| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07654980B2 |
Method for percutaneously implanting a medical catheter and medical catheter implanting assembly
A method for percutaneously implanting a medical catheter, such as a gastrostomy feeding tube, and a medical catheter implanting assembly. In one embodiment, the implanting assembly includes a gastrostomy feeding tube, an inner sheath and an outer sheath. The feeding tube has an internal bolster integrally formed at its distal end. The inner sheath includes a bore extending distally from its proximal end to a point prior to its distal end and a transverse window communicating with the bore. The outer sheath includes a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal bore. The outer sheath is inserted over the inner sheath, and the feeding tube is inserted into the inner sheath, with the internal bolster being folded and tucked into the window and retained therein by the outer sheath. Movement of the outer sheath relative to the inner sheath to expose the window allows the bolster to decompress. |
| US07654979B2 |
Balloon catheter having improved balloon seal
The end cap is preferably formed of a relatively high durometer material with an inner surface on an outer surface of the shaft and on an outer surface of the balloon skirt section, and contacts a compression member on the balloon outer surface. The configuration prevents or inhibits failure at the balloon seals which otherwise results from the compression member moving or the balloon pulling off the shaft and out from under the compression member during inflation of the balloon. As a result, the balloon catheter of the invention has an improved consistent burst pressure and/or failure mode. |
| US07654971B2 |
Device for massaging feet and calves
A massage device includes a frame including a top board, a support plate, and a forward support; a drive unit including a rod interconnected a motor driven flywheel and a transverse bar in the support, and a pivotal arm having a lower end pivotably connected to the bar; a feet massage unit including a forward brace plate releasably secured to an upper portion of the arm; and a calf massage unit mounted on the board. Resting the calves on rollers of the calf massage unit, contacting bottoms of the feet with rollers of the feet massage unit, resting the ankles on the support plate, and powering on the drive unit will rotate the rollers to massage the calves and the bottoms of the feet and relieve pain on nerve centers in the parts of the legs below the knees with the foot massage unit reciprocated. |
| US07654968B1 |
Placental blood extractor
A placental blood extractor consisting of an outside box having a plurality of plastic bags mounted within the top and bottom sections of the box and having an opening in the bottom section, a sterile bag having a central closure on a first side and a leader for an umbilical cord on a second side for holding a placenta mounted between the top and bottom plastic bags and a collector of blood system attached to the opening in the bottom, the collector of blood system consists of a pump, a manometer, a computer and a vibrator for gentle shaking of the collector of blood system. |
| US07654967B2 |
Gas column pressure monitoring device
The present invention provides a device for efficiently coupling a pressure monitoring device to a pressure transducer. In addition, the present invention reduces or eliminates the likelihood air will be unintentionally injected into the pressure monitoring device while connecting the pressure monitoring device to a pressure transducer. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a pressure monitoring coupler comprising a sealing member and a device body. The sealing member comprises a sealing flange connected to an engagement member. The engagement member includes a first and second O-ring positioned thereon. The device body comprises a pressurizing lumen and an intersecting monitoring lumen in communication with a receiving aperture. During use, a pressure monitoring catheter is inserted into a patient's tissue. The pressure monitoring catheter and a transducer are connected to the device body of the present invention. Thereafter, the sealing member is inserted into the device body while the pressure within the pressure monitoring catheter is maintained at or less than a state or equilibrium with the pressure applied by the tissue. |
| US07654964B1 |
System and method for detecting arterial blood pressure based on aortic electrical resistance using an implantable medical device
Techniques are provided for use with a pacemaker or other implantable medical device for detecting arterial blood pressure. Briefly, the pacemaker detects aortic electrical resistance using sensing/pacing leads. Aortic electrical resistance pertains to the resistance to an electrical current passing through the aorta. The pacemaker then determines the arterial blood pressure of the patient based on the aortic resistance and a predetermined calibration value that relates aortic resistance to arterial pressure. The calibration value is updated monthly based on blood pressure values detected using an external blood pressure sensor employing a blood pressure cuff. Other techniques described herein pertain to the determination of other physiologic parameters such as stroke volume and cardiac output and to the detection of changes in hematocrit. Any of the various physiological parameters may then be used to trigger or control warning signals and responsive therapy. |
| US07654962B2 |
Radiation stress non-invasive blood pressure method
The invention determines the energy dispersion via acoustic, electromechanical or other related physiological signals collected from a patient that lies down or otherwise engages a discritized sensing array. Signals are monitored over a range of frequencies and collected in the time domain or frequency domain. A computing machine determines the energy from the signal measured over various elements of the array and calculates the momentum flux. Blood pressure is determined directly from the momentum flux calculation. |
| US07654960B2 |
Method and device for ultrasound measurement of blood flow
A method and a device (1) for ultrasound measurement of the blood flow through a heart valve are proposed. To permit a simple, automated measurement, it is proposed that the measurement area (9) of a measurement beam (7) is moved three-dimensionally by means of a multi-array transducer (11) and continuously evaluated for characteristic Doppler signals. It is further proposed to evaluate several measurement beams (7) with offset spatial, partially overlapping measurement areas (9) and/or several reference beams (8) with offset spatial measurement areas (10) for determination of the opening surface area, the volumetric flow rate, the flow volume and/or a value proportional thereto. |
| US07654958B2 |
Method and apparatus for ultrasound imaging with autofrequency selection
An ultrasound imaging system is provided with an interface for receiving user input, and a controller coupled to the interface, the controller being adapted and configured to adjust parameters for a catheter-based ultrasound probe in response to received user input. Preferably, the controller is programmed to receive a user request for a desired imaging depth, determine an imaging frequency that corresponds to the desired imaging depth, and adjust the imaging frequency of the system to the determined imaging frequency that corresponds to the desired imaging depth. |
| US07654957B2 |
Apparatus for physical measurements of the eye
Utilization of a contact device placed on the eye in order to detect physical and chemical parameters of the body as well as the non-invasive delivery of compounds according to these physical and chemical parameters, with signals being transmitted continuously as electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared and the like. One of the parameters to be detected includes non-invasive blood analysis utilizing chemical changes and chemical products that are found in the conjunctiva and in the tear film. A transensor mounted in the contact device laying on the cornea or the surface of the eye is capable of evaluating and measuring physical and chemical parameters in the eye including non-invasive blood analysis. The system utilizes eye lid motion and/or closure of the eye lid to activate a microminiature radio frequency sensitive transensor mounted in the contact device. The signal can be communicated by wires or radio telemetered to an externally placed receiver. The signal can then be processed, analyzed and stored. Several parameters can be detected including a complete non-invasive analysis of blood components, measurement of systemic and ocular blood flow, measurement of heart rate and respiratory rate, tracking operations, detection of ovulation, detection of radiation and drug effects, diagnosis of ocular and systemic disorders and the like. |
| US07654945B2 |
Method and apparatus for incorporating objects into cigarette filters
Cigarette filter rods having individual objects positioned at predetermined intervals therein are prepared by transferring the individual objects from a rotating horizontal pan to a rotating vertical wheel and then depositing the object into a web of filter tow. Each object is positioned within the moving web of tow. The web filter material and the objects positioned within the web are introduced into a rod-forming unit wherein the rod is formed. The rate of feed of the filter tow, the rate of rotation of the horizontal pan and the vertical wheel are controlled relative to one another such that objects are positioned at predetermined intervals along the rod. Cigarette filter elements having well controlled amounts of flavorant contained therein can be made from the rods. |
| US07654943B2 |
Collapsible hoop
A foldable hoop has an outer tube; and one or more swivel mechanisms connecting ends of the outer tube to form the hoop. The swivel mechanism is formed from two pieces of tubing held together at ends thereof, said two pieces of tubing being rotatable with respect to each other. The tubes forming the swivel mechanism may be solid plastic or hollow tubing, and they are connected to the outer tube using, e.g., rivets, screws, staples. |
| US07654936B2 |
Stationary exercise apparatus
A stationary exercise device having variable footpaths is disclosed. The exercise device includes a frame, a pair of supporting members that have a first end to rotate about an axis and a second end to move along a reciprocating path, a pair of pedals joined to the supporting members, and a guider assembly for adjusting an incline angle of the reciprocating path. |
| US07654935B2 |
Shift control system and shift control method for continuously variable transmission
A maximum flow calculating unit calculates a maximum amount of hydraulic fluid that can flow into or out of an input-side hydraulic cylinder when a shift control command signal is set to a reference DUTY value, based on an estimated valve pressure difference calculated by an estimated pressure difference calculating unit, and a post-guard target sheave position setting unit performs a guard process for restricting the amount of change of the sheave position, using a guard value calculated by a guard value calculating unit based on the maximum flow amount, so as to set a post-guard target sheave position. Since the thus set target sheave position does not undergo excessive large changes nor excessively small changes during shifting, a target value for shifting is set so that a feedforward controlled variable determined based on the amount of change of the target sheave position becomes an appropriate value. |
| US07654932B2 |
Operating method for a hybrid drive
A method operates a drive train the is formed of an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a transmission and a first clutch that connects the internal combustion engine to the electric motor. During an operating state for applying a current requested torque to a transmission input with the electric motor switched on and the internal combustion engine switched off, the internal combustion engine is connected into the circuit by increasing the torque applied to the drive train by the electric motor before the internal combustion engine starts, in such a way that only the current requested torque is applied to the transmission input. Excess torque is extracted from the drive train by actuating the first clutch and applying the excess torque to the internal combustion engine in order to accelerate it. The internal combustion engine is started when its starting state is reached. |
| US07654927B2 |
Transmission apparatus
The present invention relates to a transmission apparatus (15) including at least one of a dividing unit (6) and a differential planetary gear unit (30), and a joint unit (20). A rotational power, which has been input to the transmission apparatus (15), is transmitted to the joint unit (20) via the dividing unit (6) or the differential planetary gear unit (30). A rotational power to be input to the joint unit (20) is smaller than the rotational power which has been input to the transmission apparatus (15), and the joint unit comprises a fluid coupling. |
| US07654916B2 |
Golf balls having a low modulus HNP layer and a high modulus HNP layer
The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a dual-layer core and a cover. The core consists of a center having a center hardness of 50 Shore C or greater and formed from a low modulus HNP composition, and an outer core layer having a surface hardness of 75 Shore C or greater and formed from a high modulus HNP composition. Low modulus HNP compositions of the present invention have a modulus of from 1,000 psi to 50,000 psi. High modulus HNP compositions of the present invention have a modulus of from 25,000 psi to 150,000 psi. The modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the low modulus HNP is at least 10% less than the modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the high modulus HNP composition. The cover consists of an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and an outer cover layer formed from a polyurethane or polyurea composition. |
| US07654915B2 |
Golf balls incorporating rigid, rosin-modified polymers
Golf ball compositions including a rosin-modified polymeric composition including a conventional ionomer, acid copolymer, highly neutralized polymer, or other suitable polymer that has been modified with a rosin material to impart stiffness through increasing the flexural modulus of the material. |
| US07654914B2 |
Golf club head with undercut
A golf club head having an undercut is disclosed. The club head includes a body defining a striking face, a top line, a sole, a back, a heel, and a toe. The back contains a cavity that extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the face. A recesses is provided within the cavity, with the recess extending away from the cavity and toward the sole. The recess causes more of the club head mass to be oriented towards the perimeter of the club head, and optionally also toward the back of the club head. This enlarges the club sweet spot and increases the moment of inertia, and facilitates imparting a desired flight path to a struck golf ball, producing a more forgiving club. The recess may have a varying depth and/or a varying draft angle. A rear wall of the recess may be provided with a cutout to further reposition mass toward the club head perimeter. An insert, such as a vibration dampening member, may be provided within the recess. The insert may contain secondary inserts, such as weight members, therein in strategic locations. The insert may completely fill the recess, or may fill only a portion thereof. |
| US07654908B2 |
Tripod type constant velocity universal joint
A tripod type constant velocity universal joint that includes an outer joint member having three track grooves axially extending on an inner circumferential surface thereof; an inner joint member having three radially projecting trunnions; a boot fitted to an outer periphery of the outer joint member at an end portion and to a shaft extended from the inner joint member at another end portion to seal an inner region of the joint; wherein the outer joint member includes a first reduced-thickness portion on an outer periphery thereof in a region corresponding to the region between the track grooves, and a second reduced-thickness portion on an outer periphery thereof in a region corresponding to the region where the track grooves are located; and wherein the second reduced-thickness portion is of a groove shape axially extending with respect to the outer joint member. |
| US07654906B2 |
Damper with trigger plate
To prevent the number of parts from being increased due to a trigger plate in a damper with trigger plate, a damper which is formed by interposing a sleeve and an elastic body between a hub fitted to a rotating shaft and an annular mass body disposed at the outer peripheral side of the hub, is characterized in that a magnetized trigger plate is integrally fitted, at specified pitch in the circular direction, to one end part of the sleeve, and the sleeve is fitted to the outer peripheral side of the hub or the inner peripheral side of the annular mass body. |
| US07654896B2 |
Gaming system which provides multiple players multiple bonus awards
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. Upon a suitable triggering event at a triggering gaming device in the gaming system a bonus event occurs. When the bonus event occurs, the players actively playing each auxiliary gaming device in the gaming system are each provided a chance to participate in the bonus event as well. Each remaining gaming device's chance of participating in the bonus event is based on the individual accumulated bonus event pool for that gaming device. |
| US07654894B2 |
Card game with fixed rules
Some embodiments include a game of poker in which at least some player actions are fixed by game rules. For example, in some embodiments, a first set of cards displayed on a video screen is dealt to a first player of a poker game. The first player is a person. A second set of cards is dealt to a second player of the poker game. One first action is determined based on a set of game rules and based on the first set of cards. The one first action is automatically performed on behalf of the first player. One second action is determined based on the set of game rules and based on the second set of cards. An amount to be awarded to a winning player of the poker game is determined. |
| US07654886B2 |
Pneumatic grinder
The present invention is a pneumatic grinder, with a housing, an air chamber stand, and a rotor. The air chamber stand includes a cylinder, an upper cover and a lower cover. The cylinder is fitted with an inlet hole and an exhaust hole. There is a lateral exhaust hole assembled on the upper cover or lower cover or both covers and provided with a vertical internal borehole section linking the air chamber within the air chamber stand, and a transverse external borehole section. The air exhaust capacity of the air chamber stand is increased, markedly reducing turbulence and improving rotational speed and strength of the rotor. The vibration of rotor is efficiently reduced for the users, thereby improving significantly the torque, performance and quality of the pneumatic grinder with better applicability. |
| US07654885B2 |
Multi-layer polishing pad
A polishing pad has a polishing layer and a backing layer secured to the polishing layer. The polishing layer has a polishing surface, a first thickness, a first compressibility, and a hardness between about 40 to 80 Shore D. The backing layer has a second thickness greater than the first thickness and a second compressibility greater than the first compressibility. The first thickness, first compressibility, second thickness and second compressibility are such that the polishing surface deflects at least 2 mil under an applied pressure of 1 psi or less. |
| US07654880B2 |
Flicker-type flying toy device
A flying toy (10) includes a planar body defining an outer edge (16). A recess (18) extends inwardly from die outer edge and includes an undercut section (22). The body defines a hook section (24) adjacent the undercut section of the recess, and a finger engagement section (28) opposite the hook section that defines a pair of wings (32, 34). The wings are resilient, and include outer end areas that can be spread apart. The recess is configured to receive the tip of a user's finger. When the user's fingertip is positioned within the recess, the hook section engages one side of the user's finger and the finger engagement section engages an opposite side of the user's finger. The wings spread apart so as to stabilize the body on the user's finger. The user flicks his or her finger to dislodges the flying toy from the user's fingertip, and the flying toy is then propelled through the air. |
| US07654879B2 |
Jumping toy with disassembly action
A toy vehicle. The toy vehicle includes a base, a plurality of wheels spinably connected to the base, and a pneumatic piston operatively connected to at least one of the wheels. The toy also includes a plurality of body pieces at least partially covering the base, and a pneumatic disassembly mechanism operatively connected to at least some of the plurality of body pieces. A pneumatic system is configured to deliver pressurized gas to the pneumatic piston to cause at least the base to jump by extending the at least one wheel away from the base. The pneumatic system is also configured to deliver pressurized gas to the pneumatic disassembly mechanism to separate at least some of the plurality of body pieces from the base. |
| US07654878B2 |
Large format emissive display
A backframe may be utilized to align a plurality of emissive display tiles precisely with respect to one another. The individual display tiles may be removable from the backframe for replacement or other reasons. As a result, the spacing between individual tiles in an overall large format display may be precisely controlled in some cases. In addition, regularly occurring gaps between adjacent tiles may be filled with a suitable light absorbing material to reduce the visibility of seams. |
| US07654877B2 |
Decorative slider with wear resistance
A slider includes a foam core, a first foam skin, a second foam skin, a plurality of third foam skins, a patterned laminate and a plastic board. The foam core is encased by the first, second and third foam skins. Specifically, the first foam skin is laminated to a top, a front edge and a rear edge of the foam core. The second foam skin is laminated to a bottom of the foam core. The third foam skins are laminated to side edges of the foam core respectively. The patterned laminate includes an outer plastic film, an inner plastic film and a pattern. The inner plastic film is laminated to a top of the first foam skin. The pattern is laminated between the inner and outer plastic films and is visible from outside of the outer plastic film. In addition, the plastic board is laminated to a bottom of the second foam skin. |
| US07654874B2 |
Electrical connecting device for inserting a male plug connector of an electronic component such as a fuse or relay
An electrical connecting device for inserting a male plug connector of an electronic component, consisting of a strip of electrically conductive material having a central portion with an opening for introducing the male plug connector and, symmetrically on both sides of the central portion, two longitudinal portions each having an intermediate insertion section in which a contact blade is formed which is delimited by a cut-out, and a terminal section for being plugged into a support. The strip of material is folded to form a parallelepiped cage delimited by the central portion and by the two intermediate insertion sections formed so that their contact blades each define a contact area for a male plug connector introduced into the cage, and a section which may be plugged into a support consisting of two terminal sections placed against one another. |
| US07654872B2 |
Audio jack connector
An audio jack connector includes a housing and a terminal group. The housing has an insertion hole extending inward from the front of the housing. The bottom of the base defines at least one signal terminal recess and an auxiliary terminal recess, a first aperture is defined in the bottom of the auxiliary terminal recess and communicates with the signal terminal recess. The terminal group has at least one signal terminal and an auxiliary terminal received in the signal terminal recess and the auxiliary terminal recess respectively. The signal terminal has a contact portion projecting into the insertion hole and an elastic portion extending from the end of the contact portion. The auxiliary terminal has a transverse fixed portion and a first connecting portion extending upward and then longitudinally from one end of the fixed portion. One part of the first connecting portion is jammed in the first aperture, and the other part of the first connecting portion projects into the signal terminal recess. |
| US07654870B2 |
Interconnection assembly for printed circuit boards
An apparatus electrically interconnects pins that project from the rear side of a backplane in separate arrays corresponding to respective circuit boards at the front side of the backplane. The apparatus comprises a connector board assembly extending across the rear side of the backplane between separate arrays of pins. The connector board assembly has signal routing circuitry that electrically interconnects those separate arrays of pins. This enables the respective printed circuit boards to be electrically interconnected independently of any signal routing circuitry within the structure of the backplane. Accordingly, the apparatus preferably includes a backplane that is free of signal routing circuitry for interconnecting pins that extend through the backplane. |
| US07654866B2 |
Upright electrical connector
An upright electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1) having a base portion (11) defining a mounting face (102), a first and a second tongue portions (312, 322) defining a mating face (101) and extending beyond the base portion; a number of first and second contacts (21, 20) retained in the insulative housing, the first contacts having first contacting portions (212) held in an inner surface of the first tongue portion, the second contacts having second contacting portions (202) held in an inner surface of the second tongue portion; an inner shell (5) mounted to the base portion, the inner shell defining four upwardly-extending side walls (51) enclosing the first and the second tongue portions to form an inner receiving space (53) being open through the mating face; and an outer shell mounted to the base portion, the outer shell comprising four upwardly-extending side walls (61) enclosing the base portion; the first and the second tongue portions are perpendicular to the mounting face. |
| US07654862B2 |
IC package having improved structure
An electrical connector assembly comprises an insulative housing having a base, with a mating interface, and a mounting interface corresponding to the mating face. The base has peripheral walls extending upwardly from the mating face. A plurality of contacts arranged in the base of the insulative housing. At least a pair of cantilevered push fingers formed on two adjacent walls for pushing the integrated circuit module toward opposing walls. At least a support device formed on the bottom of the push finger. |
| US07654861B2 |
Connector and method thereof
The invention discloses a connector, which includes a first connecting unit, a second connecting unit, a third connecting unit, and a determining unit. Moreover, the first connecting unit is capable of being electrically connected to a first power source and/or a first data source; and the second connecting unit is capable of being electrically connected to a second power source and/or a second data source. Additionally, the determining unit is electrically connected to the first connecting unit and the second connecting unit respectively, for selectively outputting a data signal and/or a power signal based on a connecting status. Furthermore, the third connecting unit is electrically connected to the determining unit and an electronic device, for transmitting the data signal and/or the power signal from the determining unit to the electronic device. |
| US07654856B2 |
Cable connector assembly having strain relief member for cable
A cable connector assembly (100) in accordance with the present invention includes a metal housing (1), a terminal assembly (2) and a metal sleeve (5). The metal housing includes a mating port (11), a soldering port (12) with an opening in the center thereof and a passage formed through the mating and soldering ports. The terminal assembly is received in the passage of the metal housing and includes mating and soldering portions (21, 22) which are electrically insulated from the metal housing, the soldering portion exposed in the mating port of the metal housing, the soldering portion extending through the opening of the soldering port to be exposed by the metal housing and adapted to be soldered to a cable (3). The metal sleeve encloses a solder joint (8) between the cable and the soldering portion of the terminal assembly, a front portion (6) of the metal sleeve extends into and is soldered to the opening of the metal housing, and a rear portion of the metal sleeve engages with the cable. |
| US07654852B2 |
Connector and connector assembling system
A connector is described, the connector including a housing with a bottom wall and two upstanding opposite side walls determining a receiving space for receiving an insertion side of a second connector. The housing is provided with a flexible latch for locking the second connector in the receiving space of the housing. The latch is mounted in the bottom wall of the housing. |
| US07654848B1 |
Tooling gage cable retainer
A cable retainer for a tooling gage comprises a structure able to hold a cable into a terminal in the gage while still allowing full operation of the gage. |
| US07654839B2 |
Attenuation of an electrostatic charge on a cable prior to coupling the cable with an electronic system
Embodiments may include connectors with discharge elements integrated into the connectors to interconnect conductors of a cable to attenuate or discharge an electrostatic charge built up on the conductors. In some embodiments, the conductors are momentarily connected to ground as the connector couples with another connector to interconnect a cable with, e.g., a computer. In further embodiments, the discharge elements interconnect the conductors of a cable to redistribute an electrostatic charge and thereby minimize the impact of a discharge when the cable couples with an electronic system such as a computer. Another embodiment comprises a male connector with discharge elements, which ground conductors of the cable as the cable is being inserted into the connector. The discharge elements are pushed out of the way of the conductors as the conductors couple with the connector. |
| US07654838B1 |
Universal-conversion power cable
The present invention publishes a universal conversion power cable, comprising a plug subassembly built by the clamping of a plug socket equipped with conductive components on the inside and a replaceable plug, wherein a power cord connected correspondingly to the conductive components, a plug-in slot which is closed on one end and open on the other end is configured on the surface of the plug socket. The replaceable plug is plugged into that plug-in slot, while the front side of the replaceable plug is just adjacent to the closed-end wall surface of the plug-in slot, the power cord is connected to the open-end of the plug-in slot on the plug socket. The present invention connects the power cord to the open-end of the plug-in slot on the plug socket. When this power connecting device is inserted into the power socket, careless dragging of the power cord or removing the device along the downward direction of the power cord with improper force makes the plug socket and the replaceable plug resist to each other even more tightly, making it impossible to pull off the plug socket separately, effectively solving the defect of the existing technology, significantly improving the safety performance and completely meeting the safety standard of the electric appliance in western countries. |
| US07654834B1 |
Track lighting assembly
A track lighting assembly includes a coupler to join tracks which is movable through a plurality of angles. The assembly also comprises an adapter which allows for flush mounting of the track wherein the fixture adapters may be moved along the track despite the flush mounting of the track. |
| US07654833B2 |
Brittle fracture resistant spring
A spring contact has a post-release outer upper surface in compression and a post-release outer lower surface in compression. A compressive lower layer of spring material may be formed at a thickness that is three-eighths or less of a tensile upper layer of spring material. A low modulus of elasticity cladding material may also be applied to the outer surface of the spring contact with a lower surface of the cladding material being formed with a compressive stress. |
| US07654830B2 |
IC socket having detachable aligning element
An IC socket includes a socket body defining a first receiving cavity with a bottom wall, a cover attached pivotally on one end of the socket body and a locking member for locking the cover to the socket body. The IC socket further includes four detachable aligning elements mounted on four corners of the bottom wall. The four aligning elements have a plurality of positioning surfaces adapted for corporately defining a second receiving cavity for snugly accommodating an IC package therein. Different aligning elements with different dimensions can be replaced to mount on the socket body for different IC packages, thus a cost of manufacturing is reduced. |
| US07654827B2 |
Electrical connector having a space allowing an elastic connecting member to be escaped
In an electrical connector for connecting connection objects to each other in a connecting direction, a holding member has an accommodating portion between a first and a second surface to which the connection objects are opposed, respectively, when connected to said electrical connector. A connecting member has elasticity and is placed in the accommodating portion. The holding member includes a first and a second wall which define the accommodating portion therebetween. At least one of the first and the second walls includes a restraining portion defining a space which allows a portion of the connecting member to elastically move in a predetermined direction crossing the connecting direction. |
| US07654825B2 |
Dental vibrator and acoustical unit with method for the inhibition of operative pain
A patient-controlled device for inhibiting intraoperative dental pain is disclosed. The device includes a removable tooth clamp, an actuator unit, and a control box. The actuator defines unit includes a vibratory actuator and a coupling device for coupling the vibratory actuator to the tooth clamp. The control box is electrically connected to the vibratory actuator and includes at least one controller. In this regard, the removable tooth clamp is configured to be attached to at least one tooth of a patient, and upon final assembly, the controller initiates oscillation of the tooth clamp via the vibratory actuator and vibrates the tooth/teeth to inhibit intraoperative dental pain. |
| US07654820B2 |
Control valves for heaters and fireplace devices
In certain embodiments, a control valve assembly for gas heaters and gas fireplace devices includes a housing. The housing can define an inlet for accepting fuel from a fuel source, a first outlet for delivering fuel to an oxygen depletion sensor, and a second outlet for delivering fuel to a burner. The assembly can include a valve body configured to selectively provide fluid communication between the inlet and one or more of the first outlet and the second outlet, and can include an actuator configured to move the valve body relative to the housing. The actuator can be configured to transition between a resting state and a displaced state. The assembly can include an igniter that includes a sensor, the igniter electrically coupled with an electrode and configured to repeatedly activate the electrode when the sensor senses that the actuator is in the displaced state. The assembly can include a shutoff valve electrically coupled with the oxygen depletion sensor and configured to operate in response to an electrical quantity communicated by the oxygen depletion sensor. |
| US07654812B1 |
High capacity extrusion die assembly
High-capacity extrusion die assemblies (20, 90, 130, 140, 180, 252) each having a tubular sections (44, 146, 162, 268) and an elongated, axially rotatable, helically flighted screw section (56, 56a, 152, 168, 276, 278) which cooperatively define frustoconical, outwardly diverging material flow paths (75, 160, 291) at constant or differing divergence angles of from about 1-11°. The use of diverging tubular sections (44, 146, 162, 268) and screw sections (56, 56a, 152, 168, 276, 278) permits the use of larger die plates (76, 118, 292) with an increased number of die openings (80, 124, 296). This allows significant increases in extrusion production rates. The die assemblies (20, 90, 130, 140, 180, 252) can be used in the production of a wide number of human foods or animal feeds, and particularly aquatic feeds of the floating or sinking variety. In another aspect of the invention, an extruder (210) is provided having diverging and converging sections (212, 214) along the length thereof and defining corresponding flow paths (230, 246). |
| US07654808B2 |
Air ring with circumferentially adjustable air flow
An air ring for supplying cooling air to a hot extruded plastic film after extrusion from an annular extrusion die has an annular body surrounding the emerging tubular plastic film. The annular body has an annular plenum chamber receiving air from an external source. A circumferentially extending series of separate air passages receives air from the plenum chamber and extends radially inwardly to respective separate orifices adjacent to and surrounding the tubular film. Separate adjustors individually control the air flow from the plenum chamber to respective air passages and associated orifices, whereby air flow from each orifice impinges on a discrete circumferentially extending portion of the tubular film substantially independently of air flow from other orifices. Each adjustor controls air flow to only one orifice. The plenum chamber also supplies air through an annular passage in the annular body to an annular orifice adjacent to and surrounding the tubular film. |
| US07654806B2 |
External toothed wheel pump comprising a relieving pocket
An external toothed wheel pump, comprising a delivery chamber comprising an inlet and an outlet for a fluid; a first feed wheel and a second feed wheel which can be rotationally driven for delivering the fluid and are in a toothed engagement with each other which separates the outlet from the inlet; and sealing surfaces which axially face the feed wheels and form axial sealing gaps with the feed wheels, wherein at least one of the sealing surfaces comprises a relieving pocket on a high-pressure side of the delivery chamber only and except for the relieving pocket, extends circumferentially up to at least the root circle and tip circle of the axially facing feed wheel. |
| US07654801B2 |
Hydraulically-actuated diaphragm pump with a leak compensation device
A diaphragm pump including, in a pump body, a hydraulic control chamber disposed between a piston for executing reciprocating motion and the diaphragm, the pump including elements for compensating leaks from the hydraulic chamber, the elements including a refilling duct opening out into the hydraulic chamber via a normally-closed compensation shutter that is driven into the open position by the diaphragm, wherein the above-mentioned compensation shutter being driven by the diaphragm pressing against a free end of a rod for controlling the shutter, the diaphragm being subjected to the force of a suction-assistance spring which co-operates with the above-mentioned shutter to return it to its closed position by pushing the free end of the control rod back towards the diaphragm, the spring co-operating with the shutter to form a moving assembly that is moved without being deformed by the diaphragm during suction overtravel. |
| US07654795B2 |
Turbine blade
An aerofoil for a gas turbine engine, the aerofoil comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge, pressure and suction surfaces and defines therebetween an internal passage for the flow of cooling fluid therethrough. A particle deflector means is disposed within the passage to deflect particles within a cooling fluid flow away from a region of the aerofoil susceptible to particle buildup and subsequent blockage, such as a cooling passage for a shroud of a blade. |
| US07654793B2 |
Fan shroud supports which increase resonant frequency
A support system for a motor within a fan shroud. Struts extending from the shroud to the motor support the motor. The struts are arranged in groups, which are spaced from adjacent groups, and each group contains a non-radial strut. |
| US07654786B2 |
Substrate carrying method thereof
A shuttle is disclosed in which a large-sized substrate is prevented from sagging under its weight or from slipping. The shuttle includes a body, support pins supporting sides of the substrate, and shuttle arms provided to sides of the body to rotate in an axial direction and move in a right-to-left direction. The support pins are coupled with the shuttle arms, respectively. A pair of center supports support center parts of sides of the substrate not supported by the support pins. The center supports are movably coupled to a main frame in a front-to-rear direction. A driving unit moves and rotates the shuttle arms in the right-to-left direction. The driving unit moves the center supports in the front-to-rear direction using the main frame. A vacuum instrument assembly is provided to each of the support pins to securely hold the substrate by a vacuum force. |
| US07654785B2 |
Higher fastening screw
The present invention pertains to a high-speed fastening screw comprising a plurality of concavities on the threads connected in sequence in a single helix. Further, the concavities separately located adjacent to the screw head and to the drilling portion are disposed at relative positions for aligning with an imaginary line, hence efficiently cutting and severing the object fibers to enhance a screwing efficiency. |
| US07654780B1 |
Load lock adjustment mechanism
A load lock adjustment mechanism for use with a load lock for trailers is provided. The load lock has a pad positionable against a trailer wall with a connecting rod extending from the pad and at least one tube sized and shaped for receiving the connecting rod. The load lock adjustment mechanism comprises an insert receivable within the tube with the insert having a threaded aperture extending therethrough and a pad holder having a first end and a second end with the first end of the pad holder having a bore for receiving the connecting rod extending from pad and the second end of the pad holder having a threaded hole formed therethrough to the bore. A threaded stud is receivable within the threaded aperture of the insert and receivable within the threaded hole of the pad holder. A tightening mechanism is secured between the first end and the second end of the stud. A lock collar is movable along the second end of the stud between the insert and the mechanism for securing the final distance between the pad and the tube. |
| US07654779B2 |
Power tool
A power tool includes a tool bit, a tool holder, a bit holding member, a bit mounting hole, a through hole, an outside opening, a bit mounting hole side opening, an engaging member, a cylindrical operating member, a movement preventing portion, a biasing member, a first engaging region, a second engaging region, and a third engaging region. As the first, the second and the third engaging regions respectively cooperate, the tool bit can be automatically secured to the bit holding member by inserting the tool bit into the bit mounting hole of the bit holding member. Mounting and removing of the tool bit can be achieved without a ring spring. |
| US07654772B1 |
Mobile asphalt production machine
A mobile asphalt production machine mixes bituminous concrete at the job site through a mixing auger mechanism mounted in an insulated housing. Propane burners provide heat within the mixing auger mechanism and within the insulated housing to produce a hot-mix bituminous concrete in large or small batches. The components of the asphalt mixture are stored in separate bins that can be re-filled at the job site to provide a continuous supply of asphalt. Hot liquid bitumen is added to heated aggregate within the mixing auger mechanism. Recycled asphalt can be added through a port in the mixing auger for incorporation into the mixture. Controls permit the rate of flow of each individual component to be selectively varied in order to change the recipe for the mixture and to provide calibration of the component, while a master control will maintain the pre-established flow rates through a variable speed of operation. |
| US07654769B2 |
Method and regulating system for producing a cover layer
According to a method for constructing a cover layer S on a planum M by using a paving screed B the elevation of the paving screed B above the planum M is measured using a reference RZ on the planum M by at least one elevation sensors H and/or the lateral inclination of the paving screed B with respect to the planum M is measured by at least one lateral inclination sensor N. Upon occurrence of a deviation from the target elevation pulling points P of pulling bars 6 of the paving screed B are displaced vertically at a road paver F by levelling cylinders Z. Each levelling cylinder Z is exclusively adjusted over an absolute stroke starting from a selected zero point NP. The absolute stroke is calculated from a measuring result of a reference measurement and by consideration of a construction ratio factor. A new adjustment position of the levelling cylinder Z resulting from the adjustment over the absolute stroke in a self-learning fashion automatically is selected as the new zero point NP for a subsequent regulation cycle. |
| US07654766B2 |
Ball joint
A ball joint, in particular for the wheel suspension systems of motor vehicles, an external, essentially cylindrical housing, an internal joint piece with a pin supporting a ball section and a bearing race surrounding the ball section, is retained in the cylindrical housing and has annular seals on both sides of the pin ends. In order to achieve a hydraulic damping function, annular gaps are provided about the pin adjacent to the ball section, filled directly or indirectly with a damping fluid. |
| US07654765B2 |
Ring binder having a clip
A ring binder has a substrate and a ring binder mechanism including a housing and at least one ring supported by the housing for mounting loose leaf paper. At least one clip is adapted to secure the clip to a substrate and thereby mount the ring binder mechanism on the substrate. The clip has a first portion, a second portion spaced from the first portion, and an intermediate portion connecting the first and second portions. The first portion has an attachment member for attaching the clip to the housing. At least one of the portions is a wire. |
| US07654764B2 |
Ring binder mechanism having blocking device
A ring binder includes a housing, a driving mechanism moveable relative to the housing, and rings for holding the loose-leaf pages. Each ring has a first ring member and a second ring member moveable relative to each other between a closed position and an opened position. A ring actuator is positionable relative to the housing and operatively connected to the driving mechanism for moving the ring members between their closed and opened positions. A blocking device blocks the ring members in their closed position against movement to their opened position. The blocking device is positionable relative to the housing between a blocking position wherein the ring members are inhibited by the blocking device against movement from their opened position, and an unblocking position wherein the ring members are selectively moveable from their closed position to their opened position by positioning of the actuator. The blocking device is operable independent of the actuator. |
| US07654762B2 |
Pen/pencil apparatus having cosmetic application
A pen and/or pencil having an opening positioned opposite its writing end for retaining or storing a cosmetic preparation which can be applied to a user. Caps may also be included to cover both the writing end and/or the opposite end containing the cosmetic preparation. The cap covering the cosmetic preparation may also include an applicator such as a wand having a flat, round, or brush shaped tip. |
| US07654760B2 |
Tape printer with tape jam eliminating control in relation to tape cutting operation
A tape printer includes a cutter lever that is capable of moving within a prescribed operating range, a tape-cutting mechanism for cutting a printing tape after the printing tape has been printed by a thermal head when the cutter lever moves past a prescribed range, a cutter lever sensor for detecting movement of the cutter lever within the prescribed operating range, and drive circuits for halting the tape-feeding operation and printing operation controlled by a controller when the cutter lever sensor detects an operation by the cutter lever. With this construction, a printing mechanism, which includes a tape-feeding mechanism, is completely halted when a cutter unit is operated, thereby eliminating all tape jams. |
| US07654758B2 |
Systems and methods for determining media size
In one embodiment, a system and method pertain to measuring the length of media using a first sensing system of the printing device to obtain a first length value, measuring the length of the media using a second sensing system of the printing device to obtain a second length value, and calculating a scale factor that can be applied to measurements made by the first sensing system to increase the accuracy of those measurements, wherein the scale factor is calculated relative to the first and second length values. |
| US07654753B2 |
Optical subassembly for an electro-optical assembly
Various embodiments of optical subassemblies, and arrangements and methods for manufacturing same, for an electro-optical assembly are disclosed. One embodiment comprises an optical subassembly for an electro-optical assembly. The optical subassembly comprises a printed circuit board, an optical semiconductor device, and an optical element. The printed circuit board has a first surface, a second surface, and an aperture therethrough. The optical semiconductor device is attached to the first surface with an active region exposed to the aperture. The optical element is attached to the second surface with an optical axis exposed to the aperture and optically aligned with the active region. |
| US07654750B2 |
Bidirectional optical fiber link systems component couplers
A coupler with an optical element for passing signals between a signaling device and an optical fiber in one direction along a fiber axis and away from the fiber axis in the opposite direction. A molded housing with the optical element houses the signaling device with the optical fiber aligned thereto. |
| US07654746B2 |
Spindle bearing device and corresponding bearing method
In a spindle rotor, the orientation of the figure axis is accepted and the anchoring of the rotor bearing (SL) is configured such that the orientation of the geometric rotational axis adapts to the physical main axis of inertia. The bearing is configured in the form of an actively controlled bearing, whereby the orientation is measured and is dynamically carried out, but also in the form of bearing comprising passive elements which are associated with the external ring of the bearing and enable a correspondingly dynamic orientation of the bearing. A damper (T) is provided to dampen the vibrations of the bearing (SL). |
| US07654744B2 |
Fluid dynamic bearing mechanism for a motor
A fluid dynamic bearing mechanism for a motor (1) suitable for use in a hard disk drive and having a compact and thin shape, high bearing rigidity, and high rotating accuracy, and which securely keeps the rotor member (6) in place against shocks, and allows the inspection of lubricant supply amount easily. A fluid dynamic bearing mechanism having a capillary seal part (12) on one end of lubricant supply part formed by a minute gap including dynamic pressure grooves (10) formed on a shaft member (5) or a bearing member (4) is provided. An annular member (13) is fitted on the shaft member at the location corresponding to the capillary seal part, another annular member (14) is fitted on the bearing member at the location corresponding to the capillary seal part, a taper or step (13a, 14a) is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the annular member on the shaft member side and the inner peripheral surface of the annular member on the bearing member side. These inner and outer peripheral surfaces are arranged to be close to and facing with each other so that the rotor member is prevented from disengaging from the bearing member, and the capillary seal part can be formed at the same time. An axial dynamic pressure bearing unit (1) is formed between the annular member on the shaft member side and one end of the bearing member. |
| US07654739B2 |
X-ray equipment and method for controlling it
X-ray equipment in which the X-ray source and X-ray detector can be moved in a simple and uncomplicated manner permits an X-ray picture to be taken only when the X-ray source and X-ray detector are aligned to match one another. This provides the user with information about how this appropriate alignment can be achieved, which helps to avoid failed exposures, and which conforms to radiation hygiene. The X-ray equipment comprises: an evaluation device for determining a suitable trigger setting for an X-ray picture, in which the X-ray source and detector have such positions and alignments that an X-ray picture of the examination object can be taken using the X-ray equipment; a signal device for outputting signals that inform a user how a trigger setting is to be achieved; and a release device for releasing the X-ray equipment for an X-ray picture when the X-ray equipment has a trigger setting. |
| US07654738B2 |
Cable guiding for a ceiling support of an X-ray device
The invention relates to a ceiling support system for a movable component (7) of a diagnostic X-ray device (1). The system comprises a horizontally movable carriage (8), a crane (9) attached to the carriage (8), which crane (9) is vertically extensible and contractible by means of telescoping sections (10), and at least one flexible electrical cable (17) for the power supply and/or for the control of the movable component (7). In order to provide such a ceiling support system with improved movability of the X-ray tube and/or the X-ray image detector, the invention suggests that the electrical cable (17) is led from the carriage (8) through the telescoping sections (10) of the crane (9), wherein a cable drum (18) is arranged at the top end of the crane (9) for winding the electrical cable (17) during vertical movement of the component (7). |
| US07654733B2 |
Method and device for identifying a temperature sensor connected to a control unit
A controller of a hob is connected to a temperature sensor of a radiation based heating element. In principle, two different groups of temperature sensors can be used, whose resistance values differ by approximately a factor of three. When the hob is first used, the resistance of the temperature sensor is measured at room temperature and is classified in one of the two groups of temperature sensors on the basis of a limit value between the two typical temperature profiles of the groups of temperature sensors. On the basis of this, calibration of the controller is carried out for the purpose of adjusting to the established group to which the temperature sensor belongs. |
| US07654725B2 |
Degassing of flowable masses in a multiple-screw extruder
The invention relates to a multiple-screw extruder that comprises a first process chamber (1) and a second process chamber (2). In the degassing zones of said extruder, at least the first process chamber is provided with at least one degassing opening. The radius R of the conveyor element in the degassing zones, in at least one conveyor element (7; 9) of at least one screw (5, 7; 5, 9) configured as a passage screw, in a subsection configured as a passage subsection (71a, 71e; 91a, 91e), along the peripheral direction of the at least one conveyor element (7; 9) is by ΔR smaller than the full radius Rv of the conveyor element (6; 8) required for the mutual stripping of adhering product in a closely intermeshing screw operation with die adjacent conveyor elements (6; 8) of adjacent conventional screws (5, 6; 5, 8). The invention also relates to a method for degassing viscous or elasticoviscous flowable masses in such a multi-screw extruder having several process chambers, the respective process chambers communicating by means of a connecting opening. |
| US07654724B2 |
Ground plate and backlight module utilizing the same
A backlight module and a ground plate thereof. The backlight module includes a plurality of lamps and a ground plate. Each lamp includes a tube body and an electrode. The ground plate includes a plurality of notches, corresponding to the electrode, to hold the electrode. The ground plate also includes a first side portion, a bottom portion, and a second side portion. The notches are formed at the first side portion. The bottom portion is connected to the first side portion. The second side portion is connected to the bottom portion. The first side portion is closer to the tube body than the second side portion. |
| US07654722B2 |
Light guide plate
The wedge-shaped light guide plate has a number of reflection structures with gaps therebetween arranged along the light reflection plane. Each reflection structure from a previous gap contains sequentially a slant surface extended away from the light emission surface, a second reflection surface further slanting away from the light emission plane, and a first reflection surface slanting towards the light emission plane to connect to a next gap. The second and first reflection surfaces form a prism element. In one embodiment of the present invention, the reflection structures are more densely arranged as they are more distant from the light source. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the reflection structures are arranged uniformly. |
| US07654721B2 |
LED lighting unit and vehicle lamp
The disclosed subject matter includes an LED lighting unit that uses a light guide, and a thin vehicle lamp using the light guide and which can conform to light distribution standards for vehicle lamps. The LED lighting unit can include a light guide having one flat surface formed with many light diffusing patterns, a plurality of LEDs located along one end surface of the light guide, and a reflection board including a reflector located on a bend portion thereof. The reflection board can be located adjacent and extend along the one flat surface of the light guide. The one flat surface can form a large light distribution area with a uniform brightness. The reflector located at the bend portion of the reflection board can form a narrow light distribution having a maximum brightness at a central portion. Thus, the LED light unit can conform to optical characteristics for a vehicle lamp. A vehicle lamp using the above-described LED light unit can be relatively thin. |
| US07654720B2 |
Dedicated LED airfield system architectures
A system and method that contemplates operating an LED at its characterized current (e.g. 400 mA) for any luminous intensity. A Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is employed, wherein the pulse width of the pulse width modulated signal is used to control the luminous intensity of the LED. Optionally, the LED can be biased to reduce the intensity of the pulses used to operate the LED. |
| US07654718B2 |
Electronic device with diffused backlit display
An electronic device comprises a housing having a panel with an opening extending therethrough, a light source disposed within the electronic device and configured to transmit light through the opening, an optically-transmissive layer located on a side of the panel opposite a side of the light source and extending over the opening, and a reflective element disposed on the optically-transmissive layer and located at least partially coincident with a location of the opening. |
| US07654715B1 |
System and method for illuminating a specimen with uniform angular and spatial distribution
A system for illuminating a specimen are disclosed herein. In general, the system may include an illumination source configured to generate light with an uneven distribution at a pupil plane and field stop of the system, a lightpipe coupled for redistributing the light across the pupil plane and field stop, and at least one optical element configured to direct the redistributed light onto a specimen. The lightpipe may generally include a cone-shaped portion and a rectangular-shaped portion. The cone-shaped portion is configured for modifying an angular distribution of the generated light, so that the redistributed light is uniformly distributed across the pupil plane of the system. The rectangular-shaped portion is formed contiguous with the cone-shaped portion and configured for modifying a spatial distribution of the generated light, so that the redistributed light is uniformly distributed across a field stop of the system. A method for illuminating a specimen and a system for inspecting a specimen are also disclosed herein. |
| US07654712B2 |
Lamp for vehicle
A lamp module is constructed of a light source part made of a semiconductor light emitting element, and an optical member for distributing light emitted from the light source part. The light source part includes a surface-emitting laser element in which plural light emission parts are parallel arranged on a surface, a mask which is disposed on a surface of the surface-emitting laser element and includes plural mask openings for exposing the light emission parts, and fluorescent substances with which the mask openings are filled. By forming the light source part in a monolithic configuration, an array pitch of the plural light emission parts can be decreased, a light source can be miniaturized and also a lamp can be further miniaturized. |
| US07654710B2 |
Retractable recessed emergency luminaire
The present invention is an improved emergency luminaire, which is recess-mounted flush within a wall or ceiling aperture, having an enclosure, a panel, a light source, a means for rotating the panel from the closed position to the open position and a means for rotating the panel from the open position to the closed position. The means for rotating the panel from the closed position to the open position includes a single-directional motor. Upon electrical power failure to the primary lighting source in the room, the single-directional drive motor is activated causing the panel to rotate 180 degrees from a closed position to an open position, thereby exposing the light source to view. Substantially simultaneously with the panel opening, power stored in batteries are connected to the light source, causing it to illuminate. When the primary electrical power is restored, the light source is extinguished and the single-directional drive motor is activated returning the panel to its closed position. |
| US07654702B1 |
LED lamp
An LED lamp (100) includes a lamp enclosure (10), a heat sink (51) and two LED modules (30). The lamp enclosure has a recess (15) and an opening (156). The heat sink is received in the recess of the lamp enclosure. The LED modules are attached to a bottom of the heat sink and oriented downwardly and outwardly towards an internal surface (1110) of the lamp enclosure. Light emitted by the LED module is firstly directed to the internal surface and other internal surfaces (130, 1130), and then reflected from the internal surfaces to an outside of the LED lamp through the opening. |
| US07654701B2 |
Led lamp
An LED lamp includes a lamp frame, a plurality of LED modules, an envelope and a heat sink made of metal. The envelope and the heat sink are mounted on top and bottom sides of the lamp frame. A frame body of the lamp frame is attached to a top face of a base of the heat sink. A heat absorbing member made of metal and provided with a plurality of heat absorbing portions is attached on the top face of the base. The LED modules are attached on top boards of the heat absorbing portions. The envelope engages with the lamp frame and receives the heat absorbing member and the LED modules therein. The top boards are inclined downwards from a middle toward an outside of the heat absorbing member. |
| US07654699B2 |
LED lamp having heat dissipation structure
An LED lamp for lighting purpose includes a lamp base, a heat sink, a plurality of LED modules and a blower. The lamp base encloses an inner space and defines a plurality of vents therein. The vents communicate the inner space with a surrounding atmosphere. The heat sink comprises a cylinder at a center thereof. The cylinder has a through hole therein, which communicates with the inner space and vents of the lamp base and cooperates therewith to form an air passage. The LED modules are attached to a periphery of the heat sink. The blower generates an airflow circulating through the air passage to thereby dissipate heat generated by the LED modules. |
| US07654696B2 |
Lighting unit
A lighting unit is described which has a discharge lamp (1), in particular a high pressure or high intensity discharge (HID) lamp or an ultra high performance (UHP) lamp, a lamp driver (2) and a cooling device (3). To reduce mechanical stresses caused by temperature variations in the lamp (1), one or more operating parameters of the lamp (1) are detected. In addition, a control unit is provided for controlling the lamp driver (2) and/or the cooling device (3) at least during switching on and/or off of the lighting unit in such a way that there is no excursion from a predetermined range of the at least one operating parameter. By selecting the parameter range suitably, the service life of the lamp may be extended considerably or the power of the lamp may be increased while the service life remains the same. |
| US07654687B2 |
Light mixer and backlight module having the same
A light mixer includes a light mixing plate, a plurality of light sources, a plurality of upper reflecting layers, a lower reflecting layer, and a semi-permeable layer. The light mixing plate has an upper surface, a lower surface, a peripheral surface, and a plurality of receiving holes. The light sources are respectively located in the receiving holes. The upper reflecting layers are respectively located right above the light sources. The lower reflecting layer is located on the lower surface of the light mixing plate. The semi-permeable layer wraps the peripheral surface of the light mixing plate. A diffuser is located above the light mixers. |
| US07654678B1 |
Cinewide with autoscope
A video display system which combines image processing and an anamorphic lens which displays television, HDTV wide-screen format images, and Cinemascope theatre video in a constant vertical height automatically with no resolution lost to black stripes on the top and bottom of the screen that contain no picture information. |
| US07654677B2 |
Yokeless hidden hinge digital micromirror device
A micromirror array 110 fabricated on a semiconductor substrate 11. The array 110 is comprised of three operating layers 12, 13, 14. An addressing layer 12 is fabricated on the substrate. A hinge layer 13 is spaced above the addressing layer 12 by an air gap. A mirror layer 14 is spaced over the hinge layer 13 by a second air gap. The hinge layer 13 has a hinge 13a under and attached to the mirror 14a, the hinge 13a permitting the mirror 14a to tilt. The hinge layer 13 further has spring tips 13c under the mirror 14a, which are attached to the addressing layer 12. These spring tips 13c provide a stationary landing surface for the mirror 14a. |
| US07654676B2 |
Pupil mismatch in a collimated display system
An image projection system has a first lens with a defined entrance pupil. An image source has an image field and a defined exit pupil. The exit pupil of the image source is configured such that the exit pupil of the image source underfills the entrance pupil of the lens for portions of the image source that are not in the center portion of the image field. |
| US07654673B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining eyesight age
An apparatus and method for determining an eyesight age, the apparatus including: a storage module to store at least one test image and age-specific response information for the at least one test image; a control module to receive user adjustment information indicating a variation in the at least one test image and to determine an eyesight age of a user based on the user adjustment information and the age-specific response information; and an output module to output the determined eyesight age. |
| US07654672B2 |
Systems and software for wavefront data processing, vision correction, and other applications
A system for providing vision contains an aberrometer, a wavefront sensor, and a transfer optical system. The aberrometer is configured to measure a received wavefront. The aberrometer includes a wavefront sensor and a transfer optical system for transferring an input wavefront so as to the provide the received wavefront at or near the wavefront sensor. The system also includes a processor in communication with the aberrometer, a readable memory, and instructions located within the memory. The readable memory contains one or more system error parameters and instructions available to the processor. The instructions are for determining at least one aberration of the received wavefront and calculating the input wavefront based on the received wavefront and the one or more system error parameters. |
| US07654669B2 |
Ophthalmic photography apparatus
To observe interference stripes produced by tear fluid, a low magnification light source 10 is turned on to illuminate the outermost layer of a tear film on the cornea Ec of a subject's eye. Light reflected from the cornea Ec forms an image on a CCD 16, and an interference stripes pattern 18a created by the lipid film on the cornea is displayed on a monitor 18. To measure the amount of tear fluid, light-emitting elements 20a, 20b of a high-magnification light source are turned on to irradiate a tear fluid meniscus Em that has accumulated on the lower eyelid portion of the anterior ocular segment. Light reflected on the surface of the meniscus Em forms an image on the CCD 16, and images 18b, 18c of the light-emitting elements 20a, 20b are displayed on the monitor 18 as clear images separated by an interval D. The amount of tear fluid can be quantitatively measured by measuring the interval D. A single such structure allows interference stripes created by the tear film of the anterior ocular segment to be observed and the amount of tear fluid to be measured. |
| US07654668B2 |
Device and method for detecting the spatial position of the optical axis of an eye and for centering a reference system relation to the optical axis
A method and a device for detecting the spatial position of the optical axis of the eye of a human or animal subject and for centering a reference system in relation to the optical axis are described, having at least one light source emitting a parallel light beam bundle, a positioning region for the subject provided opposite the light source, means for relative position orientation of the parallel light beam bundle in relation to the eye of the subject, and at least one detector unit for detecting reflection events caused in and on the eye by the parallel light beam bundle. The present invention generates control signals on the basis of the scattering and reflection events detected by the detector unit, by which the means for relative position orientation are activated, the control signals being generated in such a way that at least one reflection event and at least one scattered light event are to be brought into congruency in relation to the propagation direction of the parallel light beam bundle. |
| US07654664B2 |
Platen and image recording apparatus
A platen for supporting a reverse surface of a recording medium under a recording head capable of performing image recording with ink droplets on the recording medium, which is conveyed along a specified direction in a main body of an inkjet recording apparatus. The platen comprises an ink receiving portion which receives ink and an ink guiding portion. The ink guiding portion guides the ink received by the ink receiving portion to an ink absorbing member. Specifically, the ink guiding portion guides the ink to an ink guide groove provided in an upper surface of a placement portion, on which the ink absorbing member is placed. |
| US07654662B2 |
Ink jet printing method and ink jet printing apparatus
An ink jet printing method and apparatus are provided which, even when an ink containing a colorant with a coagulating property is applied to a glossy print medium; enable to keep the glossiness of the print medium from being degraded. For this purpose, when forming an image on a glossy print medium, a coagulation inhibiting liquid for inhibiting a coagulation of ink is applied to at least a part of an area on the print medium where the ink is applied. This suppresses the coagulation of ink on the print medium surface and assures a quick spreading and soaking of ink. As a result, the surface of the glossy print medium can be kept smooth, retaining its glossiness. |
| US07654659B2 |
Carriage and liquid ejecting apparatus
To easily form an excellent connection state between a terminal of an information storage medium in an ink cartridge and a contact of a carriage and, additionally, to reliably maintain the excellent connection state. A carriage includes an ink-cartridge receiving chamber for receiving an ink cartridge, an electronic substrate having a contact for connecting with an information storage medium of the ink cartridge, a mounting-position regulating portion for regulating the position of the ink cartridge with respect to a contact by regulating the mounting position of the ink cartridge in the ink-cartridge receiving chamber, and a head unit having a recording head. The mounting-position regulating portion is independent of the ink-cartridge receiving chamber so as to be freely removable and attachable with respect to the ink-cartridge receiving chamber in a state in which the electronic substrate is attached. |
| US07654658B2 |
Consumable product container and image forming apparatus
An ink cartridge, which is removably set in a printer, has an ink chamber storing ink, an absorbent chamber containing a sponge that absorbs the ink from the ink chamber and holds it, and a fuel chamber storing a liquid fuel to be supplied to a fuel cell of the printer. The fuel chamber is located outside and adjacent to the ink chamber, so that the ink stored in the ink chamber is kept in a constant temperature range. Data on residual amounts of the ink and the fuel in the ink cartridge are detected by a residual ink detector and a residual fuel detector of the printer, and are written in a memory card that is removably attached to the ink cartridge. |
| US07654654B2 |
Ink jet printer head
An ink jet printer head including a cavity unit; an piezoelectric actuator; and a wiring substrate. The piezoelectric actuator includes pairs of first common electrode connection pads and pairs of first individual electrode connection pads which are provided on an outer surface thereof such that the two first common electrode connection pads of each of the pairs are located at respective positions symmetric with each other with respect to a first reference point on the outer surface and the two first individual electrode connection pads of each of the pairs are located at respective positions symmetric with each other with respect to the first reference point. The wiring substrate further includes a second common electrode connection pad and a plurality of second individual electrode connection pads which are provided at respective positions assuring that when the wiring substrate takes a first angular phase about a second reference point corresponding to the first reference point, and when the wiring substrate takes a second angular phase differing from the first angular phase by 180 degrees about the second reference point, the second common electrode connection pad is electrically connected to at least one of the first common electrode connection pads and the second individual electrode connection pads are electrically connected to the first individual electrode connection pads, respectively. |
| US07654650B2 |
Ink-jet head
An ink-jet head includes a passage unit in which a common ink chamber and individual ink passages are formed, and an actuator unit fixed to the passage unit. A closed passage having a shape of the individual ink passage being partially closed is formed in the passage unit. |
| US07654648B2 |
Liquid recording head
A liquid recording head includes an element substrate on which ejection energy generating elements for generating energy for ejecting droplets of liquid are provided in a staggered arrangement, ejection outlets provided opposed to the ejection energy generating elements, ejection energy generation chambers enclosing the ejection energy generating elements, and a flow path constituting member constituting first and second nozzles for supplying the liquid into the ejection energy generation chambers. The second nozzles have flow path lengths shorter than those of the first nozzles, the first and second nozzles are arranged alternately, and an average height of the paths of the first nozzles is greater than that of the paths of the second nozzles. |
| US07654642B2 |
Printer unit incorporating an integrated print roll and ink supply unit
A printer unit includes a print roll and ink supply unit. The print roll and ink supply unit includes a print roll former around which is wound print media. The former defines a core portion in which ink is stored. A platen unit is configured to support print media fed from the print roll and ink supply unit. A print head unit includes a printhead configured to print upon print media supported by the platen unit. A drive power distribution unit interconnects each of the aforementioned units and includes a motor configured to feed the print media between the platen unit and the print head unit for printing. A cutting arrangement is configured to cut the printed print media from the remaining unprinted print media. |
| US07654639B2 |
Ink jet printer and print head device thereof
An ink jet printer having a print head unit on which ink ejecting nozzles are arranged. The ink jet printer includes an ink supplying unit having a solid ink storage unit to store solid ink, and a heating unit to melt the solid ink into liquid ink, an ink reservoir to accommodate and store the liquid ink from the ink supplying unit, which is extended so as to correspond to the length of the print head unit, and a heater to heat the liquid ink, disposed in the lengthwise direction of the ink reservoir. |
| US07654636B2 |
Inkjet printhead having optimal number of printhead modules and nozzle rows for out-of-phase printing
An inkjet printhead comprising a plurality of transversely aligned color channels is provided. Each color channel comprises at least one nozzle row extending longitudinally along said printhead. Each nozzle in a row ejects the same colored ink. The printhead is comprised of a plurality of printhead modules, and the number of color channels is equal to the number of printhead modules. |
| US07654634B2 |
Image forming method and apparatus with interlocking inkjet printing operations
An image forming apparatus that has a carriage with a recording head having a nozzle for ejecting an ink includes a capping member configured to cover the nozzle of the recording head, a locking member configured to lock the carriage at a predetermined position, and an interlocking mechanism configured to perform one of locking and unlocking the carriage with the locking member according to one operation of contacting and separating the nozzle with the capping member. |
| US07654631B2 |
Method of calculating threshold value, and liquid ejecting apparatus operable to execute the same
In order to calculate a threshold value for a detection signal output from an optical sensor in accordance with a state of a target object in a liquid ejecting apparatus, the optical sensor includes a light emitting element operable to irradiate the detected object and a light receiving element operable to detect a light amount which varies in accordance with the state of the target object. The detection signal is output from the optical sensor, based on the detected light amount. A level of the detection signal is adjusted so as to fall within a prescribed range. The threshold value is calculated based on the adjusted level of the detection signal. |
| US07654630B2 |
Method for decreasing sensitivity to errors in an imaging apparatus
A method for decreasing sensitivity to errors in an imaging apparatus includes, defining an ideal pattern of dot locations as a rectilinear grid formed by an intersection of a plurality of rasters and a plurality of vertical columns; for each raster of the plurality of rasters defining a plurality of groups of dot locations; and for each raster of the plurality of rasters, vertically shifting some groups of the plurality of groups of dot locations while not vertically shifting a remainder of groups of the plurality of groups of dot locations so as to define a non-ideal vertically shifted pattern of dot locations. |
| US07654629B2 |
Carriage positioning
Systems and methods are disclosed for carriage positioning. |
| US07654628B2 |
Signaling method for printhead
A signaling method for a printhead with nozzles for ejecting ink, and associated drive circuitry for operating the nozzles that receives drive signals from a print engine controller. The print engine controller generates the drive signals in accordance with print data defining a print job for the printhead. A pre-heating determination unit selectively provides the printhead with a pre-heat signal derived from a combination of signals, at least one of the signals in the combination being the drive signals from the print engine controller. Processing within the controller is more efficient if determining whether pre-heating is necessary is restricted only to those nozzles which are to receive print data. |
| US07654625B2 |
Pull-out guide for drawers
A pull-out slide for drawers, in particular cabinet drawers, with opposing drawer side walls and with or without decoration components has drawer rails that are fastened on the drawer and cabinet rails that are fastened on the cabinet body and a device configured to cooperate with each drawer rail and each cabinet rail to enable a pull-out function of the drawer. A function carrier located at or near the front end of each drawer rail has one or more function elements for taking up, holding and/or connecting parts of the drawer and/or one or more function elements for readying, supporting and/or completing drawer functions. |
| US07654624B2 |
Slide rail assembly
A slide rail assembly includes an outer slide rail having a protrusion, an intermediate slide rail having a slot, an inner slide rail having a release portion, a latch member slidably attached to a slot of the intermediate slide rail, and a resilient member connected to the latch member for returning the latch member to an original position. The latch member includes first and second engaging portions located at opposite sides of the intermediate slide rail respectively. The protrusion is capable of engaging with the second engaging portion of the latch member to stop the intermediate slide rail sliding into the outer slide rail together with the inner slide rail. The release portion of the inner slide rail is capable of engaging with the first engaging portion to bias the latch member to slide along the slot to release the intermediate slide rail from the outer engaging portion. |
| US07654615B2 |
Seat assembly having a seat cushion rocker mechanism
A seat assembly (10) for supporting an occupant above a floor in a vehicle includes a seat cushion (12) coupled to a pair of spaced apart risers (20, 22) extending between forward (24) and rearward (26) ends and a seat back (16) pivotally coupled thereto. A rocker mechanism (58) selectively angularly adjusts the seat cushion (12) relative to the floor. A first pivot (70) pivotally connects the rearward ends (26) of the risers (20, 22) to the floor. A sector gear (92) is pivotally coupled to the riser adjacent the forward end and includes a mounting pin (94) offset from the pivotal connection. A rocker link (96) extends from a first end pivotally coupled to the floor and a second end pivotally coupled to the mounting pin (94) for guiding the forward ends (24) of the risers (20, 22) during pivotal movement about the first pivot (70). A pawl (102) is pivotally coupled to the rocker link (96) for selectively engaging the sector gear (92) to maintain the angular position of the seat assembly (10). |
| US07654612B2 |
Vehicle seat assembly with air bag seam rupturing means
A vehicle seat assembly with a frame, a seat pad, and an air bag assembly housing an inflator and a folded air bag that is inflated by the inflator to unfold and project outwardly from the seat through the air bag release seam when the air bag seam is in an opened position. The vehicle seat assembly has an improvement comprising a tear strap secured to the frame and a second end portion secured to the release seam, a guide member through which the tear strap may slidingly pass; and a tether having a first stationary end secured to the frame and a second end that engages the guide member so that movement of the guide member is constrained thereby. The tear strap is movable in response to inflation of the air bag with sufficient force to rupture the release seam, thereby allowing the tear seam to open and allowing the air bag to pass therethrough. |
| US07654611B1 |
Collapsible seat
Disclosed herein is a collapsible seat and a method of providing a seating area in a folded arrangement and an unfolded arrangement. The collapsible seat comprises a seating section, a base section, and a pair of collapsible legs. The seating section comprises a seat base, a lumbar support, and arm rests defined by first planar sections. The base section comprises lateral supports and a resting base defined by second planar sections to support the seating section. The lateral supports are pivotally connected to the seating section. The pair of collapsible legs is defined by a pair of third planar sections to support the seating section. The collapsible legs are pivotally connected to lateral edges of the lumbar support of the seating section. Each of the first planar sections, the second planar sections, and the third planar sections is a polygon of a substantially similar shape and size to each other. |
| US07654609B1 |
Motorcycle trailer system
A motorcycle trailer includes a base having an upper surface and a lower surface. The base is configured to receive a payload on the upper surface and further configured to support the payload on the upper surface. A first support is attached to the base and configured to support the lower surface of the base above the ground. A cylinder is configured to retract the first support such that the lower surface of the base is lowered to the ground. |
| US07654607B2 |
Automotive body structure with spin welded hardware mounts
An automotive body structure includes a tubular load bearing structure and a hardware mount having a base plate with an annular axially extending spin welding initiator. The hardware mount is spin welded to the load bearing structure to provide a reinforced location for the mounting of automotive hardware, such as door hinges, with threaded fasteners. |
| US07654606B2 |
Convertible vehicle comprising a main pillar
A convertible vehicle comprising a moving roof that includes a main pillar which projects upwardly from a window breast line and is movable rearwardly and downwardly around a bearing on the opening of the roof is configured such that the bearing is transposed upwardly with respect to the closed position at least during a part of the roof opening movement. |
| US07654603B2 |
Raisable truck box cover
A raisable truck bed cover protects the contents of the truck bed from the elements and theft, while allowing access to the contents when materials are placed on the cover. The raisable cover maintains the storage capability of the original truck design while allowing additional material hauling capacity by way of the cover and an optional ladder rack system. |
| US07654601B2 |
Operator seat for construction machine, and cab and construction machine including the same
A construction vehicle includes vehicle frames, an operator cab, a hydraulic oil tank, and engine, and an engine cover. The operator cab is mounted on the vehicle frames. The hydraulic oil tank is disposed to the rear of the operator cab and stores hydraulic oil. The engine is disposed to the rear of the hydraulic oil tank. The engine cover is a member that covers the engine. A rear face of the hydraulic oil tank and a front face of the engine cover are the same size in a widthwise direction. A rear end of an upper face of the hydraulic oil tank is positioned at the same height as a front end of the upper face of the engine cover. The upper face and side faces of the hydraulic oil tank are exposed to outside. |
| US07654598B2 |
Vehicle cargo bed extender
An improved truck bed extender particularly adapted for ease of installation and removal. When not being used to extend the truck bed, the extender is advantageously adapted to quickly and easily create a secondary storage area. In one embodiment, the extender includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a connecting wall, a first mount and a second mount. The connecting wall extends between the first side wall and the second side wall, and cooperates with the first side wall and second side wall to form a frame. The first mount is secured to the first side wall and includes a first interlocking member. The second mount is secured to the second side wall and comprises a second interlocking member. The first interlocking member and a first mounting station on the vehicle and the second interlocking member and a second mounting station on the vehicle cooperate to secure the truck bed extender to the vehicle. |
| US07654587B2 |
Mechanical pipe coupling having spacers
A preassembled mechanical pipe coupling having spacers is disclosed. The coupling has a plurality of interconnectable segments that straddle the ends of pipe elements to be joined. The segments have arcuate surfaces that engage outer surfaces of the pipe elements. Spacers, positioned between the segments, maintain them in spaced apart relation sufficient to allow the pipe elements to be inserted between the segments. The segments have adjustably tightenable connection members for connecting the segments and drawing them to one another. When the connection members are tightened and the effect of the spacers is overcome, the arcuate surfaces are brought into engagement with the outer surfaces of the pipe elements. |
| US07654586B2 |
Pipe seal element
An improved static seal element, sometimes referred to as a gasket, which maintains contact with a pipe and a flange during and after seal compression, such seal being particularly useful in a removable pipe coupling. The improved elastomer static seal element is for the prevention of leakage from between two pipes to be connected end to end, a flange being provided to contact the element, and being at least partially contained in a sheet metal housing which is arranged to apply diametric pressure to seal the element against the outer surface of one of the pipes and against the flange, the improvement being the addition of a stabilizer and seal lip projecting beyond the outer diameter of the seal element to maintain the seal in position against the metal housing vis-à-vis the flange of the center component. |
| US07654582B2 |
Directional control of an automatic pool cleaner
A direction control means for apparatuses for cleaning submerged surfaces in the form of an elbow joint with swivel connections at each end. The connections may include anti-friction surfaces. |
| US07654578B2 |
Security document comprising at least one security element
There is proposed a security document comprising a security element, wherein the security element is of such a configuration that it can be determined by means of the sense of human touch. For that purpose either the surface nature of various surface regions can be selected differently so that the configuration and size of the different surface regions can be determined by the human sense of touch. Another possibility is for the substrate of the security document to be provided with suitably shaped openings which can be identified by means of the human sense of touch. A combination of different tactile security elements of that kind is also described. |
| US07654574B2 |
Apparatus and method for mounting mud flaps on a vehicle
A mud flap mounting system for connecting a mud flap to a mud flap mounting bracket of a vehicle includes a mud flap group and a mud flap mounting assembly for connecting one mud flap of the mud flap group to a vehicle mud flap mounting bracket. The mud flap group includes at least two mud flaps, each comprising a sheet of flexible material having a top edge and defining at least two mounting openings, each mounting opening including a bolt hole, a first slit and at least a second slit, said first slit being a severed portion of the sheet with virtually no loss of material and extending from the top edge to the corresponding bolt hole, and the at least a second slit extending outwardly from the bolt hole. The mud flap mounting assembly includes a pressure plate, a spring member, a bolt with a head and a shank with a distal end, and a tightening member. The shank extends through the pressure plate, mud flap, bracket, and spring member, and the tightening member engages at the distal end of the shank to compress the pressure plate, mud flap, bracket and spring member between the bolt head and the tightening member. Each mud flap of the mud flap group bears at least one of indicia and an image. |
| US07654573B2 |
Seat belt device for vehicle
A seatbelt apparatus includes an electric motor 20 for winding a seatbelt 12, and a microcomputer 30 for controlling the electric motor 20. The microcomputer 30 controls the electric motor 20 so as to wind the seatbelt 12 at a winding load which increases to a first winding load at a first rising gradient when collision is detected using a detected length and a detected vehicle velocity by a length sensor 41 and a vehicle velocity sensor 42. The microcomputer 30 controls the electric motor 20 so as to wind the seatbelt 12 at a winding load which increases to a second winding load which is larger than the first winding load at a second rising gradient which is larger than the first rising gradient when an emergency braking operation is detected by detection signal from a brake switch 43. Therefore, the seatbelt can be wound at a winding mode and a winding load which can protect a passenger without giving much feeling of discomfort. |
| US07654568B2 |
Airbag for a front passenger's seat
An airbag for a front passenger's seat internally includes a communication port defined by an inner joint that joins inner circumferential edges of a pair of inner panels. The airbag includes at a rear side a recess and a pair of raised regions. The airbag further includes a contact portion where outer surfaces of the inner panels are in face-to-face contact proximate the circumference of the communication port at full inflation. The contact portion is created and maintained by an inner pressure of the airbag at full inflation that acts on the panels of the airbag, and is not formed if the inner pressure is less than that at full inflation of the airbag. |
| US07654567B2 |
Airbag
An airbag having an airbag fabric skin (10) enclosing an interior gas space with a first edge (11) extending from a first end (11a) to a second end (11b), whereby an accommodation area (A) for a gas generator (20) is located at the first edge outside the gas spaced extending parallel the first edge (11), which exhibits an area (32) of a deflector element 930) which accommodates the gas generator. In order to ensure that the airbag unit consisting of gas generator and airbag halves in a thrust-neutral manner in case of a fire, deflector element (30) consists of a tubular, flexible element, whereby the deflector element (30) exhibits an upper and lower area (32, 36) whose lower area (36) is located inside the gas space (G). The deflector element is connected with the airbag skin in an intermediate area (34) which is located between upper and lower areas. |
| US07654561B2 |
Inflatable cushion for an airbag module
An inflatable cushion for use in an airbag module is provided. The inflatable cushion generally includes a primary inflatable chamber configured for deployment from the air bag module, the primary inflatable chamber having an inlet opening for receipt of an inflation gas and the primary inflatable chamber defines a first volume. A secondary inflatable chamber secured to the primary inflation chamber, the secondary inflatable chamber defining a second volume, the second volume being less than the first volume and the secondary inflatable chamber being in fluid communication with the primary inflatable chamber such that the inflation gas must travel through the primary inflatable chamber prior to reaching the secondary inflatable chamber. |
| US07654560B2 |
Air bag for vehicle
An air bag 1 is provided. At a vehicle side impact, the air bag 1 unfolds from an upper part of a vehicle body downwardly. The air bag 1 includes an airbag body 10 having an inside foundation cloth 8a and an outside foundation cloth 8b, and a pair of inner-cloths 19a, 19b arranged in the airbag body 10. The inside inner-cloth 19a is joined to the outside inner-cloth 19b through two inner junctions 21, 21 separated from each other in a fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. The inner-cloths 19a, 19b have front ends, rear ends and intermediate portions between the inner junctions 21, 21, all of which are joined to the foundation cloths 8a, 8b through overlapping junctions 22a, 22b. In arrangement, the overlapping junctions 22a of the inside inner-cloth 19a are shifted from the overlapping junctions 22b of the outside inner-cloth 19b forwardly. Consequently, triple-layer tubular expansion chambers 25a, 26, 25b are defined in the airbag body 10, allowing a passenger's head to be received certainly. |
| US07654558B2 |
A-pillar structure of curtain airbag
The present invention relates to an A-pillar mounting structure of a curtain airbag. In particular, an A-pillar mounting structure in which an upper mounting member of a boss of an A-pillar trim is separated from the during deployment of an airbag and the trim separated from the A-pillar is prevented from going far away by a cap that is prevented from being scattered by a cap scattering preventing means connected to a mounting member or a trim connecting means. The present invention relates to an A-pillar mounting structure in which a curtain airbag is installed and to which an A-pillar trim is coupled. The A-pillar trim includes an A-pillar trim boss for connecting the A-pillar trim to an A-pillar, and an upper mounting member provided to an upper end of the A-pillar trim boss and formed to be separable from the A-pillar trim boss during deployment of the curtain airbag. |
| US07654554B1 |
Sports board with an interlocking structure
A sports board, such as a snow board, has a board core structure that provides desired structural characteristics localized to select regions of the board while maintaining predictable produceability and optimum operating qualities of the board. In an embodiment, the sports board includes a plurality of layered elements or segments, of which certain elements or segments are joined using interlocking elements. |
| US07654552B2 |
Single jaw mechanism for fifth wheel hitch
A jaw for a fifth wheel hitch assembly includes a jaw body having a stepped bearing surface. A jaw assembly for a fifth wheel hitch assembly includes a jaw body, a control handle and a connecting link where the connecting link is pivotally connected to the control handle on the jaw body. A fifth wheel hitch assembly includes a base assembly for mounting to a towing vehicle, a head assembly carried on the base assembly and a jaw assembly carried on the head assembly. That jaw assembly includes a jaw body having a stepped bearing surface for engaging a king pin of a trailer. |
| US07654546B2 |
Bicycle wheel securing structure
A bicycle wheel securing structure includes an adapter, an axial retaining arrangement and a holding member. The adapter is configured and arranged to be mounted in an axle mounting opening of a bicycle fork and has an axial bore that is at least partially threaded. The axial retaining arrangement is disposed between the adapter and the mounting opening to prevent axial removal of the adapter from the mounting opening. The holding member is attached to the bicycle fork. The holding member and the adapter are configured and arranged such that the holding member prevents rotation of the adapter when the adapter is mounted in the axle mounting opening of the bicycle fork and engaged with the holding member. |
| US07654545B1 |
Vehicle for exercising
This device is exercise equipment. It is a vehicle that is driven by arm and leg power. The device is a three wheeled vehicle that driven by the movement of the handlebars and the seat. The rider moves the handlebars and the seat back and forth. The handlebars are attached to the wheels by a set of pulleys. When the handlebars are moved back and forth they drive the wheels. The handle bars and the seat are attached to each other so that both the legs and the arm are exercised. Thus, an individual can ride around the town in his vehicle exercising his whole body. |
| US07654544B2 |
Air deflector arrangement for a vehicle
An air deflector for a vehicle underbody is provided. The air deflector includes a fairing having a general convex shape over a width of the fairing and extending a length of the fairing. The fairing is arranged to be affixed to an open end of a generally U-shaped vehicle underbody component to reduce aerodynamic drag experienced during operation of the vehicle. The fairing further includes a plurality of integrated clips positioned on opposite ends of the width of the fairing, the clips arranged to snap over flanged ends of the generally U-shaped vehicle underbody component. |
| US07654542B2 |
All terrain vehicle
To reduce a load on an electric motor for a power assisted motor-driven power steering apparatus. The present invention includes side projecting portions secured to an input shaft with an upwardly projecting tab as a first stopper secured to a vehicle body at a position corresponding to the side projecting portions. The upwardly projecting tab being provided for restricting a swing range of the side projecting portions. The side projecting portions are secured to an output shaft. A downwardly projecting portion is provided as a second stopper secured to the vehicle body at a position corresponding to the side projecting portions. The downwardly projecting portion being provided for restricting a swing range of the side projecting portions. |
| US07654539B2 |
Locking drill chuck
A locking drill chuck comprises a chuck body, a plurality of jaws, a nut, a front sleeve, and a rear sleeve, wherein the chuck body has an axial hole at its rear end for engaging with a driving shaft of a driving means, and the rear sleeve close fits with the outer circumference of the rear end of the chuck body, the jaws are separately fitted in a plurality of corresponding inclined holes equally departed away from each other in the chuck body, the nut engages with the jaws, the locking drill chuck further comprises a locking sleeve provided between the front sleeve and the rear sleeve, and connected with the front sleeve; and a locking assembly provided between the nut and a stop surface of the chuck body, the locking assembly includes rolling members and a locking plate, wherein the locking plate connects with the locking sleeve, and has a plurality of eccentric grooves in an end plane thereof, the rolling members is received in the eccentric grooves, the stop surface of the chuck body includes a conical portion and a plane portion. The locking drill chuck in accordance with the present invention is convenient for machining process, with lower product cost, and is more steady and reliable in operating. |
| US07654534B2 |
Prize-winning game machine and apparatus for grasping an object
The prize arrangement is limited in many conventional prize-winning game machines, in which the usable area is only the floor. In a crane game machine of the present invention for grasping a prize, an object grasping system (grasping arms) grasping a prize is suspended by a first and a second wire which are respectively controlled in length by a first and a second Z mechanisms. Thus, the object grasping system can be moved in the longitudinal and the vertical direction, and a direction of the grasping arms can be rotated up-and-down by a predetermined angle. As a result, the grasping arms are capable of grasping the prize disposed on a self provided on the back wall face side of the game machine. |
| US07654531B2 |
Travel game
A toy play set for containing at least one predetermined board game includes a generally elongated body having a hollow interior, first and second opposing longitudinal ends, and a generally curved side wall extending around the hollow interior between the first and second ends. The first and second ends and side wall generally surround the hollow interior in a closed configuration of the body. The body has an open configuration in which the hollow interior is at least partially accessible. A playing surface is operably engaged with the body and is configured to play the predetermined board game. The playing surface is shaped and sized to enable the playing surface to be completely stored within the hollow interior of the body with the body in the closed configuration. The playing surface is accessible at least with the body in the open configuration for playing of the predetermined board game. |
| US07654530B2 |
Casino-type wagering game based on card color
A source of symbols with two primary distinguishable characteristics is provided in a wagering environment. A player has wagering opportunities on a sequence of events, wagering on either of the primary distinguishable characteristics for each event in the sequence of events. Playing cards may be used as the source of symbols, such as a 52-card standard deck with one or two jokers or other non-standard cards. Wagers can be placed on each of the number of events in the sequence and special events that occur in the sequence (all symbols of the same characteristic, a particular card or other predetermined events). Side bets may also be placed on the events. Bets may be placed on the color of a limited number of cards dealt to a community flop, with the joker(s) providing a basis for house retention or profits on wagers. |
| US07654528B2 |
Sheet feed mechanism
A sheet feed mechanism is provided. In a sheet feed mechanism, a first sheet feeding device includes a first sheet feed roller and a first pressure contact roller that can be in pressure contact with the first sheet feed roller. The sheet feed mechanism further includes a recording sheet, which can be conveyed downstream by the rotation of the first sheet feed roller while being held in pressure contact between the first sheet feed roller and the first pressure contact roller. The first pressure contact roller is connected to a pressure contact release mechanism that can release the pressure contact of the first pressure contact roller with the first sheet feed roller. The pressure contact release mechanism is provided near the center in an axial direction of the first pressure contact roller. |
| US07654527B2 |
Method of transporting and processing documents
A method includes the steps of rotating an input roller to transport a first leading edge of a first document from an input tray to an input passageway, a scanning position and an output passageway sequentially; rotating the input roller to transport a second leading edge of a second document from the input tray to the input passageway after a first trailing edge of the first document deviates from the input roller; rotating an output roller to transport the first leading edge from the output passageway to an output tray; and generating a linear speed difference between the input roller and the output roller, after the first trailing edge deviates from the scanning position, to transport the first trailing edge to the output tray, such that the second leading edge is still within the input passageway or the input tray when the first trailing edge deviates from the output roller. |
| US07654526B2 |
Correction method of transport amount and medium transport apparatus
A correction method of a transport amount includes: detecting a movement amount of a medium while transporting the medium using a transport roller, the transport roller being for transporting the medium by rotating, an actual movement amount of the medium, when the transport roller transports the medium by a predetermined transport amount, changing in accordance with a rotational position of the rotating transport roller; specifying the rotational position of the transport roller based on the detected movement amount, and transporting property information of the transport roller, which indicates a change in the actual movement amount according to the rotational position; and correcting the transport amount when the transport roller transports the medium after the rotational position has been specified, based on rotational position information, which indicates the specified rotational position. |
| US07654525B2 |
Reflective sheet detector
A reflective sheet detector includes first and second guide plates constituting a sheet travelling path, an emitter, a receiver and a reflecting portion. The emitter is disposed on a first side of the sheet travelling path and close to a first input opening of the first guide plate. The receiver is disposed on the first side and close to a first output opening of the first guide plate. The reflecting portion is disposed on a second side of the sheet travelling path opposite the first side and is close to the second guide plate. The emitter outputs a signal to the reflecting portion through the first input opening and a second input opening of the second guide plate, and the reflecting portion reflects the signal to the receiver through a second output opening of the second guide plate and the first output opening. |
| US07654515B2 |
Image forming device with two attached cassettes and one transportation device
An image forming device is provided with a device main body, a first cassette, a second cassette that is capable of moving between a first position and a second position with respect to the device main body, a transportation device, and a printing device. The transportation device is capable of transporting a print medium housed in the first cassette in a case where the first cassette is positioned at a predetermined position wit respect to the device main body and the second cassette is positioned at the first position. The transportation device is capable of transporting a print medium housed in the second cassette in a case where the second cassette is positioned at the second position. The printing device prints an image on the print medium transported by the transportation device. A part of the second cassette positioned at the first position and/or the second position is positioned outside the device main body. |
| US07654514B2 |
High capacity tandem stack shuttle feeder module
A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a stack of sheets in a direction of movement to a process station, including: an elevator tray for holding stacks of sheets; a feed head for picking up a sheet from the stack of sheets when a vacuum force; air knife for blowing air between individual sheets in the stack of sheets, the sheet feeding apparatus having a first mode of operation for feeding a single stack of sheets from the sheet tray and a second mode of operation for feeding first stack of sheets and a second stack of sheets from the elevator tray. |
| US07654509B2 |
Desuperheater spray nozzle
An improved valve element for a spray nozzle assembly of a steam desuperheating device that is configured to spray cooling water into a flow of superheated steam in a generally uniformly distributed spray pattern. The valve element includes a valve body and an elongate valve stem that is integrally attached to the valve body and extends axially therefrom. The valve body itself includes a nozzle cone which is integrally connected to the valve stem, and defines an outer surface. Integrally formed on a bottom surface of the nozzle cone is a hub having multiple ribs protruding therefrom. Integrally connected to each of the ribs is a generally circular fracture ring. The fracture ring is disposed in spaced relation to the lower edge of the nozzle cone which circumvents the bottom surface thereof. In this regard, a series of windows are formed in the valve body, with each window being framed by a segment of the lower edge of the nozzle cone, an adjacent pair of the ribs, and a segment of the top edge of the fracture ring. |
| US07654504B2 |
Power actuated valve
An improved power actuated valve, particularly a ball valve, which can be manually opened or closed quickly, in the event of failure of power operation, by manual turning force applied directly to the control stem of the valve without the necessity to overcome any drag or negative torque imposed by the power operating mechanism and speed reducing transmission. |
| US07654503B2 |
Pilot valve
A valve assembly is disclosed that includes a main valve, a pilot valve, and means providing fluid communication between the main valve and the pilot valve. The main valve includes an inlet, outlet, and means adapted to selectively open and close fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet. The pilot valve includes a housing having a first port, a second port, and a third port, and a piston disposed within the housing. The piston cooperates with the housing and the means providing fluid communication to selectively establish fluid communication between the first port of the pilot valve and one of the inlet and the outlet of the main valve. |
| US07654499B2 |
Bookstand that folds thin enough to serve as a bookmark
A bookstand made up of a thin material that when in its folded out position receives a book so that the back of the book is tilted up to make its pages more easily viewed by the reader, and that can be folded flat enough to be placed inside the pages of the book so that it can be used as a bookmark. |
| US07654495B2 |
Hanger assembly
A hanger assembly configured to mount a fan housing in a building including a first support having a lower surface and a second support. The hanger includes a body having a first end engageable with the first support and a second end engageable with the second support. The body is connectable to the fan housing to support the fan housing between the first and second supports and is adjustable to change a length defined between the first and second ends. The first end includes an outwardly extending flange, which is engageable with the first support to orient the body and the fan housing relative to the lower surface of the first support and to maintain a predetermined distance between the lower surface of the support and a lower surface of one of the fan housing and the hanger body. |
| US07654494B2 |
Tripod
The present invention relates to an improved tripod (1) having three legs (2) substantially at 120° each other, said legs being coupled above by a connection element (3) for fixing a camera or television camera, each leg being provided with three stages (2′, 2″, 2′″), movable telescopically each other, respectively a first stage (2′) or upper stage, a second stage (2″) or central stage and a third stage (2′″) or lower stage, said first stage (2′) being fixed above to said connection element (3) for fixing camera or television camera, being it possible positioning said legs (2) grouped centrally or spread out, said two positions being obtainable both with stages of the legs (2) collected and totally or partially extended, said tripod (1) being characterised in that a blocking/release lever (4) is provided on each leg (2), said lever (4) being provided in correspondence of the upper portion of the second stage (2″), said lever (4) being operable according to a substantially vertical direction and acting on blocking/release means between the first stage (2′) and the second stage (2″) and on blocking/release means between the second stage (2″) and the third stage (2′″), being further provided tension rod means (8) between said lever (4) and said third stage (2′″), said tension rod means (8), actuated by said lever (4), interacting with said blocking/release means between the second stage (2″) and the third stage (2′″), sliding each other between second stage (2″) and third stage (2′″) occurring only after the full opening of the second stage (2″) with respect to the first stage (2′). |
| US07654491B2 |
Locking device for switch blades with adaptable profiles
The invention is a device for displacing a switch blade between a position on a stock rail and a position at a distance from the stock rail. The device has: a locking bearing coupled to the switch blade and connected to a locking catch via an axle; and a locking rod that guides the locking catch against a locking support coupled to the stock rail, locks the locking catch to the support, and then unlocks and guides it away from the locking support. The locking support is positioned on the side of the stock rail opposed to the switch blade and is connected to a thrust bearing that is arranged on a fixed superstructure component. The locking bearing is arranged on a component that at least partially follows the displacement, and the displacement motion is transferred from the locking bearing to the switch blade via a displaceable push rod. |
| US07654490B2 |
Precision attitude control system for gimbaled thruster
A system for providing attitude control with respect to a spacecraft is provided. The system includes a reaction wheel control module configured to control a number of reaction wheel assemblies associated with the spacecraft in order to control attitude, and a maneuver control module configured to use a number of gimbaled Hall Current thrusters (HCTs) to control the total momentum associated with the spacecraft during an orbit transfer. The total momentum includes the momentum associated with the reaction wheel assemblies and the angular momentum of the spacecraft. Using the gimbaled HCTs to control the momentum associated with the reaction wheel assemblies during the orbit transfer results in minimal HCT gimbal stepping. |
| US07654488B2 |
Aircraft door arrangement with an aircraft door that swings by 180 degrees
A door arrangement for an aircraft that has a fuselage with a fuselage structure includes a door to be arranged inside a door frame of the fuselage structure and a door joint mechanism attached to the door of the door frame and to the fuselage structure. The door joint mechanism has a seven-joint linkage provided with first to seventh joints by means of which the door, guided exclusively in a rotationally articulated manner, is moveable over a predefined pivoting angle range from a closed position inside the door frame to an open position outside of the door frame and fuselage, and back again. In addition, an aircraft, especially a fixed-wing aircraft, encompassing at least one aircraft door arrangement is provided. |
| US07654484B2 |
Apparatus for and a method of adjusting the length of an infusion tube
The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for adjusting the length of an infusion tube (2) comprising a first wall (3) and a second wall (4) and at least one connecting element (5) connecting the first wall (3) to the second wall (4), said connecting element (5) being situated at a distance to the peripheral circumference of the walls (6), and wherein the distance between the walls in radial distance to said connecting element provides an inlet opening extending around the connecting element having a width (M) measured between the walls (3, 4); and wherein the apparatus comprises at least one attachment device (8) for securing the infusion tube (2). Hereby a winding of an infusion tube is enabled for adjusting the connection length between pump and the site of infusion anywhere on the infusion tube and on any kind of infusion tube, said apparatus being independent of the infusion unit. Thus, the apparatus enables reuse due to its independence of the pump. The system also enables the user to position the winding unit on any suitable place in his/her body with regard to physiology and to clothing. |
| US07654480B2 |
Mulcher
The disclosed mulcher has a base unit and a shredding blade in a removable assembly. Two different embodiments are disclosed. In both embodiments, shredded material is removed from air exiting the shredding blade before it reaches an exhaust port. In one embodiment, the material is removed by a filter. In the other embodiment, walls are arranged so that debris must double back against high-speed airflow leaving the shredding blade before exiting the unit. The shredding blade can be mounted in front of and on the same shaft as an air impeller, with the back surface of the shredding blade being supported by the impeller. In another embodiment, the air impeller and the shredding blade are carried in assemblies that are separable from each other and are each separately attachable to a base unit. A detachable power module and a detachable blower are also shown. The power module has a safety switch that disables the power module when it is removed. A power receptacle is shown with a switch that alternately switches power to either the shredder motor or to the power receptacle, but not to both simultaneously. |
| US07654473B2 |
Flexible watering system and method for using same
A watering system that has first and second upright supports, a plurality of bendable water conduits and substantially rigid water channels and a first spray head is disclosed. Each of the first and second upright supports have substantially laterally oriented brackets dimensioned to releasably hold objects having a first outer diameter, including the bendable water conduits and substantially rigid water channels. The substantially rigid water channels each have a central body and left and right hose barbs in fluid relationship to one another through the central body. The central body has an aperture dimensioned to receive and mechanically engage the insertion end of the first spray head. The first spray head has a spray jet with a first water flow rate. The system may further include second and third spray heads with second and third water flow rates each different from each other and the first water flow rate. The bendable water conduits are preferrably formed from material capable of bending to an acute internal angle without breaking and without substantial kinking. Preferrably, the first upright supports are ornamentally camouflaged and may appear to be a picket fence with each first upright support being formed to allow interconnection of the upright supports one to another to allow flexibility. |
| US07654471B2 |
Waterfall apparatus
The invention is directed to, in one embodiment, a waterfall apparatus having an at least one water supply inflow supplying water to the waterfall apparatus and a body member having the water flowing therethrough. A water accumulation portion of the body member can be coupled to and filled by a water supply inflow. An at least one baffle having an at least one tube member interspaced thereon and extends from the accumulation portion of the body member to an outlet portion of the body member. An outlet flow path is in communication with the outlet portion of the body member, passing the water from the outlet portion of the body member along the outlet flow path and through a waterfall outlet, forming a sheet like waterfall outflow. The at least one interspaced tube member, angled entry portion and optional deflection member work to deflect, slow and smooth the flow, reduce debris accumulation and generally improve the sheet like quality and consistency of the flow of the sheet-like waterfall. |
| US07654470B2 |
Rolling herbicide applicator with an adjustable shield
A rolling liquid herbicide applicator with an adjustable shield is attached to a hollow pole having an adjustable width protective shield mounted to one end weighted, textured wheels for rolling over most terrains are attached to the adjustable width protective shield. On the opposite end of the hollow pole handle is a trigger. When the trigger is activated, an internal trigger stick is moved down through the hollow pole, thereby causing a “C” piece to move upward. This upward movement pushes on a hard flat disk. The movement of the hard flat disk causes pliable cap center to move. The gravity flow of liquid herbicide from a liquid herbicide container causes the liquid herbicide to move through a tube and nozzle assembly. The adjustable width protective shield over the nozzle prevents overspray and accidental contact of the liquid herbicide on healthy desired vegetation. |
| US07654468B2 |
Methods and devices comprising flexible seals for modulating or controlling flow and heat
Disclosed herein are devices comprising at least one flexible seal, at least one flexible complex seal having at least one closed cavity containing a fluid, or a combination thereof. The devices may comprise at least one immobile and inflexible substrate and at least one mobile and inflexible substrate capable of movement due to the flexible seal, the flexible complex seal, or both. The flexible complex seals comprise at least one closed cavity comprising a fluid, such as a gas or a liquid. As disclosed, the presence or absence of heat will cause the mobile and inflexible substrate to move. The movement will increase or decrease the fluid amount or fluid flow rate in the primary fluid layer. Also disclosed are methods for enhancing the insulating properties of insulating assemblies. |
| US07654466B2 |
Semiconductor memory card, semiconductor memory control apparatus, and semiconductor memory control method
A host information memory is provided in a semiconductor memory card and a data write start address and a data size supplied by an access unit are stored. A free physical area generation section determines whether or not to perform erasing of an invalid block of a nonvolatile memory when writing of data based on the data write start address and data size, and determines the number of blocks to be erased. When erasing, writing of data and erasing of invalid blocks are simultaneously performed with respect to different memory chips. Erase process of data, herewith, can be optimized and high speed access from the access unit to a semiconductor memory card can be realized. |
| US07654465B2 |
Method and apparatus for forming transaction cards and other sheet plastic products
A method and apparatus for forming transaction cards. A smooth glossy outer surface may be provided on transaction cards without the use of an over-laminate film. A liquid coating material may be applied to a sheet substrate, which is subsequently subjected to heat and pressure so that the liquid coating material forms a smooth outer surface that may be highly durable and abrasion resistant. Transaction cards may be made using a material that includes a substantial amount of PLA, and may be made to meet ANSI and ISO specifications for transaction cards. |
| US07654463B2 |
Electronic document management system, medical information system, method for printing sheet of chart paper, and sheet of chart paper
An electronic document management system includes an acquisition unit, a specifying unit and a database. A medium includes a document image and a plurality of code image two-dimensionally arranged. Each code image includes position information and medium identification information. The acquisition unit acquires a code image corresponding to an operation position on the medium in conjunction with a user's operation with respect to the medium. The specifying unit specifies the medium identification information included in the code image acquired by the acquisition unit. The database stores personal information associated with the medium identification information specified by the specifying unit. |
| US07654460B2 |
Optical reading apparatus
An automatic optical reading apparatus (1) having a light emitting section (26), a light receiving section (27) and an outside interface section (36). A first unit (2) houses at least one of the emitting section (26) and the receiving section (27) and a second unit (3) houses at least the outside interface section (36). The first unit (2) and the second unit (3) are mutually connectable in at least two different mutual orientations. |
| US07654457B2 |
Voting machine storage and transport cart with improved security
A voter cart capable of supporting a voting terminal, optical scan ballot counter and ballot box, and multiple (collapsible) voting booths in a portable, fully usable and secure configuration. The cart is generally formed with a pair of opposing side-rails joined together in a spaced-apart configuration and mounted on castors, and a plurality of reinforcing struts between and amongst the side rails. The touch-screen voting terminal is seated atop a sliding shelf mounted on roller-brackets between the side-rails and extensible from one end thereof at waist-level for easy wheelchair and/or any other voter access thereto. All the loaded equipment is fully restrained against lateral and vertical motion, and yet all equipment is given full access to their control panels, doors, etc. Moreover, the particular design maximizes strength and usability, and yet keeps weight to a minimum with a framework that is as light weight as possible. |
| US07654454B2 |
Product item status
A method of maintaining a status of a product item, the product item including an associated interface surface, the interface surface having disposed thereon or therein coded data including a plurality of coded data portions, each coded data portion being indicative of an identity of the product item, the method including, in a sensing device: (a) sensing at least one coded data portion; (b) generating, using the sensed coded data portion, indicating data indicative of the product item identity; and, (c) transferring the indicating data to a computer system, the computer system being responsive to the indicating data to update product status information stored in a data store. |
| US07654453B2 |
Merchandise registration processing system
When obtaining an ID code from a user who holds out an arm to a corresponding merchandise in a noncontact manner, respective information terminal devices accept a registration input of the corresponding merchandise. When accepting the registration input of the corresponding merchandise, registration merchandise information including obtained user identification information and merchandise identification information for identifying the merchandise corresponding to the information terminal device is transmitted to a server device. The server device stores and manages merchandise sales information for the respective ID codes from the registration merchandise information received from the respective information terminal devices. When the ID code is input from a settlement device, the merchandise sales information corresponding to the ID code is transmitted to the settlement device. The settlement device performs the settlement processing based on the merchandise sales information received from the server device. |
| US07654448B1 |
Enclosure for automated banking machine
A method provides for accessing automated banking machine components for servicing. A lower fascia is moved from a covering position to an accessible position to permit access to a door selectively closing an opening to the secure area of a chest or secure enclosure of an ATM. The open chest door is retained in an open condition by engagement with the lower fascia. |
| US07654441B2 |
Airplane carton
A food container has an airplane configuration provided by a cardboard-like sheet having a plurality of spaced fold lines defining a number of panels that are folded along the lines and assembled to provide an airplane-like body having food compartments therein. The panels that extend to the tail of the fuselage are especially configured to provide a unitary tail fin and associated stabilizer that present the tail configuration. |
| US07654439B2 |
Method of solid phase welding of metal plates
In a method of welding of metal plates in a solid phase, wherein the metal plates are combined to form a package, and welded together by heating and deforming the package by contacting with two rotating cylinders, the improvement includes: providing a damping lining between the metal plates; placing the package between two cylinders such that the metal plate with the smallest yield value under welding temperature faces the cylinder with smaller diameter, heating and deforming the package in vacuum, such that during a first stage the temperature reaches 0.4-0.5 of melting temperature of a metal plate with the smallest yield value, during a second stage the package is heated by a high frequency which heats the damping lining up to 0.92-0.95 of its melting temperature, wherein angular velocities of the rotating cylinders and their radiuses are selected in accordance with a formula. |
| US07654430B2 |
Coil nailing device for construction finishing materials
A coil nailing device for finishing materials is invented that comprises a standby part for temporarily retaining and loading the nails into a muzzle. A door is installed adjacent to the standby part to check the nail supply. A door latch consists of a hook, coil spring and latch hinge shaft. The door and door latch are operated in the lateral direction, perpendicular to the axis of the main body. The muzzle consists of an adapter, lever arm and a pair of arc-shaped sliding grooves formed on both lateral surfaces. The adapter is attachable to the nose of the main body. A clearance setting device is designed to allow the use of various sizes of nails by setting the depth of the magazine depending on the loaded nail size. An interval setting device is convenient to nail a series of shingle panels by setting the panel interval while the coil nailing device is sliding along the edge of the panels. |
| US07654429B2 |
Enhanced fuel passageway and adapter combustion tool fuel cell
A combustion nailer is configured for use with a fuel cell having an internal metering valve and a reciprocating, biased main stem. The nailer includes a tool housing defining a fuel cell chamber constructed and arranged for receiving the fuel cell, a fuel cell actuator assembly configured for actuating the fuel cell in the chamber to emit a measured dose of fuel during tool operation, and a fuel delivery apparatus associated with the actuator assembly for receiving the emitted dose of fuel and providing it to a combustion chamber. The fuel delivery apparatus is configured for preventing actuation of the main stem by the actuator assembly upon the fuel cell being adapter-free. |
| US07654427B1 |
Suction roller and transporting apparatus using the same
The present invention provides a suction roller which is capable of being adopted for sucking an object. The suction roller is provided with a negative pressure inside thereof and at least one opening for sucking the object by at least one valve disposed in each opening respectively for selectively controlling the on-off of the negative pressure through the opening. During the rotation of the suction roller, the valves in a specific area are capable of being opened so that the negative pressure can pass through the openings with respect to the opened valve to suck the object and transport the object subsequently. In another embodiment, the present invention also provides a transporting apparatus combining the suction roller and a guiding mechanism for transporting the object and compensating the shifting during the moving of the object. |
| US07654426B2 |
Backpack with incorporated gun scabbard
A method of forming a backpack with an integral gun scabbard has been devised whereby the user has a convenient place for the storage and carriage of a rifle, shotgun, or other long gun type of firearm, and simultaneously can store and carry a variety of other sundry cargo while moving about. The backpack is devised in such a way as to permit easy and rapid access to and retrieval of said firearm from the storage. It is equipped with dual padded shoulder straps. In an ideal embodiment, a waist belt is included to facilitate the stabilization of the scabbard when the firearm is being withdrawn, as well as to contribute to the load bearing functions of the backpack. |
| US07654420B2 |
Discharge container
A discharge container that discharges an appropriated amount of a creamy cosmetic, medical supply, or the like. The discharge container may include a cylindrical body and a cylindrical lid with a top. The lid covers an opening, and is rotatably engaged with the opening. A top wall portion of the top is brought into sliding contact with an upper end surface of a rotatable partitioning plate such that any contents in the discharge container are pressed by relative rotation between the container body and the lid, resulting in the contents being discharged through a discharge opening provided on the top wall. |
| US07654418B2 |
Airless dispensing pump
An airless dispenser pump assembly includes a pump mechanism with an inlet valve that is configured to efficiently pump viscous fluids and that is able to be pre-primed when the pump mechanism is attached to a container. In one form, the inlet valve includes a seal member that seals an inlet port of the pump and an outer support member that secures the inlet valve to the rest of the pump mechanism. Two or more legs generally extend in a circumferential direction between the support member and the seal member in order to create a large flow opening for fluid flow through the inlet valve when opened and to rapidly close the inlet valve. The pump mechanism further includes an outlet valve that is configured to draw fluid back from a nozzle of the pump after dispensing in order to minimize build up around the nozzle. |
| US07654416B2 |
Fluid and hair-dye dispensers
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a dispenser apparatus for dispensing fluids. The dispenser apparatus includes a centrally located vertically mounted column assembly. A plurality of canisters is cantilever mounted to the column assembly. Each canister has a receptacle for holding a fluid and each receptacle includes a corresponding pump for dispensing fluid held therein. The dispenser apparatus also includes a stationary dispensing station having a mechanism for selectively actuating the pump for dispensing fluid held in the receptacle. A mechanism is also provided for engaging a portion of a canister to align a pump corresponding to a receptacle to the stationary dispensing station, wherein the fluid held in the receptacle may be dispensed. |
| US07654414B2 |
Liquids dispensing systems and methods
A liquid dispensing system (100) supplies a dispense liquid using a pump (101), wherein the system minimizes contamination of, and bubble formation in, the dispense liquid. The pressure at the suction side of the pump may be limited to a predetermined value. |
| US07654413B2 |
Supporting device for package water dispenser
A supporting device for a packaged water dispenser that is capable of supporting a water bag of packaged water includes a supporting base and a supporting tray. The bottom of the supporting base is provided with a through hole for allowing an inlet conduit protruding from the top of the water dispenser to penetrate therein. The periphery of the supporting base is provided with a plurality of positioning pillars. Each positioning pillar is provided with an elastic element. The supporting tray is accommodated in the supporting base. The bottom of the supporting tray is formed into a funnel and provided with a penetrating hole to correspond to the position of the through hole. The penetrating hole allows the inlet conduit to penetrate therein. The periphery of the supporting tray is provided with a plurality of accommodating troughs for accommodating each positioning pillar and elastic element, so that the elastic element can support the supporting tray. Via this arrangement, the supporting tray raises the water bag of packaged water, so that the drinking water within the water bag can be concentrated and enter the water dispenser, thereby utilizing the water resource well. |
| US07654407B1 |
Garbage can holder
A garbage can holder including a tubular member which is embedded in the ground and has a garbage can holder mechanism vertically movably mounted therein between a lowered position and a raised position. When the garbage can holder mechanism is in its lowered position, the garbage can holder of this invention is not visible. When it is necessary to place garbage cans at curbside or the like, the garbage can holder mechanism is raised from its lower position to its upper position and the garbage cans are attached thereto and supported thereby. |
| US07654402B2 |
Collapsible container
A collapsible container with angularly related multiple folding sections, each section extending at an angle to the vertical and including, within each section itself, a flexure zone adjacent the angular joint between adjacent sections and flexibly movable between a first open position in the expanded container and a second position folded upon itself in the collapsed container, the flexure zones resisting movement of the sections in both the fully expanded container and the collapsed container, as well as any intermediate position wherein only selected flexure zones are in an open position. |
| US07654397B2 |
Gravity separator for a multi-phase effluent
A gravity separator S separates a liquid phase O and a gas phase G from a multiphase fluid mixture E. The gravity separator comprises a collector 1 for collecting the liquid phase O, an outlet 8 for extracting the gas phase G and a draining circuit 3 coupled to the collector 1 for draining the liquid phase O out of the separator. The gravity separator S further comprises a floating assembly 2 coupled to the collector 1. The floating assembly is arranged to float at an interface GLI between the liquid phase and the gas phase so that the collector is positioned in the multiphase fluid mixture present in the gravity separator S for collecting substantially the liquid phase O. |
| US07654392B2 |
Carrier tape containing good therein, and container using the carrier tape
A carrier tape including a main body and plural pockets arranged on the main body and configured to contain goods therein is described. The pockets have depths greater than the thickness of the main body, and are arranged at equal intervals in a longitudinal direction of the main body. Plural dummy pockets are arranged on the main body and extend away from the main body no less than the pockets. The dummy pockets can be replaced with ribs having a plate shape. A container including the carrier tape and a resin cover tape which covers the pockets and the dummy pockets is also described. The container can be reeled. |
| US07654390B2 |
Means for securing a transport base to a shipping pallet
A unitary palletized packaging assembly for securing a packaged article to a wooden shipping pallet is provided. The article is assembled on a paperboard base and then after assembly enclosed in an open bottomed carton and placed on a shipping pallet. The transport base and carton each have bottom flaps that are folded downward and stapled to the sides of the shipping pallet in overlapping fashion to prevent lateral movement of the transport base and packaged article with respect to the shipping pallet. The transport base includes cushioning elements to cushion and support the article. |
| US07654388B2 |
Apparatus to secure and facilitate the inventory of medications in emergency medical services vehicles
A clear, lockable, sealable container for the storage of controlled substances in ambulances and other emergency medical vehicles, allowing paramedics and other emergency medical personnel to inspect and inventory readily the pharmaceuticals in the container without opening, unlocking, or breaking the seal on the container. |
| US07654382B2 |
Table drive system
A table drive system comprising a first drive assembly configured for moving a support table in a first direction, a second drive assembly configured for moving the support table in a second direction and a drive motor coupled to the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly is provided. The drive motor is configured to drive the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly. |
| US07654371B1 |
Hold open rod with rotatably mounted pawls as locking members and a snubber
In a preferred embodiment, an apparatus, including; telescoping inner and outer members; a release collar circumferentially encircling the outer member; at least one rotatably mounted pawl disposed in the outer member; the at least one rotatably mounted pawl being depressed into at least a first depression formed circumferentially in the inner member by the release collar; and the at least one rotatably mounted pawl being movable between unlocked and locked positions. A vibration damper for the hold open rod is also provided. |
| US07654370B2 |
Shock absorber with integrated position sensor
A shock absorber includes a dust tube that surrounds a shock body. The shock body is movable relative to the dust tube in response to road load inputs. A plurality of magnets is mounted to one of the dust tube and shock body, and a module is mounted to the other of the dust tube and shock body. The module interacts with the plurality of magnets to determine a position of the dust tube relative to a position of the shock body. This position information can be used to adjust suspension ride height as needed. |
| US07654369B2 |
Hydraulic vibration damper piston with an integral electrically operated adjustment valve
A vibration damper piston includes a piston body with a bore from which first and second apertures respectively provide paths to first and second chambers of the vibration damper. A valve spool in the bore defines a pilot chamber and controls fluid flow between the first and second apertures. First and second springs bias the valve spool in opposing directions. A control orifice provides a continuous fluid path between the first chamber and the pilot chamber, and a variable orifice provides another fluid path between the second chamber and the pilot chamber. An actuator is operably connected to adjust the variable orifice in response to a control signal. |
| US07654368B2 |
Hybrid fastener
The invention relates to a hybrid fastener, in particular for the absorption of kinetic impact energy and/or for the absorption of the forces occurring on towing, in particular on towing vehicles, comprising at least one force introduction member which introduces force into the hybrid fastener and/or introduces force from the hybrid fastener into an adjacent component and comprising at least one energy absorption member which absorbs the force introduced at least in part by deformation and which is in connection with the force introduction member, with the connection between the energy absorption member and the force introduction member being made in shape-matched and/or force-transmitting manner and/or such that the energy absorption member is connected to the force introduction member with bias. |
| US07654367B2 |
Actuator unit for a hydraulic brake
An actuator unit for a hydraulic brake mechanism on two-wheelers, comprising a housing fastened to the handlebar, a brake cylinder being arranged substantially perpendicular to the handlebar in the housing, a piston movable in it and a brake lever acting on the piston at an intermediate portion remote from either end of the lever, the lever being mounted at one end thereof to rotate relative to the housing, wherein the brake lever is mounted adjustably movable with respect to an axis substantially at an end of the lever, the axis being unchangeable in position but rotatably mounted to the housing, the adjustment option being provided for by the adjustment mechanism, wherein the lever, the adjustment mechanism and the axis rotate together relatively to the housing upon operation. |
| US07654363B2 |
Turboshaft engine that reduces rear noise emissions
A turboengine that reduces rear noise emissions has a thickness of a rear part of a sound-attenuating coating, which is borne internally by an external fan cowl, that is increased toward a front part of the sound-attenuating coating. An increased-thickness zone is connected to a pan of the coating, located in a critical area of a jet nozzle, by a surface having a curved profile. |
| US07654361B2 |
Balanced cantilever spring bracket
A bracket for retaining a sound transducer against a soundboard. The bracket is mountable to architectural frame members and is operable to balance the load of the transducer in the bracket. The bracket includes a spring element that is operable to hold the sound transducer against the soundboard with a specified force. |
| US07654360B2 |
Motor-driven steering apparatus
In a motor-driven steering apparatus structured such that a motor-driven steering assist unit is interposed between a steering shaft in a handle side and a wheel side steering member, and an input shaft connected to the steering shaft of the motor-driven steering assist unit and an output shaft connected to the wheel side steering member are coupled by a torsion bar and arranged on the same center axis, reference angle position marks are applied to portions existing at the same angle position around the same center axis of the input shaft and the output shaft, in a neutral steering state in which a steering force is not applied to the input shaft of the motor-driven steering assist unit. |
| US07654359B2 |
Tractor control means
A control means for an agricultural tractor is disclosed which has a switching element carrier arranged in proximity to the leading end region of an arm rest of a driver's seat. The control means has a large number of switches for controlling various vehicle units and the carrier has a hand rest (3, 4) provided with a spherical surface for the palm of the vehicle driver's hand. An adjustment wheel (14, 19) is provided for controlling a switching element (12, 24), the adjustment wheel having a setting rim (14a, 19a) which extends from the switching element carrier in a region which can be reached by the fingers of the hand resting on the hand rest (3, 4). Preferably the control means is provided with two adjustment wheels (14, 19) one above the other, each adjustment wheel having a setting rim (14a,19a) which can be reached by the fingers of a hand resting on the hand rest. These adjustment wheels (14, 19) preferably have actuating shafts (13, 23) which extend substantially coaxially and the lower adjustment wheel (14) has a larger external diameter than the upper adjustment wheel (19). |
| US07654357B2 |
Radiator coil mounted on a motorcycle
A motorcycle including a frame having a top, a bottom, a front, a rear, and a centrally-located longitudinal axis extending through the front and the rear. The longitudinal axis defines a vertical plane. The motorcycle also includes an engine supported by the frame and a radiator coil obliquely mounted to the frame. The radiator coil is spaced apart from the vertical plane and includes a forward end and a rearward end as viewed from above the motorcycle. The forward end defines a first distance measured normal to the vertical plane and the rearward end defines a second distance measured normal to the vertical plane. The first distance is shorter than the second distance. |
| US07654348B2 |
Maneuvering robotic vehicles having a positionable sensor head
Configurations are provided for vehicular robots or other vehicles to provide shifting of their centers of gravity for enhanced obstacle navigation. Various head and neck morphologies are provided to allow positioning for various poses such as a stowed pose, observation poses, and inspection poses. Neck extension and actuator module designs are provided to implement various head and neck morphologies. Robot control network circuitry is also provided. |
| US07654347B2 |
Crawler moving system having variable configuration
Crawler moving system with variable configuration comprising a front axle (6), a rear axle (2) and at least one central axle (4) suitable for transmitting movement to the others through at least one crawler per side.Between the front axle and the central axle and between the rear axle and the central axle respective intermediate axles (3,5) are foreseen that act as a pivot about which such front and rear axles are able to rotate. |
| US07654344B2 |
Torque converter for use when drilling with a rotating drill bit
A torque converter for use in drilling with a rotating drill bit, the purpose of the torque converter being to absorb impacts and bring about an axial movement of the drill bit when the torque exceeds a predetermined value. For this purpose the torque converter is composed of two cylindrical string parts connected through the bearing elements. The string parts are connected to each other through helical elements in such a way that relative rotation of the two cylindrical string parts brings about axial movement, which unloads the drill bit. |
| US07654340B2 |
Directional reaming system
A horizontal directional drilling system is used to drive operation of a guidable reamer assembly connected to a drill string. The guidable reamer assembly preferably has a cutting member with a central longitudinal axis and a support member also having a central longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axes of the cutting member and the support member are collinear when the reamer assembly is in the non-steering position and laterally displaced when in the steering position. The assembly and method of this invention provide for increased control of reaming operations and product pipe placement. |
| US07654335B2 |
System and method for controlling an implement based upon a gear shift
Systems and methods for controlling an implement based upon a gear shift include a shift detector circuit which detects a direction of the gear shift and an implement controller circuit which adjusts an implement in response to the direction of the gear shift. |
| US07654332B2 |
Apparatus and methods for radially expanding a tubular member
Radially expanding a tubular such as a liner or casing, especially in a downward direction. The apparatus includes at least one driver device such as a piston that is typically fluid-actuated, and an expander device is attached to the or each driver device. Actuation of the or each driver device causes movement of the expander device to expand the tubular. One or more anchoring devices, which may be radially offset, are used to substantially prevent the tubular from moving during expansion thereof. |
| US07654330B2 |
Apparatus, methods, and systems for extracting petroleum using a portable coal reformer
Apparatus, methods, and systems for extracting oil or natural gas from a well using a portable coal reformer. In one example, the method may include reforming coal by reaction with water to generate driver gas (comprising carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas), and injecting the driver gas into the well. The driver gas reduces the viscosity and pressurizes the oil to help extract the oil from the oil well. The coal reforming operation may include combusting coal or other combustible material with ambient oxygen to release energy, and heating coal and water with the energy released to a temperature above that required for the coal reforming reaction to proceed, thereby reforming coal and water into driver gas. The driver gas may be purified by filtering out particles and sulfur before injecting into the well. A portion of the hydrogen gas may be separated from the driver gas and used to generate electrical power. |
| US07654326B1 |
Sorel cements and methods of making and using same
A method of servicing a wellbore comprising contacting a metal oxide, a soluble chloride or phosphate salt, water, and a liquid retarder to form a cement composition via a continuous process, wherein the liquid retarder is an aqueous solution having a concentration of less than about 25 w/v %, placing the cement composition into the wellbore, and allowing the cement composition to set. A method of servicing a wellbore comprising (a) contacting an aqueous solution with a soluble salt to form a salt solution, (b) contacting an aqueous solution with a solid retarder to form a liquid retarder wherein the liquid retarder has concentration of less than about 25 w/v %, (c) contacting water, the salt solution, and the liquid retarder to form a mixture, (d) contacting the mixture with a metal oxide to form a cement slurry, wherein the cement slurry is produced with an output rate of from about 0.5 barrels per minute to about 20 barrels per minute, (e) placing the cement slurry into the wellbore, and (f) allowing the cement slurry to set. |
| US07654325B2 |
Methods and apparatus for handling and drilling with tubulars or casing
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for handling tubulars and drilling with tubulars such as casing into a formation. In one aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises a circulating head and a cementing head operatively connectible to a gripping member. The circulating head is used to circulate drilling fluid while drilling with casing, and the cementing head is used to cement the casing string within the formation at a desired depth. The present invention also relates to methods and apparatus for isolating a tensile load from a drilling apparatus rotated by a top drive. In one aspect, the present invention provides a load isolator apparatus having an isolator body operatively connected to the top drive and a torque body at least partially disposed in the isolator body. In operation, the bearing assembly transfers the tensile load from the torque body to the isolator body. |
| US07654320B2 |
System and method for processing a mixture of hydrocarbon and CO2 gas produced from a hydrocarbon reservoir
A system and method is disclosed for treating a mixture of hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide gas produced from a hydrocarbon reservoir. The system includes a gas power turbine adapted to burn the produced gas mixture of hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide gas with oxygen as an oxidizing agent and a capture system to collect the exhaust gas from the power turbine. An inlet compressor receives exhaust gas from the capture system and compresses the exhaust gas for injection of the exhaust gas into a hydrocarbon reservoir and for recycle to the power turbine. The system may further include a membrane system that preferentially removes carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from the produced gas stream before said stream is used as fuel gas in the power turbine. The carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide removed by the membrane system is combined with the exhaust gas, and the combined gas is injected into a hydrocarbon reservoir. |
| US07654319B2 |
Closed loop multiphase underbalanced drilling process
The present invention provides apparatus and methods for handling fluids returning from a well. The fluids are introduced into a separator and a separated gas stream is recovered or recycled. The gas stream may comprise more than one phase. The separated gas stream is urged through a multiphase pump before it is recovered. Alternatively, the return fluids may pass through a multiphase pump before it is introduced into the separator. |
| US07654310B2 |
Loop heat pipe
A loop heat pipe includes an evaporator and a closed loop. The evaporator includes an evaporator body made of a heat conductive material. The evaporator body has at least two retaining holes and at least a channel hole penetrating the retaining holes. In addition, the closed loop includes a first pipe body and at least a second pipe body. One end of the first and the second pipe bodies is a heat reception end, which are securely fastened to the two retaining holes of the evaporator. The other end of the first and the second pipe bodies is a heat reception end, thereby sequentially forming a circulating loop. Meanwhile, a flattened liquid seal region is formed between the heat reception end and the connection end of the first pipe body. |
| US07654309B2 |
Heat dissipation device
A heat dissipation device includes a heat sink (10), a fan (20) disposed on top of the heat sink, a fan duct (30) arranged on the fan and a fan guard (40) sandwiched between the fan and the fan duct. The fan defines a through hole (26) at each corner and includes a plurality of positioning blocks (28) extending from each side edge thereof. The fan duct includes a plurality of connecting portions (32) extending from a circumference of the fan duct near the fan. Each connecting portion includes a post fitted in the through hole and a hook engaging with the positioning block. |
| US07654304B2 |
Clamshell chassis assembly
A method of manufacturing a chassis is provided. The method comprises casting a first segment having a plurality of connected walls such that a window is cast in each of two of the plurality of connected walls in the first segment; casting a second segment having a plurality of connected walls such that a window is cast in each of two of the plurality of connected walls in the second segment; and coupling the first and second segments together to form the chassis having a window in four walls. |
| US07654291B2 |
Purging apparatus and purging method
It is an object of the present invention to easily and securely perform the removal operation of contaminant or the like from a wafer housed in a FOUP. To achieve the object, a purging apparatus of the present invention removes contaminant or the like from a wafer by moving a gas supply nozzle along a direction in which wafers are superimposed at the front of an opening while a lid of the FOUP is separated from a body and spraying clean gas on each wafer from the gas supply nozzle. |
| US07654287B1 |
Dual slide gate valve and method for using same
A method and device for pressure testing a pipe line is provided wherein a fitting is inserted into the pipeline by inserting male ends of the pipeline into female ends of the fitting to define a flow path through the fitting extending along a longitudinal axis. The fitting has an internal recess cooperating with a test slide to block flow through the fitting. An externally accessible port allows insertion and removal of the test slide. The test slide has an internal recess in which a pressure release slide moves to open a hole to release pressure, and to close the hole to block flow through the fitting for pressure testing. After testing and the release of the fluid test pressure, the test slide is removed and a finish slide is inserted into the recess. The finish slide has an opening located and configured to coincide with the flow path through the male ends of the pipes, and to block the recess to provide a substantially uniform, cylindrical flow path through the fitting. |
| US07654286B2 |
Automatic concrete pump comprising a mast support unit for a distribution mast, which is fixed to the chassis
The invention relates to a mobile concrete pump provided with a chassis, a concrete distribution boom arranged on the chassis, and a boom support unit whereon the folded distribution boom can be supported in the transport position. According to the invention, the boom support unit comprises a housing part which extends above the chassis, is accessible from the outside via closeable openings and comprises at least one support block for the distribution boom which support block is arranged on the top side thereof. The boom support unit can be provided with a switch element which can be actuated by the lying thereupon of the distribution boom, releasing the actuation of the support struts of the mobile concrete pump. |
| US07654284B1 |
Fluid draining manifold for roofs and associated method
A fluid draining manifold includes a central shaft that defines a horizontally registered first passageway and is provided with opposed open ends. The central shaft includes a semi-circular ring anchored to one open end for receiving a locking member, prohibiting unauthorized removal of the apparatus. Outwardly flanged auxiliary shafts are coupled to the central shaft and have linear lengths. Each auxiliary shaft defines an isolated auxiliary passageway in fluid communication with the first passageway. Each auxiliary passageway has opposed open ends in fluid communication with the first passageway such that fluid and debris is directed into the central shaft after traveling through the auxiliary shafts. A discharge shaft is abutted to the central shaft and is in fluid communication with the auxiliary shafts. The discharge shaft has offset open ends formed therein such that fluid and debris converges towards the lower open end prior to exiting the apparatus. |
| US07654283B2 |
Check valve and pump including check valve
A check valve includes a tubular valve seat frame, a valve seat that is fixedly secured to the inside of the valve seat frame and has a communication hole through which a working fluid flows, and a valve body that is on the working fluid outflow side of the valve seat for opening and closing the valve seat. The valve seat frame, the valve seat, and the valve body are put into one unit so that the check valve has a simple structure and a good assembly property, and can be manufactured at low cost. The check valve is included, whereby a small, durable, and high-performance pump can be provided. |
| US07654275B2 |
Safety cane
The present invention is a Cane/walking aid that provides the user with many security features along with mobility support. The cane/walking aid can be placed under the doorknob to secure the door(s) as a door-jamming device. The cane/walking aid will provide balance and mobility support. Life-saving medical alert information (identification, illnesses and medications) will be readily available inside the cane/walking aid. A safety alarm will sound if the user pulls the alarm string, which is to be wrapped around the user's wrist. This high-decibel alarm will also sound if the user becomes separated from the cane/walking aid. It also has a flashing safety light and a built in flashlight. The cane will have mace, an alarm, and/or other personal self-defense devices within. A G.P.S. device or a talking G.P.S. is provided for navigation. The cane/walking aid can accommodate an electronic insect repellent device. |
| US07654274B1 |
Umbrella
An umbrella includes a shaft, a notch, a runner, a plurality of ribs, a plurality of stretchers, a plurality of tips and an umbrella cloth. The notch is fixed with the shaft, the runner slides on the shaft, the ribs are connected with the notch pivotally, the stretchers are pivotally connected between the runner and the ribs, the tips are fixed to the ribs, two ribs are inserted into each tip, and there is a clearance between the two ribs inserted into the same tip, umbrella cloth is fixed with ribs, ribs are covered with umbrella cloth, and umbrella cloth has a plurality of folded parts passing through the clearances respectively. Accordingly, the umbrella cloth of the invention is different from a conventional umbrella cloth which is made by sewing together many small panels of waterproof cloth with each other, so that the umbrella cloth has higher waterproof ability. |
| US07654270B2 |
Brush for applying substance to eyelashes and/or eyebrows
A brush for applying a substance onto keratinous fibers includes a core and bristles that are supported by the core and made other than by being injection molded together with the core. In embodiments, the brush has at least a portion that carries bristles that are curved and extend from the core in oriented manner. |
| US07654267B2 |
Intraoral discluder and method for relieving migraine and tension headaches and temporomandibular disorders
An intraoral discluder for preventing chronic tension headaches, common migraine headaches, and temporomandibular disorders that are caused or perpetuated by chronic activity of the temporalis muscle. The discluder includes a trough, contoured to encompass at least one maxillary or mandibular incisor, from which extends a protruding platform, for engagement by the opposing incisors. The trough can be retained on the teeth by any adaptable material than can flow around the teeth and then maintain its shape. Once in place in the wearer's mouth, one or two opposing incisors will come into contact with the platform prior to the upper and lower posterior and/or canine teeth coming into contact, regardless of the position of the mandible, thereby reducing the intensity of the activity of the temporalis muscle. In addition, a special post on the discluder's platform is engageable directly with one or more opposing incisors, to act as a stop and thereby inhibit excessive retrusive movement of the mandible and urge the mandible toward a more protrusive position. This can reduce the intensity of undesired clenching, and it can enhance the size of the wearer's pharyngeal airspace, thereby reducing the incidence and severity of snoring. |
| US07654261B1 |
Automated system and device for management and dispensation of respiratory therapy medications
A computerized, mobile respiratory therapy medication dispensing device, apparatus, system, and method having a mobile housing having a plurality of different size drawers for storing and transporting respiratory therapy medication, devices, and supplies. The housing mounted on a plurality of wheels has a biometric sensor, such as a magnetic badge reader for security, a pulse oximeter mounted in the cabinet for patient monitoring, a computer system mounted on the cabinet including a central processing unit, a transmitter and receiver system responsive to the central processing unit for transmitting and receiving data, the transmitter and receiver system capable of transmitting and receiving data through radio frequency signals, a display responsive to the central processing unit for displaying data, and an input device for inputting data into the computer system, and a rechargeable energy source. |
| US07654259B1 |
Keystone-shaped fireplace door apparatus
A fireplace comprised of a burning chamber having an opening to a room and a vertically lifting door having a top edge, a bottom edge and opposing side edges. The door narrows in width from the top edge to the bottom edge to provide a keystone-shaped door. A frame is fitted in front of the burning chamber. The frame includes guide tracks configured to accept the edges of the door. A drive mechanism is provided to raise and lower the door within the guide tracks. The guide tracks may further incorporate a high temperature gasket to prevent airflow and promote energy efficiency when the door is closed. |
| US07654256B2 |
Apparatus for rapid loading and firing paintballs
A paintball gun firing structure includes a moving structure at one end of a firing chamber of a paintball gun and a valve control structure at one end of the moving structure. An air source can be channeled by the moving structure to position a paintball, and the valve control structure can discharge the air source. |
| US07654253B2 |
Detection of a humidity sensor failure in an internal combustion engine
A method to determine degradation of a humidity sensor used for controlling an engine of a vehicle, the humidity sensor exterior to a passenger compartment of the vehicle, the method comprising determining whether to enable monitoring of the sensor based on a duration since vehicle operation; and in response to a determination to enable monitoring, comparing a signal from a second humidity sensor to a signal from the humidity sensor exterior to said passenger compartment of the vehicle to determine whether either of sensors has degraded. |
| US07654252B2 |
Air-fuel ratio control system and method for internal combustion engine
An air-fuel ratio control system includes: a catalyst; an A/F sensor provided upstream of the catalyst; an oxygen concentration sensor provided downstream of the catalyst; an output value estimation portion that estimates the output value of the oxygen concentration sensor using a model related to the catalyst and the oxygen concentration sensor; an integral value calculation portion that calculates an integral value of deviation being updated by integrating the difference between the actual oxygen concentration output value and the estimated output value; a correction value calculation portion that calculates a feedback correction value for the output value of the A/F sensor and a target air-fuel ratio at least based on the integral value of deviation; and an air-fuel ratio control portion that zeros a first deviation that is obtained by correcting the difference between the detected air-fuel ratio and the target air-fuel ratio, using the feedback correction value. |
| US07654249B2 |
Fuel pump for a fuel system of an internal combustion engine
The invention relates to a fuel pump for a fuel system of an internal combustion engine, having a housing and a housing cap joined to the housing. In order to create a fuel pump which in its operation generates little airborne sound, structure-borne sound (vibration amplitudes) and pulsations in a low-pressure region of the fuel pump, it is proposed that the housing cap has at least one damping element, which is embodied as a sandwich construction having at least a first cover layer, a second cover layer, and a damping connection layer disposed between them. The damping connection layer has a markedly higher elasticity and/or higher material damping than the two cover layers, which may be constructed of sheet metal or the housing cap itself. |
| US07654248B2 |
Cylinder torque balancing for internal combustion engines
An engine torque control module comprises a derivative module and a cylinder torque module. The derivative module determines a derivative term for a first cylinder of an internal combustion engine based on rotation of a crankshaft and determines an average derivative term for the first cylinder based upon the derivative term. The cylinder torque module determines an operating condition of the first cylinder based on the average derivative term, adjusts a torque output of the first cylinder based on the operating condition, and adjusts a torque output of a second cylinder based on the operating condition. |
| US07654247B2 |
Method and device for controlling starting of gas engine
A gas engine has a starting operation mode in which fuel gas flow is controlled based on actual mixture flow rate and adequate excess air ratio prescribed for each of detected values of operating conditions of the engine and then mixture flow is controlled so that engine rotation speed approaches a target rotation speed, and a normal operation mode in which fuel gas flow is controlled so that engine rotation speed approaches the target rotation speed and then mixture flow rate is controlled so that air fuel ratio of the mixture coincides with an adequate value prescribed for each of detected values of operating conditions of the gas engine with the fuel gas flow flowing at the commanded fuel gas flow rate, and a switchover rotation speed is predetermined so that operation mode is switched from starting mode to normal mode when engine speed reaches the switchover rotation speed. |
| US07654242B2 |
Multiple-cylinder engine for planing water vehicle
A multiple-cylinder engine for a planing water vehicle includes an operation control device which changes the number of deactivated cylinders step by step in response to an engine speed when the engine speed exceeds a preset speed. The operation control device can have a plurality of cylinder deactivation order maps used for instructing an increment order of cylinders which are deactivated step by step when the engine speed exceeds the preset speed. The operation control device can exchange one of the cylinder deactivation order maps which is currently used for another one of the maps in accordance with an operation state of the engine. |
| US07654241B2 |
Dual-chamber type oil pan and engine equipped with same
A dual-chamber oil pan includes an oil pan provided below an engine block, an oil pan separator that is provided within the oil pan and defines a first chamber communicating with the engine block, and a second chamber provided around the first chamber, and a suction port disposed within the first chamber. The first chamber includes a large-capacity portion including a bottom portion of the oil pan separator, and a small-capacity portion located above and integrally formed with the large-capacity portion. |
| US07654239B2 |
Fuel saving combustion engine insulation method and system
A method and apparatus for reducing fuel consumption in an internal combustion engine including gasoline, petrol and diesel engines used in trucks, cars and for pumps including the steps of providing a thermal insulation shield that includes reflective fabric over the exhaust manifold, around the intake plenum for intake air and intake air box, covering the turbo charger compressor with a heat insulating material that includes a reflective fabric layer and the turbo charger drive turbine housing except for the bearing area to greatly reduce heat build up in the engine compartment thereby reducing intake air temperature for increased engine efficiency. The invention has been found to increase fuel efficiency in large trucks by ten to fifteen percent. The materials are light weight and do not significantly increase engine weight or truck loan weight. |
| US07654237B2 |
Cam cover
Cam covers including a shell of the plastic material reinforced with a support structure and one or more end caps and methods for making cam covers incorporating a plastic shell and a metal or plastic support structure and one or more end caps are described herein. |
| US07654235B2 |
Valve actuating device
The invention relates to an actuating device that actuates engine valves, comprising magnetizing means, a spring having a fixed end connected to an adjustable stop and having a moving end connected to the valve (1). The adjustable stop comprises meshing means (26) that can interact with a control element (8, 10) whereby enabling the tare of the spring to be adjusted, and comprises an orifice (11) located between the adjustable stops of the two valves (1) of the same pair and serving to accommodate the control element (8, 10). The invention is characterized in that the control element (8, 10) comprises positioning means (12) that interact with complementary means (13) whereby making it possible to locate two stable positions respectively corresponding to the meshing positions with the two adjustable stops of the two valves (1) and to immobilize the control element (8, 10) in these positions. |
| US07654231B1 |
System and method for powering a vehicle
Disclosed are systems and methods for powering a vehicle. The systems and methods provide techniques for agitating fuel stored in a fuel storage tank and then combusting that fuel to power a vehicle. |
| US07654229B2 |
Bovine treadmill
A treadmill-like device for exercising large animals such as dairy cows. The large animal exercising device includes a hoof abrasion system and treadmill cleaning or flushing system. The exercise device of the invention can also include a cow identification reader for recovering information off of a data storage or identification device attached to the cow, with such information potentially including exercise pace and duration as well as animal routing information after an exercise session is completed. |
| US07654226B2 |
Artificial nipple for experimental animals
An artificial nipple for an experimental animal can include a replaceable duct in a nipple and a structure that prevents liquid from accumulating in the nipple except in the nipple tip and the duct. The artificial nipple can be configured to prevent liquid from accumulating by filling the nipple with an elastic member or by forming the nipple with an elastic member integrally with an outer wall of the nipple. |
| US07654225B2 |
Recycling bird seed feeder
A bird feeder includes a housing containing a bird food hopper. The hopper feeds food into a tray. The tray is sandwiched between a roof and a floor, both of which extend outwardly from the tray to define a restricted vertical clearance duct for birds attempting access to the tray. Vertical partitions between the roof and floor define a restricted width clearance thereby forming a restricted clearance passageway to the tray between adjacent partitions and the corresponding roof and floor. |
| US07654224B2 |
Method and apparatus for cleaning a CVD chamber
The present invention is a method and apparatus for cleaning a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chamber using cleaning gas energized to a plasma in a gas mixing volume separated by an electrode from a reaction volume of the chamber. In one embodiment, a source of RF power is coupled to a lid of the chamber, while a switch is used to couple a showerhead to ground terminals or the source of RF power. |
| US07654223B2 |
Cold spray apparatus having powder preheating device
A cold spray apparatus having a powder preheating device, capable of obtaining high deposition rate and excellent coating layer under the same spray processing conditions by preheating coating powder before a coating process. Also, a manufacturing method of nano-structured super-high hardness WC—Co coating having high abrasive wear resistance and fracture toughness obtained by spraying WC—Co powder using the cold spray apparatus. In the cold spray apparatus, a gas controller controls gas supply amount of main gas and residual gas (gas that is not supplied toward the main gas), and a gas heater heats the main gas supplied under the control of the gas controller. A powder feeder receives the residual gas under the control of the gas controller and supplies a coating powder together with the residual gas. A powder preheating device preheats the coating powder supplied from the powder feeder, and a mixing chamber mixes the heated main gas with the preheated coating powder. A temperature controller adjusts temperature by controlling the powder preheating device and the gas heater, and the coating powder mixed in the mixing chamber is sprayed through a nozzle. |
| US07654220B2 |
Indicator
An indicator has a permanent magnet and a coil rotatably supported on the permanent magnet and wound so as to form a surface that is parallel to and disposed at a preselected distance from a bottom surface of the permanent magnet. The coil generates a torque by interaction with a magnetic field of the permanent magnet upon supply of a current to the coil. An indicator needle is mounted to undergo rotation with the coil through a range of angles corresponding to indicator angles of the indicator needle. A pair of spiral springs urge the indicator needle in a direction opposite to a direction of the torque to undergo rotation through the range of indicator angles. The pair of spiral springs comprise a first spiral spring connected at one end thereof to one end of the coil and a second spiral spring connected at one end thereof to another end of the coil. The first spiral spring is larger than the second spiral spring and is arranged on an outer peripheral side of and coaxially with the second spiral spring so that the first and second spiral springs lie on a common plane. |
| US07654218B1 |
Safety location signal mount for off road use
A mobile mounting device for location signal safety flags used by off road riders to prevent collisions when riding in hilly terrain. The mounting device of the invention provides for a flag or whip receiving mounting socket configured to be selectively attached to the back side of a chest protector worn by the off road vehicle rider. It can be moved from rider to rider. |
| US07654217B2 |
Bird or animal repellent system
A system and method for conveying a bird or animal repelling object along a path, comprising a line for conveying at least one bird or animal repelling object, the line configured to define a predetermined path. The bird or animal repelling object is coupled to the line, and at least two spaced apart supporting braces operatively engage the line and provide support thereto, wherein the line is suspended in the air. The system further includes a drive unit connected to the line and adapted to control the motion of the line with respect to the supporting towers. At least one cover is attached to at least one of the towers in alignment with the path of the line and is configured to shield the object from view when the object is disposed therein. |
| US07654216B2 |
Boat roof, and boat having same
A boat roof on a boat deck is provided, including a roof element. The roof element can be raised via a pivoting mechanism with a lifting unit, by pivoting about a pivoting axis in order to produce an opening gap between the roof element and the remaining deck area. A boat having such a boat roof is also provided. |
| US07654214B2 |
Hydraulic operated locking and release actuator for use with fishing outriggers
An outrigger securing assembly for use on a fishing vessel. The securing assembling includes an automatic locking member that is secured to a structural member of the vessel and is capable of latching or releasing a latch member that is secured to an outrigger mast. The automatic locking member is equipped with a latching actuator that can release the latch member. The latching actuator can be operated either manually or hydraulically from a control device removed from the automatic locking member. |
| US07654212B2 |
Frictional resistance reduction ship
The friction drag decreases and the friction resistance decrease ship that improves fuel cost is offered.Duct 3 is divided into two or more independent chambers 5, with partition 4 according to the longitudinal direction; piping 6 is introduced in each chamber 5 and penetrates through partition 4 to supply air to each chamber 5. Air is supplied by assistance compressor 7 through piping 6. Opening 8 is formed in the lateral aspect of each chamber 5, and microbubble generator 10 is installed in this opening 8. |
| US07654211B2 |
Marine vessel transfer system
A vessel transfer system utilizes a larger, surface effect vessel with a hull and a cargo deck, having a pressurized volume of air under its hull. The larger vessel cargo deck is lowered relative to a water surface in order to receive a smaller vessel. Lowering is achieved by depressurizing the volume of pressurized air under the hull. Movable propulsors on an air cushion vehicle permit efficient operation under way in an outer position, while minimizing the envelope dimensions for stowage in a well deck, providing clearance from bridges, docks, etc. in an inner position. In the outer position, the propellers operate in more uniform inflow conditions, resulting in improved performance and lower noise levels. In addition, the craft can be arranged to use a full width stern ramp resulting in time saved during cargo loading/unloading. The propellers will be less likely to ingest green water in high sea states. |
| US07654207B1 |
XY stage
An XY stage comprises a base, a movable table which is disposed on the base so as to be movable in an X direction and a Y direction in an X-Y plane, and a work member which is provided on the movable table. The XY stage further comprises: a first linear motor for giving a driving force in the X direction to the movable table at the same height as the center of gravity of a movable section composed of the movable table and the work member; and a second linear motor for giving a driving force in the Y direction to the movable table at the same height as the center of gravity of the movable section. |
| US07654205B2 |
Railcar door control apparatus
An apparatus for controlling discharge of commodity from a railcar having a hopper with at least two transversely spaced discharge openings and two laterally spaced and commonly joined pivotal doors arranged in registry with the two discharge openings. The control apparatus includes a transversely extending operating shaft and a linkage system operably connecting the operating shaft to the doors. A drive mechanism is operably connectable to the linkage system. The drive mechanism includes a powered driver for selectively operating the linkage mechanism to either simultaneously move the doors into their closed position or to simultaneously move the doors from their closed position. The powered driver of the drive mechanism is operably connected to a lever radially extending from the operating shaft. To releasably hold and maintain the doors in their closed position, a lock assembly is arranged in operable combination with the driver. The lock assembly can be operated in response to powered or manual movement of the doors. An indicator is also provided for providing a visual indication, from a side of the car, the operable condition of the lock assembly. |
| US07654203B2 |
Freight transportation system and method
According to one embodiment of the invention, a freight transportation system includes a track comprising a pair of rails and a linear motor reaction plate disposed between the rails and a transport vehicle having a universal intermodal container bay configured to accommodate a plurality of containers. The transport vehicle includes one or more suspension systems each having a plurality of steel wheels engaged with the rails. The freight transportation system further includes a linear induction propulsion system coupled to the transport vehicle and operable to work in conjunction with the linear motor reaction plate to move the transport vehicle, and a control system coupled to the linear induction propulsion system and operable to control the movement of the transport vehicle. |
| US07654202B2 |
Frangible slug
Methods and articles are provided for frangible slugs. A method of manufacturing a frangible slug includes heating substantially spherical metallic powdered particles, wherein substantially all of the powdered particles have diameters larger than 125 microns and smaller than 250 microns, to form heated powdered particles. The method includes heating a microcrystalline wax, to form a melted wax. The method also includes combining the heated powdered particles with the melted wax, to form a liquid mixture. The method further includes filling a payload cavity of a frangible slug container with the liquid mixture to form a liquid mixture payload. |
| US07654195B2 |
Apparatus for making a food product
Confectionery, such as a tart and pie, is sequentially made. A generally rectangular mold is filled with food dough. The food dough is baked and taken out of the mold. The food dough is cut and divided in a zigzag pattern into generally triangularly-shaped food dough, so that a tart or a pie is made. |
| US07654194B2 |
Food cooking installation
The invention relates to a food cooking installation comprising numerous cooking tanks which are used to receive the food items to be cooked; means of loading/unloading the food items into/from said cooking tanks; and means of conveying, driving and storing liquids, which are used to connect a heated liquid container, a cooled liquid container and a piped water delivery point with the aforementioned cooking tanks. In this way, the tanks can be filled and emptied independently and the food items contained therein can be subjected to successive baths for different periods of time and at different temperatures, at least one of the baths being a cooking bath and the other a cooling bath. According to the Invention, each of the aforementioned cooking tanks comprises at least one lateral opening which is equipped with impervious sealing means and which is used to load/unload the food items using the above-mentioned loading/unloading means. |
| US07654186B1 |
Fuze module
A self-contained fuze module, for installation on pieces of ordnance, having sensing devices and processing capability within the fuze module to determine whether conditions have been met to arm the ordnance. The fuze module is a unitary sealed module communicating with a launch vehicle via one or more communication/power buses. |
| US07654185B1 |
System and method for defending against a projectile
An embodiment of a protection system for an object includes first and second sensors and a processor coupled to the sensors. The sensors are mountable to a side of the object a predetermined distance apart, and each sensor is operable to detect a respective angle between the sensor and a location from which a projectile is fired toward the side. The processor is operable to determine from the detected angles whether the firing location is aligned with the object. If the firing location is aligned with the object, then the processor is operable to calculate from the detected angles and the predetermined distance a time window during which the processor estimates that the projectile will strike the object, and is operable to cause a protection unit to defend against the projectile for the duration of the time window. Such a protection system may be less expensive to acquire, install, or operate than prior protection systems, and may expand defenses more efficiently than prior protection systems. |
| US07654183B2 |
Compact heavy duty hole punch
A compact hole punch device includes a generally vertical entry paper slot with an elongated handle hinged at one end of the punch device extending toward the opposite end of the device along side the paper slot. A chip chamber extends along the punch device opposite the slot from the handle. A roller cam mechanism concentrates forces in a small area of the device to provide a very compact, rigid action. An elongated chip tray is pivotably attached to the chip chamber including a lowered position where chips are easily emptied out an open distal end of the tray. |
| US07654181B2 |
Dust collection shroud
A dust collector has a shroud mounted to the connecting rods of the pivoting assembly of a contractor's table saw. The shroud is configured to surround the lower portion of the saw blade when the blade is fully raised, and most of the blade's diameter when it is fully lowered. The shroud is equipped with a nozzle for connection of a dust collection hose. The shroud extends upwardly between the connecting rods of the pivoting assembly and between the front and rear trunnions. The longitudinal outside surfaces of the shroud are provided with shoulders that abut the connecting rods. Retainers engage the connecting rods to support the shroud against the shoulders. Thus, the dust collector is suspended below and removably connected to the pivoting assembly of the table saw. One corner of the shroud includes an opening to accommodate the arbor bracket and its vertical movement. |
| US07654180B2 |
Determination of band saw feeding speed
In a method and a system for determining the feeding speed when bandsaw cutting a workpiece, the tooth pitch TP of the bandsaw blade is determined in a first unit depending on the shape and dimensions of the workpiece. In a second unit feeding depth per tooth is determined depending on properties of the workpiece material and the width of the bandsaw blade. The bandsaw blade velocity BS is determined in a third unit from the width W of the workpiece and the hardness of the workpiece material, whereafter the cutting time T is determined in a first calculating unit from the height H of the workpiece, the feeding depth per tooth, the tooth pitch TP and the blade velocity BS. In a second calculating unit the feeding speed MH for the bandsaw blade is then determined by the equation MH=H/T. A computer program, when executed on a computer, performs this determination of the feeding speed when cutting a workpiece with a bandsaw from supplied input data. |
| US07654179B2 |
Crayon sharpener
A device for sharpening crayons, wax pencils, and the like is provided. This device includes: a multi-blade removable and replaceable crayon sharpening cartridge; an electric motor mechanically coupled to the blade cartridge for axially rotating the blade cartridge around a crayon that has been inserted into the blade cartridge; a base for supporting the electric motor; a contoured receptacle positionable on the base beneath the blade cartridge for capturing crayon debris; and a contoured exterior housing for enclosing the electric motor and the blade cartridge. |
| US07654178B2 |
Hydraulic chuck with independently moveable jaws
A method of dialing a workpiece having an axis into a chuck includes providing a chuck assembly having a plurality of independent hydraulically controlled jaws distributed about a central axis, each jaw having first and second hydraulic chambers. The method further includes the steps of inserting a portion of the workpiece into the chuck assembly, pumping hydraulic fluid uniformly into each of the first chambers until the jaws are substantially touching the perimeter of the workpiece, and adjusting one or more of the jaws to align the axis of the workpiece with the central axis of the chuck assembly by pumping hydraulic fluid into at least one of the chambers of at least one of the jaws. The method also includes the step of pumping hydraulic fluid uniformly into each of the first chambers until the jaws are clamped around the perimeter of the workpiece at a predetermined pressure. |
| US07654175B2 |
Slide-driver
A tool for rotating fasteners has an inner body with a cavity in a forward end, the cavity being configured to engage the head of a fastener. An outer socket has a cavity in a forward end, the cavity being configured to engage the head of a fastener, and the outer socket is coaxial with and slidably carried on the inner body. The outer socket is movable between retracted and extended positions, the retracted position locating the cavity of the inner body in a position for engagement of the head of a fastener, the extended position locating the cavity of the outer socket in a position for engagement of the head of a fastener. |
| US07654171B2 |
Brake handle having supporting frame
A brake handle having a supporting frame, a handle and a push unit; wherein: the supporting frame has a receiving space; a piston is installed in the receiving space; the handle has a first sliding groove; the push unit has a second sliding groove; the second sliding groove is installed with an adjusting unit; the handle and push unit are pivoted to the supporting frame; the handle and push unit are pivoted to the supporting frame; the push unit resists against the piston; the adjusting unit passes through the first sliding groove and second sliding groove so as to pivotally install the handle and the push unit; and a screw rod is screwed to the adjusting unit. The screwing operation of the screw rod with respect to the adjusting unit will adjust an elevation of the handle. |
| US07654169B2 |
Shift lever
In a shift lever, when a button of a knob is pressed, a link member is pivoted, and a detent rod is moved down. Further, impact sound or the like is restrained or prevented from being emitted by bringing the link member into contact with a contact member and elastically deforming the contact member. Here, a cover portion of the knob and the contact member are constituted by separate members. Therefore, the cover portion of the knob and the contact member can easily be constituted by materials suitable for respective functions. |
| US07654160B2 |
Sampling probe enabling the measurement of gaseous species in particle-laden flue gas
A sampling probe for enabling the analysis of gaseous species in a particle-laden flue gas. The sampling probe includes a tube for being inserted into a fluid stream of a particle-laden flue gas substantially perpendicular thereto to cause the fluid stream to separate and flow around the tube. The tube includes a first opening extending along a first axially extending face of the tube downstream relative to the fluid stream such that a portion of the gas enters the tube through the first opening for analysis within the tube, and a second opening extending along a second axially extending face of the tube such that the gas that enters the tube through the first opening exits the tube after analysis into the fluid stream through the second opening to allow analysis of the gas. |
| US07654159B2 |
MEMS nanoindenter
A force sensor (200) and nanoidenation system (300) using such force sensor (200), wherein the force sensor (200) comprise a movable membrane (207) attached to a fixed bulk structure (210) with springs (201, 202, 203, 204) formed between the membrane (207) and bulk structure (210); the springs (201, 202, 203, 204) may be provided two on each side of a rectangular membrane(207) and each in the form of a U-shape with displacing elements (801) formed perpendicular to each open end of each U-shaped spring (800). The force sensor further comprises electrodes (206) for detecting capacitive changes between the movable membrane (207) and the electrodes (206) in order to measure a movement in relation to an applied force. The membrane (207) further comprises a probe holding structure (214) for providing a solution for interchangeable probes (211). |
| US07654155B2 |
Wet-gas flowmeter
Methods and apparatus determine phase fractions for phases within a fluid mixture flow under a wide range of flow conditions including wet-gas flow. Appropriate flow algorithms can utilize this phase fraction information with a total flow rate of the mixture to find individual flow rates for phases, such as oil, water, and gas or gas and liquid, which can represent a combination of oil and water phases. For some embodiments, a multiphase flowmeter includes an array of spatially distributed pressure sensors configured to determine a velocity of the mixture flow and hence the total flow rate, which is applied with information from a differential pressure meter to calculate the bulk density of the fluid mixture. Further, additional speed of sound information or a water-in-liquid ratio as may be determined by spectral analysis can enable differentiation between the oil and water phases. |
| US07654153B2 |
Vibratory transducer
To conduct a fluid, the transducer has a flow tube which in operation is vibrated by an excitation assembly and whose inlet-side and outlet-side vibrations are sensed by means of a sensor arrangement. To produce shear forces in the fluid, the flow tube is at least intermittently excited into torsional vibrations about a longitudinal flow-tube axis. The transducer further comprises a torsional vibration absorber which is fixed to the flow tube and which in operation covibrates with the torsionally vibrating flow tube, thus producing reactive torques which at least partially balance torques developed in the vibrating flow tube. One of the advantages of the transducer disclosed is that it is dynamically balanced to a large extent even in the face of variations in fluid density or viscosity. |
| US07654152B2 |
Vibration-type measuring transducer having connecting lines secured pointwise to the transducer housing
A measuring transducer includes: a measuring tube vibrating, at least at times, during operation and serving for conveying a medium, wherein the measuring tube communicates with a pipeline via an inlet tube piece on an inlet side and an outlet tube piece on an outlet side; a counteroscillator, which is affixed to the measuring tube on the inlet and outlet sides to form coupling zones; an cantilever coupled with the measuring tube on the inlet side; an cantilever coupled with the measuring tube on the outlet side; a sensor arrangement secured, at least in part, to the counteroscillator for registering oscillations at least of the measuring tube; an exciter mechanism secured, at least in part, to the counteroscillator for driving at least the measuring tube; a transducer housing affixed to the inlet tube piece and to the outlet tube piece; as well as connection lines, of which at least one is secured at least pointwise to the transducer housing and at least pointwise to an inner part of the measuring transducer formed by means of measuring tube, counteroscillator and the two cantilevers. A section at least of the one connection line extends freely suspended between two mutually spaced tie-down points. One of the tie-down points is located on the inner part of the measuring transducer and the other on the transducer housing. The two tie-down points are so placed that a relative distance therebetween remains essentially unchanged, even when the measuring tube is vibrating. |
| US07654150B2 |
Specimen containment module for orthopedic simulator
An orthopedic simulator, such as a spinal implant wear test machine, is provided with a specimen containment module that may be removed from the machine as a unit. The releasable attachability of the specimen containment module permits remote specimen installation and reduces environmental contamination. |
| US07654148B2 |
Ultrasound communication system for metal structure and related methods
Embodiments of the present invention beneficially provide an ultrasound communication system and methods of ultrasound communication for diagnostics and prognostics of structures. For example, ultrasound transmitters are connected to a metal or composite structure and modulated to produce Lamb waves that travel to an ultrasound receiver. The ultrasound transmitters can use frequency-hopped signals to digitally encode transducer information among different transmitters. The transmitters can be operated asynchronously. The receiver can use a channel equalizer to reduce the effects of signal multipath and a decoder to decode the transducer information from the ultrasound transmitters. |
| US07654147B2 |
Sensor arrangement for a motor-vehicle locking device and an associated method
A method for detecting the application of an operator's body part to an operating point of a locking device for a motor vehicle is performed by first detecting the proximity of the operator's body part to the operating point via a proximity sensor. A change in the pressure exerted on the operating point by the operator's body part is detected using a mechanical sensor which is arranged on the operating point. An output signal, which indicates the application of the operator's body part, is generated by an evaluation circuit as a function of the sensor output signals from the proximity sensor and the mechanical sensor. When the evaluation circuit detects the beginning of the application of the operator's body part on the basis of the sensor output signal from the mechanical sensor, a sensor output signal value which is output at approximately the same time by the proximity sensor is detected. This is used to evaluate the subsequent changes in the sensor output signal in order to be able to detect in a more reliable manner that the operator's body part has been withdrawn from the operating point. Also disclosed is an associated sensor arrangement. |
| US07654144B2 |
Nondestructive testing apparatus for blade root of steam turbine of power plant
In a nondestructive testing apparatus for testing normality of a blade root in a steam turbine installed in a nuclear plant or a thermal plant, an ultrasonic probe and an encoder can be mounted at the outside by only removing a casing of the steam turbine, without the necessity of withdrawing a turbine rotor, so that an automatic testing can be performed by rotating the steam turbine. Since the testing result can be digitally stored, reliability of the testing is improved. Furthermore, size of the testing apparatus is highly reduced for a tester to conveniently carry and install the testing apparatus alone. As a result, installation time and the whole testing time can be minimized. |
| US07654141B2 |
Device and a method for the detection of structure-borne acoustic vibrations
In a method and a device for the detection of at least one structure-borne acoustic vibration in a component of an agricultural harvesting machine, a timer is used to determine a transit-time difference of a structure-borne acoustic vibration that is received by at least a first structure-borne sound sensor and at least a second structure-borne sound sensor and, based on the transit-time difference, a source of the structure-borne acoustic vibration is determined, thereby enabling the location of the pulses triggering the structure-borne acoustic vibration to be identified. |
| US07654140B2 |
Heat pumped parametric MEMS device
A micro-electrical mechanical oscillator has a resonant frequency of oscillation that is varied by application of heat. The resonant frequency is varied at a frequency different from the resonant frequency of the oscillator to amplify oscillations. In one embodiment, the oscillator is disc of material supported by a pillar of much smaller diameter than the disc. The periphery of the disc is heated by a laser to provide a time varying shift of the resonant frequency (or equivalently the stiffness) of the disc. Feedback from movement of the disc is used to modulate the intensity of the laser, and thus the stiffness of the disc to provide parametric amplification of sensed vibrations, using heating as a pump. Various other shapes of micro-electrical mechanical oscillators are used in other embodiment, including an array of such oscillators on a substrate, each having different resonant frequencies. |
| US07654132B2 |
Method and apparatus for indirectly ascertaining the cylinder pressure in piston engines
In a method for indirectly ascertaining the cylinder pressure during the operation of piston engines by measuring cylinder pressure-dependent parameters at crankshaft bearings of the piston engine, one essential feature is that the force which is introduced by the main bearings of the crankshaft into an engine housing is measured. For performing the method, sensors for obtaining cylinder pressure-correlating signals are disposed on the bearing screws, and that the signals generated by the sensors are carried to the outside. |
| US07654131B2 |
Instrument for accurately measuring mass flow rate of a fluid pumped from a hermetically sealed container
An instrument for accurately measuring mass flow rate of a fluid pumped from a hermetically sealed container, through attainment of a steady state mass flow rate, having a check valve positioned between a vacuum pump and a mass flow rate sensor. |
| US07654129B2 |
Sensor with an analyte modulator
A sensor system having an analyte modulator, detector and a pump. The concentration of an analyte sample may be modulated at one time constant. The detector may have an output with a drift at another time constant. The one time constant may be shorter than the latter time constant. The latter time constant may be substantially removed from the detector output with a discriminator. A reservoir may receive high concentrations of analyte from the modulator, before analyte is forwarded to the detector and pump via analyte conveyance lines and valving. The modulation or pre-concentration of analyte in the sensor system may entail shorter times and smaller volumes than those needed by the detector. Such mismatches may be alleviated via accumulation of analyte in the reservoir prior to being forwarded to the detector. |
| US07654128B2 |
Gas analyzing apparatus and method
A gas analyzing apparatus for analyzing gas composition in a multi-gas stream is disclosed. The gas analyzing apparatus includes a plurality of sensors adapted to sense a characteristic of the gases and a microprocessor connected to the plurality of sensors and adapted to determine actual rates of flow of the gases. A method of analyzing a composition of a gas stream and a fuel cell system are also disclosed. |
| US07654124B2 |
Method of making a sheet metal part for motor vehicles
In a method of making a sheet metal part for motor vehicles, a blank is placed with its opposite length sides between outer lower forming jaws of a die. The blank is then clamped by moving the outer lower forming jaws toward one another. Outer upper forming jaws are then moved to their closed position so that the length sides of the blank are secured in place between the lower and upper forming jaws. The lower and upper forming jaws and a press tool are then moved toward one another, and the blank is shaped to its final configuration to produce a sheet metal part. |
| US07654122B2 |
Process for straightening a tube
In straightening a tube using a roll straightening machine provided with drum type straightening roll pairs vertically opposingly disposed, at least an outer layer portion of a roll main body is made of elastic material having spring type hardness Hs (JIS K 6301 A type) of 50 to 100 in at least three pairs of straightening rolls on an outlet side of the roll straightening machine, and an offset amount is imparted to a tube engaged in the three pairs, at least, of straightening opposing rolls such that η defined by an equation (1) ranges from 1.0×10−3 to 1.5×10−3. The offset amount is set at three positions along a tube axis where the upper and lower rolls of each pair horizontally cross. Therefore, an S/N ratio can be enhanced in an eddy current test from inside of the tube to improve inspection efficiency, and excellent quality accuracy can be ensured in a heat transfer tube used in a steam generator and the like. [ Formula 1 ] η = 1 R × ( d 2 ) ( 1 ) where a relationship of R=(δ2+L2)/2δ holds, assuming that d (mm) is a tube outside diameter, L (mm) is a roll stand span of the roll straightening machine, and δ (mm) is an offset amount. |
| US07654120B1 |
Locking assembly and electronic device using same
A locking assembly is configured for locking an electronic device to an object. The electronic device includes a panel. The panel includes two opposite first and second surfaces. A first through hole, a second through hole and a third through hole are defined in the panel. The locking assembly includes a rotating wheel, a lockset and a flexible cable. The rotating wheel is rotatably coupled to the first surface. The lockset includes a lock cylinder and is fixed to the first surface. The lock cylinder is extended through the first through hole and exposed from the second surface. The flexible cable is wrapped around the rotating wheel, and includes a locking end and an opposite connecting end. The connecting end is fixed to the rotating wheel. The locking end is extended through the second through hole and the third through hole, and capable of being engaged with the lockset. |
| US07654116B1 |
Architectural scarf
Various embodiments of this invention disclose a scarf with a knit tension differential between opposing sides along the length of the scarf that produces the effect of a scarf that takes and holds certain specific architectural shapes when it is worn by a user. The scarf of the present invention preferably has a three dimensional, hyperbolic shape that takes and holds certain architectural shapes when wrapped in different ways around the wearer. |
| US07654114B2 |
Method for knitting out semi-turn X yarn semi-turn Y yarn structural texture and yarn guiding mouth thereof
Disclosed herein is a method that can adopt the flat weft knitting machine to continuously weave the knitwear whose appearance is a structural texture pattern of X-yarn by a semi-turn (or semi-twist), Y-yarn by the semi-turn and the special-purpose yarn guiding mouth thereof. There is two or three parallel positioned yarn guiding holes provided in a yarn guiding mouth. X-yarn and Y-yarn can be independently fed through two guiding holes being parallel placement; Alternatively, X-yarn, Y-yarn and C-yarn can be independently fed through the three guiding holes being parallel placement; Or, Z-yarn can be fed through outside of the two or three guiding holes being parallel placement. To achieve the fabric whose surface is X-yarn by a semi-turn and Y-yarn by another semi-turn, or appearance in most is X-yarn, and Y-yarn in small part; or most of the appearance is X-yarn and C-yarn by a semi-turn and Y-yarn and C-yarn by another semi-turn; or pattern on the appearance includes several patterns aforesaid, inside is Z-yarn, which are plating knitting, there is no need to change the yarn guiding mouth or the yarn by using the present invention. |
| US07654108B2 |
Unit for refrigerant cycle device
A unit for a refrigerant cycle device includes an ejector that has a nozzle part which decompresses refrigerant, and a refrigerant suction port from which refrigerant is drawn by a high-speed refrigerant flow jetted from the nozzle part, a first evaporator connected to the outlet of the ejector, and a second evaporator connected to the refrigerant suction port of the ejector. One of the first evaporator and the second evaporator has a tank structure that includes a tank for distributing refrigerant into or for collecting the refrigerant from refrigerant passages of a heat exchanging part. The tank has therein a first space through which the refrigerant discharged from the outlet of the ejector flows into a heat exchanging part of the first evaporator, and a second space through which the refrigerant to be drawn into the refrigerant suction port flows into a heat exchanging part of the second evaporator. |
| US07654105B2 |
Refrigerator with icemaker
Refrigerator with an icemaker including a cabinet having a mullion wall for compartmentalization of a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber, a case provided to a door on the refrigerating chamber, having a cavity therein, a first duct for supplying cold air from a neighborhood of an evaporator in the freezing chamber to the cavity, the icemaker in the cavity for producing ice, an ice container in the cavity for storing the ice, and a dispenser in the door in communication with the cavity, thereby having ice supplied to a user at an outside of the refrigerator through a dispenser provided to the door. |
| US07654103B2 |
Methods and means to collect water vapors
To collect freshwater from water using a freshwater collection system which comprises of a vapor collector field formed by vapor collectors which have floatable platforms with central holes, curved roofs which each spans over each central holes and which allow sun rays to penetrate through, channels each with a nipple, “U”-shaped vacuum breaker tubes, and many eyes; a floatable water sprinkling system which has a relatively stationary platform which has eyes and which encircles a sprinkler platform which has a pump with a screen at one end and at the other end with a pipe which connects with a sprinkler head, a fuel supply system and an internal combustion engine with gear system which drives the pump; and a freshwater collector relay which is an enclosed container with a one-way valve, a weight, a nipple near the weight, many eyes, and many nipples near the eyes and the one-way valve. |
| US07654102B2 |
Air treatment system for refrigerated appliance
A refrigerated appliance is disclosed. The refrigerated appliance comprises an enclosure defining a cooled space and having an outer wall and an inner wall spaced apart from the outer wall to define an air duct. The refrigerated appliance further includes an evaporator disposed at least partially in the air duct and configured to cool air in the air duct, and the evaporator fan is configured to move air from the air duct into the cooled space, and an air treatment system at least partially located in the air duct. A portion of the air passing through the air duct passes through the air treatment system. The air treatment system comprises a filter cartridge or module, a base with a receptacle configured to receive the filter cartridge, and a mounting or coupling mechanism configured to move the filter cartridge into and out of engagement with the base. The mechanism has a release handle such that both the release handle and the cartridge are accessible from the cooled compartment. |
| US07654098B2 |
Cooling system with variable capacity control
A system includes a scroll compressor having a first scroll member interleaved with a second scroll member to define at least two moving fluid pockets that decrease in size as they move from a radially outer position to a radially inner position. A valve in fluid communication with the compression chamber is movable between an open state allowing fluid to the compression chamber and a closed state preventing fluid to the compression chamber. A controller continuously cycles the valve between the open state and the closed state at a rate that is faster than a thermal time constant of a load on the system. |
| US07654097B2 |
Ice distribution device for an ice retaining unit with optional sensor control therefor
An ice distribution device for delivering ice to an ice retaining unit is provided, whereby a nozzle of the distribution device is adapted to be rotated in an eccentric rotation when installed at an upper end of an ice retaining unit, such that, when it is rotated about its axis, forces acting inside an eccentrically mounted nozzle will produce both axial and lateral components, with the lateral components of force providing a controlled “wobble”, that will deliver a substantially uniform distribution of ice within the retaining unit. A sensing device, which may be ultrasonic, mechanical or some other means, may be used to sense the level of build-up of ice within a retaining unit, for discontinuing the flow of ice to the distribution device, or diverting it to another ice retaining unit, as may be desired. The distribution and sensing devices are mounted on a top wall of the ice retaining unit and are adapted to accommodate top walls of such units of various thicknesses. |
| US07654094B2 |
Radial turbine and method of cooling nozzle of the same
A turbine nozzle (2) that, among components constructing a turbine, reaches particularly high temperature is efficiently cooled with a relatively simple structure. A double casing structure in which a turbine casing (7) is provided outside a turbine shell (5) is formed. The turbine casing (7) functions as a flow path (24) for compressed air (20→21) before combustion. The turbine shell (5) covers a turbine nozzle (2) and a radial turbine impeller (3) and forms flow paths (15, 16) for combustion gas (10→11→12→13). The compressed air (21) before combustion flowing in the flow path (24), for compressed air, having air-tightness between itself and the outside air is blown to the turbine nozzle (2) through a through-hole (51) penetrating both wall surfaces of the turbine shell (5) so that the turbine nozzle (2) is evenly cooled and the compressed air used to cool the turbine nozzle is made to flow toward the turbine impeller (3). |
| US07654092B2 |
System for modulating fuel supply to individual fuel nozzles in a can-annular gas turbine
A fuel modulation system usable in can-annular combustor systems of turbine engines for more efficiently managing fuel flow to reduce the amount of NOx while maintaining appropriate combustor flame temperatures. The fuel modulation system controls individual inline modulation valves in cooperation with a overall stage control valve to bring a turbine engine through the startup phase and to maintain operating conditions at a load set point while reducing NOx variability between baskets by using individual combustor dynamic pressure measurements. The fuel modulation system may be managed such that individual inline modulation valves remain within a predetermined range of positions relative to a nominal position to reduce NOx variability. |
| US07654091B2 |
Method and apparatus for cooling gas turbine engine combustors
A method for operating a gas turbine engine includes channeling fluid from a cooling fluid source to a combustor that includes at least one deflector and flare cone. The deflector and flare cone are coupled together and are configured to define a cooling fluid channel therebetween. The flare cone has a plurality of cooling injectors extending therethrough. The plurality of injectors are spaced circumferentially about a centerline axis of the flare cone and are coupled in flow communication with the fluid source. The plurality of injectors has a plurality of first injectors and a plurality of second injectors. The method also includes directing a portion of the fluid through the plurality of first injectors. The method further includes directing a portion of the fluid through the plurality of second injectors, wherein the first plurality of injectors facilitates cooling a portion of the deflector more than the second plurality of injectors. |
| US07654089B2 |
Gas-turbine combustion chamber with air-introduction ports
This invention relates to a gas-turbine combustion chamber with at least one pilot burner (2) and at least one main burner (3) which are axially and radially offset relative to each other, said combustion chamber (1) comprising an outer flame-tube wall (4) and an inner flame-tube wall (5) each provided with ports for the introduction of air, and said main burner (3) being located at the outer flame-tube wall (4) and said pilot burner (2) being located at the inner flame-tube wall (5), characterized in that the outer flame-tube wall (4) is provided with a first arrangement (6) of ports and in that the inner flame-tube wall (5) is provided with a second arrangement (7) of ports. |
| US07654088B2 |
Dual conduit fuel manifold for gas turbine engine
Fuel conduit systems for internal installation in a gas turbine engine are provided which are low cost and easy to manufacture. First and second members co-operate to provide a channel to define a discrete fuel carrying conduit. The direction of fuel flow can be adapted to provide desired cooling effect. |
| US07654086B2 |
Air induction system having bypass flow control
An air induction system for an engine is disclosed. The air induction system has a compressor operable to compress air directed into the engine, a bypass valve, and a throttle valve. The bypass valve may be disposed between the compressor and the engine and may have a valve element movable to selectively divert a portion of the compressed air away from the engine in response to a desired air-to-fuel ratio of the engine. The throttle valve may be disposed between the bypass valve and the engine and may have a valve element movable to selectively restrict the flow of compressed air into the engine in response to a desired air-to-fuel ratio of the engine. The movements of the valve elements of the bypass and throttle valves may be substantially sequential. |
| US07654081B2 |
Torus shapes for torque converters
A torque converter in which a plurality of output openings of the pump form a cone-shape so that a plurality of input openings of the turbine are substantially parallel to the plurality of output openings of the pump. |
| US07654080B2 |
Metering system and method for operating a metering system
The invention relates to a dosing system comprising a dosing means for metering a liquid, especially an aqueous urea solution used for the after treatment of exhaust gases generated by combustion engines. The liquid can be conveyed from a reservoir into an exhaust manifold through the dosing means in a normally operating conveying device. According to the invention, at least one area that is located between a dosing point and the reservoir and is impinged upon by the liquid can be emptied counter to a normal transport direction of the liquid. |
| US07654078B2 |
Exhaust gas particle collector
A particle collector includes a housing within an internal chamber having inlet and outlet ports. The housing can comprise two joined-together housing members. A collector element is disposed in the internal chamber and includes a particulate passage extending axially therethrough. A gas passageway is disposed within the chamber between a housing inside diameter and a collector element outside diameter, and is sized to produce a minimal pressure drop through the particle collector. The collector element is connected to the housing. A collection port is connected with the collector element and extends from the particulate passage to a location outside of the internal chamber for removing collected particulate matter from within the housing when the particle collector is placed into operation within an exhaust gas flow stream. |
| US07654072B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating compressed air from liquefied air, for supplying compressed air to an engine
An engine unit, particularly for urban transport, comprising an engine (3) supplied with a compressed gas and having a expansion chamber (9), a liquid gas tank (28) in communication with the engine (3), and means (M, M′) for gasifying the liquid gas, which are interposed between the liquid gas tank (28) and the engine (3) for obtaining compressed gas. The gasifying means (M) comprise a gasification chamber (22) in communication with the liquid gas tank (28) and a liquid fuel tank (39) which is connected to the gasification chamber (22). The gasification chamber (22) is in fluid communication with both the liquid fuel tank (39) for the combustion of the liquid fuel with the oxygen of the liquid gas (22), and the expansion chamber (9) so that the compressed liquid gas and gaseous products of combustion process are used to do useful work. |
| US07654071B2 |
Composite fibers
A composite fiber is described which comprises a polyester component and a polyamide component bound in a side-by-side or eccentric core-in-sheath structure, exhibiting a percentage of crimp DC of 1.3-15.0% after the composite fiber is treated in boiling water for 30 minutes under a load of 1.76×10−3 cN/dtex, and then dry heat treated for 30 minutes at 100° C. under a load of 1.76×10−3 cN/dtex, for stabilization of the crimps and further dry heat treated for one minute at 160° C. under a load of 1.76×10−3 cN/dtex, as well as a percentage of crimp HC of 0.5-10% after immersion in water at 20-30° C. for 10 hours, and a difference ΔC of 0.5-7.0% between the percentage of crimps. |
| US07654069B1 |
Baler slider frame for mounting accessories to a crop pickup device
A slide frame for a baler is provided for mounting one or more accessories such as a wind guard and/or a rotor, powered or non-powered, for assisting a pickup on a baler to pick up cut crops from the ground and deliver such crops to the inlet of a baling chamber. The slide frame is mounted in such a way as to automatically space each respective accessory a predetermined place with respect to the crop pickup device. |
| US07654067B2 |
Mower-conditioner equipped with first and second hollow rollers with reliefs
A mower-conditioner conditioning roller comprising a superficial relief over the entirety of its periphery. This roller, of cylindrical overall shape, is hollow and has no cylindrical core and has a wall of reduced thickness directly comprising reliefs. The body of the roller is formed with at least one structured plate comprising reliefs obtained by bending or rolling. |
| US07654066B2 |
Shift mechanism for trim mower cutting units
A shift mechanism for trim mower cutting units includes a pair of slidable carriers. Each slidable carrier can slide along a pair of guide rods mounted to a mower frame. A hydraulic extension cylinder is connected to each slidable carrier and independently extends to move the slidable carrier laterally outward from the mower frame or retracts to move the slidable carrier laterally inward in relation to the mower frame. A hydraulic shifting cylinder is mounted between the two extension cylinders and extends to shift both slidable carriers laterally inward toward a center position, and retracts to move both slidable carriers laterally outward toward an extended position. |
| US07654057B2 |
Anchoring insert for embedding in a concrete component and concrete component provided therewith
A concrete component embedded anchoring insert for bracing panels in buildings, and prefabricated concrete component provided therewith, the anchoring insert comprising an insert body delimiting a compartment and having a face with a main access opening. The insert body can be embedded in the concrete component so that the face is substantially flush with a face of the concrete component. A connecting element can be inserted in the main opening. The insert body has at least one secondary opening allowing concrete of the component body to enter the compartment, and a protection provided in the compartment adapted to prevent the concrete from accessing a portion of the compartment which is designed to receive the connecting element. |
| US07654050B2 |
Corner trim piece for siding
A corner trim member for mounting on a wall surface in combination with decorative siding panels. The corner trim member includes a plurality of integrally formed decorative elements. The decorative elements define a front face of the corner trim member. The corner trim member may also include a top edge disposed above the decorative elements; a bottom end; a pair of side edges; and a longitudinally extending channel located adjacent each side edge for receiving a laterally disposed decorative siding panel. The longitudinally extending channels may be defined by a back surface of the side edges, an angled end wall extending from the back surfaces, and a mounting flange extending from the end walls. The angle between respective end walls and back surfaces may be an acute angle. The front face and the decorative elements may be mounted in alignment with a corner of the wall surface. |
| US07654049B2 |
Crown molding member having planar portion, intermediate portion, and mounting flange
As used to trim a corner where a wall and a ceiling meet, a crown molding member has a planar portion, an intermediate portion, and a mounting flange. The planar portion is attached to the ceiling, in a first mode, or to the wall, in a second mode. The intermediate portion may have a coved, stepped, or curved profile. When applied to the mounting flange, drywall-finishing material, so-called “mud” in trade parlance, is pressed through apertures in the mounting flange, against the wall, in the first mode, or against the ceiling, in the second mode. |
| US07654046B2 |
Door frame with unitary head flashing, nailing fin, and tear-away construction cover
A door assembly includes a frame with brick mold, a threshold, and a door panel. A plastic member is mounted to the frame and the plastic member defines a flashing strip, a nailing fin, and a tear-away construction cover that protects a portion of the frame, such as the brick mold, from damage during construction. After construction, the construction cover is torn away to reveal the protected clean and undamaged brick mold. |
| US07654042B1 |
Cable tie down system
A lower support is provided between the side edges of the roof beneath. The lower support is in contact with the roof adjacent to the exterior edge. Upper supports are provided above and in contact with the roof. The upper supports include upper exterior, interior and intermediate supports. The upper exterior support is adjacent to the exterior edge. The upper interior support is adjacent to the interior edge. Central supports extend between the interior and exterior edges of the roof. The lower support is provided below and the upper supports are provided above. The central supports are located above and in contact with the roof. In this manner lower intersections are formed with the upper exterior and lower exterior and central supports. Upper intersections are formed with the upper interior and the central supports. Central intersections are formed with the upper intermediate and central supports. |
| US07654041B2 |
Window regulator bracket assembly
A window assembly for a vehicle having a body structure with a window enclosure, and a method of installing a window, is disclosed. The window assembly includes a window and a window regulator bracket assembly. The window is slidable into the window enclosure. The window regulator bracket assembly includes a support rod having an upper end mounted to the body structure and a lower end with threads. The window regulator bracket assembly also includes a spring housing slidably received on the lower end of the support rod, a compression spring, a support nut threadably received on the threaded portion in engagement with the spring plate, and a support jaw engaging the bottom edge of the window. The support nut is screwed onto the support rod against the bias of the spring to secure the window in its closed position. |
| US07654040B2 |
Unlock mechanism for a rotary door operator
An unlock mechanism for a rotary door operator of a transit vehicle includes a pivotally disposed lock member adapted for rotating into an unlock position and activating a valve for discharging the fluid pressure from a drive cylinder to enable a manual opening of the door. A spring is provided for biasing the lock member into a lock position. The lock member may be moved into the unlock position either with a cable or a lever handle. |
| US07654033B2 |
System for management of fishing tackle and tools
The invention is a storage system for fishing lures and fishing tools that can be mounted to a vehicle such as a boat, prevents the lures and tools from becoming entangled or unintentionally dislodged, and yet provides easy and immediate accessibility for the user. A key feature of the present invention is the means for securing the fishing lures. Individual lures are isolated from each other and from dislodgement during the rough motion of a fishing boat at speed. Special tortuous slots retain the tackle hooks until deliberate removal by an angler for use. Another key feature of the present invention is the means for securing commonly used fishing tools, such as pliers, wire cutters, or hook disgorgers, against dislodgement. The tools are held in place by rubber grommets. This means resists tool dislodgement during the rough motion of a fishing boat at speed, yet it also provides easy access to the angler. |
| US07654032B1 |
Adjustable quick rig
An adjustable quick rig for a bait comprising a bait pin to hold the bait, a leader channel having a tapered passage to receive a leader, and a line stopper intended for crimping onto the leader at an adjustable location to set a desired length of the leader relative to a hook in the bait. The line stopper can jam within a portion of the tapered passage to provide the desired length. The adjustable quick rig can transfer a pulling force from a back of the bait to a front of the bait to suppress a spinning motion during trolling. Moreover, the adjustable quick rig can use one leader to accommodate a variety of bait fish of different lengths. |
| US07654029B2 |
Ballistic ranging methods and systems for inclined shooting
A method for shooting a projectile weapon involves determining the inclination of a line of sight from a vantage point to a target and a line-of-sight range to the target, then predicting a trajectory parameter at the line-of-sight range, for a preselected projectile. Using the trajectory parameter, an equivalent horizontal range may then be determined, wherein the equivalent horizontal range is the range at which the trajectory parameter would be expected to occur if the projectile were shot from the vantage point toward a theoretical target located in a horizontal plane intersecting the vantage point. The equivalent horizontal range may be utilized to compensate for ballistic drop when shooting the projectile weapon. The method may be embodied in a handheld laser rangefinder including a memory for storing ballistic data. Systems for automatic hold over adjustment in a weapon aiming device are also disclosed. |
| US07654028B1 |
High-strength sling swivel
A detachable sling swivel capable of withstanding substantial pull forces includes a loop joined to a mounting body that detachably engages a sling swivel stud or other similar mounting device. At least a portion of the loop may have a substantially “T” shaped cross section, or T-beam construction. Various locking gate mechanisms are disclosed, including one having a gate configured to engage the T-beam construction of the loop for improved security and strength. |
| US07654027B1 |
Twist-lock sling swivel
An embodiment is a sling swivel that may be removably attached to and detached from a sling swivel base mounted on or within a firearm. More specifically, the sling swivel of an embodiment may be quickly detachable while not substantially prone to inadvertent detachment. An embodiment includes a knob coupled to a spring-biased plunger or actuator, wherein rotating the knob operates the plunger or actuator to removably attach and detach the sling swivel with respect to a sling swivel base. |
| US07654026B2 |
Snap frame graphic display arrangement
An elongated extruded snap frame member for biasedly removably capturing a display graphic for support and display thereof. The frame member comprises an elongated extruded frame receiving panel, an elongated strip of securement material applied to the frame panel at the time of extrusion and an articulable housing comprised of a cover and a plurality of articulable legs co-extruded with one another and connected to one another by a flexible web of material. A further flexible web of material connects the cover to a portion of the articulable housing, the further web of flexible material providing an axis of rotation for the cover when the cover is biasedly rotated onto the display graphic. |
| US07654020B2 |
Gun graffiti
Among other things, disclosed is a device with an adhering mechanism and signage that can be placed on a gun, such as a paint ball gun, that can identify the user or a sponsor or advertiser. A thin flat piece of material may be rolled up and its sides connected into a seam, with signage placed on an outside surface, and the material is placed on a gun, e.g. on a gun barrel. |
| US07654018B2 |
Excavation apparatus and method
An excavation tool having a lever with an end adapted for receiving force from a user's foot, an excavation head mounted to the other end of the lever, and a fulcrum mounted on the lever at the upper end of the excavation head for resting against the soil surface. The excavation tool may also have an excavation head for insertion into the soil with an upper end adapted for receiving a user's foot along the centerline of the excavation head, and a lever fixedly mounted to the excavation head, having an end adapted for receiving force from a user's foot. The excavation tool may have an opening above the upper end of the excavation head for receiving a user's foot on the upper end of the excavation head along the centerline of the excavation head. A fulcrum may be mounted on the lever at the upper end of the excavation head for resting against the soil surface. |
| US07654017B2 |
Trenching attachment having an internal combustion engine
A trenching attachment for selective attachment to a working machine features a frame arranged for selective connection to the working machine, an internal combustion engine mounted to the frame and a boom assembly connected to the frame and having a trencher chain installed thereon. The internal combustion engine is operatively connected to the trenching chain to facilitate driving thereof. Having its own dedicated engine, the trenching attachment is less dependent on the power take-off system of the working machine than a conventional trenching attachment that uses a hydraulic motor to power the trencher chain and relies exclusively on delivery of hydraulic fluid from the working machine for operation. |
| US07654014B1 |
Golf shoe
A golf shoe is disclosed that includes an upper shoe configured to be selectively secured to a foot. A sole assembly of the shoe includes articulating cleats that allow a user's front foot to pivot during a golf swing while maintaining the cleats in a generally fixed position with respect to the ground surface. Articulating cleats may be provided on a pivoting heel assembly that is disposed beneath a heel portion of the shoe. Articulating cleats may also be provided on a sliding forefoot support. |
| US07654008B2 |
Contour measuring method for measuring aspects of objects
An exemplary contour measuring method for measuring aspects of objects includes: (1) providing a contour measuring probe (10) comprising a tip extension (16), a displacement sensor (19), and a processor (119) connected to the displacement sensor, the tip extension being slidable in a first direction; (2) driving the tip extension to move so as to contact with the object at a first predetermined point, and recording a coordinate of the first predetermined point in the processor; (3) driving one of the tip extension and the object to move, thus, the tip extension contacting with the object at a second predetermined point, the displacement sensor sensing a displacement of the tip extension along the first direction and sending the displacement to the processor, and the processor recording a coordinate of the second predetermined point; and (4) repeating the step (3), the processor recording a series of measured coordinates of points. |
| US07654006B1 |
Method and device for elevator rail alignment
A method and device for elevator rail point alignment. A device body has a rear rail clamp and a front, angle alignable laser device. The laser mount provides for inversion alignment. In use, the device can be simply brought into true aim by focusing on an opposite target and marking the beam spot, inverting the tool on a aim and marking a second beam spot, and reaiming the laser to an intermediate spot. |
| US07654005B2 |
Two-piece assembly, assembly kit and method of achieving an assembly
An assembly having a first piece and a hollow second piece, the first piece having upper and lower parts which are connected by a hinge-forming part and form a space, a part of the second piece being accommodated in the space, the hollow second piece includes a cavity and a bushing is provided in at least part of the cavity, the bushing being provided at a level of a part of the hollow second piece that is accommodated in the first piece. The assembly further has a clamping unit that brings together the upper and lower parts of the first piece. The assembly relates in particular to the manufacture of tools for cutting, shearing, clamping or gripping, such as pruning shears. The assembly also concerns an assembly kit and a method for achieving an assembly. |
| US07654003B2 |
Safety razors with charge indicator and power switch
The invention relates to safety razors having blade units carried on a handle, an electrical arrangement including an electrically operated vibration device, and a control device for actuating the vibration device when the blade unit is moved into contact with or into close proximity to the skin of a person holding the razor, a battery accommodated in the handle, a switch for connecting the electrical arrangement to the battery, and optionally, a light emitting diode for illuminating a section of handle neck to indicate that the electrical arrangement is connected to the battery and ready to actuate the vibration device. |
| US07654001B2 |
Method of manufacturing a paint roller support
Embodiments of a method for manufacturing a paint roller support are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a paint roller support comprises placing first and second bearings on an elongated shaft at spaced apart locations such that the bearings are retained against rotational and axial movement relative to the shaft, and placing first and second rotatable hubs on the first and second bearings, respectively, the hubs being configured to rotate relative to the bearings and to each other and having outer surfaces on which a roller cover is placed during use, wherein the first and second hubs are retained on the shaft by the first and second bearings, respectively. |
| US07653996B2 |
Method of repairing a crack in a turbine component
A method of repairing a crack in a component comprising a base material, in particular in a gas turbine blade, a suspension, which comprises a carrier liquid and at least one solid in the form of nanoparticles of the same material as the base material, being applied to the location to be repaired. A heat treatment of the component is carried out, the solid in the form of nanoparticles being melted and a bond with the base material being formed. During the heat treatment, the component is exposed to a thermal shock, in which a maximum temperature which corresponds to the melting temperature of the nanoparticles is reached. The nano size of the particles in the suspension causes a lowering of the melting point of these particles to take place, so that the structure of the base material does not change even at the melting temperature of the nanoparticles. |
| US07653991B2 |
Method for manufacturing printed circuit board having embedded component
A method for manufacturing a printed circuit board having an embedded component is disclosed. The method includes: forming at least one contact bump and at least one electrode bump on one side of a base substrate; mounting the component such that the electrode bump is in correspondence with a contact terminal of the component; stacking an insulation layer, in which an opening is formed in correspondence to the component, on the one side of the base substrate, such that the contact bump penetrates the insulation layer; filling a filler in the opening; and stacking a metal layer on the insulation layer. Using the method, the reliability of circuit connections between the component and the circuit patterns can be improved, and the manufacturing process can be reduced in embedding the component in the printed circuit board. |
| US07653989B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus and mounter
The final-bonder is equipped with a warping correction unit that is equipped in parallel with a backup stage with a distance of about 20 mm from such backup stage, and that includes accordion pads for sucking a liquid crystal panel; the backup stage that supports, from the back, the liquid crystal panel when pressure is applied to its outer edge portion at the bonding of semiconductor components; and a pressure head that carries out final bonding of the semiconductor components onto the outer edge portion of the liquid crystal panel by applying pressure and heat to them. |
| US07653986B2 |
Horizontal assembly of stator core using keybar extensions
The present invention provides an apparatus for the horizontal stacking of laminations 10 and donuts to form a stator core. A stator generator frame 2 has multiple keybars 6 that run the axial length of the frame. The laminations 10 have grooves 12 there-in that engage the keybars to provide a secure fit of the laminations to the generator frame. By extending two or more of the keybars 6, these extensions 7 may be used as rails on which the laminations may be horizontally inserted into the stator frame. |
| US07653984B2 |
Method of resin sealing permanent magnets in laminated rotor core
A method comprising: a first process of placing a laminated rotor core (13) in a preheating device (18) to preheat the laminated core (13); a second process of removing the preheated laminated core (13) from the preheating device (18) and disposing the laminated core (13) between upper and lower dies (14, 15) of a resin sealing apparatus (29); a third process of pressing the laminated core (13) by the upper and lower dies (14, 15) and liquefying resin material (17) in resin reservoir pots (16) by heating; and a fourth process of ejecting the liquefied resin material (17) from the pots (16) into the magnet insertion holes (12) by plungers (32) inserted and moving vertically in the pots (16) and thermally curing the resin material (17). The method improves efficiency of resin sealing the permanent magnets (11) in the laminated core (13). |
| US07653983B1 |
Manufacturing assembly for manufacturing a disk drive
A manufacturing assembly is disclosed for manufacturing a disk drive. The manufacturing assembly comprises a pre-merge arm having a contact surface for contacting an actuator arm of the disk drive, and an actuator operable to actuate the pre-merge arm. When installing the actuator arm into the base of the disk drive, the actuator is operable to actuate the pre-merge arm in a first direction so that the contact surface biases the actuator arm rotationally about a pivot to bias the lift tab away from the ramp. After installing the actuator arm into the base of the disk drive, the actuator is operable to actuate the pre-merge arm in a second direction opposite the first direction so that the lift tab moves towards and contacts a ramp near an outer periphery of a disk. |
| US07653974B2 |
Pallet handling system for a machine tool
A machine tool has pass-through pallet loading allowing pallets to be loaded or discharged from either side of the machine. The pallet receiver is mounted on the X-axis of the machine, and the pallet is loaded onto the pallet receiver with the pallet in a vertical orientation. Cross axis rollers on the pallet receiver support the pallet and spacing rollers maintain the pallet spaced from Z-axis locating pads as it moves to a centered position on the pallet receiver. The Z-axis pads present a relatively large surface area to the rear face of the pallet, and are configured to provide vacuum clamping to lock the pallet in all three axes once it is centered on the pallet receiver. A rotating key is provided to center and lock the pallet relative to the pallet receiver before the vacuum clamping is applied. |
| US07653973B2 |
Production method of multilayer electronic device
A production method of a multilayer electronic device, comprising the steps of forming an electrode layer 12a on a first support sheet 20; forming a green sheet 10a on a surface of the electrode layer 12a to obtain a green sheet 10a having an electrode layer 12a; stacking the green sheets 10a, each having the electrode layer 12a, to form a green chip; and firing the green chip: wherein before stacking the green sheet 10a having the electrode layer 12a, an adhesive layer 28 is formed on a surface on the opposite side of the electrode layer side of the green sheet 10a having the electrode layer 12a; and the green sheet 10a having the electrode layer 12a formed thereon is stacked via the adhesive layer 28. |
| US07653972B2 |
Mechanical connection for open-type hose clamps
An open-type hose clamp which comprises a mechanical connection between overlapping inner and outer band portions, in which the mechanical connection includes at least one outwardly extending member extending outwardly from the inner band portion and adapted to engage in a corresponding aperture in the outer band portion, and in which the mechanical connection is such as to assure a lock up of the mechanical connection upon engagement of the outwardly extending member in the aperture and tightening of the clamp. |
| US07653971B2 |
Cotton conditioning device
The present invention related generally to a device for adding moisture to fibrous material such as cotton. The conditioning device receives a continuous cotton batt from a battery condenser. The continuous cotton batt is fed between two opposing drums. Hot moist air is fed into one drum and drawn out of the perforated surface of the drum, through the batt as it is being compressed between the two drums, and into the other drum. The opposing drums are internally compartmented by a plurality of longitudinal staves, each compartment being covered by a corresponding segment of the perforated surface. Hot dry air is fed into the compartments of the drums when the corresponding segment of the surface is not carrying the cotton batt in order to dry the surface of the drum and clear the perforations of any lint that might have been retained on the surface. |
| US07653967B2 |
Compact adjustable hinge
The invention disclosed provides a compact hinge capable of a vertical, a horizontal, and an overlay adjustment, comprised of a cup portion and a hinge arm with one end pivotably connected to the cup portion and the other end slideably connected to a fastener plate. The fastener plate further comprises a first semi-planar surface for contact with a cabinet frame and a second semi-planar surface for slideable engagement with the hinge arm to accomplish the horizontal adjustment. The first and second semi-planar surfaces are interconnected by a deformable hinge section that allows for an elastically resilient connection at one end and an adjusting screw at the other end for a horizontally arcing movement relative to each resulting in an overlay adjustment. The fastener plate further comprises an elongated aperture in the first semi-planar surface through which the vertical adjustment is accomplished. |
| US07653961B2 |
Glass cleaning device
A device for cleaning vehicle windshields assists in placing the user's hand in a favorable position to more easily clean the inside of a windshield with a wiping motion. The device includes a base having a padded member attached to its bottom side. A cleaning member is removably attached to the top side of the base. The device has straps that encircle the base and the padded member. The user's hand is placed through the straps such that the top side of the user's hand is against the bottom of the padded member. The user positions their hand to place the top side of the cleaning member against the windshield moving their hand in a wiping motion. |
| US07653960B2 |
Cleaning brush structure
A cleaning brush structure comprises an outer sheath mounted to the outer side of an inner sheath, and an actuating body wherein the outer sheath has an elongated positioning slot communicating with an insert hole of the inner sheath for the engagement of an insert portion of the actuating body therewith. Both inner longitudinal edges of the positioning slot thereof has protrusive points and concaved points alternatively arranged in a symmetrical manner thereon to form narrower restraining space and wider accommodation space for stable location of a positioning section of the insert portion to provide a stepwise adjustment effect thereby. The actuating body also has a guiding push plate of various pattern attached thereto, and depending on the depth and area of the article to be cleaned, the inner sheath can be adjusted stepwise to ensure an accurate extension of a brush body released for the cleaning operation thereof. |
| US07653953B2 |
Rotating therapeutic bed
It is depicted a rotating therapeutic bed which comprises: a structural base including in turn wheels located on its lower portion to allow moving the bed from one place to another; a first removable stretcher with a first mattress to support the patient laying on his back; a second removable stretcher with a second mattress being placed in a reversed fashion and over the first stretcher and the patient, who is supported between the mattresses of both stretchers; the second stretcher supporting the patient laying face down when stretchers are rotated by 180° on a rotation axis crossing along the patient; front and rear stretcher mounting and rotation members rotationally mounted on the structural base; the first and second stretchers being longitudinally mounted with a vertical spacing between them in such stretcher mounting and rotation means, which allow also their rotation; and side barriers coupled to the longitudinal sides of the first stretcher, as well as of the second stretcher, such barriers covering the vertical spacing between such stretchers where the patient is laying, preventing the patient's limbs from protruding from stretchers when they are rotated. |
| US07653952B2 |
Bed with movable mattress
A bed including a support frame, a foundation configured to support the support frame, means for displacing the support frame in a longitudinal direction with respect to the foundation, and means for displacing the support frame in a transverse direction with respect to the foundation. In addition, a method for inducing sleep by providing the proper stimulation to the vestibular organs is also provided. The method includes providing a support member configured to support an individual, controlling the displacement of the support member in a longitudinal direction of the support member, and controlling the displacement of the support member in a transverse direction of the support member. The combined motion of the support member in both the longitudinal direction and the transverse is configured to induce sleep. |
| US07653948B2 |
Massaging clothing
A massaging garment worn in close proximity to a wearer's skin is made from a stretchable fabric having a plurality of fibers. Pushing elements for pushing the wearer's skin away from the stretchable fabric and pulling elements for pulling the wearer's skin toward the stretchable fabric are secured thereto. The pushing and pulling elements produce a massaging effect on the wearer's skin. |
| US07657947B2 |
Method and device for the contactless excitation of torsional vibrations in a one-sidedly clamped-in spring cantilever of an atomic force microscope
A method for exciting free torsional vibrations a spring cantilever, which is clamped in on one side and has a longitudinal extension, of an atomic force microscope (AFM) is disclosed. The invention provides by the one-sidedly clamped-in spring cantilever being placed at a distance over a surface between which and the spring cantilever there is an acoustic coupling medium, by the surface being set into oscillations which are oriented laterally to the surface and are polarized linearly along an oscillation direction, and by the polarization axis given by the oscillation direction being oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the spring cantilever. |
| US07657946B2 |
Method for device dependent access control for device independent web content
A method, an apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for device-dependent access control for device independent web content. In an illustrative embodiment, a module may be implemented in a computer program detects a client device and security level from a request for a resource by a client device. The module loads, from a data source or configuration file, a three-dimensional device dependent access control matrix, which includes a user role axis, a device axis, and a resource axis. Based on the security level of the device indicated by the device matrix, the module grants or denies access to the resource by the user device. The security levels may include security protocols implemented by different devices, encryption schemes implemented by different devices, and security patches applied by the same device. |
| US07657937B1 |
Method for customizing processing and response for intrusion prevention
A method for customizing the response for network based intrusion prevention comprising of: 1) virtual proxying the application data to enable custom response 2) enhancing transport layer (TCP/IP) to enable selective processing and selective modification of the stream for intrusion prevention. The invention also discloses a method for customizing the processing for both network or host based intrusion prevention comprising of: 1) loading externally defined processing procedures for the detection and prevention of intrusions 2) combining multiple of these processing procedures to form a unified processing engine that can be used for intrusion detection and prevention 3) unloading processing procedures that are not needed any more 4) loading new processing procedures that improve the intrusion detection and prevention. |
| US07657936B2 |
Method for preventing time of check to time of use exploits
A method for preventing time of check to time of use exploits includes receiving a system call from a user space at a system call intercept and copying user space parameters from the user space to a kernel space responsive to the system call. The method also includes copying the user space parameters from the kernel space to a secure location in the user space, receiving the user space parameters from the secure location at the system call intercept, and executing the system call based on the received user space parameters. A computer readable medium including computer readable code and a system for executing the method steps are also disclosed. |
| US07657934B2 |
Architecture to thwart denial of service attacks
A monitoring device is disposed to thwart denial of service attacks on a data center. The monitoring device is a device that collects statistical information on packets that are sent between a network and the data center for a plurality of customers by examining traffic as if the device was disposed on links that are downstream from links that the provisioned monitor is disposed on. |
| US07657932B2 |
Extendible security token management architecture and secure message handling methods
A message handling computing system that provides security across even transport-independent communication mechanisms, and which allows for convenient extension of security to different security token types, and may provide end-to-end security across different transport protocols. The message handling computing system includes a message handling component configured to send and receive network messages having security tokens. The message handling component interfaces with an expandable and contractible set of security token managers through a standardized application program interface. Each security manager is capable of providing security services for messages that correspond to security tokens of a particular type. A security token plug-in component registers new security token managers with the message handling component. |
| US07657926B1 |
Enabling network communication from role based authentication
Network communications are secured on clients that do not have a user properly logged in and authenticated. The clients have transmit and/or receive functionality disabled. When a user logs into the client and is properly authenticated, the transmit and/or receive functionality is enabled. In some embodiments, the client can then download firewall policy information to prevent the client from communicating on certain ports or with certain clients. The firewall policy information may be specific to a role that a user logged into the client has. For example, administrators, executives and employee roles may each use different firewall policy information. |
| US07657924B2 |
Method and system for implementing authorization policies for web services
A method, system and computer program product for implementing authorization policies for web services may include defining an authorization policy for access to a web service. The method, system and computer program product may also include attaching the authorization policy to a service definition for the web service. |
| US07657919B2 |
Single wire return device including a QAM modulator for downstream IP signals
Systems and methods are disclosed for receiving IP video and audio signals at a subscriber's premises. A QAM modulator then modulates the IP signals and provides the modulated signals to a conventional digital home communications terminal (DHCT). Accordingly, conventional DHCTs can be used in an IP-based network. |
| US07657915B1 |
System for combining and splitting signal in a cable modem terminal system
A system and method for splitting and combining signal in a Cable Modem Terminal Station (CMTS). This system uses a hierarchal approach to connect RF modules to PHY modules. A first splitter and combiner connects each N input in a module to each of N outputs. Each of Nth output is then connected to a Nth second splitter/combiner which in turn connects each input to each output. |
| US07657913B2 |
Method and apparatus for correcting corrupted digital video transport streams
A digital video system, method, and computer program product for correcting corrupted digital video transport streams is described. The digital video system may include a digital cable, digital broadcast satellite (DBS), high definition television (HDTV), or video-on demand (VOD) system. In a VOD system, a VOD client at each receiver is capable of subscribing to one or more VOD sessions. The headend includes a video server and a control server that is coupled to the video server. The video server transmits one or more VOD sessions to one or more receivers over a transport stream. The control server can also cause the video server to transmit one or more dummy sessions to maintain a predetermined minimum bandwidth of content over the transport stream. Alternatively, the headend can transmit one or more null packets having a randomized payload, as necessary, to maintain a constant bit rate over the transport stream. |
| US07657912B2 |
Method, device and system for managing contents of VOD services
A method for managing contents of Video On Demand (VOD) services, where a Middle Ware (MW) controls the stored contents on a VOD server according to the VOD service information correlated with a channel is provided. The corresponding device and system are also provided. Therefore, the specific service forms are separated from the stored contents, and the MW controls the contents in a centralized manner according to the service information; the VOD server does not need to store the contents of each service separately, but adds and deletes the stored contents according to the unified control from the MW, thus avoiding repeated storage of the same data for different services. |
| US07657911B2 |
Content processing apparatus and content processing method for digest information based on input of a content user
Value-added information is created based on favorite information of a content user. The content is processed according to the generated value-added information. Favorite data indicating operations, such as fast-forward, pause, and rewind operations, performed while the content is being played back, and personal user information, such as the age group, the gender, and the life-style, of the content user are transferred to a server via a network. The server performs statistical processing on the user favorite data to generate value-added information according to the attributes of the user, such as the age group, the gender, and the life-style. Accordingly, the user is able to search for popular titles, play back only popular scenes, and skip uninteresting scenes by using a content playback apparatus. |
| US07657910B1 |
Distributed electronic entertainment method and apparatus
A distributed electronic entertainment method and apparatus are described. In one embodiment, a central management resource is coupled to multiple out-of-home venues through a wide area network (WAN). The central management resource stores content and performs management, monitoring and entertainment content delivery functions. At each venue at least one entertainment unit is coupled to the WAN. Multiple entertainment units in a venue are coupled to each other through a local area network (LAN). In one embodiment, an entertainment unit includes a user interface that comprises at least one graphical user interface (GUI). The entertainment unit further comprises a local memory device that stores entertainment content comprising music, a peripheral interface, and a user input device. A plurality of peripheral devices are coupled to the at least one entertainment unit via the peripheral interface, wherein a user, through the user input device and the user interface, performs at least one activity from a group comprising, playing music, playing electronic games, viewing television content, and browsing the Internet. |
| US07657907B2 |
Automatic user profiling
A user profiling system preferably includes a set of fuzzy logic operators. Based upon the fuzzy logic operators the user profile may be updated. |
| US07657903B2 |
Disc cartridge
A disc cartridge is provided. The disc cartridge includes: a lower housing having a window for allowing a recorder or reader to access to a read-out surface of a disc; and an upper housing coupled to the lower housing to ejectably receive the disc between the lower housing and the upper housing, and having at least a portion rotatable up and down with respect to one side of the lower housing until the disc can be ejected. |
| US07657899B2 |
Dynamic creation of proxy software objects at time of execution
A technique is described that allows a software client to create at run-time a software object that appears to extend or alter the functionality of an existing software class definition. For example, a decorator factory generates a proxy object that dynamically implements a set of interfaces specified by the software client at runtime. From the perspective of the client, the proxy object is logically a child object of the original existing base object. The child object appears to be enhanced by the methods and attributes defined by the set of interfaces and the methods implemented by the delegate object. However, the proxy object does not have actual parent classes. Instead, an invocation transparently intercepts method invocations from the client to the proxy object and invokes the appropriate method, regardless of whether the method is implemented in the base object, the delegate object, or within the proxy object itself. |
| US07657898B2 |
System and method for customizing infrastructure services for use in network services
A system and method for system services customization using configured infrastructure properties through a system of property sheets. When a virtual container is configured with an infrastructure service, the preferred embodiment loads the plug of the infrastructure service and invokes the plug, providing it the empty collection of property sheets. The plug responds by populating this collection with corresponding property sheets. A user can then provide unique values for those properties, which are then saved with the other metadata. Each collection contains one or more property sheets and each property sheet contains one or more properties. |
| US07657894B2 |
Detecting lock acquisition hierarchy violations in multithreaded programs
A method, apparatus, and system are provided for monitoring resource operations and detecting lock acquisition hierarchy violations in multithreaded programs. In one embodiment, a lock acquisition hierarchy graph is constructed to facilitate monitoring of resource operations performed by each of a plurality of threads of a multithreaded program. The resource operations performed by each thread are monitored by a monitor. Any violation in the hierarchy is detected by a detector, which is triggered with an occurrence of a change in the graph. |
| US07657890B2 |
Scheduling system and method in which threads for performing a real-time operation are assigned to a plurality of processors
A real-time processing system that executes a plurality of threads, each of the threads being a unit of execution of a real-time operation, comprises a plurality of processors, a unit which selects a tightly coupled thread group from among the threads based on coupling attribute information indicative of a coupling attribute between the threads, the tightly coupled thread group including a set of tightly coupled threads running in cooperation with each other, and a unit which performs a scheduling operation of dispatching the tightly coupled threads to several of the processors that are equal to the tightly coupled threads to simultaneously execute the tightly coupled threads by the several of the processors. |
| US07657879B1 |
System and method for cross-platform quality control
Assurance of quality with respect to of a software application across different operating platforms with different system architectures is provided. Methods for determining and assuring said quality as well as a system for the same is disclosed. A method for ensuring compliance with a contractual obligation related to quality of service in software is also disclosed. |
| US07657875B2 |
System and method for collecting a plurality of metrics in a single profiling run of computer code
A system and method for collecting a plurality of metrics during a single run of a computer program. The mechanism of the present invention initializes a plurality of counters to count events associated with metrics of interest. The mechanism of the present invention then counts the occurrence of events associated with metrics of interest during a single execution of a computer program. When a branch has been taken, a trace record is generated for the branch taken, wherein the generated trace record contains a count of events associated with the metrics of interest for the branch taken. |
| US07657874B2 |
Pattern types as constraints on generic type parameters
A system and method for constraining generic types is disclosed. In brief, the subject invention provides a pattern type for defining a set of one or more parameter constraints. Rather than being confined to a predetermined set of hard-coded constraints in an execution engine, a pattern type can be specified as an extensible constraint mechanism for generic type parameters. According to one aspect of the invention, the pattern type can manifest itself as a class including one or more properties and/or features. The shape of the pattern type can then be compared or matched to instantiated type parameters to determine constraint satisfaction. |
| US07657870B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing dynamic function groups in a data processing system
A method, an apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for implementing dynamic function groups in a data processing system. An extensible framework is provided, which provides function groups to amalgamate extended sets of functionality by either vendor or purpose and allows the function groups to be dynamically enabled or disabled within a software application. A user may specify which extended sets of functionality are relevant and when to enable them. With the use of function groups, third party vendors may integrate added functionalities with existing ones in a software application, and indicate when these functionalities should be available to end-users without the need to duplicate code. The invention allows for the construction of other extensible frameworks including wizards, editors, and operations may also be extended with the use of function groups. |
| US07657868B2 |
System and method for applying development patterns for component based applications
A computing device and method for coordinating the development of a client application including application components comprising one or more of at least one of a data component, a message component or a screen component, having corresponding component definitions, or a workflow component comprising a series of instructions. A first development pattern module configured for interaction with a development environment is provided by a computer user interface, the first development pattern module configured for selecting a first pattern from a plurality of patterns based on an application component type central to the client application, the developing definitions of at least one of the application components through interaction with a data model of the development environment providing a persistent state of the application components . . . the first pattern is selected from the group consisting of: a pattern for generating a suitable application based on an available backend data source messaging description; a pattern for developing the suitable application based on an available backend data source messaging description such that the entire application is developed including data components and screen components; a pattern for developing the application based on an existing database schema; a pattern for developing a standard set of data components that model a particular business domain for the application, a screen pattern for coordinating the development of a screen component as the first component; a message pattern for coordinating a development of a message component as the first component; and a script pattern for coordinating a development of a workflow component as a second component as recited in a manner in the independent claims 1 and 21.Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.” |
| US07657866B2 |
Providing documentation for assembling, installing, and supporting of software stacks
A tool is provided for addressing a number of issues related to providing support for software stacks including multiple uncoordinated components such as open source projects. The tool receives information about a stack, obtains support information specific to that stack and outputs the information to a user. A parsing functionality is also provided for selectively combining support information from the constituent projects of the stack. |
| US07657865B2 |
Computer-readable recording medium recording a mask data generation program, mask data generation method, mask fabrication method, exposure method, and device manufacturing method
A computer-readable recording medium recording a mask data generation program, which causes a computer to generate data of a mask illuminated by illumination light and used to form a latent image on a photoresist via a projection optical system. The program causes the computer to execute a map generation step of Fourier-transforming a function indicating an effective light source to generate a coherence map expressing a coherence distribution on an object plane of the projection optical system, on which the mask is arranged, a specifying step of specifying a reference vector from an origin of the coherence map to a region where coherence is less than a reference value, a first data generation step of selecting one element from a pattern including a plurality of elements, and removing, from the pattern, an element existing at a position matching a terminal point of the reference vector arranged such that the center of the selected element serves as a starting point, to generate data of a first pattern different from the pattern, and a second data generation step of generating data of a second pattern including the element removed in generating the data of the first pattern. |
| US07657854B2 |
Method and system for designing test circuit in a system on chip
A method and system for designing a test circuit in a System on Chip (SOC) includes identifying the test design constraints of the test circuit. The SOC is partitioned logically into a first set of logic blocks and a second set of logic blocks. A first set of scan chains is inserted in the first set of logic blocks, and a second set of scan chains is inserted in the second set of logic blocks, based on the test design constraints. Bypass circuits are inserted in the paths of the second set of scan chains, which are capable of bypassing at least one logic block of the second set of logic blocks during testing of the SOC. |
| US07657852B2 |
System and technique of pattern matching and pattern replacement
A system and technique to specifies patterns to search for in an integrated circuit layout, and specifies proposed replacement patterns. A description file includes specifications for one or more patterns to be searched for. In the description file, for each pattern, there may be one or more proposed replacement patterns. The description file is read. Pattern matches, if any, in a layout are found. A proposed replacement pattern is tested in place of a matched pattern. If acceptable, the proposed pattern may be used to replace the matched pattern. |
| US07657849B2 |
Unlocking a device by performing gestures on an unlock image
A device with a touch-sensitive display may be unlocked via gestures performed on the touch-sensitive display. The device is unlocked if contact with the display corresponds to a predefined gesture for unlocking the device. The device displays one or more unlock images with respect to which the predefined gesture is to be performed in order to unlock the device. The performance of the predefined gesture with respect to the unlock image may include moving the unlock image to a predefined location and/or moving the unlock image along a predefined path. The device may also display visual cues of the predefined gesture on the touch screen to remind a user of the gesture. |
| US07657848B2 |
Computer-implemented node-link processing systems and methods
Computer-implemented methods and systems for displaying nodes on a display device, wherein the nodes have a hierarchical context. Positional information associated with a plurality of nodes is used to generate a display for the nodes. The generated node display maintains hierarchical contextual information about the nodes. |
| US07657839B2 |
System for replying to related messages
A system is provided which utilizes a threading service to offer enhanced features for a document management system including an email system. Various enhanced email features may be provided through one or more of the following components: a delete module, a reply module, a profile module, and a search module. The delete module enables a user to delete a selected message, a set of related messages, or the whole set except for the selected message. The reply module enables a user to send a reply message to all addresses associated and involved with an entire set of related messages. The profile module enables a dynamic interest profile to contain all relevant information from an outgoing message and a set of messages related to the outgoing message. The search module enables search results to include documents which match the user's query as well as documents related to the documents which match the user's query. |
| US07657838B2 |
Preventing execution of programs that are embedded in email messages
Systems and methods are presented which generate modified email messages, which are largely devoid of embedded functions, from original email messages, which have embedded functions. The embedded functions are amenable to self-executing codes such as viruses, worms, and Trojan programs. Thus, the modified email message without these embedded functions, and any argument associated with these functions, provides a more secure email environment. |
| US07657820B2 |
Decoding device and decoding method
A decoding device for decoding an LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) code. The decoding device may include a first operation unit for performing a check node operation for decoding the LDPC code, the operation including an operation of a nonlinear function and an operation of an inverse function of the nonlinear function; and a second operation unit for performing a variable node operation for decoding the LDPC code. The first operation unit includes a first converting unit for converting a first quantization value assigned to a numerical value into a second quantization value representing a numerical value with a higher precision than the first quantization value, and a second converting unit for converting the second quantization value into the first quantization value. |
| US07657819B2 |
Method and apparatus for termination of iterative turbo decoding
In the method for termination of turbo decoding, a plurality of first LLR values (Lai(k)) of a-priori information and a plurality of second LLR values (Lei(k)) of extrinsic information are called up. A value is determined for a decision variable which is characteristic of the number of mathematical sign discrepancies between the first Lai(k)) and the second Lei(k)) values. The turbo decoding is terminated if the number of mathematical sign discrepancies is less than or at least equal to a first number or if the number is greater than or at least equal to a second number. |
| US07657813B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating expect data from a captured bit pattern, and memory device using same
Expect data signals are generated for a series of applied data signals having a known sequence to determine if groups of the data signals were properly captured. A first group of the applied data signals is captured, and a group of expect data signals generated from the captured first group. A second group of applied data signals is then captured and determined to have been properly captured when the second group corresponds to the group of expect data signals. In this way, when a captured series of data signals is shifted in time from an expected capture point, subsequent captured data signals are compared to their correct expected data signals in order to determine whether that group, although shifted in time, was nonetheless correctly captured. A pattern generator generates expect data signals in this manner, and may be utilized in a variety of integrated circuits, such as an SLDRAM. |
| US07657812B2 |
Test apparatus for updating a value of the bit position in result register by executing a result register update instruction with predetermined value to generate test pattern
There is provided a test apparatus for testing a device under test. The test apparatus includes an instruction storing section that stores thereon a test instruction sequence, a pattern generating section that sequentially reads and executes an instruction from the test instruction sequence, and outputs a test pattern associated with the executed instruction, a test signal output section that generates a test signal in accordance with the test pattern, and supplies the generated test signal to the device under test, and a result register that stores thereon a value having a predetermined number of bits. Here, the instruction storing section stores thereon the test instruction sequence including therein a result register update instruction to update a value of a designated bit position in the result register with a predetermined value, and when executing the result register update instruction, the pattern generating section updates, with the predetermined value, the value of the bit position in the result register which is designated by the result register update instruction. |
| US07657811B2 |
Low power testing of very large circuits
Plural scan test paths (401) are provided to reduce power consumed during testing such as combinational logic (101). A state machine (408) operates according to plural shift states (500) to control each scan path in capturing data from response outputs of the combinational logic and then shifting one bit at a time to reduce the capacitive and constant state power consumed by shifting the scan paths. |
| US07657810B2 |
Scan testing using scan frames with embedded commands
Testing of integrated circuits is achieved by a test architecture utilizing a scan frame input shift register, a scan frame output shift register, a test controller, and a test interface comprising a scan input, a scan clock, a test enable, and a scan output. Scan frames input to the scan frame input shift register contain a test stimulus data section and a test command section. Scan frames output from the scan frame output shift register contain a test response data section and, optionally, a section for outputting other data. The command section of the input scan frame controls the test architecture to execute a desired test operation. |
| US07657809B1 |
Dual scan chain design method and apparatus
A method for testing an integrated circuit includes scanning test data from an input and an output pin into a first scan chain during a first state of a clock cycle, and scanning test data from the same input and output pins into a second scan chain during a second state of the clock cycle. |
| US07657808B2 |
Propagation test strobe circuitry with boundary scan circuitry
A Propagation Test instruction, a Decay Test instruction and a Cycle Test instruction provide testing of DC and AC interconnect circuits between circuits including JTAG boundary scan cells. A few additions to the Test Access Port circuitry, including gating producing a Capture Test Strobe (CTS) signal, and the boundary scan cells are required to implement the additional instructions. The instructions are extensions of the conventional JTAG operating structure. |
| US07657805B2 |
Integrated circuit with blocking pin to coordinate entry into test mode
An integrated circuit (IC) including a blocking pin. An IC may include state logic, a test control unit configured to coordinate access by external circuitry to operating state of the state logic during a test mode, and interface pins configured to couple the integrated circuit to the external circuitry. Shared interface pins may provide input signals to the test control unit during the test mode of operation and may perform distinct I/O functions during normal mode operation. A blocking interface pin, when asserted by external circuitry during normal mode operation, may force test signals derived from at least a portion of the shared interface pins by the test control unit into respective quiescent states, such that subsequent to assertion of the blocking pin, the integrated circuit is operable to enter the test mode of operation from the normal mode of operation without resetting operating state of the state logic. |
| US07657803B2 |
Memory controller with a self-test function, and method of testing a memory controller
A memory controller with a self-test function includes a test controlling unit configured to generate test data in a test mode, a data transmission unit configured to generate a data read timing signal to transmit the data read timing signal and the generated test data synchronized with the data read timing signal, and a data input/output (I/O) unit configured to feedback the transmitted test data and the transmitted data read timing signal to the data transmission unit, such that the data transmission unit receives fed-back test data and a fed-back data read timing signal. The data transmission unit reads the fed-back test data based on the fed-back data read timing signal, and the test controlling unit compares the fed-back test data with the generated test data. Therefore, the memory controller may perform a fast self-test. |
| US07657796B1 |
System and method for distributed storage verification
A system, method, and computer-accessible medium for storage management are disclosed. A failure condition is detected in a storage stack comprising a first host and a storage device. Data from the storage device is exported to a plurality of additional hosts. The data is validated using the plurality of additional hosts. |
| US07657793B2 |
Accelerating software rejuvenation by communicating rejuvenation events
A computer readable medium is provided embodying instructions executable by a processor to perform a method for triggering a software rejuvenation system or method, the method includes receiving a request for resources at a node, determining an estimated response time to the request for resources, determining that the estimated response time is greater than a first threshold, and triggering the software rejuvenation system or method at the node, the triggering including broadcasting an alert upon determining one of, a number of estimated response times is greater than the first threshold is greater than or equal to a dynamic second threshold, and a prior alert is received from another node. |
| US07657791B2 |
Method and system for a digital signal processor debugging during power transitions
Techniques for the design and use of a digital signal processor, including (but not limited to) for processing transmissions in a communications (e.g., CDMA) system. A method and system control transferring data between debugging registers and digital signal processor processes in association with a power transition sequence of the digital signal processor. In a digital signal processor, debugging registers associate with the core processor process and the debugging process. Control bits control transferring data among the debugging registers, the core processor process and the debugging process. The control bit prevents transferring data among the debugging registers, the core processor process and the debugging process in the event of a power transition sequence. Control bits also prevent a power transition sequence of the digital signal processor in the event of transferring data among the debugging registers and the core processor process or the debugging process. |
| US07657789B1 |
Multi-machine testing system and method for testing software
An integrated test framework is disclosed that allows software testers to easily generate and execute tests of software involving multiple interacting computer systems. A copy of the integrated test framework resides on each computer system in the test. The integrated test framework on each computer system supports the independent testing of software on that system and also the synchronization between the computer systems. A test manager is provided to coordinate the synchronization. All the information necessary to direct the test framework on each of the computer systems is included within a single test script that is propagated to and executed on each computer system. The test script dictates the role of each computer system within the test and includes role specific actions and identifies points at which the computer systems must synchronize together for the passing of data, messages or other communications. |
| US07657788B2 |
Host apparatus for sensing failure of external device connected through communication cable and a method thereof
A host apparatus capable of sensing failure in an external device connected thereto through communication cable, comprises an external signal detector for sensing failure in the external device by detecting signals of the external device through the communication cable; a display for outputting a predetermined message; and a controller for displaying a predetermined warning message informing the failure on the display, if the external signal detector senses the failure in the external device. Therefore, a user can be informed of the failure in the external device. |
| US07657785B2 |
System of circumvention and recovery in a multi-function system
A system of circumvention and recovery in a multi-function system. The system includes a plurality of peripherals, at least one event detector and a controller. The plurality of peripherals have different levels of susceptibility to environmental events. The at least one event detector is configured to detect environmental events. The controller is coupled to receive an event detected signal from the at least one event detector. The controller is further configured to control circumvention procedures of each peripheral based on the detected event and the level of susceptibility of the peripheral. |
| US07657773B1 |
Clock distribution chip for generating both zero-delay and non-zero-delay clock signals
In one embodiment of the invention, a clock distribution (CD) chip has one or more input pins, input buffer circuitry, clock generation and distribution circuitry, fanout circuitry, one or more output pins, a feedback pin, and feedback buffer circuitry. Based on single-ended or differential input clock signals applied to the input pins, the CD chip can be programmably configured to generate zero, one, or more zero-delay (ZD) output clock signals and zero, one, or more non-zero-delay (NZD) output clock signals for simultaneous presentation at the output pins. |
| US07657763B2 |
Systems and methods for selectively controlling electrical outlets using power profiling
A system for selectively controlling electrical outlets using power profiling is disclosed. There is a plurality of electrical outlets that each comprises a power socket capable of receiving a plug, an outlet identification and a switch that when in a first position no power is available at the power socket, and when the switch is in a second position power is available at the power socket. A controller is in electronic communication with the plurality of electrical outlets. The controller includes a processor and memory in electronic communication with the processor. The controller also includes power profiles and operates to receive data from an electrical outlet of the plurality of electrical outlets. A device or class of device is identified based on the received data. A power profile is identified based on the received data. Action is taken based on the power profile. |
| US07657762B2 |
Apparatus and methods for power management of a circuit module
The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for controlling power consumption of a plug-in card or circuit module. The disclosed method, in particular, controls power to a circuit module and includes implementing a user interface and power manager to automatically control the power state of the circuit module by, among other things, powering the module up or down using a simulated hot unplug of the device. The apparatus further includes use of an I/O interconnect to allow the system BIOS to simulate the hot unplugging of the module. |
| US07657759B2 |
Method and system for copy protection of displayed data content
A method for altering text displayed in a formatted page, including locating a buffer of memory locations containing contents of a formatted page, locating a first text string between two markers within the buffer, the first string being an encrypted text including N characters, replacing the first text string with a second text string within the buffer, the second string being a decrypted text including M characters, where M is less than N, and inserting N-M special fill characters in the N-M unfilled memory locations between the markers within the buffer, so as to avoid the need to move the markers closer together. |
| US07657754B2 |
Methods and apparatus for the secure handling of data in a microcontroller
Apparatus and methods are presented for protecting data in microcontrollers from both malicious software processes running inside the device as well as from unauthorized attempts to read the data from an external data bus and/or external memory. An illustrative embodiment of the invention accomplishes these security improvements, in part, by utilizing an enhanced memory management unit (MMU). The enhanced MMU is configured to prevent one software process running on the microcontroller from accessing data associated with a different software process running on the same microcontroller. Moreover, data transmitted over an external data bus or stored in an external memory is encrypted, thereby reducing the chances that unauthorized users will gain exploitable information from this data. |
| US07657753B2 |
Image forming apparatus, information processing apparatus, information processing system, authentication method and computer-readable storage medium
An image forming apparatus includes an input part to input authentication information for authenticating a predetermined operation with respect to a registered printing job, an input part to input log-in authentication information for authenticating the predetermined operation from an operation part, an image forming part to form an image of the printing job, and a control part to request input of the authentication information for authenticating the predetermined operation with respect to a printing job that is being executed by the image forming part when the predetermined operation is made from the operation part in a logged in state, and authenticating the predetermined operation with respect to the printing job when authentication of the authentication information input by the input part is successful. |
| US07657750B2 |
Watermarking method with print-scan compensation
A digital watermark may be applied to digital image data to produce watermarked digital image data. A transformation may be applied to the watermarked digital image data to produce transformed watermarked digital image data. The transformation may approximate the inverse of a transformation that represents distortion caused by transmission through a print-scan channel. |
| US07657749B2 |
Communication scheme using outside DTCP bridge for realizing copyright protection
An outside DTCP bridge for relaying information between an outside communication device connected to an outside network and a home communication device connected to a home network, carries out a first authentication and key exchange processing for purpose of copyright protection between the outside DTCP bridge and the home communication device as well as a second authentication and key exchange processing for purpose of copyright protection between the outside DTCP bridge and the outside communication device, and stores an identification information of the outside communication device. Then, transmission/reception of information between the home network and the outside network is carried out only when the outside communication device which made the access request is stored and both the first authentication and key exchange processing and the second authentication and key exchange processing succeed. |
| US07657748B2 |
Certificate-based encryption and public key infrastructure
A digital message is sent from a sender to a recipient in a public-key based cryptosystem comprising an authorizer. The authorizer can be a single entity or comprise a hierarchical or distributed entity. In some embodiments, no key status queries or key escrow are needed. The recipient can decrypt the message only if the recipient possesses up-to-date authority from the authorizer. Other features are also provided. |
| US07657738B2 |
List signature method and application to electronic voting
The invention concerns a list signature method comprising: an organization phase whereby reliable authority defines parameters for implementing an anonymous electronic signature; a phase which consists in registering persons on a list of authorized members to generate a list signature, during which each person calculates a private key, and the reliable authority delivers to each person a certificate for membership of the list; a phase which consists in defining a serial number; a phase wherein a member of the list generates by means of certificate a signature containing an element common to all the signatures issued by one single member with one single serial number; a phase which consists in verifying whether the signature has been generated by a member of the list and whether the serial number has been used to generate the signature. |
| US07657735B2 |
System and method for monitoring network traffic
Described is a method of assigning a network address to a trap, the network address being a dark address of a virtual private network. The network traffic destined for the network address is monitored and a classification of the network traffic is determined. After the classification, a predetermined response is executed based on the classification of the traffic. |
| US07657727B2 |
Security for logical unit in storage subsystem
Mapping tables are for stipulating information for primarily identifying computers, information for identifying a group of the computers and a logical unit number permitting access from the host computer inside storage subsystem, in accordance with arbitrary operation method by a user, and for giving them to host computer. The invention uses management table inside the storage subsystem and allocates logical units inside the storage subsystem to a host computer group arbitrarily grouped by a user in accordance with the desired form of operation of the user, can decide access approval/rejection to the logical unit inside the storage subsystem in the group unit and at the same time, can provide the security function capable of setting interface of connection in the group unit under single port of storage subsystem without changing existing processing, limitation and other functions of computer. |
| US07657726B2 |
Context look ahead storage structures
A memory storage structure includes a memory storage device, and a first meta-structure having a first size and operating at a first speed. The first speed is faster than a second speed for storing meta-information based on information stored in a memory. A second meta-structure is hierarchically associated with the first meta-structure. The second meta-structure has a second size larger than the first size and operates at the second speed such that faster and more accurate prefetching is provided by coaction of the first and second meta-structures. A method is provided to assemble the meta-information in the first meta-structure and copy this information to the second meta-structure, and prefetching the stored information from the second meta-structure to the first meta-structure ahead of its use. |
| US07657725B2 |
Integrated circuit with memory-less page table
A system is disclosed that comprises a processor, a memoryless first level page table addressable by the processor, and a second level page table stored in a memory coupled to the processor. The second level page table is addressable by at least one entry of the first level page table. |
| US07657722B1 |
Method and apparatus for automatically securing non-volatile (NV) storage in an integrated circuit
A method and apparatus for automatically securing non-volatile (NV) storage in an integrated circuit provides improved resistance to code copying and reverse-engineering attacks. External interfaces that provide read access to the NV storage are be disabled, for a predetermined time after a reset or other initialization signal is received. An internal lock state bit or key is checked as well as an external lock prevent indication. If the lock prevent indication is not received, or the internal lock state bit is already set, then the integrated circuit is operated under a locked condition, in which external access to the NV storage values is prevented. The lock prevent indication may be a signal provided during reset of the integrated circuit on a terminal that is used for another purpose after initialization of the integrated circuit. |
| US07657716B2 |
Save and restore of a protected area
A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that in an embodiment save a protected area of a storage device by booting to the protected area, copying the contents of the protected area to the user area of the storage device, rebooting to the user area, and then saving the user area to a backup storage device. In another embodiment, a restore mechanism is provided by copying the saved contents of the protected area from the backup storage device to the user area of the storage device, booting into the protected area of the storage device, and copying the saved contents into the protected area. In this way, in various embodiments the contents of the protected area of a storage device can be saved and restored. |
| US07657715B2 |
Dynamic operation mode transition of a storage subsystem
A host implement a method for controlling a dynamic transition of the host from a current operation mode to a target operation mode. The method involves the host receiving an operation mode transition request to transition a logical representation of a storage subsystem as maintained by the host from the current operation mode to the target operation mode, and the host reconfiguring the logical representation of the storage subsystem to the target operation mode based on the operation mode transition request exclusive of a re-IPLing of an operating system of the host. |
| US07657713B2 |
Memory using packet controller and memory
A memory that includes a plurality of packet pins, a synchronous memory, and a packet controller. The synchronous memory receives address and control signals in synchronization with a clock signal. The packet controller sequentially receives packet data bits through the packet pins in synchronization with the clock signal when a packet enable signal is activated, and converts the inputted packet data into the address and control signals. Specifically, packet data bits that are first inputted through the packet pins represent an operation mode. |
| US07657712B2 |
Microprocessor architecture capable of supporting multiple heterogeneous processors
A memory control unit for controlling access, by one or more devices within a processor, to a memory array unit external to the processor via one or more memory ports of the processor. The memory control unit includes a switch network to transfer data between the one or more devices of the processor and the one or more memory ports of the processor. The memory control unit also includes a switch arbitration unit to arbitrate for the switch network, and a port arbitration unit to arbitrate for the one or more memory ports. |
| US07657708B2 |
Methods for reducing data cache access power in a processor using way selection bits
Methods for reducing data cache access power in a processor. In an embodiment, a micro tag array is used to store base address or base register data bits, offset data bits, a carry bit, and way selection data bits associated with cache accesses. When a LOAD or a STORE instruction is fetched, at least a portion of the base address and at least a portion of the offset of the instruction are compared to data stored in the micro tag array. If a micro tag array hit occurs, the micro tag array generates a cache dataram enable signal. This signal activates only the cache dataram that stores the needed data. |
| US07657707B2 |
Storage controller
A primary controller operates to transmit write data and a write time to a secondary controller in the earlier sequence of the write times after reporting a completion of a request for write to a processing unit. The secondary controller stores the write data and the write time transmitted from the primary controller in the cache memory. At a time, the secondary controller stores the write data in a disk unit in the earlier sequence of the write time. These operations make it possible to guarantee all the write data on or before the reference time. |
| US07657705B2 |
Method and apparatus of a RAID configuration module
A method may include providing a management application with firmware information of a RAID controller and/or system information of a particular set of physical disks forming a particular underlying RAID implementation that is relevant to creating a configuration on the RAID controller of the particular underlying RAID implementation to enable the management application to configure the RAID controller of set of physical disks forming any RAID implementation without prior knowledge of firmware information of the RAID controller and system information of at least one of set of physical disks forming a RAID implementation and determining the configuration of the particular underlying RAID implementation using a decision making process of the management application based on of a firmware information of the RAID controller and system information of the particular set of physical disks forming the particular underlying RAID implementation to determine the configuration of the particular underlying RAID implementation. |
| US07657703B1 |
Double density content addressable memory (CAM) lookup scheme
The number of content addressable memory (CAM) lookups is reduced from two to one. Each side (left and right sides) of a CAM is programmed with network addresses, such as IP addresses, based on certain bits of the network addresses. These bits of the network addresses (which represent packet routes) are examined and used to determine whether the particular network address is to be placed on the left or right sides of the CAM. The grouping of certain network addresses either on the left or right sides of the CAM can be performed by examining an individual bit of each network address, by performing an exclusive OR (XOR) operation on a plurality of bits of each network address, and/or by searching for bit patterns of the network address in a decision table. Network addresses that cannot be readily assigned to a particular side of the CAM using these grouping techniques are programmed into both sides of the CAM. During packet routing, techniques similar to the grouping techniques that populated the CAM are used to determine which of the two sides of the CAM is to be searched. |
| US07657702B2 |
Partial block data programming and reading operations in a non-volatile memory
Data in less than all of the pages of a non-volatile memory block are updated by programming the new data in unused pages of either the same or another block. In order to prevent having to copy unchanged pages of data into the new block, or to program flags into superceded pages of data, the pages of new data are identified by the same logical address as the pages of data which they superceded and a time stamp is added to note when each page was written. When reading the data, the most recent pages of data are used and the older superceded pages of data are ignored. This technique is also applied to metablocks that include one block from each of several different units of a memory array, by directing all page updates to a single unused block in one of the units. |
| US07657701B2 |
System and method of flash memory wear leveling using distributed write cycles
The wear leveling system and method spreads write cycles across a flash chip, thereby reducing repeated usage of the same areas of the flash chip, and facilitating even usage of all of the memory on the flash chip. When a delete operation occurs in the system and method, the deleted cluster is marked as “dirty” in a table, and the sector address of that cluster is calculated and written into a cache memory. When a write operation occurs, the “dirty” cluster is viewed as a used cluster in order to limit the number of writes to any particular cluster. In a write operation, an unused cluster address is retrieved from a table and a sector address is calculated. If the sector address has a good and low age count, then the write operation writes into the cache memory as well. Before the write operation writes into the cache memory, however, the system and method of the present disclosure checks whether the table requires cleaning and memory updating, or whether a switch to a new table is necessary. Once a purge or sync trigger is effectuated, all of the data written into the cache memory is written into the flash memory. |
| US07657700B2 |
Recording device, recording-medium-management method, program of recording-medium-management method, and recording medium recording program of recording-medium-management method
A recording device which records data onto a recording medium includes a nonvolatile memory storing and holding data on a free capacity of the recording medium, and a control unit controlling the data recording. The control unit determines the free-capacity data stored in the nonvolatile memory based on the total capacity of the recording medium when power is turned on. When the determination result indicates that a value of the free-capacity data stored in the nonvolatile memory does not exceed a value of the total capacity of the recording medium, the control unit records the data onto the recording medium with reference to the free-capacity data. When the power is turned off, the control unit updates the free-capacity data so as to reduce the value of the free-capacity data by as much as an amount of the data recorded onto the recording medium. |
| US07657699B2 |
Device and method for monitoring operation of a flash memory
A flash memory device includes an array of memory cells for storing data pages, at least one buffer (e.g. a memory buffer and a cache buffer) for transferring the data pages to and from the array of memory cells and a host, and an output pin. A logic mechanism is operative to select, from among a plurality of conditions related to an operation on the array of memory cells, a condition that drives a signal being output on the output pin. A data page transfer by the host is contingent on the signal being output on the output pin. |
| US07657697B2 |
Method of controlling a semiconductor memory device applied to a memory card
Plural second logic blocks are set to a first logic block, and when data is written to the second logic block, write waiting is given using an address next to the address of the current second logic block. In order to protect data of the written second logic block, the next address is skipped using another address as an expected value. |
| US07657695B1 |
Efficient processing of memory accesses to virtual hardware using runtime code patching
Systems and methods for efficient processing of virtual hardware memory accesses to using runtime code patching. Virtual hardware memory accesses are processed by handling a program's OS-trapped memory exception and performing runtime patching on the program's code to bypass the OS-trapped memory exception mechanism. Program runtime patching comprises modifying function addresses in a program's function address table to redirect function calls to virtualization functions for processing virtual hardware memory accesses without triggering OS-trapped memory exceptions. |
| US07657693B2 |
Router to use three levels of arbitration for a crossbar channel
A router is provided that includes a plurality of lanes to receive inbound data from a plurality of different input ports. The router may further include a shared crossbar channel coupled to each of the lanes and to a plurality of output ports, the crossbar channel to receive inbound data from the plurality of lanes and to provide outbound data to the plurality of output ports. Each lane may include a local lane arbiter, a global lane arbiter and a port arbiter associated with each port. |
| US07657690B1 |
Control of PCI memory read behavior using memory read alias and memory command reissue bits
A method of controlling memory read behavior in PCI devices includes connecting a master PCI device to a PCI bus. The master PCI device is constructed and arranged to issue a Memory Read Line or a Memory Read Multiple initial command. A target PCI bridge device is connected to the PCI bus. The target PCI bridge device is constructed and arranged to prefetch data from host memory on behalf of the master PCI device and to store the prefetched data. A data transfer transaction is established between the master PCI device and the target PCI bridge device and prefetched data is stored at the target PCI bridge device. A bit is selectively preset in at least one of the PCI devices such that if a disconnect of the transaction occurs, the target PCI bridge device recognizes a subsequent request as a continuation of the initial request and sends prefetched data to the master PCI device. |
| US07657688B2 |
Dynamically allocating lanes to a plurality of PCI express connectors
Method, apparatus, and computer program products for dynamically allocating lanes to a plurality of PCI Express connectors are disclosed that include identifying whether a PCI Express device is installed into each PCI Express connector, and assigning a portion of the lanes to each PCI Express connector having a PCI Express device installed into the PCI Express connector. Dynamically allocating lanes to a plurality of PCI Express connectors may also include identifying a device type for each PCI Express device installed into the plurality of PCI Express connectors. Dynamically allocating lanes to a plurality of PCI Express connectors may also include creating allocation rules that specify the allocation of lanes to the plurality of PCI Express connectors. Dynamically allocating lanes to a plurality of PCI Express connectors may also include receiving user allocation preferences that specify the allocation of lanes to the plurality of PCI Express connectors. |
| US07657687B2 |
Memory card controller, memory card drive device, and computer program
A memory card controller is provided with a clock start/end control unit that suspends supply of a clock signal to the memory card when a data amount transferred from the memory card as a result of the transfer operation reaches a data amount specified by an nth command received from the host device. The memory card controller resumes supply of the clock signal to the memory card if a subsequent command received with supply of the clock signal to the SD card in a suspended state specifies an address consecutive to an end address of data transfer requested by the nth command as a start address. |
| US07657682B2 |
Bus interconnect with flow control
A method of operating a bus interconnect coupled to bus masters and bus slaves is provided. The method includes receiving a request from a bus master to perform a bus transaction associated with a transaction ID with a bus slave of the plurality of bus slaves, the bus transaction being a first type of bus transaction. The method further includes performing the transaction if a resource allocation parameter allocated to the bus master meets a first threshold. The method further includes if the resource allocation parameter does not meet the first threshold, performing the data transaction only if the transaction meets a condition of a set of at least one condition, wherein a condition of the set of at least one condition includes that the transaction ID of the transaction is not a transaction ID of any outstanding bus transaction of the first type requested by the bus master. |
| US07657681B2 |
Arbitration circuit and function processing circuit provided therein
In an arbitration circuit in which a shared circuit such as a memory is used exclusively by one of a plurality of functional blocks at a time, an access reservation request is issued from one of the functional blocks, and the access request associated with the access reservation request is reserved. Thereafter, when an access request is issued from another functional block, it is determined which one of the access reservation request and the access request from these functional blocks takes precedence. For example, if the access request from the latter functional block has a low priority level, the access reservation request is selected and the circuit waits for an access request from the functional block which has issued this access reservation request. In this manner, it is possible to avoid cancellation of a once-accepted access request and waiting for a high-priority access request. |
| US07657680B2 |
Multiple bus interface control using a single controller
Mechanisms for configuring an integrated circuit to select one of multiple external device interfaces at a time to use during communication with external devices. The integrated circuit includes a control mechanism, a selection mechanism, and a plurality of external device interfaces. The plurality of device interfaces allow the integrated circuit to communicate with various external devices that support different communication protocols. The control mechanism is configured to designate the selection of one of the plurality of device interfaces for use in communicating with an external device. The control mechanism makes use of the selection mechanism to select the designated device interface to communicate with using the communication protocol supported by the selected interface. The communication may be receiving data from the interface or providing data to the interface. Non-selected interfaces are put in an inactive state. |
| US07657672B2 |
Packet scheduling for data stream transmission
The invention relates to transmitting data elements of a data stream based on a priority and target buffer fill levels at a receiving device. A transmitter controller transmits data elements of a data element class with a highest priority first, for reaching an associated buffer fill level and then turns to data elements of successively lower priorities, until the available bandwidth is exhausted. |
| US07657667B2 |
Method to provide cache management commands for a DMA controller
The present invention provides a method and a system for providing cache management commands in a system supporting a DMA mechanism and caches. A DMA mechanism is set up by a processor. Software running on the processor generates cache management commands. The DMA mechanism carries out the commands, thereby enabling the software program management of the caches. The commands include commands for writing data to the cache, loading data from the cache, and for marking data in the cache as no longer needed. The cache can be a system cache or a DMA cache. |
| US07657664B2 |
Method and system for tracking device driver requests
A computer implemented method, an apparatus, and a computer usable program product for tracking device driver requests in a data processing system is provided. A controller receives a request from a device driver. The controller associates a timestamp and at least one pointer to the request, wherein the timestamp indicates a time the request is received by an operating system. The controller then links the request from the device driver in a queue in the operating system, wherein the pointer identifies the location of the request in the queue. |
| US07657660B2 |
Input-output device and control method thereof
The present invention provides an input/output device capable of bringing a per-unit input/output circuit into a simple configuration without impairing reliability even when logic levels opposite in polarity are outputted between input/output devices made conductive to the outside. The input/output device is equipped with one reference port Pk selected from a port group which inputs and outputs signals, target ports Pt selected from other than the reference port of the port group, and a conduction detector which detects that conduction is made between input/output terminals for the reference port Pk and the target ports Pt. |
| US07657657B2 |
Method for maintaining transaction integrity across multiple remote access servers
A system for providing failover redundancy in a remote access solution includes at least one application resource on a back-end server, and multiple gateway servers. One of the gateway servers is a primary gateway server while the others are failover gateway servers. Each gateway servers hosts a session with at least one executing application instance for the same application, each session on the failover gateway servers maintained in the same state as that on the primary gateway server. The primary gateway server is the only gateway servers allowed to communicate with the application resource(s). The system further includes a client device in communication over a VPN with the primary gateway server, receiving output of the application instance executing on the primary gateway server and displaying the received output on a viewer of the client device. The client device also sends input to the primary gateway server. |
| US07657639B2 |
Method and system for identity provider migration using federated single-sign-on operation
A method is presented for performing an identity provider migration operation with respect to a user within a federated computational environment, wherein the user has a first user account at a first identity provider, a second user account at a second identity provider, and a third user account at a service provider. A request to access a resource is received by the service provider, after which a federated single-sign-on operation for the user is performed between the service provider and the first identity provider. Prior to sending a response to the request to access the protected resource, information in the third user account is modified to indicate that the service provider relies upon the second identity provider to authenticate the user on behalf of the service provider rather than the first identity provider. A response for the request to access the resource is then returned by the service provider. |
| US07657635B2 |
Method and apparatus for converting network management protocol to markup language
A method is provided to convert network management protocol request into a markup language representation. In one embodiment, the present invention includes receiving a network management protocol request at a network device, generating a plurality of markup language tags and content embedded in the markup language tags based on the received request, and responding to the request using the plurality of markup language tags and content embedded in the markup language tags using a unified backend interface. In one embodiment, routines used to generate the plurality of markup language tags and content are generated automatically using an instrumentation module. |
| US07657634B2 |
Quality of service support at an interface between mobile and IP network
A signaling regimen between a mobile station MS, a radio node RN, and a packet data switching node PDSN enables a quality parameter to be applied to packets moving between a mobile and a CDMA2000 network. The MS creates a new flow for packets of a certain data type and sends a related quality parameter for that flow to the BS. The BS determines whether an existing or new service instance will carry the new flow, and obtains authorization for the service instance to meet the quality parameter from the PDSN. The BS or PDSN builds a map between flow and a policy that ensures the quality is met, and the map is used to place different packets into the appropriate flow and service instance. Policies and enforcement may differ on uplink and downlink. |
| US07657625B2 |
Method and system for remotely detecting parasite software
An Internet Protocol (IP) usage pattern of a first computer system is monitored by a second computer system remotely located from the first computer system. Based on the monitoring, it is determined if the IP usage pattern is abnormal for the first computer system. If the IP usage pattern is abnormal, an alert signal is generated for the first computer system by the second computer system. The alert message indicates a potential presence of parasite software on the first computer system. |
| US07657622B1 |
Unified web hosting and content distribution system and method for assuring predetermined performance levels
A service model, integrated system, and method for enabling a service provider to deliver an integrated web hosting and content distribution service offering, which affords assured operational performance service levels, regardless of whether the customer's web site is served by the service provider's hosting center, the service provider's content distribution network (CDN), by a third party web host, or by a third party CDN. A monitoring system of the primary service provider receives detailed capacity and health statistics from any CDN under the operational control of the primary service provider, receives aggregate capacity and health statistics from other CDNs not under the operational control of the primary service provider. A redirection system then decides to which web host, content distribution network, or combination thereof, user requests for content are directed in order that operational performance service levels are maintained. |
| US07657621B2 |
Method for the output of status data
A method for automatically indicating status information of a measuring system via an output device includes assigning status information to respective status ranges according to at least one predetermined condition, the status ranges being limited by at least one threshold value. The status ranges are individually outputted. The status information is automatically updated at a predetermined time interval. |
| US07657618B1 |
Management of multiple client requests
A system, apparatus, and method are directed to managing multiple back-end connections for pipelined HTTP communications. A traffic management device is configured to open back-end connections to multiple servers. The traffic management device distributes HTTP requests from a client device across multiple server connections. Instead of buffering the responses to ensure that each are returned in a same order as the requests, the traffic management device throttles a TCP receive window between all of the back-end server connections, but that back-end server connection associated with a first expected response. As each response is sent to the client device, the TCP window for the next back-end server connection is opened. This effectively offloads any significant buffering onto the back-end servers, enabling the traffic management device to return the responses in the same order as the requests. |
| US07657616B1 |
Automatic discovery of users associated with screen names
Automatic discovery of users associated with screen names for rogue protocols. A local server associates screen names with users, updating those associations in response to the protocol. The local server intercepts protocol messages, determines if they relate to unknown users, and obtains information associating screen names with users. Policy rules are applied to all screen names for the same user in an aggregated manner. The local server sends a request to an authorization server coupled to the local network, including the IP address for that screen name. The authorization server interrogates a registry file on the user workstation to obtain a GUID for that user, and from that GUID obtains a unique logon name for that user from the domain controller for a local network. |
| US07657615B1 |
Approach for provisioning network devices
An approach for provisioning network devices generally involves supplying boot data to network devices over a network so that the network devices can be booted up in an imaging mode or an application mode, depending upon the particular boot data supplied to the network device. When booted up in the imaging mode, imaging data can be downloaded and stored on network devices. When booted up in the application mode, the network devices execute one or more programs contained in the image data stored on the network devices. The first and second boot data may be in the form of boot loader scripts. Furthermore, the first and second boot data may be provided to the network device in the payload of a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) reply. The DHCP reply may be generated and provided by a DHCP server to the network device in response to receiving a DHCP request from the network device. The approach may be implemented using a secure network environment. |
| US07657613B1 |
Host-centric storage provisioner in a managed SAN
Various embodiments of a system and method for provisioning a storage consumer with storage in a SAN networked computer system are disclosed. A SAN networked computer system may include one or more consumers of storage, such as host computers, a plurality of storage devices, and one or more SAN fabrics including the devices needed to connect the storage consumers to the storage devices. The system may also include a storage consumer-centric storage provisioner. To provide a storage consumer with storage, the storage consumer-centric storage provisioner may perform discovery on the system to acquire topologic information on the system along with the characteristics of system components. The storage provisioner may contextualize the information into the perspective of the storage consumer to present a user with candidate system configuration parameters from which to select, and when sufficient parameter selections have been input, the provisioner may configure the system according to the user selections. |
| US07657612B2 |
XML schema for network device configuration
An Extensible Mark-up Language (XML) schema is used to generate configuration settings files. A wireless configuration XML schema defines an XML file for configuring wireless network settings on a wireless device. A wide area network (WAN) configuration schema defines an XML file for configuring a WAN device. A local area network (LAN) configuration schema defines an XML file for configuring a LAN device. A broadband modem configuration schema defines an XML file for configuring a broadband modem device. A device configuration schema defines an XML file for reporting the configuration of a device. |
| US07657608B2 |
Method and system for distributing a document to at least one destination
This invention is related to a document distribution system, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a document distribution system that reduces network traffic. The present invention is directed to a method and system for distributing a document to at least one destination, comprising the steps of providing a document to be distributed; creating a job by associating the document with at least one printer job language command, wherein the printer job language command provides instructions for the distribution of the job; and distributing, on the basis of the printer job language command, the job to at least one destination. |
| US07657604B2 |
System and method for securing online chat conversations
A system, method and program product for securing online chat conversations. The disclosed method includes the steps of capturing a chat conversation into an image file; adding a watermark to the image file; extracting the watermark from the watermarked image file; and validating the watermark. |
| US07657602B2 |
Preventing human error in instant messaging
A system, computer program and method for reducing communication errors in a messaging system. One embodiment of the invention involves delaying the transmission of a message to a discussion participant for a period of time. If a time countdown expires before activation of a message edit control, the message is transmitted to the discussion participant. If the message edit control is activated, the time countdown is terminated and the message is presented for modification without transmission of the message to the discussion participant. Another embodiment of the invention includes displaying a first user interface for communicating messages with a first person and a second user interface for communicating messages with a second person. An alert is provided when messaging activity has switched from the first user interface to the second user interface. |
| US07657601B2 |
Methods and computer programs for formulating messaging platform capacity projections
Computer-executable methods and programs for formulating a planning recommendation for a messaging platform. Mailbox data is received specifying a projected maximum number of mailboxes. Growth assumption data is received that specifies a change in average message size of messages. Traffic assumption data is received that identifies a portion of message traffic projected to occur during any recurring time interval for which message traffic has previously exceeded a threshold. Baseline data is received specifying maximum performance capabilities of the messaging platform. Messaging platform data is received specifying a quantity of messages accepted, stored, deleted, and/or retrieved. A planning recommendation is generated by applying an algorithm to the mailbox data, traffic and growth assumption data, baseline data, and messaging platform data. The planning recommendation is placed into a physically tangible, humanly discernible form by printing the recommendation, displaying the recommendation, or outputting the recommendation in audible form. |
| US07657600B2 |
Responding to electronic mail messages
One implementation provides a method of replying to a user electronic mail (email) message sent from a user within a system that processes incoming user email messages and delivers responses to these incoming user email messages. The method includes processing a user email message sent from a user to determine its content. A response based on the content of the user email message is then created. The response is delivered to the user along with a request for feedback regarding quality of the response to the user. Any returned feedback from the user is received. The returned feedback or an absence of returned feedback within a predetermined period of time is processed to determine if additional response is to be sent to the user. |
| US07657598B2 |
Address book for integrating email and instant messaging (IM)
Systems and methods for integrating instant messaging (IM) services and email services are described. In one embodiment, the email services and IM services are integrated through an address book database. The address book database correlates email information of a contact with a reference identifier (ID). Additionally, one or more IM addresses of the contact are also correlated to the reference ID, thereby permitting further correlation of a contact's IM information with the contact's email information. |
| US07657596B2 |
Distributed data sharing methods and systems
A system, method, and computer implemented method for sharing data between networked applications is provided. The system includes at least a whiteboard space, a single server mode library, and a client mode library. The single server mode library provides access to the whiteboard space, where the access is to read or post data to the whiteboard space. The client mode library is provided for one or more processes. The client mode library is in networked communication with the single server mode library, and the client mode library is capable of managing one or more reader objects and one or more posting objects. The single server mode library is further capable of managing one or more reader objects and one or more posting objects. |
| US07657584B2 |
Reorganization method of database and a database reorganization system
Provided is a storage system in which a transaction of a database is quiesced, a pair of a first volume and a second volume is split so as to make settings to allow an access to be made only to the database in the first volume, the transaction is then released from the quiescent state, a sparse space is specified in the database stored in the second volume, only the specified sparse space in the second volume is partially reorganized, and the contents of the partially reorganized second volume are copied to the first volume such that the first volume and the second volume are resynchronized with each other to form the pair again. |
| US07657578B1 |
System and method for volume replication in a storage environment employing distributed block virtualization
A system for volume replication in a distributed block virtualization environment includes a first and a second set of one or more physical block devices, a first and a second volume server, one or more volume clients, and a replication manager. The first volume server may be configured to aggregate storage in the first set of one or more physical block devices into one or more logical volumes, and to make the one or more logical volumes accessible to the one or more volume clients. The replication manager may be configured to operate in cooperation with the first and second volume servers and the one or more volume clients to maintain a replica of at least a subset of the one or more logical volumes at the second set of one or more physical block devices. |
| US07657575B2 |
Sequencing updates to business objects
A system and method for compensating for disruptions to update transmissions is disclosed. A first application component stores an instance of a business object. The first application component reconciles the instance with data stored on a second application component. The first application component receives a business object update from the second application component. The first application component checks a reconciliation value associated with the business object update. If the first reconciliation value indicates the first business object update was sent after the reconciliation, the first application component applies the business object update to the instance. |
| US07657564B2 |
Method for selecting a ferrite bead for a filter
A method for selecting a ferrite bead for a filter to avoid a peak value in a frequency response curve of the filter is provided. The method includes the steps of: building an equivalent model database including parameters of equivalent models of ferrite beads, the parameters including an inductance and a capacitance of a corresponding equivalent model of each ferrite bead; calculating parameters of a desired ferrite bead in the filter based on parameters of the filter, the parameters of the ferrite bead including an inductance, a capacitance, and a resonant frequency; adjusting parameters of the filter until the calculated resonant frequency equals or approaches a desired resonant frequency, and finding an inductance and a capacitance respectively equaling or approaching the calculated inductance and the calculated capacitance in the database; and selecting a ferrite bead with the appropriate inductance and capacitance as found in the database for the filter. |
| US07657563B2 |
System, method and storage medium for providing a multimedia contents service based on user's preferences
A multimedia contents service system transforms original contents based on selected user preferences chosen by a user or automatic preferences generated from accumulated statistics on user's contents consumption. The system transmits the transformed contents to the user and provides services which perform rendering or storing according to user preferences. Therefore, the system provides contents transformed according to user's interests to thereby increase user's convenience (universal multimedia access) and satisfy a variety of user's demands. |
| US07657561B2 |
Method for providing a compressed rendition of a video program in a format suitable for electronic searching and retrieval
A compressed rendition of a video program is provided in a format suitable for electronic searching and retrieval. An electronic pictorial transcript representation of the video program is initially received. The video program has a video component and a second information-bearing media component associated therewith. The pictorial transcript representation includes a representative frame from each segment of the video component of the video program and a portion of the second media component associated with the segment. The electronic pictorial transcript is transformed into a hypertext format to form a hypertext pictorial transcript. The hypertext pictorial transcript is subsequently recorded in an electronic medium. |
| US07657558B2 |
Establishing relationships between objects based on object interfaces
In an interface-based object system capable of supporting multiple interfaces into objects, a relationship is defined as a pair of complementary collections on two separate interfaces, each interface found on separate objects. A link between objects is formed when an interface of one object lists an object supporting the related interface included in the object and vice versa. The collections may be of objects supporting the related interfaces or may be of specific relationship objects leading to objects supporting the related interfaces. The collections are potentially multi-valued entities that enable relationships to be established between objects using one-to-one, many-to-one, and many-to-many architectures. By implementing a specific relationship object, behavior may be imparted to the relationship itself thereby providing more robust system behavior. Objects thus linked can be easily traversed so that convenient navigation models can be implemented allowing clients quick access to desired objects by navigating through relationships between objects. |
| US07657557B2 |
Generating code on a network
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for generating code on a network. Input files including information files and schema files are utilized to generate platform independent runtime files. The processing of the runtime files generates one or more business service applications. The runtime files map data between a standard format and an internal format. |
| US07657555B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying related searches in a database search system
A method of generating a search result list also provides related searches for use by a searcher. Search listings which generate a match with a search request submitted by the searcher are identified in a pay-for-placement database which includes a plurality of search listings. Related search listings contained in a related search database generated from the pay-for-placement database are identified as relevant to the search request. A search result list is returned to the searcher including the identified search listings and one or more of the identified search listings. |
| US07657553B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving end to end performance of a data network
A method and apparatus provide improved cache coherency and more effective caching operations without placing an undue burden on network links. A proxy receives a request for a resource and then, depending on information in the proxy cache, generates a resource request for transmission to a resource server. The proxy appends a proxy filter to the request. The resource server maintains one or more volumes of resources based on some predetermined criterion that can be either static or dynamic in nature. Upon receipt of the request and the proxy filter the resource server generates a request response and a piggybacked list of additional resources selected from the volume with which the requested resource is associated. |
| US07657552B2 |
Declarative sequenced report parameterization
User values and selections are collected and provided to a report server that customizes a generically defined report pursuant to the user values and selections. An ordered set of report parameters is declared in the definition of a report and then this parameter definition is used to drive user prompting and execution of the report. As parameter values are collected in sequence order, a value retrieved or specified by the user for one parameter may be used to generate the set of the allowed values or default value of a parameter later in the sequence. Parameters are dynamically presented to the user. After values for all parameters been retrieved or specified, a report is generated by the report server. |
| US07657551B2 |
Method and system for providing improved answers
Disclosed is a method and system for ranking answers supplied by user authors in an online database. A first author enters a first answer under a question. The answer is ranked #1 for output under that question. Then a second author enters a second answer under the same question. The second author also enters a bet claiming that her answer is better than the first answer. If the first author declines the bet, the second answer becomes ranked #1 for output under the question. If the first author accepts the bet, the bet is decided by a judge. The judge enters her decision into the answer database system.If the judge finds that the first author's answer is better than the second author's, then the first author's answer remains ranked first under the question; if the judge finds that the second author's answer is better, then second author's answer replaces the first author's answer as the #1 ranked answer under the question. |
| US07657550B2 |
User interfaces and methods for managing data in a metabase
Systems and methods for managing electronic data are disclosed. Various data management operations can be performed based on a metabase formed from metadata. Such metadata can be identified from an index of data interactions generated by a journaling module, and obtained from their associated data objects stored in one or more storage devices. In various embodiments, such processing of the index and storing of the metadata can facilitate, for example, enhanced data management operations, enhanced data identification operations, enhanced storage operations, data classification for organizing and storing the metadata, cataloging of metadata for the stored metadata, and/or user interfaces for managing data. In various embodiments, the metabase can be configured in different ways. For example, the metabase can be stored separately from the data objects so as to allow obtaining of information about the data objects without accessing the data objects or a data structure used by a file system. |
| US07657542B2 |
Software life cycle availability over the internet
A method and apparatus to afford a technical application for gathering, storing, tracking, and using requirements, engineering software for those requirements, and releasing finished enterprise software. A method is described that gathers requirements into a constrained data structure designed to facilitate the engineering of pre-specified definitions of the work to be done. A data structure and schema are described that organizes the gathering of requirements, the engineering of software that meet those requirements, and the orderly release of the software components. A computer readable medium is described, the medium having computer executable instruction to cause a system perform the method. |
| US07657537B1 |
System and method for specifying batch execution ordering of requests in a storage system cluster
A system and method specifies batch execution ordering of requests in a cluster of storage systems or nodes. Each node is generally organized as a network element and a disk element. One or more sessions are established between the elements in the cluster. Each session comprises a plurality of channels disposed over connections, wherein each channel enables multiple requests to be sent over a connection. Each request is identified by a unique identifier (“request id”) that is generally defined as the combination of a channel number and a sequence number. The request id is extended to include a batch number that provides an execution ordering directive within a channel. All requests with the same batch number in a channel can be executed in arbitrary order or concurrently. Ordering is imposed only when the batch number changes, e.g., increases. Although more than one request in a channel can have the same batch number, all requests with the same batch number are executed before any request with a higher batch number. |
| US07657536B2 |
Application of resource-dependent policies to managed resources in a distributed computing system
An apparatus, program product and method enable program code that manages a managed resource, e.g., a high availability manager, to receive status information associated with an externally-managed resource such that the program code can properly apply an activation policy to the managed resource in a manner that is consistent with any requirements placed upon that resource by the externally-managed resource. Where, for example, a managed resource is required to be collocated on the same node or computer as an externally-managed resource, the status information may include location information that identifies where the externally-managed resource is currently active, such that the program code can activate the managed resource on the same node as the externally-managed resource. |
| US07657534B2 |
Order commitment method and system
An order commitment method and system are described. The method includes the steps of identifying services and data capable of supporting an order commitment, and mapping the services to enable synchronized on-demand queries. The mapping step includes determining relationships among the services and the data and maintaining the relationships, wherein links are established to create fulfillment information. The method also includes using the fulfillment information to generate the order commitment. |
| US07657528B2 |
Method, computer program product and article of manufacture for providing service-to-role assignment to launch application services in role-based computer system
In a computer system (100) that launches application services for predetermined roles, a service-to-role assignment is customized in a target table. The user inserts a CD-ROM with master and reference tables, and the system automatically provides the target table. The master table (119) stores a first assignment (112) of application services (S, 151-156) to roles (RO), and stores a second assignment (113) of service attributes (SA), such as language or industry branch, of the application services (S). The reference table (129) stores reference attributes (REA) for each application service (S) in the master table. The service representations for each role (RO) are forwarded from the master table (119) into the target table (149) if service and reference attributes match. |
| US07657527B2 |
System and method for detecting termination of an application instance using locks
A system and method for detecting termination of an application, such as a database instance, that uses locks is described. A holding child process is started from a parent process. The holding child process connects to a monitored application instance, acquires an exclusive lock on the monitored application instance and returns a ready signal upon successfully acquiring the exclusive lock. A waiting child process is started from the parent process subsequent to the holding child process. The holding child process connects to the monitored application instance, blocks on the exclusive lock on the monitored application instance and returns a result signal upon at least one of acquiring the exclusive lock and clearing the block on the exclusive lock. The return signal is processed at the parent process. Using locks provides immediate detection that the application has terminated. Methods for blocking against the application are also described. |
| US07657526B2 |
Methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on activity level spikes associated with the content
A method of selecting and presenting content based on detecting an increased level of activity associated with the content is presented. The method includes providing a set of content items with associated descriptive terms. The method includes receiving user search input for identifying desired content items and, in response to the incremental input entered by the user, presenting a subset of content items to the user. The method further includes receiving actions from the user selecting content items from the subset and analyzing the descriptive terms associated with the selected content items to detect an increased level of activity for descriptive terms associated with the content items selected by the users. The method includes, in response to receiving subsequent user search input, selecting and ordering a collection of content items based on promoting the ranking of content items associated with descriptive terms that have an increased level of recent activity. |
| US07657524B1 |
System and/or method for comment migration
Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, devices and systems associated with comment migration are disclosed. |
| US07657521B2 |
System and method for parsing medical data
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for processing medical data. The method includes the steps of identifying text strings in medical data, associating the text strings with standardized identifiers from a library, and outputting the standardized identifiers associated with the text strings. In an embodiment, a report and/or an order including the standardized identifiers associated with the text strings may be printed and/or stored. In an embodiment, the library may be modified to accommodate the text strings. A user and/or software program may be used to review the text strings to associate the standardized identifiers with the text strings, for example. In an embodiment, the text strings may be deconstructed into a plurality of sub-strings. A standardized identifier is then associated with each sub-string. The standardized identifiers may be numeric values, for example. |
| US07657519B2 |
Forming intent-based clusters and employing same by search
A method is provided for analyzing a plurality of search sessions to identify intent-based clusters therein. Each session comprises at least one received query from a user and a corresponding set of returned search results, and each set of search results includes or refers to at least one piece of content. Each cluster represents a group of similar search sessions that are perceived as representing a common purpose and that can be mapped to a common set of search results. In the method, for each search session, each received query thereof, the corresponding set of search results, and whether any particular piece of content of the search results was acceptable to the user as responsive to the corresponding search session are identified. Thereafter, search sessions are grouped into clusters. |
| US07657517B2 |
Server for synchronization of files
A server stores files. Distributed clients access the server, to learn about changes made to the files on the server, and to push local changes of the files onto the server. A synchronization application is used to synchronize the clients and server, synchronizing metadata and selected files. |
| US07657516B2 |
Conversion of a relational database query to a query of a multidimensional data source by modeling the multidimensional data source
A facility for processing a relational database query is described. The facility receives the relational database query, and constructs a multidimensional database query based on the received relational database query. The facility submits the constructed multidimensional database query for execution against a multidimensional data source. |
| US07657515B1 |
High efficiency document search
A computer-implemented search method and system is provided whereby a file is received including a query, typically for trademark search, having a first list of query terms and a second list of industry terms. The first and second lists may include tens or hundreds of terms. An AND-OR tree is constructed to represent the query terms and the industry terms and traversed to logically combine each of the query terms with each of the industry terms to form sub-queries which are executed in parallel. The results from each sub-query execution are limited according to a sub-query result limit. The sub-query results are combined to construct a query result for the original query included in the file. Duplicate results are removed from the query result and an ordinal number is included for each term in the query result before returning the query result. |
| US07657512B2 |
Source-context aware object-based navigation
The present invention provides methods and systems for allowing object-based navigation between business objects and applications where the target application is specific to the use context in which the user selects a navigation element. Context criteria on which the target view depends include the source business object, the user's role, and the source application. |
| US07657511B2 |
Multi-layered data model for generating audience-specific documents
One or more embodiments of invention are directed to a multi-layered data model for generating audience-specific documents will now be described. The invention is used in the context of generating a document such as a catalog or web page for publication across regions and cultures comprising multiple languages. It allows users to rapidly generate multi-language, multi-culture and multi-region documents since fields flagged as multi-lingual may utilize existing buckets that comprise pre-filled multi-language, multi-culture and multi-region values without requiring the user to specify every multi-value when creating a record. |
| US07657510B2 |
System for performing data searches on a network
A system for performing data searches on a network includes a computer system forming a node on the network and having a database of electronic documents. Each electronic document is associated with at least one resource description. The computer system is programmed to generate print data representing a search form such that the search form carries information relating to at least one parameter of a search to be carried out and coded data associated with that information and representing a search instruction input field. A printer is connected to the network for receiving the print data from the computer system to print the search form. A sensing device is capable of sensing the coded data and is operatively connected to the printer to write search instructions to the computer system, via the printer and the network. The computer system is programmed to carry out a search on the network, in response to the instructions, based on the, or each parameter and to instruct the printer to print results of the search. |
| US07657507B2 |
Pseudo-anchor text extraction for vertical search
A search method uses pseudo-anchor text associated with search objects to improve search performance. The pseudo-anchor text may be extracted in combination with an identifier of the search objects (such as a pseudo-URL) from a digital corpus such as a collection of documents. Pseudo-anchor texts for each object are preferably extracted from candidate anchor blocks using a machine learning based approach. The pseudo-anchor texts are made available for searching and used to help ranking the objects in a search result to improve search performance. Method may be used in vertical search of objects such as published articles, products and images that lack explicit URL and anchor text information. |
| US07657501B1 |
Regulating the workload of a database system
A method, computer program and system for regulating the workload of a database system as it processes one or more requests are disclosed. The requests are grouped into workload groups and are processed by one or more of a plurality of subsystems within the database system. Each subsystem has resources. The system has resources. The subsystem resources and the system resources are allocated across the workload groups. The method, computer program and system include monitoring, at a subsystem level, the processing of the requests and adjusting the allocation of subsystem resources to workload groups to achieve a subsystem goal and monitoring, at a system level, the processing of the requests and adjusting the allocation of system resources to workload groups to achieve a system goal. The subsystems are arranged in a hierarchical network. The method includes each subsystem reporting through the hierarchy of the network the consumption level of its resources and each subsystem reporting through the hierarchy of the network the consumption level of the resources of other subsystems reporting to it according to the hierarchy. |
| US07657482B1 |
System and apparatus for transaction fraud processing
A system for processing transaction data is provided. The system includes a fraud policy system that provides merchant fraud policy data. An order information data system receives order information data and the merchant fraud policy data and generates order information fraud score data, such as by modifying the order information data using the merchant fraud policy data and then scoring the modified order information data. A transaction authorization system receives the order information fraud score data and the merchant fraud policy data and generates client authorization data. |
| US07657479B2 |
Method and system for provision and acquisition of medical services and products
Transactional costs associated with providing professional services are reduced by allowing prospective patients/clients (bidders) and professional service providers to negotiate competitively for desired fees for proffered services through an interactive on-line communications network such as the Internet. A transaction system server handles online communications and procedures for conducting auctions for delivery of proffered services and maintains a registration database of service providers and bidders. An authentication/qualifier engine automatically researches and verifies service provider credentials and background information upon registration of a service provider with the system. A service feedback interface and database are provided for handling online feedback information and comments from patients/clients and providers regarding the complexity and quality of services received or provided. |
| US07657476B2 |
Method and system for valuing intangible assets
The present invention provides a method and system for valuing patent assets based on statistical survival analysis. An estimated value probability distribution curve is calculated for an identified group of patent assets using statistical analysis of PTO maintenance fee records. Expected valuations for individual patent assets are calculated based on a the value distribution curve and a comparative ranking or rating of individual patent assets relative to other patents in the group of identified patents. Patents having the highest percentile rankings would be correlated to the high end of the value distribution curve. Conversely, patents having the lowest percentile rankings would be correlated to the low end of the value distribution curve. Advantageously, such approach brings an added level of discipline to the overall valuation process in that the sum of individual patent valuations for a given patent population cannot exceed the total aggregate estimated value of all such patents. In this manner, fair and informative valuations can be provided based on the relative quality of the patent asset in question without need for comparative market data of other patents or patent portfolios, and without need for a demonstrated (or hypothetical) income streams for the patent in question. Estimated valuations are based simply on the allocation of a corresponding portion of the overall patent value “pie” as represented by each patents' relative ranking or position along a value distribution curve. |
| US07657475B1 |
Property investment rating system and method
A multifamily investment management tool comprises user interface logic and an investment rating engine. The user interface logic is configured to provide a user interface accessible to a user and includes risk profile configuration interface logic configured to permit a user to define a plurality of different risk profiles for a plurality of different investments. The investment rating engine is coupled to the user interface logic and is configured to evaluate the plurality of different investments according to the plurality of different risk profiles. |
| US07657471B1 |
Method and apparatus providing automated financial plan controls
Techniques providing automatic control of a distributed electronic financial plan are disclosed. A set of financial statements is created and populated with planned data values that are stored in a database. In certain embodiments, statements in the set are logically linked to facilitate automatic updating as changes occur. The P&L, balance sheet and statement of cash flow are all automatically configured with certain calculated lines and standard lines that maintain proper accounting relationships among the electronic financial plan documents. Spending lines of the P&L are linked meaningfully to constrain spending plans of the corresponding underlying departments so that the P&L becomes conservative in terms of spending. One or more organizational hierarchies may be created and stored, based on departmental organization or revenue flows, and sets of P&Ls, balance sheets, and statements of cash flows are associated with nodes in these hierarchies. A roll-up statement may be created based on any of the hierarchies, enabling a user to rapidly obtain alternative views of lower-level plan data. The user may also prepare multiple different linked groups of P&Ls, balance sheets, and statements of cash flows to view and evaluate multiple scenarios of financial performance. |
| US07657469B1 |
Agricultural business methods
A new system for providing agricultural financial services is provided. The system includes crop insurance services, where a proper level of crop insurance is determined necessary to assure income approximately equal to the producer's break even point. In a management accounting or record keeping portion of the invention, estimated expenses and income are replaced with actual amounts on a periodic basis, providing a more accurate measure of expected profits and losses. In a marketing aspect of the present invention, decisions regarding whether to sell agricultural products is based upon the expected profitability of the transaction and the producer's profitability goal. |
| US07657464B1 |
System and methods of conducting business-to-business operations by registered sellers and buyers using an internet accessible platform
An internet accessible computer system to conduct business to business operations among a plurality of buyer companies and a plurality of seller companies. In one embodiment, the system includes at least one seller client system, at least one buyer client system, at least one computer server coupled to a database for storing data, and a network connecting said at least one seller client system and said at least one buyer client system to said at least one computer server. Said at least one computer server is programmed for, among other things, registering each of the plurality of seller companies with the internet accessible computer system, wherein each of the plurality of seller companies sells goods to a corresponding one of the plurality of buyer companies, and the corresponding one buyer company makes payment for the goods sold by that seller company, and registering each of the plurality of buyer companies with the internet accessible computer system, wherein the registration of each of the plurality of buyer companies depends on the registration of its corresponding seller company. |
| US07657461B2 |
Systems for selecting a group of bidders for a current bidding event using prioritization
A method and system for selecting potential bidders or suppliers for a current electronic auction by using quantitative models to create a prioritized list of potential suppliers. A prioritization software analyzes a supplier's bidding participation history and bidding competitiveness history from the bidding data collected for all prior auctions in which the supplier participated or was requested by the auction coordinator to participate. Using the prior bid data, the software generates a participation score and a competitiveness score for the supplier. The participation and competitiveness scores may be combined to generate a combined score. All potential suppliers may be prioritized based on any of these scores individually or a combination of two or more of these scores. The prioritization list generated using quantitative values instead of subjective values minimizes the amount of unnecessary calls to potential suppliers and maximizes the likelihood that a called supplier will place a competitive bid in the current auction, thereby increasing the bidding yield per supplier selected. |
| US07657458B2 |
Vendor-driven, social-network enabled review collection system and method
The embodiments of the present system include a review engine that is connected to support modules and databases that receive, store and retrieve reviews, based upon the subject and the users' relationship to the authors of the reviews. The review engine comprises a social network engine, a rate and rank engine, a credentials engine and a privacy engine. These engines allow reviews to be sorted, filtered and ordered in terms of relevance when presented to the user. Numerous methods are also provided by the system that receive, store and retrieve reviews. |
| US07657457B2 |
Graphical user interface for product ordering in retail system
A computer system is provided for operating a graphical user interface (GUI) to enable a customer to select products. The system comprises a displaying mechanism displaying virtual shelves containing a plurality of first selectable elements in a form of product images arranged on the shelves to represent available products in a group of products selected by the customer, and a plurality of second selectable elements attached to respective first selectable elements. The second selectable elements are in a form of a price tags or price labels attached to the respective product images. |
| US07657456B2 |
Method and system for electronic voting using identity based encryption
A voting method includes receiving identity-based information, vote data and a passphrase for a voter, encrypting the vote data using a symmetric key, generating second identity-based information for the voter, and generating an identity-based public key using at least the second identity-based information and a voting system parameter. The symmetric key is encrypted using the identity-based public key and an identity-based asymmetric encryption algorithm. The encrypted symmetric key may be decrypted using a private key corresponding to the identity-based public key and an identity-based asymmetric decryption algorithm, wherein the private key is generated from at least the identity-based public key and a secret master key. The voter is provided with information that includes at least the encrypted vote data and the encrypted symmetric key, and the system retains anonymous identity information, encrypted vote data and the encrypted symmetric key as a paper audit trail. |
| US07657452B2 |
System and method for tour optimization
A method for optimizing a tour having a first segment with an origination point and a destination point and a second segment with an origination point and a destination point. The method comprises: receiving first load data about a first load and second load data about a second load; evaluating a fit of the first load data on the first segment and a fit of the second load data on the first segment; evaluating a fit of the first load data on the second segment and a fit of the second load data on the second segment; ranking the relative fits of the first load data and the second load data against the first segment on a first segment list; ranking the relative fits of the first load data and the second load data against the second segment on a second segment list; assigning the load having the highest ranking fit from the first segment list to the first segment and removing that load from the second segment list; and assigning the load having the highest ranking fit from the second segment list to the segment. |
| US07657447B2 |
System and method for identifying and evaluating nanomaterial-related risk
A system, method, and processor-readable medium are provided for quantitatively evaluating risk associated with nanotechnology. An insurance company computing system obtains nanomaterial-related data from a variety of sources, including nanomaterial sensors such as differential mobility analyzers located on-site at an insured facility. The insurance computing system uses the obtained data and a computerized model to compute a risk score that is used in evaluating the insurability of the facility or the operating entity. An insurance policy or modifications to an existing insurance premium are subsequently produced based on the computed risk score. |
| US07657444B2 |
Distance-treatment through public network
A method and system of providing biological distance-treatment through a public network includes at least a treatment instrument which is electrically connected with an information connection system for providing a treatment for a registered user, wherein a treatment information data package sent from a service provider via the information connection system through the public network to provide digital treatment signals to control the treatment, wherein the treatment information data package is selected from the treatment information database based on a treatment request sent from the information connection system to the service provider and the health information profile of the registered user in the service provider. |
| US07657443B2 |
Intravenous medication harm index system
A system and method for assessing the severity of medication errors associated with intravenous administration is provided. A harm index database includes harm index values for various parameters of medication administration. A medication administration device may access this database and assess the overall harm index for particular errors in order to provide appropriate alerts based on the severity of the error. Further, assessment of the harm index value may be used retrospectively to provide reports of event logs that include an overall harm index value associated with each alert. |
| US07657441B2 |
Method and system for facilitating electronic dispute resolution
A system for facilitating payment transaction disputes is provided. According to one aspect of the system, a user, such as an issuer, is allowed to use the system to resolve a disputed transaction. Based on information provided by a cardholder, the issuer is able to use the system to retrieve transactional information relating to the disputed transaction reported by the customer for review. When the issuer uses the system to retrieve information relating to the disputed transaction, a case folder is created. The case folder is a repository for storing all the relevant information and documentation relating to the disputed transaction. Using the information retrieved by the system, the issuer then determines whether to initiate a dispute. Alternatively, the system can also be used by an acquirer to respond to a dispute, usually on behalf of one of its merchant. If a dispute is responded to, a questionnaire is then created by the system. Alternatively, the issuer may decline to initiate a dispute and either seek additional information from the cardholder or deny the cardholder's inquiry. The case folder and the questionnaire are created for a specific disputed transaction. The questionnaire is designed to capture information from the cardholder and/or the issuer relating to the disputed transaction. The questionnaire may be pre-populated with previously retrieved transactional information which is stored in the case folder. Relevant documents in support of the disputed transaction may also be attached as part of the questionnaire. Various parties to the dispute may then provide relevant information (including supporting documentation) to the system. The relevant information provided by the parties is maintained in the case folder. The system then keeps track of the relevant timeframes for the case folder to ensure that each party to the dispute is given the correct period of time to respond during the processing of a dispute. Prior to filing the dispute for arbitration or compliance, the system permits the parties to resolve the dispute amongst themselves without the help of an arbiter through pre-arbitration and pre-compliance. If the parties to the dispute are unable to resolve the dispute on their own, the system also permits the parties to resolve the dispute via arbitration or compliance with the help of an arbiter. The system provides the arbiter with access to the case folder to allow the arbiter to render an informed decision on the dispute. |
| US07657439B2 |
System and method for shipping a mail piece having post office box recognition
This application discloses a method and system for facilitating the delivery of a mail piece bearing a post office box identifier to a United States Postal Service Branch, for final delivery to a post office box. The system facilitates the delivery by scanning the mail piece and obtaining the mail piece's destination information. If the destination information includes a post office box identifier, e.g., P.O. Box #1234, the system determines a street address of the post office location containing P.O. Box #1234. The street address is determined using the zip code contained within the destination information. Once the street address is determined, a new label, bearing the street address of the USPS branch location is affixed to the mail piece so that the mail piece can be delivered to the consignee. |
| US07657434B2 |
Frame goals for dialog system
A frame definition for use by dialog system during an interaction with a user, the frame definition includes at least one data field and at least one goal comprising a Boolean function of one or more filled predicates, each of which takes a reference to a field of the frame as its argument. A goal is satisfied during a dialog if the Boolean function evaluates to true. A goal may be used to control the focus of the interaction. |
| US07657431B2 |
Voice authentication system
A text-dependent voice authentication system that performs authentication by urging a user to input a keyword by voice includes: an input part (11) that receives a voice input of a keyword divided into a plurality of portions with an utterable unit being a minimum unit over a plurality of times at a time interval for each of the portions; registered speaker-specific syllable model DB (20) that previously stores a registered keyword of a user as a speaker model created in the utterable unit; a feature value conversion part (12) that obtains a feature value of a voice contained in a portion of the keyword received by each voice input in the input part (11) from the portion; a similarity calculation part (13) that obtains a similarity between the feature value and the speaker model; a keyword checking part (17) that determines whether or not voice inputs of all the syllables or phonemes configuring an entire registered keyword by the plurality of times of voice inputs, based on the similarity obtained in the similarity calculation part; and an authentication determination part (19) that determines whether to accept or reject authentication, based on a determination result in the keyword checking part and the similarity obtained in the similarity calculation part. |
| US07657425B2 |
Method and system for information extraction
A method, a system and a computer program for extracting information from a natural language text corpus based on a natural language query are disclosed. The natural language text corpus is indexed and stored. A natural language query is analyzed with respect to phrases, phrase types, syntactic roles, word tokens of phrases, and lexical meaning of word tokens. One or more surface variants are created for at least one phrase of the natural language query. The one or more surface variants each have the same phrase type as the at least one phrase of the natural language query, and each comprise a word token which is a lexical head and has the same lexical meaning as a word token which is a lexical head of the at least one phrase of the natural language query. The one or more surface variants and the at least one phrase of the natural language query are compared with the indexed and stored natural language text corpus. Portions of text are extracted from the indexed and stored natural language text corpus, which portions comprise a string of word tokens that matches any one of said surface variants or said at least one phrase of the natural language query. |
| US07657424B2 |
System and method for processing sentence based queries
Sentence based queries from a user are analyzed to determine appropriate answers from an electronic database. Text in the queries is dissected to identify different phrases; the phrases in turn are matched against candidate phrases to determine best matching answers responsive to the user's question. The system and methods are useful for Internet based search engines, as well as distributed speech recognition systems such as a client-server system. The latter are typically implemented on an intranet or over the Internet based on user queries at his/her computer, a PDA, or a workstation using a speech input interface. |
| US07657418B2 |
Modern testing system and method
A modem testing system is provided for testing interoperability of plural items of customer premises equipment (CPEs) (10) and plural central offices (COs) (60). The modem testing system includes a line simulator (50), a switch (40), and a controller (30). The line simulator is connected to the CPEs and COs for simulating various types of lines and noise statuses. The switch is connected to the line simulator, the CPEs, and the COs for switching connections between the CPEs and the COs. The controller is connected to the line simulator, the switch, the CPEs, and the COs for controlling the switch to set up communications between the CPEs and the COs according to a mapping list, and controlling the line simulator to simulate various types of lines and noises statuses. An exemplary modem testing method is also provided. |