580B2	Mounting apparatus for low-ductility turbine shroud A turbine shroud apparatus for a gas turbine engine having a central axis includes: an arcuate shroud segment comprising low-ductility material and having a cross-sectional shape defined by opposed forward and aft walls, and opposed inner and outer walls, the walls extending between opposed first and second end faces and collectively defining a shroud cavity; an annular stationary structure surrounding the shroud segment; and a load spreader received in the shroud cavity of the shroud segment and mechanically coupled to the stationary structure. The load spreader includes: a laterally-extending plate with opposed inner and outer faces; and a boss which protrudes radially from the outer face and extends through a mounting hole in the outer wall of one of the shroud segments. A fastener engages the boss and the stationary structure, so as to clamp the boss against the stationary structure in a radial direction.
US08579579B2	Sealed shaft assembly for exhaust turbines An exemplary assembly includes a component of a turbocharger that includes a bore that extends between an inner, exhaust gas side of the component and an outer, ambient side of the component; a shaft that includes a pin portion and a head portion; a sleeve positioned on the pin portion of the shaft; and a bushing positioned over at least part of the sleeve and over at least part of the head portion of the shaft where the bushing seats the shaft and the sleeve in the bore. During operation of a turbocharger that includes such an assembly, the shaft, the sleeve and the bushing restrict flow of exhaust gas from the inner, exhaust gas side of the component to the outer, ambient side of the component. Various other exemplary devices, assemblies, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US08579577B2	Fan with sound-muffling box A fan with a sound deadening box has in its body a double inlet centrifugal fan and an inlet-port sound absorber formed between the fan and a body air inlet. The fan further includes a casing-inlet-port-side air passage and triangular prism shaped first inlet-port-sound-absorber air passage. With this structure, the fan has a low pressure loss, a low input, high static pressure, and a low level of airflow collision noise.
US08579576B2	Articulated false seabed A support system for at least one water drivable turbine (1) that when in operation is immersed in a column of flowing water, characterized in that the system includes a deck or raft (3) for supporting said at least one turbine when immersed, the deck or raft (3) having an inherent buoyancy which is such as to enable the deck or raft (3) to rise through the column of water upon reduction of the buoyancy, the arrangement being such that the associated turbine or turbines (1) can be raised above the surface of said column in order to access the turbine for maintenance purposes.
US08579574B2	Storage rack with a multiplicity of rack units A storage rack with a multiplicity of rack units includes a stack of interspaced supporting mounts, arranged paired at opposing sidewalls of the rack units in forming a storage location for a tote. The tote is designed for storage and retrieval in/from storage locations by an automated transfer apparatus. The transfer apparatus includes a first transfer assembly for travelling in a vertical direction and a second transfer assembly for travelling in a first horizontal direction supported by and relative to the first transfer assembly. To allow a simple adaptation of the storage rack to changes in the spatial situation, the first transport assembly includes a multiplicity of releasably interconnected modules, the number of which can be varied depending on the number of rack units.
US08579573B2	Vehicle propulsion system A vehicle propulsion system having a manifold in fluid communication with a cross flow fan which adjusts to control an amount lift generated by a plurality of airfoils providing lift from air from the cross flow fan.
US08579572B1	Load-relief washer assembly for threaded fasteners A load relief washer assembly for threaded fasteners comprises a lower washer piece, an upper washer piece, a plurality of complementary stepped features which further comprise the mating surfaces of the lower washer and the upper washer, such that sufficient rotation of the upper body relative to the lower body aligns the complementary stepped features allowing the upper body and the lower body to move toward each other, thereby reducing the overall height of the load relief washer assembly.
US08579568B2	Seat cover assembly An exemplary embodiment relates to an expansion bolt component that includes a bolt, an elastic component, and a nut. The bolt includes a necking part at an upper end thereof. The elastic component includes sides parts that include a plurality of ribs symmetrically arranged. Each rib includes a lower part and an upper part, each lower part being connected to a lower part of an associated adjacent rib. The nut is configured to be threaded onto a lower end of the bolt and to move into a lower end of the elastic component due to rotation of the bolt. The lower part of each rib is configured to expand in a radial direction when the nut moves into the elastic component. The upper part of each rib is configured to move simultaneously toward the upper part of its associated adjacent rib, such that the upper parts of the plurality of ribs clamp the necking part of the bolt.
US08579567B2	Device for blind fixation A blind fixation device for attaching an assembly of a pre-drilled member set that includes a rod defining a traction mandrel, a first bushing, and a second deformation brushing. The second deformation bushing is capable of deformation on an inaccessible side of the set of pre-drilled members between the head of the mandrel rod and the end portion of the first bushing. The first bushing is capable of bearing on the accessible side surface of the set of pre-drilled members to be assembled, and is capable of radial deformation so as to come in close contact with the drilling profile of at least one pre-drilled member when, upon assembly, the portion of the mandrel rod initially in the second bushing enters the first bushing.
US08579562B2	Vibration-damped tool holder A tool holder (10) for a tool which can rotate about an axis of rotation (D) comprises a clamping shank (18) which, in an end shank region, has a clamping formation (14) with an accommodating opening (16) which is central in relation to the axis of rotation (D) and is intended for accommodating a retaining shank of the tool, there being provided, on the lateral circumference of the accommodating opening (16), at least one clamping surface for securing the retaining shank of the tool with press-fit action. According to the invention, on an axial section which forms an axial bracing section (VA), the tool holder (10) has a bracing arrangement (20) which, at least during operation of the tool holder (10), subjects the tool holder (10) to a bracing force (Vk) with a bracing force component (Vk) acting in the axial direction.
US08579560B2	Index device for machine tool An index device for a machine tool includes a rotary shaft (40) to which a drive object is attached, a housing (30) surrounding the rotary shaft (40), a bearing (BI, B2) secured between the housing (30) and the rotary shaft (40) by a securing member (30b), and a drive (M) provided around the rotary shaft (40) and including a rotor (M1a, M2a) and a stator (M1b, M2b). The stator (M1b, M2b) is attached to the housing (30) and the rotor (M1a, M2a) is attached to the rotary shaft (40). The rotary shaft (40), the bearing (BI, B2), the rotor (M1a, M2a), and the securing member (30b) are connected together to form a built-in unit (22) that can be inserted into and extracted from an enclosure unit including a casing member (30a, 31a) of the housing (30) and the stator (M1b, M2b), thus facilitating connection and disconnection of wiring between the stator of a DD motor mounted in a spindle head of a machine tool and a main body of the machine tool.
US08579558B2	Cutting insert, cutting tool using the same, and cutting method An insert comprises an insert main body having an upper surface and a plurality of side surfaces, a cutting edge located between both ends of a ridge which is between at least one side surface among the side surfaces and the upper surface, a high-positioned portion located at one end of the ridge, and a low-positioned portion located lower in the thickness direction of the insert main body than the high-positioned portion and located at the other end of the ridge. The cutting edge comprises a first flat cutting edge having substantially the same height as the high-positioned portion, and a tilted cutting edge having a height decreasing from the high-positioned portion toward the low-positioned portion. On at least the one side surface, at least one groove extends from the side surface to the upper surface to divide the cutting edge by the groove, and at least the one groove is formed at a region including an intersection of a first extension line formed by imaginarily extending the first flat cutting edge with a second extension line formed by imaginarily extending the tilted cutting edge. This enables reduction in the occurrence of vibration during cutting, and the chipping.
US08579554B2	Hole cutter with axially-elongated aperture defining multiple fulcrums A hole cutter has a cylindrical blade body including a cutting edge and one or more axially-elongated apertures formed within a side wall of the blade body. The axially-elongated aperture is configured to receive a lever, such as a screwdriver, therethrough. Each axially-elongated aperture includes a first fulcrum axially spaced adjacent to the cutting edge, a second fulcrum axially spaced further away from the cutting edge than the first fulcrum, and a third fulcrum axially spaced between the first and second fulcrums. A lever, such as a screwdriver, can be inserted into the aperture and placed against each of the fulcrums to lever slugs out of the interior of the blade body.
US08579552B2	Ecological board and its applications An ecological board includes a quadrilateral board body, on the side edges thereof is disposed at least one reglet or at least one insertion groove to be engaged with a corresponding insertion groove or a reglet of another identical board body. Further, a plurality of separated strong and pliable pad bodies are embedded in at least a first side surface of the board body and protrude outwards therefrom. The ecological board according to the present invention is durable, stable, easy to construct, maintain, and repair, and environmentally friendly to the natural landscape. Most importantly, it can be applied to various environments, such as coastlines, artificial reefs, and slopes of reservoirs, rivers, or mountains.
US08579544B2	Combined chemical oxidation/assisted bioremediation of contaminants A method for the combined chemical oxidation/assisted bioremediation of contaminated materials, comprising contacting a contaminated material with at least one metal chelate and at least one peroxide compound.
US08579541B2	Pick hole guard for manhole covers Pick hole guards are provided for use in guarding pick holes on manhole covers. In some embodiments of the present invention, the pick hole guards can have a base, biasing member, and guard member. The biasing member can be attached to the base and guard member, and can bias the guard member toward a pick hole on the manhole cover to guard the pick hole. In other embodiments, the pick hole guards do not have movable guard members, but instead have retaining surfaces to serve as a receptacle for catching waste disposed through a pick hole.
US08579537B2	Coupling arrangement An arrangement for coupling together end-to-end segmented sections of an elongated member can be used with an elongated apparatus that is broken down into the segmented sections for the purpose of conveniently packaging the elongated apparatus in cardboard cartons and the like. The coupling arrangement is used to join the segmented sections when the tool is removed from the carton. The coupling arrangement can include a locking feature that prevents the segmented sections from being separated from one another after they have been joined by the coupling arrangement.
US08579536B2	Metal to plastic connector for toy structures The present disclosure relates to a connector for toy structures and educational instruments, particularly for assembling plastic and metal components. The connector includes a circular base with apertures for securing to an expansive metal construction piece by use of screws or similar threaded fasteners. The connector further includes a passageway for receiving a second construction piece, such as a plastic construction piece. Pegs pass through aligned apertures in the walls of the passageway as well as apertures in the second construction pieces, thereby securing the second construction piece to the connector.
US08579535B2	Micro-coupling active release mechanism A micro-coupling active release mechanism including a shape memory alloy (SMA) cylindrical ring that is fit into a bushing or other mating attachment creating an interference joint held in place by frictional forces. The interference joint can be released upon actuation in which the SMA cylindrical ring is heated causing it to shrink in size, relieving the frictional forces of the interference joint thereby releasing the SMA cylindrical ring from the bushing or other mating attachment.
US08579531B2	Device for dispensing a cosmetic product and associated storage method This device comprises a container (12), a head (14) which is for dispensing cosmetic product and which is provided with a rotary application member (44) and a retention cap (42).It comprises a blocking cover (16) which can be moved between a position for blocking the container (12) and a position for dispensing the product.The container (12) is shaped so as to prevent the device (10) from being retained in a stable manner on a horizontal support with the head (14) in an upward position.The cover (16) comprises a member (86) for urging the rotary application member (40) against a sealing seat (60) delimited by the cap (42) in the blocking position of the cover.The urging member (86) can be resiliently deformed relative to the cover (16) between an idle configuration and a resiliently deformed configuration.
US08579527B2	Recording apparatus and medium storage device A movable rod member is provided that changes the shape of a medium receiver of a medium storage portion by changing the location of the movable rod member. The location of the movable rod member is changed in accordance with the condition of a medium, so as to change a method of storing the medium.
US08579526B2	Cutting device and tape printing apparatus equipped therewith A cutting device includes: a cutter unit having a cutter blade; and a cutter operation mechanism which causes the cutter unit to carry out a circulatory movement including a cutting preparation operation which causes the cutter unit to advance toward a tape-like member from a cutting start position, a cutting operation which causes the cutter unit to move to a cutting completion position, a withdrawal operation which causes the cutter unit to retreat from the cutting completion position to a withdrawal position, and a return operation which causes the cutter unit to return to a cutting stand-by position, wherein the cutter operation mechanism, in the return operation, makes the cutting start position and withdrawal position of the cutter unit different between a full cutting which cuts all of the tape-like member and a half cutting which cuts one portion of the tape-like member.
US08579524B2	Assembly for supporting photographing apparatus An assembly for supporting a photographing apparatus includes a first supporting member on which a photographing apparatus and a rotation shaft are installed, a second supporting member that supports the first supporting member such that the first supporting member is able to rotate around the rotation shaft, a driving unit that rotates the rotation shaft, a pinion installed on the rotation shaft, a rack gear engaging with the pinion, and at least one elastic member that applies elastic force to the rack gear.
US08579523B2	System and device for securing and securely transporting a camera Provided herein are systems for engaging and transporting a camera. The system comprises a mount plate, one or more mount plate connectors, a camera connector, a strap connector, and, optionally, a strap and camera. The mount plate engages the camera at one of the attachment means provided thereon via the camera connector and is configured to slidably receive a strap via one of the mount plate connectors which are threadably engaged with the mount plate and with a strap connector. Also provided is a device for engaging a camera for transport which comprises the mount plate, the mount plate connectors, the camera connector, and, optionally, the strap connector and the strap which are assembled as described.
US08579522B2	Camera screw The present invention relates to a camera screw and to a system consisting of a camera screw and a carrying strap. Carrying straps with appropriate fastenings on the sides of the camera are known. They have numerous disadvantages that should be avoided by the present invention. The camera screw in accordance with the invention for connecting a carrying strap to a tripod thread of a camera includes a first part and a second part. The first part includes a tripod screw on a first end and a circumferential collar on the second end. The second part surrounds the first part between the collar and the tripod screw in a rotatable manner relative to the first part about an axis of rotation. A friction reducing means is provided between the second part and the collar. The second part includes a fastening for the carrying strap.
US08579517B2	Optical fiber connector An optical fiber connector includes a number of optical fibers, a body, a number of supports, and a cover. The body includes a number of lenses at a first end thereof, a number of through holes at an opposite second end, and a recess located between the lenses and the through holes. The through holes are in communication with the recess. The optical fibers extend through the respective through holes and optically coupled with the respective lenses. The supports are formed in the recess. Each support defines an arc-shaped receiving groove. The cover is engagingly received in the recess and defines a number of V-shaped positioning grooves. Each positioning groove has a first slanted surface and a second slanted surface. The positioning grooves and the corresponding receiving grooves cooperatively securely retain distal portions of the optical fibers in the recess of the body.
US08579513B2	Slide member and bearing utilizing the same A sliding member includes a silicon nitride sintered compact containing a rare earth element of 7 to 18 mass % in terms of oxide and at least one element M selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo and W of 0.1 to 3 mass % in terms of oxide, and having a total content of impurity positive ion elements of 0.3 mass % or less and a thermal conductivity of 60 W/m·K or higher. The silicon nitride sintered compact includes silicon nitride crystal grains and a grain boundary phase, and has a ratio of crystalline compound phases in the grain boundary phase of 20% or more in area ratio, and an average grain size of the crystalline compound phases of 0.5 μm or less. The sliding member is used, for example, as a bearing ball 2.
US08579511B2	Turning bearing with loading hole for introduction of separator with roller A loading hole made in either of an outer ring and an inner ring is provided in two rows of raceways defined between the outer ring and the inner ring, one to each raceway. The loading hole is set out of the guide surface and, therefore there is no fear that a closure fitted in the loading hole causes any obstacle to the rolling movement of the rollers. The loading hole extends radially of the bearing at a location that a center line of the loading hole lies set-off or biased from a center of the roller. An opening edge of the loading hole is exposed to the raceway in a location out of the guide surface, so that the rollers are allowed to roll smoothly without touching with the innermost edge of the closure.
US08579509B2	Sliding bearing for internal combustion engine Disclosed is a sliding bearing for an internal combustion engine for supporting a crankshaft including a pair of semi-cylindrical bearings combined with each other into a cylindrical body. Each of inner circumferential surfaces of the respective semi-cylindrical bearings includes first and second curved surfaces following two kinds of arcs with different curvatures. The first curved surface is in a region including a circumferential central portion of the inner circumferential surface. The second curved surfaces are in remaining two regions of the inner circumferential surface. The circumferential oil groove and the axial groove communicate with each other. The circumferential grooves of the second curved surfaces and the axial groove communicate with each other. The groove bottoms of the circumferential grooves of the second curved surfaces are displaced to a side of the bearing inner circumferential surface from a groove bottom of the axial groove.
US08579500B2	Timepiece (clockwork part) The band attachment device (1) and the closed case (17) together form the housing of the wristwatch. The device (1) is a perforated construction, the central part (2) of which contains the closed case (17) and the side parts (3 and 4) of which provide the connection to each half of the band. The device (1) is made entirely of elongate elements of metal or plastic sections joined by welding or adhesive bonding and arranged in such a way as to form a rigid, lightweight lattice.
US08579499B2	Device for winding watches, in particular manually-wound watches A device for winding watches, particularly manually-wound watches, comprising a containment structure which accommodates a motor, transmission means and a motor controller.The transmission means transfer the rotation of the motor, provided with power supply means, to a coupling which can be associated with the crown of the watch to be wound. The rotation is controlled by the controller.The device comprises a seat for stably accommodating the watch to be wound, the seat being defined on a surface of the containment structure.
US08579497B2	Device, mixer and system for mixing and dispensing of a material and method of use A device for mixing and dispensing dental materials is provided, comprising a drive shaft for driving a mixer. The mixer is placeable on the drive shaft in a first and a second position, wherein in the first position a guiding section of the drive shaft is mated with an engagement section of the mixer, but an engagement section of the drive shaft is not engaged with the engagement section of the mixer, and in the second position the engagement section of the drive shaft is also engaged with the engagement section of the mixer.
US08579495B2	Process for mixing a liquid or mixture of a liquid and a fine solid present in an essentially self-containing vessel A process for mixing a liquid stored in a vessel, in which gas is sucked in from the gas phase present above the liquid interface with a suction apparatus present in the liquid, and released into it again for the gas-induced mixing of the liquid.
US08579493B2	Display device and television receiver A liquid crystal display device 10 includes a liquid crystal panel 11, an optical member 16, a plurality of elongated parts 31, a plurality of joint parts 30, a frame 17, a chassis 14, cabinets Ca and Cb, mounting structures and displacement allowance structures. The liquid crystal panel 11 and the optical member 16 are capable of light transmission. The elongated parts 31 extend along edges of the liquid crystal panel 11 and the optical member 16. The joint parts connect the elongated parts. The frame 17 is formed in a frame-like shape and holds the edges of the liquid crystal panel 11 and the optical member 16. The frame 17 is mounted to the chassis 14 and the cabinets Ca and Cb. The mounting structures are included in the joint parts 30 of the frame 17, the chassis 14 and the cabinets Ca and Cb for binding them in mounting conditions. The displacement allowance structures are provided at joint portions between the elongated parts 31 and the elongated parts 30. The displacement allowance structures allow movement of the elongated parts 31 in the extending directions thereof relative to the joint parts 30.
US08579489B2	Illuminator allowing a wide luminous intensity distribution An illuminator is provided including: a light source unit composed of a point light source; a light guide plate including an incidence surface into which light emitted from the light source unit is introduced, and an exit surface out which the light that has been introduced from the incidence surface exits; and a prism body where a plurality of prisms are arranged so as to refract the light that has exited out from the exit surface of the light guide plate, wherein the prism body is arranged at a specific area on the entire exit surface of the light guide plate so as to refract part of the light that has exited out from the exit surface of the light guide plate.
US08579484B2	Vehicle lighting device The vehicle lighting device includes a heat sink, a light emitting element, a reflection plate, and a light leakage processing plate. The light leakage processing plate is disposed at a peripheral edge part on a side of the first direction of the reflection plate, and is configured so as to scatter light leakage that is not reflected on the reflection plate from among beams of the light from the light emitting element. The light leakage processing plate is disposed so as to have a gap T with respect to the peripheral edge part of the reflection plate, and is configured so as to be extended over the peripheral edge part of the reflection plate on a side of the second direction and on a side of an opposite direction to the second direction.
US08579483B2	Optical device, in particular for an automotive vehicle, such as a lighting or signaling device An optical device, in particular for an automotive vehicle, such as a lighting or signaling device, comprising at least one light source, and at least one light guide designed to guide at least some of the light emitted by the light source, the light guide comprising at least one output face and at least one reflection face designed to reflect, towards the output face, light being propagated in the guide, wherein the light guide exhibits a cylindrical sheet form and/or the output face is not completely planar.
US08579482B2	Debris protector for vehicle lamp assembly A debris protector for use with a vehicle lamp assembly installed to an opening in a vehicle body panel or garnish to prevent the migration of accumulated road debris through a gap between the lamp assembly and the body panel opening. Such a debris protector is generally in the form of a cover element that is installable along an upper, hidden portion of a vehicle lamp assembly and an inner surface of a corresponding vehicle body panel or garnish to prevent road debris from accumulating on the lamp assembly near the body panel opening. Such a debris protector may also include a seal that is located between the cover element and the rear surface of a body panel or garnish to assist with the debris blocking function of the cover element.
US08579479B2	Warning lamp for an aircraft The warning lamp for an aircraft is provided with a housing (10) which possesses a light permeable cover (12) that is exposed to the surrounding air when the housing is mounted on the aircraft, with a frontal cover area and a rear cover area, a mounting element (44) to fasten the cover to a lower part (14) of the housing (10), wherein one edge (41) of the cover (12) is covered by an edge of the mounting element (44) and protrudes from it, a lamp with at least one LED (42,46,58,60), which is arranged within an area that is covered by the cover (12), and a cooling body (18) for the at least one LED (42,46,58,60), wherein the cooling body (18) possesses a cooling surface (32) that is exposed to the surrounding air when the housing (10) is mounted on the aircraft. The frontal cover area is formed by a frontal cover element (22) which is made from a light permeable first material. The rear cover area is formed by a rear cover element (28), which is made from a light permeable second material. The cooling body (18), while separating the frontal cover element (22) from the rear cover element (28), is arranged between them, wherein its cooling surface (32) is a part of the external contours of the cover (12) of the housing (10) that is given by the frontal and rear cover elements (22,28) and possesses an upper region (38) as well as adjacent, opposing side areas (40).
US08579478B2	Attachable illumination system This invention relates generally to an illumination system and, more particularly, to an illumination system that is configured for attachment to the frame portion of a pair of eyeglasses. The illumination system includes a light source and a multi-axis pivot assembly to permit directional adjustment and focus of a beam of light. An adapter clip is provided to facilitate attachment to the temple arm portion of the eyeglasses. The adapter clip includes a plurality of grooves positioned between two flexible side portions to allow the clip to be slid along the temple arm to a desired position and snapped into a locked position. The illumination system is fully adjustable in terms of light intensity and direction of the light beams.
US08579475B2	Artistic formative lampshade assembly An artistic formative lampshade assembly comprises a longitudinal support body, a fabric cover, and a transverse support body, wherein the longitudinal support is a flat body or a rod and the transverse support body formed into a circular or rectangular shape by a butt joint structure. Further, the fabric cover is made of a transparent, flexible, soft fabric. The transverse body set into the fabric cover hitches the buckles on the fabric cover and the hooks on the both ends of the longitudinal support so that the longitudinal support body is encircled by the transverse support body to form a cubical space. Therefore, the light bulb in the center of the fabric cover can keep a safety distance from the upper covering body and lower covering body. The present invention is easy to pack and transport, and enables the light illuminates evenly for both practical use and ornamental art.
US08579469B2	Street lamp The street lamp comprises: a heat radiating body comprising top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of heat radiating fins being formed on the top surface; an LED module comprising a substrate disposed on the bottom surface of the heat radiating body and a plurality of LEDs disposed on one side of the substrate; and a heat radiating body cover disposed on the top surface of the heat radiating body, wherein the heat radiating body cover comprises a plurality of heat radiating openings corresponding to the plurality of the heat radiating fins, and wherein the heat radiating body cover is disposed at positions higher or lower than positions of peaks of the plurality of the heat radiating fins.
US08579462B2	Lighting assembly Display case lighting comprising a lens with integrally formed features on its interior to mechanically retain LED units therein, at least one LED unit comprising a base and diodes mechanically engaged with the integrally formed features of the lens, an electrical connector to connect the LED units to a power source, and at least one end cap, which preferably incorporates the electrical connector. Sealing implements including a boot seal to seal the electrical connection and a plug cover to cover any unused electrical connectors may be provided, as well as an adhesive to secure the end cover to the lens and seal the connection therebetween, rendering the lighting assembly suitable for use in wet or potentially explosive environments. The externally accessible components may also comprise materials approved for contact with food items.
US08579457B2	Escalator or moving walkway with LED illumination An escalator or moving walkway comprises a balustrade base, an illumination profile disposed in the base and a transparent cover through which illumination is provided. An illumination strip is located within the illumination profile, and has a plurality of LED lamps. A reflecting surface is provided on the illumination profile, and is aligned such that at least a portion of the light emitted by the LED lamps impinging upon the surface is reflected in the direction of the cover, facilitating an even level of illumination.
US08579451B2	LED lamp There is herein described a lamp for providing white light comprising a plurality of light sources positioned on a substrate. Each of said light sources comprises a blue light emitting diode (LED) and a dome that substantially covers said LED. A first portion of said blue light from said LEDs is transmitted through said domes and a second portion of said blue light is converted into a red light by a first phosphor contained in said domes. A cover is disposed over all of said light sources that transmits at least a portion of said red and blue light emitted by said light sources. The cover contains a second phosphor that emits a yellow light in response to said blue light. The red, blue and yellow light combining to form the white light and the white light having a color rendering index (CRI) of at least about 80.
US08579448B2	Pointer structure of an instrument cluster Instrument cluster and pointing device for a car or other vehicle, the pointing device being mounted rotatable about a rotation axis and having a shaft element in the vicinity of the rotation axis, the pointing device further comprising at least one of a light guide element or a mirror element in the region of the shaft element and comprising one of an image forming element or an aperture, wherein the one of the image forming element or the aperture and the one of the light guide element or the mirror element are able to be rotated about the rotational axis with the shaft element, and wherein light incident to the shaft element is directed from the one of the light guide element or the mirror element to the image forming element or aperture and projecting to a visible surface.
US08579437B2	Adaptive sequential wavefront sensor with programmed control One embodiment is a machine comprising a sequential wavefront scanner, a variable aperture, a position sensing device and an electronic control and detection system. The electronic control and detection system is configured to control the sequential wavefront scanner to shift the incident wavefront by a set of displacements selected to form a selected scanning pattern to scan the incident wavefront and configured to vary the aperture size to vary detection resolution at different parts of the scanning pattern.
US08579435B2	Electro-active opthalmic lens having an optical power blending region A spectacle lens is disclosed. The disclosed lens provides a vision correcting area for the correction of a wearer's refractive error. The viewing correction area provides correction for non-conventional refractive error to provide at least a part of the wearer's vision correction. The lens has a prescription based on a wave front analysis of the wearer's eye and the lens can further be modified to fit within an eyeglass frame.
US08579432B2	Recording apparatus with removable member A recording apparatus including: a casing provided with a feed roller for feeding a recording medium; a removable member insertable into and removable from the casing by being moved relative to the casing in an axial direction of the feed roller wherein on the removable member is mounted a nip roller via a shaft thereof extending in parallel with the axial direction of the feed roller, the nip roller; a force applying portion which applies a force to the nip roller in a direction in which the nip roller is moved toward the feed roller; and a moving mechanism which moves the nip roller against the force in a mounting and removing operation in a direction in which the nip roller is moved away from the feed roller.
US08579429B2	Droplet ejection device that applies treating agent to recording medium A droplet ejection device includes a head that ejects droplets onto a recording medium so as to form an image, an extract unit that extracts a part of the image as a specific image portion, and a control unit that controls a treating-agent application member to apply treating agent to a first section and a second section of the recording medium. The specific image portion is formed in the first section, and at least a part of a non-specific image portion of the image is formed in the second section. When a remaining amount of the treating agent is less than a first amount, the treating-agent application member applies the treating agent to the second section by an amount less than an amount of the treating agent that is applied to the second section when the remaining amount is not less than the first amount.
US08579419B2	Fluid ejecting apparatus A fluid ejecting apparatus includes: a carriage that supports a fluid ejecting head for ejecting fluid through a plurality of nozzles and is able to be reciprocated; a cap unit that comes in contact with the fluid ejecting head to form a plurality of cap internal spaces individually enclosing the nozzles; a suction unit that is able to suck the cap internal spaces via respective suction passages; and a selective blocking unit that is able to selectively block the suction passages as the carriage is reciprocated in a maintenance area for the maintenance of the fluid ejecting head, wherein the selective blocking unit includes: a blocking member that is reciprocated as the carriage is reciprocated in the maintenance area; and cam surfaces that engage with the blocking member as the blocking member is reciprocated to lead the blocking member to blocking positions for blocking the suction passages in order.
US08579414B2	Self-assembling structures for electrostatic extraction of pigments from liquid inks for marking A fabricated structure for use with an associated marking device is provided. In one form, the fabricated structure includes a self-lifting spring finger having a nib for marking.
US08579405B2	Method and apparatus for detecting a media touch of an inkjet printhead In a printer having a print head moveable relative to a recording medium, the recording medium and print head may touch each other, thereby possibly damaging the print head and/or the recording medium. In order to prevent further damage, it is advantageous to detect a medium touch as soon as possible. An available feedback signal relating to the print head, e.g. originating from a carriage on which the print head is mounted, is employed to determine whether a medium touch has occurred such that a dedicated medium touch or crash sensor may be omitted. A malfunctioning nozzle signal is used to determine a change in a number of malfunctioning nozzles to detect a medium touch. Alternatively, a print head position signal is used to determine a position error and derive from the position error whether or not a medium touch has occurred.
US08579404B2	Fluid ejecting head, a fluid ejecting apparatus A recording head 4 includes a nozzle plate 22 provided with nozzle openings 23 ejecting ink, a heater 30 heating the ink, and a head cover 40 provided in contact with the nozzle plate 22 and having a predetermined function of protecting the nozzle plate 22. The heater 30 heats the ink through the head cover 40 and the nozzle plate 22.
US08579403B2	Liquid ejection apparatus having marked belt A recording apparatus includes a recording unit recording an image, an endless belt which is stretched between rollers such that the inner circumferential surface thereof contacts the rollers and the outer circumferential surface thereof opposes the recording unit, a mark arranged on the profile of the belt, and a mark detection unit which detects that the mark moving in accordance with the travel of the belt is positioned at a predetermined position.
US08579402B2	Digital printing plastic containers A hollow plastic container having a curved external surface and a digital image printed thereon by ink droplets is provided. The ink droplets may vary in diameter from about 10 to about 200 microns and the droplets may range from about 200 to about 1200 drops per inch. Methods for digital printing plastic containers are also disclosed.
US08579401B2	Inkjet printing system and inkjet printing method There is provided an inkjet printing apparatus which can restrict each of coloring of reflected light and image clarity within an allowable range required in each of a color mode and a monochromatic mode in any of the modes to output an image with a high grade. For this end, a print duty of each of the first image improving liquid and the second image improving liquid is set in such a manner that a ratio of the print duty of the first image improving liquid having low penetratability to the print duty of the second image improving liquid having high penetratability is higher in the monochromatic mode than that in the color mode. Thereby, an appropriate ratio and an appropriate amount of appropriate kinds of the image improving liquids are applied to each of the color mode and the monochromatic mode.
US08579395B2	Integrated print head end-of-life detection A method of detecting low ink levels in an integrated print head includes calibrating the integrated print head and producing a baseline temperature rise, performing an end-of-life test to produce a second temperature rise; and comparing the second temperature rise and the baseline temperature rise to estimate ink levels within the integrated print head. A computer product for detection of end-of-life events in integrated inkjet print heads includes computer code to perform a calibration procedure when an integrated print head is first connected to a printer; computer code to perform an end-of-life test on the integrated print head after a triggering event; and computer code to compare end of life test results with a baseline result from the calibration procedure.
US08579386B2	Vehicle brake device A VSA device (24), which controls vehicle behavior by individually controlling the pressure of brake fluid supplied from a slave cylinder (23) to a wheel cylinder (16, 17; 20, 23), is provided with: an accumulator (62) which can be connected to the wheel cylinder and the slave cylinder (23); an out-valve (60, 61) disposed on a fluid path between the wheel cylinder and the accumulator (62); a check valve (63) that allows only flow of brake fluid from the accumulator (62) to the slave cylinder (23); and a regulator valve (54) disposed on a fluid path between the wheel cylinder and a path between the check valve (63) and the slave cylinder (23). Brake fluid is discharged from the accumulator (62) to the slave cylinder (23) by reducing the driving force of an electric motor (32) of the slave cylinder (23), thereby rendering a special pump unnecessary and making it possible to reduce the weight, cost, and component count.
US08579385B2	Brake system for a vehicle The invention relates to a brake system for a vehicle, with a main brake cylinder, a fluid control unit, and at least one wheel brake. The fluid control unit has, for brake pressure modulation in at least one brake circuit a switchover valve, an intake valve and a recirculating pump for each brake circuit. According to the invention, the fluid control unit has, for each brake circuit, a sliding valve which is connected into a suction line between the recirculating pump and the main brake cylinder. The sliding valve restricts the effective pressure on a suction side of the recirculating pump to a predeterminable maximum pressure value. In this case, the sliding valve can be arranged in series with or parallel to the intake valve.
US08579384B2	Service work brake arrangement A vehicle air brake system is presented with an improved service work brake arrangement. The arrangement may provide a service work brake function or both a service work brake function and a parking brake function for the vehicle. The arrangement may provide an improved service work brake arrangement disposed within a housing for reducing the number of components and plumbing required to achieve this functionality versus prior known systems. The arrangement may utilize a pneumatic latching valve to deliver pressurized air for applying a vehicle's service brakes. The pneumatic latching valve opens upon receiving a pneumatic control signal from an electronically controlled valve and closes upon receiving a pneumatic control signal from another source. In addition, a controller and control logic may be provided for controlling the arrangement.
US08579383B2	Fastening element for fixation of a wheel on a wheel axle A fastening element for fixation of a wheel on a wheel axle has a first section and a second section that are movable relative to each other and are separated from each other by a plane of separation. The first section has devices for fixation on the wheel axle. The second section has a wheel axle cover. A substantially closed outer wall that is divided by the plane of separation is provided on the fastening element.
US08579379B2	Seat for a chair lift installation The present invention relates to a seat for a chair-lift installation composed of a seating part (1) and a back (2) and further including a support arch (3) intended to be connected to a carrier cable, a safety bar (4) mounted to tilt with respect to the seat between a lowered position and a raised position and provided with a horizontal bar (5). According to the invention, the seat includes, at least one of the side flanks a tilting device (8) arranged so that the horizontal bar (5) of the safety bar (4) makes, in a side plane, a non circular motion facilitating the passage from the lowered position to the raised position and vice versa.
US08579378B2	Seat belt attachment for aircraft seat Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for locking a seat belt with respect to a fixed base frame to prevent movement of a movable seat portion in the event of a crash or crash-like condition on an aircraft.
US08579376B2	Device for adjusting the height of the backrest of an office chair A device for adjusting the height of the backrest of an office chair having a backrest unit at the rear side of a seat body. The height adjustment may take place to achieve the optimal resting angle according to the different body shapes, personal requirements and needs of the users. In moving upward to adjust the height, an automatic engagement is achieved in the predetermined position. Moreover, an automatic return to the lowest position is achieved as well in reaching the highest position. It is done without any tools or control buttons and fulfills the requirements on the user-friendly operation and a practical use. In addition, a waistrest is located at the position of the waist of the user for providing an optimal resting comfort by means of the pivoted and telescopic structure.
US08579375B2	Aircraft seat Embodiments of the present invention provide adjustable or convertible seats for use in aircraft and other passenger transport vehicles. The seats are designed to use non-parallel slides and a single actuator for certain movements of the seat.
US08579374B2	Vehicle seat The motor vehicle seat of the present invention includes: a seat proper mounted on a pillar by means of a first connecting rod assembly including a front connecting rod and a rear connecting rod; a backrest mounted on the pillar by means of a second connecting rod assembly including a front connecting rod and a rear connecting rod; a locking mechanism for alternately restricting or enabling a movement of the backrest relative to the pillar, the seat being freely movable between a nominal position and a folded back position.
US08579371B2	Seat bottom pretensioner for vehicle seat A vehicle seat comprises a reclinable seatback (2), a seat bottom (3) movable in a front-and-rear direction, a pretensioner (41) for moving the seat bottom (3) rearward, and brackets (21, 21) attached to a vehicle body. The seat bottom is attached to the brackets so as to move in the front-and-rear direction, the seatback is rotatably attached to the brackets, and the pretensioner moves the seat bottom relatively rearward with respect to the brackets. When the seat bottom is moved rearward by the pretensioner, a front portion of the seat bottom is moved upward.
US08579369B2	Truss system for juvenile vehicle seat A child restraint includes a juvenile seat and a child-restraint harness coupled to the juvenile seat. The juvenile seat includes a seat shell formed to include a seat bottom and a seat back extending upwardly from the seat bottom. The juvenile seat also includes a headrest mounted for up-and-down movement on the seat back.
US08579366B2	Sunshade assembly and open roof construction provided therewith A sunshade assembly includes opposed longitudinal edges and opposed transversal edges. The longitudinal edges are adapted to be guided in non parallel guide rails. The sunshade assembly comprises a flexible screen, said screen having a transversal edge connected to a beam of the sunshade assembly and having opposed lateral screen parts biased in lateral direction. At least one of the lateral screen parts is configured to adjustably fold around a folding member through an angle of substantially 180° along at least a part of the length of the corresponding longitudinal edge of the sunshade assembly. The invention is useful for several types of sunshade assembly, such as roller screens and sunshade panels.
US08579360B2	Apparatus for reducing drag on a vehicle The present invention is directed to a device for reducing drag on a vehicle. The device comprises a sheet of material and a plurality of depressions/elevations. The sheet of material having a base portion and an apex extending from the base portion.
US08579356B2	Attachment for air splitter panel An air splitter panel is attached to a vehicle fascia panel. One of the panels has a plurality of longitudinal extending slots and the other of the panels has a plurality of fastener holes that register with the slots. Fasteners are mounted in each of the holes and extend through the slot registered therewith to attach the panels together while permitting sliding movement of the splitter panel relative to the fascia panel. A yieldable detent acts between the fastener and the one of the panels with the slot to block the sliding movement of the splitter panel until a force applied upon the splitter panel overcomes the yieldable detent to permit the sliding movement of the splitter panel.
US08579355B2	Vehicle window section structure Provided is a vehicle window section structure in which in a state where an openable and closable front door is closed, a gap (63) extending inward in a vehicle width direction is formed between a small window (9) provided on a vehicle body side and a mount body (25) of a door mirror mount provided to the front door. A peripheral member (11) is provided on the outer periphery of the small window (9). A lip (50) extending along the vehicle width direction is provided to the peripheral member (11). Distance between the lip (50) and the mount body (25) facing the lip (50) is larger toward an outer end in the vehicle width direction and smaller toward an inner end in the vehicle width direction.
US08579352B2	Shading arrangement for a leading-car windshield A shading device for a carriage windshield of a rail vehicle has a frame structure which is provided for attaching to the underside of the carriage roof. The frame structure supports a generally plate-shaped sunscreen, and the sun screen can be attached to the frame structure in a movable manner by a guide device. The guide device has a middle guideway and two outer radial guideways.
US08579349B1	Headrest assembly A headrest assembly for a motor vehicle has an upright column secured to the vehicle supporting an arm movable between first and second positions with an actuator. An attachment connected to the arm supports a head restraint pad located behind the head of a person seated in a wheelchair in the vehicle operator's position or front vehicle passenger's position.
US08579342B2	Consumer post hole digger This invention provides a post hole digger having a first, traverse pivot point, located on the lower section of two handle members, and a second, blade assembly pivot point located at the medial point of the blade assemblies. Because the first pivot point is a traverse pivot point, the handle members are only required to travel through a limited range of motion. Additionally, the second, blade assembly pivot point is preferably an offset pivot point. Thus, because the second, blade assembly pivot point is disposed at a medial point the blade assemblies, the motion of the handle members, which are coupled to the upper ends of the blade assemblies, is reversed relative to the lower ends of the blade members.
US08579340B2	Adjustable strike The invention relates to an adjustable strike having a striker plate, an end cap removably attached to an end of the striker plate, and the end cap having a first protrusion and a second protrusion, each for attaching the end cap with a door frame. The end cap also has a tab for removably attaching the striker plate with the end cap. The invention also relates to a method of providing the adjustable strike.
US08579338B1	Slide bolt lock An improved slide bolt locking mechanism is capable of selectably releaseably fastening both overhead doors and swing doors to its surrounding door frame. A portion of the traditional slide bolt is replaced by a lighter actuating mechanism outwardly of the door-transom interface and a form fitting handle. The handle includes an alignable eye assembly capable of securement by a pad or combination lock.
US08579332B2	Tank arrangement and vehicle with a tank arrangement A tank arrangement for a vehicle, particularly a truck, includes at least a first fuel tank and a second fuel tank which are connected by a balancing pipe, a suction pipe for feeding fuel to an engine and a return pipe for feeding fuel from the engine to at least one of the fuel tanks. The balancing pipe is provided with a first end to supply fuel to the first tank and a second end to suck fuel from the second tan, wherein a check valve is arranged upstream of the return pipe in the balancing pipe between the at least two tanks allowing a flow direction from the second tank to the first tank and blocking a flow in the reverse direction. Suction of fuel to the engine is from the first tank only. The check valve provides an automatic purging of the system.
US08579330B2	Fluid receiver The invention relates to a fluid receiver for attaching to a vehicle. The fluid receiver comprises a receiver body having side walls extending upwardly from a receiver floor. A wheel arch is formed within the receiver floor and comprises a reinforced mounting plate to which is attached a mounting system for attaching wheels to the fluid receiver. The receiver is, therefore, adapted to be attached directly to a wheel mounting system and suspension system without needing to be mounted to a chassis or sub-frame. As such, the receiver has a lower center of gravity and higher static rollover threshold, resulting in increased stability, particularly when the receiver is attached to a vehicle negotiating rough terrain or slopes.
US08579328B2	Holding apparatus having adjustment apparatus and separate closing apparatus, attachable to a handle A handle for a cane has a holding apparatus for a hand. The apparatus is attached or can be attached to a handle and includes an attachment section, which encloses the hand at the side of the back of the hand at least in the region between the thumb and index finger, and a wrist section, which is connected to the attachment section and substantially encloses the wrist or the back of the hand and which is connected to the handle by another attachment section on the side of the palm. The wrist section has an adjustment apparatus so that the circumference of an opening defined by the wrist section can be varied. A closing apparatus is provided separate from the adjustment apparatus which, when open, allows the hand to be removed from the holding apparatus and inserted into the holding apparatus.
US08579326B2	Landing gear An extensible support leg includes at least two reciprocally-slidable portions, a maneuvering screw axially constrained to a first portion, a threaded volute axially constrained to a second portion and screwed on the maneuvering screw, and a rotating drive shaft which is connected to the maneuvering screw by a mechanical gear change, and is rotatable to set the maneuvering screw in rotation. The mechanical gear change includes: two first cogged crown wheels, coaxial and rotatably solid with the maneuvering screw; two second cogged crown wheels mounted coaxially and rotatably idle on the drive shaft, which enmesh directly with a respective first cogged crown wheel, realizing two gears having different transmission ratios; and a cursor, which is solidly rotatably associated to a portion of the drive shaft between the second cogged crown wheels, and is mobile, in a direction of the drive shaft axis, between first and second enmeshed positions.
US08579316B2	Bicycle frame with improved weld joint A bicycle frame comprising a first tubular member having a first main portion and a first interface portion (e.g., a rounded taper), and a second tubular member having a second main portion and a second interface portion engaged with the first interface portion to create a joint. The joint includes a peripheral channel defined between the first interface portion and the second interface portion, and a weld is positioned in the peripheral channel. The second interface portion is defined at least partially by a substantially flat face wall. Preferably, the first tubular member includes an open end at the first interface portion, while the flat face wall at the second interface portion is substantially closed. In addition, it is preferred that the face wall lies in a plane that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the head tube (e.g., within ten degrees of the longitudinal axis).
US08579312B2	Attachment structure of stabilizer link An attachment structure of a stabilizer link is provided having one end pivotally fitted to an end of a stabilizer and the other end coupled to a wheel support member by a coupling device. A positional relationship of pivot points of the one end and the other end of the stabilizer link relative to the kingpin axis is set such that when the stabilizer link is displaced relative to the wheel support member in accordance with rolling of a vehicle at the time of turning, the wheel support member is pivotally displaced about the kingpin axis in the direction where a steered angle of the steered wheel is increased, and when a magnitude of roll angle of the vehicle is large, the coupling device increases a ratio of a pivotal displacement amount of the wheel support member relative to the roll angle of the vehicle as compared with a situation where a magnitude of roll angle of the vehicle is small.
US08579302B2	Versatile material handling system A material handling system is disclosed, having at least one solid rectangular storage container for liquid or solid items; a pallet upon which the container sits; and a transporter which is adapted to move the container from the pallet. The pallet has a structure to permit both movement of the pallet and the container and movement of the container independent of the pallet. The transporter with the container can be moved safely and easily using human power.
US08579296B2	Water systems A sealing member and a preemptive system and a preemptive method of preventing or stopping a primary joint leak between a pipe and a pipe fitting by securing a sealing ring to the pipe and the pipe fitting to form a secondary joint that inhibits or prevent leakage between the primary joint between the pipe and the pipe fitting without knowing if the primary joint is faulty.
US08579294B2	Emergency stopping system for track mounted movable bullet targets and target trolleys An emergency stopping system for track mounted movable targets used divergent cables to stop a target trolley which has not been otherwise stopped before coming to the end of a track. As the trolley passes over the diverging cables, the cables are forced together, causing the trolley to dissipate kinetic energy.
US08579293B1	Animal roping system The current inventive technology is generally directed to an improved animal roping form representing an improved training system applicable to various animal roping activities. Some embodiments of the inventive technology may include, for example, an animal form (2), a tractable leg element (3), a joint element (4) and a resilient torsion control joint connection (5) that may facilitate the tension coupling of the leg element (s0 to said animal form to more realistically mimic a live animal movement and resistance. In addition, some embodiments may include support attachment element (6) coordinated with a support element (8) allowing, for example such animal form to be suspended or conveyed to approximate animal movement to create a realistic roping training system. Further embodiments may have a knee joint (16) to more fully replicate the anatomical movements of a real animal leg joint.
US08579289B2	Automatic system and methods for accurate card handling A playing card handling device comprises a card storing area that supports a stack of playing cards, the card storing area having a playing card support surface. A card removing system is provided that removes playing cards individually from the bottom of the stack. A pivoting arm is automatically moved by a motor between at least two positions, wherein in a first position the end of the arm opposite a pivot is disengaged from a playing card at the top of the stack and in a second position the end of the min is engaged with a playing card at the top of the stack. A processor in the playing card handling device directs movement of the pivoting arm between at least a first and second position when information is known to the processor that a predetermined number of cards is present in the card storing area of the card handling device. Methods of card handling employing the use of a pivotal arm are also disclosed.
US08579288B2	Game pieces for math game and method thereof The invention features a game container including double sided tokens with math expressions on each side. The tokens are placed in a bubble pop machine which can be activated to eject the tokens. Players attempt to catch the ejected tokens in bubble pop bags. The players must then attempt to correctly match the tokens to a master pad, by placing a token with an expression on a space containing the equation matching said expression. The player that catches the most tokens and correctly matches them to the master pad is declared the winner of the game. Scrolls and an equation pad with equations are provided for players to refer to if the players need help or want to check their solutions before matching the tokens to the master pad. An electronic version presents virtual problems for the player to solve, awarding points for correctly answering math problems.
US08579287B1	High speed rotary nip diverter A media velocity decoupling device is part of a rotary nip diverter assembly and includes a one-way clutch connected to a drive roller of a rotary nip diverter gate. The one-way clutched drive roller allows for realignment of the rotary nip diverter gate during media transfer to a downstream nip while the media is captured in both the rotary nip diverter gate and the downstream nip without media slippage or stretching occurring.
US08579286B2	Image recording device An image recording device that makes it possible to accurately position images on the front and reverse surfaces of a recording medium even when there is an error in length in the direction of conveyance of the recording medium. The image recording device is equipped with a paper supply part, a paper discharge part, a table movement mechanism, which moves ten tables disposed at regular intervals along a circulation path, an image recording part, which records an image on printing paper on top of the table that is moved by this table movement mechanism, an inversion part, which inverts the printing paper, and a transport mechanism, which transports the printing paper inverted by the inversion part to the paper supply part.
US08579285B2	Document conveying device and image forming apparatus with first and second document detectors and pulse count detector A document conveying device includes a document conveying unit, a controller, first and second document detectors, a pulse count detector, and a determining unit. The first document detector is located on a feeding path along which a document is fed by the document conveying unit, and detects a document leading edge. The second document detector is located at a position different from that of the first document detector in both a document feeding direction and a direction orthogonal thereto, and detects the document leading edge. The determining unit determines whether the number of pulses detected by the pulse count detector during the period from detection of the document leading edge by one of the first and second document detectors to detection of the document leading edge by the other exceeds a predetermined value. If the number of pulses exceeds the predetermined value, the controller stops the document feeding operation.
US08579283B2	Image forming apparatus Provided is an image forming apparatus which enables quick removal of remaining sheets in the image forming apparatus via an orthogonal reverse section in case a jam occurs inside the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a main conveyance section to convey a sheet in the image forming apparatus and to convey the sheet to an ejected sheet section; an orthogonal reverse section to receive the sheet from the main conveyance section and turn over the sheet without swapping a front edge for a rear edge of the sheet by conveying the sheet in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction of the main conveyance section and a sheet ejection section to eject the sheet in the orthogonal reverse section outside the orthogonal reverse section along a direction to turn over the sheet by the orthogonal reverse section.
US08579282B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a housing, an image forming unit disposed inside the housing, a discharging portion, a stacking unit and a pressing member. The discharging portion is configured to discharge a sheet medium on which an image is formed by the image forming unit. The stacking unit is configured to stack the sheet medium discharged from the discharging portion. The stacking unit includes a stacking surface portion on which the sheet medium is stacked. The stacking surface portion includes a planar portion formed flat and a protruding portion configured to protrude upwardly from the planar portion. The pressing member is disposed in contact with an upper surface of the sheet medium stacked on the stacking surface portion.
US08579281B1	Multiple nip inverter A sheet inverter apparatus improves the handling capabilities of high speed printers and copiers. The sheet inverter apparatus includes a rotatable support having an axis of rotation and at least first and second arms radiating outwardly from the axis of rotation. First and second nip assemblies are is mounted to the first and second arms respectively. The support is rotatable to adjust positions of the first and second nips about the axis of rotation. Advantageously, with this arrangement, the support is adjustable so as to permit the first and second nips to receive sheets of paper at one location, be positionally adjusted with the sheets of paper moving therewith, and located at a second location so as to deliver the paper to an outlet feed path. This positional adjustment allows for inversion of the paper.
US08579277B2	Drive transmission apparatus and feeding apparatus A drive transmission apparatus includes a sun gear driven by a drive source, a planetary gear, a supporting member that supports the planetary gear capable of revolving around the sun gear in a rotatably engaged state with the sun gear, a driven gear that is engaged with the planetary gear when the planetary gear revolves and moves to an engagement position by the rotation of the sun gear in a first direction, and a rotational force providing unit that provides a rotational force to the driven gear to rotate the sun gear in a second direction opposite to the first direction via the planetary gear when the planetary gear is engaged with the driven gear. When the sun gear is rotated in the second direction by the drive source, the rotational force providing unit blocks the revolution of the planetary gear by rotating the planetary gear via the driven gear.
US08579264B1	Computer controlled wastewater evaporator A pontoon based evaporative system has a weather monitoring station and control algorithm to shut down or slow down the atomizing fans in certain wind conditions. The central control system can control droplet size by slowing the fans down. The watercraft is collapsible to provide a fourteen foot width while afloat to support a plurality of atomizing fans high in the air. For transport the watercraft folds down to a nine foot trailer width with the atomizing fans resting on the base. An alternate embodiment is a land based frame having the same atomizing fans and weather monitoring and control algorithm.
US08579262B2	Fence and fence base A fence includes a plurality of bases, each base having a body having a floor, a top wall, side walls and end walls defining an interior chamber; a first projection extending from one of the end walls and having a top wall; and a second projection extending from another one of the end walls and having a bottom wall; wherein the bottom wall of the second projection and the top wall of the first projection are both configured to receive a pole and wherein the first projection of a first base of the bases can overlap the second projection of a second base of the bases when the floor of the first and second bases are resting on a common surface. The fence further includes a plurality of poles, each inserted into and maintained erect by one of the bases; and a mesh fencing material tensioned between the poles.
US08579260B2	Wire guiding device A wire guiding device for use with an electrical fitting such as an “LB” fitting is provided. The wire pulling device comprises a frame and two rollers mounted on axles. A first roller allows a wire to be pulled around the angle of the fitting and may be of sufficient diameter to prevent damage to the wire, while a second roller may prevent the wire from contacting the damaging edges of the fitting. The rollers are mounted within a frame which is adaptable to the access port of an LB fitting. Holes may be located in the frame such that fasteners engage the pre-existing threaded holes located in a standard LB fitting.
US08579259B2	Two speed winch assembly Apparatus for a two speed winch assembly are described herein. The winch assembly may be secured to a towing trailer and is arranged to assist in loading and unloading cargo from the trailer. The winch assembly may include mechanisms, systems, and features to make the winch assembly easy to assemble and use, increase the service life of the winch assembly, and improve the consistency of the performance of the winch assembly.
US08579258B2	Integral load support for a jack formed of a sheet material bent to less than 180° The invention relates to an integral load support (7) for a jack, said load support which is made of a plain sheet is formed by bending several parts thereof, whereby the bending angle between 2 adjacent bended surfaces (A-L) is less than 180°.
US08579257B2	Valve assembly with annular sealing member having elongated-circle cross-sectional shape Apparatus for controlling a pressurized fluid. In accordance with some embodiments, a valve assembly includes a piston moved between closed and open positions. A sealing member is disposed within an annular recess of the piston and characterized as an endless annular ring extending about a central axis of the piston. The sealing member has an elongated circle cross-sectional shape when the sealing member is in an uncompressed state prior to installation in said recess. The cross-sectional shape is defined by parallel top and bottom surfaces having a length L in a direction perpendicular to and intersecting the central axis, and having opposing inner and outer surfaces of a radius R, the inner and outer surfaces respectively facing toward and facing away from the central axis, and wherein the dimensional value of L is at least five times greater than the dimensional value of R.
US08579253B2	Fuel injector valve A fuel injector valve (1) of a piston engine, which comprises a fuel chamber (3) for the fuel to be injected, a valve needle (9) for guiding the fuel injection from the fuel chamber (3) into the cylinder (4) of the engine, a spring (10) for pressing the valve needle (9) towards the closed position, and a piezoelectric actuator (11) for guiding the valve needle (9). Additionally, the injector valve (1) comprises a drawbar (22), which is loosely coupled to the valve needle (9), a second drawbar (23), which is attached to the piezoelectric actuator (11) and loosely coupled to the drawbar (22), and that the injector valve (1) comprises a second spring (24) fitted in connection with the drawbar (22) for pressing the valve needle (9) towards the closed position and a third spring (25) fitted in connection with the second drawbar (23) for pressing the valve needle (9) towards the closed position.
US08579252B2	Actuator device having an open/close valve An arrangement in which a valve assembly is provided between the supply air inlet and the magnetic valve that is activated by a position threshold sensor that can be activated by the actuator element and/or a pressure threshold sensor registering the actuating pressure on the magnetic valve and connects the magnetic valve directly to the supply air to increase the availability of the actuator device when the position threshold sensor detects the attaining of a specified operation position of the actuator element or the pressure threshold sensor detects the failure to attain a specified minimum pressure.
US08579247B2	Smoke ejector hanger A smoke ejector hanger is disclosed herein. The hanger includes a flexible pad. Hook and loop fastening means are affixed to the flexible pad for selectively retaining the flexible pad in the form of a tube. A pair of straps is affixed at the midpoints thereof to the flexible pad such that each of the straps has a pair of free ends extending outwardly from the flexible pad. One of a number of releasable fasteners is affixed to each of the free ends. Each of the releasable fasteners has a snap catch.
US08579244B2	Secure equipment transfer system An equipment transfer device is provided that is transferable from one support to another support. The transport device is formed as a housing that has two spaced apart, generally parallel recesses, which form docking cups that are open to the bottom. Each docking cup is configured to receive a docking cone that is supported on a structure and is capable of moving in generally a vertical direction into engagement or out of engagement with their respective docking cups. A support post is also supported by the housing and protrudes from the upper end thereof as a base to which an equipment support structure is attached. In this manner the transfer device can be transferred from one docking cone to another with minimal handling and virtually no possibility of dislodgement.
US08579243B2	Method and apparatus for installing a post mount In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for installing a post mount. In one embodiment, a support block for use in securing a post mount includes a body having a first end and a second end and an adjustment mechanism formed integrally with the first end of the body, by which a vertical orientation of a post mount incorporating the support block can be adjusted.
US08579242B2	Elevating mechanism for projection apparatus An elevating mechanism for a projection apparatus includes a bottom cover, a resetting element having a first elastic member, a sliding mount, a screw stud sleeve, a screw stud, and a second elastic member. The sliding mount is disposed on a first side of the bottom cover and leans against the resetting element, and the sliding mount has an opening, at least one slot and a thread structure. The screw stud sleeve has a plurality of engaging teeth engaging within the slot. The screw stud has a thread structure and the thread structure of the screw stud meshes with the thread structure of the sliding mount.
US08579239B2	Harness service loop retainer A wire harness retainer assembly can generally include a strap member and a loop retainer. A housing portion can comprise a housing body that defines a receiving portion and a pair of apertures formed therethrough. The loop retainer can have a distal insertion end and form a loop that is configured to loop around a portion of the wire harness. The loop retainer can further comprise a pair of detents. The loop retainer can be configured to be slidably inserted into the receiving portion of the housing portion to an installed position where the detents are received by the pair of apertures. In this regard, the wire harness retainer assembly provides a simple and convenient way to capture the extra length of a wire harness service loop while providing an easily removable connection when service to a specified control module is desired.
US08579238B2	System and method for hanging objects from a roof gutter A gutter hanger system includes a gutter having an outer wall, an inner wall in spaced relation to the outer wall, and a base connecting the outer wall and the inner wall; a support surface supporting the inner wall; and a gutter hanger including opposing top and bottom ends, a coupling member located at the bottom end, and a retainer located at the top end. The gutter hanger is positioned intermediate the inner wall and the support surface, oriented in a downward direction, and the retainer is positioned atop the inner wall. A method for installing a gutter hanger system includes the steps of providing a gutter, providing a support surface to which an inner wall of the gutter is attached, inserting a gutter hanger intermediate the support surface and the inner wall of the gutter, and retaining a top end of the gutter hanger on the inner wall of the gutter.
US08579234B2	System and method for affixing gateboxes to an aircraft A system for affixing a gatebox to an aircraft includes a first type of gatebox operable to release material from an aircraft, a second type of gatebox operable to release material from the aircraft, a frame coupled to the aircraft operable to receive a selected one of the first type of gatebox and the second type of gatebox; and a plurality of fastenings operable to secure the selected one of the first type of gatebox and the second type of gatebox to the frame.
US08579233B2	Pivotable aerial refueling boom and method therefor An aerial refueling system has a fluid conduit. A plurality of actuators is coupled to the fluid conduit and a refueling aircraft housing the aerial refueling system to move the fluid conduit in a three perpendicular axes system.
US08579232B2	Aircraft nacelle incorporating a device for protecting an access flap for a locking system An aircraft includes a part defining an aerodynamic surface against which flows an air stream, with at least one hood able to block an opening made at the aerodynamic surface, kept in the closed position by at least one locking mechanism, and an access flap for the locking mechanism, pivoting relative to the hood around an axis substantially parallel to the flow direction of the air stream and including elements for keeping it flattened against the hood, characterized in that it includes a device for protection of the access flap that includes a coverage plate that pivots around an axis of rotation, and which is able to occupy a first position in which it projects relative to the aerodynamic surface and another position in which after pivoting around the axis of rotation, it is flattened against the outside surface of the access flap such that the protective device limits the appearance of a scoop phenomenon.
US08579228B2	Twin rotor flying vehicle A flying vehicle is provided that comprises first and second rotors respectively mounted in rotation about first and second rotation axes, the first rotor including a first group of blades extending in a first blade plane and the second rotor including a second group of blades extending in a second blade plane, each of the first and second rotors being rotated by a driving means of the machine. The driving means includes at least one engine arranged between said rotors and between said first and second blade planes.
US08579227B2	Vertical and horizontal flight aircraft “sky rover” Novel aircraft for vertical and horizontal flight having powered air acceleration means installed within its structure drawing air thereinto and delivering the resulting airflow upon airfoils installed in opposed pairs on opposite sides of its exterior structure thereby producing lift without forward travel of the aircraft.
US08579226B2	Power assisted toy flying device A power assisted flying device is powered via a vector thrust control apparatus supporting the motor where the vector thrust control apparatus includes a gyratory group that allows the motor to pivot up and down and from side to side. At least two servo motors are attached to the vector thrust control apparatus to move said motor up and down and from side to side. Alternatively, the flying device may incorporate a non-rotating outer ring and a rotating inner ring disposed around a shaft. At least two servo motors are connected to the non-rotating outer ring and the rotating inner ring in relation to the rotational axis. At least two linkage rods connect between the rotating inner ring and the propeller. Tilting of the non-rotating outer ring is transmitted to the propeller to effectuate at least one of cyclic pitch modulation or teetering hub modulation of the propeller.
US08579224B2	Device for dispensing a telecommunication cable from a reel The invention relates to a device (10) for dispensing a telecommunication cable (12) from a reel (14), wherein the device (10) comprises the following: a first and a second end element that are separated by one or more transverse elements (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d); and an axis (22) that extends at least partially between the end elements (16, 18) so as to rotatably connect the reel (14) to the device, wherein the cable can be pulled from the reel over one of the one or more transverse elements.
US08579214B2	Swirler vane A vane used on a swirler is provided. The vane includes a thin end and a broad end, the broad end has sharp edges and is arranged on the outside of the swirler, the thin end is arranged on the inside of the swirler. The vane also includes at least one swirl slot side profile, the at least one swirl slot side profile includes a unit providing turbulence to an air flow.
US08579212B2	Spray ring and reactor vessel provided with such a spray ring and a method of wetting char and/or slag in a water bath A spray ring, for wetting char and/or slag in a water bath with a wetting fluid. The spray ring comprises a loop conduit arranged in a loop-line. The loop conduit is at an inlet point provided with an inlet for feeding the wetting fluid into the loop conduit in an inlet flow direction. The loop-line has a plurality of outlet openings for spraying the wetting fluid out of the loop conduit. The inlet flow direction has a component that is tangential to a loop-line flow direction of the wetting fluid through the loop conduit at the inlet point.
US08579206B2	Thermostatic mixing valve A thermostatic mixing valve for the mixing of a first and second fluids is disclosed. The thermostatic mixing valve includes a valve body having first and second inlets, and a mixed fluid outlet. The thermostatic mixing valve includes a valve member configured to control the rate of flow of at least the first fluid. The member includes a thermostat in communication with the mixed fluid and a shuttle coupled to the thermostat, configured for movement within a liner, and oriented to adjustably engage the flow of the first fluid through an opening within a wall of the liner, the direction of flow of the first fluid being at least partially transverse with respect to the shuttle. A fluid inlet may include a check valve configured to prevent fluid from flowing out of the valve through the inlet.
US08579203B1	Electronic magnetic recorded media emulators in magnetic card devices A card (e.g., a payment card) or device (e.g., a token or phone) is provided with a magnetic emulator having a soft magnetic material whose reluctance is controlled.
US08579200B2	Parallel decoding scheme for an indicia reader A method for collecting and processing information bearing indicia (IBI) comprising the steps of: converting light reflected off an IBI into IBI signals representative of the IBI; running at least one signal process for processing the IBI signals on a first processor if the IBI is of a first type; and running at least one signal process for processing the IBI signals on a second processor if the IBI is of a second type, wherein the first processor and second processor are configured to run in parallel.
US08579199B2	Code symbol reading apparatus and reading method According to one embodiment, a code symbol reading apparatus includes a decoder, a candidate area detection unit, a direction determination unit, and a direction notification unit. The decoder decodes a code symbol attached to an article, based on an image picked up by a camera. The candidate area detection unit detects an image area to be a candidate of the code symbol from the image of the article picked up by the camera. The direction determination unit determines such a direction that a decoding rate of the code symbol becomes higher based on the image area detected by the candidate area detection unit when the decoder cannot decode the code symbol. The direction notification unit notifies of the direction determined by the direction determination unit.
US08579198B2	Enhanced laser barcode scanning A laser scanning device is described. The device includes a laser for projecting a light beam. A mirror is optically coupled to the laser. The mirror reflects the light beam onto a target. A detector generates an analog signal in response to detecting a reflection of the light beam from the target. A processor is capable of modifying a scanning parameter of the laser scanning device. The processor processes the analog signal to generate a digital bar pattern and can embed the scanning parameter in the digital bar pattern.
US08579189B2	Portable computerized wireless payment apparatus and methods A mobile user apparatus and associated methods useful for conducting payment transactions wirelessly, such as at point-of-sale locations. In one embodiment, the mobile user apparatus is a cellular-enabled mobile device that includes a short-range passive radio frequency transceiver that when interrogated by a reader at the point-of-sale, issues a reply including information relating to an account of the user of the mobile apparatus that is to be charged for the payment. In one variant, the information stored on the mobile device is further configured to receive transaction data wirelessly in return.
US08579187B2	System and method to identify machine-readable codes A method and a system to identify machine-readable codes using a web crawler are provided. Machine-readable codes include, but are not limited to, Universal Product Codes (UPC), quick response (QR) codes, stock-keeping units (SKUs) and international standard book number (ISBN) codes. A web crawler downloads pages from the World Wide Web. A determination module accesses the downloaded pages and identifies a machine-readable code corresponding to a product description included in the downloaded pages. The machine-readable code is included in a downloaded page of the downloaded pages. The determination module further extracts the product description from the downloaded page. A code database stores a record of the machine-readable code and the product description.
US08579186B2	System and method for tracking shipment of items utilizing RFID-tags A system and method of tracking a plurality of items during transfer from a source location to a destination. One embodiment is a method comprising associating information identifying the plurality of items with a radio frequency (RF) tag that identifies a carrier unit. The method further comprises storing said associated information in at least one of the RF tag and a computer memory. The method further comprises communicating with the RF tag to identify the location of the carrier unit. The method further comprises identifying the location of at least one of the plurality of items based at least in part on the location of the carrier unit. Another embodiment is a system configured to perform an embodiment of the method.
US08579185B2	Rounded packaging for comestibles The present invention includes a package for holding comestible products and blanks for forming the same. The packages can have opposing side walls with generally rounded contoured bottom and top ends and bottom and top walls that conform to the round bottom and top end so that the bottom and top walls have a curved surface that follows the curvature of the bottom and top ends.
US08579180B2	Mandrel tool probe for friction stir welding having physically-separate spiraled surfaces A mandrel tool probe is provided for performing a friction-stir process. The mandrel tool probe includes a shank and a tip coupled to the shank, where the shank and tip are concentric and rotatable about a given axis. The tip includes a set of a plurality of physically-separate, spiraled surfaces each of which has a linear or curved cross-section that extends along a length of the tip at a constant or varying spiral angle around the circumference of the tip. The tip also has a cross-section with a constant shape along the length of the tip, with the cross-section of the tip including a plurality of major segments each of which is formed of the cross-section of a respective spiraled surface.
US08579173B2	Stapler A stapler (1) by which a workpiece (11), preferably a sheaf of papers, is stapled together with a staple, which stapler (5) comprises a stapling head (2) accommodating staples and a driver (6) and connected pivotably by a pivot pin (4) to a bottom part (3) which comprises a lower element (9) and an upper element (8) which are connected to one another in such a way that they can be moved towards and away from one another (P) and which in an initial state are held in a locking position at a distance from one another by a locking device (17), with forming means (14, 15) arranged between the upper and lower elements, which forming means, when the staple has been fully driven into the workpiece at its insertion area (26) by the driver, are activated to bend the staple legs towards the workpiece as a result of the upper and lower elements moving towards one another when the locking device is released by an activating means (22) which is part of the locking device (17) being acted upon by an unlocking means (7) disposed on the stapling head, the activating means (22) of the locking device (17) being situated at a greater distance in the longitudinal direction (L) of the stapler from the pivot pin (4) than the insertion area (26) of the staple.
US08579170B1	Air-breathing battery backpack frame An air breathing battery apparatus is connected to the hollow tubing of a backpack frame to provide an uninterrupted, water-resistant, light-weight power supply during extended remote operations in the field. Air breathing power sources are connected to the hollow tubes of the backpack assembly to provide a constant uninterrupted air supply in a relatively small package that fits easily into the backpack frame with only negligible added weight. The positioning of the air breathing power source in a backpack composed of hollow tubing also protects the battery from inclement weather or when the user is in water, for example, while fording a river or stream, to permit the uninterrupted use of the electronics powered by the battery.
US08579166B2	Device for dosing a metered amount of a powdered product and beverage machine using such a device The invention concerns a dosing device for dosing a metered amount of a powdered product comprising: —a fixed body (2) made of at least a disc presenting a single pierced aperture (5), —a rotary top disk (1) disposed on the top of the fixed body (2) and presenting a taking out pierced aperture (4), —a rotary bottom disk (3) disposed on the bottom of the fixed body and presenting a discharging pierced aperture (6), —a rotary shaft (7) connecting the bottom disk (1) and the top disk (3), wherein in the stand-by position of the device the metered pierced aperture (5) is empty and closed to the atmosphere. The invention also concerns a beverage preparation apparatus implementing such a dosing device.
US08579165B2	Push pump device A pump type dispenser that is able to suction a maximum amount of product that is held within a container. In order to achieve this result, the pump type dispenser utilizes a suction mouth portion that is positioned along a bottom portion of the container. The pump type dispenser may also utilize a plurality of straw type extensions to reach a plurality of locations along the bottom portion of the container in order to suction a maximum amount of product that is held within the container.
US08579159B2	Squeeze action foam pump A foam dispenser includes a foam pump communicating with the contents of a container holding a foamable liquid. The foam pump includes a pump body, a passage extending through the pump body from an inlet to an outlet, an inlet valve including an inlet flow regulator, and an outlet valve including an outlet flow regulator. The inlet receives foamable liquid from the container. The inlet valve and outlet valve are positioned in the passage to define (a) an inlet stage, (b) an outlet stage, and (c) a transition stage. A liquid port extends through the pump body and communicates with the transition stage, and an air port extends through the pump body and communicates with the outlet stage. A liquid bellows surrounds the liquid port and an air bellows surrounds the air port. The liquid bellows contains the foamable liquid and is movable between an expanded volume and a contracted volume, and expels at least a portion of the foamable liquid to the passage through the liquid port when moved from its expanded volume to its contracted volume. The air bellows contains air and is movable between an expanded volume and a contracted volume, and expels at least a portion of the air to the passage through the air port when moved from its expanded volume to its contracted volume.
US08579158B2	Product-dispensing container with pressurizable and collapsible product-storage bag A container includes a bottle formed to include an interior region and a collapsible bag in the interior region. The collapsible bag is formed to include a chamber for holding a dispensable product. A dispenser is coupled to the bottle and arranged to communicate with dispensable product held in the collapsible bag. The dispenser is operable by a consumer to discharge the dispensable product from the collapsible bag.
US08579157B2	Automated fluid dispenser A fluid dispenser is provided. The dispenser includes a reservoir for storing the fluid to be dispensed, an outlet for dispensing the fluid, a pump in the reservoir for pumping the fluid to the outlet, a motor external of the reservoir, and a coupling magnetically transferring a force generated by the motor to the pump for operating the pump for pumping the fluid.
US08579154B2	Carton with an improved dispensing feature A carton with an improved dispenser at one of the carton which preserves the integrity of the carton when the carton is opened by permitting a bottom end flap attached to the bottom panel to remain in place and also a portion of each side end flap that is adjacent to the bottom end flap. This dispenser may also provide a safety net for the first container that is automatically dispensed when the carton is opened.
US08579151B2	Roller shutter storage container A roller shutter storage container includes a container body, a roller shutter accommodating portion, a pair of guide grooves, and a roller shutter. Each of the guide grooves extends linearly in an opening formed in the container body and is curved in the roller shutter accommodating portion. The roller shutter is configured by connecting a plurality of slats each having shafts formed at two ends of the slat with respect to the widthwise direction in a bendable manner. As the two shafts of each of the slats slide in the corresponding guide grooves, the roller shutter slides between an open position for opening the opening and a close position for closing the opening. Each one of the shafts is spaced from a vertical wall surface of the corresponding one of the guide grooves. A projection formed of soft material projects outward from each shaft of each slat in the widthwise direction and contacts the corresponding vertical wall surface in an elastically deformed state.
US08579149B2	Drinking vessel holder having a lifting device A drinking vessel holder includes a drinking vessel receptacle arranged in a housing and a height-adjustable bottom element. The bottom element is arranged in the drinking vessel receptacle and can be displaced between an upper rest position and a lower set-down position, wherein a drinking vessel can be set down on the bottom element in the drinking vessel receptacle. A positionally adjustable supporting element prevents the drinking vessel from toppling over, and wherein the bottom element in the drinking vessel receptacle forms a first piston or else is connected to a first piston and the supporting element forms an annular piston between the housing and the drinking vessel receptacle or else is connected to at least one second piston, wherein movement of at least one of the first piston, the second piston, and the annular piston causes fluid overpressure and fluid underpressure.
US08579141B2	Fitting structure for two members A fitting structure for two members includes a body and a lid member. The body includes an open space portion therein, a closed portion closing the open space portion, a fitting portion provided at the open space portion, and a front face. The lid member includes an elastic claw portion. A window portion is provided on the closed portion. A tip portion of the elastic claw portion is viewed through the window portion in a direction opposite to the fitting direction of the lid member to the body under a condition that the lid member is attached to the body. A fitting confirmation portion is provided at a peripheral edge portion of the window portion and indicates position of the tip portion of the elastic claw portion fitted to the fitting portion at a regular fitting position.
US08579140B2	Child-resistant dispensing closures and closure components A child-resistant dispensing closure for a container may include one or the other or both of a dispensing cover non-removably securable to a container, or an outer cover non-removably securable and rotatable with respect to the inner cover and cooperable with the dispensing cover to render the closure child-resistant. According to another embodiment, an outer cover may include a flange to aid users in pushing and turning the outer cover with their fingers.
US08579135B1	Electrical box An electrical box including at least four walls extending forward from a back wall to an open front, at least two opposing walls of the four walls each including a rear mounting tab and a front mounting tab, wherein each of the rear mounting tabs are rigidly mounted to the wall and each of the front mounting tabs are pivotably mounted to the electrical box.
US08579133B2	Protective sleeves for containers Aspects of the invention include a sleeve or wrap for protecting a container. In certain embodiments, the sleeve or wrap is a protective encasement for protecting a container, such as a bottle. In certain embodiments, the sleeve or wrap includes a body with a lumen, wherein the body is configured for holding and/or containing the container. For instance, in one embodiment, the protective sleeve includes a tubular body and at least a first opening in the protective body that is adapted for receiving the container. In certain embodiments, the body of the sleeve includes silicone. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, the sleeve is a protective silicone sleeve that is adapted to hold and/or contain a container, thereby protecting the container from damage (e.g., breaking). Also provided is a system for protecting a container that includes a protective sleeve, as described above, and a container that is configured for being associated, e.g., fit within, the protective sleeve.
US08579129B2	Water bottle with dosage on bottom A solid dosage preparation is provided with a bottle of water. The solid dosage preparation is contained within a cavity at the bottom of the bottle and held captive therein by a heat-sealed lidding. The lidding indicates an attempted tampering event by limiting the means for opening to a witnessing tear. The bottle stands on its cap to provide clear viewing of the containment area.
US08579126B1	Fruit display stand A fruit display stand comprises a base; a first post secured to the base; transverse arms secured to an upper end portion of the first post, the transverse arms extending upwardly inclinedly from the first post; a plurality of ring members attached to the transverse arms. The ring members include an outer ring member. Other of the ring members are disposed within the outer ring member in plan view; and the other of the ring members are disposed vertically below the outer ring member.
US08579125B2	Fragrance test bottle display fixture A display fixture includes a base and a plurality of fragrance plate assemblies mounted to the base. The base includes a top having a top surface, a front, a back, opposing ends and a well. The well has a well surface recessed from the top surface and includes a plurality of openings in the well surface. Each of the fragrance plate assemblies includes a plate with a recess having a geometric shape constructed to correspond to a geometric contour of a bottom of a fragrance bottle, a pair of plate hooks and a pair of spacers attaching the plate to the pair of plate hooks. The pair of plate hooks are inserted into two of the openings in the well to secure each fragrance plate assembly to the base.
US08579122B2	Modular system for display A versatile modular display, with a compound module with a back lid; a frame which is assembled to the back lid, the frame consisting of an upper side, a lower side, lateral sides and a lid; a section with cavities which can be assembled onto the frame, the section including a front wall with a back face, a front face being in contact with the walls substantially perpendicular to a groove; optionally, a connector which can be assembled to the frame; and an interchangeable mask including a back wall and a brace holder to be able to support goods.
US08579119B2	Backwash filter A backwash filter, in particular for highly viscous media, comprising a filter body (2) provided in a casing (1) and forming a cylinder jacket, wherein the casing (1) and the filter body (2) are rotatable about the axis of the filter body (2) relative to one another and wherein the filter body (2) separates a medium inflow space (14) from a medium outflow space (16), and comprising a flushing agent discharge channel (10) extending along a generatrix of the filter body (2), which flushing agent discharge channel (10) is movable relative to the filter body (2) and can be brought into flow connection with the filter body (2) across the entire length thereof and across the entire circumference thereof, with the formation of a stream of flushing agent flowing into the flushing agent discharge channel (10), is characterized, for increasing the efficiency of backwashing and of the throughput as well as for protection of the filter material, in that the flow connection always occurs only across a portion of the longitudinal extension (20) of a generatrix of the filter body (2).
US08579114B2	Packaging device There is provided in a preferred embodiment of the present invention an improved packaging device comprising a plastic casing having a depressed compartment, a plurality of wings extending from the plastic casing and a connector to secure the wings of the plastic casing around the product. Preferably, the improved packaging device also includes a folding hanger that extends from the proximate end of the plastic casing, and is used to display the product.
US08579110B2	Liquid-tight container for storing and transporting AFM probes The present invention provides a container and a method that can be used to transport and store AFM probes in a liquid buffer. This container fastens an AFM probe and consists of a plastic lid that secures a probe while keeping it in a controlled environment, thus preventing that the tips are contaminated by air-borne molecules, packaging material, deposited substances or air bubbles. In the case of functionalized probes, the surface molecules are still functional upon arrival. The tips cannot be broken upon transport because they are held by the container, however the probes can be easily removed upon opening of the container.
US08579108B2	Cigarette package A cigarette package includes an inner wrapping body formed by folding an inner wrapper having a film material ply sandwiched between a paper ply and a heat seal material ply into a substantially cuboidal shape, including substantially-parallel two half-cut lines extending from a top face into an upper portion of a front face of an inner boxy body each formed of a cut penetrating through the paper ply into the film material ply, a cut line formed of a cut penetrating through an outer layer constituting an overlap on the front face of the inner box body, at an upper location. A heat-sealed part is formed to surround the cut line by heat-sealing inner and outer layers, wherein an outer side of the outer layer is bonded to an inner side of a front lid, in a section above the cut line within a region surrounded by the heat-sealed part.
US08579107B2	Slow humectation container Slow humectation can features the use of humidifying materials inside it that allow the humectation of cigars and also the restoring of dried ones, it also has a shape in it lower side used to stack them, thus making them easier to transport or storage.
US08579100B1	Retro-fit method for improving coin-operated vending machines A method of retro-fitting a coin-operated vending machine includes first removing the base and coin retainer and then connecting an improved base unit to a lower end of the center rod. The improved base unit has a bottom for collecting coins and an opened section for access to the bottom. When the improved base unit is connected to the center rod, the improved base unit is movable into at least two configurations. The first configuration is defined such that the opened section is hidden within the body preventing access to the bottom, while the second configuration is defined such that at least a portion of the opened section is exposed whereby access to the bottom, and any coins, is granted through the exposed opened section.
US08579099B2	Parking interlock device for an automotive transmission A transmission parking lock device having a gearwheel with teeth and gaps and a pawl having a pawl tooth. The gearwheel rotates and the pawl pivots about axes that are parallel to each other. The gearwheel teeth each have a first contour and tooth flanks with respect to rotation of the gearwheel. The pawl tooth has a second contour and tooth flanks relative to the rotation of the gearwheel, and the gearwheel has an outer radius. The gearwheel and pawl are kinematically linked by a linear relationship between the pivoting and rotational angles. The first and/or second contour are at least partially circular with a radius of the outer radius of the gearwheel, and the teeth and/or the pawl tooth have, in the area of the front tooth flank of the gearwheel or parking lock pawl, a crown tip relief relative to the outer radius of the gearwheel.
US08579098B2	Parking lock device for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle A parking lock device (1) for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle. The parking lock device (1) comprises a locking pawl (3) that is fixed to the transmission housing and mounted so that the locking pawl (3) can pivot. The parking lock device (1) has a guiding element (3b) and a guide plate (5) fixed to and supported by the housing in which the guide element (3b) of the locking pawl (3) is guided laterally. One of a low-friction supporting element (7, 8) and an electrically insulating supporting element in a form of an insulating body (107) laterally guides the locking pawl (3).
US08579097B2	Clutch release mechanism and clutch assembly including same A clutch release mechanism includes a fixed cam plate having a cylindrical boss portion, and a movable cam plate supported on the cylindrical boss portion through a cylindrical projecting portion thereof. A ball unit is retained on the cylindrical boss portion by a retainer, and a release member disengages a clutch by transmitting a thrust force, generated by relative turning between the fixed and movable cam plates which hold the ball unit therebetween, to a pressure-applying plate. A pressing member is pressed by the movable cam plate to transmit the thrust force to the release member. The cylindrical projecting portion of the movable cam plate projects toward the pressing member, and is fitted a the hollow portion thereof with a gap therebetween. The movable cam plate presses the pressing member so as to be relatively shiftable on a flat surface perpendicular to a pressing direction.
US08579093B2	Hydrodynamic torque converter A hydrodynamic torque converter comprising a torque converter lockup clutch and a converter housing connected at the drive side, and a pump wheel non-rotatably connected thereto, as well as a turbine wheel non-rotatably connected at the output side to an output hub, and a torsional vibration damper actively arranged between the clutch output of the torque converter lockup clutch and the output hub, and comprising a centrifugal pendulum device arranged within the converter housing and having a pendulum flange with slightly swiveling pendulum masses thereupon, wherein the pendulum flange is arranged axially between the torsional vibration damper and the turbine wheel and is non-rotatably connected to the turbine wheel and the output hub by means of a keyed connection.
US08579092B2	Damper unit A damper unit which brakes the speed of movement of a moving body by using a piston damper provided with a cylinder and a piston rod which is connected to a piston inside the cylinder, is provided. The damper unit includes a case wherein the above-mentioned piston damper is disposed; a transmitting member slidably provided inside the case and transmitting an external force accompanied by the movement of the above-mentioned moving body; a link member whose one end side is attached to the above-mentioned case so as to become the rotational center, and also whose the other end side is pivotally supported by the above-mentioned transmitting member; and a connecting member connected between both ends of the link member and being in contact with or connected to either the piston rod or the cylinder.
US08579090B2	Electric linear motion actuator and electric brake system In an electric linear motion actuator for transmitting torque of a rotary shaft (4) to planetary rollers (7) and thus to a linearly driven output member constituted by an outer race member (5), axial movement of a carrier (6) supporting the planetary rollers (7) is restricted, and the outer race member (5) is axially slidably fitted in a radially inner surface of a cylindrical portion (1a) of a housing (1) and is rotationally fixedly coupled to an object to be driven via keys (25) The planetary rollers (7) have their radially inner surfaces rotatably supported on respective support pins (6c) of the carrier (6), and are radially inwardly biased by radial compression ring springs (21) wound around the support pins (6c) so as to envelop the support pins. The planetary rollers (7) are thus pressed against the radially outer surface of the rotary shaft (4).
US08579086B2	Crash safety device having a rope drive mechanism The invention relates to a crash safety device having a safety rope (105) wound onto a drum, a recuperating spring tensioned by the drum during the winding of the rope, and a locking device for blocking the drum from rotation in the rope unwinding direction during the crash of a person secured by the rope. A rope drive mechanism is provided in order to unwind the rope (105) from the drum and to slowly move the rope end having a hook (290) attached thereto toward such that a person can hook onto the safety rope (105). The drive mechanism has a motor (140) driving a rope drive wheel (210) via a freewheel (200) for lowering the rope end having the hook (290). In order to rewind the rope, the motor (140) is operated in a reverse direction of rotation at a controlled rotational speed in order to limit the speed at which the rope (105) is pulled up by the tensioned recuperating spring.
US08579078B2	Acoustic panel for a turbojet engine nacelle, with in-built fasteners An acoustic panel is provided that includes at least one cellular core arranged between at least an internal skin and an external skin, wherein the external skin incorporates at least one fastener able to collaborate in a disconnectable fashion with a complementary fastener associated with a structure to which it is to be attached.
US08579076B2	Splicing of curved acoustic honeycomb Honeycomb sections are bonded together with seams made up of an adhesive that is carried by a honeycomb seam support or a linked-segment seam support. The seams are particularly useful for splicing together curved honeycomb sections that contain acoustic septum. The curved acoustic honeycomb sections are spliced or seamed together to form engine nacelles and other acoustic dampening structures.
US08579072B2	Electric power steering system and controller of the electric power steering system Electric power steering system has steering mechanism; input and output shaft side rotation angle sensors detecting rotation angles of input and output shafts; operation circuit calculating command current for an electric motor; rotation direction judging circuit judging whether rotation directions of the input and output shafts are identical; advanced-phase judging circuit judging which phase of input and output shaft side rotation angle signals (S1, S2) is advanced; normal/reverse input judging circuit judging that (i) when both rotation directions are identical and S1 is advanced, input is normal input and (ii) when both rotation directions are identical and S2 is advanced, input is reverse input; and command current correcting circuit. The command current correcting circuit corrects the command current so that when the normal input is judged, torque in the same direction as input shaft rotation direction generated by the electric motor is greater than a case of reverse input judgment.
US08579071B2	Power steering system and method for assembling the power steering system A power steering system having a housing having first and second housing sections, a steering shaft rotatably housed in the housing, a sensor coil, a coil bobbin having a coil holding part and a flange part and housed in the first housing section, a first held section provided at the flange part, a sensor board housed in the housing, a second held section provided at the sensor board, first and second riveting portions provided at the first housing section, and an electric motor. The first riveting portion fixes the coil bobbin to the first housing section by melting and deforming the first riveting portion with the first held section touching the first riveting portion. The second riveting portion fixes the sensor board to the first housing section by melting and deforming the second riveting portion with the second held section touching the second riveting portion.
US08579068B2	Hood latch and striker system for pedestrian protection A system for releasing and lifting an automobile hood includes a sensor located proximate a front location of an automobile that detects impact with an object. Also included is a hood having a striker pin operably connected to the hood for engaging a rotatable latch, wherein such engagement places the hood in the secured position. Further included is a releasing mechanism operably connected to one of the striker and the latch for lifting a front region of the hood in response to a signal from the sensor.
US08579062B2	Fuel tank A fuel tank of a motor vehicle is mounted on a body structure of the motor vehicle via fastening elements. The fuel tank has a glass fiber reinforced shaped plastic part (12) as heat shield that at least partially covers a surface of the fuel tank and is mounted with the fuel tank on the body structure of the motor vehicle via the fastening elements.
US08579052B2	Polycrystalline compacts including in-situ nucleated grains, earth-boring tools including such compacts, and methods of forming such compacts and tools Polycrystalline compacts include hard polycrystalline materials comprising in situ nucleated smaller grains of hard material interspersed and inter-bonded with larger grains of hard material. The average size of the larger grains may be at least about 250 times greater than the average size of the in situ nucleated smaller grains. Methods of forming polycrystalline compacts include nucleating and catalyzing the formation of smaller grains of hard material in the presence of larger grains of hard material, and catalyzing the formation of inter-granular bonds between the grains of hard material. For example, nucleation particles may be mixed with larger diamond grains, a carbon source, and a catalyst. The mixture may be subjected to high temperature and high pressure to form smaller diamond grains using the nucleation particles, the carbon source, and the catalyst, and to catalyze formation of diamond-to-diamond bonds between the smaller and larger diamond grains.
US08579044B2	Bending of a shaft of a steerable borehole drilling tool In certain embodiments, a steerable drilling tool is provided including a rotatable shaft extending through a housing where the shaft and the housing are separated by at least one bearing or two sets of bearings, the shaft having a first portion terminating at a first end of the shaft and a second portion terminating at a second end of the shaft. The steerable drilling tool may further include a drill bit structure operatively coupled to the first portion and a steering subsystem comprising a pair of bearings operatively coupled to the first portion. The steering subsystem may be configured to angulate the shaft by exerting force substantially through the pair of bearings. In certain embodiments, the first portion is between the first end and about one-third of the length of the shaft from the first end towards the second end.
US08579041B2	Safety device for portable tools with a heat engine, capable of stopping the operation thereof after sudden, violent movements A safety apparatus for a portable tool having an internal combustion engine has at least one accelerometer providing a measurement of an acceleration of the portable tool in at least one plane or axis. An electronic controller is connected to an output of the accelerometer so as to receive analog or digital information. A generator is driven by the internal combustion engine so as to supply power to the accelerometer. A management card processes the analog or digital information so as to activate the system acting on an ignition exciter box so as to nearly instantaneously stop the internal combustion engine when the acceleration of the portable tool exceeds a predetermined level.
US08579036B2	Valving system, method of adjusting a valve and method of fracing a wellbore A valving system includes a tubular and a sleeve slidably engaged with the tubular having a seat thereon. The sleeve is configured to occlude flow from an inside of the tubular to an outside of the tubular when in a first position, allow flow between an inside of the tubular and an outside of the tubular at a first location upstream of the seat and a second location downstream of the seat when in a second position, and allow flow between an inside of the tubular and an outside at the tubular at the first location and not the second location when in a third position. The valving system also includes a disappearing member in operable communication with the tubular and the sleeve configured to prevent movement of the sleeve to the third position until disappearance thereof.
US08579032B2	Casing annulus management A wellbore tubular set concentrically between an inner an and outer annulus has a pressure relief valve that opens when pressure in the outer annulus exceeds pressure in the inner annulus by an amount that can damage the tubular. The relief valve closes and reseats when the pressure differential is reduced to below the damaging threshold. The relief valve can include a spring for reseating the valve. A pressure gauge can be included within the outer annulus for monitoring whether or not the relief valve is operating properly.
US08579026B2	Safety structure for downhole power unit testing A safety apparatus for catching a test fixture released from a shaft of a downhole tool during the uphole calibration and testing of the shaft force generation capability of the tool. The safety apparatus includes a hollow body having a distal end that will partially envelope the test fixture to catch the test fixture once the test fixture is released from the downhole tool. The safety apparatus further includes a proximal end portion that is releasably securable to the body of the tool. A method for testing and calibrating the tool is also provided.
US08579024B2	Non-damaging slips and drillable bridge plug A non-damaging slip assembly includes slips having grit on a smooth surface, the slips preferably made from a ductile material, such that the slips do not cause damage to the wall of a tubular when the slips are set. The slips fail under tensile force during setting. The cone used to expand the slips may have slits that narrow during setting of the slips. The slip assembly may be used to anchor a variety or devices inside a tubular. A drillable, non-damaging bridge plug using the non-damaging slip assembly has a threaded mandrel holding the cone by threads inside the cone. When the slips are set, the slits in the cone narrow such that threads in the cone do not allow rotation of the slips as they are drilled. The bridge plug can be drilled by a PDC bit without damaging the tubular.
US08579023B1	Composite downhole tool with ratchet locking mechanism A downhole tool or plug includes a mandrel with an element, a slip ring, and a cone pressable between an upper push sleeve assembly and a lower anvil. The upper push sleeve assembly including a lock ring having one or more interior teeth on an interior of the lock ring. A mandrel sleeve is at least partially received within a recess in the mandrel and affixed with respect to the mandrel, and has one or more exterior teeth on an exterior of the mandrel sleeve.
US08579018B1	Lightweight sandwich panel heat pipe A sandwich panel heat pipe with a three-dimensional ordered open-cellular micro-truss core and a method creating the same. In one embodiment, the sandwich panel heat pipe includes a first face sheet, a second face sheet, the three-dimensional ordered open-cellular micro-truss core between the first face sheet and the second face sheet, and a working fluid in the ordered open-cellular micro-truss core. Here, the three-dimensional ordered open-cellular micro-truss core includes a vapor region and a liquid region, the vapor region is for transporting a vapor phase portion of the working fluid to the liquid region, and the liquid region is for transporting a liquid phase portion of the working fluid to the vapor region.
US08579017B2	Heat dissipation device with multiple heat sinks An exemplary heat dissipation device includes a connecting plate, a first heat sink, a second heat sink, and a second flattened heat pipe. The first heat sink includes a substrate mounted on a bottom of the connecting plate and a plurality of cylindrical pins inserted in the connecting plate and contacting the substrate. The second heat sink includes a heat spreader and a plurality of rectangular solid fins integrally extending from the heat spreader. The heat spreader engages in the connecting plate. The heat pipe thermally connects the substrate of the first heat sink and the second heat spreader of the second heat sink.
US08579016B2	Heat dissipation device with heat pipe An exemplary heat dissipation device dissipating heat generated by an electronic element mounted on a printed circuit board includes a supporter, a heat conducting base, a first fin assembly and a heat pipe. The heat conducting base is securely attached to a bottom side of the supporter and thermally contacting the electronic element. The first fin assembly is securely attached to a top side of the supporter. The heat pipe includes an evaporator sandwiched between the supporter and the heat conducting base, and a condenser extending through the supporter and extending in the first fin assembly.
US08579008B2	Hinge assembly for a folding closure A hinge assembly having a hinge member and two adjacent panels. The hinge member is elongated with an inner surface that is slightly dished. There is an entry slot in the center of the inner surface extending inwardly into the member, the entry slot diverging into two curved branch slots extending in opposite directions. Each panel has a curved hinge element at each side of the panel with one hinge element curved in one direction and the other hinge element curved in the other direction, both hinge elements also curved toward each other. The hinge elements of the adjacent panels are mounted in the hinge member, the hinge elements passing together into the central slot and then diverging from each other into the branch slots. The panels can be moved in the slots between a folded position where they are almost parallel and an unfolded position where they are against the inner surface, almost aligned, and extending away from each other.
US08579005B2	Individually operative roll blind type panorama roof An individually operative roll blind type panorama roof may include a planetary gear set including a sun gear to which a driving force of a motor may be applied, at least a planetary gear engaged with the sun gear, a ring gear engaged with the at least a planetary gear, and a carrier gear to which the at least a planetary gear may be rotatably mounted, a first roll blind interlocked with the ring gear through a first cable and configured to be driven by the ring gear, a second roll blind interlocked with the carrier gear through a second cable and configured to be driven by the carrier gear, and a gear stopping device selectively engaged with gear teeth of the ring gear or the carrier gear so as to stop the ring gear or the carrier gear.
US08579004B2	Multi-section window dressing with coupling clutch The present application pertains to a system for adjusting the height of a covering, such as window or a wall covering formed of two or more covering segments that are axially aligned. The system includes a link that selectively transmits rotation between two adjacent coverage thereby allowing the two coverings to be controlled, e.g., raised or lowered, simultaneously. The link includes a clutch that allows one of the segments to be rotated with respect to the other so that the bottom end of one of the coverings can be adjusted and aligned horizontally independently of the other. Optionally, the clutch includes an internal member that provides a mechanical advantage while the one covering is adjusted.
US08579000B2	Automatic rotation type correction tape structure An automatic rotation type correction tape structure comprises an outer casing, an inner casing and a tape delivery module. The outer casing has an opening and a circular top abutting surface formed inside the outer casing and proximate to the opening. The inner casing is movably installed in the outer casing and has an engaging structure corresponding to the inner casing, such that the inner casing can be rotated axially with respect to the outer casing. The tape delivery module is installed in the inner casing and has a tape guiding spout at an end of the tape deliver module. When use, the tape guiding spout is pressed to drive the inner casing to rotate axially in the outer casing in order to adjust an operating angle and improve the convenience of the use.
US08578996B2	Method and apparatus for producing single yarn-adhered sheet In order to provide a sheet on which single yarns are densely adhered through a simple producing method and apparatus, and an improved channel with the same material, an apparatus for producing a sheet includes: a sheet supply roll supplying a sheet to a laminating roll; the laminating roll forming single yarns on the sheet supplied from the sheet supply roll; an extruder supplying a thermoplastic resin single yarn in a molten state to the sheet which passes the laminating roll through a nozzle; and a winding roll winding the sheet on which channels are formed by the single yarns attached to the sheet.
US08578995B2	Parallel configuration composite material fabricator and related methods The present invention relates to device and methods for fabricating a composite article having a plurality of material dispensers, which can increase productivity. In one embodiment, a device includes a structure defining a work surface datum, and material dispensers movable relative to the structure. Each material dispenser applies strip material to the work surface datum along a predetermined axis. The predetermined axes are generally parallel to one another. The strip material applied to the work surface datum forms a layer of the composite article.
US08578994B2	Applicator head for tire cord construction A tooling head for construction of a tire cord to an annular surface is provided having a first roller and a second roller for alternative engagement against the annular surface in a forward and a rearward direction, respectively, the first and second rollers having a spaced apart orientation and annular grooves defining a passageway between the rollers. A guide tube extends between the roller annular grooves within the passageway. A cord exiting guide tube end is axially offset to remote extremities of the first and second roller annular grooves and a first and second axially extending slits are formed within the guide tube opposite the roller annular grooves, respectively.
US08578993B2	Wafer bonding apparatus A wafer bonding apparatus of the present invention includes a first sample base configured to hold a first substrate; a second sample base configured to hold a second substrate to oppose to the first substrate; a load transferring section coupled to an outer edge portion of the first sample base and configured to support the first sample base to a first stage; and a drive unit configured to perform pressure bonding on the first substrate and the second substrate by driving the second sample base to the first stage. In the wafer bonding apparatus, it is possible to prevent that a load which is larger than a load applied on the outer edge portion of the first substrate is applied to the center of the first substrate, and to apply uniform load the first substrate and the second substrate, when pressure bonding is performed on the first substrate and the second substrate.
US08578991B2	Tire bead geometry A pneumatic tire has a carcass structure extending through a pair of opposing bead portions and an inner liner located inward of the carcass structure, each bead portion comprising a bead core about which is wrapped the carcass structure and a toeguard. Each bead portion has a bead toe, a bead base, and a bead heel, the bead base extending between the bead toe and the bead heel. The bead heel has a profile corresponding to a sector of an ellipse or approximates a sector of an ellipse by having a dual radius structure. The bead base may have a dual taper configuration. The bead core may be substantially centered in the bead portion, as determined by the material thickness at three locations about the bead core.
US08578990B2	Low aspect ratio super single truck tire A pneumatic low aspect ratio truck has a crown reinforcing structure 7. The crown reinforcing structure 7 has a first steel belt ply 9 between the at least one carcass ply 3 and the tread 5, a second steel belt ply 11 between the first belt ply 9 and the tread 5, a third steel belt ply 13 between the second steel belt ply 11 and the tread 5 and a fourth steel belt ply 15 between the third steel belt ply 13 and the tread 5. The crown reinforcing structure 7 additionally has at least one circumferential steel strip 17 between the second and the third belt plies 11, 13.
US08578988B2	Reduced weight aircraft tire A pneumatic tire having a carcass and a belt reinforcing structure wherein the belt reinforcing structure is a composite belt structure having at least one radially inner spiral layer and at least one zigzag belt reinforcing structure located radially outward of said spiral layer. The zigzag belt width is preferably wider than the spiral layer.
US08578985B2	Pneumatic tire with sipes A pneumatic tire whose steering stability on dry roads is improved with minimizing lowering of on-snow performances and which has round shoulders and comprises tread portion 2 divided by circumferential main grooves 3 and lateral grooves 4 into blocks 5 provided with sipes 6 each having zigzag part 8, the circumferential grooves 3 including at least a pair of axially outermost circumferential grooves 3o to divide the tread portion 2 into shoulder regions Ysh and crown region Ycr, wherein the zigzag part 8 of sipes 6sh disposed in the shoulder regions Ysh has a larger zigzag amplitude Wsh and a larger zigzag pitch Psh than zigzag amplitude Wcr and zigzag pitch Pcr of the zigzag part 8 of sipes 6cr disposed in the crown region Ycr, and angle θsh of the sipes 6sh with respect to the axial direction is smaller than angle θcr of the sipes 6cr with respect to the axial direction.
US08578982B2	Scanner resistant device for RFID cards A device for protecting one or more credit or charge cards from radio frequency scanning is disclosed. The device comprises a planar element sized for fitting within a card slot of a personal carrying accessory, wherein the planar element is composed of an uncharged, conductive material and wherein the planar element inhibits the transmission of radio frequency signals.
US08578981B2	Router table Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to one example embodiment, a router table may include a table top, a mounting can, a sleeve, and an adjustment mechanism. The table top may have an aperture and a plurality of support members; the support members may be configured to support the table top. The mounting can may be attachable to the table top in a vicinity of the aperture. The sleeve may be engaged to the mounting can, and may be configured to receive a router and to position a router bit of the router along an axis extending through the aperture. The adjustment mechanism may be configured to move the sleeve within the mounting can and relative to the table top to thereby move the router along the axis and position the router bit at one of a plurality of positions relative to the table top.
US08578980B2	Groove forming machine for manufacturing golf club head Some embodiments concern a groove forming machine configured to form a groove on the golf club face of a golf club head. The groove forming machine can include: a groove forming tool configured to rotate about an axis of rotation at a first angle substantially greater than zero degrees and substantially less than 90 degrees to the golf club face. The groove forming tool is further configured to actuate from a first end of the golf club face to a second end of the golf club face by contacting a first portion of the groove forming tool with the golf club face to cut the groove with a first cross-section into the golf club face. Other embodiments are described herein.
US08578979B2	Process for dispensing fluid with a slider valve fitment and collar A collar for a dispensing connector and a fitment assembly are disclosed. The connector collar engages a valved fitment for a container for holding and dispensing fluid. The fitment includes a spout connected to the container and a sliding internal valve body and an external valve body securely positioned within the spout. The connector collar has a fitment end mateable with the fitment so as to compress the top edge of the external valve body so as to form a seal between the external valve body and the dispensing connector.
US08578978B2	Device for loading particles of catalyst into tubes having an annular zone A device and method to load particles of catalyst on the order of cm in the principal dimension into an annular zone of reaction tubes which may reach a height of more than 10 meters, while satisfying the strict conditions of homogeneity and density of loading.
US08578976B1	Rain water collection system An above-ground, structure-mounted rain water collection, storage, and utilization apparatus is herein disclosed, comprising a vertical plastic tank situated along a wall of a structure where downspouts are typically present. Rain water would flow from a downspout into a screened top portion of the tank. Once filled, integral overflow spouts may be utilized to divert excess water to either another apparatus unit, a downspout, or a hose for normal grade level dispersal. The apparatus would be supported by a base structure at grade. The bottom of the tank would be tapered to avoid the collection of silt and would terminate in a conventional spigot valve providing conventional connection to a hose system for subsequent recycled use. The apparatus may also be provided with an alternate in-line pump to provide a pressurized supply of water.
US08578975B2	Oil filter change method and apparatus An oil filter change method and apparatus for use with Harley Davidson motorcycles employs a filter funnel adapted to fit beneath the oil filter prior to removal. A drain hose may be attached to a spout portion of the funnel, the filter is punctured, and oil allowed to drain therefrom. Once drained, the filter is fully removed, and is held in the funnel for removal, with minimal or no oil spillage onto the engine of the motorcycle.
US08578972B2	Fabrics having double layers of terry or pile A fabric having a ground fabric, and a double layer terry or a double layer pile on either or both surfaces of the ground fabric, or a double layer terry on one surface and a double layer pile on the other surface. The double layer terry has an outer terry and an inner terry lower than the outer terry; the double layer pile has an outer pile and an inner pile lower than the outer pile. The outer terry or outer pile is a natural fiber, and the lower terry or lower pile is a microfiber. Methods of manufacturing the fabric are also disclosed.
US08578970B2	Pressure-compensated accumulator bottle A pressure-compensated accumulator bottle is provided. In one embodiment, the accumulator bottle includes a housing and an interior wall that generally define first, second, and third chambers within the housing. In this embodiment, a spring is disposed in the second chamber and configured to apply a biasing force on a first piston disposed within the first chamber. Further, in this embodiment, an additional piston is disposed within the third chamber and is configured to facilitate balancing of the pressure of a fluid disposed in the second chamber with the pressure of the external environment such that the magnitude of a second biasing force applied on the first piston by the pressure of the fluid depends at least in part on the pressure of the external environment. Hydraulic circuits and systems including a pressure-compensated accumulator bottle are also disclosed.
US08578968B2	Electrical switching valve An electric switching valve for controlling a pneumatic actuator element includes a housing with a ventilation connection channel, a vacuum connection channel and a consumer connection channel. The vacuum connection channel comprises a first valve seat and the ventilation connection channel comprises a second valve seat. An electromagnetic drive is arranged in the housing. The electromagnetic drive is configured so that a magnetic armature is translationally movable in a passage channel to form a valve closure body for each of the vacuum connection channel and the ventilation connection channel. A cross-sectional constriction device is disposed in the ventilation connection channel.
US08578962B2	Connection fitting The present invention relates to a connection fitting for the connection of a ring with at least one consumer to a storey or rising main branch with inlet and outlet openings (2, 4) which can be connected to the branch and an intervening merge opening (34) for the ring main which is preceded in the flow direction (S) by a cross-section constriction (16). The present invention also relates to a water pipe system with at least one storey or rising main branch to which several ring mains are connected via separation and merge openings and a cross-section constriction provided between the separation and merge openings of the assigned ring main in the branch. The object of the present invention is to specify a connection fitting which leads to improved flow characteristics in the region of the ring main assigned to the connection fitting and to provide a water pipe system which fulfills the practical requirements in an improved manner. With this invention the object is solved by suggesting a connection fitting and a water pipe system of the prior known type, which are characterized in that they comprise means (12, 28) for varying the passage area of the cross-section constriction (V).
US08578959B2	Rinse valve for vacuum waste system The apparatus and method of the invention provides for a rinse valve for controlling the flow of rinse fluid to a vacuum waste receptacle. The rinse valve comprises a primary rinse fluid flow path and a poppet assembly intersecting the primary rinse fluid flow path. The rinse valve also comprises a solenoid-driven fluid control device having a solenoid armature movable between an inactive state in which the armature engages the poppet assembly to block flow of the rinse fluid through a poppet channel and an active state in which the solenoid armature is disengaged from the poppet assembly to allow flow of the rinse fluid through the poppet channel to raise the poppet assembly, permitting the flow of the rinse fluid through the primary rinse fluid flow path and out of the valve, the armature being located at all times out of the primary flow path of the rinse fluid.
US08578957B2	Single seal breakaway connector A safety breakaway connector begins with a body that receives a cooperating insert providing a coaxial flow path. The body has threads, a collar leading to an extension, and a hollow interior. The insert also has threads, a collar that leads to an inner wall, and a hollow interior. The inner wall fits snugly within the extension of the body. Generally, the insert simply slides into and interconnects with the body for quick installation. Two spaced apart biased check valves remain slightly outwardly from the narrow portions of the body and insert. A guard covers the body. Upon the application of the minimum force, the insert separates from the body, and the check valves abruptly close preventing further leakage of fuel. Alternatively, a strategically located O-ring or gasket seals the various components and withstands pressure variations.
US08578950B2	Dishwasher with a device for dissolving detergent A dishwasher includes a device for adding detergent that can be sealed with a flap-type lid and which is set back in the inside door of the dishwasher and is arranged at an angle on an inclined plane in relation to the plane of the inner side of the door. During the cleaning process, the detergent falls into a dissolving chamber, which is arranged underneath the device for adding detergent, according to the program, wherein the bottom of the dissolving chamber consists of a fine-mesh grid whereat the detergent can be dissolved.
US08578938B2	Apparatus and methods for treating sleep apnea An apparatus and method for treating sleep apnea and/or snoring is provided. The apparatus includes an appliance sized and structured to be placed in the pharyngeal region of a human or animal and being effective in treating sleep apnea and/or snoring, for example in maintaining openness of an oropharyngeal region of a human or animal during natural sleep, advantageously while not interfering with normal functioning of the epiglottis. The appliance may be made of a super elastic material, for example, Nitinol, and may be submucosally implanted in the pharyngeal walls.
US08578930B2	Lightweight structure vacuum solar thermal panel A vacuum solar thermal panel includes a vacuum envelope defining a sealed volume able to withstand atmospheric pressure when evacuated. The envelope includes a first plate made of glass, a second plate facing the first plate, a perimeter frame disposed between the first and second plate close to their edge, a metallic perimeter belt joining the perimeter frame to the first plate, a plurality of spaced apart bearing elements disposed against the edges of the first and second plate, and a plurality of traction rods joining the bearing elements with the perimeter frame to pull the perimeter frame toward the bearing elements, in order to limit the deformation of the perimeter frame under the external atmospheric pressure, when the envelope is evacuated.
US08578926B2	Self-heating systems and methods for rapidly heating a comestible substance Self-heating containers comprise a reaction chamber and a heating chamber. The heating chamber is sized to contain a substance to be heated. The reaction chamber contains reactants which, when contacted, exothermically react. The reaction chamber is divided into a first compartment and a second compartment with a barrier therebetween. The barrier comprises a first barrier portion and a second barrier portion. The first barrier portion is attached to a reaction chamber wall and has an opening sized to allow reactants to flow through from one compartment to the other. The second barrier portion is attached to the first barrier portion to close the opening. The barrier can be opened by moving an actuator into engagement with the second barrier portion to dislodge the second barrier portion from the first barrier portion and thereby open the barrier. In certain embodiments, the heating chamber can be a can with prepackaged comestible substance therein. Examples of components configured to facilitate such a can are disclosed.
US08578924B2	Exhaust baffle for kitchen appliance An exhaust baffle is provided for a domestic appliance. The exhaust baffle includes a support bracket having two tabs, the tabs being configured to slide into engagement with slots formed in the base of the domestic appliance, two support elements, each of the support elements extending from one of the tabs at an angle and having a bearing surface, and a bridging element that extends from the two support elements at an angle, the bridging element connecting the two support elements; a baffle top having a hot gas directing portion that rests on the bearing surfaces of the support bracket and an opening that receives the bridging element; and a baffle bottom having a substantially flat member, the baffle bottom holding the support bracket in the slots when the baffle bottom is in an operating position.
US08578921B2	Method and apparatus for channeling air line inside of paintball assembly having a transfer rod A paintball assembly capable of channeling air line or pipe inside of the paintball assembly using a transfer rod is disclosed. The assembly includes a main valve, an air pipe, a bolt, a hammer, and a U-shaped rod. While the main valve is configured to propel a paintball utilizing pressurized gas, the air pipe supplies and channels the pressurized gas to the main valve. The bolt guides or pushes the paintball into a firing chamber, and the hammer manages or controls the main valve for propelling the paintball upon pulling of the trigger. The U-shaped rod is used to synchronize the movement of the bolt and the hammer. In one embodiment, the U-shaped rod is configured in such a way that at least a portion of the U-shaped rod is structured around the air pipe to reduce contact with the air pipe.
US08578920B2	Paintball hopper with integrated imaging system Hoppers and similar loading systems have an integrated imaging system for still and/or video capture, display and/or networked transmission. The imaging system allows real time capture, display and/or transmission live paintball play action from the point of view of the player. Images can be transmitted to team mates in proximity with a corresponding imaging system and/or to off field personnel. Such image transmission from the perspective of the hopper held by the player permits coordination of on field activities among the team members or by an off field coach. In tournament play, the real time video transmission can be broadcast through the off field systems for display to a local audience or streamed to an internet audience. Recordable media within each hopper system permit the recorded images to be stored for later analysis.
US08578918B1	Crossbow with bowstring redirection A crossbow employs bowstring redirecting wheels, over which the bowstring travels, to keep the bowstring aligned with the main force vectors where the bowstring meets the tips of the crossbow power limbs or spring limbs. The bowstring is anchored to a fixed anchor points, which can be on the pylons on which the redirecting wheels are mounted, or may be at the tips of the spring limbs. In one embodiment the bowstring passes over a pulley wheel at the tip of the spring limb. This crossbow arrangement achieves superior acceleration, and can be constructed of smaller transverse dimension than conventional or compound crossbows.
US08578916B2	Crossbow trigger assembly A crossbow trigger mechanism operable to fire an arrow or bolt. The trigger mechanism includes a trigger operatively connected to a pair of jaws for holding a tensioned crossbow string when the jaws are in a closed position. An arrow or bolt is insertable between the upper and lower jaws.
US08578913B2	Fuel injection apparatus for internal combustion engine A fuel injection apparatus for an internal combustion engine including a fuel injector having a leading end portion that has an internal space in which fuel is stored and an injection nozzle for injecting fuel; and an adsorbent disposed in the internal space, the adsorbent being capable of selectively adsorbing an alcohol component in a blended fuel of gasoline and alcohol. The adsorbent has a characteristic such that an amount of alcohol adsorption is small when a fuel pressure is low and large when the fuel pressure is high. Adsorption of alcohol onto, and desorption of alcohol from, the adsorbent can be controlled by changing the fuel pressure in the internal space.
US08578911B2	Multi-layer piezoelectric element, and injection device and fuel injection system using the same Provided is a highly durable multi-layer piezoelectric element wherein an external electrode has less possibilities of being peeled off from a side face of a stacked body even when the element is continuously driven for a long period of time in a high electrical field under high pressure. In a multi-layer piezoelectric element (1), a void (2) is formed in a joining interface between a side face of a stacked body (7) wherein piezoelectric layers (3) and internal electrode layers (5) are alternately laminated and an external electrode (9) joined to the side face. Since stress generated in the joining interface between the side face of the stacked body (7) and the external electrode (9) during driving can be reduced by the void (2), there are less possibilities of having the external electrode (9) peeled off from the side face of the stacked body (7) even when the element is continuously driven for a long period of time.
US08578910B2	Fuel injection controller A fuel injection controller includes an ECU controlling an operation of a fuel injector based on a characteristic data of the fuel injector, an EEPROM provided to the injector, and an EEPROM provided to the ECU. Identification information by which the fuel injector is individually identified is stored in both of the EEPROMs. It is determined whether the identification information stored in the injector-side EEPROM is identical to the identification information stored in the ECU-side EEPROM. Based on this determination result, it can be determined whether the injector and/or the ECU are exchanged to new one.
US08578891B2	Lick deterrent strip A lick deterrent strip for deterring an animal from licking a wound is provided. The lick deterrent strip is securable to the animal or a bandage such that the lick deterrent strip is positioned over the wound or near the area of the wound. As used herein, a “wound” refers to an injured area on an animal, including, but not limited to, abscesses, cuts, hot spots, incisions, punctures, sores, and stitches. When secured to the animal, the lick deterrent strip provides an exposed surface with electrically energized contacts arranged on the exposed surface. When a conductive portion of the animal, such as the animal's mouth, is placed in electrical communication with the contacts, the lick deterrent strip provides an electrical stimulus to the animal, which deters the animal from accessing or licking the wound.
US08578885B2	Animal waste disposal apparatus This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the disposal of animal waste, and is particularly concerned with providing a solution that is economical, hygienic, and environmentally sound. This invention may be used domestically in two main varying ways: in a configuration whereby the invention connects into any access point of a domestic sanitary sewer system, or via an in-line configuration whereby the invention is incorporated into any standard waste downpipe. This invention may be used commercially in a public setting whereby the invention is incorporated into a ‘vending’ machine, allowing limited access for use by varying limited access means and methods.
US08578884B2	Illuminated drinking system An improved drinking system having a water source capable of delivering water through water supply pipes, watering stations fluidly connected to the water supply pipes, and at least one light source optically connected to at least one of the watering stations. Also provided is a method for selectively distributing water to animals within a farm facility utilizing illuminated watering stations.
US08578883B2	Pet excluding pet feeder A pet feeder for feeding pets that provides an enclosure that the pet accesses through an entryway having dimensions under the control of the pet owner. The owner sizes the entryway to exclude a pet with allowing a relatively smaller pet to enter.
US08578878B2	Control system for can coating A can coating machine control system includes a coating control signal that functions as a go/no-go signal based on a plurality of monitored conditions such as can in position, vacuum pressure, gun in position, guard in position and speed condition. Local pressure regulation of the coating material in the spray gun is provided along with optional control of the material temperature. Local pressure regulation allows for optional spray weight control based on a wrap number derived from speed and gun spray-durations. A CAN to CAN network buffer is provided as well for primary network isolation. A gun control circuit may be used to select specific gun drive signals and to adjust gun drive signals based on real-time feedback of the actual spray duration.
US08578876B2	Method for the production of composite elements based on isocyanate-based foams An apparatus for application of liquids to a continuously conveyed outer layer having a rotating plate which is horizontal and parallel to the outer layer or with a deviation of up to 15° from horizontal, wherein a liquid applied to the rotating plate is ejected centrifugally from the rotating plate via rotation and then, via gravity, passed onto the outer layer below the rotating plate, is provided.
US08578872B1	Life vessel retrieval system A system for retrieving a life vessel from water and drawing the life vessel onto a deck of a rescue vessels comprises a life vessel system comprising: i) a tow-line comprising a first end portion secured to the life vessel and an opposed second end portion; and ii) a deployment system configured to deploy the second end portion of the tow-line into the water. The system further comprises a rescue vessel system comprising i) a towing device on the rescue vessel, the towing device configured to receive the second end portion of the tow-line and retract the tow-line to draw the life vessel towards the rescue vessel; and ii) a retrieval assembly assembled to the deck of the rescue vessel, the retrieval assembly configured to receive the life vessel as the life vessel is drawn towards the rescue vessel and to lift the rescue vessel onto the deck.
US08578871B2	Automated flanging machine An automated flanging machine is provided. More specifically, a machine for automatically sewing a flange onto a work panel having a consistent corner radius and a straight edge is provided. The machine has a table adapted to support a work panel, a sewing head mounted directly adjacent to the table for performing a sewing operation on the work panel, a turning arm mounted adjacent to the table, and a rear conveyor for selectively moving the work panel on the table. The table may include a corner pivot mechanism for stabilizing the panel while the turning arm turns the panel 90 degree relative to an initial position, and for maintaining a consistent corner radius for sewing. The machine may also include a rear material guide and encoding arm for measuring the progression of the work panel as it is sewn along a side by the sewing head.
US08578870B2	Seeding method avoiding overlap A method for applying agricultural products on a field with an implement guided by an external guidance system, wherein the implement comprises a plurality of sections that can be turned on to apply the products or turned off to stop applying the products, includes mapping the field to determine an implement travel path; determining overlap areas in the field where a section of the implement on a later pass will travel over a portion of an earlier pass of the implement; moving the implement along the implement travel path with sections turned on as required to apply the products on the field outside the overlap areas; and for at least one overlap area, during the earlier pass turning sections of the implement that are completely in the overlap area off, and during the later pass turning sections of the implement that are in the overlap area on.
US08578868B2	Oxyfuel combustion boiler plant An oxyfuel combustion boiler plant comprising: an air separation unit for manufacturing oxygen by separating nitrogen from air, a boiler having a burner for burning the oxygen supplied from the air separation unit and pulverized coal, and a primary system pipe for supplying the pulverized coal to the burner, an exhaust gas recirculation system pipe for supplying combustion exhaust gas discharged from the boiler to the primary system pipe, and a carbon dioxide capture unit for capturing carbon dioxide in the exhaust gas discharged from the boiler, the oxyfuel combustion boiler plant is further comprising: an oxygen supply pipe for supplying the oxygen manufactured by the air separation unit to the primary system pipe in the burner, and a pipe for supplying the combustion exhaust gas discharged from the boiler to the oxygen supply pipe, wherein an injection port of the oxygen supply pipe is disposed on an upstream side of an injection portion of the burner.
US08578866B2	Container for storing objects, and an absorber element for such a container The invention relates to a container for storing objects to be protected from unauthorized access, particularly an automatic teller, vault (1), safe or security cabinet, comprising a housing (2) having a storage space, the housing having a rear wall, two side walls (3) disposed opposite each other, a base (4) and a top (5), wherein the base (4) and the top (5) are disposed opposite each other and connect the side walls (3) to each other, wherein the housing (2) has at least one opening (6) that can be locked using a door (7) and/or flap. In order to improve a generic container such that it is sufficiently protected from unauthorized opening by explosion, while simultaneously being constructed in a simple manner, so that a corresponding container can also be produced in a cost-effective manner, the invention provides that an absorber element (10) is disposed in the storage space.
US08578865B2	Edge and corner for a structure constructed from blow-molded plastic A structure constructed from plastic may include one or more reinforcing portions that are sized and configured to prevent damage to the structure. For example, the structure may be a table top constructed from blow-molded plastic and the table top may include a body with one or more corners. The corners may include an interior portion and an exterior portion, and reinforcement portions may be sized and configured to help prevent damage to the corners of the table top. In addition, one or more depressions may be at least partially disposed within the reinforcement portions, if desired. The reinforcement portions, for example, may include one or more inwardly and/or outwardly extending portions.
US08578864B2	Removable attachment bar for a flip-top table Disclosed is a removable attachment bar for a flip-top table that includes multiple tracks on which objects table top supports, storage containers, and other items may be mounted. While maintaining the benefits of standard flip-top tables, attachment bar also achieves many benefits including improved table rigidity and additional locations to secure attachments to the table.
US08578853B2	Anti-marking jackets comprised of attachment structure and methods of using in offset printing In a printing press, a transfer cylinder assembly for transferring a freshly printed substrate is provided. The transfer cylinder assembly comprises a transfer cylinder, a first attachment structure comprising a plurality of loops coupled to the transfer cylinder, and an anti-marking device. The anti-marking device comprises a second attachment structure comprising a plurality of hooks and a flexible jacket to engage the freshly printed substrate as it is transferred over the transfer cylinder assembly. The second attachment structure is at least semi-permanently coupled to the flexible jacket, and the anti-marking device is removably attached over the transfer cylinder by coupling the second attachment structure with the first attachment structure.
US08578852B2	Block copolymer composition for flexographic printing plates Disclosed is a block copolymer composition for flexographic printing plates, which is capable of providing a flexographic printing plate that has much more excellent wear resistance than conventional flexographic printing plates, while maintaining sufficient rubber elasticity. The block copolymer composition for flexographic printing plates comprises a block copolymer A and a block copolymer B, each of which is an aromatic vinyl-conjugated diene-aromatic vinyl block copolymer having a specific structure, wherein a content of the aromatic vinyl monomer unit in the block copolymer A is 41% or more.
US08578844B2	Food processing system Apparatuses, systems, and methods for processing system foodstuff are shown and described. Food processing systems can hold and prepare food for consumption. The disclosed embodiments provide a drive mechanism that utilizes a contoured surface between a ratchet wheel and a drive mechanism that rotates the ratchet wheel to move the ratchet wheel toward and in engagement with a drive wheel for initiating rotation of the drive wheel and to disengage the ratchet wheel from the drive wheel to allow the drive wheel to rotate freely. The drive wheel is configured to couple to a processing component of the processing system.
US08578838B2	Lock valve with grooved porting in bore A lock valve includes a lock valve body having a bore with a valve spool reciprocatingly received therein. There is a check valve adjacent each end of the bore. Each of the check valves has a check valve member facing the bore and resiliently biased towards a valve seat at each end of the bore. A pressure relief port communicates with the bore near the center thereof and between lands of the valve spool. A pair of spaced-apart grooves are disposed within the spool valve bore. Each groove permits fluid communication past a land of the valve spool when the valve spool is displaced towards one end of the bore by fluid pressure applied to other end of the bore so as to unseat the check valve member adjacent to the one end to the bore and allow pressurized fluid to pass from the one end of the bore, through the groove, and into the relief port.
US08578834B2	Vehicle with structural vent channels for blast energy and debris dissipation A vehicle includes one or more structural vent channels for blast energy and gas and debris dissipation. The structural enclosure of a vehicle includes a hull floor and encloses or defines a compartment for crew, cargo, or crew and cargo. The channel provides a passage through, around, or through and around the vehicle, by which blast energy and debris can be dissipated from explosions beneath the vehicle. Objects can be mounted within, above, or below the channel with breakaway mounting fixtures. The channel can serve as a storage compartment for objects that would be sacrificed during a blast.
US08578832B2	Muzzle brake and suppressor article This invention is directed to a muzzle brake that can be attachably connected to a weapon system having a barrel comprising: a housing; a front opening defined in the housing having a diameter generally the same size as the caliber of the barrel to which the housing can be attached; an impact plane included in the housing having an angle of incident greater than 90 degrees defined between the impact plane and the longitudinal axis of the housing; an eddy plane included in the housing having an angle of incident defined between the eddy plane and the longitudinal axis of the housing that is greater than the incident of angle of the impact plane; and, a concave surface included in the housing and carried by the eddy plane; a forward port defined by the impact plane, eddy plane and concave surface in the housing so that a portion of the gas expelled from the barrel is deflected outward from the housing upon contacting the impact plane and a portion of the gas expelled from the barrel is deflected by the concave surface producing eddies in the deflected gas stream.
US08578831B2	Systems and method for igniting explosives Systems and methods are presented herein that provide for ignition of explosive devices through electric discharge. In one embodiment, an electrostatic discharge is directionally propagated through air to conduct electric current to the explosive device. The electric current may ignite the explosive device via heat, via triggering of ignition circuitry, via induced electric current conduction to the explosive material therein and/or via direct electric conduction to the explosive material therein. Alternatively or additionally, a system is configured with a vehicle to distally position the propagated energy to the explosive device such that damage caused by the explosive device is reduced.
US08578825B2	Table saw with mechanical fuse A power tool in one embodiment includes a work-piece support surface, a swing arm assembly movable along a swing path between a first swing arm position whereat a portion of a shaping device supported by the swing arm assembly extends above the work-piece support surface and a second swing arm position whereat the portion of the shaping device does not extend above the work-piece support surface, a mechanical fuse positioned to maintain the swing arm assembly in the first swing arm position, an actuator configured to apply a force to the mechanical fuse sufficient to break the mechanical fuse and to force the swing arm assembly away from the first swing arm position and toward the second swing arm position, and a control system configured to actuate the actuator in response to a sensed condition.
US08578824B2	Wheel lathe There is provided a wheel lathe in which the wheelset center of wheels and a spindle center can be aligned in a simple structure without using a centering part for synchronous lowering from above, and the horizontal distance from the wheelset center is measured at the position of a point along the circumference of the wheel and away from the topmost point of the wheel, such as of a point on an external edge, by a displacement meter having a fixed height, whereby the appropriate required lifting amount (lifter-required displacement) is automatically computed and the wheels are raised to allow the spindle to be appropriately fixed on a consistent basis, the device to be simplified and otherwise improved, and significant reductions to be attained in assembly and adjustment man-hours. The wheel lathe includes a lifter control device (4) used to control the operation of a lifter device (3) for raising the wheel (1) and provided with external-edge position meters (5) for measuring a point on the external edge of the wheel (1) and a lifter-required displacement calculator (6) for computing the lifter-required displacement (H) from the measured value and a known dimensional value.
US08578821B2	Oil filter wrench An oil filter wrench for use in tightening or loosening an oil filter includes a band assembly configured to be placed over the oil filter; a handle assembly attached to the band assembly for use in tightening and turning the band assembly; and a layer of flexible or compressible high friction material applied over a portion of the band assembly to reduce slippage between the band assembly and the oil filter.
US08578817B2	Modular transmission system The invention relates to a modular transmission system, comprising in at least one transmission stage with a housing a plurality of transmissions with different multiplications, each having a first transmission step comprising an annular gear with a pinion offset, said pinion off-set being identical for all transmissions of one transmission stage. The modular transmission system is provided with at least one first pinion of the angular gear with a first serrated crown gear in a crown gear serration and a second pinion with a second crown gear in a spiroplan gearing.
US08578814B2	Bicycle stem with an adjustable tilt The stem (1) is provided with elements (3) for attaching the stem to the upper end of a pivoting tube and elements (25) for attaching a handlebar to the stem. The rear attachment elements (3) include articulation members (8) that make it possible to adjust the tilt of the stem (1) and tightening elements (10, 11, 19, 21) that make it possible to lock the stem in an angular position. The tightening elements are of a semi-cylindrical shape extending crosswise into a housing (12) that has an opening (12′) downward that makes it possible to insert the pivoting tube (4). The tightening elements at their upper and lower ends are provided with a receiving recess (13, 14) that is adapted to the pivoting tube and extend crosswise in the housing that has a cylindrical wall (15) cooperating with the first tightening element (10) so as to define the articulation members.
US08578812B2	Position adjusting device for steering wheel A structure is realized that is capable of preventing interference of respective friction plates (39, 40a, 40b) with other members existing therearound or with the body of a driver, and furthermore that facilitates, when assembling, insertion of a tension rod (17a) through a circular hole (47) and longitudinal elongated holes (18a, 18b) formed in the respective friction plates (39, 40a, 40b). The respective friction plates (39, 40a, 40b) are arranged between both of the side faces of a displacement bracket section (36) and the inner face of supporting plate sections (22a) that constitute a fixed side bracket (15a). Moreover, the end edges of the respective friction plates (39, 40a, 40b) symmetrically present in pairs are connected by connecting sections (45, 46a, 46b), to thereby integrate the left and right friction plates (39, 40a, 40b) so that the respective holes (45, 18a, 18b), through which the tension rod (17a) is to be inserted, can be easily aligned.
US08578808B2	Operation device and bending operation device of endoscope In the present invention, there are provided a movement member which includes an engaging section, which is engaged with an intermediate part of an operation shaft of a joystick device, and operates as one body with the operation shaft at a time of performing an inclining operation of the operation shaft, and a damper case in which the movement member is movably inserted, and which holds a viscous fluid which increases a sliding resistance of the movement member when the movement member is moved. Thereby, a desired operational sensation can be always obtained, and a stable bending operation can be performed.
US08578807B2	High speed gear sized and configured to reduce windage loss A gear and drive system utilizing the gear include teeth. Each of the teeth has a first side and a second side opposite the first side that extends from a body of the gear. For each tooth of the gear, a first extended portion is attached to the first side of the tooth to divert flow of fluid adjacent to the body of the gear to reduce windage losses that occur when the gear rotates. The gear may be utilized in drive systems that may have high rotational speeds, such as speeds where the tip velocities are greater than or equal to about 68 m/s. Some embodiments of the gear may also utilize teeth that also have second extended portions attached to the second sides of the teeth to divert flow of fluid adjacent to the body of the gear to reduce windage losses that occur when the gear rotates.
US08578802B2	System and method for multiplexing gear engagement control and providing fault protection in a toroidal traction drive automatic transmission An apparatus for multiplexing gear engagement control in an automatic transmission is provided. At least two friction engagement devices are configured to selectively engage and disengage a different gear ratio of the transmission. A trim system is configured to selectively supply engagement and disengagement pressures to at least one fluid passageway. A first control valve is fluidly coupled directly to the at least one fluid passageway and directly to each of the at least two friction engagement devices. The first control valve is configured to selectively route the engagement and disengagement pressures through the first control valve directly to the at least two friction devices.
US08578800B2	Hydraulic control arrangement for an automated shift transmission In a hydraulic control arrangement for an automated shift transmission, in particular a dual clutch transmission in a motor vehicle including a hydraulic control arrangement, the hydraulic control arrangement has a main pump and a controllable additional pump which jointly ensure that oil is supplied to the hydraulic control arrangement. The additional pump can feed into a control channel of a lubricating pressure slide and build up an adjustable lubricating fluid control pressure. The lubricating fluid pressure in the lubricating cooling system is adjusted in a simple and inexpensive manner by lubricating pressure slide changes modifying the lubricating control pressure in the lubricating cooling system.
US08578798B2	Probe system for measuring a measured variable of fluid contained in a process container, especially for sterile applications A probe system for measuring a measured variable of a fluid, comprising: A probe body, which is connectable to the process container by means of a process connection; axially shiftable in a guiding passageway of the probe body between a measuring position and at least two different treatment positions; an immersion tube, which has a protective cylinder on its front end immersible in the fluid; a measuring probe held in the immersion tube, having a measuring head, wherein the measuring head is arranged within a region of the protective cylinder having openings; a first treatment chamber formed between the guiding passageway and the immersion tube; a second treatment chamber formed between the guiding passageway and the immersion tube and adjoining the first treatment chamber on a side of the first treatment chamber facing away from the process connection; and a seal arranged between the first and second treatment chambers, wherein the immersion tube has a first section with a first outer diameter and a second section adjoining the first section and having a second outer diameter smaller than the first outer diameter, so that, through axial shifting of the immersion tube, the seal arranged between the first and second treatment chambers can be opened.
US08578796B2	High volume sampling front end collection device A device for sampling surfaces for the presence of compounds is provided, including a housing having a proximal end adapted to receive it negative pressure gradient and a distal end adapted to contact the surfaces; a heating element spaced from the distal end; a primary filter spaced from the heating element; and a secondary filter spaced from the primary filter, the secondary filter removably received by the housing. Also provided is as method for sampling a surface for the presence of compounds, the method including contacting the surface to dislodge the compounds from the surface; capturing first fractions of the compounds with a primary filter while allowing second fractions of the compounds to pass through the primary filter; heating the primary filter to volatilize the first fractions; capturing the volatized first fractions and the second fractions with a secondary filter; and analyzing the secondary filter to identify the compounds.
US08578793B2	Test method and tool for testing fastened fasteners A screw fastener testing method for verifying the status of a previously tightened screw fastener with respect to installed torque and actual torque growth per angle of rotation properties includes applying an increasing tightening torque on the fastener, measuring the torque magnitude at the start of rotation, of the fastener, measuring the rotational movement of the fastener after the start of rotation, calculating the torque growth per angle of rotation for a certain predetermined test interval of rotation from the start of rotation, comparing the torque magnitude indicated during rotation and the calculated torque growth per angle of rotation during the test interval of rotation with predetermined reference values (Tstart, KR) or (TE, KP), respectively, characteristic for the actual fastener when tightened to a desired target torque level, and approving or disapproving the fastener status in view of the reference values.
US08578791B2	Sensor-equipped bearing for wheel A sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly, in which the load imposed on the wheel support bearing assembly or a tire tread of a wheel tire can be accurately detected without being affected by the rolling elements, includes rolling elements interposed between plural opposed rolling surfaces defined in outer and inner members. One of the outer and inner members that serves as a stationary member is provided with one or more sensor unit. The sensor unit includes a strain generating member, having two or more contact fixing segments fixed to the stationary member, and a sensor for detecting such strain. The strain generating member in the sensor unit is arranged at a position departing from a line passing through a center of the rolling elements and extending in a direction defined by the rolling element contact angle.
US08578789B2	Analysis device and analysis method An analysis method using an analysis apparatus are described herein. By way of an example, the analysis method includes a first step of driving a pressurizing pump and a pressure-reduction pump, and of filling a liquid from a supply piping in an interior of a resistive body through which a sample passes, a second step of discharging, from a discharging piping, some of the liquid filled in the interior of the resistive body, and of securing a space in the interior of the resistive body for filling the sample, a third step of supplying the sample into the space, a fourth step of causing the sample to travel in the interior of the resistive body, and a fifth step of measuring a travel time of the sample in the interior of the resistive body by using the flow rate sensor.
US08578786B2	Measuring arrangement with an optical sensor A measuring arrangement for determining a chemical and/or physical, measured variable-especially a volume flow and/or mass flow-of a measured material flowing through a pipeline, wherein the measuring arrangement comprises a measuring transducer, wherein the measuring transducer includes at least one optical waveguide, which serves for producing, registering and/or transmitting measurement signals, and wherein the registering of the measuring signals in the optical waveguide occurs by means of a Fabry-Pérot sensor.
US08578784B2	Specimen creep test and methods of using such tests A method for testing the mechanical properties of a specimen. The specimen is generally characterized by a first contact surface and a second contact surface spaced apart from and opposing the first contact surface. The method involves applying forces to the contact surfaces of the specimen to deform the specimen over a period of time. The response of the specimen to the forces is then measured over time. A spatial distance between the contact surfaces is defined such that the equivalent gauge length of the specimen is greater than the distance between the contact surfaces.
US08578783B2	Process fluid pressure transmitter with separated sensor and sensor electronics A process fluid pressure transmitter has a remote pressure sensor. The transmitter includes an electronics housing and a loop communicator disposed in the electronics housing and being configured to communicate in accordance with a process communication protocol. A controller is disposed within the electronics housing and is coupled to the loop communicator. Sensor measurement circuitry is disposed within the electronics housing and is coupled to the controller. A remote pressure sensor housing is configured to couple directly to a process and is spaced from the electronics housing. A pressure sensor is disposed within the remote pressure sensor housing. The pressure sensor forms at least one electrical component having an electrical characteristic that varies with process fluid pressure. Portions of the electrical component are coupled directly to a multiconductor cable that operably connects the pressure sensor to the sensor measurement circuitry.
US08578778B2	Ultrasonic method to verify the interference fit of fasteners Embodiments of techniques and technologies to verify the interference fit of fasteners are disclosed. In one embodiment, a transducer is positioned to transmit a shear ultrasonic signal through a region of a fastener which is subject to stress when the fastener experiences an interference fit. The shear ultrasonic signal is transmitted through a region of the fastener subject to the stress. As the transmitted ultrasonic signal encounters the region, it is mode converted corresponding to a degree of interference which the fastener is experiencing. A return ultrasonic signal from the fastener is received with the transducer. From the return ultrasonic signal, a processor determines the degree of interference fit which the fastener is experience and outputs an indication of the same.
US08578777B2	Method for quantitatively evaluating concentration of atomic vacancies existing in silicon wafer, method for manufacturing silicon wafer, and silicon wafer manufactured by the method for manufacturing silicon wafer A quantitative evaluation method, a method for manufacturing a silicon wafer, and a silicon wafer manufactured by the method, enabling more efficient evaluation of the concentration of atomic vacancies existing in a silicon wafer. The quantitative evaluation method includes steps of: oscillating, in a state in which an external magnetic field is applied to a silicon wafer (26) while keeping the silicon wafer (26) at a constant temperature, an ultrasonic wave pulse and receiving a measurement wave pulse obtained after the ultrasonic wave pulse is propagated through the silicon wafer (26) for detecting a phase difference between the ultrasonic wave pulse and the measurement wave pulse; and calculating an elastic constant from the phase difference. The external magnetic field is changed to calculate the elastic constant corresponding to a change in the external magnetic field for evaluating a concentration of atomic vacancies in the silicon wafer (26).
US08578776B2	Acceleration and angular velocity detection device An acceleration and angular velocity detection device includes a first oscillation element and a second oscillation element that are movable in a direction along a first axis and a direction along a second axis, an oscillating portion oscillating the first and second oscillation elements in opposite directions along the first axis, a first detection capacitance element and a second detection capacitance element whose capacitances change in a complementary way in accordance with a displacement of the first oscillation element, a third detection capacitance element and a fourth detection capacitance element whose capacitances change in a complementary way in accordance with a displacement of the second oscillation element, a charge amplifier having a fully differential structure, and a detecting portion detecting an acceleration and an angular velocity of a rotation.
US08578774B2	Physical quantity sensor including bonding wire with vibration isolation performance characteristics A physical quantity sensor includes a sensing portion, a casing, a vibration isolating member, an electrically conductive portion, a pad and a bonding wire. The casing encases the sensing portion therein. The vibration isolating member is disposed between the sensing portion and the casing to reduce a relative vibration between the sensing portion and the casing. The bonding wire electrically connects the electrically conductive portion provided on the casing and the pad provided on a surface of the sensing portion. The bonding wire extends from the pad to the electrically conductive portion and includes a bend. The bonding wire is configured to satisfy a relation of 20×d≦h, in which d is an outer diameter of the bonding wire, and h is a dimension of the bonding wire with respect to a direction perpendicular to the surface of the sensing portion.
US08578773B1	Travel direction detection A device and method of determining a travel direction of a mobile device carried by a user are disclosed. The method includes determining a line along which the mobile device is traveling, where the determining may be based on sensed acceleration of the mobile device. A walking style of the user traveling with the mobile device may be determined. The sensed acceleration may be resolved into at least two mutually perpendicular components. A first component may be substantially parallel with gravity, and a second component may be orthogonal to the first component. The travel direction of the mobile device along the travel line may be determined based on a user's walking style and the resolved sensed acceleration. The determining of the line may include applying a linear least square fitting method to a plurality of acceleration readings obtained from at least one inertial navigation sensor.
US08578772B2	Device and method for monitoring of rotating machine elements A rotating machine element is monitored for displacements using co-rotating sensors for acceleration, rotation or the direction of gravitation. In doing so, the sensor data are received by a, likewise, co-rotating electronic unit. The data can also be stored and further processed in this electronic unit.
US08578769B2	Flow sensors A flow sensor and fastener assembly, is disclosed which includes at least the following modules: a sensor housing and a fastener element; wherein: the sensor housing is adapted to receive a flow-based sensor, e.g. a MEMS airflow sensor; the sensor housing includes a connection for transmitting sensing signals from a fitted flow-based sensor; the fastener element includes a head and a shank, at least part of the shank being externally threaded; the fastener element includes a bore extending through the whole length of the fastener element; and the bore is shaped at the head end of the fastener element to provide a sensor housing receiving part.
US08578765B2	Method for wheel suspension measurement and a device for measuring the wheel suspension geometry of a vehicle The following features may be carried out: providing a wheel suspension alignment system having four measuring heads situated in a known position with respect to one another; recording a wheel or a measuring target mounted on it in an initial position of the vehicle; shifting the vehicle from the initial position to at least one further position; recording a wheel, or a measuring target mounted on it, of the vehicle standing in the further position; recording a reference target in at least one of the initial position and the further position of the vehicle, and determining from this an absolute scale; carrying out local 3D reconstructions for determining the translation vectors, the rotation vectors and the wheel rotational angles as well as the wheel rotational centers and the wheel rotational axes of the wheels; and determining the wheel suspension alignment parameters of the vehicle.
US08578763B2	System and method for fuel system health monitoring A method of monitoring operation of a fuel system includes urging a fuel flow from a fuel source toward a pressure regulating valve via a fuel pump. A pressure of the fuel flow is detected at the pressure regulating valve, and a pump speed required to produce a selected pressure at the pressure regulating valve is detected. The pump speed is compared to a range of acceptable pump speeds, and an operational status of the fuel pump is determined based on a result of the comparison.
US08578758B2	Gas sensor and method for production thereof A gas sensor is provided. The gas sensor includes a gas-sensitive layer which changes in its characteristic properties upon contact with a detectable gas. The gas-sensitive layer has as the main sensitive part, a polycrystalline layer composed of a large number of uniform nano-size microcrystal grains which join together in the planar direction.
US08578757B2	System for hydrogen sensing Exemplary embodiments provide a self-powered wireless gas sensor system and a method for gas sensing using the system. The system can be used to detect and constantly track a presence of various gases including hydrogen, ozone and/or any hydrocarbon gas, and remotely transmit the sensing signal. The system can include a low power gas sensor that consumes less than about 30 nano-watts of power. As a result, the system can detect the presence of hydrogen at about 10 ppm. The sensor can also provide a fast response time of about 1-2 seconds. In various embodiments, the system can be physically small and packaged with all components assembled as a single compact unit.
US08578754B2	Adsorbed gas content measuring instrument and its testing method The present invention relates to an adsorbed gas content measuring instrument and its testing method. The instrument comprises sealed cylinders, gas collecting graduated canisters and a test box, wherein the sealed cylinders are provided with valves, the gas collecting graduated canisters are equipped with drain hole adjustment valves and vent hole switching valves fit for the valve ports, and there is a heating element and a temperature controller in the test box. The method is mainly as follows: put gas-contained samples and saturated brine into the sealed cylinder, seal the cylinder, feed water in the test box and heat the box, place the sealed cylinder into the water bath of the test box, introduce saturated brine into the gas collecting graduated canister, connect the canister and cylinder, open the drain hole of the gas collecting graduated canister, record the liquid level of the graduated canister and cut off the connection after the test. The present invention has a compact structure, small volume, good gas tightness, accurate measurement, uniform heating and simple testing operation, is easy to move and carry, and suitable for field application. It can be specially used for collecting and measuring various gases, especially small-volume gas, thus it is more practical in applications.
US08578746B2	Ring supporting device A ring supporting device is provided with six support shafts capable of approaching and separating from the inner walls of metal rings. Each of the support shafts has an exposed side wall having formed thereon annular ridges and grooves. The side walls of the support shafts each have cushioning materials having a height substantially corresponding to the height of each of the grooves. The cushioning materials deform when the inner walls of the metallic rings make contact with the cushioning materials, and this relaxes a force which tries to expand the metallic rings from the inner wall side to the outer wall side.
US08578736B2	Soot radial pressing for optical fiber overcladding A method and apparatus for making an optical fiber preform. The apparatus has an outer wall and an inner wall. The outer wall surrounds the inner wall and the inner wall surrounds an inner cavity of the apparatus. A consolidated glass rod is deposited in the inner cavity after which particulate glass material, such as glass soot, is deposited in the inner cavity around the glass rod. A radially inward pressure is applied against the particulate glass material to pressurize the particulate glass material against the glass rod.
US08578735B2	Jewelry article A jewelry piece is formed with a jewelry body made of epoxy material, defining an outer surface and cast in the shape of a piece of jewelry in the form of a ring, pendant, earring, brooch, bracelet, anklet, necklace, and the like. The epoxy has a material density approximating that of gold and the decorative metal layer made of precious metal is affixed to the outer surface of the jewelry body in a thickness greater than 0.125 μm. The decorative body may be surface mounted to the jewelry or it may be inlaid or affixed in other similar fashion.
US08578731B2	Refrigerant compensator One aspect of this disclosure provides a refrigerant charge compensator having an increased heat transfer surface. The housing has an internal volume and first and second ports for allowing a passage of refrigerant therethrough. The internal volume is partitioned into an indirect refrigerant passageway that extends through the housing and a refrigerant storage area. The refrigerant storage area has a storage access port and is in contact with the indirect refrigerant passageway. Also a heat pump system implementing the compensator is provided and a method of manufacturing the compensator is provided.
US08578730B2	Refrigerator ice and liquid dispenser incorporating imaging system A safety system for an ice and liquid dispenser of a refrigerator is used to sense the presence of human skin in a dispensing well. The safety system includes a digital image capture device focused on a dispenser well for capturing images of objects, such as hands, in the dispenser well and a digital image analyzer operatively coupled to the digital image capture device. The digital image analyzer evaluates the digital images captured by the digital image capture device to determine if human skin color is detected in the image of the object in the dispensing well. If human skin color is detected, thus indicating a hand in the dispensing area, any dispensing operation will be prevented and an alert will be provided.
US08578727B2	Indoor unit and air-conditioning apparatus provided with the same To provide a low-cost and highly reliable indoor unit and an air-conditioning apparatus having the same by obtaining a dew point temperature at the outlet side without installing a humidity sensor and a dew point temperature detector at the outlet side. An indoor unit includes: an evaporator, a blower, a suction air temperature detector that detects a suction air temperature at the upstream side of an air flow of the evaporator, an outlet air temperature detector that detects an outlet air temperature at the downstream side of the air flow of the evaporator, an evaporator inlet fluid temperature detector that detects a fluid temperature at the fluid inlet side of the evaporator, an adjustment valve that adjusts a flow amount of the fluid made to flow into the evaporator, and a controller that calculates a suction air dew point temperature by suction air temperature information detected by the suction air temperature detector to calculate an outlet air dew point temperature based on the suction air dew point temperature, the suction air temperature, the outlet air temperature, and the evaporator inlet piping temperature.
US08578726B2	Multi-mode cooling system and method with evaporative cooling A air channeling sub-system may include a mechanical cooling section and a direct evaporative cooling section. The direct evaporative cooling section may be downstream from the mechanical cooling section. Cooling air is channeled through the air channeling sub-system and into the room. If a first set of control conditions is met, the air channeling sub-systems is operated in an adiabatic mode. The adiabatic mode includes channeling cooling air through the direct evaporative cooling section to evaporate water into the cooling air. If a second set of control conditions is met, the air channeling sub-system is operated in a hybrid mode. The hybrid mode includes channeling cooling air through the mechanical cooling section to remove heat from the cooling air and channeling the cooling air through the direct evaporative cooling section to evaporate water into the cooling air.
US08578725B2	Air conditioning apparatus and refrigerant quantity determination method An air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, first and second shut-off mechanisms, a communication pipe and a refrigerant detection mechanism. The refrigerant circuit is configured to at least perform a cooling operation. The first shut-off mechanism is downstream of the receiver and upstream of the liquid refrigerant connection pipe when the cooling operation is performed. The second shut-off mechanism is downstream of the heat source-side heat exchanger and upstream of the receiver when the cooling operation is performed. The communication pipe interconnects the refrigerant circuit between the first and second shut-off mechanisms, and the refrigerant circuit on the suction side of the compressor. The refrigerant detection mechanism is upstream of the second shut-off mechanism when the cooling operation is performed. The refrigerant detection mechanism is configured to detect a state quantity relating to the quantity of the refrigerant existing on the upstream side of the second shut-off mechanism.
US08578723B2	Air-conditioning system control apparatus An air-conditioning system control apparatus for controlling an air-conditioning system of a vehicle equipped with a motive power engine, having: a device for determining whether there is a history of a load that has been applied to a compressor, operated by the output of the motive power engine, equal to or greater than a threshold, during operation of the air-conditioning system; a device for carrying out initial operation process of the air-conditioning system if the load history determination device determines that there is a history of a load equal to or greater than the threshold has been applied to the compressor; and a device for carrying out liquid accumulation resolution process when liquefaction of a refrigerant occurs in the compressor only if the load history determination device determines that there is no history of a load equal to or greater than the threshold has been applied to the compressor.
US08578722B2	Closed circuit vapour compression refrigeration system and a method for operating the system A method for operating a closed circuit vapour compression refrigeration system is disclosed. The system may operate with supercritical pressure on a high pressure side, and includes at least one compressor, at least one heat rejector, at least two in parallel connected heat absorbers, at least one variable expansion means up flow of each heat absorber and at least one control unit for controlling the variable expansion means, connected to a set of sensors. The flow rate of the refrigerant through each of the variable expansion means, is controlled by the control unit, coordinating the flow of refrigerant through each of the variable expansion means to maintain a control parameter within a set range. Any surplus charge resulting from the control is buffered on a low pressure side of the system. Furthermore a refrigeration system based on a closed vapour compression circuit is described.
US08578712B2	Method for calibrating pneumatic actuators and calibrated actuator obtainable with this method A method for calibrating pneumatic actuators comprising a containment structure (2) in which a diaphragm (4) is mounted which delimits a variable-volume chamber (5) whose internal pressure may be varied, and a rigid rod (8) able to slide through the containment structure (2) and connected to the diaphragm (4). At least one connecting head (11) can be mounted on an external second end (10) of the rigid rod (8) for connecting to an element to be controlled, such as a crank of a turbo-compressor. The method comprises the operating steps of varying the pressure in the variable-volume chamber (5) until a predetermined value is reached, thus bringing the rigid rod (8) to a corresponding operating position, positioning the connecting head (11) in a predetermined position relative to the containment structure (2) of the actuator and constraining the connecting head (11) to the rigid rod (8) in such a way that with the rigid rod (8) in the operating position the head (11) is in the predetermined position relative to the containment structure (2).
US08578704B2	Assembly and method for reducing nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons in exhausts of internal combustion engines An assembly and method for reducing nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons in exhausts of internal combustion engines, wherein the exhaust is acted upon in a first stage catalytic converter. A first portion of the first stage catalytic converter output is cooled and a second portion of the catalytic converter output is not cooled. The cooled and not cooled exhausts are united and directed to a second stage catalytic converter. Air is injected into a selected one of (1) the not cooled exhaust prior to the juncture thereof with the cooled exhaust, and (2) the combined cooled and not cooled exhausts after the juncture thereof.
US08578703B2	Exhaust emission purifying apparatus for internal combustion engine In an exhaust emission purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine, for adding a reducing agent for NOx to the exhaust gas to thereby purify NOx in the exhaust gas, the mixing of the reducing agent injected by an injection nozzle with the exhaust gas is accelerated. To this end, in the apparatus of the present invention, the injection nozzle for the urea water is disposed to be opposite to the flow of the exhaust gas, or to face upward in a vertical direction.
US08578694B2	Connector link method and apparatus Embodiments herein relate to the general art of connector links, and to the particular field of coupling links for coupling to one or more chain links. Particular embodiments include coupling links having a body with a central portion that has an aperture passing therethrough, a closed first end that is integral, and a second end that has an opening, and a retaining member in the form of a removable, deformable, or pivotable member that may selectively provide a closure to the opening. Other embodiments include retaining members on both ends of the coupling link.
US08578692B2	Rotary mower with optional lower skin A rotary mower apparatus includes a mower deck with a frame, an upper skin attached to the frame, and a lower skin removably attached to the frame below the upper skin such that a separation distance is provided between the upper and lower skins. A blade assembly is removably mounted to the deck below the lower skin and a drive is mounted to the deck and is operative to rotate the blade assembly. The lower skin can also be provided with retarding members on the underside thereof to retard the flow of cut vegetation, and to thereby cut the vegetation into smaller pieces.
US08578686B2	Wrapper for wrapping bales of crop material A wrapper for wrapping bales of crop material includes a frame, a wrapping table, a wrapping device, and a loading device. The loading device includes a pivotable loading structure, and at least one actuator to move the loading structure between a pick-up position and a release position, wherein the loading structure comprises two loading arms between which the bale can be arranged. A pivotable grip arm is mounted on each loading arm. The pivotable grip arms are pivotable with respect to the loading arms between a closed position and an open position, and the at least one actuator is arranged to also move at least one of the grip arms between the open and the closed position.
US08578678B2	Methods for installing a thrower's circle A method for installing a thrower's circle in the ground of an athletic field includes assembling a form for constructing a thrower's circle dimensioned for a player throwing at least one of a hammer, a shot put, and a discus from a plurality of sections having mounted thereto a plurality of arcuate portions. When the plurality of sections are assembled together, the plurality of arcuate sections together form a full circle, and wherein a portion of the plurality of sections is disposed outside the full circle and a portion of the plurality of sections is disposed inside the full circle. The method further includes excavating the ground, placing the assembled form in the excavated ground, placing cement in the assembled form, and allowing the cement to dry.
US08578677B2	End cap and molding An end cap is attached to a molding main body and is attached to a vehicle body by pressing a clip via the molding main body to the vehicle body. The end cap includes a cap portion which covers an end portion of the molding main body when the end cap is attached to the molding main body, an insertion portion whose proximal end portion is continuous with the cap portion and which is inserted into the molding main body, and a rib which is provided on the insertion portion such that the rib projects from an opening of the molding main body and which receives a reaction force from the vehicle body when a forward end portion of the rib butts against the vehicle body due to a pressing force which is applied to the clip via the molding main body so as to lock the clip.
US08578671B2	Pressure plate assembly for curtain wall panels The pressure plate assembly is used for securing curtain wall panels. The pressure plate assembly includes an elongated base member and an elongated stiffening member. At least a portion of the interior main face of the stiffening member is removably engagable against a corresponding mating surface on the exterior main face of the base member. The stiffening member is made of a material having a mechanical stress resistance higher than that of the material of the base member. At least one longitudinally-extending thermal insulation chamber is provided within a space located between the interior main face of the base member and the interior main face of the stiffening member.
US08578663B2	Cover for use with an inflatable modular structure A cover for an inflatable modular structure is claimed. A plurality of covers fit on the core of an inflatable module. An inflatable shell is attached to the core enclosing the covers and the core. In the pre-deployed configuration, the inflatable shell is folded over the covers and the covers provide a measure of protection for the shell. In the deployed state, the inflatable shell is filled with air and expands to its deployed configuration. The covers can be removed from core and attached to the inside of the shell. The covers then function as a platform to secure items in place.
US08578659B2	Accessible control panel for overhead electrical apparatus in a suspended ceiling system An overhead arrangement, for use in a suspended ceiling system having a grid framework of frame elements lying in a ceiling plane and bounding a plurality of openings for supporting a corresponding plurality of ceiling members, includes an electrical apparatus, such as a DC power supply, a support for supporting the electrical apparatus on the framework at an elevation above one of the ceiling members supported in one of the openings, and a slanted control panel on the housing and having manually accessible controls and visually accessible displays. The slanted control panel is obliquely and downwardly inclined relative to the ceiling plane to enable manual access to the controls and visual access to the displays through the opening to the slanted control panel from below the framework after the ceiling member is at least partially removed from its opening without mechanical interference between the ceiling tile and the electrical apparatus.
US08578657B2	Dual pressure inflatable structure and method Embodiments include an inflatable support structure enclosing a region fillable by a fluid at a positive pressure above an atmospheric pressure. A flexible screen is attached to the support structure, a region between the flexible screen and the support structure fillable by a fluid at a negative pressure below the atmospheric pressure that holds the flexible screen in a shape suitable for image projection. A method according to embodiments includes inflating an inflatable support structure with a fluid at a positive pressure above an atmospheric pressure and removing fluid from a region between the support structure and a flexible screen attached to the support structure to hold the flexible screen in a shape suitable for image projection with the fluid at the negative pressure below the atmospheric pressure between the flexible screen and the support structure.
US08578656B2	Adjustable width barrier A barrier has an expandable width barrier having opposing first and second ends. A locking arm is pivotably coupled to the expandable width barrier at the first end and slidably coupled to the expandable width barrier at the second end. The locking arm may be an adjustable-length construction. The pivoting of the locking arm causes the barrier to move between locked and unlocked states. When the locking arm is pivoted to lock the barrier, it causes the barrier to linearly expand a supplemental amount and fits the barrier to opposing sides of a passageway opening.
US08578655B2	Door structure with easy assembly A door structure includes a handle whereon an engaging part, a sunken part, and a baffle part disposed nearby the sunken part are formed. The door structure further includes a cover connected to the handle. The cover includes a main body, a hook disposed on a side of the main body, a rib disposed on the side of the main body for installing inside the sunken part, and a protruding part disposed on the side of the main body for blocking the baffle part so as to fix the handle on the cover with the hook and the rib.
US08578653B2	Drive assemblies Drive assembly for a door, gate or barrier, having a rail or track, a trolley for connection to the door, gate or barrier, mountable to run along the rail or track, and a longitudinal drive having a chain or belt connectable in a closed loop arrangement around or within the rail or track. The trolley is provided with an engagement mechanism for selective engagement between the trolley and the longitudinal drive mechanism, whereby the engagement mechanism includes an engagement member arranged for selective movement in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal drive and in a direction less than 45° from the plane of the loop of the longitudinal drive. The engagement member includes or cooperates with a cam part arranged for selective rotation about the engagement member, and a camming cooperation occurs between the cam part and the trolley body for converting rotation of the cam part about the engagement member into the required movement of the engagement member.
US08578650B2	Greenhouse The present invention relates to a greenhouse comprising outside walls provided with translucent surfaces (2) such that light may be received into the greenhouse (3) from at least two geographical directions, a roof structure (7) and a roof (6) provided with an insulating material portion. The invention is characterized in that the outside walls, in connection with the translucent surfaces (2), are provided with a light reflecting yard structure which resides below the translucent surfaces (2), above a ground surface (50), and extending away from the outside wall. The greenhouse (3) may further comprise vertically positioned light reflecting surface elements (40) and light reflecting shade elements (44) movable in a direction parallel with the transparent surfaces (2).
US08578648B1	Removable trigger mechanism for spring-biased fish hook assembly A removable trigger mechanism for a spring-biased hook assembly includes a generally U-shaped swivel attachment portion having first and second spaced apart resilient surfaces cooperating to frictionally engage a first biasing element of the hook assembly. A hook-setting finger is formed adjacent the first resilient surface of the swivel attachment portion, and is adapted for temporarily holding a second biasing element of the hook assembly when in a loaded condition. An actuation lever is formed adjacent the second resilient surface of the swivel attachment portion, and is adapted for pivoting the attachment portion relative to the first biasing element of the hook assembly. When pivoted, the actuation lever simultaneously moves the hook-setting finger away from the second biasing element of the hook assembly in the loaded condition, such that the hook assembly is released for sudden movement from the loaded condition to an outwardly-flared deployed condition.
US08578641B2	Illuminated front loading frame display A thin, illuminatable graphic support assembly comprising an elongated base rail having an elongated first edge and an elongated second edge; an elongated cover rail having an elongated planar portion arranged along one edge thereof, and an elongated “J” shaped portion arranged along a second edge thereof, the elongated cover rail pivotable between an open orientation and a closed graphic or panel restraining position; an elongated receiving channel arranged in the elongated second edge of the base rail, with a biasing member arranged therein, and a fixture support first channel and a fixture support second channel on an outer lower side of the base rail, to enable the illuminable graphic support assembly to be selectively secured to a wall.
US08578640B1	License plate frame with removable elements A license plate frame that allows for removable coupling of elements to the license plate frame. The license plate frame may include four borders that each include an outer frame lip and an inner frame lip extending outwardly from a rear surface of the license plate frame. The inner frame lip may include a plurality of equally sized notches adjacent one another. A removable element that includes a pin and a channel is removably coupled to the license plate frame by placing the pin within one of the plurality of notches and placing a portion of the outer frame lip within the channel of the removable element. The removable element may be moved by lifting the pin out of the notch and sliding the outer frame lip through the channel of the removable element before inserting the pin into a different notch.
US08578637B2	Wear assembly for excavating equipment A wear assembly for excavating equipment includes a base fixed to the excavating equipment, a wear member fit over the base, and a lock to releasably hold the wear member to the base. The wear member includes side relief to reduce drag on the system. The wear member and the base each includes a hemispherical front end and a generally trapezoidal rear portion. The base includes a nose and a stop projecting from the nose to cooperate with the lock without an opening being needed to receive the lock into the nose. The lock is an elongate lock positioned generally in an axial direction and which holds the wear member to the base under compressive loads.
US08578636B2	Method and apparatus for threadless, hammerless self-aligning, geometric device A threadless, hammerless self-aligning geometric device for ground engagement, the device may comprise a wedge mechanism having a pair of laterally spaced holes in a first and second sidewall with a semi-flexible buffer that connects a plurality of load bearings that are axially aligned within the center of the wedge mechanism, wherein a pin that is formed integrally with an indentation is disposed in a rectangular mechanism having a recess with a pair of laterally spaced holes in a first and second sidewall so when fastened by the pin, the laterally spaced holes, the wedge mechanism and the recess are in substantial axial alignment, the pin being held in place by a mechanical fit between the pin and a knob.
US08578635B2	Quick-attach assembly for attaching an implement to an off-road vehicle A quick-attach mechanism for attaching an implement to the forward end of a push type assembly which is secured to an off-road vehicle. The quick-attach mechanism includes a front female quick-attach structure on the forward end of the push tube assembly and a rear male quick-attach structure attached to the implement. The front and rear quick-attach assemblies may be quickly selectively coupled together.
US08578634B1	Adjustable orthopedic device An adjustable orthopedic device includes a holder configured to be worn on a wearer's foot. The holder has an elastic cloth band sized to encircle the wearer's foot at a location between the wearer's toes and the wearer's ankle. A platform is removably secured into a pocket formed in the holder. Raised pads are provided for applying pressure to one or more bones of the wearer's foot, the raised pads include an adhesive surface providing a removable adherence to the top surface of the platform and allowing the raised pads to be manually repositionable to any X and Y coordinate on the platform.
US08578628B2	Milling and drying apparatus incorporating a cyclone A cyclone comprising: an upper cylindrical portion which opens into the wider end of a lower frusto-conical portion, with the longitudinal axes of said upper and lower portions aligned and substantially vertical; a primary air inlet into the cyclone arranged such that the inlet air is substantially tangential to the circumference of the cyclone; an exhaust outlet at or adjacent the top of the cylindrical portion; a control valve associated with said exhaust outlet and capable of partially or completely shutting off said exhaust outlet; a secondary air inlet associated with the narrow end of the frusto-conical portion and provided with an airflow stabilizing device which is adapted to admit a stream of air substantially along or spirally around the longitudinal axis of the cyclone; means for removing processed product from the cyclone; means for moving said airflow stabilizing device into and out of the narrow end of the frusto-conical portion during product processing and/or between product processing.
US08578623B1	Hair dryer attachment Embodiments are provided for a hair dryer attachment for accelerating hair drying time. The hair dryer attachment includes a housing and multiple flexible conduits. The housing may include an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface may define an interior volume having a size sufficient to cover a substantial portion of a person's head. The interior surface and the exterior surface may define multiple passages. The multiple flexible conduits may each include an inlet and an exit. The inlet of each of the conduits may be in fluid communication with one or more of the multiple passages.
US08578618B2	Three-dimensional measuring instrument According to the present invention, a three-dimensional measuring instrument includes a spindle that moves an object to be controlled in a predetermined axis direction; and a controlling device that controls a position of the object to be controlled by controlling a position of the spindle. The three-dimensional measuring instrument further includes an absolute-type linear encoder that outputs an absolute position of the spindle. With this, it is possible to start measurement by the three-dimensional measuring instrument in a short period of time.
US08578617B2	Eyeglass frame shape measurement apparatus An apparatus for measuring a shape of an eyeglass frame, includes: a tracing stylus to detect a position of the rim in a moving radius direction and in a vertical, a tracing stylus shaft for the tracing stylus, a holding unit movably holding the tracing stylus shaft and including a pressure applying element for pressing a tip end of the tracing stylus to the rim, a moving unit for moving the holding unit, a rotating unit for rotating the holding unit around an axis along a vertical direction; a moving radius position detection unit configured to detect a position of the tracing stylus; and a controller configured to obtain a rotating angle of the rotating unit and a position of the holding unit in the moving radius direction at a next measurement position, and control the rotating unit and the moving unit.
US08578616B2	Relative angle sensing device and electric power steering apparatus A relative angle sensing device includes: a sensor contained in a housing provided with a communication hole and outputting an electric signal corresponding to a relative rotation angle between two rotary shafts coaxially arranged; an electric cable transmitting the electric signal to a device arranged outside of the housing; an electric cable holding member fitted with the communication hole and holding the electric cable; and an external member arranged at a location outer than the electric cable holding member, wherein the external member includes a pair of dividable members dividable in a direction intersecting a hole direction of the communication hole, and the external member passes the electric cable within the pair of dividable members and presses the electric cable with the pair of dividable members to change a direction of the electric cable at the outside of the housing into the direction intersecting the hole direction.
US08578613B2	Safety knife with curved guard A safety knife for ophthalmic surgical procedures has handle to which a blade holder is attached at one end, holding a pre-installed surgical blade. A blade guard is extended and retracted responsive to the movement of an actuator button on the handle. The blade assumes a curved shape as it is extended, to shape itself about and protect the blade. When the guard is retracted it straightens to allow it to slide into the handle, exposing the blade for use.
US08578601B2	Method of manufacturing printed circuit board A method of manufacturing a printed circuit board includes forming a through hole 2 in an insulating layer 1 having upper and lower faces so as to penetrate between the upper and lower surfaces; allowing a first plated conductor 4 to be deposited at least in the through hole 2 and on the upper and lower surfaces around the through hole; removing the first plated conductor overlying and underlying a periphery of the through hole by etching the first plated conductor 4, while leaving at least the first plated conductor 4 in a mid-portion in a vertical direction within the through hole 2; and forming by semi-additive method a second plated conductor 6 that fills an outer portion than the first plated conductor 4 in the through hole 2, and forms a wiring conductor on the upper and lower surfaces.
US08578598B2	Fabricating method of embedded package structure A fabricating method of an embedded package structure is provided. The method includes combining a first board and a second board to form an integrated panel; forming a first circuit structure on the first board and forming a second circuit structure on the second board; separating the first board from the second board; electrically disposing an embedded element on the first circuit structure; forming at least one conductive bump on the second circuit structure; and providing a semi-cured film and performing a laminating process to laminate the first circuit structure on the first board, the semi-cured film, and the second circuit structure on the second board, wherein the semi-cured film encapsulates the embedded element, and after the laminating process is performed, the at least one conductive bump pierces through the semi-cured film and is electrically connected to the first circuit structure.
US08578594B2	Process for fabricating a magnetic pole and shields A process for fabricating a magnetic recording transducer for use in a data storage system comprises providing a substrate, an underlayer and a first nonmagnetic intermediate layer deposited to a first thickness on and in contact with the underlayer, performing a first scanning polishing on a first section of the first intermediate layer to planarize the first section of the first intermediate layer to a second thickness, providing a main pole in the planarized first section of the first intermediate layer, providing a first pattern of photoresist on and in contact with the first section of the first intermediate layer, the pattern comprising an aperture to define a side shield trench, performing a wet etch to remove at least a portion of the first intermediate layer thereby exposing at least one of the plurality of main pole sides, and depositing side shield material in the side shield trench.
US08578592B2	Method of manufacturing laminated rotor core A method of manufacturing a laminated rotor core, includes a first process of placing segment dummy plates between an iron core and a die, each of each segment dummy plates covering one or more of plural magnet insertion portions and including a resin injection hole communicating to the one or more of the magnet insertion portions; a second process of injecting a resin from resin reservoir parts formed in any one of an upper die and a lower die holding the iron core through the resin injection hole of each segment dummy plate to the corresponding one or more of the magnet insertion portions; and a third process of detaching the segment dummy plates together with excess resin after the resin injected to the one or more of the magnet insertion portions is cured.
US08578589B2	Tubing attachment tool and methods of using same In general, the present disclosure is directed to a tubing attachment tool. The tubing attachment tool includes first and second frames pivotally joined to one another such that the first and second frames can pivot to an open position and a closed position. Each of the first and second frames have a first handle end and a second end distal to the first handle end with each second end including a tubing grasping element. Each tubing grasping element includes a first curved surface and a second curved surface. When the first and second frames are in a closed position the first curved surfaces of the tubing grasping elements are aligned adjacent to one another and the second curved surfaces of the tubing grasping elements are aligned adjacent to one another such that the first curved surfaces define a first opening capable of housing an open end of tubing for attachment and the second curved surfaces define a second opening capable of grasping a portion of tubing inserted therebetween. The first opening is larger than the second opening.
US08578586B2	Power generation assemblies, and apparatus for use therewith A floating power generation assembly comprises at least three floating units (900) floating on a body of water, and at least three anchors (916) secured to a solid surface beneath the body of water, each of the floating units (900) being provided with a power generator, the floating units (900) being arranged substantially at the vertices of at least one equilateral triangle. Ship-borne apparatus for deploying the floating units of such a power generation assembly and a novel multiple wind turbine assembly are also described.
US08578584B2	Method for centering engine structures A method for centering an engine structure such as a bearing housing is provided which may be used, for example, during assembly of a mid turbine frame or other engine case structure. In one aspect, the method includes using spacers with respective radial spokes which connect inner and outer portions of the case. In another aspect, centering may be provided by machining selected contacting surfaces of selected components.
US08578583B2	Method of making a windscreen wiper device A windscreen wiper device comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes opposing longitudinal grooves on its longitudinal sides, in which grooves spaced-apart longitudinal strips of the carrier element are disposed, wherein neighboring ends of said longitudinal strips are interconnected by a respective connecting piece, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating wiper arm, as well as a spoiler, a special feature of which is that the spoiler as a separate constructional element is detachably connected to the wiper blade.
US08578580B2	Quality control method and manufacturing method for pipe According to the present invention, penetrators can be adequately determined as flaws. In particular, a welded zone of a pipe is subjected to ultrasonic flaw detection at least in a pipe axial direction, and the quality of the pipe is evaluated using observed values in units of a predetermined area in a pipe thickness direction and the pipe axial direction. The length of one side of the predetermined area is an ultrasound beam width or more and a pipe thickness or less. The quality of the pipe can be evaluated while shifting the predetermined area in the pipe axial direction by using an average value of the observed values within the predetermined area. The length of one side of the predetermined area can be made an ultrasound beam width or more and a pipe thickness or less.
US08578578B2	Pipe adjustment tool A pipe adjustment tool for use in aligning the confronting ends of a pair of pipe sections having a joint therebetween provides a frame having a seating surface for acting against an exterior surface of a pipe section. The seating surface being disposed at a 45-degree angle relative to a threaded bore of the frame. A flexible clamping member is attached to the frame at one end and is a of length to substantially encircle the pipe section. The opposite end of the clamping member is received and secured by a retainer. The retainer and the frame are connected together by an articulated joint formed by a ball-shaped end of a threaded bolt extending through frame and a ball-shaped socket in the retainer. The retainer and frame are movably relative to each other by operating the threaded bolt to provide tension in the clamping member about the pipe section.
US08578574B1	Casket enclosure for mausoleum crypt A hermetically sealed casket enclosure comprising a tray; a bottom cover adapted to be housed within the tray and having an open perimeter equipped with a first half of a zipper; a top cover adapted to fit over a casket and proportioned to mate with the bottom cover wherein the top cover has an open perimeter equipped with a second half of a zipper which corresponds with and engages the first half of the zipper so as to join the top cover to the bottom cover; and a clasp for sealing a start end and a finish end of the zipper.
US08578571B2	Plastic clip A plastic clip for fastening an article in the region of an end face of a flat workpiece comprises a base section, including a first and a second leg extending from the base section to form a U shape, and a fastening section connected to the base section and operable to fasten the article to the clip. The base section and the legs are made of a relatively hard plastic material and the legs can be elastically expanded relative to one another in order to accommodate the workpiece between their inner sides. An anti-slip section made of a relatively soft plastic material is provided on at least one of the inner sides.
US08578570B1	Silencer patch for hook-and loop closure system A silencer patch including a body having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; a set of hook-and-loop-type fasteners disposed on the first surface of the body, wherein the set of hook-and-loop-type fasteners includes either a plurality of hooks or a plurality of loops and is configured to releasably secure the first surface of the body to a corresponding set of hook-and-loop-type fasteners disposed on a first separate body; and an alternative fastener disposed on the body and configured to releasably secure the second surface of the body to a corresponding alternative fastener disposed on a second separate body, wherein the alternative fastener is not a hook-and-loop-type fastener.
US08578567B2	Clamp collar and run-flat device incorporating same A clamp collar of the annular band type is provided, and includes a connecting mechanism for connecting at least one pair of adjacent ends of the band, and to a run-flat device intended to be fitted to a motor vehicle mounted assembly incorporating same. This clamp collar includes a band, preferably made of metal, having at least one pair of ends spaced apart in the circumferential direction, connecting mechanism for connecting the or each pair of ends together with adjustable tightening in this direction and a locking member for locking the connecting mechanism. The locking member is mounted solid with one of these ends being able to occupy an unlocked position in which it is disengaged from the connecting mechanism for tightening and loosening the collar and a locked position in which it engages with them to oppose this loosening.
US08578565B2	Tightenable clamping device, suitable for application in tie wraps A clamping device (1) is adapted to receive and retain a portion (21) of a strip (20), and to actively tighten itself around the strip portion (21) under the influence of a pulling force. This is functioning in such a way that the higher the pulling force, the higher the force with which pushing parts (31) of the clamping device (1) are pushed. This results in a firm clamping connection. On the basis of this functioning, the clamping device (1) can be embodied in a form which has an open side, while maintaining a high capacity of withstanding loads. This results in the advantageous property that the strip (20) can be placed in and removed from the clamping device (1) in a sideward direction. This allows for detachment and reuse, and increases speed and convenience of use. The strip (20) does not need to be inserted in a closed shape. Various other applications than in a tie wrap (10) are possible for the clamping device (1), including applications in tension belts.
US08578559B2	Hinge mechanism and clamshell device thereof A hinge mechanism and a clamshell device thereof are disclosed. The clamshell device includes a first cover and a second cover and the first cover can rotate with respect to the second cover via the hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism includes a main body, an elastic component, and a base. The main body is connected to the first cover and includes a shaft and a projecting part. The elastic component covers the shaft. An internal diameter of the elastic component matches with an outer diameter of the shaft so as to generate a friction force. The first cover can be maintained at any angle by the friction force. The elastic component has a groove used for connecting with the projecting part when the main body rotates to a specific angle. The base is connected to the second cover and has a stop structure used for fixing the elastic component.
US08578557B2	Patch fitting with closing function A patch fitting for a glass door includes a mount for being mounted on a floor, a shaft connected with the mount, a clamping seat pivotally connected with the shaft, and a piston unit installed inside the clamping seat. When the glass door is sweeping to open or close, the clamping seat will turn along with the sweeping movement of the glass door about the shaft and the piston unit will be pushed by an eccentric cam of the shaft to press the hydraulic oil contained in the clamping seat so as to provide a damping resistance in response to the sweeping movement of the glass door. The patch fitting can be easily installed on the floor by a simple work.
US08578550B2	Domestic air treatment apparatus A domestic air treatment apparatus such as a vacuum cleaner comprises a fluid flow path including a dirt inlet and a clean air outlet. A suction motor and a treatment member are provided in the flow path. The fluid flow path comprises a portion that has a bend, such as an elbow, wherein all portions of the fluid flow path through the bend have a cross sectional area that is at least about the same as a cross sectional area of the inlet.
US08578546B2	Oral care implement having one or more moving pieces An oral care implement is provided having a head frame and a cleaning elements assembly attached thereto with tooth cleaning elements extending from one or more carriers. One or more central carriers can be suspended via a flexible bridge between a pair of support carriers attached to the head frame. The bridge may be formed from an elastomer and permit the one or more central carriers to move from an initial position toward the head frame during use. The bridge may include rigid supports and flexible elastomeric supports. The carriers and the bridge can be formed as a unitary assembly attached to the head frame, such as via mechanical connections. The mechanical connections could include snap-fit connections.
US08578545B2	Customizable disposable mop A customizable, disposable mop and method for customizing a disposable mop to have different floor contacting surface properties is disclosed. The mop (10) includes a floor contacting surface area (26) having a length and width and floor contacting surface properties. The outer layer (24) of the mop (10) has two or more partitions in covering relation over an inner layer (22). One or more of the outer layer partitions (28, 30, 32) is selectably separable along a seam from covering relation over the inner layer (22) or over two or more respective partitions (34, 36, 38) in the inner layer (22). The outer layer (24) and inner layer (22) partitions have a selectable mopping characteristic for customizing the properties of the floor contacting surface area (26) of the mop (10).
US08578544B2	Oral hygiene implements having flexible elements, and methods of making the same An oral hygiene implement includes a cleaning element carrier and a body. The body has a proximal end and a distal end. The cleaning element carrier has a first area and a second area wherein the second area is disposed inboard of the first area. The first area is attached to the body while the second area is unattached to the body. A bending element is disposed between the first area and the second area, thereby allowing the second area to bend/flex while the first area stays fixed to the body.
US08578543B2	Squeegee having at least one renewable blade surface for treating a target surface A device for treating a target surface, such as occurs when cleaning a window. The device has plural squeegee blades joined by a head. The head has a slot therethrough. A sheet may be longitudinally move over one or more than one of the blades to renew its surface before, during or after use. Each squeegee blade may have a dedicated sheet. The sheet(s) may travel through the slot to originate from or be stored within the head.
US08578538B2	Automatic swimming pool cleaners and bodies, feet, discs, and other components thereof Devices for cleaning vessels, especially swimming pools, are discussed. The devices may include repositionable in-line valves, with the valves typically moving laterally (from side to side) and changing the initial direction of the main fluid-flow path through the valves and corresponding cleaner bodies. Asymmetric feet may be utilized as part of the devices, whose bottom bearing surfaces may include elongated strips of material placed parallel to the normally-forward direction of travel of the devices. Discs of non-uniform flexibility also may be employed, and blocking tabs or gripping material may be used to inhibit undesired backward movement of a cleaner when its operation commences.
US08578536B1	Counterbalance for a fold out ramp A ramp assembly includes a ramp portion configured for reciprocating motion between a stowed position, a deployed position, and a neutral position. Movement of the ramp portion toward the deployed position rotates a hub in a first direction, and movement of the ramp portion toward the stowed position rotates the hub in a second. The ramp assembly includes a counterbalance comprising a flexible line having a first end coupled to the hub. A restraint is fixedly located relative to the stowed position of the ramp portion, and a biasing element is associated with the flexible line such that movement of the ramp portion away from the neutral position moves the biasing element toward the restraint. A spring is disposed between the restraint and the biasing element to bias the ramp portion toward the neutral position.
US08578534B2	Inflatable member An inflatable member includes at least one adjustable portion. The inflatable member may be inserted into an article. The position of the adjustable portion can be changed according to the size of the article. The inflatable member can also be filled with fluid according to the size of the article. The inflatable member may be to adjust the size of an article.
US08578532B2	Laundry treating appliance with controlled mechanical energy A laundry treating appliance and a method for operating a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum defining a chamber for receiving laundry. The operation of the laundry treating appliance may be based on the mechanical energy due to the falling action of the laundry.
US08578530B2	Sliding back for fouler bed A bed and chair with commode for a patient is disclosed. The bed and chair with commode includes a rectangular main frame, which stands on at least four legs, four frames fitted on the main frame, patient's body over it when patient is lifted up off the bed, side guards being fixed on both sides of main frame for supporting the straps or nets over it and for avoiding the patient from falling down a lifting means for lifting the body of patient over the straps or nets, and a commode pan or pot being fitted under the middle frame with the help of hinge and linkage arrangement. The sliding back of the bed moves upwards and downwards by a mechanism when the back support frame is raised to chair position or lowered to bed position.
US08578528B1	Accessory storage system An accessory storage system used with a mattress unit and a box springs unit. The system has a mounting member with a generally planar bed securing member and a generally planar storage securing member. The system has a storage member with a large storage cavity and a small storage cavity. The small storage cavity is located on the large storage cavity. For use, the mounting member is pivoted fully open to about a ninety degree angle. The bed securing member is fully inserted in between a mattress unit bottom surface and a box springs unit top surface. The back surface of the storage securing member is located flush against the mattress unit. The first large storage cavity side is located flush against the front surface of the storage securing member and held securely into place via the securing slots and the securing extensions.
US08578526B1	Modular lounge mat A modular lounge mat including a pair of cushions attached to each other with a section of mesh, further includes a carrying case, a removable cover, and a headrest. The mesh allows the first cushion to be folded against the second cushion, thereby allowing the folded pair of cushions to be transported within the carrying case. The headrest includes a pair of speakers, audio wiring, and a means of connecting the speakers to an outside audio source.
US08578525B1	Sleeping bag with multiple openings for concurrent ingress/egress of selected parts of the body A sleeping bag sized to enclose the body of a user from at least the neck to the toes has a plurality of transverse ingress/egress openings in the top cover disposed between the head end and foot end in parallel longitudinally spaced apart relation at locations corresponding generally to various body areas and segments of a human body that enable concurrent passage of selected parts or segments of the user's body into and out of the interior space such that at least one selected part or segment of the user's body can be extended into the interior space to be covered, while concurrently therewith, other selected parts or segments of the user's body can be left out or extended out of the interior space through other respective openings to be uncovered. The openings may be provided with closures and portions of the closures may be luminescent.
US08578521B2	Worm drive adjustment for headgear suspension A headgear adjustment mechanism is provided that includes a worm having a central axis of rotation, a first headband element, a second headband element, a spur gear, and a housing. The first headband element includes (i) a worm rack disposed in operative engagement with the worm, and (ii) a first pinion rack. The second headband element includes a second pinion rack. The spur gear is disposed in simultaneous operative engagement with the first pinion rack and the second pinion rack, and the housing at least partially encloses the first and second headband elements. During operation of the adjustment mechanism, rotation of the worm about the axis of rotation causes the first headband element and the second headband element to translate in opposite directions with respect to the worm, thereby adjusting a fit of the headgear.
US08578518B1	Stay tuck shirt A garment is disclosed including a tubular body portion having a top end and a bottom end, the garment defining a body opening proximate the bottom end, a neck opening proximate the top end, and at least two sleeve openings proximate the top end, wherein the bottom end of the tubular body portion defines a notch, the notch having a terminal edge and two opposing side edges of about equal length, wherein a linear distance separates the opposing side edges, the linear distance being substantially consistent along the about equal length thereby defining substantially parallel opposing side edges.
US08578512B2	Siped wetsuit A wetsuit for aquatic activities is disclosed below. The wetsuit includes a base layer and a backing layer. The base layer may be formed from a thermal insulation material, for example, and the base layer has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The backing layer is secured to the first surface of the base layer, and the backing layer has less stretch than the base layer. In addition, the wetsuit includes a plurality of sipes extending through at least the backing layer.
US08584256B2	Digital delivery system and user interface for enabling the digital delivery of media content A system, method, and computer readable storage medium provides the ability to deliver media content. A repository stores media content and marketing assets for the media content. A server computer provides a website accessible on the Internet worldwide to client computers. The website provides the ability to search a public site catalog/library of media content that is publicly available. The website further provides marketing assets for licensed media content from the library to authorized client users (that have a license to media content) in a secure manner. The website further provides preview screening access and download access to licensed media content (e.g., titles of audio-visual media content) to the authorized client users.
US08584254B2	Data access reporting platform for secure active monitoring Technologies pertaining to detecting accesses to monitored regions of memory and transmitting data to a protection system responsive to the detecting are described herein. A region of memory that includes objects in an object graph utilized by an operating system to determine which processes to execute and an order to execute such processes is monitored. If a process executing on a processor attempts to write to an object in the object graph, a field that is being written to is identified, and a determination is made regarding whether the field includes a pointer. Based upon whether the field includes a pointer, a type of write desirably undertaken by the object is ascertained, and an object event is transmitted to the protection system that informs the protection system of the type of write.
US08584250B2	Methods and apparatus for information assurance in a multiple level security (MLS) combat system Methods and apparatus are provided for information assurance in a multiple level security (MLS) combat system. A plurality of tasks are executed, where at least one of the tasks requiring a transition from a first security level to a second security level. At least one of the tasks are executed on a cloud computing system; and a kernel is employed to prevent a leakage of data between at least two of the tasks. The cloud computing system comprises a virtualization layer and provides one or more operating systems, as well as interface access control to data. The kernel provides a mechanism for the transition from the first security level to the second security level. The kernel optionally tags one or more data records with a security classification to allow one or more classification levels to be segregated for role-based data access.
US08584249B2	System for preventing unauthorized use of digital content A system for preventing unauthorized use of digital content that can prevent unauthorized use of digital content and can reliably collect a charge for secondary use is provided. The system for preventing unauthorized use may include: a distributing recording medium α on which a content file having header information “A” and a data body “B” is recorded in a state of lacking play information “A1” indispensable for playing the data body “B” included in the header information a; a management center managing use of the content file on the distributing recording medium α and which can deliver the prepared play information “A1” of the header information “A” as piece data via a communication line β; and a digital content playing device which is a device used for playing the content file on the distributing recording medium α and has a function of communicating via the communication line β with the management center.
US08584242B2	Remote-assisted malware detection Remote assistance is provided to a mobile device across a network to enable malware detection. The mobile device transmits potentially infected memory pages to a remote server across a network. The remote server performs analysis, and provides feedback to the mobile device. Based on the received feedback, the mobile device halts a process, or retrieves and transmits additional memory pages to the remote server for more analysis. This process is repeated until a compromised region of memory is identified and/or isolated for further repair to be performed. The feedback from the remote server reduces the processing and storage burden on the mobile device, resulting in a more reliable detection that uses fewer resources. Embodiments including hypervisors and virtual machines are disclosed.
US08584236B2	Method and apparatus for detecting abnormal traffic in a network A method of identifying traffic within a network representative of an abnormal network condition, including: monitoring a communications link for a high traffic volume level; identifying a domain being the source of the high traffic volume level; identifying within the domain, a sending entity transmitting traffic from the domain; using a detector located at or proximate to the domain to invoke a response from the sending entity; wherein a failure by the sending entity to provide an expected response to the message in accordance with a network protocol indicates that the traffic transmitted by the sending entity is traffic representative of an abnormal network condition.
US08584234B1	Secure network cache content A security module on a computing device applies security rules to examine content in a network cache and identify suspicious cache content. Cache content is identified as suspicious according to security rules, such as a rule determining whether the cache content is associated with modified-time set into the future, and a rule determining whether the cache content was created in a low-security environment. The security module may establish an out-of-band connection with the websites from which the cache content originated through a high security access network to receive responses from the websites, and use the responses to determine whether the cache content is suspicious cache content. Suspicious cache content is removed from the network cache to prevent the suspicious cache content from carrying out malicious activities.
US08584233B1	Providing malware-free web content to end users using dynamic templates Providing malware-free web content to a user is disclosed. The web content is any type of web content that may potentially be infected by any type of malware. Upon receiving a request for a piece of web content from the user, the requested piece of web content is obtained from the appropriate source, and a dynamic template for the piece of web content is retrieved. The dynamic template indicates whether the requested piece of web content includes any malware and what actions are to be performed if any malware is included in the piece of web content. The requested piece of web content is cleaned up by performing the actions indicated in the dynamic template. Thereafter, the piece of web content is provided to the user. The dynamic template is updated from time to time based on the currently available information regarding the piece of web content.
US08584229B2	Methods and apparatus supporting access to physical and virtual trusted platform modules A data processing system features a hardware trusted platform module (TPM), and a virtual TPM (vTPM) manager. When executed, the vTPM manager detects a first request from a service virtual machine (VM) in the processing system, the first request to involve access to the hardware TPM (hTPM). In response, the vTPM manager automatically determines whether the first request should be allowed, based on filter rules identifying allowed or disallowed operations for the hTPM. The vTPM manager may also detect a second request to involve access to a software TPM (sTPM) in the processing system. In response, the vTPM manager may automatically determine whether the second request should be allowed, based on a second filter list identifying allowed or disallowed operations for the sTPM. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08584228B1	Packet authentication and encryption in virtual networks Systems and methods provide logic for distributing cryptographic keys in a physical network comprising a plurality of physical nodes. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided for distributing cryptographic keys in a physical network. The method includes receiving information mapping a virtual network address of a virtual node to a physical network address of a physical node. The virtual node may be associated with a virtual network hosted by the physical node, and the received mapping information identifies a virtual network address of the node and the physical network address of the node. The mapping service transmits a current version of a cryptographic key and an identifier of the current version to the physical node.
US08584227B2	Firewall with policy hints A firewall helps a user make a decision regarding network access for an application executing on a computing device by providing “hints” to the user about an appropriate network access policy. If at least one previously set firewall policy for the application exists in a context different from a current context, the user may be presented with information based on a previously set firewall policy. The information may be prioritized based on a source of the previously set firewall policy and other factors, to provide the user with a hint that facilitates making the decision appropriate in the current context. A programming interface to the firewall allows third party applications to specify a format in which hints are provided to the user.
US08584225B1	Push channel authentication for mobile computing devices Methods and systems for push channel authentication for mobile computing devices are provided. A mobile application may be supplied, and an indication that the application has been loaded on the mobile computing device may be processed. A device identifier received from the mobile computing device through a network may be processed, and corresponding information may be stored in an authentication information repository. An authentication key and an authentication token may be generated and sent separately to the mobile computing device through a push channel and through a second channel. That the mobile application has received the authentication key and the authentication token may be verified. A notification that the mobile application has received the authentication key and the authentication token may be processed. The notification may be validated at least in part with the information corresponding to the device identifier in the authentication information repository.
US08584215B2	System and method for securing distributed exporting models in a network environment A method is provided in one example implementation and includes identifying a plurality of exporters that are authorized to communicate data to a collector on behalf of a secure domain; generating secure credentials for the secure domain; communicating the secure credentials to the collector; and authenticating the exporters using the secure credentials. In more particular implementations, the method can include receiving the secure credentials; receiving certain data that includes identifying information, which further includes an Internet protocol (IP) address of a source associated with the certain data; accepting the certain data if the secure credentials validate the identifying information; and rejecting the certain data if the secure credentials do not validate the identifying information.
US08584209B1	Authentication using a proxy network node A method includes detecting a presence of a device on a network associated with a node, where the node is not connected to an authentication server and is configured to communicate with the device using a data link layer authentication protocol; communicating, with another node, using a data link layer tunneling protocol, to authenticate the device as a result of detecting the presence of the device, where the other node communicates with the authentication server, using a network layer authentication protocol, that enables the other node to receive an authentication notification associated with the device; receiving, from the other node, the authentication notification that indicates that the device has been authenticated, where the authentication notification is received using the data link layer tunneling protocol; and sending, to the device, an indication that the device is authorized to communicate with the network, where the sending includes establishing an authentication session that enables the device to communicate with the network.
US08584208B2	Method and apparatus for providing a context resource description language and framework for supporting the same An apparatus for providing a framework for supporting a context resource description language may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least receiving an indication of content loaded at a browser, parsing the content for context resource description language providing an identification of properties requested in association with a service from which the content was loaded, and providing property management with respect to the identified properties for provision to the service. A corresponding method and computer program product are also provided.
US08584206B2	Method for managing domain using multi domain manager and domain system The present invention relates to a method of managing a domain employing a multi-domain manager and a domain system. The method of managing a domain employing a multi-domain manager includes designating a primary domain manager, configuring the domain by registering a domain device with the primary domain manager, designating at least one secondary domain manager of the domain devices, and managing the domain through conjunction of the primary domain manager and the secondary domain manager. Thus, domain management can be performed efficiently by employing a multi-domain manager.
US08584201B2	Method and apparatus for session validation to access from uncontrolled devices According to one embodiment, an apparatus may store a plurality of token-based rules. A token-based rule may facilitate access to a resource. The apparatus may further store a plurality of tokens. The apparatus may receive a first token indicating that an unsecured device has requested access to the resource and determine at least one token-based rule based at least in part upon the first token. The at least one token-based rule indicates a timeout associated with the unsecured device. The apparatus may determine, based on the at least one token-based rule, that the timeout associated with the unsecured device has not been exceeded and generate a session token based at least in part upon the first token in response to the determination that the timeout has not been exceeded.
US08584197B2	Media rights management using melody identification A content recognition system operates in conjunction with a media hosting service to identify hosted media content and ownership rights associated with the hosted content. By applying melody recognition, the content recognition system can identify compositions embodied in hosted media content even when these compositions do not precisely match any known sound recording. Thus, the content recognition system is beneficially able to detect, for example, recorded cover performances and recorded live performances embodied in hosted media content. Once identified, ownership information is determined and the media hosting service can carry out appropriate rights management policies associated with the content such as monetizing or blocking the protected content.
US08584196B2	Technique for efficiently evaluating a security policy One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for efficiently evaluating a security policy. During operation, the system retrieves one or more roles associated with the user. Next, the system checks if a session-level cache exists for a set of Access Control Entries (ACEs) which is associated with the one or more roles. If this session-level cache exists, the system returns the set of ACEs from the session-level cache. Otherwise, the system generates the set of ACEs associated with the one or more roles from an Access Control List (ACL). During operation, the system can also update the one or more roles associated with the user and update the set of ACEs based on the updated one or more roles and the ACL. The system subsequently updates the session level cache with the updated set of ACEs and updated one or more roles.
US08584191B2	Method and system for updating recording schedules Provided are a method and a system for recording a video broadcast using a video recording device. A system can extract in-band scheduling data and generate scheduling information based on the extracted in-band scheduling data, received scheduling data, and transactional scheduling update. The system can update a recording schedule for a broadcast in response to a determined scheduling update.
US08584190B2	Apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving data in communication system Provided is an apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving broadcasting data and supplementary data. The method includes: generating broadcasting data and supplementary data for a plurality of predetermined 3D broadcasting services to be provided to users; multiplexing the generated broadcasting data for broadcasting channels respectively allocated to the plurality of predetermined 3D broadcasting services, and multiplexing the generated supplementary data for one commonly broadcasting channel commonly allocated to the plurality of predetermined 3D broadcasting services; encoding the multiplexed supplementary data corresponding to a conditional access system; and transmitting the encoded supplementary data to the one common broadcasting channel, and transmitting the multiplexed broadcasting data to the allocated broadcasting channels.
US08584186B2	Method and apparatus to provide supplemental media content Method and apparatus to provide supplemental media content are presented. In a particular embodiment, a method of providing supplemental content in a Video-On-Demand (VOD) system is provided. The method includes receiving a selection of a first supplemental content title selected from a plurality of supplemental content titles provided by a selectable menu, where each of the plurality of supplemental content titles is associated with a particular VOD offering. The selectable menu provided is to be displayed upon detection of discontinued transmission of the particular VOD offering. The method also includes providing first supplemental content associated with the first supplemental content title. The first supplemental content is accessible by a subscriber when the particular VOD offering is not being presented and wherein the first supplemental content is not accessible by the subscriber when the particular VOD offering is being presented.
US08584185B2	System and method for content transmission network selection A content transmission selection system is disclosed. The content transmission selection system receives requests from viewers for specific video content items. Using characteristics of the designated content item, the content transmission selection system determines whether to transmit the content item over a broadcast network or a broadband network.
US08584184B2	Systems and methods for relocating media A system and method may be provided that allows users to store, retrieve, and manipulate on-demand media content and data stored on a remote server network in an on-demand media delivery system. More particularly, the system may allow a user to access his or her on-demand media account from user equipment in different locations as long as the current user equipment can communicate with a remote server that stores user-specific information. The system upon user selection may freeze the delivery of on-demand media at a particular point and allow the user to resume the media at a later time from some other network location in system. Users may upload personal images or files to an on-demand delivery server for later retrieval and display. Users may be permitted to assign access rights to the uploaded files.
US08584183B2	Virtual video on demand using multiple encrypted video segments A method and apparatus for providing a virtual video on demand services is disclosed. The method and apparatus disclose the storing of a segment of the video program in advance for VOD viewing at a later time. When the subscriber selects VOD service, a pre-stored video segment is retrieved for presentation to the subscriber. Remaining video program segments simultaneously broadcast on a plurality of channels are recorded in parallel while the pre-stored video program segment is retrieved and presented to the user.
US08584179B2	Information output apparatus, information processing system and information processing method An information output apparatus has a first interface to receive an equipment operational signal from a short-range wireless communication apparatus, a second interface to receive broadcast wave data based on the equipment operational signal, a third interface to transmit the equipment operational signal to an information generating apparatus, a fourth interface to receive video data transmitted from the information generating apparatus, a fifth interface to receive a control command transmitted from the information generating apparatus in response to the equipment operational signal transmitted from the third interface part, an information superimposing part to transmit the equipment operational signal from the third interface part to the information generating apparatus and then to superimpose video data updated by the information generating apparatus and received from the fourth interface part with the broadcast wave data to display the superimposed data on a display part.
US08584178B2	Apparatus, systems and methods for remote storage of media content events Techniques for facilitating recording of media content events by media devices on remote storage devices are described. Some embodiments provide a remote storage manager as part of a media device, such as a set-top box. In one embodiment, the remote storage manager causes a media content event to be recorded on a remote persistent storage device by receiving the media content event from a program distributor, and then transmitting the media content event to the remote persistent storage device. In another embodiment, the remote storage manager instructs the remote persistent storage device to obtain the media content event from the program distributor, so that the remote persistent storage device can record the media content event without the media content event first being received by the remote storage manager.
US08584176B2	Communicating video content A method includes receiving a selection of a channel at a set-top box device. In response to the selection of the channel, a still image associated with a program is displayed at a display device. The method further includes receiving a multicast stream of video content associated with the selected channel at the set-top box device. At least a portion of the multicast stream is received while the still image is displayed at the display device. The method also includes transmitting the video content to the display device.
US08584174B1	Systems and methods for fantasy league service via television Systems and methods according to preferred embodiments enable a subscriber to participate in fantasy league competitions with other subscribers of the service, and to view other broadcasts simultaneously with fantasy league data on one or more televisions. A service provider enables the creation of a fantasy league related to real activities. One or more teams are associated with the fantasy league and players are then assigned to each of the created teams. In one embodiment, the teams are configured via a television interface and a remote control. Fantasy league data is tracked for each team based on participation of the team's assigned players in the real activities. Television broadcasts are then displayed simultaneously with fantasy league data on the television, a service that is not possible or practical in conventional television systems.
US08584173B2	Automatic selection of video programming channel based on scheduling information A method of automatically selecting between a first video programming channel and a second video programming channel in a video content receiver is presented. In the method, the receiver receives video programming carried over at least one of the first channel and the second channel, as well as scheduling information regarding the two channels. The receiver also receives a channel selection for one of the two channels, such as from a user. In response to the channel selection, the receiver compares the scheduling information for the first channel to a current time value. If the scheduling information indicates the first channel is not currently carrying video programming that is available for presentation to the user, the receiver selects the second channel for presentation to the user; otherwise, the receiver selects the first channel.
US08584170B2	System and method of internet group management for multicast push in passive access networks Disclosed is an Internet group management system of a push-type multicast in a passive access network, and a method thereof. The Internet group management system of a push-type multicast supporting Internet group management with respect to a packet stream simultaneously being transmitted to a subscriber accessing the same node via a passive access network where at least one subscriber accesses a single node, the system including an input packet classifying unit to sort a multimedia contents packet corresponding to a contents transmission packet from the packet stream, and a program managing unit to construct a broadcasting program table having information of the sorted multimedia contents packet, to determine, based on the constructed broadcasting program table, a reception condition of a requested program that is requested by a user, and to output a multimedia contents packet corresponding to the requested program.
US08584169B1	System and method for creating and managing custom media channels A system and method for creating and managing custom media channels within an Interactive Digital Program Guide (IDPG) of a device having a set-top box function associated with a cable or satellite television network. In general, a user interacts with the set-top box function to define a custom media channel. The custom media channel may be defined by a channel name and user preferences. Once the custom media channel is defined, an Internet search is performed based on the user preferences in order to identify media presentations for the custom media channel. Thereafter, when a user selects the custom media channel via the IDPG, the media presentations are played in a substantially continuous stream in either a predetermined or random sequence.
US08584166B2	Probabilistic-based content recommender A method including providing a television service to customers; identifying a customer when the customer uses the television service; tracking content viewed by the customer; calculating probabilities based on the customer's viewing of contents, wherein the probabilities pertain to features applicable to the viewed contents and the features include genres of the viewed contents; selecting one or more upcoming contents, available at a future date to the customer, to recommend to the customer based on one or more features applicable to the upcoming content that correspond to one or more features applicable to the viewed contents; and providing a user interface to permit the customer to select from the one or more upcoming contents recommended to the customer.
US08584165B1	Facilitating access to content provided from multiple providers Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating access to content using availability information. Content programs are determined based at least in part on a prior selection of one or more of the content programs from a content catalog by a user. Content availability data is obtained from multiple content providers. Availabilities of each content program are determined based at least in part on the content availability data. A user interface is generated that presents the respective availabilities of each of the content programs through the corresponding interfaces of some or all of the content providers.
US08584160B1	System for applying metadata for object recognition and event representation An object recognition and event representation system includes: a server and a broadcaster, coupled to the server. In response to a request from the broadcaster, the server sends an event metadata and a recognition data. Based on the event metadata and the recognition data, the broadcaster simultaneously performs a live video broadcasting and a real-time object recognition. If the broadcaster recognizes an object, the broadcaster sends a recognition result to the server.
US08584158B2	System and method for selective recording of information A system and method for selective recording of information uses sequential pattern matching of statistical vectors which characterize incoming time-based information to identify previously marked information within an incoming information stream. The system and method generate a signal to control a recording device to either elide the previously marked information from the recording, or to begin recording once the previously marked information is identified, depending upon the current mode of operation. The system and method may be utilized to omit recording of unwanted information, such as commercials in a television broadcast, or to automatically locate desired information on any of a number of available information channels without a priori knowledge of the occurrence time or channel of the information.
US08584156B2	Method and apparatus for manipulating content channels An apparatus and method for creating channels dedicated to a particular type of content. The method includes acquiring seed content and using the seed content in the creation or updating of a content list. Additional content for the channel is acquired based on the common features of the content list.
US08584153B2	Optical disc device An optical disc device comprises a disc clamper. The disc clamper is provided with: a first member provided with a first circular disc, and with a plurality of upstanding pieces formed with predetermined spaces therebetween along a circle concentric to the first circular disc, the upstanding pieces having an engaging claw at the distal end thereof; and a second member provided with a second circular disc in which are formed a plurality of through-holes into which the plurality of upstanding pieces are inserted, and with a plurality of peripheral walls formed with predetermined spaces therebetween along a circle concentric to the second circular disc. Rotation in a state where the upstanding pieces have been inserted into the through-holes through the spaces between the peripheral walls causes the engaging claws to engage the peripheral walls.
US08584151B2	Optical disc driving device An optical disc driving device has a metallic exterior casing composed of a first casing and a second casing and an internal unit to be housed in the exterior casing. The internal unit includes an optical pickup unit having an optical pickup part that moves in radial directions of an optical disc to perform recording or reproduction of information signals on the optical disc. At a portion where the optical pickup part moved radially outward of the optical disc makes a closest approach to, in either one of the first casing or the second casing opposed to the first casting, a protrusion for electrically connecting the first casing and the second casing to each other is provided.
US08584150B2	Networked spreadsheet template designer A networked spreadsheet template designer allows administrators to easily create and deploy robust reporting and input applications that leverage existing spreadsheet templates and knowledge in an easy to use user interface. Templates are created to operate directly in the particular spreadsheet program environment and can be created using existing templates and modeling workbooks of that spreadsheet program without the need for any code to be written. The template designer uses dynamic link library (DLL) worksheet functions directly on template worksheets to perform specified actions. The DLL functions enable a user to create an interactive, custom application by automating/encapsulating complex tasks. The DLL functions are managed across a computer network through an administrator interface to create the functions and a viewer interface that combines an Explorer® window to select the functions and a spreadsheet window for the actual spreadsheet program that implements the DLL functions.
US08584149B2	Methods of populating a third-party document with digital information content Systems and methods of transferring information from at least one source context to at least one target context, and associated physical computer-readable medium. A service software application is used on a processor-based platform to transfer digital data content from at least one data source to at least one data target in at least a semi-automatic manner. The data source is associated with a source software application and the data target is associated with a target software application. The digital data content includes, for example, text data, image data, graphics data, or a clipboard object.
US08584146B1	Communications driver management The creation of a virtual network adapter is disclosed. At least one existing network device having an existing driver is discovered. At least one of an existing device-to-driver mapping and an existing driver associated with the existing network device is removed. A new driver capable of communicating with the existing network device using a common set of primitive commands is installed. The new driver is mapped to the existing device. The use of the virtual network adapter is also disclosed.
US08584142B1	Methods and system for proxy component to perform plurality of operations for applying to an object A server side scripting language hosts batch requests from a client for invoking object specific libraries on the client requestor. The requestor executes a user application driven by a web scripting language which may not have facilities or resources for efficiently invoking operations that are provided by the server. A batch script enables the requestor to invoke a set of server operations in batch, without exchanging requests and result for each invocation of a service side operation, thus mitigating the bandwidth that would otherwise occur for individual client/server exchanges for each operation. The server provides a proxy class for expected object types and operations, and a dispatch layer identifies the appropriate proxy class for each operation requested from the batch script.
US08584134B2	Job assigning apparatus and job assignment method A job assigning apparatus connected to a plurality of arithmetic units for assigning a job to each of the arithmetic units, the job assigning apparatus includes a power consumption acquiring processor for acquiring power consumptions with respect to each of the arithmetic units, a selector for selecting one of the arithmetic units as a submission destination in increasing order of the power consumptions acquired by the power consumption acquiring processor, and a job submitting processor for submitting a job to the submission destination.
US08584131B2	Method and system for modeling and analyzing computing resource requirements of software applications in a shared and distributed computing environment An application manager for enabling multiple applications to share resources in a shared and distributed computing environment. The disclosed system provides for the specification, representation and automatic analysis of resource requirements of applications in a shared and distributed computing environment. The application manager is provided with service specifications for each application, which defines the resource requirements necessary or preferred to run said application (or more precisely, its constituent application components). In addition, the resources may be required to have certain characteristics and constraints may be placed on the required resources. The application manager works in conjunction with a resource supply manager and requests the required resources be supplied for the application. If there are appropriate and sufficient available resources to meet the particular resource requirements, then the resources are allocated, and the application components mapped thereon. The disclosed system can enable the sharing of resources among multiple heterogeneous applications. The systems can allow resource sharing without application source code access or any knowledge of the internal design of the application. Integration of an application can be re-used for other similar applications. Furthermore, the disclosed system enables the dynamic and efficient management of shared resources, providing an agile resource infrastructure adaptive to dynamic changes and failures.
US08584126B2	Systems and methods for enabling threads to lock a stage prior to processing data A system and method for maintaining processing order while permitting parallelism. Processing of a piece of work is divided into a plurality of stages. At each stage, a task advancing the work towards completion is performed. By performing processing as a sequence of tasks, processing can be done in parallel, with progress being made simultaneously on different pieces of work in different stages by a plurality of threads of execution.
US08584124B2	Methods and systems for batch processing in an on-demand service environment In accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, there are provided mechanisms and methods for batch processing in an on-demand service environment. For example, in one embodiment, mechanisms include receiving a processing request for a multi-tenant database, in which the processing request specifies processing logic and a processing target group within the multi-tenant database. Such an embodiment further includes dividing or chunking the processing target group into a plurality of processing target sub-groups, queuing the processing request with a batch processing queue for the multi-tenant database among a plurality of previously queued processing requests, and releasing each of the plurality of processing target sub-groups for processing in the multi-tenant database via the processing logic at one or more times specified by the batch processing queue.
US08584117B2	Method to make SMP/E based products self describing Systems and methods of providing information from run-time installations of mainframe SMP/E based products. Information is embedded into a fingerprint library. The fingerprint library may then be associated with a product installed via SMP/E. The fingerprint library may then remain with the product when it is copied to its distributed location. A system administrator may later query the run-time installation and retrieve information previously only known to the SMP/E tool in an SMP/E controlled installation. In one embodiment, information may be embedded into a fingerprint library at product build time.
US08584114B2	Method of generating and distributing a computer application A processor is operative to store specifications of computer applications in a platform-independent language. A remote client device requests delivery of a specified application for execution thereon. The processor interrogates the remote client device to construct a device configuration, comprising characteristics and capabilities of the remote client device. The processor also obtains a user configuration, and establishes a compilation configuration according to the device configuration and the user configuration. A compiled application in binary format is produced using the compilation configuration and the platform-independent language of the specified application. The compiled application includes customized content and is adapted to run on the remote client device. The processor causes the compiled application to be downloaded to the remote client device.
US08584112B2	Open application lifecycle management framework Techniques for open application lifecycle management frameworks are described, including using a framework hosted on one or more computers and having one or more services to integrate the one or more services with one or more applications using one or more providers, each of the one or more providers is adapted to at least one of the one or more applications, registering one or more repositories associated with the one or more applications using a location service module, receiving an input creating a project context associated with a project, data associated with the input being stored in a data structure associated with the project, the data structure being stored in a repository associated with the framework, generating a link, after registering the one or more repositories, between one or more element containers associated with the project, the link and the one or more element containers being stored in the repository, and configuring the framework to detect another input indicating interaction with an artifact, other data associated with the interaction being mapped between the one or more repositories and the repository using a domain model.
US08584111B2	Runtime code modification in a multi-threaded environment A code region forming part of a computer program is modified during execution of the computer program by a plurality of threads. In one aspect, identical modification instructions are provided to each thread for modifying a site in the code region having a desirable idempotent atomic modification, and the modification instructions direct each thread to make the desirable idempotent atomic modification. In another aspect, a thread is selected to modify the code region, each thread other than the selected thread is directed to execute an alternative execution path that generates output identical to the output of the code region after the code region has been modified, and, responsive to directing each thread other than the selected thread, the selected thread is directed to modify the code region.
US08584106B2	Systems and methods for compiling an application for a parallel-processing computer system A runtime system implemented in accordance with the present invention provides an application platform for parallel-processing computer systems. Such a runtime system enables users to leverage the computational power of parallel-processing computer systems to accelerate/optimize numeric and array-intensive computations in their application programs. This enables greatly increased performance of high-performance computing (HPC) applications.
US08584103B2	Reducing parallelism of computer source code An example embodiment disclosed is a method for reducing parallelism of computer source code. The method includes receiving multi-threaded program source code and representing the multi-threaded program source code as a polyhedral framework stored in computer readable memory. The polyhedral framework is used to convert the polyhedral framework from the multi-threaded program source code representation to a single-threaded program source code representation.
US08584102B2	Creating and using deltas to modify existing computer code Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to creating and using deltas to modify existing computer code. In aspects, computer code may be translated into a higher level language to make it easier for a software developer to modify the computer code. The translated computer code may be presented by an editing tool that presents a user interface that allows changes to be made to the translated computer code. A delta engine may then determine a delta that indicates the changes to perform on the existing computer code to create computer code that would result from compiling the translated computer code as changed via the editing tool. Later, this delta may be used to change the existing computer code after it has been loaded to add or change debugging hooks or other features of the computer code.
US08584101B2	Apparatus and method for automatically analyzing program for detecting malicious codes triggered under specific event/context Provided is an apparatus and method for automatically analyzing a program in order to detect window malicious codes that are programmed to perform malicious behaviors when a specific event occurs, when the specific event does not occur, when a specific program execution condition is satisfied, and when the specific program execution condition is not satisfied.
US08584100B2	Bridging code changes and testing Method and system for testing software code comprising determining code elements in software code, determining changed code elements in the software code, determining dependencies between code elements, determine dependency changes between code elements based on the determined changed code elements, determining an impact factor for the respective changed code elements based on the determined dependency changes, determine a test relevancy ranking for code tests based on the determined impact factor, selecting tests for the software code based on said test relevancy ranking, and performing the selected tests on the software code.
US08584097B2	Post-execution software debugger with event display A method finds an error in a computer program. A sequence of machine instructions performed by a processor is recorded as trace data. Further, at least one event is selected from a plurality of events. In addition, an operating system instruction address is determined for the at least one event. Further, at least a portion of the trace data is searched for the operating system instruction address. The execution time for an operating system instruction stored in the operating system instruction address is determined. The execution time is searched through in the database to find task related data. The task related data is displayed.
US08584093B2	Pre-condition generation device, post-condition generation device, and method for generating these conditions A device includes: a storage storing second logical expressions; an storage storing an essential condition which indicates a set of one or more second logical expressions selected such that a proposition is not satisfied that the post-condition is satisfied immediately after a program is executed when a logical product of other second logical expressions obtained by excluding the set indicated by the essential condition from the storage is satisfied; a generator generating a candidate condition represented by a logical product of one or more second logical expressions to include a common second logical expression with the set indicated by the essential condition; a judging unit judging whether satisfied is a proposition that the post-condition is satisfied immediately after the program is executed when the candidate condition is satisfied, and an output unit configured to output the candidate condition determined to satisfy the proposition as representing a pre-condition of the program.
US08584079B2	Quality on submit process The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for providing a quality on submit process. One process includes operations for monitoring a source control system for submissions of new source code and determining that new source code has been submitted by a user to the source control system. A request to perform a quality control task for the new source code is sent to at least one quality control application. A report from the quality control application regarding results of the quality control task is received. A general report of results of each quality control task performed by each of the at least one quality control application is generated. The general report is sent to the user.
US08584075B2	Method and apparatus for characterizing and reducing proximity effect on cell electrical characteristics Circuit elements are characterized for effects of proximity context on electrical characteristic. Based on the characterization, proximity context cell models, and corresponding modeled electrical characteristic values are obtained. Logic cells are characterized and modeled according to the proximity context cell models. Optionally the electrical characteristic can be time delay, leakage, dynamic power, or coupling noise among other parameters.
US08584072B1	Technique for modeling parasitics from layout during circuit design and for parasitic aware circuit design using modes of varying accuracy A user is presented with a simulation environment within which the user is provided a choice to select between parasitic simulation modes of varying accuracy, the modes including a mode without parasitics and a plurality of modes including parasitics with a varying degree of accuracy. A selection from among the modes is received from the user and simulation test are performed at the selected degree of accuracy.
US08584068B2	Timing violation debugging inside place and route tool A storage medium for use in a computer to develop a circuit design. The storage medium recording a software tool that may be readable and executable by the computer. The software tool generally includes the steps of (A) receiving a first user input that identifies a specific cell of a plurality of existing cells in the circuit design, the specific cell having a timing characteristic, (B) generating a replacement display corresponding to the specific cell, the replacement display comprising a plurality of alternate cells suitable to replace the specific cell, each of the alternate cells having a different value associated with the timing characteristic of the specific cell, (C) receiving a second user input that identifies a replacement cell of the alternate cells and (D) automatically generating a first engineering change order to replace the specific cell with the replacement cell.
US08584067B2	Clock domain crossing buffer Techniques are disclosed relating to detecting and minimizing timing problems created by clock domain crossing (CDC) in integrated circuits. In various embodiments, one or more timing parameters are associated with a path that crosses between clock domains in an integrated circuit, where the one or more timing parameters specify a propagation delay for the path. In one embodiment, the timing parameters may be distributed to different design stages using a configuration file. In some embodiments, the one or more parameters may be used in conjunction with an RTL model to simulate propagation of a data signal along the path. In some embodiments, the one or more parameters may be used in conjunction with a netlist to create a physical design for the integrated circuit, where the physical design includes a representation of the path that has the specified propagation delay.
US08584066B1	System and method for generating a wire model An exemplary embodiment of a system and a method for generating a wire model is provided. The system comprises a processor coupled to a display device, a user input device, and a storage device. The processor is configured to (1) generate a wire configuration file, (2) determine parasitic component values from the wire configuration file, and (3) construct a table model from the parasitic component values.
US08584065B2	Method and apparatus for designing an integrated circuit A method and apparatus for designing an integrated circuit to operate at a desired clock frequency range reduces process variation by estimating the value of removable pessimism from a static timing analysis. The pessimism includes, for example, at least one of the removable on-chip-variation (OCV) margin from clock paths, removable OCV margin from data paths, removable IR drop margin from clock paths, and removable interconnects margin. At the timing analysis stage of a design flow, the method and apparatus determines the value of pessimism in the timing critical paths based on timing correlation between adjacent timing critical paths. In response to the determination, the value of pessimism may be reduced in the static timing analysis of the adjacent timing critical paths to optimize the timing performance of the integrated circuit at its desired clock frequency range.
US08584064B2	Verification support apparatus and verification support method to verify target circuit based on hardware description information A non-transitory, recording medium stores therein a program that causes a computer to execute extracting from hardware description of a circuit, a conditional branch statement representing a conditional branch process; determining whether the extracted conditional branch statement includes at least three condition expressions, where a given combination thereof has exclusive satisfying conditions; extracting from the conditional branch statement determined at the determining, a combination of condition expressions for which satisfying conditions are exclusive; extracting each condition expression from the extracted combination and creating, for each extracted condition expression and according to an order of appearance in the hardware description, a conditional branch statement in which the extracted condition expression has a hierarchical relationship with a condition expression not included in the combination; generating an assertion for checking whether a specified condition is satisfied in each created conditional branch statement; and outputting, as assertion data of the circuit, the generated assertion.
US08584060B1	Block mask decomposition for mitigating corner rounding A method for decomposing design shapes in a design level into a plurality of target design levels is provided. Design shapes including first-type edges and second-type edges having different directions is provided for a design level. Inner vertices are identified and paired up. Vertices are classified into first-type vertices and second-type vertices. First mask level shapes are generated so as to touch the first-type vertices, and second mask level shapes are generated so as to tough the second-type vertices. Cut mask level shapes are generated to touch each first-type edges that are not over a second-type edge and to touch each second-type edges that are not over a first-type edge. Suitable edges are sized outward to ensure overlap among the various shapes. The design shapes are thus decomposed into first mask level shapes, the second mask level shapes, and the cut mask level shapes.
US08584059B2	Polishing estimation/evaluation device, overpolishing condition calculation device, and computer-readable non-transitory medium thereof A polishing estimation/evaluation device includes a dividing unit, an overpolished area extracting unit, and a dummy modifying unit. The dividing unit divides a layout of an integrated circuit into a plurality of partial areas. The overpolished area extracting unit refers to an overpolishing condition indicating whether overpolishing occurs in a vicinity of a partial area based on a wiring density in the partial area and a wiring density in surrounding areas of the partial area, and extracts a partial area where the overpolishing occurs from the plurality of partial areas obtained by the division by the dividing unit. The dummy modifying unit modifies dummy wiring in the partial area where the overpolishing occurs extracted by the overpolished area extracting unit and/or dummy wiring in surrounding areas of the partial area to reduce the number of partial areas where the overpolishing occurs.
US08584051B1	Location and time user interface dial Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed which include displaying a circular slider on a mobile device, the circular slider displaying a current date, displaying a geographic map relative to the circular slider on the mobile device, receiving from a user of the mobile device, at a location on the circular slider, a touch gesture indicating a circular motion; in response to the touch gesture indication of the circular motion being received, changing the current date on the circular slider to a future date for each predetermined amount of circular motion received, and displaying on the geographic map on the mobile device, a representation corresponding to each of one or more future locations indicating that one or more friends of the user are going to be physically present at on the respective future location on the future date.
US08584049B1	Visual feedback deletion In one example, a method includes outputting, by a computing device and for display, a text display region comprising one or more characters. The method may further include outputting, in response to receiving an indication of an input unit detected at a first location of a presence-sensitive input device, a graphical indicator comprising a representation of a threshold distance. The method may further include receiving an indication of a gesture comprising movement of the input unit from the first location to a second location, and outputting a visual change of the graphical indicator corresponding to the movement of the input unit. The method may further include determining that a distance between the first location and the second location satisfies the threshold distance, and deleting, in response to determining that the threshold distance is satisfied, the one or more characters from the text display region.
US08584044B2	Localized thumbnail preview of related content during spatial browsing Technologies, systems, and methods for exploring a virtual space without cluttering or obscuring a field of view of the virtual space with overlaid names, labels, symbols, markers, and the like. Instead, a user may select objects of interest presented in a context bar to locate them in the field of view. Further, the user can make use of various forms of selection to zoom in on objects or points in the field of view and access information regarding the virtual space and objects without adding persistent clutter to the field of view.
US08584042B2	Methods for scanning, printing, and copying multimedia thumbnails A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for creating visualizations of documents are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving an electronic visual, audio, or audiovisual content; generating a display for authoring a multimedia representation of the received electronic content; receiving user input, if any, through the generated display; and generating a multimedia representation of the received electronic content utilizing received user input.
US08584040B2	Mobile terminal According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a mobile terminal including: an application processor configured to execute application having first mode and second mode, wherein the first mode includes first number of menus and the second mode includes second number of menus smaller than that of the first mode; a mode selection unit configured to input mode switching instruction; and a transition control unit configured to switch one of the first and second modes to another mode within the same application if the mode selection unit is operated.
US08584039B2	Method of selecting an element from a list by moving a graphics distinction and apparatus implementing the method The invention makes it possible to select an element from a list of elements represented by icons. A first element is selected by affixing a graphics distinction on its icon. When the user activates and holds a command, said graphics distinction moves from the first icon to a second icon. A second element is selected when the graphics distinction occupies at least one determined area of the second icon representing this second element. According to an improvement, the graphics distinction moves from icon to icon, totally overlapping only a single icon at a time.The invention also relates to a device able to execute the method of selecting an element by moving a graphics distinction.
US08584036B2	Shape elasticity in visual layout Resizing and/or repositioning a target object related by containment to one or more related object laid out on a computer user interface. Original sizes and/or positions of the related objects to the target object resized and/or repositioned are stored. During the resize and/or reposition operation of the target object, an impact on a related object is calculated based upon a change from the stored original sizes and/or positions of the related object.
US08584034B2	User interfaces for navigating structured content User interfaces for navigating structured content. In one example embodiment, a user interface for navigating structured content includes a grid and a plurality of multi-dimensional cells each having a unique position in the grid. Each cell is configured to display only a first dimension of structured content before selection and display one or more additional dimensions of structured content upon selection.
US08584032B2	System and method for controlling virtual keyboard of an electronic device In a system and method for controlling a virtual keyboard of an electronic device, the virtual keyboard is generated and displayed on a touch screen of the electronic device. The method sets an angle threshold value, a movement amplitude and a movement direction of the virtual keyboard for each tilting angle of the electronic device. When the electronic device is in an edit mode and displays a middle keyboard area of the virtual keyboard, the method records an initial tilting angle and read the tilting angle of the electronic device. The method calibrates the read tilting angle to acquire actual tilting angle according to the initial tilting angle, and confirms the movement amplitude and movement direction of the virtual keyboard according to the actual tilting angle. The virtual keyboard is controlled to move according to the confirmed movement amplitude and towards the confirmed movement direction.
US08584024B2	Avatar cloning in a virtual world Avatar cloning in a virtual world may include receiving an input indicating that a user desires to access a cloning feature and allowing a cloned avatar to be cloned from the user's avatar.
US08584022B1	System and method for organizing, managing, and manipulating desktop objects with an activity-oriented user interface An email client and file manager provides combined file management and communications management in a single interface. An interface allows documents, email messages, contact information, web links or pages, and user-attached notes to be stored in the same folders. This facilitates communication by email and fax. The interface permits the user to combine this data in folders which the user categorizes according to a folder tree created by the user. In one embodiment of the invention, the client, in its email function, communicates with a dedicated host which in turn communicates with external servers according to standard internet protocol.
US08584020B2	User-defined application models A system (and corresponding method) that employs wiki-type models to consider authoring rather than composition in an application environment is provided. The innovation enables collaborative information and templates to be used to enhance quality, productivity, etc. within a software application environment. These wiki-type models can provide features, functions and benefits related to, but not limited to, general information, auto-fills, formats, schema, conversions, preferences, etc.
US08584019B1	Location-based and other criteria-based establishment management systems and methods The disclosure herein provides methods, systems, and devices for managing, controlling, accessing, modifying, converting, and/or tracking software applications across one or more locations, and/or computing devices, and/or users, and/or other criteria.
US08584018B2	User definable co-user lists Systems and methods are disclosed for tracking and displaying the logon status of selected co-users of an on-line or network system in real time to a tracking user in a unique graphical interface. The invention provides user definable on-line co-user lists, or “buddy lists,” which track specific co-users in real-time automatically. When a user logs on to a system, one or more of the user's buddy lists are presented to the buddy list system. The buddy list system attempts to match co-users currently logged into the system with the entries on the user's buddy list. Any matches are displayed to the user. As co-users logon and logoff, a user's buddy list is updated to reflect these changes. An indication can also be added to show that a co-user just logged on or just left the system.
US08584017B2	User definable on-line co-user lists Systems and methods are disclosed for tracking and displaying the logon status of selected co-users of an on-line or network system in real time to a tracking user in a unique graphical interface. The invention provides user definable on-line co-user lists, or “buddy lists,” which track specific co-users in real-time automatically. When a user logs on to a system, one or more of the user's buddy lists are presented to the buddy list system. The buddy list system attempts to match co-users currently logged into the system with the entries on the user's buddy list. Any matches are displayed to the user. As co-users logon and logoff, a user's buddy list is updated to reflect these changes. An indication can also be added to show that a co-user just logged on or just left the system.
US08584004B2	Asynchronous user defined functions A framework for enabling users to create User Defined Functions (UDFs), which can run simultaneously without using multiple calculation threads, is provided. A calculation engine continues a remainder of calculation operations independent of a pending asynchronous function upon starting to run the asynchronous function without waiting to receive a result. The result value is introduced to the computation at a later time during the calculation cycle, when it is received or completed by the calculation engine. When the results are received, downstream operations such as dependent functions are calculated without changing a flow of dependencies within the operations.
US08584000B2	Abnormality detection system, abnormality detection method, and abnormality detection program storage medium Even if data includes a defect or an outlier in features thereof, the influence of the defect or the outlier of the features is suppressed to perform a highly precise abnormality detection, and data including high-dimensional features is processable to accomplish the highly stable detection of an abnormality. The abnormality detection system which detects abnormal data in a data sequence including data of multi-dimensional features, and the system includes storing or generating a generation distribution of features of the data and reference data indicative of normal data; obtaining, every piece of the data sequence, a probability that when features are virtually generated from the generation distribution, the features are nearer to the reference data than the features of each piece of the data; and taking the probability as a one-dimensional dissimilarity degree between each piece of the data and the reference data, thereby determining abnormal data.
US08583997B2	Method and device for padding optimization of segmented turbo codes A method for forming a bit sequence having a number of M bits from a bit sequence having a number of N bits, wherein M/2
US08583996B2	Method and apparatus for determining bits in a convolutionally decoded output bit stream to be marked for erasure A system is used to predict when a decoding process will fail to correct an error burst within a transmission. A decoder receives an input bit stream and processes it to produce an output bit stream, which is convolutionally encoded. K-bits of the convolutionally encoded output bit stream are compared with a corresponding k-bits of a delayed version of the input bit stream, with the k-bits starting at a first bit and ending at first bit+k. For each bit of the k-bits in the convolutionally encoded output bit stream and in the corresponding k-bits of the delayed version of the input bit stream, a number of conflicting bits and whether the number of conflicting bits exceeds a threshold number of conflicting bits is determined. The output bit stream is sent to a block decoding component for decoding with the bits marked for erasure.
US08583989B2	Fibre channel input/output data routing system and method An input/output processing method includes generating and storing at least one address control word (ACW) including a data check word generation field and/or a data check word save field in local channel memory of a channel subsystem, and generating and forwarding to a network interface an address control structure specifying a location in the local channel memory of a corresponding ACW. The method also includes, responsive to a data transfer request, storing the at least one data check word in the data check word save field and routing the data to a host memory location specified by the corresponding ACW responsive to performing a check of the data and determining that the data has not been corrupted, or retrieving the data based on the corresponding ACW, generating and appending at least one data check word and routing the data and the at least one data check word to the interface.
US08583988B2	Fibre channel input/output data routing system and method A computer program product for performing input/output (I/O) processing is provided. The computer program product is configured to perform: obtaining information relating to an I/O operation at a channel subsystem; generating and storing in local channel memory at least one address control word (ACW) specifying one or more host memory locations for data transfer and including a data check word generation field and/or a data check word save field; responsive to receiving an input data transfer request including at least one data check word, storing the at least one data check word in the data check word save field and performing a check of the data to determine whether the data has been corrupted; and responsive to receiving an output data transfer, generating at least one data check word based on the data check word generation field and appending the at least one data check word to the data.
US08583987B2	Method and apparatus to perform concurrent read and write memory operations Subject matter disclosed herein relates to read and write processes of a memory device. During a write process to a particular partition in a memory array, a response to a read request of contents of the particular partition may be delayed. In some embodiments, the contents of the particular partition may be indirectly read during the write process without delaying the response to the read request. The contents of the particular partition can be indirectly read by determining the contents of the particular partition based, at least in part, on an error correction code based, at least in part, on contents of memory partitions of the memory array.
US08583985B2	Transmission apparatus, transmission method, reception apparatus, reception method, program and transmission system A transmission apparatus, including an error correction code calculation section adapted to calculate an error correction code from data of a transmission object as an information word is disclosed. The transmission apparatus further includes a division section adapted to allocate coded data which configures a codeword obtained by adding the error correction code determined by the calculation by the error correction code calculation section to the data of the transmission object for each predetermined number of units to a plurality of transmission lines. The transmission apparatus further includes a plurality of transmission sections provided corresponding to the plural transmission lines and adapted to transmit the coded data allocated by the division section to a reception apparatus through the transmission lines.
US08583983B2	Turbo interleaver for high data rates Techniques for supporting high decoding throughput are described. A transmitter may encode a code block of data bits with a Turbo encoder. A receiver may perform decoding for the code block with a Turbo decoder having multiple soft-input soft-output (SISO) decoders. A contention-free Turbo interleaver may be used if the code block size is larger than a threshold size. A regular Turbo interleaver may be used if the code block size is equal to or smaller than the threshold size. The contention-free Turbo interleaver reorders the data bits in the code block such that information from the multiple SISO decoders, after interleaving or deinterleaving, can be written in parallel to multiple storage units in each write cycle without encountering memory access contention. The regular Turbo interleaver can reorder the data bits in the code block in any manner without regard to contention-free memory access.
US08583982B2	Concatenated decoder and concatenated decoding method A concatenated decoder and concatenated decoding method are provided. The concatenated decoder, including: an inner decoder to receive an input bit stream, inner-decode the received input bit stream, and generate a first bit stream; and an outer decoder to generate error information about the received first bit stream, according to the generated error information, transmit an iterative decoding continuation request to the inner decoder or outer-decode the first bit stream to generate a second bit stream.
US08583980B2	Low density parity check (LDPC) code Example methods are disclosed for decoding low-density parity-check (LDPC) encoded data, involving applying an expanded parity check matrix to generate decoded data, wherein −1 represents an 81×81 all-zero square matrix, and any other integer, Sij, represents an 81×81 identity matrix circularly right shifted by a shift amount equal to Sij.
US08583978B2	Multicast message retransmission In one implementation, a method of distributing a multicast message in a wireless mesh network includes receiving a multicast message from a parent node of an intermediate node. The method includes transmitting the multicast message to child nodes of the intermediate node. The method includes storing the multicast message in a cache at the intermediate node. The method includes intercepting an acknowledgement message from each acknowledging child node within an acknowledging subset of less than all of the child nodes. The method includes accessing information indicating a population of the child nodes to which the multicast message transmission was directed. The method includes comparing the acknowledging subset of the child nodes with the population of the child nodes. The method includes identifying a non-acknowledging subset of less than all of the child nodes. The method includes retransmitting the multicast message to the non-acknowledging subset of the child nodes.
US08583977B2	Method and system for reliable data transfer This disclosure relates to network data communication. Some embodiments include initiating a network connection between an original source and an ultimate destination, transmitting a block of data from the original source to the ultimate destination on the network, requesting retransmission of lost blocks from the ultimate destination to the source and retransmitting the lost blocks from source to the ultimate destination. These embodiments further include measuring round-trip time of a retransmit request, the round-trip time measured from a time of transmission of a retransmit request from the ultimate destination to a time of reception at the ultimate destination after retransmission from the original source and setting the round-trip time as a minimum retransmission request time for the network connection, wherein the round-trip time includes latencies of the network connection and in data processes at the original source and at the ultimate destination.
US08583976B2	Hierarchy management method and system for HARQ memory The invention provides a method for hierarchy management for a HARQ memory, wherein, the HARQ memory includes an on-chip memory including one or more storage blocks, each of which corresponds to a using status bit for indicating whether the storage block is overlayable. The method includes the following steps of: when receiving new data of a coded block, searching the on-chip memory for any overlayable storage block, and if there exists an overlayable storage block, storing the new data into the storage block and setting the using status bit corresponding to the storage block to be un-overlayable; if there is no overlayable storage block, storing the new data into an off-chip memory; and when the new data are checked and pass the check, setting the using status bit corresponding to the storage block in which the new data are stored to be overlayable. The invention also provides a corresponding system.
US08583975B2	Packet combining device and method for communication system using hybrid automatic repeat request A packet combining device for a communication system using hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) includes: a HARQ buffer; a combiner configured to combine data which is previously received and stored in the HARQ buffer with newly-received data; and a channel decoder configured to attempt channel decoding by using the combined received data provided from the combiner and provide one or more of log likelihood ratios (LLRs) computed for a systematic bit and a parity bit of the combined received data to the combiner such that the one or more LLRs are combined with the data used for channel decoding.
US08583974B2	Methods and arrangements for holding target ratio for power loop in a wireless communication system The present invention relates to methods and arrangements in a wireless communication system, and in particular to uplink outer loop power control. A Node B identifies if a UE from which the Node B receives data is in a predetermined set of power challenged situations. The Node B transmits to the RNC an indication to hold the SIR target of the UE if the UE has been identified to be in a power challenged situation. As a consequence, the uplink outer loop power control (OLPC) procedure in the RNC will not change the SIR target of the UE. This implies that the output power level of the UE remains unchanged as long as the UE remains in the power challenged situation. Thus, user and network performance are improved in the wireless communication system.
US08583973B1	Stored-pattern logic self-testing with serial communication An integrated circuit chip that supports stored-pattern (SP) logic built-in self-testing (LBIST) includes a device under test (DUT) and a test controller. System-level SP LBIST testing is performed using an external, system ATE (automated test equipment) that transmits test input data to the test controller for application to the DUT, which generates test output data that is transmitted from the test controller to the system ATE, which performs golden signature comparisons on the test output data. During system-level DUT testing, all communications between the system ATE and the chip are via a single interface, such as a conventional, serial JTAG port.
US08583968B2	Data storage apparatus and method for writing data According to one embodiment, a data storage apparatus includes a read module, an error detector and a controller. The read module is configured to read data from a flash memory, more precisely from a rewrite area and a write-back area, both provided in the flash memory. The error detector is configured to detect errors, if any, in the data read. The controller is configured to keep rewriting data, without correcting the errors the error detector has detected in the rewrite area of the flash memory.
US08583965B2	System and method for dynamic code analysis in presence of the table processing idiom Systems and methods execute a computer program to produce a trace of the computer program and divide the trace into independent threads of execution. Each of the independent threads of execution comprises an execution sequence of the lines of programming code that ends with an identified write line of programming code that outputs an incorrect result. These systems and methods also identify key field within each of the independent threads of execution. In programming, which is processing records in a table one by one, key-fields are a subset of the fields of the table. The key fields impact the computations sequence leading up to the identified write line of the programming code. These systems and methods identify key-based dynamic slices from the independent threads of execution. Each of the key-based dynamic slices includes lines of programming code that are used in computations, processing the table records corresponding to the key fields.
US08583962B2	Method, device, computer program product and data processing program for handling communication link problems between a first communication means and a second communication means A method for handling communication link problems between a first communication means and a second communication means. Data signals, control signals and/or error information are transferred between the first communication means and the second communication means using the communication link. The method includes activating a static identification pattern in the first communication means representing an error information, and stopping a clock signal (Clk) inside the first communication means to freeze a present error condition, in response to a communication link problem being detected, and transferring the activated static identification pattern permanently and/or repeatedly to the second communication means using the communication link.
US08583958B2	Systems and methods of providing fast leader elections in distributed systems of simple topologies Systems and computer-implemented methods of electing a new leader node in distributed systems of simple topologies connecting a plurality of nodes on at least one computer system. The computer-implemented method comprises several steps including at least one node, which detected the absence of a leader, starting a first round for its approval as an Approved Election Initiator. If a quorum accepts the StartElection request during the first round, then the Election Initiator starts a second round to set the leader. If a quorum of all nodes has not been reached during the first round, then the first round fails. The method repeats until a leader is set and is repeated each time a node discovers that the network does not have an active leader. Also provided herein is a computer readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon for performing the computer-implemented method.
US08583957B2	Clock distribution in a distributed system with multiple clock domains over a switched fabric System and method for synchronizing devices. A device reads a first counter coupled to and associated with a master clock and a second counter coupled to and associated with the device, where the device is one of one or more devices coupled to the master clock and each other via a switched fabric, where each device includes a respective clock, and is coupled to and associated with a respective second counter. Each of the first counter and the second counters is accessible by each of the one or more devices. The device determines a difference between the device's associated second counter and the first counter, and determines and stores a time reference for the device relative to the master clock based on the determined difference, where the time reference is useable to timestamp events or synchronize future events.
US08583956B2	Interactive device with local area time synchronization capbility An interactive device with local area time synchronization is contemplated. The device includes a communications module linkable to a corresponding communications module of one or more other interactive devices. There is also memory for storing a set of clock values including a time component, a date component, a daylight savings component, and an event component. A computer processor connected to the communications module and the memory is also included, and is programmed to actively maintain an actively maintained real-time clock based upon the set of clock values stored in the memory. The set of clock values stored in the memory is transferrable by the communications module to a corresponding clock of one or more other interactive devices.
US08583955B2	Battery management system and method A battery management system/method implementing optimal dynamic battery charge/discharge cycling is disclosed. The system utilizes a power source control unit (PSCU) to selectively switch a power supply source to a battery charger that charges a battery servicing a portable computing device. The PSCU is controlled by a power monitor control unit (PMCU) that monitors the battery state and determines the optimal charge/discharge profile for the battery. Depending on the type and current condition the of battery as well as battery charge/discharge history, the PMCU monitors the historical, current, and/or anticipated demand activity of the battery to determine an optimal charge/discharge profile for the battery to enable maximum battery life under a wide variety of environmental and use profiles. Present invention methods control battery charge/discharge activity based on computing device historical/anticipated use characteristics, battery chemistry, and/or optimal battery lifecycle operation.
US08583949B2	Network event notification and delivery Described are a main host system of the client computer, and a network event notification system, including a networking subsystem that communicates with a network server to act as a proxy for the client computer when the main host system of the client computer is in a sleep state. The networking subsystem may await a synchronization packet initiated by the network server, or may occasionally poll the network server to determine whether data is available. To this end, the computing device operates an associated network subsystem while the main host system of the computing device is in a sleep state, and receives data via the network subsystem indicating that content is available. Policy is then invoked to determine whether to wake at least part of the main host system to handle the content. A target duty cycle mechanism also controls the average power consumption during wake and sleep cycling.
US08583942B2	Authenticating ferroelectric random access memory (F-RAM) device and method An F-RAM authenticating memory device and method providing secure mutual authentication between a Host system and a memory in order to gain read/write access to the F-RAM user memory contents. The device and technique of the present invention uses an Advanced Encryption Standard AES128 encryption module in conjunction with a true hardware random number generator and basic exclusive OR (XOR) functions in order to achieve a secure algorithm with a relatively small amount of processing. Due to inherently faster write times than that of conventional floating gate non-volatile memory technologies, the use of F-RAM significantly reduces the time available to interfere with a critical security parameter (CSP) update. Moreover, unlike floating gate technologies, F-RAM's read vs. write current signature is balanced making it less prone to side channel attacks while also providing relatively faster erase times.
US08583939B2	Method and apparatus for securing indirect function calls by using program counter encoding A method for securing indirect function calls by using program counter encoding is provided. The method includes inserting a decoding code for an address of a library function stored in a GOT (Global Offset Table) entry into a PLT (Procedure Linkage Table) entry when an object file is built; generating an encoding key corresponding to the decoding code; and encoding the GOT entry corresponding to the library function by using the encoding key when program execution begins.
US08583938B2	From polymorphic executable to polymorphic operating system A method, capable of being implemented in executable instructions or programmes in device(s), including computer system(s) or computer-controlled device(s) or operating-system-controlled device(s) or system(s) that is/are capable of running executable code, providing for the creation in Device(s) of executable code, such as boot code, programmes, applications, device drivers, or a collection of such executables constituting an operating system, in the form of executable code embedded or stored into hardware, such as embedded or stored in all types of storage medium, including read-only or rewriteable or volatile or non-volatile storage medium, such as in the form of virtual disk in physical memory or internal Dynamic Random Access Memory or hard disk or solid state flash disk or Read Only Memory, or read only or rewriteable CD/DVD/HD-DVD/Blu-Ray DVD or hardware chip or chipset etc.; the executable code being in the form of Polymorphic Executable (PE) or Executable with Unexecutable Code (EUC) or Polymorphic Executable with Unexecutable Code (PEUC) or Polymorphic Operating System (POS) containing PE, EUC and PEUC runnable in an authenticated or authorized state for the protection of intellectual property.
US08583936B2	Key generation using biometric data and secret extraction codes A method of generating a key for encrypting communications between first and second terminals includes obtaining a measurement of characteristics of a physical identifier of a user; and extracting a key from the physical identifier using a code selected from a collection of codes. Each code in the collection defines an ordered mapping from a set of values of the characteristics to a set of keys. The collection of codes includes at least one code in which the ordered mapping is a permutation of the ordered mapping of one of the other codes in the collection.
US08583933B2	Authenticated checkin via passive NFC The present disclosure involves a method of verifying user check-ins to a venue. The method includes initializing a digital check-in chain for a venue. The method includes expanding, electronically by a processor, the check-in chain with a plurality of check-in entries that each correspond to a visit to the venue by a respective user. Each check-in entry on the check-in chain is generated in response to one or more preceding check-in entries on the check-in chain. The method includes detecting fraudulent check-in entries in response to a split in the check-in chain. The method includes removing the fraudulent check-in entries from the check-in chain.
US08583932B2	Signature device, signature verification device, anonymous authetication system, signing method, signature authentication method, and programs therefor [Problem]Provided is an anonymous authentication system which can issue an anonymous authentication certificate that can hold any number of attributes.[Means for Solving the Problem]A signature device of the invention has a means for receiving the input from an authentication authority public key, an anonymous authentication certificate, a signature key, a text, an attribute proof set, and an attribute public key; a means for generating an attribute set representation value which generates an attribute set representation value from the attribute proof set and attribute public key which were input; a means for generating an attribute set representation key which generates an attribute set representation key from the attribute proof set; a means for generating non-interactive zero-knowledge proof which generates non-interactive zero-knowledge proof from the authentication authority public key, anonymous authentication certificate, signature key, and text which were input, and the attribute set representation value generated by the means for generating an attribute set representation value and the attribute set representation key generated by the means for generating an attribute set representation key; and a signature output means which outputs the non-interactive zero-knowledge proof as signature data.
US08583931B2	Electronic signing apparatus and methods Methods, apparatus, including computer program products, and systems implement and use techniques relating to electronic signatures. In one implementation, a one-way hash is calculated for an electronic document and a digital watermark representing the one-way hash is embedded in a signature document. Based on a user input, the signature document having the embedded digital watermark is altered, and the electronic document is associated with the signature document. The electronic document and the signature document together comprise a signed electronic document. The user input can include biometric information, such as a handwritten signature or a voice recording. For additional security, the one-way hash can be encrypted before a representation of the hash is embedded in the signature document.
US08583930B2	Downloadable conditional access system, secure micro, and transport processor, and security authentication method using the same A downloadable conditional access system (DCAS), a secure micro (SM), and a transport processor (TP), and a security authentication method using the same are provided. The DCAS provides a safe security environment through a security protocol which enables mutual authentication and secure channel establishment between the SM and the TP.
US08583929B2	Encryption method for secure packet transmission Methods are provided for securely transmitting a packet between endpoints of a network. In one aspect, there is provided a method for establishing an end-to-end key using extant hop-by-hop security associations. In a second aspect, there is provided a method in which a packet-specific encryption key PEK is used to encrypt a packet p. A signature of the key PEK is independently computed at each of two nodes, using an integrity key shared by the two nodes. The signature is sent from one of the two nodes to the other in association with the packet p. The receiving node uses the signature to verify that the packet p was originated by an entity having possession of the PEK.
US08583924B2	Location-based feature enablement for mobile terminals A computing device to enable a feature thereof according to a current location and a control method thereof, the computing device including: a location unit to determine the current location of the computing device; and a licensing unit to determine whether the current location corresponds to a predetermined authorized location, and to enable the feature if the current location corresponds to the authorized location. Accordingly, a permission to use a software feature or a hardware feature of the computing device can be controlled according to the current location of the computing device.
US08583920B1	Secure administration of virtual machines Methods and systems for performing secure administration of virtual domain resource allocation are provided herein. A cloud service provider (CSP) may provide instances of virtual machines to one or more contracting user entities. The cloud service provider may store an authorization database identifying one or more resources (e.g., storage, CPU, etc.) that each of the different contracting user entities is authorized to use on a virtual machine server device. The CSP may subsequently receive a request from an unverified entity to instantiate a virtual machine with access to one or more resources. The request may include security information. The CSP validates the request by verifying the unverified entity using the first security information (e.g., checking a PKI certificate, requiring a login/password, etc.) and, when the request is validated, provides access to the verified entity to a subset of the requested one or more resources based on the authorization database.
US08583918B2	Wireless communication system, terminal, method for reporting status of terminal, and program A wireless communication system includes a plurality of terminals connected to at least one wireless network on the basis of authority of security configuration parameters shared by the plurality of terminals. Each of the plurality of terminals revokes security configuration parameters of the terminal itself or security configuration parameters of another terminal in accordance with an agreement with said another terminal.
US08583912B2	Communication system of client terminals and relay server and communication method In a client terminal of a communication system, a cipher session establishing section establishes a cipher session use connection between the client terminal as a source client terminal and a relay server by transmitting/receiving a cipher session establishment message between the source client terminal and the relay server, and notifies header information contained in a cipher session header to the relay server. A shared key managing section holds a client shared key with a destination client terminal, A data enciphering section performs encipherment of a data and/or MAC (Message Authentication Code) calculation of the data by using the client shared key and to output the performing result as a client cipher data. A message producing section produces a data communication message including a cipher data field in which the client cipher data is inserted and a non-cipher data field in which the cipher session header containing the header information is inserted. A transmitting section transmits the data communication messages destined to the destination client terminal to the relay server by using the cipher session use connection.
US08583903B2	Helical band geometry for dynamical topology changing Disclosed herein are efficient geometries for dynamical topology changing (DTC), together with protocols to incorporate DTC into quantum computation. Given an Ising system, twisted depletion to implement a logical gate T, anyonic state teleportation into and out of the topology altering structure, and certain geometries of the (1,−2)-bands, a classical computer can be enabled to implement a quantum algorithm.
US08583902B2	Instruction support for performing montgomery multiplication Techniques are disclosed relating to a processor including instruction support for performing a Montgomery multiplication. The processor may issue, for execution, programmer-selectable instruction from a defined instruction set architecture (ISA). The processor may include an instruction execution unit configured to receive instructions including a first instance of a Montgomery-multiply instruction defined within the ISA. The Montgomery-multiply instruction is executable by the processor to operate on at least operands A, B, and N residing in respective portions of a general-purpose register file of the processor, where at least one of operands A, B, N spans at least two registers of general-purpose register file. The instruction execution unit is configured to calculate P mod N in response to receiving the first instance of the Montgomery-multiply instruction, where P is the product of at least operand A, operand B, and R^−1.
US08583900B2	Register renaming table recovery method and system for use in a processor A register renaming table recovery method for use in a processor includes the following steps. Firstly, a flushing operation is performed on a renaming-history table according to a flushed ID. Then, a first renamed ID corresponding to a first register is acquired from an unflushed row of the renaming-history table that is immediately adjacent to the flushed ID. If the first renamed ID is occupied, a register renaming table is updated to rename the first register according to the first renamed ID. Whereas, if the first renamed ID is not occupied, the register renaming table is updated to keep the first register unrenamed.
US08583899B2	Parsing-enhacement facility An instruction for parsing a buffer to be utilized within a data processing system including: an operation code field, the operation code field identifies the instruction; a control field, the control field controls operation of the instruction; and one or more general register, wherein a first general register stores an argument address, a second general register stores a function code, a third general register stores length of an argument-character buffer, and the fourth of which contains the address of the function-code data structure.
US08583894B2	Hybrid prefetch method and apparatus A hybrid prefetch method and apparatus is disclosed. A processor includes a hybrid prefetch unit configured to generate addresses for accessing data from a system memory. The hybrid prefetch unit includes a first prediction unit configured to generate a first memory address according to a first prefetch algorithm and a second prediction unit configured to generate a second memory address according to a second prefetch algorithm. The hybrid prefetcher further includes an arbitration unit configured to select one of the first and second memory addresses and further configured to provide the selected one of the first and second memory addresses during a prefetch operation.
US08583893B2	Metadata management for virtual volumes Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, manage metadata for virtual volumes. In some implementations, a method and system include defining multiple metadata blocks in a persistent storage, including information that links a virtual address space to the storage system, where the defining includes, for at least one of the multiple metadata blocks, determining multiple output addresses corresponding to the storage system, and writing the multiple output addresses and an identifier corresponding to the multiple metadata blocks in a metadata block in the persistent storage. In some implementations, a method and system include reading the multiple metadata blocks into the memory from the persistent storage, including identifying the metadata block based on the identifier; receiving an input address of the virtual address space; and obtaining a corresponding output address to the storage system using the multiple metadata blocks in the memory.
US08583888B2	Method to qualify access to a block storage device via augmentation of the device'S controller and firmware flow A method to qualify access to a block storage device via augmentation of the device's controller and firmware flow. The method employs one or more block exclusion vectors (BEVs) that include attributes specifying allowed access operations for corresponding block address ranges. Logic in accordance with the BEVs is programmed into the controller for the block storage device, such as a disk drive controller for a disk drive. In response to an access request, a block address range corresponding to the storage block(s) requested to be accessed is determined. Based on the BEV entries, a determination is made to whether the determined logical block address range is covered by a corresponding BEV entry. If so, the attributes of the BEV are used to determine whether the access operation is allowed.
US08583887B1	Non-disruptive restoration of a storage volume A system implements a method to non-disruptive restoration of storage services provided by a storage volume of the system. Upon detecting a disruption of storage services at the storage volume, the method freezes the input/output (I/O) operations of applications that are accessing the storage volume. The disrupted storage services are restored. And the configurations of the storage volume are maintained during restoration of the disrupted storage services. Afterward, the frozen I/O operations are activated, allowing the applications to continue their accessing of the storage volume.
US08583882B2	Storage subsystem and its control method A new storage tier is added to a plurality of storage tiers configured in storage areas of a plurality of types of storage devices, whose processing performance is different from each other, without changing its operation form.If a new Tier3 constituting a file system FS4 is added between Tier2 and Tier3, a file server 16 adds a registered generation 1 to a tier number change management table 78, sets Tier3 as the added file system FS4 in the registered generation 1, manages Tier4 as a file system FS5, which has been changed from the former Tier3, adds a policy corresponding to a policy number 1005 to a migration policy management table76, updates only the registered generation from 0 to 1 for policy numbers 1002, 1005, and manages the migration policy management table.

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