| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07854795B2 |
Non-adhesive coating composition and method of preparing the same
The present invention relates to a non-adhesive coating composition, including: 100 parts by weight of colloidal silica sol; 5˜60 parts by weight of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) serving as a filler; 60˜120 parts by weight of alkoxysilane; 40˜130 parts by weight of alcohol; and 0.5˜3.0 parts by weight of a catalyst. |
| US07854793B2 |
Pressure swing adsorption system with indexed rotatable multi-port valves
Pressure swing adsorption system comprising two or more vessels, each having a feed end, a product end, and adsorbent material adapted to adsorb one or more components from a multi-component feed gas mixture; piping adapted to (1) introduce the feed gas mixture into the feed ends, withdraw a product gas from the product ends, and withdraw a waste gas from the feed ends of the vessels, and (2) place the product ends of any pair of vessels in flow communication; a feed pipe adapted to supply the feed gas mixture to the system; a product pipe adapted to withdraw the product gas from the system; and a waste gas pipe adapted to withdraw the waste gas from the system. An indexed rotatable multi-port valve is adapted to place the product end of each vessel in sequential flow communication with the product end of each of the other vessels. |
| US07854785B2 |
Method and apparatus for the recovery of the secondary metallurgy (LF) slag and its recycling in the steel production process by means of electric furnace
A Method for the recovery of the secondary metallurgy (LF) slag from a plant for the production of steel, the method comprising a cooling step of the slag, by means of the passage of air and/or other gas, a breakdown step, a step of extracting the powder, wherein the breakdown step is accelerated by means of forced convection of a cooling fluid and/or another reaction, gas and by means of moving the slag mass by overturning and vibrating support gratings. The overturning and vibrating support gratings are provided inside closed metallic boxes which are connected in series and closed with movable containment partitions to form a treatment module. The breakdown, step is accelerated by means of overturning the slag mass from the support grating of one metallic box to the support grating of an adjoining box. |
| US07854775B2 |
Combined gasification and vitrification system
An optimized gasification/vitrification processing system having a gasification unit which converts organic materials to a hydrogen rich gas and ash in communication with a joule heated vitrification unit which converts the ash formed in the gasification unit into glass, and a plasma which converts elemental carbon and products of incomplete combustion formed in the gasification unit into a hydrogen rich gas. |
| US07854772B2 |
Solid electrolytic capacitor and manufacturing method therefor
A solid electrolytic capacitor of the present invention includes a capacitor element having an anode member, a dielectric member, and a cathode member; an anode terminal attached to the anode member; a cathode terminal attached to the cathode member; and a housing for covering an outer periphery of the capacitor element, the anode terminal and the cathode terminal being each at least partly exposed from an undersurface of the solid electrolytic capacitor, the anode terminal having a projection formed by rolling using a roll having a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion, and being connected to the anode member at the projection. |
| US07854771B2 |
Laundry detergent composition comprising glycosyl hydrolase
The present invention relates to a laundry detergent composition comprising glycosyl hydrolase. The compositions of the present invention also comprises a polymer that, when used in combination with the glycosyl hydrolase, enables compaction of the surfactant system to be achieved without loss in fabric cleaning performance. Preferably, the composition of the present invention comprises a combination of two polymers, a glycosyl hydrolase and detersive surfactant, preferably low levels of detersive surfactant. |
| US07854767B2 |
Single entry portal implant
A modular prosthesis that may be implanted in a highly minimally invasive manner. Specifically, the modular prosthesis may include a neck and an anchor. Both the neck and the anchor are configured to be inserted and connected together through a lateral aspect of a long bone adjacent to the proximal end of the long bone. In one exemplary embodiment, the neck includes a body having a head end, configured for attachment to another prosthetic component, such as a corresponding articulating component, and an aperture extending therethrough. The anchor may be sized for receipt within the aperture formed in the neck. Additionally, the anchor may be configured such that the anchor engages the walls forming the aperture in the neck to secure the components together. |
| US07854764B2 |
Accommodating lens assembly
An intraocular lens system for implantation in the human eye, haptic system and method include an intraocular lens formed of a transparent biocompatible material for replacing the natural lens of the eye. The lens includes an outer periphery and an optical axis. There is a haptic system for securely anchoring the intraocular lens in the posterior chamber of the eye. The haptic system includes at least two haptic portions formed of a rigid biocompatible material that are connected to and extend outwardly from the outer periphery the lens in a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens for holding the lens in the eye. Each haptic portion has an outer edge that is sized and shaped to extend from the lens to the scleral wall of the posterior chamber of the eye. The outer edge of each haptic portion has an anchor that includes teeth that are configured with pointed ends that can be forcibly moved into the scleral wall between the ciliary body and iris for anchoring the lens in place in the eye. |
| US07854762B2 |
Devices and methods for reducing cardiac valve regurgitation
Devices and methods that may be used to reduce valve regurgitation are disclosed by locating a body across the regurgitant valve. When the valve closes, the body obliterates/ameliorates the regurgitant orifice in the valve, thereby reducing or preventing valve regurgitation. The body may be expandable. The devices may be implantable such that they can remain in place within a subject for extended periods of time. |
| US07854757B2 |
Biodegradable intralumenal device
A biodegradable intralumenal device that is capable of drug delivery. The device has circular hoops connected by one or more flexible links defining a substantially cylindrical configuration capable of having a closed configuration and an open configuration. Each hoop mateably connects with or interlocks with an adjacent hoop in the open configuration in order to retain this configuration subsequent to delivery of the device. |
| US07854756B2 |
Medical devices
Medical devices including one or more ceramic fibers are disclosed. In some embodiments, each dimension of the ceramic fiber(s) is equal to or greater than one micron. |
| US07854755B2 |
Vascular catheter, system, and method
A catheter including an elongate body, a first cutting head and a second cutting head both having a blade, where the blades moves relative each other to provide a shearing action for cardiac tissue. The catheter can further include a stent positioned over an inflatable balloon, where the inflatable balloon can deploy the expandable stent over sheared cardiac tissue. The catheter can further be included in a system having a sheath, where at least a part of the catheter resides in the lumen of the sheath. The sheath further includes a cardiac valve and an expandable filter. The sheath can move relative the cardiac valve and the expandable filter to deploy the cardiac valve and at least a portion of the expandable filter proximal the inflatable balloon and the expandable stent. |
| US07854754B2 |
Cooling device for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells
A cooling device for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject having skin is provided. The cooling device includes a support having a first portion and a second portion. A first cooling element having a first heat exchanging surface is located at the first portion of the support. A second cooling element having a second heat exchanging surface is located at the second portion of the support. At least one of the first and second cooling elements is movable along the support and is configured to rotate for adjusting an angle between the first and second heat exchanging surfaces. |
| US07854751B2 |
Percutaneous access devices and bone anchor assemblies
A percutaneous access device includes an inner tube and an outer tube disposed about at least a portion of the inner tube. The outer tube may be sized to span from a skin incision in a patient to a site proximate the spine of the patient. The distal end of the outer tube may be adapted to releasably engage a bone anchor. The inner tube may be adjustable relative to the outer tube between a first position and a second position in which the distal end of the inner tube contacts the bone anchor. A bone anchor assembly includes a bone anchor having a distal bone engaging portion and a receiving member having a recess for receiving a spinal fixation element. The proximal end of the receiving member may have an arcuate groove formed on an exterior surface thereof to facilitate connection of an instrument to the receiving member. |
| US07854748B2 |
Device and method for excluding blood out of a limb
A device for applying pressure in progression to restrict the blood content of a limb, whereby at least an elastic tight sleeve is unfolded directionally on that limb towards the center of the body. The unfolding is streamlined using at least one auxiliary application strap. In certain embodiments a constricting toroid is used as a major restriction agent. |
| US07854747B2 |
Endoluminal filter
In one aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a filter having a first structural member extending along and clockwise about an axis, a second structural member extending along and counter clockwise about the axis and a material capture structure extending between the first and the second structural members and across the axis. In one aspect, the structural members may be joined to form two ends. In yet another aspect, there is provided a filter having a first spiral shaped support member having an end; a second support member positioned to cross the first spiral support member and form a loop between the end and the place where the second support member crosses the first spiral support member; and a material capture structure extending across and secured to the loop. |
| US07854746B2 |
Retrieval catheter
A retrieval catheter having a wall that defines a catheter lumen and a distal tip that is tapered towards an open distal orifice that defines the distal end of the lumen, the wall over the length of said tapered tip being distensible to allow the orifice to expand, and a distender within the lumen that can be urged distally along the lumen such that the distender presses radially outwardly the catheter wall within the distal tip, so as to distend said orifice. |
| US07854744B2 |
Method for treating obstructed paranasal ethmoid sinuses
A method of treating a patient's ethmoid sinus. A balloon of a balloon catheter is inflated in a space associated with the ethmoid sinus to enlarge the space. The space remains enlarged after the balloon catheter is removed. |
| US07854742B2 |
System and method for making incisions for scleral eye implants
A system and method is disclosed for making incisions in the sclera of an eye to form a scleral pocket to receive a scleral prosthesis. The system and method comprises a surgical tool comprising a surgical blade for making incisions in the sclera of an eye. When a surgeon places the surgical blade on the sclera of the eye a pressure sensor in the surgical tool determines whether there is sufficient pressure between the surgical tool and the sclera of the eye for the surgical tool to operate properly. The surgeon activates the surgical tool to cause the surgical blade to advance through the sclera to form an incision having dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis. When the incision is complete the surgical blade is rotated back out of the incision. The incision has the exact dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis. |
| US07854741B2 |
Pigmentary glaucoma iris scraping treatment of the iris
An iris scraping surgical method treats pigmentary glaucoma in which the pigment attaches to the underside of the iris. An incision is made in the sclera. The iris is lifted and pigment and/or cellular debris is scraped with a scalpel from the bottom layer (pigment epithelium) of the iris. The iris lifted up from the lens to remove the build up of escaping pigment on that layer to let the fluid flow out at a normal rate to drain out of the trabecular meshwork and then the iris is lowered and the incision in the sclera is closed. |
| US07854738B2 |
Robotically controlled medical instrument
A medical instrument assembly comprises an elongated shaft, a tool carried by the distal end of the elongated shaft for performing a medical procedure on a patient, a plurality of controllably bendable sections spaced along the elongated shaft and disposed proximal to the tool, a plurality of actuation elements extending within the elongated shaft for respectively actuating the controllably bendable sections, and an instrument coupler mounted to the proximal end of the elongated shaft, with the instrument coupler configured for coupling an electromechanical drive to the actuation elements. A robotic medical system comprises the previously described medical instrument assembly, a user interface configured for generating at least one command, a drive unit coupled to the plurality of actuating elements of the medical instrument assembly, and an electric controller configured, in response to the command(s), for directing the drive unit to moves the actuating elements to actuate the controllably bendable sections. |
| US07854728B2 |
Body-space drainage-tube debris removal
In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a debris removal system is provided for a body-space drainage system having one or more body tubes with a body tube lumen disposed therein. The debris-removal system comprises a cleaning member, a collapsible sheath, and a coupler. The cleaning member is an elongated member wherein the distal end is adapted to enter the body tube lumen at or near the body-tube proximal end and adapted to be advanced distally at least a portion of a length of the body tube lumen. The collapsible sheath is adapted to contain at least a portion of the cleaning member that is not contained within the body tube lumen. The collapsible sheath is flexible so as to allow external digital manipulation of the cleaning member proximal end within of the collapsible sheath, while retaining the sterile environment of the body-space drainage system. |
| US07854723B2 |
Needle shield assembly having hinged needle shield
A needle shield assembly including a hinged needle shield is provided. A ramp is provided in proximity to a hinge that connects the needle shield to base assembly. The ramp is preferably flexible, and, if compressed, resiliently urges the needle shield to a preferred angular position with respect to a syringe. The needle shield is movable between a fully opened position where it is canted at an angle with respect to the syringe and a closed position in which it envelops the needle. One or more locking elements are preferably provided on the needle shield for maintaining it in a locked, needle protecting position. |
| US07854722B2 |
Syringe with removable needle
A medical syringe has a needle shoot back mechanism which can be triggered to shoot the used needle back into the safety of the syringe body and is of a special design to allow the needle to be replaced without affecting the efficiency of the shoot back mechanism. A rotatable cover member is also available which is relatively large and which can be more easily gripped and turned to remove the needle from the syringe. |
| US07854721B2 |
Syringe assembly
The present invention relates to a syringe assembly comprising a syringe body member forming a syringe barrel having a syringe passageway passing through the length thereof; a discharge port being smaller in diameter than the syringe passageway and communicating with the syringe passageway at a front end thereof; at least one plunger member situated in the syringe barrel and dividing said syringe passageway into at least a first chamber at the front end of said syringe passageway and a second chamber at the back end of said syringe passageway, and comprising a plunger rod for actuating said plunger member; wherein said at least one plunger member being adapted for providing a flow connection between said chambers. |
| US07854718B2 |
Dual-ventricle pump cartridge, pump and method of use in a wearable continuous renal replacement therapy device
A dual channel pulsatile pump for use with a completely wearable renal replacement device is provided. |
| US07854716B2 |
Compression bandage system
A compression bandaging system comprising a) an inner skin facing, elongated, elastic bandage comprising: (i) an elongated, elastic substrate and (ii) an elongated layer of foam, said foam layer being affixed to a face of said substrate and extending 33% or more across said face of substrate in transverse direction and 67% or more across said face of substrate in longitudinal direction; and b) an outer, elongated, self-adhering elastic bandage; said bandage having a compressive force when extended; wherein, in use, said foam layer of the inner bandage faces the skin and the outer bandage overlies the inner bandage. |
| US07854714B1 |
Thumb wrap
In a thumb wrap, the combination comprising a user's hand and wrist flexible wrap, a generally tubular portion to receive the user's thumb, said tubular portion being integral with the hand and wrap, a securing strap endwise seamlessly integral with the hand and wrist wrap, and extending with elongation to be wrapped over the hand and wrist wrap palmwise and endwise of the tubular portion and then to be wrapped between the user's thumb and forefinger, and then back over the hand and wrist wrap for tensioned tightening and for the effecting thumb positively supported securement. |
| US07854712B2 |
Knitted substrate for use in medical bandaging product, bandaging product and method of forming the same
A medical bandaging product having a predetermined length suitable for a given medical use, including an enclosure formed of a moisture-impervious material sealable to prevent entry of moisture and a medical bandage material positioned in the enclosure and sealed therein against entry of moisture until use. The medical bandage material includes a substrate formed from a single integrated knitted fabric layer having a plurality of interconnected knitted fabric yarns forming a three-dimensional structure. A reactive system is impregnated into or coated onto the substrate. The system remains stable when maintained in substantially moisture-free conditions and hardens upon exposure to sufficient moisture to cooperate with the three-dimensional structure to form a rigid, self supporting structure. A soft, flexible protective wrapping encloses the substrate along its length for providing a cushioning barrier interposed between the substrate and a patient when the medical bandage material is in use. |
| US07854711B2 |
Arm sling and method of making
An arm sling and method of making an arm sling including an open ended arm receiving tube supported on a patient's neck via a neck strap. The tube includes a forward end portion with an open front end of predetermined size and a rear end portion having an elbow receiving pocket adjacent an enlarged diameter rear opening. The arm receiving tube is formed from a single sheet of pliable fabric and includes first and second elongate opposing substantially identical side wall panels each having upper and lower edges spanning front and rear edges which form the front and rear openings. Each lower edge includes a front lower edge portion longer than the upper edge and a rear lower edge portion which is shorter than the upper edge. The rear lower edge portion is upwardly inclined relative to the front lower edge and has a rear end terminating in the lower end of the rear edge. |
| US07854708B2 |
Multiple joint linkage device
The present invention relates to devices and methods for a joint linkage device suitable for training multi-joints in a single limb. The joint linkage device is capable of rotation at a proximal end and a distal end. The device includes a proximal end having an upper plate, a middle plate, and a lower plate, a distal plate, a side bar, a main bar, a switch mechanism, and an extended bar. In use, a torque from a motor is applied to the upper plate to provide a user with an assistance torque, a resistance torque, or a assistance/resistance torque. |
| US07854707B2 |
Tissue sample revolver drum biopsy device
A biopsy device and method are provided for obtaining a tissue sample, such as a breast tissue biopsy sample. The biopsy device includes a disposable probe assembly with an outer cannula having a distal piercing tip, a cutter lumen, and a cutter tube that rotates and translates past a side aperture in the outer cannula to sever a tissue sample. The biopsy device also includes a reusable handpiece with an integral motor and power source to make a convenient, untethered control for use with ultrasonic imaging. The reusable handpiece incorporates a probe oscillation mode to assist when inserting the distal piercing tip into tissue. The motor also actuates an attached sample revolver drum assembly in coordination with movement of the cutter tube to provide sequentially stored tissue samples in a sample storage bandolier that is rotated about a revolver cylindrical drum. |
| US07854703B2 |
Peripheral neuropathy detection
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a peripheral neuropathy monitor may be incorporated into a scale form factor or other device for monitoring a trend towards peripheral neuropathy by a monitored user or patient. The peripheral neuropathy monitor may include a heating element, a cooling element, and/or a vibrating element, and may be capable of performing the sensitivity of the user to hot, cold, and/or vibrations, and monitor such trends over time to facilitate detecting the onset of peripheral neuropathy. The peripheral neuropathy monitor may be capable of communicating with a remote device via a wired or wireless network for operating the monitor, and for storing and/or analyzing the test results. |
| US07854694B1 |
Exercise vest
An exercise vest for upper body development is disclosed. The vest has a series of horizontal straps, adjustable in length, that encircle the vest and fasten in front to secure the vest on the person and provide upper body support. There are three elastic band assemblies to provide a complete range of upper body movements which involve all upper body muscle groups. Body development is achieved using the resistance of the elastic bands. A rear band is grasped by a handlebar and raised straight over the head. When not in use the handlebar is fixedly held above the shoulders by means of clips attached on each side of the vest. There are upper and lower side elastic band pairs which have hand grips for each hand. These elastic bands can be stretched up and down and forward and back as desired for a complete workout. The elastic bands are linearly adjustable by means of specially designed canisters containing winding spools that enable the lengths of the elastic bands to be altered in discrete increments. Each alteration of the length of an elastic band alters its resistance. The canisters also serve as the means to affix the bands to the vest. |
| US07854693B2 |
Selectorized dumbbell having shock absorbing system comprising flexible and resilient rails in the weights
A selectorized dumbbell has a handle that can be inserted into a gap between stacks of nested left and right weight plates. A selector determines how many left weight plates are coupled to the left end of the handle and how many right weight plates are coupled to the right end of the handle. Each weight plate is held between a pair of flexible arms on a forked carrier. The arms allow the weight plates to deflect out of a normal, substantially upright, orientation if an impact shock is delivered to the dumbbell. The arms are restored to their normal orientation once the impact shock dissipates. Alternatively, the weight plates may comprise a metallic inner weight plate covered with an elastomer encasement and with an integral elastomer lug attaching the weight plates to at least one interconnecting member. The selector may comprise a connecting pin with at least one flexible shock absorbing prong. |
| US07854690B2 |
Treadmill
An articulating treadmill is disclosed that includes a support frame, a motor frame, and a base frame. The motor frame is pivotally attached to the support frame along a first pivot line, and the base frame is pivotally attached to motor frame along a second pivot line spaced from the first pivot line. The base frame pivots about the second pivot line from an unfolded configuration to a folded configuration, and vice versa. The treadmill includes an elevation motor having an extension arm. The elevation motor is attached between the motor frame and a base of the support frame. As the extension arm of the elevation motor extends or retracts, the incline of the treadmill support bed increases or decreases, respectively. The treadmill also includes an adjustable roller system. |
| US07854687B2 |
Trampoline and enclosure system
A trampoline comprising a flexible mat (3) and a plurality of springs (4) holding the mat in tension within a peripheral frame (1) of the trampoline which surrounds the mat has an enclosure system surrounding the mat. The enclosure has a lower peripheral part coupled to the mat and a plurality of resiliently flexible upright enclosure members (5) to support the barrier above the mat. The enclosure support members are free to resiliently deform away from the mat when impacted by a user against the barrier. They are also connected together at the upper ends of the enclosure support members away from their natural rest state and towards the center of the mat. When impacted by a user against the barrier on the side of the enclosure causing the barrier to resiliently deform away from the mat, the enclosure support members are resiliently deformed towards the center of the mat. |
| US07854680B2 |
Control device and control method for power train
In a power train in which a differential mechanism is coupled with a transmission mechanism, a transmission member is free with no engagement in a second shift portion when a P position or an N position is selected, and a ring gear thereby becomes free in a power split device. During an idle operation with such a shift position, a behavior of an engine rotation speed is retained in a stable manner in the power split device which functions as the differential mechanism through a power supply control (lock control) such that a rotor of a second MG coupled with the ring gear is locked by an electromagnetic force, and then, a learning control of an idle speed control is appropriately implemented. |
| US07854677B2 |
Power train of automatic transmission
A power train of an automatic transmission that realizes eight forward speeds and two reverse speeds by using two or three planetary gear sets, five clutches, and one brake, wherein a speed reduction unit generates a reduced rotational speed and an output unit receives a rotational speed of an input shaft and the reduced rotational speed and generates the eight forward speeds and the two reverse speeds. |
| US07854676B2 |
Hydraulic control system of automatic transmission for vehicle
A cost for manufacturing an automatic transmission can be reduced since a separate solenoid valve for controlling a damper clutch is not required when a hydraulic control system of an automatic transmission for a vehicle includes: a regulator valve that forms a line pressure by regulating a hydraulic pressure generated by a hydraulic pump; a torque converter control valve that receives a hydraulic pressure from the regulator valve and supplies a torque converter operating pressure to a torque converter; and a damper clutch control valve that receives the hydraulic pressure of the torque converter control valve and selectively supplies the torque converter operating pressure and a damper clutch operating pressure, wherein the damper clutch control valve is controlled by a control pressure supplied from a switch valve that is controlled an operating pressure of an overdrive clutch that operates at third and fourth forward speeds. |
| US07854675B2 |
Hydraulic feed system for a transmission
The present invention provides an assembly for use in a transmission that includes a first rotating member having a first portion and a second portion, the second portion having an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the first portion and having a bore with an open end. An annulus has a port for providing a fluid and is disposed proximate to the first portion. A second rotating member is at least partially located within the bore and extends from the open end. A first passage is connected to the port of the annulus and a second passage is connected to the first passage. The second passage is located through the second portion. A third passage is connected to the second passage and is located in the second rotating member. Fluid is able to flow from the port through the passages to provide fluid to the second rotating member. |
| US07854674B2 |
Drive system for the individual drive of both driven wheels of a driven wheel pair
A drive system for individually driving two driven wheels of a vehicle. The system includes two continuously variable drive motors which are drivingly connected, via a transmission arrangement, with respective driven wheels. Each transmission arrangement includes a shift transmission and a bevel gear transmission, which has a fixed transmission ratio and includes a spur gearset and a bevel gearset. Shift transmissions vary the transmission ratio and the bevel gear transmission enables arranging drive shafts of the drive motors transversely to the rotational axis of the driven wheels. The spur gearsets enable vertical repositioning of the transmissions drive output shafts. Furthermore, with different arrangements of the bevel gears, inclination of respective drive motors and shift transmissions relative to the vehicles longitudinal axis and the angle of the output shafts can be adjusted, such that the drive system can be installed in different vehicle types using largely identical components. |
| US07854672B2 |
Structure of ball
A ball includes a core and a surface cover that is formed by sewing together two shape-mated covering pieces. Each covering piece has a close-to-edge area defining inboards an inward circumferential zone in which spaced through apertures are defined. The through apertures are circumferentially distributed along the inward circumference of the close-to-edge area. The close-to-edge area has an outward circumference forming a turn-back section. The turn-back section is foldable over and attached to itself by adhesives so as to form a smooth and regular outer circumference of the covering piece. When the surface cover of the ball is completely sewn, a sewn portion between the two covering pieces shows a smooth and regular configuration so that no secondary finishing of the sewn portion of the covering pieces is needed. The manufacturing time of the ball can thus be shortened and the manufacturing costs reduced. |
| US07854666B2 |
Structural response modifying features for a golf club head
A golf club head having a crown, a sole having a length, ls, a strike face, a structural response modifying element having a constraining portion and a cantilever portion, the constraining portion extending from the sole to the crown and having a length lsc that is between about 10% to about 40% of length ls, wherein the cantilever portion extends from the constraining member toward the strike face. In another embodiment the constraining portion extends from the crown to a skirt portion of the club head, but is not connected to the strike face. |
| US07854664B1 |
Golf club supporting accessory
The golf club supporting accessory that supports a golf club when not in use and includes a cigar holder, towel holder, and Velcro strip for hanging a glove. The golf club supporting accessory has a stake as the main frame, which is struck into the ground. The supporting member is a hook that enables the grip of a golf club to rest upon. |
| US07854659B2 |
Joint for the transmission of rotational motion
The invention provides a joint for the transmission of rotational motion between two rotatable elements, including a first, driven, element consisting of a shaft portion and a head portion, the head portion including a first recess and a second, contiguous, recess in the form of the female partner of a coupling having coupling faces, and a second, driving, element consisting of a shaft portion, a collar portion of a diameter freely fitting into the first recess, and the male partner of the coupling, wherein the respective dimensions of the coupling faces of the male and female partners differ to such an extent that the second element is tiltable out of alignment with the first element while retaining its engagement with the first element. |
| US07854657B2 |
Communication game program and communication game system
A game device measures a delay time between the game device and each of other game devices, all of which communicate with each other, and stores start time data in a memory. Furthermore, the game device calculates a time at which each of the other game devices starts executing a predetermined event based on the delay time, so as to be transmitted to each of the other game devices. When data indicating a time at which the game device starts executing the predetermined event (correction data) is transmitted from each of the game devices, the game device corrects a time indicated by the start time data based on the transmitted data. Thereafter, the game device executes the predetermined event (a racing game) at the time indicated by the start time data. |
| US07854651B2 |
Highly bacteriocidal chlorine dioxide, formulation, preparation and use thereof
When used as a biocide on newly butchered chickens, chlorine dioxide at concentrations of 12 to 50 ppm is effective at temperatures of 35° C. to 90° C. with 15 ppm being very effective at temperatures of 45° C. to 60° C. Chlorine dioxide in about 50° C. water did not off gas chlorine dioxide at a concentration of 50 ppm. |
| US07854646B2 |
Substrate polishing apparatus and substrate polishing method
The present invention relates to a substrate polishing apparatus and a substrate polishing method for polishing a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat finish. The substrate polishing apparatus includes a polishing table (100) having a polishing surface (101), a substrate holder (1) for holding and pressing a substrate (W) against the polishing surface (101) of the polishing table (100), and a film thickness measuring device (200) for measuring a thickness of a film on the substrate (W). The substrate holder (1) has a plurality of pressure adjustable chambers (22 to 25), and pressures in the respective chambers (22 to 25) are adjusted based on the film thickness measured by the film thickness measuring device (200). |
| US07854642B2 |
Balloon display simulating motions of a lighter-than-air balloon
A balloon display that simulates motions of a lighter-than-air balloon includes a balloon holder and an inflated balloon. The balloon holder includes a neck fastening assembly, and the inflated balloon is secured to the balloon holder by the neck fastening assembly. A compression spring balloon support extends upwardly relative to the neck fastening assembly to support a majority of the inflated balloon above the neck fastening assembly. The inflated balloon is secured to the neck fastening assembly and supported by the compression spring balloon support such that the balloon slightly loads the compression spring balloon support and the balloon tends to move up and down, side to side, and front to back as the compression spring balloon support reacts to the load of the balloon. |
| US07854633B2 |
Low profile plug receptacle
A low profile receptacle plug receptacle is disclosed. The low profile plug receptacle which may have a housing with a partially circular opening that is configured in one embodiment to receive a cylindrical plug. The low profile receptacle plug receptacle may have a second opening which has a width smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical plug. A portion of the cylindrical plug may extend past the second opening when inserted into the housing. The low profile receptacle plug receptacle may part of an electronic device. |
| US07854627B1 |
Electrical fitting with internal cable retainer
An electrical fitting for rapid connection of an electrical cable to a panel or a junction box. The electrical fitting includes an improved arrangement on the trailing end for securing electrical cables thereto. A connector body having a cavity in the trailing end includes a cable retainer secured therein. The cable retainer includes a substantially tubular body and is constructed of spring steel. The tubular body includes a flat portion and an arcuate portion. A single cable retaining tang extends inwardly from the flat portion. A substantial portion of the single tang is split by a notch thereby creating two fingers on the tang. The two-fingered tang enables the fitting to accommodate a wide range of electrical cables. |
| US07854626B2 |
Connection structure for small diameter shielded cable
A shielded cable connection structure includes a plurality of shielded cables. Each of the shielded cables has a center conductor, a shielding conductor, and an insulative jacket. A metal grounding member has at least two rows of mutually parallel substantially comb shaped teeth. The comb shaped teeth in each of the rows have a wire receiving portion formed there between that receives at least one of the shielded cables. A holding member mates with the metal grounding member to clamp the shielded cables between the metal grounding member and the holding member. The center conductor is directly clamped by the comb shaped teeth in one of the rows, and the shielding conductor is clamped through the insulative jacket by the comb shaped teeth in the other row. |
| US07854619B2 |
Lever-fitting connector
A lever-fitting connector includes: a first connector; a second connector having a retaining portion; and a rotatable lever which engages the first connector with the second connector. The rotatable lever includes a retaining arm for provisionally retaining the lever with the second connector to abut on the retaining portion. The retaining arm extends to form a slit between the retaining arm and an edge of the rotatable lever. A width of the slit is smaller than an elastic range of the retaining arm at which the retaining arm bends toward the edge. |
| US07854618B2 |
Wire connector system with lock mechanism
A male wire connector system with lock mechanism, comprising: a housing assembly; a plug assembly moveably connected to the housing assembly; a jack assembly within the plug assembly comprising a plurality of terminals attached to a stopper mounted at the end thereof; a metal body assembly within the housing assembly and connected with the slide assembly and the cable wire; a cable extended from the housing assembly; and a slide assembly disposed on the top of the jack assembly slidable between the plug assembly and the cable within a predetermined distance by manipulation. The slide assembly is mechanically engaged with the plug assembly, the jack assembly, the metal body assembly, the housing assembly and the wire, triggering the forward and backward movement of the plug assembly. The male wire connector system can be securely locked or easily released from the female receptor when user manipulates the housing assembly. |
| US07854616B2 |
Positionable lighting systems and methods
A lighting assembly includes a lighting unit having a housing defining an internal cavity and an opening. A light source is assembled within the internal cavity of the housing. An electrical wire is electrically connected to the light source at a first end and is configured to be contained at least in part within the housing. The opening is configured to permit withdrawal of a user selected amount of the electrical wire from within the internal cavity and/or to permit a user selected amount of the electrical wire to be inserted into the internal cavity. |
| US07854613B2 |
Demonstration kit and method for enhancing and/or demonstrating photoactive properties
A method is provided for simulating and/or demonstrating and/or enhancing photoactive properties, such as hydrophilicity, of a surface, such as a photoactive surface. One embodiment includes providing a photoactive surface and applying a peroxide-containing material, such as an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution, over at least a portion of the surface. An optional resinous layer, such as an at least partly hydrolyzed polymethoxysiloxane layer, can be applied over the surface. A kit to practice the method and an article made using the method are also provided. |
| US07854609B2 |
Dental appliance wear indication
The present disclosure includes method, system, apparatus, and indicator embodiments. For example, one system for monitoring orthodontic treatment includes an appliance for placement over one or more teeth and multiple wear indicators including at least a first wear indicator having a first wear rate and a second wear indicator that has a second wear rate that is different from the first. |
| US07854607B2 |
Ignition control with integral carbon monoxide sensor
A control for controlling the operation of a fuel-fired heating appliance is provided that include a sensor capable of sensing the presence of carbon monoxide gas and providing an output indicative of the level of carbon monoxide gas. The control further includes a microprocessor that periodically reads the CO sensor output and stores at least one sensor output value in a memory, wherein the microprocessor responsively discontinues the operation of the appliance when the microprocessor detects a sensor output that has increased by more than a predetermined amount over at least one previously stored sensor output value. In one embodiment, the control is preferably configured to periodically read the sensor output value, and responsive discontinue operation of an appliance upon sensing a predetermined increase of at least a 50 percent increase over the previously monitored sensor output value over a period of about 15 to 90 minutes. |
| US07854606B2 |
Injection molding machine for processing plastics materials
The invention relates to an injection molding machine comprising a machine frame (10), an injection molding unit (S, S′) and a mold closing unit (F). Said mold closing unit (F) is provided with a stationary element and a movable mold support (12) which are fixed thereto, wherein said movable mold support (12) is mounted in front of the stationary element and is displaceable on a guiding elements (11) in the direction of closing (s-s) in and out of a positive locking, wherein the mold closing unit (f) is provided with, fixed thereto, the machine frame (10) or at least a part thereof in the form of a stationary mold carrier (13) and the movable mold support (12) displaceable with respect to said stationary mold carrier (13) on the guiding elements (11). The other parts of the mold closing unit (F) is movable in a positive locking with respect to the stationary mold carrier (13). The mold closing unit (F) comprises a drive unit for displacing the movable mold support (12), and is actively connected to the stationary mold carrier (13) and to the movable mold support (12) by means of at least one force-transmission element. One end of the drive element (A) is hinged about the machine frame (10) or the stationary mold carrier (13) and the other end thereof is hinged about a support plate (14) which is movable in the direction of closing (s-s) and is connected to the force-transmission element. In the preferred embodiment, said force-transmission element is embodied in the form of a stirrup piece (15). |
| US07854602B2 |
Rotary compressor for changing compression capacity
A rotary compressor for changing a compression capacity of the compressor includes a driving shaft being rotatable clockwise and counterclockwise, and having an eccentric portion of a predetermined size; a cylinder forming a predetermined inner volume; a roller installed rotatably on an outer circumference of the eccentric portion so as to contact an inner circumference of the cylinder; a vane installed elastically in the cylinder to contact the roller continuously; a first bearing installed in the cylinder, for rotatably supporting the driving shaft; a second bearing installed in the cylinder, for rotatably supporting the driving shaft and guiding the fluid into the fluid chamber; discharge ports communicating with the fluid chamber; and a valve assembly having openings separated by a predetermined angle from each other, the valve assembly having a center which is eccentrically installed by a predetermined distance from a center of the cylinder. |
| US07854601B2 |
Lubricant-tight vane rotary vacuum pump
A lubricant-tight vane rotary vacuum pump includes at least one pump stage (17, 18) having a safety valve (3) for controlling gas flow to the pump stage, a lubricant pump, a lubricant reservoir (30) at least partially surrounding the pump stage housing (10, 40), and a hydraulic conduit (31) connecting the lubricant pump outlet (22) with the safety valve (3), with a pressurized lubricant flow through the hydraulic conduit (31) opening the safety valve (3), and a channel (32) branching from the hydraulic conduit (31) for delivering a pressurized lubricant into the lubricant reservoir (30). |
| US07854600B2 |
Tube pump
A tube pump includes tubes, hooks, tube receivers, three or more fingers, and a drive mechanism. The tubes each include intermediate tubes, connectors, and end tubes. The tubes are attached by engaging the connectors with the hooks provided on upper and lower sides. The intermediate tubes are provided along the tube receivers. Tube press portions of the fingers are provided between the intermediate tubes. The fingers are driven by the drive mechanism so that the tube press portions are reciprocated between a position where one of the intermediate tubes is squeezed and a position where the other of the intermediate tubes is squeezed. |
| US07854597B2 |
Pumping system with two way communication
A pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool includes a water pump, a variable speed motor, and an arrangement for controlling the variable speed motor. The pumping system further includes an auxiliary device operably connected to the arrangement for controlling, and an arrangement for providing two-way communication between the arrangement for controlling and the auxiliary device. The arrangement for controlling is capable of receiving a parameter from the auxiliary device through the arrangement for providing two-way communication. In one example, the arrangement for controlling is capable of independently controlling the variable speed motor without receipt of a parameter from the auxiliary device. In addition or alternatively, the arrangement for controlling is operable to selectively alter operation of the motor based upon the parameter. In addition or alternatively, the arrangement for controlling is configured to optimize a power consumption of the variable speed motor over time based upon the parameters received. A method for controlling the pumping system is also provided. |
| US07854596B2 |
System and method of operation of multiple screw compressors with continuously variable speed to provide noise cancellation
A system for cancelling or attenuating noise in at least two positive displacement compressors proximately located from each other for use with a heating or cooling system. A lead compressor and a lag compressor have a controllable rotational speed and phase of operation. A controller selectably controls the rotational speed and the phase of operation of each of the compressors. The controller controls the rotational speed of the compressors at substantially the same speed for each compressor, with a phase-lock loop and a comparator circuit for each compressor. The controller controls the phase of operation of the compressors through an oscillator so that the lead and lag compressor pressure pulses are spaced between successive outlet pressure pulses to effectively double the combined pulsation frequency for noise attenuation. |
| US07854591B2 |
Airfoil for a turbine of a gas turbine engine
An airfoil for a turbine of a gas turbine engine is provided. The airfoil comprises a main body comprising a wall structure defining an inner cavity adapted to receive a cooling air. The wall structure includes a first diffusion region and at least one first metering opening extending from the inner cavity to the first diffusion region. The wall structure further comprises at least one cooling circuit comprising a second diffusion region and at least one second metering opening extending from the first diffusion region to the second diffusion region. The at least one cooling circuit may further comprise at least one third metering opening, at least one third diffusion region and a fourth diffusion region. |
| US07854590B2 |
Rotor blade visual lights
A rotorcraft, such a helicopter or a tiltrotor aircraft, includes a light emitting device configured to provide light at a tip of a rotor blade. The light emitting device includes a light emitting diode arranged on the rotor blade, and a power source, wherein the power source is configured to power the light emitting diode due to a movement of the rotor blade. The power source may include a piezo-electric material configured to create a voltage due to movements of the rotor blade or an electrical generator including a stationary magnet assembly and a moveable coil assembly arranged on a shaft that rotates the rotor blade. |
| US07854587B2 |
Centrifugal compressor and dry gas seal system for use in it
The present invention relates to a centrifugal compressor using a dry gas seal system for protecting seal means. A multistage centrifugal compressor has primary dry gas seal means for preventing leakage of working gas from a machine inner side, and secondary dry gas seal means for backing up the first dry gas seal means. A seal gas line for introducing the gas leaked from the first and second dry gas seal means to the outside of the machine is installed between the primary dry gas seal means and the secondary dry gas seal means. The gas seal line has an orifice and a check valve, and buffer means is installed between the orifice and the check valve. |
| US07854585B2 |
Variable geometry compressor
A variable geometry compressor for use in, for example, a turbocharger. A swing-vane diffuser is provided down-stream of the centrifugal compressor wheel. A nozzle ring is adjustable mounted on a center housing, and defines the nozzle face for the compressor diffuser. No spacers are deployed in the diffuser thereby improving efficiency, yet by stacking only the vanes and the nozzle ring, the diffuser clearances are maintained within strict tolerances. Further, seals, such as O-rings, are situated between the nozzle ring and the compressor housing and back plate to eliminate deleterious gas leaks between the diffuser and the spaces behind the nozzle ring. |
| US07854584B2 |
Barrier sealing system for centrifugal compressors
A rotary machine includes a machine rotor, a bearing coupled to the machine rotor, a machine stator, and a sealing device disposed between the machine rotor and the machine stator. The sealing device includes a dry gas seal and first and second seals disposed between the dry gas seal and the bearing. One or both of the first and second seals includes a brush seal or more specifically a brush seal including a plurality of non-metallic fibers. |
| US07854582B2 |
Operation of an aircraft engine after emergency shutdown
A method of emergency operation of an aircraft turbofan engine during an aircraft flight is provided. The engine includes a fan shaft with a fan, and an electric motor/generator mounted for rotation therewith. The method includes shutting down the engine while allowing the engine to windmill, operating the electric motor/generator to rotate the shaft at a determined windmilling speed which is desired for the fan shaft, and operating the engine at the desired windmilling speed for substantially a remainder of the aircraft flight. |
| US07854576B2 |
Wheelchair passenger station
A rear facing wheelchair passenger station for securing a wheelchair in a large accessible transit vehicle. The station includes a forward excursion barrier for preventing forward movement of a wheelchair, lateral excursion barriers for preventing undesired lateral and rearward movement of the wheelchair, wall side flip seats which are adapted to covert the wheelchair passenger station for use by non-wheelchair persons, hand holds, high friction floor material for assisting in the prevention of movement of the wheelchair, and an electro-pneumatic control system. |
| US07854575B2 |
Displacement and deflection measuring device for main spindle in machine tool
A reference block 30 attached to a housing 20a is moved together with a main spindle 20 to a measurement start position A1, and the reference block 30 is so moved in a Z-axis direction as to across air injected from an air injection nozzle 25, so that a thermal displacement of the main spindle 20 is calculated based on change in pressure measured in the movement. The outer circumference of a tool mounted on the main spindle 20 is brought close to a leading end face of the air injection nozzle 25, and the air is injected to the outer circumference of the tool while rotating the tool at a predetermined position, and the air pressure is measured so that the rotational deflection of the tool is calculated based on the change in the measured pressure. |
| US07854567B2 |
Method to increase storage capacity of natural gas storage caverns with a refrigeration system
A method to increase the storage capacity of a natural gas storage cavern includes effecting a heat exchange in a heat exchanger between a stream of coolant from a refrigeration or cooling plant and a natural gas stream to cool the natural gas stream prior to injecting the natural gas stream into the natural gas storage cavern. |
| US07854565B2 |
Method of establishing a desired grade of an uncured concrete surface
A method of establishing a desired grade of an uncured concrete surface or subgrade surface includes providing a wheeled apparatus having a wheeled support and a plow assembly, which may include a plow member for establishing the desired grade and/or a vibrating member for vibrating and smoothing the concrete. The down pressure of the plow assembly may be adjusted when the wheeled support is moved in a rearward direction. The elevation of the plow member may be controlled when a direction signal is indicative of the wheeled support stopping and/or moving in the forward direction. The rearward speed of the wheeled support may be reduced in response to a detection of a surface irregularity of the subgrade, and the frame portion and/or the plow assembly may be controlled to substantially maintain the plow assembly at a desired orientation when the wheel engages the detected surface irregularity. |
| US07854564B1 |
Pole assembly
A flagpole having a plurality of linear tubular members with ends of adjacent tubular members connected with coupling members including arcuate segments retained in tight surface engagement with inside surfaces of the tubular members with fasteners. |
| US07854561B1 |
Two piece drip containing lid
Removable two piece drip containing lids for sealing one or more liquid holding container having a neck and a neck opening are provided. The removable two piece drip containing lid can include a wiper lid portion having a central opening and a cap portion. The wiper lid portion can include a wiper housing for engaging the outside of the neck; an extension secured to an inner portion of the wiper housing; a wiper connected to at least a portion of the extension. The cap portion can be connected to the wiper lid portion. The cap portion can include an applicator cap; a stem connected to the applicator cap and an applicator connected to the stem. |
| US07854552B2 |
Hydrodynamic bearing device, spindle motor equipped with same, and recording and reproducing apparatus
A hydrodynamic bearing device comprises a sleeve, a shaft, and a flange cover. The sleeve has a bearing hole and a communicating hole which communicates between both end faces. The shaft is disposed in a state of being capable of relative rotation in the bearing hole of the sleeve, and has a main portion, a flange that is larger in diameter than the main portion, and a communicating hole that communicates with both end faces of the flange. The flange cover is disposed opposing to the lower face of the flange. The pressure loss at the communicating hole is smaller than the pressure loss at the communicating hole. |
| US07854547B2 |
Bidirectional and expandable heat flow measurement tool for units of air cooled electrical equipment
A tool is disclosed, for measuring the important thermal characteristics of a unit of electronic equipment, which obtains air flow and temperature readings at both air inlet and air outlet openings of the unit without disturbing cable or wiring connections or otherwise interrupting device operation. The tool pressure sensing element is rotatable between detented positions to permit the tool to be used at both air inlet and air outlet openings. The tool air duct portion may be formed of separate duct portions to enable a single duct portion including the sensing instrumentation to be used with multiple duct portions that conform to electronic device air inlet and outlet openings to impart added flexibility to the tool. |
| US07854539B2 |
Illumination device comprising a light source and a light-guide
Proposed is an illumination device (1), comprising a semiconductor light source (10) for generating light, a primary optical system (20) for feeding the light to a secondary optical system (30), which is provided for radiating the light and for achieving a desired radiation pattern. The semiconductor light source may comprise LEDs and/or Laser-Diodes. The primary optical system comprises a light-guide with a mirrored end-face (24) and an out-coupling structure (25) for directing light into the secondary optical system. The mirrored end-face optically folds the light-guide, effectively extending the length over which the light is advantageously homogenized inside the light guide. Furthermore, optically folding the light-guide makes more economical use of the space inside the secondary optical system. This is especially advantageous when designing an LED based retrofit for existing form factors of halogen based illumination devices. |
| US07854537B2 |
Recessed lighting fixture
A recessed lighting fixture includes a housing having one or more side walls, one or more of which including at least one elongate slot formation, the slot formation including a pair of oppositely extending lateral edge formations, each lateral edge formation having a first dimension, a retaining clip to be located in the slot formation for movement therealong. The retaining clip has a first portion to extend through the slot formation and to travel along an inner surface of the corresponding side wall on opposite sides of the slot formation, a second portion having a second dimension exceeding the first dimension and to travel along an outer surface of a corresponding side wall on opposite sides of the slot formation. The second portion is arranged to be biased outwardly from the housing relative to the first portion, the second portion joined to a third portion, the third portion being arranged to extend through the slot formation in a retained position, in which the third portion is retained against an inner surface of the corresponding lateral edge formation with the second portion in a spring-loaded orientation. The third portion is movable from the retained position to a released position when separated from the lateral edge formation, thereby causing the second portion to be transferred from its spring-loaded orientation to an outwardly extended orientation relative to the housing. |
| US07854535B2 |
Ceramic packaging for high brightness LED devices
Embodiments of the present invention include a light emitting diode package comprising a ceramic cavity comprising a substrate for mounting a light emitting diode and substantially vertical sidewalls for reducing light leakage. The ceramic LED package further includes a metallic coating on a portion of the ceramic substrate for reflecting light in a predetermined direction. |
| US07854534B2 |
LED lamp
An LED lamp includes a housing defining an opening in a front face thereof, a heat sink received in the housing and a plurality of LED modules mounted on the heat sink. The housing has two parallel horizontal plates at lower and top ends thereof. The heat sink includes a V-shaped conductive plate placed on the lower horizontal plate of the housing and has two differently-sized portions with front faces thereof defining an obtuse included angle therebetween. The front faces face the opening of the housing. The LED modules are mounted on the front faces of the portions of the conductive plate of the heat sink. |
| US07854532B2 |
Fixture and a method for servicing or cleaning an ornamental fixture
An ornamental fixture having a support structure and a plurality of ornaments mounted to the support structure in a substantially completely spherical arrangement of ornaments. The ornaments may be glass crystal ornaments, for example, octagonal glass crystals, and a light may be mounted within the fixture. The support structure may include an upper support ring and at least one lower support ring vertically spaced from the upper support ring and a plurality of arcuate sector assemblies removably mounted to the upper support ring and the at least one lower support ring. The sector assemblies retain the ornaments to provide a substantially continuous 360-degree array of ornaments. The sector assemblies can also be disassembled from the support structure for maintenance, servicing, relamping, and cleaning of the fixture. For example, the disassembled components of the fixture may be washed in a dishwasher without damaging the ornaments or the support structure. |
| US07854530B2 |
Lamp structure with damper
The present invention relates to a lamp structure with a damper. The lamp structure is primarily for installation inside a cabinet. The electrical loop of the lamp structure is electrically connected by opening the door, and the illumination member of the lamp structure generates light to illuminate the interior of the cabinet. Conversely, when the door is closed, the damper is driven to touch the power switch to make the electrical loop of the lamp structure in the electrically disconnected state, and the illumination member no longer generates light. |
| US07854529B2 |
Bezel-integrated thermal conductors
Flashlight bezels, which comprise a bezel, lens, and a thermal conductor disposed in and through the lens so as to be positioned conduct heat from a light source positioned to one side of the lens to space on the opposite side of the lens, are described. When included in a flashlight, the thermal conductor portion of the bezel becomes associated with the light source so that heat generated by the light source, when energized, can be efficiently transferred to the environment, for example, water, in which the flashlight is being used. By so doing, the efficiency of the light source can be maintained, the service life of the light source may be extended, etc. |
| US07854525B2 |
Light reflector and planar light source
A light reflector and a planar light source achieving high average luminance and little luminance unevenness are provided. In a light reflector including a reflector and a reflective chevronwise partition plate projecting in a shape of a chevron from the reflector, a reflective planar partition plate is provided, connected to a peak section of the chevronwise partition plate such as to project upwards from the peak section. The chevronwise partition plate and the planar partition plate are disposed between adjacent linear light sources. |
| US07854524B2 |
High stiffness low mass supporting structure for a mirror assembly
Systems and methods of providing support to a mirror assembly including a high-stiffness, low mass structure. An L-shaped support, in conjunction with a shelf member and a plurality of fingers, provides support to a chuck upon which an operation (such as a wafer inspection) can be carried out. Materials such as ALBEMET and INVAR can be used to reduce mass and increase stiffness to avoid resonance in the system. Sensors and actuators can be employed to sense input energy and adjust the structure, respectively, if resonance is deemed likely. |
| US07854522B2 |
Antiglare film and manufacturing method thereof
The invention provides an antiglare film. A resin layer is disposed on a substrate. Micro-aggregates are distributed in an interior and over a surface of the resin layer. Each of the micro aggregates has a size of 0.1-3 μm and is formed by aggregating aggregated nano-particles. The micro-aggregates distributing over the surface result in a surface roughness of the resin layer. The weight ratio of the resin layer to the micro-aggregates is 1:0.1-0.7. |
| US07854518B2 |
Mesh for rendering an image frame
A method includes generating a first plurality of meshes configured to map a first domain associated with a display surface having a plurality of fiducial marks to a second domain associated with a image capture device configured to capture a first image of the display surface, generating a second plurality of meshes configured to map the second domain to a third domain associated with a first projector configured to display a second image onto the display surface, and generating a first mesh configured to map the first domain to the third domain in conjunction with a second mesh using the first plurality of meshes and the second plurality of meshes. |
| US07854512B2 |
Apparatus for mounting motion picture camera equipment
A positioning device for motion picture camera equipment. The positioning device includes a plurality of modular longitudinal rails, a camera mounting plate, means for slidably positioning said plate along said rails, means for joining said rails to form a suitable platform for positioning said plate. |
| US07854510B2 |
Apparatus and method for imaging the eye
A slit lamp mounted eye imaging device for viewing wide field and/or magnified views of the retina or the anterior segment through an undilated or dilated pupil. The apparatus images posterior and anterior segments of the eye, and sections/focal planes in between and contains an illumination system that uses one or more LEDs, shifting optical elements, and/or aperture stops where the light can be delivered into the optical system on optical axis or off axis from center of optical system and return imaging path from the retina, thereby creating artifacts in different locations on retina. Image processing is employed to detect and eliminate artifacts from images. The device is well suited for retinal imaging through an undilated pupil, non-pharmacologically dilated, or a pupil as small as 2 mm. Two or more images with reflection artifacts can be created and subsequently recombined through image processing into a composite artifact-free image. |
| US07854508B2 |
Plastic lens and manufacturing method of plastic lens
A plastic lens includes: a plastic lens base material; a hard coat layer formed on the plastic lens base material; an organic antireflection film formed on the hard coat layer; and a primer layer between the plastic lens base material and the hard coat layer. The plastic lens base material contains at least a sulfur atom. The hard coat layer contains at least: fine metal oxide particles containing a titanium oxide having a rutile-type crystalline structure; and an organosilicon compound represented by a general formula of R1SiX13. The antireflection film contains a coating composition containing at least: an organosilicon compound represented by a general formula of XmR23−mSi—Y—SiR23−mXm; an epoxy group-containing organic compound containing one or more epoxy group in a molecule; and fine silica particles with average particle size of 1 to 150 nm, the antireflection film having a refractive index lower than that of the hard coat layer by 0.10 or more. |
| US07854506B1 |
Curved lenses configured to decode three-dimensional content on television and computer screens
Curved lenses configured to decode three dimensional content and method of fabricating the same. The lenses decode three-dimensional content displayed on televisions or computer monitors. Sheets from which the lenses are cut have either (i) a polarizing axis of 0 degrees relative to horizontal and one sheet has a retarder axis at −45 degrees relative to horizontal and the other sheet has a retarder axis of +45 degrees relative to horizontal; (ii) a polarizing axis of −45 degrees relative to horizontal and one sheet has a retarder axis at 0 degrees relative to horizontal and the other sheet has a retarder axis of 90 degrees relative to horizontal; or (iii) a polarizing axis of +45 degrees relative to horizontal and one sheet has a retarder axis at 0 degrees relative to horizontal and the other sheet has a retarder axis of 90 degrees relative to horizontal. |
| US07854505B2 |
Passive and active photonic crystal structures and devices
The present invention provides photonic crystal devices, device components and methods for preventing transmission of electromagnetic radiation from one or more laser sources or laser modes so as to provide an optical shield for protecting a users eyes or an optical sensor. The present invention also provides dynamic photonic crystals and devices incorporating dynamic photonic crystals for optically modulating the intensity of one or more beams of electromagnetic radiation and other optical switching applications. |
| US07854504B2 |
Digital device incorporating inkjet printhead and platen
A handheld print-on-demand digital device. The device comprises a pagewidth inkjet printhead and a platen assembly operatively positioned relative to the printhead. The platen assembly comprises: a planar platen member for supporting print media; a print media transport roller located on a first side of the platen member for feeding print media past said printhead; and a cutting mechanism located on a second opposite side of the platen member for severing the print media. The cutting mechanism includes a transport assembly driven by a threaded rod. The transport assembly has a body for traversing across the print media and a cutting edge fixed to the body for severing the print media during a traverse of the body. |
| US07854503B2 |
Ink-jet recording apparatus and recording method therefor
A recording apparatus has a recording head, a platen, and a first hole. The recording head includes a dot formation element array, and the platen holds a recording medium opposite the recording head. The first hole is disposed in an area of the platen opposite a downstream portion of the dot formation element array and guides ink discarded outside an end of the recording medium when the end is printed without a margin. Alternatively or additionally, a second hole is formed in an area of the platen opposite an upstream portion of the dot formation element array, and the platen guides ink, which is discarded outside an end of the recording medium when the end is printed without a margin, to the second hole. |
| US07854501B2 |
Common side insertion keying for phase change ink sticks
A set of ink sticks includes multiple ink sticks, each adapted to be inserted in an insertion direction into one of the feed channels of a phase change ink jet printer. Each ink stick has a keyed surface substantially aligned with the insertion direction, and each of the keyed surfaces has a key feature having a position relative to the keyed surface that corresponds to the position of the feed channel relative to an aspect of the printer. A method of inserting an ink stick into the delivery system of a phase change ink jet printer includes orienting the ink stick with a keyed surface facing a particular direction and identifying the position of the key feature relative to the remainder of the keyed surface. An ink feed channel of the feed system having a coinciding position in the ink delivery system is identified, and the ink stick is inserted into the identified ink feed channel. |
| US07854500B2 |
Tamper proof print cartridge for a video game console
This invention relates to a tamper proof print cartridge for a printing device. The cartridge includes a casing defining a media storage portion, an ink storage portion and a media exit. The cartridge also includes a media transport mechanism arranged in said casing and configured to transport a single sheet of media from the media storage portion through the media exit when activated, as well as an ink supply manifold configured to operatively arrange the ink storage portion in fluid communication with the printer. |
| US07854499B2 |
Liquid housing container
The present invention provides a liquid housing container that enables an increase in the channel cross section of a connection portion of a liquid channel that allows a liquid housing chamber to communicate with an exterior, allowing pressure loss to be minimized. A supply needle 107 is pushed into a liquid housing container to move, to an open position, a valve 102A. With the valve 102A remaining in the open position, the supply needle 107 is pushed back and held separate from the valve 102A. Subsequently, the supply needle 107 is pushed into the liquid container again to move the valve 102A to a closed position. Even when the supply needle 107 is removed from the liquid housing container, the valve 102A is held in the closed position. |
| US07854497B2 |
Fluid ejection device
A fluid ejection device includes a fluid chamber having a first sidewall and a second sidewall, a flexible membrane extended over the fluid chamber and supported at an end of the first sidewall and an end of the second sidewall, an actuator provided on the flexible membrane, a first gap provided between the flexible membrane and the end of the first sidewall, and a second gap provided between the flexible membrane and the end of the second sidewall, and compliant material provided within the first gap and within the second gap. As such, the actuator is adapted to deflect the flexible membrane relative to the fluid chamber. |
| US07854495B2 |
Liquid storage tank
A liquid storage tank includes a circuit chip equipped with a pair of chip contact points on a flat connection outer surface on a chip main body positioned at a predetermined position of a tank main body, and a pair of connection terminal plates each including a chip contact piece positioned around the circuit chip and extending from one side of the connection outer surface to make contact with the corresponding chip contact point, and another circuit connection portion conductively connected to a contact point of another circuit. |
| US07854493B2 |
Method of manufacturing inkjet printhead and inkjet printhead manufactured using the method
A method of manufacturing an inkjet printhead, including forming a nozzle layer by radiating actinic radiation to a cross-linked polymer resist composition including a precursor polymer, a cationic photoinitiator, and a solvent, in which a concentration of the cationic photoinitiator is varied to control a tapered angle of a nozzle included in the nozzle layer. |
| US07854490B2 |
System and method for evaluating line formation in an ink jet imaging device to normalize print head driving voltages
A method enables an ink jet imaging device to normalize the driving signals for the ink jets within a print head of the device. The method includes generating an ink jet driving signal at an initial voltage and a particular resolution, coupling the ink jet driving signal to an ink jet for selective emission of ink from the ink jet onto an ink receiver in accordance with the driving signal, scanning the ink receiver and generating a line discontinuity signal indicative of a number of discontinuities detected in a line formed on the ink receiver by the ink ejected from the ink jet, and adjusting one of a voltage and a resolution for the ink jet driving signal in response to the line discontinuity signal received from the scanner. |
| US07854488B2 |
Dot measurement method and apparatus
A dot measurement method includes: a line pattern forming step of forming line patterns on the ejection receiving medium; a pattern reading step of capturing an image of the line patterns; a profile graph acquiring step of acquiring profile graphs for each of the line patterns; a characteristic position calculating step of calculating extreme value positions, first edge positions and second edge positions for each of the line patterns; an approximation line calculating step of calculating a line-center approximation line, a first edge approximation line and a second edge approximation line; a line width calculating step of calculating a line width; a correlation information acquiring step of beforehand acquiring at least one of a first relationship between the line width and the dot diameter, and a second relationship between the line width and the ejection volume; and a measurement value calculating step of calculating at least one of the dot diameter and the ejection volume in accordance with the line width and the at least one of the first and second relationships. |
| US07854484B2 |
Television receiving set
A recess made up of a rear bushing part receiving part and a front cord guiding part is formed as a space between a pair of rib walls opposed to each other in the left and right direction at a vicinity of an edge rim of a front cabinet on a side to be connected to a rear cabinet. First and second groove parts are formed on inner wall faces of the rib walls opposed to each other sandwiching the bushing part receiving part so as to engage respectively with the first and the second flange parts of the bushing part. The second groove part of the rib walls has no wall at the front side and is open to the cord guiding part. |
| US07854477B2 |
Seat back support mechanism
A seat back support mechanism supports the back of a seat in a motor vehicle. One component of the mechanism (15) is effectively connected to the seat of the motor vehicle and another component (32) is connected to the back (44) of the motor vehicle optionally by means of a recliner mechanism. The support mechanism comprises a connection between the components. The connection comprises two pivot links (27,33). One pivot link (33) is of arcuate form with a central “V” notch so that when the back of the seat is subjected to a predetermined force, the back of the seat is permitted about a pivot axis (30) while the arcuate pivot link (33) is deformed, thus absorbing energy. |
| US07854472B2 |
Vehicle body structure
A vehicle body structure in which a panel is reinforced by a pair of reinforcing members, and a connecting member is included. The pair of reinforcing members intersects with each other and the reinforcing members are provided along one surface of the panel. The connecting member is connected to both of the pair of reinforcing members in a portion where the pair of reinforcing members intersects with each other. |
| US07854469B2 |
System for reducing aerodynamic drag on vehicles
An apparatus is provided for reducing aerodynamic drag experienced by an over-the-road vehicle while underway. A frame assembly including a fastening fixture couples the apparatus to the vehicle, and a first airfoil including a first outward air deflecting surface deflects a portion of the airflow directed toward a first tire laterally outward toward an externally exposed side of the first tire. A second airfoil including a second outward air deflecting surface deflects a portion of the airflow directed toward a second tire laterally outward toward an externally exposed side of the second tire. The first and second airfoils are spaced laterally apart from each other when coupled to the vehicle by the frame assembly to define an aperture between the first and second airfoils through which at least a portion of the airflow directed toward the axle assembly is to pass while the vehicle is underway. |
| US07854464B2 |
Sun visor apparatus for vehicle
A sun visor apparatus for a vehicle includes a sun visor body, a supporting member supported on a roof panel and supporting the sun visor body so that the sun visor body moves in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle between a first position where the sun visor body is positioned in a storage space provided on an underside of the roof panel and a second position where a rear end of the sun visor body is positioned behind a mirror body of an interior rearview mirror when viewed from a driver, and a shade extending from the sun visor body to the storage space in accordance with a movement of the sun visor body. |
| US07854460B2 |
Mating receiver rack for personal recreational vehicles
A receiver rack includes a main framework piece that is attached to a mounting surface of the personal recreational vehicle. The main framework may be flat and may be fashioned generally in the image of a cargo rack. The main framework may have mounting flanges for facilitating its connection to the recreational vehicle. The main framework includes at least one coupler mounted thereon. The coupler enables the main framework to be joined to one or more auxiliary frame pieces that contain at least one coupling member that mates with the coupler of the main framework. The coupler may also be used for joining a variety of seating and cargo units to the main framework. |
| US07854459B2 |
Automotive interior bamboo trim structures
The present invention provides a variety of interior trim structures for use within a passenger compartment of a motorized vehicle. Each interior trim structure includes a structure body configured to attach to the vehicle. The structure body has at least one exterior wall that is visible to occupants of the passenger compartment. At least a portion of the visible wall is fabricated entirely from a segment of natural bamboo stalk. In one embodiment, the segment is a one-piece, monolithic ring of natural bamboo. Alternatively, the segment can be fabricated as a trim panel that is formed from a plurality of precut natural bamboo slats. The interior trim structure can be configured as a storage receptacle, electronic dial, instrument cluster gauge fixture, storage compartment lid, or cosmetic trim panel. |
| US07854450B2 |
Tube fixing structure and fixing member used therefor
In a tube fixing structure, a tube is fixed to a joint by means of a fixing member. The joint comprises a pipe whose one end is fitted into the tube, whose outside diameter is larger than an inside diameter of the tube, and whose outer surface is flattened with respect to the axial direction; and a main body that is connected with the other end of the pipe. The fixing member comprises a cylindrical holder made of a flexible material, which holds a portion of the tube having the pipe fitted therein by cramping the portion from its outer periphery, the holder having a through hole into which the tube is coaxially disposed and a slit formed to reach the through hole. |
| US07854449B2 |
Composite laminated sheet material for containment sumps
The present invention is a composite laminated sheet material suitable for structures such as containment sumps. The laminated material comprises a fabric-backed thermoplastic layer upon which thermoset plastic is applied to the fabric side. The thermoplastic layer is formed by contacting a layer of fabric onto a layer of molten thermoplastic such that the liquid thermoplastic permeates a portion of the fabric layer to form a mechanical bond with the fabric layer when the thermoplastic layer cools and hardens. Thermoset plastic, such as fibreglass resin, is sprayed onto the fabric side of the thermoplastic layer to allow the liquid resin to permeate the fabric layer. Once the resin cures and hardens, the fabric layer is mechanically bonded to the cured thermoset plastic layer to effectively bond the thermoplastic layer to the thermoset plastic layer. |
| US07854445B2 |
Equalizer for a suspension system
An equalizer for a suspension system for a trailer is configured to absorb or dampen the harsh shocks or vibrations coming off of the leaf springs proximate to a center frame hangar, thus allowing for a “softer” ride. The equalizer utilizes one or two independent equalizer arm assemblies or castings which are each rotatably secured within the equalizer. Each equalizer arm assembly or casting is operatively associated with one of the leaf springs such that upon upward movement of the leaf spring, the associated equalizer arm assembly or casting is forced to rotate within the equalizer and to deform a shock absorber provided within the equalizer. The shock absorber, upon the deformation thereof, absorbs the harsh shocks or vibrations which would otherwise normally be transferred from the leaf springs, to the equalizer, and thus to the frame of the trailer. |
| US07854442B2 |
Bicycle wire holding arrangement
A bicycle wire holding arrangement is provided with a hollow frame member, a wire extending axially inside the hollow frame member and a suspending member disposed inside the hollow frame member. The suspending member is coupled to the wire and contacts an interior surface of the hollow frame member to hold the wire. |
| US07854439B2 |
Suspension system of coupled torsion beam axle
A suspension system of a coupled torsion beam axle type may include a torsion beam that is disposed in the width direction of a vehicle body, left/right trailing arms that are mounted on respective ends of the torsion beam to be extended in the rearward direction of the vehicle body, and a spindle block that is mounted on one end of each of the respective trailing arms and in which a spindle is integrally formed in the front end surface thereof for a wheel to be mounted. |
| US07854435B2 |
Wheel mechanism
A wheel mechanism having two or more rows of three or more wheels wherein the lower-most points of the wheels in a row an arc. The wheels may be disposed on runners affixed to a cart or be attached directly to a frame or floor component of the cart. An arced shape can be implemented by varying the diameter of the wheels or the attachment components. The wheel mechanism can be incorporated into various types of carts. |
| US07854434B2 |
Ring seal with axially-opposed radially-offset seal beads
A ring seal includes a sealing ring including an asymmetric body portion having axially-opposed and radially-offset seal beads. The ring seal may also include a reinforcement ring carried at least partially in the sealing ring to distribute load across the seal beads. The ring seal may further include a skirt depending generally axially from the body portion and defining an inner diameter of the sealing ring and preferably having frusto-conical cross-sectional shape. |
| US07854431B1 |
Table bingo game
A table bingo game. The table bingo game is played by one to n players and makes use of a table having a table surface and a table grid marked out on the table surface. The table grid comprises m rows and n columns to provide an m by n matrix defining a rectangular array of preselected numbers therein. Each number in the m by n matrix has an integer value between 1 and y. A deck of bingo cards is provided having integer numbers printed thereon. A set of n player cards is provided each having a player grid printed thereon with four corner numbers. For each set of four corner numbers there is a column in the table grid having four matching numbers. The winner is the player with a player card that matches a column on the grid four matching bingo cards laid out thereon. |
| US07854416B2 |
Display panel and elevation adjusting base of the same
A display including a body and an elevation adjusting base is provided. The elevation adjusting base is secured to the body. The elevation adjusting base includes a base, an elevation adjusting mechanism, an outer bushing, an inner bushing and a friction ring. The elevation adjusting mechanism is connected to the base. The outer bushing is connected to the base and mounted on the elevation adjusting mechanism. The inner bushing is embedded inside the outer bushing. The friction ring is disposed between the outer bushing and the inner bushing. After the elevation of the elevation adjusting mechanism is adjusted, the friction ring provides a friction force between the outer bushing and the inner bushing to fix the elevation of the elevation adjusting mechanism. Users can accurately adjust the elevation of the display panel according to the view-angle and personal preferences. |
| US07854415B2 |
Motorized support for a television or other electronic display
A support for an electronic display is provided. The support is movable through a panning motion by both manual manipulation and a motor. The support may include a clutch that facilitates both manual and motorized panning of the electronic display. The support is manually movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The support is also capable of supporting a relatively heavy load, such as a television or a computer monitor, and rotating the heavy load through a panning motion with a relatively small motor. The support may include a thrust bearing to facilitate panning of the heavy load. The support also includes a clutch that prevents stripping or damage of electrical components in the event panning motion is inhibited, such as by engagement of the electronic display with a wall. The support also includes a plurality of mechanical components that are removable as a single unit. |
| US07854414B2 |
Cable clamps
A cable clamp device for use in a well bore to secure cables to pipes and the like includes a flexible fastening member of relatively uniform cross-section, and a block that accepts the fastening member as it encompasses the circumference of the pipe in a loop. The cable clamp also and accepts the cable running axially along the pipe. The flexible fastening member overlaps itself, and is secured in a loop by deformation of its material. The height of the block from the surface of the pipe is greater than the height of the outer surface of the flexible fastening member and the surface of the pipe. The end surfaces of the clamp are angled with respect to the perpendicular of the pipe's surface. |
| US07854411B2 |
Aircraft undercarriage including a plurality of electromechanical actuators, and a method of testing it
The invention relates to an aircraft undercarriage including a steerable bottom portion and a steering member suitable for turning the steerable bottom portion in response to a steering order. According to the invention, the steering member comprises a plurality of electromechanical steering actuators each having at least one main electric motor, and the actuators are disposed on the undercarriage so as to enable all of them to co-operate simultaneously with the steerable bottom portion in order to steer it, each of the electro-mechanical steering actuators including controllable coupling means for selectively placing the actuator either in a coupled state in which it is coupled with the steerable bottom portion , in which the main electric motor of the actuator is suitable for causing the steerable bottom portion to turn; or else in an uncoupled state in which it is uncoupled from the steerable bottom portion and in which the main electric motor of the actuator is isolated from the steerable bottom portion. |
| US07854410B2 |
Powered unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle mounts a payload section to an air delivery vehicle. The air delivery vehicle includes deployable wings and tail fins for gliding or powered flight. A set of propeller blades are provided for powered flight. The propeller blades are mounted for movement from a stowed position to deployed position extending radially from the fuselage for powered flight. |
| US07854409B2 |
Canarded deltoid main wing aircraft
Canarded deltoid main wing aircraft idea allows for design of large supersonic civil and military aircraft with cruising speeds of up to Mach 3 at the altitude of over 25,000 meters. The fuel consumption per unit of payload of such aircraft would be at least twice lower with a longer range of over 50% when compared to existing supersonic aircraft of the same size. Simultaneously, the flight safety and ride quality during takeoff and landing at low speeds would be similar to the existing subsonic passenger aircraft. A low fuel consumption, long range, high ride quality, and high flight safety of these aircraft are widely opening a door for design of supersonic long range continental and intercontinental passenger aircraft that would be highly competitive with existing long range high subsonic passenger aircraft. |
| US07854407B2 |
Low-profile housing for an impact crushing apparatus
The present invention provides an impact crushing apparatus that includes a housing, a chamber defined within the housing, a rotor assembly for receiving material and throwing the material radially outward, and a plurality of anvils positioned around the rotor assembly and configured to break apart the material. The rotor assembly is driven by a drive unit, which is coupled to a shaft. A bearing cartridge encircles the shaft, and the bearing cartridge and drive unit are disposed outside the chamber. |
| US07854406B2 |
Air separator for comminuted materials
An air separator is provided with a rotor positioned above three concentric vessels. The rotor and a plurality of entry ports segregate comminuted material into the three vessels. An exit port from each vessel directs the separated comminuted material for further comminution processes, such as to a ball mill or a roll press, or for use as a final product. |
| US07854404B2 |
Process for yarn or sliver refining
The invention discloses a process for refining yarn or sliver having a length of at least 1 meter, including the step of feeding the yarn or sliver and a liquid into a refiner, which includes refiner fillings having a body surrounding a central hole (7), and at least one inlet (1) for the yarn or sliver, and the thus obtained pulp-like materials and its use for making friction materials, paper, and gaskets. In particular, the refiner has a refiner filling (8), wherein the yarn or sliver is fed through an inlet positioned in the refiner filling. The present invention further relates to the refiner filling including at least one, preferably eccentric, inlet for yarn or sliver. The inlet comprises an inlet hole which includes an inclined slope (2) on the outflow side of the inlet, the inclined slope serving to guide the yarn or sliver from the inlet hole to the surface of the refiner filling. The invention further relates to a refiner including such refiner filling. |
| US07854403B2 |
Electrostatically atomizing device
An electrostatically atomizing device includes a housing and an electrostatically atomizing unit disposed within the housing. The atomizing unit includes an emitter electrode and an heat exchanger. The heat exchanger cools the emitter electrode to develop condensed water. A high voltage is applied to the emitter electrode in order to electrostatically atomizing the condensed water and generate a mist of charged minute water particles. The housing accommodates a fan generating an air flow accelerating a heat radiation of the heat exchanger, and a high voltage source generating the high voltage applied to the emitter electrode. The heat exchanger has its heat radiator section exposed to a flow passage of the air flow. The atomizing unit is formed with an air inlet for introducing the air flow which carries the mist of the charged minute water particles and release the mist. The atomizing unit and the high voltage source are arranged on opposite sides of the flow passage. A first air intake port for feeding the forced air flow from the fan and a second air intake port for feeding the air flow into the high voltage source are positioned upstream of a second air intake port which introduce the forced air flow into the flow passage. |
| US07854399B2 |
Flow controllable shower arm
As a method to conserve water, a flow controllable shower arm or an adaptive fitting attachment to an existing shower arm having an unobtrusive and relatively unobservable tool-operative feature, which allows authorized personnel in possession of a particular tool to control the amount of water flow into and through a downstream showerhead. In particular, a small valve is located in the shower arm or the adaptive attachment and has a threaded plug which can extend into or out of the axial water duct of the arm or rotate a maximum of 90 degrees within the arm to thereby block water flow or permit water flow. A tool-receiving end is provided at the outer portion of the plug to eliminate or at least minimize access to said flow control by the person taking the shower. |
| US07854395B1 |
Rocket combustion chamber with jacket
The present invention relates to rocket engine combustion chambers, and more particularly to an improved rocket engine combustion chamber having a jacket. In some embodiments, a combustion system for a rocket engine includes an injector, a cylindrical combustion chamber, and a jacket coupled to the combustion chamber and to the injector. The combustion chamber can expand axially and/or radially with respect to the jacket. The outer surface of the combustion chamber includes a plurality of flow channels. One or more piston seals and/or bellows can be included to allow axial expansion of the combustion chamber with respect to the jacket. A gap formed between the inner surface of the jacket and the outer surface of the combustion chamber allows for radial expansion of the combustion chamber with respect to the jacket. |
| US07854390B2 |
Expansion valve, heat pump type refrigeration cycle apparatus, and air handling unit
A first expansion valve may be provided in an outdoor unit, and a second expansion valve may be provided in an indoor unit. A pipe line connects a first joint pipe of the first expansion valve and a second joint pipe of the second expansion valve. When a refrigerant flows in from the second joint pipe and flows out from the first joint pipe, the first and second expansion valves are in a full open state due to pressure of the refrigerant. When the refrigerant flows in from the first joint pipe and flows out from the second joint pipe, the first and second expansion valves are in semi-closed state (flow rate controlling state). In a cooling mode, the second expansion valve expands the refrigerant just before an indoor heat exchanger, and in a heating mode, the first expansion valve expands the refrigerant just before an outdoor heat exchanger. In both heating and cooling modes, a large amount of refrigerant may flow through the pipe line to reduce pressure loss. |
| US07854389B2 |
Application of microsystems for comfort control
An arrangement includes a plurality of wireless microsystems. Each microsystem is operable to measure at least relative humidity and temperature, and to communicate temperature and relative humidity information wirelessly to a network device. The network device is operable to communicate the temperature and relative humidity information to at least a first processor configured to cause a change in a building control condition based on the information. |
| US07854387B2 |
Open access sleeve for heated fluid units
A series of implementations of open access sleeves for holding one or more closed containers of sterile fluid for use in medical procedures are disclosed. The open access sleeves may be adapted to provide heat to maintain the containers of sterile fluid above the ambient air temperature of the room. The provision of heat may be controlled by a control system. The control system may use a temperature measurement device to obtain a temperature representative of the container of sterile fluid and of the sterile fluid in the container. The access sleeve may be included in a device for maintaining an open volume of sterile fluid within a range of a target temperature to maintain the closed containers of sterile fluid at a temperature near target temperature for open volume of sterile fluid. |
| US07854383B2 |
Image forming apparatus, and image forming method
An image forming apparatus has a generating unit that generates an identifier image according to a print command received from an outside and an image forming unit that forms, on a recording medium, an image based on the print command and the identifier image generated. |
| US07854381B2 |
Shipment tracking method, device for the implementation of the method and printing device
A method for tracking shipments of a letter or package shipped by at least one shipper to an address of at least one addressee including printing a bar code on each shipment to be tracked, wherein the bar code includes at least one part for identification of the shipper of the shipment, which is invariable for each shipper, and a shipment rank identification part of each shipment, which is variable for each shipment; and a device for tracking shipments of a letter or package shipped by at least one shipper to an address of at least one addressee including at least one database having at least one user data table listing bar codes of the shipper and address information, and a data table of shipments being tracked listing each shipment by shipper. |
| US07854377B2 |
Data collection system
A data collection system includes: a contact information acquisition unit, for obtaining contact information; a state recognition unit, for obtaining, based on contact information acquired by the contact information acquisition unit, state information concerning the state of a equipment; a state coding unit, for transforming into coded contact associated information the state information obtained by the state recognition unit; and an output unit, for transmitting to an output apparatus contact information obtained by the contact information acquisition unit and for transmitting to a network apparatus contact associated information obtained by the state coding unit. With this arrangement, information concerning the operation of a equipment can be easily obtained, without requiring the reconstruction of a equipment or a great change in a sequence program, such as a programmable controller, mounted in the equipment. |
| US07854376B2 |
System and method for managing item interchange and identification in an extended enterprise
A system and method are provided for automatically managing item record interchange in a business enterprise, where an item may be a product, component part, partially assembled or manufactured part, a process, or other item that requires indicia used to identify it within a business enterprise, whether it is a single company enterprise, or a widespread business that receives items from other sources such as manufacturers, suppliers, purchasers, shippers, or other entities. The system provides a universal solution that allows the intake of item records, such as records for manufacturer component parts shipped to a product manufacturer, and integrating the part records from disparate sources into a standard and useable format. |
| US07854375B2 |
Deposit beverage container counting device
A deposit beverage container counting device in which containers can be visually inspected while sliding down an inclined feed channel having an abrupt downward bend of about 15 degrees to cause the containers to accelerate suddenly, singulating the containers; that is, creating or increasing the space between containers, which enables accurate counting. The singulated containers pass into a sensor housing that contains a photoelectric sensor that senses the passing of each container and sends a signal to one or more counters. The counter(s) keeps track of the count, and displays the count on a LCD or LED display. Multiple counters can be provided to enable both the operator and customers to see the count display. The electronic components are preferably low voltage, low current devices using transistorized circuits. The counting device preferably is battery-powered, and has no moving parts. |
| US07854372B1 |
Box closure clip
A rectangular box closure clip engages the two top flaps of a shipping container holding them securely without damaging the carton enabling the boxes to be reused without the need for being reformulated. The closure clip includes a pair of lower surfaces and a pair of upper surfaces interconnected by a central web that extends substantially throughout the length of the clip. The edges of the two upper surfaces are set back to facilitate insertion into the box. In a second embodiment, a vertically extending endstop is provided to prevent a box stacked atop the clip from sliding axially relative thereto. In still a third embodiment, a recess allows a binder strap to be installed around the clip to retain it in place. A programmable, scanable chip may be incorporated into the closure clip to facilitate tracking and/or to tamper-proof the package. |
| US07854368B2 |
Method and structure for controlled impedance wire bonds using co-dispensing of dielectric spacers
A method (and structure) of making an electronic interconnection, includes, for a signal line to be interconnected, using a plurality of bonding wires configured to provide a controlled impedance effect. |
| US07854367B2 |
Apparatus and method for arranging magnetic solder balls
An apparatus for arranging magnetic solder balls includes: a stage for placing and fixing the substrate thereon; a magnet which is incorporated in the stage and is movable in parallel with a lower surface of the placed and fixed substrate so as to cause a magnetic force to act in an upward direction of the stage; and a mask frame capable of being positioned above the stage. An arranging method using this arranging apparatus is also provided. An apparatus for arranging magnetic solder balls includes: a stage for placing and fixing the substrate thereon; a mask frame capable of being positioned above the stage; and a magnetic generator which is movable above the mask frame and causes a magnetic force to act on the stage. An arranging method using this arranging apparatus is also provided. |
| US07854366B2 |
Method of mounting conductive ball and conductive ball mounting apparatus
A method of mounting a conductive ball according to the present invention includes the steps of, disposing a mask on a substrate including connection pads, the mask having opening portions corresponding to the connection pad, supplying conductive balls on the mask, arranging the conductive balls on the connection pad of the substrate through the opening portions of the mask by moving the conductive balls to one end side of the mask by ball moving member (a brush), and removing excess conductive balls remaining on a region of the mask where the opening portions are provided, by bonding the excess conductive balls to a ball removal film (adhesive film). |
| US07854359B2 |
Quick connect system for a bicycle rack assembly
A quick connect assembly for mounting a bicycle rack to a vehicle bumper includes a mounting bracket securely connectable to the bumper and a pivoting arm integrally connected to the bicycle rack and mountable to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket has a horizontal base member and a vertical wall extending from the rear edge of the base member. Along each lateral edge of the base member is a vertical side wall having through apertures for receiving portions of the pivoting arm. A latch plate is centrally located on the mounting bracket between the two side walls. The latch plate has notches formed therein for receiving a latch pin of the pivoting arm to hold the bicycle rack in the vertically upward position or the horizontal working position. An arcuate cam formation separates the notches. The pivoting arm has spaced side plates each having a side extending peg for disposition in the apertures of the side walls. One peg has locking tabs and the other peg has a through aperture for receiving a cotterpin to secure the pivoting arm to the mounting bracket when the latch pin is in one of the notches. |
| US07854356B2 |
Cap for an aerosol container or a spray container
A spray cap, also known as an actuator overcap for an aerosol container, has an acoustic seal between the actuator button and the overcap. This acoustic seal is formed by a set of matching sealing lips on the actuator button and also on the overcap, such that they are both oriented horizontally. At rest, the sealing lip of the actuator button rests above the sealing lip of the overcap, but during actuation, the sealing lip of the actuator button deforms the sealing lip of the overcap, which both forms an acoustic seal during actuation and creates the force to return the sealing lip of the actuator button back to its original position after actuation is complete. |
| US07854352B2 |
Fluid dispensing device with stopper
A fluid dispensing device is disclosed having a body housing a pump action fluid discharge device having a dispensing nozzle. The fluid dispensing device comprises a body defining a cavity and a dispensing nozzle having a dispensing orifice, a fluid discharging device housed in the cavity, the fluid discharging device having a hollow casing defining a reservoir for containing a volume of fluid and a plunger slidingly engaged within the hollow casing, the plunger having a tubular portion which extends from a first end of the hollow casing for co-operation with the dispensing nozzle to enable pumped delivery of fluid from the reservoir to the dispensing nozzle, wherein the dispensing orifice of the dispensing nozzle is provided with a reversible stopper. |
| US07854350B2 |
Distribution assembly intended for contemporaneous distribution of two products
A distribution assembly includes at least two containers or receptacles, each containing a product, and being fitted with a valve having an actuator rod. A distribution device is mounted on top of the containers and includes a distribution nozzle fitted with at least one distribution orifice. The distribution device further includes a movable actuator element to provoke the simultaneous distribution of two products in a mixed or separate state. Further, an intermediate body is separate from the actuator element and includes two skirts. The intermediate body is able to engage respectively on the two actuator rods of the containers, and at least one inner channel allows the flow of products towards the distribution nozzle. The actuator element and the intermediate body are arranged to co-operate on operation of the actuator element so as to allow the passage of products from the recipients to the distribution nozzle via the inner channel. The actuator rods can be actuated by tilting in the disclosed example, and the actuator element is designed to tilt the intermediate body so as to cause the actuator rods to tilt. |
| US07854349B2 |
Shave gel products
Self-heating, post-foaming shave gels and shave gel products are provided. In some implementations, the shave gels include a non-ionic emulsifier system, e.g., including one or more fatty alcohol ethoxylates. |
| US07854348B2 |
Device for dispensing a viscid material
A device for dispensing a viscid material includes a supporting body constructed by a carriage. A ball screw is installed within the supporting body. A rod piston is mounted on one end of the ball screw. A transmission module is mounted on a nut of the ball screw. The transmission module is engaged with an actuator controlled by a control circuit device. The control circuit device, which includes a switch and a circuit board, etc, controls the positive and negative rotations and the stop operation of the actuator. A trigger is set up on one side of the supporting body. When the trigger is pressed, the actuator is driven to rotate in the positive direction to drive the ball screw to move forwardly in a stable way. While the trigger is released, a sensor is activated to drive the actuator to rotate in the negative direction. |
| US07854346B2 |
Container for dispensing wipes
The present invention relates to a container for dispensing vertically configured wipes, which provides improved sequential dispensing of the contained wipes while permitting enhanced accessibility to the wipes within the container. |
| US07854342B2 |
Limited flow cup
Limited flow cups are provided which deliver a metered amount of fluid to a user during a drinking motion. |
| US07854333B2 |
Rear loading gate for merchandising system
A merchandising and product display system includes a space defined between a pair of generally parallel dividers. At a rear end of each divider, a rear loading gate is mounted to permit product containers to be inserted through the rear into the opening and to prevent products from being pushed from within the space through the rear of the space. The loading gate includes a pair of wings extending less than halfway across the width of the opening. The wings are hingedly mounted to a central portion permitting the wing to be deflected forward and rearward, and include a rearward extending bulkhead that engages the central portion. The engagement of the bulkhead and the central portion prevents the wings from being deflected sufficiently to permit a product container from passing the gate. |
| US07854331B2 |
Self storing bicycle display
A display for a bicycle includes a mount, a support arm pivotally mounted to the mount for movement between a storage position and an access position, the support arm having a hanger thereon for hanging the bicycle therefrom, and a cylinder assembly including a dampening cylinder operably connected to the mount and to the support arm to dampen movement of the support arm and to return the support arm to the storage position. The cylinder assembly includes a locking member configured to lock the cylinder in a retracted position to maintain the support arm in the access position and to release the cylinder to permit the support arm to return to the storage position. A clamp arm is mounted to the support arm for pivoting between a securing position to secure the bicycle on the hanger when the support arm is in the storage position and a release position to allow for removing the bicycle from the hanger when the support arm is in the access position. An actuating element is operably connected to the cylinder assembly and to the clamp arm to pivot the clamp arm between the securing position and the release position as the support arm is moved between the storage and access positions. |
| US07854330B2 |
Contaminant-reactive geocomposite mat and method of manufacture and use
Reactive geocomposite mats, and their method of manufacture, for treating contaminants in sediment, soil or water that allow the passage of essentially non-contaminated water therethrough. The geocomposite mat includes a pre-formed woven or non-woven geotextile, that is needlepunched to an outer geotextile sheet layer to provide a high loft, structurally secured, pre-formed geotextile having a thickness of about 6 mm to about 200 mm, and having, a porosity sufficient to receive a powdered or granular contaminant-reactive material, contaminant-sorptive material, or a contaminant-neutralizing material (hereinafter collectively referred to as “contaminant-reactant material” or “contaminant-reactive material”) throughout its thickness, or in any portion of the thickness across its entire major surface(s). The powdered or granular contaminant-reactive material is disposed within the pores of the previously formed, high loft geotextile mat to surround the fibers, e.g., by vacuum or vibrating the high loft mat while in contact with the contaminant-reactive material to allow the powdered or granular contaminant-reactive material to flow by gravity into the pores of the previously formed, needlepunched geotextile. A liquid-permeable outer geotextile sheet then is secured to the filled geotextile, preferably by heating upwardly extending fibers of the pre-formed geotextile mat to prevent the powdered or granular material from escaping from the geotextile during transportation and installation. |
| US07854324B2 |
Shipping carrier
A shipping carrier having a frame with an elongated tube and an elongated retainer attached to the tube. Dunnage made of a compressible material is attached to the retainer and that dunnage has a plurality of space for recesses, each of which has spaced-apart sides and are dimensioned to receive an edge of a component. A guard is attached to the dunnage so that the guard overlies at least a portion of one side of the dunnage recess. Additionally, a subcomponent may be attached to the dunnage with a screw anchor. |
| US07854323B2 |
Insert for container packaging
A container insert for taking up extra space may be placed in a container intended for storage and/or shipment of material to an end user. The insert may be generally longitudinal having a helical configuration that may be expanded and constricted for taking up different volumes of space within the container respective of the amount of material stored therein. The insert may also be elastically deformable or generally pliable and may absorb impact forces for preventing or minimizing damage to the material. |
| US07854321B2 |
Rolling container assembly
A tool container assembly includes a base container, a cover, rollers, a removable tool tray, and an extendable handle. The base container includes a storage space, and an upwardly facing opening into the storage space. The cover is movable between a closed position in which it substantially covers the upwardly facing opening and an open position in which it exposes the upwardly facing opening. The rollers are connected with the base container to enable transport of the tool container assembly. The removable tool tray is constructed and arranged to be removably carried by the base container and the tool tray is configured to store articles or tools therein. The extendable handle is operatively connected to the base container to facilitate tilted rolling transport of the tool container assembly. The removable tool tray is constructed to securely engage with the handle when the handle is in an extended position. |
| US07854320B2 |
Package for holding and displaying shaving razors
A disposable package is provided having a tub with a generally level bottom surface and a first shaving razor and a second shaving razor disposed within the tub. The first and second shaving razors each have a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. A first retaining member projects from the bottom surface and has first and second surfaces. The second surface of the first retaining member engages the distal end portion of the second shaving razor and the first surface of the first retaining member engages the proximal end portion of the first shaving razor. |
| US07854319B2 |
Multifunctional cover device with a detachable PDA device
A multifunctional cover device with a detachable PDA device includes a front cover, a back cover, and at least one rotatable accessory panel connected to the front cover at one side for holding the PDA device and a lighting lamp. The accessory panel is mounted at a concave surface of the front cover when it is folded and at this time, the lamp and the PDA device are aligned with the windows of the front cover. When the accessory board is rotated through 180 degrees from the concave surface of the front cover, it forms an extending front cover panel. According to another structure, the accessory board is slidably mounted in the hollow front cover. Therefore, the user is able to use the PDA device while reading and writing with illumination and sound by playing the PDA device. |
| US07854318B2 |
Tool box
A tool box adapted for storing a driving tool therein, the tool box comprises a casing means including a compartment adapted for receiving the driving tool; wherein the compartment further includes a pressing member and a receiving portion below the pressing member and adapted to clamp the driving tool; wherein the pressing member is movable between an original position and an actuating position; wherein while the pressing member is in the actuating position, the driving tool is driven to detach from the casing means. |
| US07854316B2 |
Dental implant package
A dental implant package includes a main body having a partition portion that is formed therein and separates a fixture accommodation space accommodating a fixture of a dental implant from an auxiliary accommodation space accommodating any of a healing abutment and a cover screw, wherein a first opening and a second opening are formed at both ends of the main body, a leveler accommodated in at least a part of the fixture accommodation space and supporting the fixture accommodated in the fixture accommodation space at a predetermined height, a first cover detachably coupled to the main body and blocking the first opening, and a second cover detachably coupled to the main body and blocking the second opening. The fixture and any of the healing abutment and the cover screw can be stored with a simple structure. Also, the fixture and the healing abutment or the cover screw can be easily pulled out during an implant operation. |
| US07854314B2 |
Dynamic singulator
An article singulating conveyor assembly and method of singulating articles includes providing a conveying surface defining a plurality of tandem zones. The conveying surface travels in a longitudinal direction. Each of the zones includes a pair of laterally spaced side frame members and a plurality of generally parallel elongated driven rollers that are supported at the side frame members. The driven rollers are adapted to provide lateral variation in the longitudinal speed of the conveying surface. Each of the zones includes at least one drive motor that is adapted to drive the driven rollers in that zone. At least one article sensor is provided that is adapted to sensing articles in the zones. The driven rollers may be divided into a plurality of segmented rollers that are separately rotatable with a separate drive motor to drive corresponding segments for a zone. The drive motors for adjacent zones may be activated in a manner that creates a longitudinal gap between longitudinally adjacent articles. |
| US07854309B2 |
Value medium processing device for IC coins and monetary coins
A valve medium processing device for IC coins and coins includes a housing having an insertion slot with an IC coin passage connected to receive IC coins from the insertion slot. A coin passage is also connected to receive coins from the insertion slot. A retaining unit for IC coins selectively stops and releases an IC coin, so that a read and/or write unit can establish a value for the IC coin. An IC coin allocating unit is positioned downstream in the IC coin passage for directing an IC coin to one of an IC coin storage passage and a retain passage. A coin allocating unit allocates a coin to one of a coin storage passage and the return passage. |
| US07854305B2 |
Sprag
A sprag for a sprag-type freewheel clutch having a profile comprised of multiple profile sections, the sprag having at least the profile sections of an inner engagement curve, an outer engagement curve and a first and a second lateral curve, wherein the outer and inner engagement curves each form a component of a logarithmic spiral. |
| US07854299B2 |
Integrated lubrication module for compressors
In accordance with certain embodiments, the present invention provides a modular approach to a lubrication package. Certain components such as the filter and cooler are directly connected to a block that has connections to accept them and internal porting to establish the proper flow paths for circulation, cooling and filtration of the circulating lubricant. The block can accept one or more coolers and one or more filters. The isolation valving for redundant equipment can also be integrated into the block. Many connections that had been used in past designs for the piping network are integrated into the block. The block can also be close mounted to the reservoir while a submersible pump further saves space and piping connections. Indeed, having the ability to maintain mechanical equipment (e.g., remove and replace filters and coolers) without shutting down, allows for continuous process flow, which eliminates down-town scheduling, loss of product and/or redundant backup, all of which comes at a considerable cost. |
| US07854296B2 |
Passive secondary air muffler
A passive secondary air muffler for a small internal combustion engine. The secondary air muffler may include a venturi device and a catalytic converter. The venturi device may be in the form of a stamped sheet metal insert which, along with the outer muffler housing or shell, forms a secondary or auxiliary air intake device. The venturi device may also be formed from baffles separating an inlet chamber from an outlet chamber of the muffler. The secondary air intake device provides auxiliary or secondary air to the exhaust gas stream exiting the engine upstream of the catalytic converter to improve the efficiency of the catalytic converter. In an exemplary embodiment, the venturi device has a hemispherical cross-sectional shape or a circular cross-sectional shape taken along a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow of the exhaust gas stream. |
| US07854291B2 |
Work machine
In a work machine equipped with a switchover means enabling selective operation of traveling devices and a work device by means of common operating levers, switchover can easily be performed and also easily recognized. In a work machine having traveling devices and a work device, operating levers that are capable of operating the traveling devices and the work device are respectively disposed at the sides of an operating seat. A foot switch connected to a controller is disposed in the proximity of and operable with a foot of an operator seated at the operating seat. While the foot switch is being operated with the foot, the traveling devices are operated by the operating levers through the controller. While the foot switch is not being operated, the work device is operated by means of the operating levers through the controller. |
| US07854288B2 |
Automotive fuel storage system with in-tank fuel binder system
An automotive fuel storage system includes a fuel storage tank and a binder fluid tank containing a supply of binder fluid. A mixer system connected with the binder fluid tank and the fluid storage tank mixes binder fluid throughout fuel contained within the storage tank, so as to increase the bulk viscosity of the fuel stored within the tank restricting the ability of the fuel to flow from the tank in the event of a collision of the vehicle. |
| US07854278B2 |
Motor vehicle energy converter
An energy conversion apparatus using recovered energy sources including motor vehicle kinetic energy and wind resistance, supplemented by liquefied air transferred to the vehicle and by solar radiation thereto. The energy sources are combined, as available, to drive a compressor for supplying intake working fluid of a motor vehicle prime mover. |
| US07854276B2 |
Methods, systems, and apparatus for production of hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation
Methods, systems, and apparatus that are suitable for use in production of hydrocarbons from subterranean heavy oil deposits employ a subterranean cavity in communication with a borehole. The cavity is preferably formed along a U-tube borehole by coiled tubing reaming operations and/or radial drilling and explosive blasting. |
| US07854274B2 |
Multi-mode drill and transmission sub-assembly including a gear case cover supporting biasing
A multi-mode drill can include a transmission to transfer torque from an output member of a motor to an output spindle. A transmission housing encloses the transmission in an interior cavity formed by a gear case shell and a cover plate. The cover plate can be coupled to the outer shell via screws. A static shift rod can be supported at one end by the cover plate. A shift bracket can be mounted on the shift rod and biased to a mode position by a biasing member exerting a force between the shift bracket and the cover plate. A shift pin can be supported adjacent one end by the cover plate and biased to a mode position by a biasing member exerting a force between the shift pin and the cover plate. A spindle biasing member can bias the output spindle against the cover plate. The shift pin can actuate an electronic switch. A motor housing can be coupled to the transmission housing with fasteners so that the cover fasteners are not accessible. |
| US07854273B2 |
Agricultural implement having folding draft links
An agricultural implement includes a hitch boom to which a pair of wing booms is pivotably connected. The wing booms are designed to fold forward from an extended position to a transport position. The wing booms are supported above a surface by wheels that provide the aforementioned support when the wing booms are in an extended position as well as the transport position. Maintaining surface contact of the wheels in both positions reduces the load placed on the hitch to which the hitch boom is coupled as well as the hitch boom itself. Multi-link draft links are connected between the hitch boom and the wing booms to provide support for the wing booms when the wing booms are in the extended position. The relative length of the draft links dictates how far the hitch telescopes when the wing booms are folded to the stowed or transport position. |
| US07854270B2 |
Inertization method for reducing the risk of fire
In the event of a failure of a fire prevention or extinguishing system, an inertization method reduces the fire risk in an enclosed protected area, where the oxygen content in the area can be maintained on a control concentration that lies below an operating concentration for a certain time period, so that the emergency operation phase is sufficiently long to prevent the ignition and/or re-ignition of combustible materials therein. The control concentration is maintained for an emergency operation period by a redundant secondary source. Alternatively, the control concentration and the operating concentration, while forming a safety margin, can be lowered so far below the design concentration that in the event of a primary source failure, the growth curve of the oxygen content reaches a limit concentration determined for the area in a predefined period, which is sufficiently long to continue to prevent the ignition and/or re-ignition of the combustible materials. |
| US07854269B2 |
Sprinkler assembly
A sprinkler assembly includes a body, a support, which extends from the body, and a closure device that releasably closes the discharge opening of the body. The sprinkler assembly further includes a trigger that releasably holds the closure device at the discharge opening. The support is adapted to allow the fluid flowing from the discharge opening, when the closure device is released, to pass through the support substantially unimpeded by the support and, further, is adapted to reshape the flow of fluid as it flows through the support. |
| US07854265B2 |
Pipe gripping assembly with power screw actuator and method of gripping pipe on a rig
A pipe gripping assembly having a quill, an actuator and a drive assembly mounts to a top drive of a drilling rig. The quill is connected to a mandrel in the drive assembly. The drive assembly has a tapered mandrel and a set of slips that move along the taper into and out of engagement with the pipe. The actuator is connected to both the quill and a portion of the drive assembly. The actuator includes a motor and at least two sleeves that are threaded together. One sleeve has a spline on its outside diameter that mates to the motor and a gear. Power applied to the motor causes the actuator to move slips in the drive assembly into an engagement position that grips the pipe for lifting and rotating the pipe. |
| US07854264B2 |
Volumetric compensating annular bellows
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a volumetric compensating annular bellows used to compensate two fluid volumes by an annular displacement. This is achieved using a bellows welded on to a tube with a varying shape radius. A bellows is arranged within the annulus and is deformable in an annular direction in response to fluid volume expansion. The bellows can be used in several oilfield applications for fluid compensation. |
| US07854263B2 |
Surfactant package for well treatment and method for using same
A surfactant blend for servicing wells includes a first non-ionic surfactant having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of between about 10 and about 15; a second non-ionic surfactant having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of between about 2 and about 6; and an anionic surfactant. |
| US07854258B2 |
Self-anchoring device with force amplification
A downhole tool is provided that includes a grip assembly for contacting a well formation. The grip assembly includes a gripper body; and a centralizer that is attached to and radially expandable with respect to the gripper body and that has a geometry which is lockable by a locking device. The grip assembly also includes a force amplifier in force transmitting relation with the centralizer, wherein the force amplifier transfers a force in a first direction to a much larger force in a second direction when the centralizer is locked by the locking device. |
| US07854257B2 |
Mechanically coupled screen and method
A particulate exculder tool includes a basepipe having one or more retention features; a screen jacket disposed radially outwardly of the basepipe; one or more end housings at the screen jacket; and a deformable element disposed between a portion of the one or more end housings and one or of the one or more retention features and method. |
| US07854252B2 |
Method of producing a castable high temperature aluminum alloy by controlled solidification
A castable high temperature aluminum alloy is cast by controlled solidification that combines composition design and solidification rate control to synergistically enhance the performance and versatility of the castable aluminum alloy for a wide range of elevated temperature applications. In one example, the aluminum alloy contains by weight approximately 1.0-20.0% of rare earth elements that contribute to the elevated temperature strength by forming a dispersion of insoluble particles via a eutectic microstructure. The aluminum alloy also includes approximately 0.1 to 15% by weight of minor alloy elements. Controlled solidification improves microstructural uniformity and refinement and provides the optimum structure and properties for the specific casting condition. The molten aluminum alloy is poured into an investment casing shell and lowered into a quenchant at a controlled rate. The molten aluminum alloy cools from the bottom of the investment casting shell upwardly to uniformly and quickly cool the aluminum alloy. |
| US07854245B2 |
Method for forming radio frequency identification tag on packing bag and device therefor
A method for forming a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag on a packing bag is disclosed and includes the steps of: equidistantly attaching RFID tags to a release film, one by one, to form a roll of tag web; installing the roll of tag web in a packing bag forming device to move the release film along a feeding direction of a packing material; changing a moving direction of the release film for peeling the RFID tags from the release film; intermittently pressing on the RFID tags for attaching the RFID tags to the packing material; bonding the RFID tags to the packing material with a melting technology; and processing the packing material by folding, sealing, and cutting to form packing bags securely installed with the RFID tags. A packing bag forming device for carrying out the method is also disclosed. |
| US07854241B2 |
Metal-clad insulating complex for a pipe
An insulating complex having a metal case and insulating material confined in a vacuum between the inner wall and the outer wall of the case and wherein each of the walls has a metal strip, at least one of which includes corrugations. An insulated pipe and a set of two coaxial pipes are also provided wherein the coaxial pipes are arranged as an inner pipe and an outer pipe, preferably undersea pipes for great depths. |
| US07854240B2 |
Polymeric foam tube insulations and method for continuously producing such a tube
The foam tube for pipe insulations has an external surface and an internal surface. The internal surface is provided with an adhesively bonded layer of fibers. The fibers are a material having a melt temperature that is higher than that of the polymeric foam. The fibers are adhesively bonded to the internal surface such as to stand up from the internal surface. The fibers are substantially uniformly distributed over the internal surface providing a surface coverage of 2 to 20 percent. Further, the fibers have a linear density of 0.5 to 25 dtex and a length of 0.2 to 5 mm. With this fiber layer the polymeric foam tube has an improved thermal resistance and thermal conductivity. |
| US07854233B2 |
Hair extension device
A hair extension device that allows a user to add supplemental, natural, human hair strands to the natural hair of the user. The hair extension device includes a filament formed into a circular or oval shape to encircle the head. Hair weft lengths are attached to the filament along an arcuate length of the filament. When the device is positioned on the head, the hair strands of the hair weft lengths extend down the sides and back of the user. The natural hair held beneath the filament is pulled up and forward, then backward over the filament, blending together the natural hair of the user and the supplemental hair strands. |
| US07854229B2 |
Cradle or bed with isolation from room contamination, with controlled temperature and moisture
New bed or a new cradle model to be used specifically in hospitals, clinics and similar facilities for babies, which presents a specific laminar air flow system, with controlled temperature and moisture, for the patient desired levels, which provides reduction of the contamination on the micro environment where it is placed, allowing its use by patients under critical and delicate condition, with easy access to the patients. |
| US07854225B2 |
Blister package for inhalable medicament
There is provided a blister form medicament pack comprising (a) a base sheet in which blisters are formed to define pockets therein for the containment of inhalable medicament; and (b) a lid sheet which is sealable to the base sheet except in the region of the blisters and mechanically peelable from the base sheet to enable release of said inhalable medicament. The base sheet and/or said lid sheet have a laminate structure comprising (a) a first layer of aluminum foil; and (b) a second layer of polymeric material of thickness from 10 to 60 micron, said polymeric material having a water vapor permeability of less than 0.6 g/(100 inches2) (24 hours) (mil) at 25° C. |
| US07854223B1 |
Heat exchanger for a log-burning fireplace
A heat recovery apparatus for an indoor fireplace includes a plenum chamber of low profile box-like construction having a front extremity with a portion that permits forced entry of air and a horizontally spaced portion that permits emergence of heated air. A divider wall centered within the chamber between the entry and emergence portions produces a passageway that controls the flow of air within the chamber. |
| US07854221B1 |
Air gun vibration damper and method
A gas spring having an internal vibration damper for an air gun charging system. The gas spring including a relatively thin liner which is received within and abuts the elongated inner and/or outer wall of the tubular gas spring. The liner(s) absorbs vibration in the air gun to improve firing performance. A guide sleeve mounted to the outer surface of the gas spring abuts an air gun's tubular compression piston to transfer any vibrations in the compression piston to the liner. A tubular counter-weight is slidably mounted about the outer wall of the gas spring and strikes a forward end of the charging system after the air gun is fired to counter the post-firing recoil. |
| US07854218B2 |
Method to recognize and avoid premature combustion events
A method for recognizing and avoiding premature combustion events includes the steps of: providing at least one sensor and/or an electronic evaluation circuit for recognizing premature combustion; directly recognizing premature combustion; and performing at least one measure for avoiding premature combustion when premature combustion is recognized. |
| US07854217B2 |
Idling control device of spark ignition type internal combustion engine
A spark ignition internal combustion engine in which, during an idling operation, the ignition timing is changed temporarily to the advance side or retard size with respect to the reference ignition timing so that when the engine speed deviates from the target idling speed, the engine speed becomes the target idling speed. When the actual compression ratio at the time of idling is changed, the reference ignition timing at the time of idling is made to move until the ignition timing at which the same generated torque of the engine is obtained. |
| US07854210B2 |
Clean room utility pouch
A method of constructing a clean room utility pouch includes cutting dust-proof fabric in accordance with a pattern. The cut edges of the dust proof fabric are treated to eliminate loose particulates or loose fibers along the cut edges. Piping can be secured over the cut edges instead of treating, or in addition to treating the cut edges, and finished by securing the pieces together to form the utility pouch. In some embodiments, a mesh is secured to the cut edges to form a portion of the utility pouch. Air can then flow into and out of the pouch via a pouch opening and the mesh. |
| US07854208B1 |
Unibody support apparatus and method
In a structure with two oppositely positioned sides, a unibody support apparatus includes a first preformed side support in the approximate form of a “C” and a second preformed side support in the approximate form of a “C”. A side support connector is connected with the first preformed side support and with the second preformed side support such that the side support connector is suspended between and by the first preformed side support and the second preformed side support. And at least one adjustable leg support, connected with the first preformed side support and the second preformed side support, is provided such that the height of the unibody support apparatus may be raised and lowered. |
| US07854204B2 |
Ultralight unit load device
An ultralight unit load device has a ruggedized quadrangular composite structure with a cellular load-bearing core sealed in successive ordered-polymer stiffening plies and trimmed at the outer edges with a hollow, multi-chambered profile of lightweight material fixed with a flush attachment member so as to present a flat surface for easy loading and unloading. |
| US07854198B2 |
Direct drive
A direct drive for a printing press with lateral register adjustment includes a rotor and a stator, and a connection for mechanically connecting the drive with a stationary support bearing, wherein the rotor is connectable with shaft of a printing press cylinder with the connection being a torsionally stiff spacer installed directly or indirectly on the outer jacket of drive, which is designed to be elastic in the direction of the motor axis to compensate axial motions of the attachable printing press cylinder shaft. |
| US07854196B2 |
Apparatus for the coating or flocking of articles, especially of textile materials and flocking machine
The invention relates to an apparatus for the coating or flocking of articles, especially of textile material, mats, ceramic, plastic, paper, wood, metal or the like, with a container (12) for receiving a flock or coating material, and with a setting device (16) which is arranged on the container (12) and which has a stencil frame (23) having at least one printing motif (27), the setting device (16) receiving at least one adjusting element (32) which acts in the X- and Y-direction and engages on the stencil frame (23), and the setting device (16) comprising arranged fixing elements (34) which are provided outside the stencil frame (23) at least for arranging an aligning device (38) for the stencil frame (23), in order to align the coating or printing motif (27) of the stencil frame (23) in the X- and Y-direction with respect to the fixing elements (34) by means of the aligning device (38). |
| US07854195B2 |
Needle with air duct
A baler has a bale chamber and a needle movable through the bale chamber to pass a strand of twine from one side of the bale chamber to a knotter located on the opposite side, the twine being engaged by a tip of the needle. In the invention, pressurized air is directed at the needle tip. The supply of pressurized air may be discontinuous and timed to coincide only with certain phases of the needle operating cycle. The air stream avoids crop material being caught up in the knots formed by the knotter. |
| US07854193B2 |
Apparatus for preparing a beverage
The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for preparing a beverage (2) comprising a brew chamber (10) defining a volume for containing at least one container (11) with a soluble or extractable product for preparing said beverage, wherein said apparatus comprises adjustment means (12, 14) for varying the volume (V) of said brew chamber. Preferably the adjustment means include a cover member (12) with a piston portion (25). The invention also relates to a method for preparing a beverage. |
| US07854186B2 |
Tools for removing house from object
A tool for removing hose from objects includes a handle having a first jaw fixed to the handle and a second jaw which is movably connected to the first jaw in a scissors-like way. The first and second jaws have two respective clamp portions so as to clamp the hose. An adjustment unit includes a first member pivotably connected to the first jaw and a second member pivotably connected to the second jaw. A bolt threadedly extends through the first and second members such that when rotating the bolt, the two clamp portions are moved toward each other. An operation unit includes a cable and a bar connected to the cable. The tool is pulled along the object on which the hose is connected by pulling the cable. |
| US07854185B2 |
Ratchet pliers with adjustable jaw
A ratchet pliers with adjustable jaw includes a working head, an integrated retractable handle arrangement, a ratchet stepping arrangement and a rapid adjusting arrangement. The ratchet pliers with adjustable jaw has several advantages. Firstly, the rapid adjusting arrangement with simple operation and convenient use is capable of micro-adjusting a closure error of the jaw opening after clamping. Secondly, the integrated retractable handle arrangement is capable of adjusting a length of the handle according to different demands for a jaw clamping force so as to save energy of a user. |
| US07854183B2 |
Swage anvil for a sawblade swage assembly
A swage anvil includes a coupling portion that, when mated with a corresponding die of a swaging device, allows lateral positioning of the swage anvil (i.e., substantially parallel to a long axis of the saw blade) relative to the long axis of the saw blade. The swage anvil also includes a tooth contact face that substantially mirrors an angle of the back portion of each tooth of the saw blade. As such, after a manufacturer inserts the swage anvil into the swage device and laterally translates the swage anvil, the tooth contact face abuts the back portion of the saw blade tooth to support the tooth during a swaging procedure. With the aforementioned configuration of the swage anvil, translation of the swage anvil along a single axis provides support to the back portion of the saw blade tooth along two axes. As such, use of the swage anvil decreases the set-up time required in conventional swaging devices. |
| US07854180B2 |
Bicycle control device
A bicycle control device is provided with a brake bracket, a brake lever, a first gearshift operating part, a second gearshift operating part, a first electrical switch, and a second electrical switch. The brake bracket is mountable to a handlebar. The brake lever is pivotally mounted to the brake bracket. The first gearshift operating part is movable relative to the brake lever. The second gearshift operating part is separate from the first gearshift operating part and movable relative to the brake lever. The first electrical switch is operated with the first gearshift operating part. The second electrical switch is operated with the second gearshift operating part. The second gearshift operating part is arranged such that when the first gearshift operating part is moved relative to the brake lever, the second gearshift operating part moves relative to the brake lever along with the first gearshift operating part. |
| US07854179B2 |
Shift lever assembly
A shift lever assembly includes a shift lever swingably with a rotational axis as a swing support point, an axis supporting bracket for supporting the rotational axis, two axis supporting elements for supporting both ends of the rotational axis together with the axis supporting bracket. In addition, two beams are provided with each of the axis supporting elements. The beams will break off in case where an impact load is to be applied via the shift lever. Furthermore, a metal plate is provided with the axis supporting bracket for each of the axis supporting elements. The metal plate will be bent by the each of the axis supporting elements moving after break-offs of the beams. According to the shift lever assembly, stroke displacement for energy absorbing can be made relatively long. In addition, relatively large impact energy can be absorbed with short stroke displacement. |
| US07854177B2 |
Precessional device and method
A precessional device having independent control of the output torque generated by the device and the oscillation rate of the device is disclosed. The device comprises a rotor supported by an axle wherein the ends of the axle are supported by a circular race. The circular race is rotatable, and may be driven by a motor or other means, thereby controlling the oscillation rate of the device independently of the output torque arising from the rotation rate of the rotor. The motor may be controlled by a control program that adjusts the rotation rate of the circular race to modify the shape of the resistance curve. |
| US07854174B2 |
MEMS capacitive bending and axial strain sensor
A three-dimensional micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) capacitive bending and axial strain sensor capacitor is described. Two independent comb structures, incorporating suspended polysilicon interdigitated fingers, are fabricated simultaneously on a substrate that can displace independently of each other while attached to a substrate undergoing bending or axial deformation. A change in spacing between the interdigitated fingers will output a change in capacitance of the sensor and is the primary mode of operation of the device. On the bottom and to the end of each comb structure, a glass pad is attached to the comb structure to allow for ample surface area for affixing the sensor to a substrate. During fabrication, tethers are used to connect each comb structure to maintain equal spacing between the fingers before attachment to the substrate. After attachment, the tethers are broken to allow independent movement of each comb structure. |
| US07854168B2 |
Thickness measuring device for vessel steel plate
The invention is objected to enable the provision of an vessel steel plate measuring device capable of measuring the thickness of vessel steel plate, even in the case of a vessel having a vessel mirror part formed by a spherical or conical curved surface such as a reactor (reaction vessel) and various kinds of obstructions at a vessel barrel. The structure of the device is characterized in that a supporting point member 20 is detachably provided from a supporting point set at the central axis of the vessel mirror part 1a of a reactor 1, and a traveling carrier 6 traveling on a steel plate of the vessel mirror part 1a and having plural ultrasonic probes 7 mounted thereon is connected to one end of a turning radius regulating member 19 rotatively provided around the supporting point member 20. |
| US07854162B2 |
Method and device for referencing the position of an actuating element
In a method for referencing the position of an actuating element of a functional unit, in particular of a clutch in the drivetrain of a vehicle, the attainment of a reference position of the actuating element is assessed for plausibility in that it is checked whether a variable which can be applied to the actuating element varies in a predetermined way in a predetermined spacing of the position of the actuating element from the reference position. |
| US07854161B2 |
Diagnostic method for an exhaust aftertreatment system
A diagnostic method for testing malfunction of a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) exhausts aftertreatment system of an internal combustion engine. The method measures and registers a first mean NOx sensor value for a normal mass flow level of a fluid reducing agent, then a second mean NOx sensor value related to a higher mass flow level is measured and registered. The two registered NOx sensor values are compared and it is determined if, on one hand, the first value is higher than the second value, or, on the other hand, the first value is lower than the second value. The cause of the malfunction may be found in the dosing system or in the SCR catalyst. |
| US07854153B2 |
Locking cylinder for functions especially performed on vehicles
A locking cylinder having a two-part housing, including an upper part and a lower part. A cylinder core is received in the housing and can be actuated by turning a key. The housing of the locking cylinder is fastened to the body of a vehicle by a fastener. The fastener used to fasten the housing of the locking cylinder on the body is also used as a connector for fastening the housing upper part on the housing lower part. |
| US07854147B2 |
Method for producing a semifinished product for an optical component of high homogeneity
Known methods for producing a semifinished product for an optical component of synthetic quartz glass of high homogeneity require a great number of forming or shaping steps for homogenization, which is troublesome in terms of energy and time and entails the risk that impurities might be introduced. To avoid these drawbacks, a method modification is suggested that comprises the following method steps: (a) feeding a silicon-containing start compound, which can be converted by oxidation or hydrolysis into SiO2, to a deposition burner, and forming amorphous SiO2 particles in a burner flame assigned to the deposition burner, (b) forming a substantially solid-cylinder SiO2 blank by depositing the SiO2 particles onto a support with a longitudinal axis by way of successive layers, of which most extend in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the support and which extend in the direction of the outer surface of the blank, (c) homogenizing the SiO2 blank, including twisting along an axis of rotation extending coaxially to or in parallel with the longitudinal cylinder axis while forming the semifinished product. A blank suited for performing the method of the invention and shaped in the form of a substantially solid-cylinder SiO2 soot body from successive SiO2 layers is characterized in that most of the layers extend in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the soot body and in the direction of the outer surface of the soot body. |
| US07854144B2 |
Method of reducing gaseous inclusions in a glass making process
Feed materials are melted in a first vessel to form a glass melt at a first temperature T1, the glass melt containing at least one fining agent. The molten glass is next cooled to a second temperature T2 less than T1 in a second vessel wherein an oxygen-comprising gas is not actively added (e.g. bubbled) into the melt during the duration of the time the melt is at T2. The molten glass is thereafter heated to a third temperature T3 greater than T1 and subsequently formed into a glass article. |
| US07854135B2 |
Fully articulated and comprehensive air and fluid distribution, metering, and control method and apparatus for primary movers, heat exchangers, and terminal flow devices
The described method and apparatus pertains namely to the HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning) industry, though its many functions extend into any and all forms of air-fluid movement, metering, distribution, and containment. Essentially, the scope of operation of the method and apparatus encompasses all forms of scientific and engineering measurement dealing with fluid dynamics, fluid statics, fluid mechanics, thermal dynamics, and mechanical engineering as they pertain to precise, articulated control of air-fluid distribution and delivery. The described method and apparatus offers complete, comprehensive, and correct utilization of air-fluid movers and terminal devices under unique sensor logic control, from initial lab testing stages through to equipment cataloguing, selection, design and construction of any and all air-fluid distribution systems in entirety, whereas previously there was no such cohesive, total and terminal method of control for these systems or their components. |
| US07854133B2 |
Air conditioning service station with electrically driven analog-display pressure gauges
An apparatus and method for displaying pressure on electrically driven analog-display pressure gauges. A diagnostic service equipment for a vehicle having a refrigerant system, the refrigerant system having a plumbing circuit for transferring a refrigerant between the diagnostic service equipment and the refrigerant system of the vehicle; a high side refrigerant conduit having a first connection, a second connection and a third connection, wherein the first connection is connected to the plumbing circuit and the second connection is connected to the refrigerant system; a low side refrigerant conduit having a first connection, a second connection and a third connection, wherein the first connection is connected to the plumbing circuit and the second connection is connected to the refrigerant system; and pressure transducers attached to each of the third connection of the high side refrigerant conduit and the low side refrigerant conduit, wherein the pressure transducers measure pressure of the high side and low side refrigerant conduits and convert the pressure into electrical signals to drive an analog-display pressure gauge. |
| US07854132B2 |
Circulation cooling system of cryogenic cable
The present invention provides a circulation cooling system of a cryogenic cable in which a reserver unit can be made smaller and a conventional adjustment mechanism or adjustment task of the amount of a refrigerant within a reserver unit is not necessary. The circulation cooling system of a cryogenic cable according to the present invention has a reserver unit storing a refrigerant and a cable cooling portion cooling down a cable by the refrigerant sent from the reserver unit and the refrigerant sent from the cable cooling portion is returned to the reserver unit again for circulation. The system is characterized in that it has a refrigerant temperature adjustment mechanism to keep constant the amount of the refrigerant within the reserver unit. |
| US07854131B2 |
Thermal buffer system
A thermal buffer for an intermittent thermal load, e.g., a directed energy weapon (DEW) system, includes a phase change heat exchanger (PCHEX), an apparatus for circulating a first working fluid of the thermal load through first conduits of the PCHEX cell in a first direction such that heat is transferred between the first fluid and a phase change material (PCM) of the PCHEX in a second direction and causes a first phase change in the PCM, and an apparatus for circulating a second working fluid of, e.g., a heat pump through second conduits of the PCHEX in a third direction opposite to the first direction such that heat is transferred between the second fluid and the PCM in a fourth direction opposite to the second direction and results in a second phase change in the PCM opposite to the first phase change therein. |
| US07854130B2 |
Internal clearing function for a refrigerant recovery/recharge machine
An apparatus and method providing a refrigeration servicing system that comprises a clean refrigerant source, a recovery circuit and a flushing circuit. The recovery circuit can be configured to recover refrigerant from a cooling system. After recovery cycle is completed, the flushing circuit that is coupled to the recovery circuit can flush clean refrigerant through the recovery circuit. A housing can be provided and configured to house the refrigerant source, the recovery circuit and the flushing circuit. |
| US07854125B2 |
Components for a gas turbine engine
An aerofoil assembly including an aerofoil and a spray element that supplies fluid to a gas turbine engine. The aerofoil has a first part with a leading edge when located in the gas turbine engine, and a second part with a trailing edge when located in the gas turbine engine. The first part has features that slide relative to and engage with complementary features of the second part to form a releasable arrangement. |
| US07854124B2 |
Combined control for supplying cooling air and support air in a turbine engine nozzle
A balance pressure control is provided for flaps which pivot in a rear of a gas turbine engine nozzle to change the cross-sectional area of the nozzle. An actuator drives a sync ring to move the flaps through a linkage. A supply of pressurized air is also provided to the sync ring to assist the actuator in resisting forces from high pressure gases within the nozzle. When those forces are lower than normal the flow of air to the rear of the sync ring is reduced or blocked. A ring rotates with another ring to control both this air flow, and a supply of cooling air to an interior of the nozzle. |
| US07854121B2 |
Independent pilot fuel control in secondary fuel nozzle
Disclosed herein is a fuel nozzle. The fuel nozzle includes a first fuel introduction location, a second fuel introduction location, and fuel passages. The first fuel introduction location is located radially about the fuel nozzle and is connected with a fuel passage. The second fuel introduction location is located at an end of the fuel nozzle and is connected with another fuel passage such that the fuel passage connected to the first fuel introduction location is separate from the fuel passage connected to the second fuel introduction location. |
| US07854119B2 |
Hydroelectric device
The present invention provides a hydroelectric device having a closed conduit portion extending along an elevational drop, with a turbine positioned at a lower elevation and in fluid communication with the closed conduit portion. The closed conduit portion contains a volume of fluid forming a pressure head therein, the fluid impacting the turbine in such a manner as to operate the turbine and produce electricity therefrom. |
| US07854117B1 |
Center section for hydraulic transmission
A center section assembly for mounting inside the housing of a hydrostatic or hydraulic drive apparatus is disclosed. The center section includes generally flat side edge surfaces formed adjacent and perpendicular to a cylinder block running surface, and shaped to engage a channel formed in an internal surface of the housing to secure the center section to the housing. The assembly may also include a filter using a connection member to permit the filter to slide on and engage the peripheral edge of a flange formed on the center section. |
| US07854110B2 |
Integrated fuel gas characterization system
A gas turbine engine that includes a compressor, a combustion stage, a turbine assembly, a fuel gas feed system for supplying fuel gas to a combustion stage of the gas turbine, and an integrated fuel gas characterization system. The integrated fuel gas feed system can include a buffer tank. The integrated fuel gas characterization system for determining the amount of energy provided by the fuel prior to combustion of the fuel in the combustion stage. The integrated fuel gas characterization system minimizes megawatt swings by adjusting the operating parameters of the gas turbine engine based on the rate of change in fuel gas energy content. The integrated fuel gas characterization system also provides improved turbine engine start-up reliability by tuning the turbine engine operating parameters using fuel gas energy content measurements obtained prior to actual start-up. |
| US07854105B2 |
Film wrapping machine utilizing two film carriage assemblies to effectively perform film change operations
A film wrapping machine comprises a pair of diametrically opposed film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assemblies which are used to individually and sequentially dispense their wrapping films. Accordingly, if depletion or breakage occurs within the wrapping film being dispensed by a first one of the pair of film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assemblies, the second film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assembly can effectively be activated so as to dispense its wrapping film whereby the film wrapping operation can continue with a minimum amount of stoppage or downtime. The switch-over or change-over between the first and second film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assemblies can be achieved in accordance with automatic and semi-automatic modes of operation. |
| US07854104B2 |
Multi-chamber container and cap therefor
A dispenser comprises a housing that has a removable tamper proof protective cap and tamper proof ring and is threaded to a container. The container, which is the main package, holds the supplemental component. The housing holds the first component into a plunger type chamber in a fully retracted position and is sealed from the supplemental component. The chamber has a delivery end that is closed before use. When pushed all the way in, the chamber's delivery end becomes open and delivers the first component into the main package. |
| US07854103B2 |
Automated clippers
Pivotable clipper assemblies for attaching at least one closure clip to a product held in netting include a pivotable clipper mechanism having a clipper body configured to deliver clips to a clip window and attach the clips to netting and a first cutting cartridge mounted to the pivotable clipper mechanism. The first cutting cartridge includes: (a) a knife; (b) an actuation cylinder with a rod in communication with the knife that advances and retracts the knife; and (c) an anti-rotation block attached to a rear of the knife intermediate the knife and rod to inhibit the knife and rod from rotating, wherein, in operation, the first cutting cartridge pivots with the clipper mechanism. |
| US07854101B2 |
System for attaching components to a vehicle
A system for attaching a component to a substrate, such as a vehicle. The system comprises a bracket. At least one fastener is coupled to the bracket and is engageable to the vehicle. A component is assembled to the bracket such that a lip of the component contacts a tab of the bracket, and the bracket at least partially engages a gap defined by the lip and an interior surface of the component. The component is attached to the vehicle when the fastener is engaged with the vehicle. A method employs the system. |
| US07854100B2 |
Laminate floor panels
Floor panels (2) are shown with a discontinuous surface (31) layer and core (30), which are mechanically connectable to each other along one pair of adjacent edges, said floor panels comprising at least two floor elements (1, 1′), which are connected with glue. |
| US07854096B2 |
Door protective cover
Embodiments of door protectors are described. One typical embodiment comprises front and rear corrugated cardboard panels that are draped over a door by way of one or more pieces of saddle tape that join the panels along their respective top edges. A plurality of folds, perforations and cutouts are provided on the faces of the panels to permit access to the door's hardware. Accordingly, the door can be operated in a traditional manner while providing impact and damage protection to the door. The panels include a plurality of widthwise folds that permit the door protector to be folded for transport and storage. In variations, the edge straps are provided often comprised of hook and loop material to both secure the protector in a folded configuration and to an associated door. |
| US07854093B2 |
Automatic opening/closing apparatus for vehicle
An automatic opening/closing apparatus for vehicle, which is provided with a tensioner mechanism for applying a predetermined tension to a cable member, is downsized. A case of a driving unit is provided with a tensioner housing, and the tensioner mechanism for applying the predetermined tension to a cable is accommodated in the tensioner housing. The tensioner mechanism includes a pulley holder movably mounted on a guide shaft, and a spring for biasing the pulley holder, wherein a movable pulley is rotatably supported by the pulley holder. The cable drawn in the tensioner housing is wound about the movable pulley so that a direction in which the cable is drawn out from the case is substantially parallel to a direction in which the cable is drawn out from a driving drum, whereby the predetermined tension is applied to the cable by a spring force of the spring. |
| US07854089B2 |
Multiple-use vermin electrocution trap and method
A vermin trap including a movable path between the trap entrance and the bait, and a sensor adjacent the movable path for detecting vermin presence on the path. When a vermin detection signal is sent to a controller, the controller causes a movable clamping member to trap the vermin for electrocution. Also provided are methods for the path to rotate and/or pivot, thereby dislodging the electrocuted vermin into a containment region. Methods for electrocuting vermin are also disclosed. |
| US07854086B2 |
Fishing rod with ergonomic handle
The present invention provides a fishing rod with ergonomic handle. The disclosed fishing rod places the angler's wrist in a more ergonomically correct position while waiting for a fish to strike. To accomplish this the fishing rod includes a flexible rod including a plurality of ferrules extending downward; a handle including a primary handle substantially parallel to and vertically above the flexible rod and a secondary handle extending upwards from the primary handle. The primary handle also includes a reel seat for downward attachment of a fishing reel. A transition structure is joined at one end to the flexible rod and at the opposing end to the upper portion of the secondary handle. |
| US07854084B1 |
AR15-T400 hook-under trigger assembly
A disconnector for a rifle wherein the disconnector is formed with a hook-under portion which is provided with a sharp trigger body contact ridge which contacts on a center line (rifle longitudinal axis) of the underside of a portion of the trigger body when the disconnector is in a neutral position during the first stage of a two stage trigger pull. |
| US07854083B1 |
Cartridge magazine for firearms
A cartridge magazine for firearms has an elongated channel to receive a plurality of cartridges. The cartridge magazine has a box forming a housing of the cartridge magazine, a spring operated follower for pressing the cartridges in the magazine to an upper position. In this position, the topmost cartridge is ready for feeding into a chamber of the firearm and in this position the topmost cartridge rests against a pair of retaining lips. The lips remain in a first position when the topmost cartridge is in the upper position and the lips are operatively displaceable to a second position wider than the first position. |
| US07854082B2 |
Device for opening and closing rolling block firearms
An opening and closing device, associated with the rolling block and receiver of a hunting or sports gun, comprises a key that is hinged by a tube to the upper part of the rolling block, and a bolt that is actuated by a shaped end of the key and is slidably mounted on the rolling block in such a way that it can be moved from a retracted, open position in which the bolt is entirely inside the rolling block, and an advanced, closed position in which the bolt protrudes from the front of the rolling block with two arms designed to lock by friction two matching mortises made in the receiver; the arms extend from the ends of a shoulder of the bolt and the shaped end of the key has a first cam designed to exert a pushing action to the central portion of the shoulder in order to disengage the arms from the mortises. |
| US07854081B2 |
Display apparatus for file index
A display apparatus that can be positioned within a file cabinet, a file drawer, a hanging file and/or any other suitable file index system. A container is formed by the sheet material. The container has an edge panel forming at least one releasable tab. Each tab can be released or positioned away from an outer surface of the edge panel. A label sheet or label assembly has printable labels and at least one identification label. The identification label has or displays an identifier that corresponds to a particular design parameter of the label sheet. The identification label can be attached to the tab. The container can house one or more label sheets. |
| US07854080B2 |
System and method for providing synchronized moving objects in an ornamental display
System and methods for providing synchronized ornamental displays in a presentation zone that is at least partially containing a fluid, which include a support structure, a decorative object supported by the support structure, a light disposed on the object, a plurality of cables coupled to the support structure at their respective first ends; a plurality of cable tensioning devices, wherein one cable tensioning device is engaged with the second end of a respective cable of the plurality of cables, and the plurality of cable tensioning devices are positioned spatially about the periphery of the presentation zone, wherein the spatial arrangement defines a range of desired movement for the object, and a control device operatively associated with the tensioning devices and light. |
| US07854072B2 |
Precision sine vise
An improved sine vise that overcomes the deficiencies and limitations of conventional sine vises through the use of the following features: a circular sawtooth ratchet quick clamping system; a rotating dual jaw with one V cut depression face; a set of extended opening upper jaw lips; angle adjustment stays with counter rotating locking screws; a T shaped jaw clamping drawbar; a zero tolerance roll hinge; and a lipped vise base adapted for robust clamping to the cutting tool table with conventional T slot bolts and dogs. |
| US07854068B2 |
Numeric control engraving machine
The invention relates to a numeric control engraving machine which can be used to engrave different objects such as gems, plates of metal or another material, such as to produce the effect obtained by means of artisan engraving with a chisel, in which the tradesperson performs a downward/upward movement with the chisel with each insertion made in the surface of the body to be engraved, such that the engraved line has a curvilinear trajectory. In addition to the three axes (X, Y, Z) or degrees of freedom for the movement of the tool holder, the inventive engraving machine also creates two complementary axes which are denoted as PT (depth of line) and SV (vector tracing), thereby producing the same type of engraving as that obtained by a tradesperson with a chisel. The PT axis controls the penetration movement of the tool for the curvilinear line over the course of the vector that defines the direction and sense of the line. The SV (vector tracing) axis orients the cutting edge of the tool with the correct engraving angle. |
| US07854066B2 |
Method and apparatus for an agricultural implement seed meter
A seed meter includes an input port configured to receive a supply of seeds and an output port configured to deliver the supply of seeds for dispensing to a planting area and a seed disk configured to receive the supply of seeds from the input port and deliver the supply of seeds to the output port at a substantially uniform rate. The seed disk has a seed side where seeds flow from the input port, and a vacuum side opposite the seed side. The seed meter further includes a first housing portion surrounding a first portion of the seed disk in a fixed relationship to direct the supply of seeds against the seed disk and a second housing portion. The second housing portion is configured to move between a first position extending to a second portion of the seed disk to operate in concert with the first housing portion to direct the supply of seeds against the seed disk and a second position providing access to at least a portion of the second portion of the seed disk including the lowest most portion of the seed disk. |
| US07854059B2 |
Apparatus for assembling rotor of permanent magnet motor
Apparatus for assembling a permanent magnet rotor comprising a rotor fixture configured to slide over a smaller diameter bearing section of the rotor and abutting one end of a center axial section of the rotor and a split compression ring having an inner diameter that is sized to ride over the outer diameter of magnets in magnet carriers assembled on the rotor fixture. |
| US07854053B2 |
Method of attaching a ball lock pin
A method of attaching a ball lock pin. A bushing assembly is inserted in a first object such that an outer surface of the bushing assembly is received within the first object. A plurality of locking balls disposed on a shaft of the ball lock pin is inserted into the bushing assembly. The plurality of locking balls is outwardly urged to engage a first engagement portion of an inner surface of the bushing assembly. |
| US07854051B2 |
Method of assembly of low cost oil/grease separator
A container for receiving and holding effluent water containing oil/grease to be removed has sectional covers. A main sectional cover supports a partially immersed rotatable disk; a drive on the main sectional cover rotates the disk; a trough on the main sectional cover straddles the disk; and a blade on the trough scrapes a side of the disk, to direct oil and grease from the disk along the scraper blade along the trough for collection in a storage container. Efficiencies of construction of the sectional covers, disk and a sensor probe are disclosed. |
| US07854049B2 |
Method of manufacturing a piezoelectric thin film device
In a piezoelectric thin film device of the present invention, the degree of flexibility is enhanced in selection of a piezoelectric material constituting a piezoelectric thin film and the crystal orientation in the piezoelectric thin film. A piezoelectric thin film filter, including four film bulk acoustic resonators, has a configuration where a filter section for providing a filter function of the piezoelectric thin film filter is bonded with a flat base substrate mechanically supporting the filter section via an adhesive layer. In manufacturing of the piezoelectric thin film filter, a piezoelectric thin film is obtained by performing removal processing on a piezoelectric substrate, but the piezoelectric thin film obtained by removal processing cannot independently stand up under its own weight. For this reason, a prescribed member including the piezoelectric substrate is previously bonded to the base substrate as a support prior to the removal processing. |
| US07854046B2 |
Microcreping traveling sheet material
A stationary working surface of a one roll microcreper member is of plastic resin having low wear and friction properties. As a primary pressing member subject to concentrated force it is 0.040 inch thick. One or both opposed retarder members of a bladed microcreper are of the plastic. Thermoplastics meeting wear and friction limits, e.g. ultra high density polyethylene, are employed. Primary extensions, some having openings, slots or holes serve as flexible retarders to engage treated material. By a load-spreading surface, the thermoplastic primary member is restrained without distortion. By this surface being linear it slideably inserts into a mounting. By this surface being parallel to the roll axis the primary member is free for cross-machine thermal expansion. A primary member shown is sheet form, mounted between sheet metal members, one with a restraint surface. Sheet materials of polyolefins, wood pulp, etc. are dry microcreped at improved rates and materials not heretofore capable of being processed can now be processed. |
| US07854044B1 |
Multi-strand cable attachment hub
A multi-strand cable attachment hub securing multiple trees or multiple poles together includes a hub base made of aluminum or another suitable soft metal with respectively angled tapered channels extending therethrough with tapered inner bodies made of stainless steel or other suitable hard metal with a central aperture extending therethrough. Multi-strand steel cables extending respectively through the channels and the ends partially unwound with a single strand threaded through the central apertures in the tapered inner bodies and the remaining strands threaded between the inner bodies and channel walk. The single middle strands are bent over the ends of the tapered inner bodies and the inner bodies pulled into the corresponding channel to trap the strands between each inner body and the wall of the channel. |
| US07854040B1 |
Portable germ barrier
A portable, compact germ barrier for protecting a person from direct contact with an unsanitary surface, such as a doorknob, a toilet handle, or the like, is disclosed. A flexible fabric web is fixed to a plurality of stiffening rods that are each pivotally connected at a proximal end thereof to an actuating mechanism fixed through a central aperture of the web. The actuating mechanism includes an actuator for moving the ribs between a closed and an open position. In use, the person manually actuates the actuator, causing the actuating mechanism to pivot each of the ribs from the closed position into the open position. When in the open position, the germ barrier may be used to grasp the surface through the web, preventing direct contact between the person and the surface. The germ barrier is portable, compact, easy to use and it may be kept close-by, such as on a keychain. |
| US07854039B2 |
Handle assembly rotatable in all directions and cleaner having the same
A cleaner having a handle assembly rotatable in all directions is disclosed, the handle assembly including a housing; a handle which is capable of being gripped by a user; a connection unit which connects the handle with the housing to rotate in all directions; and an elastic unit which elastically biases the handle to a neutral position. As the handle is capable of rotating in all directions, a user can clean a surface without feeling strain in his or her joints. |
| US07854038B2 |
Vacuum cleaner with removable handle
A cleaning apparatus includes a base. A bracket is attached to the base. Wheels are rotatably attached to the base for wheeling the base across a floor. A cleaning attachment is configured to be attached to the base and moved against the floor to clean the floor as the base is wheeled across the floor. The base is manually pushed by a handle to wheel the base across the floor. The handle is configured to be removably attached to the base by being hooked onto the bracket and then pivoted relative to the bracket into an installed position. |
| US07854036B2 |
Toothbrush
A toothbrush head having an undulating surface with at least one more displaced part and at least one less displaced part and with bristles having a triangular cross section extending from a more displaced part of the bristle face. |
| US07854033B1 |
Apparatus and method for cleaning a mop
A mobile machine for removing dry particulate matter from a mop, cloth or duster by agitation. A drum with flexible, resilient fingers rotates and agitates the mop, cloth or duster to loosen the particulate matter. An electric fan sucks ambient air and the particulate matter to a chamber wherein it is wetted by a liquid mist introduced by spray nozzles. The mist combines with the particulate matter to form larger particulates. The particulate matter and larger particulates are passed through a filter to remove the particulate matter and larger particulates, which drop onto a removable tray. |
| US07854032B2 |
Portable ramp for motor vehicles
A portable ramp for motor vehicles molded from co-polymer where the ramp has a longitudinal spine extending through a grid, has a sloped portion and a horizontal upper portion to support a wheel of a vehicle. The wheel is in direct contact with the grid and the grid is open from top to bottom between the spine and the side walls. The spine has an arc-shaped cross-section. |
| US07854026B2 |
Athletic equipment enabling enhanced mobility
A shoulder pad apparatus includes a chest plate. A shoulder cap is formed at an upper portion of the chest plate. A shoulder flap connects to the shoulder cap. An upper arm flap pivotably connects to the shoulder flap. At least one arcuate shell also may pivotably connect to the shoulder flap. |
| US07854020B2 |
Safety drain holding system
Safety drain holding systems are disclosed. According to one aspect, a system can include a medical support garment comprising a medical container holder having first and second ends and at least one pocket. The pocket is adapted to support at least one container for storing bodily fluid output from a patient to the container. The medical support garment comprises a belt including first and second ends adapted for releasable attachment to the first and second ends, respectively, of the medical container holder such that the pocket is held adjacent to the waist of the patient when the first and second ends of the belt are attached to the first and second ends, respectively, of the medical container holder. |
| US07856665B2 |
Apparatus and method for scanning capacitance microscopy and spectroscopy
An apparatus and technique for measuring the electrical capacitance between a conducting tip of a scanning probe microscope and a sample surface is described. A high frequency digital vector network analyzer is connected to the probe tip of the cantilever of an atomic force microscope, and data collection is coordinated by a digital computer using digital trigger signals between the AFM controller and the vector network analyzer. Methods for imaging tip-sample capacitance and spectroscopic measurements at a single point on the sample are described. A method for system calibration is described. |
| US07856662B2 |
Denying unauthorized access to a private data processing network
Systems and methods for denying access to a data processing system by an intruder are provided. Input/output (I/O) on the intruder's connection may be taken over and responses mimicking a local terminal session passed back. On an attempted reconnect by the intruder, the user name and password used by the intruder to access the system may be captured. The password may then be changed on the edge system and the intruder's terminal session disconnected, or alternatively, continue to log the intruder's activity. |
| US07856661B1 |
Classification of software on networked systems
A method and system for the classification of software in networked systems, includes: determining a software received by a sensor is attempting to execute on a computer system of the sensor; classifying the software as authorized or unauthorized to execute, and gathering information on the software by the sensor if the software is classified as unauthorized to execute. The sensor sends the information on the software to one or more actuators, which determine whether or not to act on one or more targets based on the information. If so, then the actuator sends a directive to the target(s). The target(s) updates its responses according to the directive. The classification of the software is definitive and is not based on heuristics or rules or policies and without any need to rely on any a priori information about the software. |
| US07856659B2 |
System and method for user access to a distributed network communication system using persistent identification of subscribers
A system and method for providing network access are disclosed. After connecting to a network at an access point, a user of a computing device registers for network access with a network provider. In response to the registration, the network provider sends a completion page to the computing device. The completion page includes a link to an embedded file such as a small, transparent GIF image. When the computing device retrieves the embedded file, the embedded file is associated with a header than includes an instruction to generate a network system identifier (e.g., a cookie). The network system identifier may be stored by the computing device and later used to identify the computing device as a registrant for network access with the network provider. The embedded file may also be sent at other times, such as after authentication of the user for network access. |
| US07856655B2 |
System and method for improved network security
A system is provided for establishing a secure link among multiple users on a single machine with a remote machine. The system includes a subsystem to filter traffic so that traffic from each user is separate. The subsystem generates and associates a Security Association (SA) with at least one filter corresponding to the user and the traffic, and employs the SA to establish the secure link. An Internet Key Exchange module and a policy module may be included to generate and associate the security association, wherein the policy module is configured via Internet Protocol Security (IPSEC). |
| US07856647B2 |
Standarized theme handling for digital television
Genre or theme assignment data (104) for a program in a digital television or other data transmission is recovered by a receiver (100) and mapped to a genre in a standardized genre assignment schedule (240). A country associated with the transmission is identified, such as by obtaining a country code (105) from the digital data transmission, or via a receiver setting. A genre assignment schedule is identified based on the country. Data, such as user nibbles (220) or standard content nibbles (230), is obtained from the transmission to identify the original genre and assign the program to a corresponding standardized genre. |
| US07856646B1 |
Preparation and utilization of customer profile data in a cable services network
Methods and systems for preparing, updating and maintaining customer profile data that may be utilized in an interactive television system for providing tailored customer-specific interactive services, and product offerings and helpful information content. The customer's set-top box queries an application server for profile data corresponding to the customer. A web services system queries each of a number of data services associated with the interactive television services provider to obtain profile data for the customer. Available customer data is passed to the application server. The application server prepares a customer profile from the customer data and formats the customer profile for use by the client-side set-top box. After the customer profile is stored at the set-top box, customer-specific services and product offerings may be presented to the customer in the form of targeted advertising, and customer-specific information content may be presented to the customer. |
| US07856643B2 |
Apparatus and method for operating a multi-unit storage facility
A system and method of operating a multi-user storage facility is provided. For each distinct user of the storage facility, the distinct user is associated with at least one storage unit of the facility. Video monitoring of the at least one storage unit is provided producing a video output. Each distinct user is provided over a digital communication network with private access to a view of the video output associated with the user. In this manner, each of a plurality of distinct users has access to a view of the video output associated with the user. |
| US07856641B2 |
Disk drive device and centering members therefor
A disk drive device includes a device main body in which a disk slot for inserting and removing a disk-like recording medium is provided, a disk holding unit that rotatably holds the disk-like recording medium, a main chassis that supports the disk holding unit and a base unit, an arm unit rotatably supported on one or the other side in a plane parallel to the disk-like recording medium, an urging arm that urges the disk-like recording medium, a first centering member that supports the side of the disk-like recording medium, and a second centering member that supports the side of the disk-like recording medium. The first centering member and the second centering member are regulated in positions to support the side of the disk-like recording medium. The first centering member and the second centering member support the disk-like recording medium in a centering position. |
| US07856639B2 |
Monitoring and controlling applications executing in a computing node
A method and system for monitoring and controlling applications executing on computing nodes of a computing system. A status request process, one or more control processes, an untrusted application and one other application are executed on a computing node. The status request process receives and processes requests for the statuses of the untrusted and the other application. A first control process controls the execution of the untrusted application. A second control process controls the execution of the other application. The execution of the untrusted application terminates based on a failure of the untrusted application. A capability of the status request process to receive and process the requests for statuses, and a capability of the second control process to control the execution of the other application are preserved in response to the termination of the untrusted application. |
| US07856631B2 |
Software delivery manager
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for receiving and processing a software delivery archive to deploy software to a target computer system, in particular to deploy software into a J2EE server. The software delivery archive can be implemented as a JAR-compatible archive that includes a supplementary manifest and a deployment descriptor, in addition to a standard JAR manifest and software to be deployed. The software delivery archive can optionally also include a nested software delivery archive have the same structure and functionality. |
| US07856629B2 |
Compiler apparatus
A compiler apparatus, which can perform software pipelining optimization that has a considerable effect of reducing the number of execution cycles taken to complete a loop process, converts a source program into a machine program for a processor which is capable of parallel processing. The compiler apparatus is composed of: a parsing unit operable to parse the source program and then to convert the source program into an intermediate program which is described in an intermediate language; an optimization unit operable to optimize the intermediate program; and a conversion unit operable to convert the optimized intermediate program into the machine language program, wherein the optimization unit is operable to execute software pipelining, by inserting a transfer instruction, which is used for transferring data between operands, into a loop process included in the intermediate program so that a data dependence relation is changed. |
| US07856624B2 |
Automated safe secure techniques for eliminating undefined behavior in computer software
Automated (e.g., compiler implemented) techniques provide safe secure software development. One exemplary illustrative implementation addresses undefined behavior in the C and C++ programming languages. |
| US07856620B1 |
Systems and methods providing interaction interfaces
A method for creating an application comprises receiving input specifying a plurality of elements of a software application, said elements including interactions between a user and said software application, generating a dialog that includes a listing of said user interactions from said plurality of elements and is adapted to receive user input to edit one or more of said user interactions, and generating said software application based at least partly upon said received input and said user input to edit. |
| US07856619B2 |
Method and system for automated testing of a graphic-based programming tool
A method and a system for automated testing of a graphic-based programming tool. The present invention includes a computer-implemented method that allows a developer to easily generate scripts for automatically testing a graphic-based programming tool using generic reusable building blocks of test code and separate decoupled parameter data. The method further allows the developer to automatically test and re-test a graphic-based programming tool using the generated scripts. The system provides a memory and a processor for implementing the automated testing methods according to embodiments of the present invention. An example application is a graphic-based programming tool used to generate screens and their underlying program logic. |
| US07856618B2 |
Adaptively generating code for a computer program
A program feature set is compared to a processor feature set. The comparison may be performed in response to restoring the program onto a system or requesting its execution. The processor feature set represents zero, one or more optional hardware features supported by the processor, whereas the program feature set represents zero, one or more optional hardware features the program relies upon in its generated code. Comparison of the feature sets determines whether a particular program may run on a particular processor. Programs may be automatically or manually rebuilt to achieve full compatibility. If the comparison indicates that the program requires a feature not supported by the processor, the program is rebuilt based on the processor feature set. Alternatively, the program may be rebuilt in response to a rebuild request, rather than the comparison. The program is preferably rebuilt from an intermediate representation (IR) stored with or locatable from the program. |
| US07856616B2 |
Action-based in-process software defect prediction software defect prediction techniques based on software development activities
An action-based in-process software defect prediction (ABDP) applies classifying records of a performed action to predict whether subsequent actions cause defects in a project. A performed action is previously defined herein as an operation performed based on tasks in Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) of the project. Rather than focusing on the reported defects, ABDP discovers the patterns of the performed action that may cause defects composing a historic data set, and uses analytical results to predict whether the subsequent actions are likely to generate defects composing another historic data set. Once actions with high probability of causing the defects are identified, stakeholders review these actions carefully and take appropriate corrective actions to create a fresh performed action. The fresh performed action is continually appended to the historic data sets of amending the defects to construct a new prediction model for further subsequent actions. |
| US07856614B2 |
Programmable system-on-chip apparatus and method for updating firmware
A programmable system-on-chip (SOC) apparatus is disclosed. After connecting with a computer host, the apparatus temporarily stored boot loader codes into a volatile memory originally installed in the apparatus. Further, during the whole updating firmware procedure, no burner is required. Accordingly, the invention not only saves the hardware cost of both a non-volatile memory and the burner, but also simplifies the operation procedure. |
| US07856611B2 |
Reconfigurable interconnect for use in software-defined radio systems
A method of fabricating an interconnect circuit for coupling a plurality of reconfigurable component blocks that implement a defined function. The method comprises the steps of: 1) determining P possible configurations for implementing the defined function; 2) for each of the P possible configuration, determining a list of required interconnections between the plurality of reconfigurable component blocks; 3) determining from the P lists of required interconnections a minimum number, B, of data buses required to implement the P possible configurations for the defined function; 4) for each of the P possible configurations, determining the interconnections of each of the plurality of reconfigurable component blocks to each of the B buses; and 5) implementing programmable switches capable of coupling a first reconfigurable component block to a first bus only if required to implement at least one of the P possible configurations. |
| US07856601B2 |
Dynamic service presentation
A method is provided for exchanging an organizational scheme, such as a tag-based structural framework, that can be applied to data describing and containing information relating to Web service providers to facilitate creating, updating, and interpreting the data so that Web service providers are suitably presented to a user, depending on the user's country, language, locale, and the availability of Web service providers. |
| US07856599B2 |
Method and system for IP link management
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for network management that allows the configuration of IP links in one step, via a GUI form, even though the management protocols available at the two end links (routers) may differ. According to one embodiment, the method comprises gathering information from the user, validating this information, and then sending this information to the appropriate router(s). According to one embodiment, the method enables a user to specify various configurations when provisioning an IP link, for example, the type of IP link (Point-to-Point, Point-to-IP, or Point-to-Subnet), the numbering type (Numbered or Unnumbered), the application type (MPLS and/or IP Forwarding), and the sub-layer interfaces to be used (Packet Over Sonet, Asynchronous Transfer Mode, GigEthernet, and others). In addition, according to one embodiment, the method allows the IP link to be associated to existing router interface(s), or the interfaces can be created as part of the IP link creation process. |
| US07856597B2 |
Adding tag name to collection
Adding a new tag name to a collection of tag names includes receiving, in a computer system, a new tag name that is to be added to a collection of existing tag names that conform to a standardized protocol for defining semantics of contents in electronic communications, the new tag name including at least first and second terms. It is determined whether the collection already includes any of the first and second terms, wherein each term included in the existing tag names is associated with one of several unique identifiers. The method further includes selecting at least first and second unique identifiers for the new tag name, wherein, for any of the first and second terms that is already included in the collection, a corresponding one of the several unique identifiers associated therewith is selected. A data structure includes tag names and unique identifier codes for the several tag names. |
| US07856592B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving signal in a communication system
A signal transmission/reception apparatus of a communication system. The signal transmission apparatus receives an information vector, encodes the information vector into a structured Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) codeword using a structured LDPC coding scheme, and transmits the generated structured LDPC code to the signal reception apparatus. Then the signal reception apparatus receives a signal, and detects an information vector by decoding the received signal using a decoding scheme corresponding to the structured LDPC coding scheme used in the signal transmission apparatus. |
| US07856591B2 |
Decoding method for tail-biting convolutional codes using a search depth viterbi algorithm
A method for decoding tail-biting convolutional codes. The method includes initializing a correction depth, selecting a first starting state from a set of encoding states, and initializing a metric value for the selected starting state as zero and the other states as infinity. The input bit stream is read and a Search Depth Viterbi algorithm (SDVA) is performed to determine path metrics and identify a minimum-metric path. The ending state for the minimum-metric path is determined and the output for this ending state is identified as “previous output.” A second starting state is set to the ending state of the minimum-metric path, and symbols equal to the correction depth from the previous output are read. The SDVA is performed on the second set of read symbols to generate a corrected output. A decoded output is generated by replacing symbols at the beginning of the previous output with the corrected output. |
| US07856590B2 |
Digital television transmitter and receiver for using 16 state trellis coding
Provided are a Vestigial Side Band (VSB) Digital Television (DTV) transmitter and receiver based on the Advanced Television System Committee (ATSC) A/53, and a method thereof. The present invention provides 8-VSB DTV transmitter and receiver that can improve reception performance of the receiver by transmitting and double streams formed of normal data and robust data without increasing an average power level, regardless of the ratio of the normal data and robust data, by including an encoding unit for performing 16-state trellis coding on the robust data when a data stream includes robust data, and a method thereof. |
| US07856589B2 |
Apparatus and method for improving error correction capability using stuffing byte
A decoding circuit and method for improving error correction capability using a stuffing byte, in which in the decoding method, an input data packet is decoded. When it is determined that error correction is impossible based on a decoding result, a stuffing byte section is detected in the input data packet. A level value of data in the stuffing byte section is converted into a stuffing byte level value. A data packet having the converted level value is decoded and output. The decoding circuit includes a decoder decoding an input data packet and a control block detecting a stuffing byte section in the input data packet, converting the input data packet, and decoding a converted data packet when the decoder fails in error correction of the input data packet. |
| US07856585B2 |
Content distribution method, encoding method, reception/reproduction method and apparatus, and program
There are provided a content data transmission method, device, and program that minimize serious disturbances in reproduced content on the reception side, caused by a transmission error of encoded data, without sending feedback information from the reception side to the transmission side. When an encoder creates encoded data to be distributed, the encoder creates plural items of encoded data at the same time or creates FEC data at the same time in advance and, when storing the data in a file, stores the data as if the data were one item of encoded data. When a distribution server distributes the data using the file, the plurality of items of encoded data are automatically distributed at the same time and the FEC data is distributed. A client receives the plurality of items of encoded data or the FEC data to reduce the probability of data shortage due to a packet loss and, as a result, the deterioration in the image quality and the audio quality is reduced. |
| US07856581B1 |
Methods and apparatuses for external test methodology and initialization of input-output circuits
Various methods and apparatuses are described for a system that includes some on-chip components, e.g., I-Os, test processors, soft wrappers, etc., an external testing unit that provides Parametric Measurement Unit (PMU) capability, and various tests performed on the I-Os by the on-chip testing logic, the test vector patterns supplied by the external testing unit. |
| US07856578B2 |
Strobe technique for test of digital signal timing
A test system timing method simulates the timing of a synchronous clock on the device under test. Strobe pulses can be generated by routing an edge generator to delay elements with incrementally increasing delay values. A data signal or synchronous clock signal can be applied to the input of each of a set of latches which are clocked by the strobe pulses. An encoder can convert the series of samples which are thereby latched to a word representing edge time and polarity of the sampled signal. If the sampled signal is a data signal, the word can be stored in memory. If the sampled signal is a clock signal, the word is routed to a clock bus and used to address the memory. The difference between clock edge time and data edge time is provided and can be compared against expected values. |
| US07856576B2 |
Method and system for managing memory transactions for memory repair
In one embodiment, a controller for an associative memory having n ways contains circuitry for sending a request to search an indexed location in each of the n ways for a tag, wherein the tag and an index that is used to denote the indexed location form a memory address. The controller also contains circuitry, responsive to the request, for sending a set of n validity values, each validity value indicating, for a respective way, whether the indexed location is a valid location or a defective location. Additionally, the controller contains circuitry for receiving a hit signal that indicates whether a match to the tag was found at any of the indexed locations, wherein no hit is ever received for a defective location. |
| US07856575B2 |
Collaborative troubleshooting computer systems using fault tree analysis
Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for troubleshooting of computer systems using a fault tree analysis. In one embodiment, data parameters describing a status of a system may be monitored to determine the existence of a fault. In the event of a fault, fault tree analysis metadata may be evaluated to attempt to determine a root cause of the fault. If a root cause can be automatically determined, it may be presented to a user in a troubleshooting console, or may be used to trigger an automated corrective action. Alternatively, if a root cause cannot be automatically determined, the user may be presented with additional fault tree analysis metadata and any relevant data parameters in the troubleshooting console, so that the user may determine the root cause of the fault event. |
| US07856571B2 |
Method and system for communication employing dual slew rates
A bus for implementation with a computer system, as well as a computer processing device capable of interacting with such a bus, and a method of communicating signals over a bus, are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the bus is a processor bus that includes a first processor bus portion that communicates first signals, and a second processor bus portion that communicates second signals at times determined independently of the first signals. The first and second signals respectively have first and second slew rates, the first and second slew rates being different from one another. |
| US07856568B2 |
Electronic apparatus and peak power-controlling method related thereto
An electronic apparatus (200) comprises processors (20)-(22), devices (30)-(33), and a peak power-managing unit (10). The peak power-managing unit (10) includes a power information storage unit (11) operable to store a total power consumption value, and a suspended request storage unit (12) operable to store suspended use requests. Each of the processors (20)-(22) addresses, to the peak power-managing unit (10), a use request for the use of a target device among the devices (30)-(33). The peak power-managing unit (10) issues a device use permit notification to the processor when determining that the operation of the target device still maintains an added total power consumption value within a specified value. Upon receipt of the device use permit notification, the processor sets up a course of action to be provided by the target device. As a result, controlled peak power is provided, and the devices can be run according to updated information. |
| US07856564B2 |
Techniques for preserving media play mode information on media devices during power cycling
An improved portable media device and methods for operating a media device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the portable media device has the capability to store media device status information in persistent memory before powering down. Thereafter, when the portable media device is again powered up, the stored media player status information can be retrieved and utilized. According to another aspect, the portable media device can form and/or traverse a media asset playlist in an efficient manner. |
| US07856561B2 |
Detecting legacy powered device in power over ethernet system
Novel system and methodology for detecting a Powered Device (PD) in a Power over Ethernet (PoE) system. A PD probing circuit generates a detection signal supplied to the PD and determines a PD response signal produced in response to the detection signal. Based on the PD response signal, the control circuit determines a detection value for identifying the PD. In particular, the control circuit concludes that the PD is a device satisfying a PoE standard if the detection value is in a first predetermined range, and concludes that the PD is a legacy PD device if the detection value is in a second predetermined range outside of the first predetermined range. |
| US07856557B2 |
Authentication of data in a digital transmission system
A method of authentication of data to be sent in a digital transmission system, the data being organized in a series of at least three files, involving generating a first authentication value for at least one first file, storing said first authentication value in a second file, generating a second authentication value for said second file, storing said second authentication value in a third file, and transmitting said first, second, and third files to a receiver. |
| US07856553B2 |
System and method for platform activation
A platform discrimination indication register is stored in a wireless network card. This register holds a platform discrimination indication that indicates whether the wireless network card can be used to transfer data with notebook computers or whether the wireless network card is restricted to transferring data from a personal digital assistant or defined set of restricted devices. The platform discrimination indication can be upgraded using a key value obtained from at Internet site. This key value is limited to a specific wireless network card because of the use of a unique electronic I.D. An Internet site encrypts the electronic I.D. to produce the first key, such as a platform activation key (PAK). This first key is then decrypted at the personal data device in order to obtain a unique calculated I.D. value. If the calculated I.D. value matches the electronic I.D. value on the wireless network card, then the platform discrimination indication is altered (upgraded), allowing the operation of the wireless network card with notebook computers. |
| US07856550B2 |
System and method for hardware manipulation in a computing device
A device having an operating system including a power control policy for a component of the device and an effector program controlling power for the component based on the power control policy and power control hardware controlled by the effector program to implement the power control policy for the component. A method for determining a power state for a component, executing an effector program to produce a control output corresponding to the power state and controlling power supplied to the component so that the component enters the power state. |
| US07856542B1 |
Paging cache optimization for virtual machine
A system, method and computer program product for virtualizing a processor include a virtualization system running on a computer system and controlling memory paging through hardware support for maintaining real paging structures. A Virtual Machine (VM) is running guest code and has at least one set of guest paging structures that correspond to guest physical pages in guest virtualized linear address space. At least some of the guest paging structures are mapped to the real paging structures. For each guest physical page that is mapped to the real paging structures, paging means for handling a connection structure between the guest physical page and a real physical address of the guest physical page. A cache of connection structures represents cached paths to the real paging structures. Each path is described by guest paging structure descriptors and by tie descriptors. Each path includes a plurality of nodes connected by the tie descriptors. Each guest paging structure descriptor is in a node of at least one path. Each guest paging structure either points to other guest paging structures or to guest physical pages. Each guest paging structure descriptor represents guest paging structure information for mapping guest physical pages to the real paging structures. |
| US07856537B2 |
Hybrid hardware and software implementation of transactional memory access
Embodiments of the invention relate a hybrid hardware and software implementation of transactional memory accesses in a computer system. A processor including a transactional cache and a regular cache is utilized in a computer system that includes a policy manager to select one of a first mode (a hardware mode) or a second mode (a software mode) to implement transactional memory accesses. In the hardware mode the transactional cache is utilized to perform read and write memory operations and in the software mode the regular cache is utilized to perform read and write memory operations. |
| US07856532B2 |
Cache logic, data processing apparatus including cache logic, and a method of operating cache logic
Cache logic is provided for use in a data processing apparatus, the cache logic having a cache storage comprising a plurality of cache lines for storing data values. Control logic is arranged, in response to an access request issued by a device of the data processing apparatus identifying a memory address of the data value to be accessed, to cause a lookup operation to be performed to determine whether the data value for that memory address is stored within the cache storage. The control logic is further operable if the data value is not stored in the cache storage to perform a linefill process, the linefill process comprising performing an eviction to evict to memory of the data processing apparatus current content of a selected cache line, keeping the current content valid in the selected cache line whilst the eviction is taking place, and storing from the memory into the selected cache line new content including the data value the subject of the access request. Whilst the eviction is taking place, the control logic allows the current content of the selected cache line to be accessed by subsequent read access requests seeking to read a data value within that current content, but prevents the current content of the selected cache line being accessed by subsequent write access requests seeking to write to a data value within that current content. |
| US07856530B1 |
System and method for implementing a dynamic cache for a data storage system
A dynamic cache system is configured to flexibly respond to changes in operating parameters of a data storage and retrieval system. A cache controller in the system implements a caching policy describing how and what data should be cached. The policy can provide different caching behavior based on exemplary parameters such as a user ID, a specified application or a given workload. The cache controller is coupled to the data path for a data storage system and can be implemented as a filter in a filter framework. The cache memory for storing cached data can be local or remote from the cache controller. The policies implemented in the cache controller permit an application to control caching of data to permit optimization of data flow for the particular application. |
| US07856528B1 |
Method and apparatus for protecting data using variable size page stripes in a FLASH-based storage system
Methods and apparatuses for enhanced protection of data stored in a FLASH memory system involve a controller capable of using variable size page stripes in the memory system. The controller is configured to store data such that each page stripe comprises a plurality of data pages, with each data page in the page stripe being stored in a different FLASH memory chip. The controller is also configured to maintain one or more buffers containing information reflecting blocks of memory within the FLASH memory chips that have been erased and are available for information storage, and to dynamically determine the number of data pages to be included in a page stripe based on the information in the one or more buffers such that a first page stripe and a second page strip can have different numbers of data pages. |
| US07856526B2 |
Storage apparatus and power-saving control method of storage apparatus
Access to the physical disks is differentiated as access from a host computer, and access based on processing (data migration processing, copy processing) for storage management. Whether to switch the state of the physical disks from a normal power consumption mode to a power saving mode is determined according to the access from the host computer after the access based on processing for storage management is complete, and the state of the physical disks are switched from the normal power consumption mode to the power saving mode based on the determination result. |
| US07856523B2 |
Random Access Memory (RAM) based Content Addressable Memory (CAM) management
A Random Access Memory (RAM) based Content Addressable Memory (CAM) architecture is disclosed. In an implementation, the CAM architecture includes a CAM data structure associated with a RAM to store one or more tags and associated data values. Each of the tags includes one or more bit fields which are utilized as an index for referencing a look-up table. One or more look-up tables may be realized for supporting memory operations facilitating efficient transfer modes available in the RAM. |
| US07856522B2 |
Flash-aware storage optimized for mobile and embedded DBMS on NAND flash memory
Reliable storage for database management systems (DBMS) running on memory devices such as NAND type flash memory utilizes minimum I/O overhead and provides maximum data durability. A virtual page map is utilized between the flash memory and a page access component to record changes to the DBMS pages and prevent overwriting or data loss. There is no need for journaling and logging, and performance is increased by reducing the write and erase counts on the flash memory. The logical page numbers of the DBMS are mapped to physical page numbers in the page map, such that the virtual page map allocates an available page from the physical pages when changes to a page occur, and the updated information is stored in the allocated page. The allocated page number is mapped to the logical page number of the original page, thus maintaining a modified page representation while preventing physical in-place updates. |
| US07856521B2 |
Apparatus and method to control access to stored information
A method is disclosed to control access to stored information. The method supplies a control unit in communication with a computing device and in communication with stored information. If the computing device requests access to that stored information, the method determines if access to the stored information is available. When access to the stored information becomes available, then the method reserves a communication pathway interconnecting the control unit and the requesting computing device, thereby disallowing the sending of non-MPLF unsolicited status via that reserved communication pathway, and provides a message to the computing device, using that reserved communication pathway, granting access to the stored information. |
| US07856517B2 |
Data management interface with configurable plugins that determines whether to monitor for configuration data
A method and apparatus for managing data. A data management interface that delegates data operations to one or more plugins is configured, each plugin being associated with a distinct data operation. A new plugin is identified. The data management interface is reconfigured to enable the new plugin, the reconfiguring being transparent to at least one application requesting a data operation. |
| US07856515B2 |
Display apparatus to detect a connecting state of a cable
A display apparatus connected with an external video source through a video cable having a first cable connector and a second connector connected to the external video source includes a display connector having a plurality of signal pins to which the first cable connector is connected, a connecting sensor connected at least two or more of the plurality of signal pins to output a first connecting sense signal to inform a connecting state between the first cable connector and the display connector, and a second connecting sense signal to inform the connecting state between the second cable connector and the external video source, and a controller to output information about the connecting state between the first cable connector and the second cable connector based on the first and the second connecting sense signals from the connecting sensor. Thus, the display apparatus can supply the information about a connecting state of a first cable connector and a second cable connector, respectively, in the display apparatus connected with the external video source by the video cable having the first cable connector and the second cable connector. |
| US07856512B2 |
System and method for offloading a processor tasked with calendar processing
The invention comprises system and method for offloading a processor tasked with calendar processing of channel status information. The method comprises multiplexing channel status information received from a plurality of physical interfaces; grouping the channels based on bandwidth; comparing current and previous status information of a group of channels in a first memory; sending current channel status to the processor only if the status of any of the channels in the group has changed; and periodically synchronizing channel status information in the first memory to status information in the processor's memory. The system comprises: multiplexer to combine channel status information received from the interfaces and means for grouping, based on bandwidth, the channels; hardware assist engine to send current channel status to the processor only if channel status has changed; and device to synchronize channel status information in the hardware assist engine to status information in the processor's memory. |
| US07856507B2 |
Data transmission process
A first device transmits messages to a second device. The first device keeps track of messages that have already been transmitted from the first device to the second device, experiences an interruption in transmission of messages at the first device, and resumes the transmission from the first device following the interruption. Resuming the transmission includes transmitting only messages that have not already been completely transmitted from the first device to the second device. |
| US07856506B2 |
Traversal of symmetric network address translator for multiple simultaneous connections
Handling of multiple connections during NAT traversal for a node behind a symmetric NAT is disclosed. The likelihood of connection failure during symmetric NAT traversal may be reduced by serializing critical time windows after port prediction. Once port prediction has begun for a first connection, port prediction for a subsequent connection may be delayed until a connectivity check has begun for the first connection. This process may be repeated to handle NAT traversal for multiple simultaneous connections to different nodes. |
| US07856499B2 |
Autonomic provisioning of hosted applications with level of isolation terms
A method and a system are described that involve autonomic provisioning of hosted applications with level of isolation terms. In one embodiment, the system includes an infrastructure registry to provide a set of heterogeneous infrastructure resources, an autonomic provisioning service unit to select a subset of the heterogeneous infrastructure resources, (the subset of resources to fulfill a service level agreement (SLA) with a corresponding level of isolation), and a monitoring unit to collect information about the subset of resources and send the collected information to the autonomic provisioning service unit.In another embodiment, the method includes providing a set of heterogeneous infrastructure resources, selecting a subset of the set of heterogeneous infrastructure resources, the subset of heterogeneous infrastructure resources is defined in a configuration template to fulfill a service level agreement (SLA) with a corresponding level of isolation, and allocating the subset of infrastructure resources in the registry. |
| US07856498B2 |
Collaborative alert management and monitoring
Methods, systems, and computer program products for dynamically monitoring, processing, and managing alerts are described herein. In an embodiment, the method operates by receiving messages that are either alerts or responses to existing alerts. The messages are parsed to determine if whether they are alerts or responses to alerts. Actions including updating alert states and storing alert data are executed, and then the method sends notifications regarding the alert messages and responses to a collaboration list of registered subscribers that dynamically expands over time based upon alert escalations. The method then determines whether additional messages have been received; and performs actions associated with these additional messages until there are no remaining alerts or alert responses to process. The method stores updated alert and response data in a repository so that the alerts and responses can be monitored and managed. |
| US07856497B2 |
Method for determining an appropriate algorithm to apply for forecasting network access usage
A method of providing network access across a shared communications medium between competing users (86) includes the step of allocating network access for each user for a future time interval (102). Features include forecasting network access (1100) of the users in a future time interval, and prioritizing the users for allocating network access to the users. The network access allocations represent network access allowances available to the users during the future time interval, and further may represent network access usage. Classes of users can be allocated network access first (1114), and then each user allocated network access from the class allocation. |
| US07856495B2 |
Identification of equipment location in data center
Techniques are disclosed for identifying the locations of equipment in computing environments such as data centers. For example, a method of identifying a plurality of computing devices in a computing environment includes the following steps. A first temperature-indicative map of the plurality of computing devices is generated while the plurality of computing device is in a first mode. The first temperature-indicative map is overlaid with a facility map associated with the computing environment. A first one of the plurality of computing devices is placed into a second mode. The second temperature-indicative map of the plurality of computing devices is generated while the first one of the plurality of computing devices is in the second mode and the remainder of the plurality of computing devices is in the first mode. The second temperature-indicative map is overlaid with the facility map associated with the computing environment. The first temperature-indicative map is compared with the second temperature-indicative map to determine a location of the first one of the plurality of computing devices. |
| US07856492B2 |
Methods and systems for managing media content
An information processing device is capable of handling changes occurring in values of information possessed by targets. Relationships between information are expressed as relationship structures through connection in a hierarchical manner using links expressing topic nodes expressing content of information as reference information. The relationship structures are generated for each provider providing information and generate an overall relationship structure for all of the information. A weighting is assigned to links so that values can be calculated for the topic nodes using just the weightings of nodes linking to topic nodes. These values are such that in a case where user information is utilized, topic node values relating to this information are added. It is therefore possible to know the value of information with respect to a user using these topic nodes. |
| US07856491B2 |
Removable media device capable of notifying network device of insertion of removable media
When a memory card is inserted into a card reader of an MFP, a selected network address is set as a connection destination, and a memory card insertion signal is transmitted to the connection destination. On the other hand, when no network address is selected, all network addresses stored in the memory card are set as connection destinations, and the memory card insertion signal is transmitted to the set connection destinations. The memory card insertion signal includes information indicating the insertion of the memory card into the card reader and a network address of the MFP. |
| US07856490B2 |
System and method for multiple spanning tree protocol domains in a virtual local area network
A system and method that modifies the behavior of the IEEE 802.1D STP standard to thereby decouple the one data domain from the one control domain involves managing multiple spanning tree protocol (STP) instances in a virtual local area network (VLAN). The method includes the step of assigning a unique set of ports within the VLAN to each of the multiple STP instances. Then, each of the multiple STP instances are managed to keep each of the multiple STP instances separate. Finally, when a topology change is detected in one of the multiple STP instances, entries that have been learned on the unique set of ports assigned to the STP protocol instance where the topology change is detected are fast-aged or transitioned from one state to another. |
| US07856487B2 |
System and methods for updating registration information for a computer jukebox
Systems and methods for updating registration information for a computer jukebox are provided. The registration system and methods provide updated information for registration or authorization of a jukebox to a central computer after the occurrence of a pre-selected event (e.g., changing MAC address, changing the hard drive, memory, or Central Processing Unit (CPU)). The invention reduces or eliminates the need for the owner or operator of a jukebox to contact the owner or operator of the network in order to provide updated registration information following the occurrence of a pre-selected event. |
| US07856485B2 |
Systems and methods for providing customized media channels
The present application describes systems and methods for creating customized media channels. A method of the invention according to some embodiments includes: (a) transmitting to a user device information comprising a list of music genres; receiving from the user device a message indicating that a user selected one of the listed genres and including an identifier identifying the selected genre; selecting one or more media content items in response to receiving the message, wherein the selection is based, at least in part, on (i) the genre selected by the user and (ii) profile information associated with a user identifier input by the user and/or a device identifier associated with the device; and transmitting the selected media content items to the device. |
| US07856484B2 |
Web and lotus notes adapter layers
An adapter layer architecture that provides a consistent protocol for interactions between client and server side code. The architecture, which is particularly well suited for an enterprise application development platform (EADP), isolates what function operates at what side of the request (“client” and “server”). The preferred embodiment of the invention provides a number of specific features. These include: 1. a uniform mechanism to pass data between client and server; 2. a server side mechanism to handle client requests; 3. a client side request handler; 4. a mechanism to provide interactive conversational sessions, with each client session able to maintain multiple concurrent conversations; 5. a mechanism to purge sessions; and 6. unit of work control. In addition, the adapter layer architecture of the invention allows some adjustment in practice for various implementations to meet the adapter requirements. As new external sources (for example MQ series) are encountered, they can be mapped to the adapter architecture and incorporated into EADP functions. |
| US07856481B2 |
Data communication apparatus and electronic mail data producing method
A data communication apparatus and an electronic mail data producing method are provided that are capable of allowing a file name to be easily added to a file attached to an electronic mail and also allowing a file name to be added to a file attached to an electronic mail, which is commensurate with the contents of the date to be transmitted. A CPU of the data communication apparatus combines a page number allotted to each of the images converted into files with the subject of the electronic mail that is inputted, to generate an attached image file name, and transmits the electronic mail with the image data in the form of files attached thereto together with the generated attached image file names. Therefore, it is not necessary to input the name of an image file attached to an electronic mail, which facilitates the operation of transmitting an electronic mail and enables giving a file name that enables the receiver of the electronic mail to easily recognize the contents of the attached image file. |
| US07856477B2 |
Method and system for image verification to prevent messaging abuse
The invention is directed to a system and method for determining if a “spam” message is originating from a messaging account by challenging a particular client's outbound email usage with a test that requires verification of content that is easily understood by a human being, not an automated computer program such as those used by “spammers.” If a limit on the number of recipients for outbound messages has been exceeded, a test is presented the next time a client attempts to send a message. The client must successfully answer the test within a relatively short period of time or else the ability to send messages will be disabled. Once disabled, the client can reinstate the ability to send messages by contacting a representative of the message system out of band, e.g., a telephone call to confirm legitimate outbound email use. |
| US07856474B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying documents using a handheld device
A method and apparatus for sending information to a data processing apparatus for identifying a document to share with a recipient. A handheld device is capable of communicating with the data processing apparatus. Human-readable information is captured from the document and stored in the handheld device as document data. A communications path is established between the handheld device and the data processing apparatus. The document data is sent to the data processing apparatus through the communications path. Reference documents are provided. Each reference document has reference data stored in a memory. At least a portion of the received document data is extracted as scanning data. The reference data is retrieved from the memory. The scanning data is compared with the reference data. When the scanning data matches at least a portion of the reference data of one of the reference documents, the one reference document is selected as the identified document for forwarding to the recipient. |
| US07856462B2 |
System and computer program product for performing an inexact query transformation in a heterogeneous environment
An inexact query transformation system selects a query element from a query statement. If an inexact transformation improves the query performance, the system prioritizes the candidate transformation rules applicable to the selected query element. The system applies the candidate transformation rules to the selected query element to generate a transformed query element that includes a transformed remote query element. If the transformed remote query element is pushdownable, the system adds the transformed remote query element to a transformed inexact query output. Otherwise, the system applies additional candidate transformation rules to the selected query element to generate the transformed inexact query output. The system applies the transformed inexact query output to a heterogeneous datastore to provide an output query result. |
| US07856461B2 |
High availability for distributed non-persistent event propagation
Techniques are provided for maintaining high propagation availability for non-persistent messages. Destination-to-instance mapping information is provided to a listener process for a cluster database. The destination-to-instance mapping indicates the current owner instance of each single-instance destination within the cluster database. To establish a connection to a single-instance destination, a sending process sends a connection request to the global listener. The connection request identifies the desired destination queue, but not the owner instance of the queue. The global listener for the cluster database uses the destination-to-instance mapping to determine which instance is the current owner of the specified queue, and establishes a connection between the sending process and the appropriate owner instance. |
| US07856450B2 |
Apparatus and method for distributing information between business intelligence systems
A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to define a first information object, where the first information object is operative to perform a first function when associated with a first system, and a second function when associated with a second system. A set of properties for the first information object is defined. The set of properties are divided into a first set of properties for when the first information object is in the first system, and a second set of properties when the first information object is in the second system. |
| US07856446B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining usefulness of a digital asset
The invention comprises a set of complementary techniques that dramatically improve enterprise search and navigation results. The core of the invention is an expertise or knowledge index, called UseRank that tracks the behavior of website visitors. The expertise-index is designed to focus on the four key discoveries of enterprise attributes: Subject Authority, Work Patterns, Content Freshness, and Group Know-how. The invention produces useful, timely, cross-application, expertise-based search and navigation results. In contrast, traditional Information Retrieval technologies such as inverted index, NLP, or taxonomy tackle the same problem with an opposite set of attributes than what the enterprise needs: Content Population, Word Patterns, Content Existence, and Statistical Trends. Overall, the invention emcompasses Baynote Search—a enhancement over existing IR searches, Baynote Guide—a set of community-driven navigations, and Baynote Insights—aggregated views of visitor interests and trends and content gaps. |
| US07856444B2 |
Performing a search using a search parameter
A method of enabling users to perform a search using a search request form including information relating to a search request, the search request form having disposed therein or thereon coded data indicative of a search parameter. The method includes, in a computer system, receiving indicating data generated by a sensing device, the indicating data being indicative of the search parameter and an identifier of the sensing device. The computer system uses the indicating data to determine the search parameter and then performs an operation at least partially associated with a search using the search parameter, before providing results of the search to the user using the identifier. |
| US07856443B2 |
Automatic identification of DVD title using internet technologies and fuzzy matching techniques
An iterative search technique is used to quickly and accurately locate information in a database, such as one storing information about digital versatile discs (DVDs). First, a presumably unique search key is generated for an unidentified DVD and compared with corresponding keys in a database. If no match is found progressively less specific information is used to generate a series of search keys that are similarly compared with corresponding keys in the database. If at least one possibly matching record is found, it is determined whether the best matching record can be considered a match, otherwise, less specific information is used to search for a match until predefined least specific information is used. |
| US07856441B1 |
Search systems and methods using enhanced contextual queries
Systems and methods are provided for implementing searches using contextual information associated with a Web page (or other document) that a user is viewing when a query is entered. The page includes a contextual search interface that has an associated context vector representing content of the page. When the user submits a search query via the contextual search interface, the query and the context vector are both provided to the query processor and used in responding to the query. The context vector can be enhanced by the addition of terms related to one or more terms appearing in the context vector or the query. |
| US07856439B2 |
Method and system for using semantic information to improve virtual machine image management
A method for performing software operations on virtual machine images, includes: receiving a first virtual machine image that includes a mapping from a first file name to first file content; reformatting the first virtual machine image by: creating a unique ID for the first file content; and decoupling the mapping of the first virtual machine image by creating an image manifest that maps the first file name to the unique ID, and creating a store that contains the first file content and that maps the unique ID to the first file content; and performing a software operation on the first virtual machine image using the reformatted first virtual machine image. |
| US07856435B2 |
Selecting keywords representative of a document
The method makes use of a given ontology to select keywords representative of a given document. The method finds all the terms in an ontology that occur in a document, and computes their frequency of occurrences in the document. The method then propagates these values from the leaves upwards to the root of the ontology during which it weights them. The method then selects a subset of terms of the ontology structure as keywords representative of the document based on these weights. |
| US07856428B2 |
Method, computer program product and device for importing a plurality of data sets into a system
A method for importing a plurality of data sets into a system, each data set comprising data segments separated by a separator, the method comprising the steps of: providing data sets to be imported on a data storage medium, reading the data sets from the data storage medium, storing the data sets in a first table in the system, substantially without processing the data sets, reading the stored data sets from the first table, and writing one or more data segments of each data set into sub-tables, each sub-table comprising at least one data field. Furthermore, it is disclosed a computer program product and a device for importing a plurality of data sets into a system. |
| US07856426B2 |
UDDI registry extension for rating UDDI artifacts
A method and system to provide subjective evaluations for artifacts in a Universal Description Discovery and Integration (UDDI) registry (version 3 or later). An extension to a UDDI registry receives a request from a client to add a subjective evaluation to an artifact in the UDDI registry, the request including a key identifying the artifact and an evaluation value to be associated with the artifact. The extension stores an evaluation, including the artifact identifying key and the associated evaluation value. The extension receives a request from a client to find a specific type of artifact in the UDDI registry, the request including an evaluation qualifier. The extension receives from the registry a list of keys identifying artifacts responsive to the request. The extension then provides the client with a list of stored evaluation values associated with the artifact keys in the artifact list. |
| US07856425B2 |
Article of manufacture and system for fast reverse restore
Techniques are provided for performing a copy operation. A fast reverse restore command indicating a new source and a new target is received, wherein the new source is an original target and the new target is an original source. A synchronous scan is performed on the new target. A new target structure associated with the new target is updated using a new source structure associated with the new source. Techniques are also provided for performing a copy operation in which a fast reverse restore command is received after an instant virtual copy has been performed from a new target to a new source and wherein the fast reverse restore command is performed before a background copy has been performed by the instant virtual copy. |
| US07856419B2 |
Method and system for storage replication
Consistent replicas of a data object are created using a replication protocol that includes an opportunistic replication phase followed by a consistent replication phase. During the opportunistic replication phase, dirty regions are selected from the data object included in a primary computer and copied to a data object replica included in a secondary computer according to a selection heuristic. During the consistent replication phase, an immutable image of the data object is created by the primary computer and the remaining dirty regions are copied from the immutable image of the data object to the data object replica to create a consistent replica of the data object. |
| US07856417B2 |
Method and system for filing electronic mails
A method and system for filing electronic mails is disclosed. The method executed on the client side of a mail application allows to propose to a user a list of relevant folders that have been previously used to store e-mails in relation with the current e-mail to be stored. The relationship between the e-mail is determined by analyzing the content of different message fields of the e-mail header. |
| US07856416B2 |
Automated latent star schema discovery tool
A method, computer program product, and data processing system for computer-aided design of multidimensional data warehouse schemas are disclosed. A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a software tool for identifying a latent star schema structure within an existing database. This software tool performs a heuristic analysis of the existing database schema to locate potential keys and measurement fields. Database tables within the existing schema are scored heuristically as to their suitability as fact tables based on the key candidates and measurement fields. For each fact table, other tables from the existing schema are identified as possible dimension tables. Data from the database is then used to test the suitability of the fact tables and dimension tables. The identified fact tables and their associated dimension tables are then reported to the user to reveal a basic star schema structure, which can be used as a basis for further design. |
| US07856414B2 |
Assured archival and retrieval system for digital intellectual property
A system and method of use for permanently archiving intellectual properties (IP) in a digital archival system. An owner contributes each IP with an initial financial contribution including a discrete archival endowment which is sufficient to fund archival of the IP for an assured archival period. A plurality of discrete archival endowments can be pooled into one or more archival endowment funds, jointly managed for the maintenance of each archived IP. The endowment funds can be managed by a trustee separate from the management of the digital archive. Retrieval can be funded through retrieval fees or an endowment maintained separate from the archival endowment fund. Digital rights management can remunerate owners and revenue tracking can capitalize the value of each IP. Access to the archive system is preferably through a variety of membership options including owners, users, and partners. |
| US07856412B2 |
Reliability evaluation program and reliability evaluation device
A computer-readable recording medium storing a program to make a computer execute a process, the process including generating normal/abnormal patterns of paths between a start point node of application procedure and a reliability verification point node based on a node information that stores an object related to a fact confirmation at application procedure as a node and a path information that stores processing executed between nodes as path; determining whether it is possible to reach the verification point node from the start point node only via normal paths regarding each normal/abnormal pattern; generating a calculation expression to find the reliability of the application procedure as the total generation probability of the normal/abnormal patterns which was determined as reachable; and calculating the reliability of the application procedure by applying the probability of normality of the paths stored corresponding to each path in the path information. |
| US07856409B2 |
Nucleotide sequence screening
A system for screening nucleotide sequences, a method therefor, a program, a recording medium, and a server on which the screening of nucleotide sequences is executed. The solution comprises a step of storing target nucleotide sequence data and a probe nucleotide sequence, a step of generating complementary sequence data from a probe nucleotide sequence that may be bound to the target nucleotide sequence, and storing a maximum acceptable edit distance between the target nucleotide sequence and the probe nucleotide sequence, a step of reading out each nucleotide sequence data and the maximum edit distance from each storing unit, and evaluating the binding possibility of the target nucleotide sequence data and the complementary sequence data in descending order of edit distance, and a step of storing the result of the binding evaluation in a storage unit. |
| US07856407B2 |
Community awareness management systems and methods
A system and method links one or more disparate community awareness management (CAM) datasets for a community awareness program (CAP) with one or more spatial layers to create linked CAM datasets. One or more data attributes common to a CAM dataset and a spatial layer are identified, and the link is defined between the CAM dataset and the spatial layer. The spatial layer and the linked CAM dataset then may be queried using a single input query. Features from the spatial layer and features from the linked CAM dataset that match the query are generated for display. In one embodiment, a system and method manage CAP assets, transactions, interest areas for the CAP, and buffer areas for the CAP. An audience utility enables entering and maintaining audience data for the CAP. A journal utility enables making journal entries for one or more audience members, CAP assets, transactions, and/or other CAM data. A link document utility enables linking one or more documents to CAM data. |
| US07856405B2 |
Contents sales method and cyber mall system using such method and storage medium storing therein its contents sales program
A cyber mall system has a contents sales apparatus for selling digital contents, a contents purchasing apparatus, and a network for connecting these components. When digital contents are registered into the contents sales apparatus, digital contents personal using conditions are generated on the basis of digital contents using conditions and are provided to a customer. If the digital contents are again purchased after the delivery of the digital contents fails, as long as the digital contents personal using conditions provided at the time of purchase are valid, the digital contents are again delivered without again collecting a digital contents value. |
| US07856402B1 |
Video financial deposit
A video of a negotiable instrument may be provided from a user to a financial institution so that an image of the negotiable instrument may be obtained from the video and deposited in a user's bank account. In an implementation, a user may use a device such as a video camera, a web camera, or a video-enabled phone to convert an endorsed check into a video data file by making a video of the check and storing the video in a video data file. The user may send the video data file to the financial institution, where it may be processed and deposited in an account associated with the user. Any technique for sending a video data file to the financial institution may be used. |
| US07856400B2 |
Billing based on the type of printed document
Techniques are provided for billing a customer for printing services based on the type of document printed. Types of documents may include business cards, books, postcards, photographs, marketing materials, word processing documents, etc. Thus, for example, each photograph is billed at a different rate than each business card. |
| US07856395B2 |
Short-term option trading system
Option contracts are traded by valuing an option that has at least one of a) strike price or b) expiration time unknown at the time the option is valued. The previously unknown values of the option are assigned at the time or after the time the trade is completed. An implied underlying price stream is generated from the option prices through the use of feedback between market participants and the marketplace. The resulting system is useful in trading option contracts of short time duration. |
| US07856394B2 |
Computer system and a method for managing a financial transaction
The invention relates to a computer system and a method for managing a financial transaction between an issuer of a note and an investor buying the note, wherein the note is exchanged into one or more exchange traded items of the issuer's portfolio. The computer system comprises an index database for storing data relating to a specific time varying benchmark index, an item database for storing data relating to the exchange traded items to be exchanged, a calculating unit for calculating an exchange ratio between the note and at least one exchange traded item to be delivered to the investor based on at least a current level of the benchmark index and a current price of the at least one exchange traded item, and a transaction unit for delivering at least one exchange traded item in accordance with the exchange ratio to the investor upon an exchange request of either the issuer or the investor or upon maturity of the note. |
| US07856393B1 |
System and method for timed order entry and modification
A system and method for defining and processing timed orders are defined. According to one embodiment, a trader may define a timed order by defining an intra-day time trigger or a time period when the timed order should be automatically modified, such as deleted or cancelled/replaced with a new order. In one embodiment, the intra-day time trigger or time period may be dynamically changed to a later time, for example, upon receiving a predetermined user input. Also, the time trigger and time period may be configured to dynamically vary based on any user configurable formula. Also, the timed order may be associated with one or more actions to be taken once the order is deleted, such as sending a new order, for example. |
| US07856382B2 |
Aggregate user defined function (UDF) processing for multi-regression
An aggregate User Defined Function (UDF) processing used for multi-regression is provided. The aggregate UDF initializes storage space for multiple nodes of a database environment. Data is then extracted from a relational database and populated according to groupings on each of the nodes. Multiple rows or records are then processed to create a merge and multi-regression processed. |
| US07856380B1 |
Method, medium, and system for creating a filtered image set of a product
Systems and methods for collecting, selecting, and displaying an image or image set in a network based environment are described. The systems and methods can collect multiple images for any given item from multiple sources, select a desired image (or set of images) that best depicts that item, and then display that selected image (or image set) in the network based environment. The desired image (or image set) that best depicts the item can be selected using any number or combination of pre-selected criteria. By using the pre-selected criteria, the process needs no manual intervention, and can therefore be automated or semi-automated to save both time and cost. |
| US07856379B2 |
Pre-sale data broadcast system and method
A method for promoting the sale of a substitute product at the point of sale (POS). At least one POS terminal communicates with a POS server which in turn communicates with various manufacturer servers to transmit information therebetween. Upon the presentation of an original product for purchase by a consumer at a POS terminal, various manufacturers may decide to offer a substitute product to the consumer, prior to completing the purchase of the original product. As such, various manufacturers may offer promotional offers to encourage the buyer to favorably “switch” products. If the customer accepts the offer, the point of sale terminal completes the sale of the substitute product. |
| US07856378B2 |
Method and system for facilitating trading of media space
A system for trading media space includes a server node which receives requests for media space from buyers and offers of media space from sellers. The server node includes a set of rules for matching one of the requests and one of the offers to form a matched request and offer pair. A delivery system is connected to said server node for facilitating delivery of media content between the buyer and seller of the matched pair. |
| US07856375B2 |
Customized communication document creation system and method
A personalized communication document pertaining to financial products or services is provided, including a method and system for preparing the same. The financial product and/or financial services are associated with a set of separate descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications, any one of which may be presented within a personalized content section of the personalized communication documents. The documents are generated automatically by a computing system such that different consumer entities can be provided with different personalized content for a particular product/service. |
| US07856374B2 |
Training retail staff members based on storylines
Methods and apparatuses for manufacturer to present Web-based edu-games so as to train retail staff member about the manufacturer and its products and to access edu-game data and retail sales data from a database. A Website can be created to provide a point of interaction between the manufacturer, retailer, and retail staff member. By accessing this Website, the retail staff member is presented with the web-based edu-games and learns about the manufacturer and its products. The retail staff member can be presented with incentives by the manufacturer for completing the web-based training off time, which may prevent the retailer from paying for the costs of training the retail staff member. Alternately, retailers can also do training in-house (e.g., if required by statute). Manufacturers and retailers compare education levels to sales data to determine the effects of the training. |
| US07856372B2 |
Targeting content to internet enabled radio devices
Methods and systems are disclosed herein for managing content, including advertising content, delivered to various network-connected devices, including screens, mobile devices, computers, televisions, radios, and the like, based on usage profiles associated with device-specific identifiers for mobile devices, short-distance wireless technologies for transmission of content and detection of proximity, and content targeting and management techniques. |
| US07856371B2 |
Pull planning for unserviceable parts in connection with on-demand repair planning
In one embodiment, planning repairs in response to demand in a multi-level repair network includes accessing a forecasted demand for serviceable parts at a repair location and, for each inspected unserviceable part at the location that is not repairable at the location: (1) planning a move of the part to an upstream repair location such that the part can be available for repair at the upstream location at an estimated earliest time; (2) estimating a latest time at which a repair of the part can begin at the upstream location to help satisfy the forecasted demand, according to the forecasted demand and the estimated earliest time, and planning a repair at the upstream location at the estimated latest time; and (3) re-planning the move, according to the start time of the repair, by modifying a move delivery time according to a repair start time and modifying a move start time according to the modified delivery time. The re-planned move start time is an estimated latest time at which the part can be moved to the upstream location for repair to help satisfy the forecasted demand. |
| US07856369B2 |
Frequency based method for scheduling jobs with hard constraints
A method is provided for generating a feasible schedule for n jobs given a duration and a revisit time for each job. The method comprises determining whether it is impossible to generate a feasible schedule, determining whether a round robin schedule is possible, calculating theoretical probabilities, calculating actual probabilities, creating a potential schedule based on the theoretical probabilities and the actual probabilities, and searching for a feasible schedule from the potential schedule. |
| US07856365B2 |
Method and system for providing current industry specific data to physicians
The present invention provides physicians access to formulary data as well as important clinical and practice management information at the point of care on easy-to-use handheld electronic devices. The invention also provides a method for distributing medical data to medical personnel. The method comprises the steps of storing medical data in a database and periodically communicating selected medical data between the database and an electronic device to establish a medical data distribution system subsidized by sponsoring entities. The invention also provides a computer readable memory storing executable instructions for execution by a computer system such that the computer system functions in a specified manner. The instructions comprise instructions for storing medical data in a database, and instructions for periodically communicating selected medical data between the database and an electronic device to establish a medical data distribution system subsidized by sponsoring entities. |
| US07856363B2 |
Method and system for aligning a plurality of refill dates for prescriptions associated with a plurality of customers
The method, system and user-interface allows alignment of refill dates associated with a plurality of prescriptions, such that the plurality of prescriptions all require refills on the same date, thus limiting the number of occasions on which a customer must visit the pharmacy to retrieve refills of the aligned prescriptions, and increasing the likelihood that the customer will comply with the recommended medication regimen. The plurality of prescriptions are associated with a plurality of customers, for example, living in the same household, being members of the same family, or being patients in the care of a single entity or person. |
| US07856360B2 |
System for providing a service to venues where people aggregate
A system and method for providing a service to promoters, including venues and advertising sponsors, who wish to provide promotions. The service includes making promoter promotions accessible by the mobile phones of members associated with an organization. Typically a promotion and member are matched based on the member's geographical position, which may be reported by the member or determined automatically by a position sensor in their mobile phone, and optionally by the member's traits and behaviors. By accepting a promotion, a member may receive reward points which can be used to obtain goods and services. In addition to accessing promotions, members have mobile access to real-time information about the venues, such as the demographics of venue attendees and media posted by attendees concerning venue characteristics. Using the system, members can determine before going to a venue, such as a nightclub or bar, which venue has their preferred attendee demographic, atmosphere, music, cover charge, drink specials, friends, etc. |
| US07856355B2 |
Speech quality assessment method and system
In one embodiment, distortion in a received speech signal is estimated using at least one model trained based on subjective quality assessment data. A speech quality assessment for the received speech signal is then determined based on the estimated distortion. |
| US07856352B2 |
Method and system of presenting a document to a user
A method and system for presenting a document to a user. The method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of documents having one or more language translations; specifying a preferred order of languages for the user; and when the user requests a search term, searching the plurality of documents for those that contain the search term. The method comprises the further steps of matching the language translations of the documents containing the search term with the preferred order of languages for the user; and delivering, for each of the documents containing the search term, a best match language translation to the user. With the preferred embodiment of the invention, the following functionalities are enabled: (1) Present to the user his preferred translation or a default translation if the preferred has not yet been made available to the system; (2) Present to the user the “best available” translation, given an order of preference, or a default translation if none of the “better” translations are available; and (3) Present to the user the “best available” translation using a user's specified preference, or, if none of those translations are available, the “best available” according to a system level specified preference. |
| US07856351B2 |
Integrated speech recognition and semantic classification
A novel system integrates speech recognition and semantic classification, so that acoustic scores in a speech recognizer that accepts spoken utterances may be taken into account when training both language models and semantic classification models. For example, a joint association score may be defined that is indicative of a correspondence of a semantic class and a word sequence for an acoustic signal. The joint association score may incorporate parameters such as weighting parameters for signal-to-class modeling of the acoustic signal, language model parameters and scores, and acoustic model parameters and scores. The parameters may be revised to raise the joint association score of a target word sequence with a target semantic class relative to the joint association score of a competitor word sequence with the target semantic class. The parameters may be designed so that the semantic classification errors in the training data are minimized. |
| US07856346B2 |
Emulating multiple bus used within a data processing system
A test system for data processing circuit design emulates multiple bus masters and provides an arbitration mechanism for coordinating arbitration between those bus masters in the design emulation. The shared bus being tested may be a multi-layer bus and one or more of the bus masters being emulated or bus slaves being emulated may be cut-down emulations modelling the bus interaction itself or full emulations of the intended bus master circuit or bus slave circuit including its operational data processing. |
| US07856339B2 |
Product integrity tracking shipping label, system and associated method
A product integrity tracking shipping label includes a label body for attaching to a product to be shipped or to packaging containing the product. One or more movement monitoring configured with the label body detects a movement metric of the product. A microprocessor configured with the label body and in communication with the one or more movement monitoring devices time-tags the movement metric when the movement metric exceeds a pre-selected threshold. A product integrity tracking system includes a movement monitoring device with one or more sensors for attachment to a product or packaging containing the product. The movement monitoring device senses at least one movement event during handling of the product. A processor compares the movement event with a pre-selected event threshold, and time-tags and stores above-threshold movement events in a memory. Information in the memory is readable via an interrogation device during shipment or at product delivery. |
| US07856337B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring the rotational speed of the shaft of a gas turbine
A method (and corresponding apparatus) for monitoring the rotational speed of the shaft of a gas turbine having a number of spaced blades on or rotating with the shaft. The invention compensates for the errors which arise from the relative movement of turbine blade tips by deriving a correction factor for each blade and continually updating that correction factor. |
| US07856336B2 |
Forward-looking altitude detector
An altitude dead reckoning system using a measured forward speed and a measured forward-looking acceleration in a dead reckoning (DR) altitude calculator to calculate an altitude change. The DR altitude calculator may also use a measured yaw angle rate to provide compensation to improve the accuracy of the altitude change calculation. |
| US07856334B2 |
Method for calibrating a laser-based spherical coordinate measurement system by a mechanical harmonic oscillator
A method is disclosed whereby a laser-based spherical coordinate measurement system is dynamically calibrated. A mechanical oscillator, such as, but not limited to, a Foucault pendulum is used to generate periodic motions which can be fitted to Fourier series models. The residuals between the experimental measurements and the model can provide information which can be used to calibrate the instrument. The calibration information is used to augment the ASME B89.4.19-2006 standard to improve sensitivity to cyclic errors and include the servo systems. |
| US07856331B2 |
Scanner calibration
The present invention provides a method and system for optimizing the time required for scanning a document with any conventional scanner. More specifically, the present invention will utilize calibration information from the initial power-up calibration or any other calibration, and the information from any previous scans to expedite or eliminate the need for future calibration requests. This process will save time for the user to obtain an optimal scan and increase the operable life span of the scanner by eliminating many repetitive scan cycles. |
| US07856329B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing an under-sampled chirped sinusoidal waveform using a complex-heterodyne
A method of processing data acquired by under-sampling a chirped, sinusoidal waveform comprises complex-heterodyning the under-sampled data with a chirped signal having characteristics similar to the sinusoidal waveform to generate a demodulated signal and analyzing the demodulated signal to determine characteristics of the sinusoidal waveform. |
| US07856328B2 |
Systems, methods and circuits for determining potential battery failure based on a rate of change of internal impedance
Various systems and methods for determining potential battery failure are disclosed. For example, some embodiments of the present invention provide battery systems that include a battery, an embedded processor and a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium includes instructions executable by the embedded processor to measure at least one characteristic of the battery; to calculate a rate of change of internal impedance of the battery based at least in part on the at least one characteristic of the battery; and to determine a potential failure condition based on the rate of change of internal impedance of the battery. |
| US07856325B2 |
Automatic threshold setting for quantitative polymerase chain reaction
Disclosed are systems and methods for identifying and quantitating the presence of one or more DNA species in a sample population through PCR amplification. DNA species quantitation includes a determination of a threshold fluorescence value used in the assessment of the PCR amplification reaction. Various embodiments of the present invention incorporate an enhancement function useful in selecting appropriate threshold fluorescence values and facilitate the determination of DNA concentrations by quantitative PCR based methodologies. |
| US07856323B2 |
Method for analyzing blood for lipoprotein components
A new lipoprotein analysis procedure based on the CDC gold standard, analytical ultra centrifugation, having dramatically reduced the time and cost to obtain a result with a self generating continuous gradient. The method allows quantification of the risk factors of cardiovascular disease based on particle numbers of the particles of various groups and subgroups of lipoproteins. |
| US07856322B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining specificity of a candidate probe
Provided are a method and apparatus for determining specificity of a candidate probe. |
| US07856319B2 |
Diagnosis method of alcoholic steato-hepatitis using biochemical markers
The present invention is drawn to a new diagnosis method for detecting the extent of alcoholic or non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis in a patient, in particular in a patient suffering from a disease involving alcoholic or non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis or who already had a positive diagnosis test of liver fibrosis and/or presence of liver necroinflammatory lesions, by using the serum concentration of easily detectable biological markers. The invention is also drawn to diagnosis kits for the implementation of the method. |
| US07856317B2 |
Systems and methods for constructing genomic-based phenotypic models
The invention provides a computer implemented process for constructing a scalable output network model of a bioparticle. The process includes computer implemented steps of: (a) accessing a database of network gene components including an annotated network set of open reading frames (ORFs) of a bioparticle genome; (b) forming a data structure associating the network gene components with network reaction components, the data structure establishing a data set specifying a network model of connectivity and flow of the network reaction components, and (c) transforming the data set into a mathematical description of reactant fluxes defining the network model of connectivity and flow, wherein the mathematical description defines a scalable output network model of a bioparticle. |
| US07856316B2 |
Navigation system
Disclosed are a navigation system and/or a point information display method and a program. The navigation system consists mainly of: a stream receiver that receives broadcast streams; a data decoder that samples a data signal from the received streams and decodes the data signal into character string information; a matching block that performs matching to compare a predetermined keyword, which is associated with position information specified in map information data, with stored keywords and searches a keyword consistent with the keyword contained in the character string information; a position information searching block that searches position information associated with the keyword contained in the character string information and detected to be consistent with a stored keyword by the matching block; and a display unit that displays the detected position information while superimposing it on a display image. |
| US07856314B2 |
Exhaustive swarming search strategy using distributed pheromone maps
Method and systems for using agents to perform an operation (e.g., a search) over a geographic area are provided. The system can first create a digital map of the geographic region divided into cells that contain information about the progress of an operation related to the geographic region. Next, the system can calculate a distance gradient of the digital map. The distance gradient indicates the distance from cells of the digital map to the nearest unoperated cell. The system can determine the next move for each agent based on the distance gradient. Also described are methods and systems for efficiently exchanging digital map information among agents and for distributing agents to increase network coverage and decrease agent crowding. |
| US07856312B2 |
System, apparatus and method for mapping
The present invention provides a novel apparatus and method for mapping of urban regions. An apparatus includes the remote sensing equipment that is connected to a computer processor. The remote sensing equipment gathers imaging data about an urban region. The computer processor interprets the imaging data to generate a map of the urban region comprising representations that identify a first set of indicia representing physiographic characteristics, a second set of indicia representing different types of built forms, and a third set of indicia representing patterns of human activity associated with both the physiographic characteristics and the built forms. The map can also include a fourth set of indicia representing an intensity level that at least one of the other types of indicia occurs. |
| US07856310B2 |
Method of developing traffic messages
A method is disclosed for developing traffic messages. The method obtains traffic data indicating collected traffic speeds at various locations on a road network. Traffic messages are developed from the traffic data. The method obtains ground truth data indicating ground truth speeds at a subset of the locations on the road network. The ground truth speed represents average speed of vehicles at one of the locations. For those locations for which ground truth speed has been obtained, the method computes a traffic quality value comparing the collected traffic speed to the ground truth speed for the location. The traffic messages and traffic quality data representative of the traffic quality values are transmitted. |
| US07856307B2 |
Fuel injection control device and method for multi-fuel engine
A fuel injection control device for a multi-fuel engine includes a corrector and a reviewer. An alcohol concentration learning unit is provided to learn an alcohol concentration in an injected fuel based on an oxygen concentration detected in an exhaust gas. A fuel injection amount controller is provided to control a fuel injection amount based on a learning value corresponding to the oxygen concentration. The corrector is configured to reduce the fuel injection amount corresponding to the learning value for a predetermined time period when the learning value is higher than a threshold value when an engine is started. The reviewer is configured to review the learning value to provide a revised learning value based on the oxygen concentration while the corrector reduces the fuel injection amount. The fuel injection amount is controlled based on the revised learning value after the corrector reduces the fuel injection amount. |
| US07856304B2 |
Engine torque control
A method of achieving a desired torque output of an internal combustion engine includes determining a first air-per-cylinder (APC) value based on a first APC relationship and determining a second APC value based on a second APC relationship. An APC error is determined based on the second APC value. Operation of the engine is regulated based on the first APC value when the APC error is greater than a threshold error. Operation of the engine based on the second APC value when the APC error is not greater than the threshold error. |
| US07856295B2 |
Device for issuing authorization to act on the operating conditions of an aircraft engine and engine control system comprising same
A device for issuing authorization to act on the operating conditions of an aircraft engine and engine control system includes a first unit for determining particular parameters concerning the aircraft, including the position of a power lever controlling the supply of fuel to the engine, and a second unit for determining, based on the particular parameters, whether the aircraft is in a state authorizing an action on the operating conditions of the engine and for issuing, as the case may be, a corresponding authorization signal. |
| US07856294B2 |
Intelligent system and method for spacecraft autonomous operations
The intelligent system for autonomous spacecraft operations includes an on-board Autonomous Operations subsystem integrated with an on-ground Web-based Remote Intelligent Monitor System (RIMS) providing interface between on-ground users and the autonomous operations intelligent system. The on-board Autonomous Operation subsystem includes an On-Orbit Checkout Engine (OOCE) unit and an Autonomous Tasking Engine (ATE) unit. Spacecraft Command Language (SCL) engine underlies the operations of the OOCE, ATE and RIMS, and serves as an executer of commands sequences. The OOCE uses the SCL engine to execute a series of SCL command scripts to perform a rapid on-orbit checkout of subsystems/components of the spacecraft in 1-3 days. The ATE is a planning and scheduling tool which receives requests for “activities” and uses the SCL scripts to verify the validity of the “activity” prior to execution, and scheduling the “activity” for execution or re-scheduling the same depending on verification results. Automated Mission Planning System (AMPS) supports the ATE operations. The ATE uses a priority schedule if multiple “activities” are to be executed. |
| US07856290B2 |
Nesting negotiation for self-mobile devices
Disparate robotic devices can be automatically recharged and reprogrammed by self-scheduling individual time slots for the available recharging area(s) of a charging station. These charging stations provide a nest to which each robot must return periodically for power. These nests can also provide new tasking or patches for the robotic devices. The charging station and the robotic devices are both provided with communications capabilities and a protocol by which they can negotiate to find a time slot in which the device can be recharged, as well as determining a correct connector and a battery type. |
| US07856288B2 |
Imprint system and imprint method
An imprint system has a design data storing section which stores template information and remaining film thickness set value information, a vaporization-to-be-compensated storing section which stores a plurality of distributions of applied amounts for compensating vaporization, an arithmetic section which calculates a distribution of an applied amount for filling a pattern based upon the template information, calculates a distribution of an applied amount for forming a remaining film thickness based upon said remaining film thickness set value information, calculates a pattern density of the template from the template information, extracts a distribution of an applied amount for compensating vaporization, corresponding to this pattern density, from the vaporization-to-be-compensated storing section, and adds up this extracted distribution of an applied amount for compensating vaporization, the distribution of an applied amount for filling a pattern, and the distribution of an applied amount for forming a remaining film thickness, to calculate a distribution of an applied amount of the imprint member, and an application section which applies the imprint member on the substrate based upon the distribution of an applied amount of the imprint member. |
| US07856281B2 |
On-line adaptive model predictive control in a process control system
A method of creating and using an adaptive DMC type or other MPC controller includes using a model switching technique to periodically determine a process model, such as a parameterized process model, for a process loop on-line during operation of the process. The method then uses the process model to generate an MPC control model and creates and downloads an MPC controller algorithm to an MPC controller based on the new control model while the MPC controller is operating on-line. This technique, which is generally applicable to single-loop MPC controllers and is particularly useful in MPC controllers with a control horizon of one or two, enables an MPC controller to be adapted during the normal operation of the process, so as to change the process model on which the MPC controller is based to thereby account for process changes. The adaptive MPC controller is not computationally expensive and can therefore be easily implemented within a distributed controller of a process control system, while providing the same or in some cases better control than a PID controller, especially in dead time dominant process loops, and in process loops that are subject to process model mismatch within the process time to steady state. |
| US07856280B2 |
Process control and optimization technique using immunological concepts
An integrated optimization and control technique performs process control and optimization using stochastic optimization similar to that used in biological immune systems during on-line operation of a process, the technique collects and stores indications of process control states. During steady-state operation, the technique optimizes process operation by developing sets of process control inputs from stored process control states using an objective function that defines an optimality criterion. Moreover, after one or more disturbance inputs experiences a significant change, the technique responds by comparing the changed disturbance inputs to the disturbance inputs of at least some of the stored process control states to determine the stored process control states that are closest to the new process operating condition. The technique then develops a new set of control inputs based on the control inputs associated with the stored process control states determined to be closest to the new process operating condition. |
| US07856279B2 |
Module structure and use for industrial control systems
A logical module for an industrial automation system is provided. This includes one or more resources to perform an action and a logic component to control a state of the resources. A module employs the resources and the logic component to expose functionality of the module while providing generic interfaces to external components of the module. |
| US07856278B2 |
Programmable controller device
A programmable controller device has a main body with a CPU unit and I/O units connected by a bus line and a power unit for supplying power to the main body. The CPU unit has a memory with a user access area which is accessible by instruction of user program. The power unit generates status data related to itself such as its temperature. A data transmission path is provided between the CPU unit and the power unit for transmitting such status data to the user access area. |
| US07856268B2 |
Ischemia detection for anti-arrhythmia therapy
An exemplary method includes detecting arrhythmia, detecting myocardial ischemia, determining whether the myocardial ischemia comprises local ischemia or global ischemia and, in response to the determining, calling for delivery of either a local ischemic anti-arrhythmia therapy or a global ischemic anti-arrhythmia therapy. Various other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. |
| US07856265B2 |
High voltage capacitor route with integrated failure point
An implantable medical device may have a circuit failure mode. The disclosed circuit may have an integrated failure point designed to fail prior to those portions of the circuit. The integrated failure point may include a narrowed portion of a high voltage lead and a grounded lead having a narrow gap separating the grounded lead from the narrowed portion of the high voltage lead. During a high stress fault condition the narrowed portion of the high voltage lead acts as a fuse, forming a vaporized cloud of metal, which shorts current in the high voltage lead across the narrow gap to the grounded lead, thus protecting the remaining portion of the circuit from the high stress condition. |
| US07856259B2 |
In-built FM antenna
A portable communication device including a casing having a front section and a back section is provided. The back section may at least partly made of an electrically conducting material. The casing also may enclose a ground plane and a radio circuit that is connected to a radiation receiving antenna element and the ground plane. The radiation receiving antenna element is provided in an area of electrically conducting material of the back section of the casing. |
| US07856258B2 |
Portable device
The portable device includes: a first casing; a second casing; and a hinge which joins the first and second casings, the first and second casings being capable of turning on the hinge to open and close with respect to each other, wherein when the portable device is in a closed state where the first and second casings close, a first part of the first casing and a first part of the second casing face each other, a second part of the first casing protrudes from behind the second casing, and a second part of the second casing protrudes from behind the first casing, the second parts of the first and second casings being opposite to each other across the first parts of the first and second casings. |
| US07856257B2 |
Portable communications terminal
There is provided a portable communications terminal capable of displaying on a main display portion detailed information about a history of incoming calls of a plurality of categories by a single transition from a closed state to an open state.A user makes a setting, by way of an operation section 17, on histories of incoming calls of categories whose detailed information is desired to be displayed. A newly-arrived information management section 21 generates a data table from the information input by way of the operation section 17, and records the table into newly-arrived information memory 22. Upon acquisition of new history information, the newly-arrived information management section 21 collectively records the history information into the newly-arrived information memory 22 and displays the information on a sub-display portion 18. Subsequently, when two housings are detected to have been opened, the history of incoming calls is updated in accordance with the information recorded in the newly-arrived information memory 22 and displayed on a main display portion 19. |
| US07856245B2 |
Multimode wireless communication device
A multimode wireless communication device includes a first circuit having a digital baseband processing module to convert outbound data into outbound digital baseband signals and to convert inbound digital baseband signals into inbound data, an analog to digital converter module to convert inbound analog baseband signals into the inbound digital baseband signals, and a digital to analog converter module to convert the outbound digital baseband signals into outbound analog baseband signals. A second circuit includes a first radio section and a third circuit includes a second radio section. A diversity antenna arrangement includes a first antenna, a second antenna, a first diplexer coupled to the first antenna, and a second diplexer coupled to the second antenna, that selectively couples the first radio section to one of the first antenna and the second antenna, and that selectively couples the second radio section to one of the first antenna and the second antenna. |
| US07856243B2 |
Power control for a radio transceiver that uses interference cancellation
A signal power associated with a signal received in a current time period is determined. The determined signal power is combined with a predicted effective interference to form a predicted signal-to-interference indicator. The predicted signal-to-interference indicator is compared to a target signal-to-interference indicator. One or more transmit power control commands are generated based on the comparison. In one example embodiment, the predicted effective interference is based on an effective interference estimated for a previous time period. In another example embodiment, the predicted effective interference is based on interference contributions estimated in a current time period and a predicted interference cancellation efficiency. The predicted interference cancellation efficiency is based on the estimated interference cancellation efficiency for a previous time period. The technology is particularly useful in receivers that use interference cancellation and achieves excellent transmit power control performance both in terms of accuracy and speed. |
| US07856242B2 |
Method and apparatus for interactive audience participation at a live entertainment event
The present invention relates to a method for providing interactive audience participation at live entertainment events. The method includes providing audience members with an interactive device that presents a promotional message and includes a user interface, broadcasting audio programming to the audience member through the interactive device, querying the audience members, wherein answers to the querying may be entered by the audience member via the user interface of the interactive device, transmitting the answers to a central processor, storing the answers as audience data, processing the audience data into results, storing the results of the processing of the audience data and broadcasting the results of the processing of the audience data. |
| US07856237B1 |
Method for transmission of location-specific information
A method for transmission of location-specific information is described. Content transmitters are positioned at different locations and information which is specific for this location is stored in a content memory for each content transmitter. Each content transmitter transmits this location-specific information in a spatially narrowly bounded transmission area. On entering the transmission area, a mobile receiving unit receives the location-specific information, processes it further and causes it to be displayed. |
| US07856233B2 |
System, method, and device for providing communications using a distributed mobile architecture
An authentication, authorization, and accounting module of a first distributed mobile architecture is disclosed and includes a home location register. The home location register provides information associated with one or more mobile subscribers that are registered with the first distributed mobile architecture. Also, the information within the home location register at the first distributed mobile architecture is also provided at a first community location register at a second distributed mobile architecture that is accessible to the first distributed mobile architecture. The module further includes a second community location register that includes information associated with one or more mobile subscribers registered with the second distributed mobile architecture. |
| US07856230B1 |
System and method for reconnecting dropped mobile telephone calls
The present invention provides a system and method for reconnecting a dropped mobile telephone call without input from the dropped party or the remaining party. In accordance with the present invention, the system determines that a call has been terminated abnormally, possibly due to an unsuccessful transition between cell towers. The system then initiates reconnection of the dropped party with the remaining party with no input from either party. The remaining party may optionally hear a recorded message while the call is reconnected. |
| US07856229B2 |
System for personal management information applications
The present invention relates to a system comprising a processor, a memory unit and a display screen, wherein said memory contains instructions that when executed implement a method of importing selected information into a first application, comprising the step of capturing within a displayed screen of a second application a first format of information that includes a plurality of selectable information value types, whereby at least two out of the plurality of information value types have a different value type attribute, whereby each value type attribute is correlated with a local position of the system. The invention relates further to a process for establishing a connection between a portable computer system comprising a processor, a memory unit and a display screen and a plurality of subgroups consisting of interconnected computer systems comprising the steps, wherein said memory contains instructions that when executed implement a method of importing selected information into a first application. |
| US07856228B2 |
Measurement, collection, distribution and reporting of atmospheric data
For improved reliability and relevancy of reporting of atmospheric condition data, faster access to the data, and more geographically granular collection of data, data pertaining to atmospheric conditions is measured at network towers, collected, managed, distributed and presented according to a requested service. Weather data is measured and collected at a granularity greater than previously existing systems by communicatively coupling and generally co-locating weather or atmospheric measuring instruments to existing mobile network towers, and collecting and distributing the data as part of enhanced services for end users. Accordingly, when weather data is collected from the measuring instruments placed on network towers according to the present invention, and aggregated at one or more servers, the weather data may be distributed to end users of the communications networks with greater relevancy. Any of the voice/data, control and broadcast channels of an applicable mobile communications network may be utilized. |
| US07856224B2 |
Systems and methods for recovering a signal of interest from a complex signal
A system for recovering a signal of interest from a complex signal is provided. The system includes a plurality of different oscillators. Each of the plurality of oscillators is configured to facilitate improving a signal-to-noise ratio of an input complex signal by adjusting an oscillation frequency of each of the plurality of oscillators based on an input frequency of interest of the input complex signal. |
| US07856219B2 |
Transformer coils for providing voltage isolation
A circuit package providing voltage isolation includes at least one output and first circuitry located in a substrate of the circuit package for performing an operation. A transformer located in the metal layers of the circuit package provides voltage isolation between the first circuitry and the at least one output. |
| US07856216B2 |
Diversity receiver and gain adjusting method therefor
Reception levels are measured in respective branches to compare the results of the measurements with one another to select the result of the measurement of a maximum reception level which is the highest reception level. The gains of variable gain amplifiers (6, 7) of all the branches including variable gain amplifiers (6, 7) included in a branch corresponding to the maximum reception level are adjusted to the same value such that output levels of the variable gain amplifiers (6, 7) are set to a preset target level. |
| US07856208B2 |
Dynamic antenna control
Undesired interfering signal sources within a wireless communication network disturb the radio communication between radio base stations and mobile stations. The invention presents a method and device wherein the beam pattern of an antenna, comprising two or more sectorized antenna elements with overlapping beam patterns, is adapted such that the position of the source of interfering signal is preferably substantially located within the overlap of said beam patterns. The one or more beam patterns are adapted in bearing such that the resulting interfering signal is reduced by the superimposing effect of radio wave propagation within the overlap area. |
| US07856206B2 |
System and method for manually adjustable directional antenna
Systems and methods for a manually adjustable directional antenna are disclosed. The device includes a housing and the housing includes a wireless modem, a directional antenna and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism is coupled to the directional antenna via a mounting pipe. Alternatively, the housing includes a directional antenna, an adjustment mechanism, and a connector, which couples the directional antenna to an external modem. The adjustment mechanism may be an adjustment knob for the directional antenna within the housing or a rotatable turntable used to support and rotate the entire housing, including the directional antenna. |
| US07856205B2 |
Conversion from note-based audio format to PCM-based audio format
A system and method for converting a polyphonic note-based audio object to a Pulse Code Modulated (PCM) audio format is disclosed. An electronic communication device includes a memory containing a polyphonic note-based audio object containing at least two notes which overlap in at least some time interval and a lookup table containing trigonometric function evaluations. The polyphonic note-based audio object contains note frequency information. The polyphonic note-based audio object is converted to a PCM stream by generating PCM code words for each sample point in the PCM stream based upon the polyphonic note frequency information. The PCM code words are determined based upon selection of one or more of the trigonometric function evaluations within the look-up table. A speaker outputs audio based upon the PCM formatted stream. |
| US07856204B2 |
Method of using a telephone device to view content stored therein on a nearby display screen which is not physically connected to the telephone device
A telephone device is used to establish two-way communication with a remotely located entity, or to transfer content from a display screen of the telephone device to a nearby display screen for full viewing of the content. The two-way communication is initiated by an object emitting a signal containing a telephone number to the telephone device, which, in turn, automatically dials the telephone number. |
| US07856201B2 |
Image transfer fixation apparatus and image formation apparatus
A transfer fixation apparatus includes: a fixing member that carries the toner image; a pressurizing member that becomes in contact with the fixing member with pressure to form a nip through which the recording target medium is transported; and a plurality of heating members that are provided at relatively upstream positions when viewed from the relatively downstream nip and apply heat to the surface of the recording target medium that is transported toward the nip, wherein the number of heating members that apply heat to the surface of the recording target medium is changed depending on whether the transfer of the toner image is performed only on the front side of the recording target medium or the transfer of the toner image is performed also on the reverse side of the recording target medium after the transfer of the toner image on the front side of the recording target medium. |
| US07856198B2 |
Toner cartridge and image forming apparatus
A toner cartridge includes: a cartridge main body having an opening; a toner chamber that is provided inside the cartridge main body and contains toner; an open-close member that opens/closes the opening by moving; and a regulation part that regulates movement of the open-close member in an opening/closing direction when the cartridge main body is moved in a direction where it is removed/attached to/from an image forming apparatus, wherein the opening enables movement of the toner between a position inside the toner chamber and a position outside the cartridge main body. |
| US07856197B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method including toner replenishment
An image forming apparatus including a toner bottle, accommodation unit, door unit, drive unit and developing unit. The toner bottle stores toner. The accommodation unit accommodates the toner bottle such that the toner bottle lies in the accommodation unit. The door unit covers the toner bottle. The drive unit rotates the toner bottle to supply the toner stored in the toner bottle and renders the toner bottle not to be rotated during a time the door is opened. The developing unit is set in a printable state during a time the toner bottle is detached from the accommodation unit after the door unit is opened. A corresponding method is also described. |
| US07856196B2 |
Developing housing and conveying device and image forming apparatus having the same
A developing device includes a developer holding member that carries a developer; an upper developer housing section that houses the developer; a lower developer housing section that has a bottom surface lower than a bottom surface of the upper developer housing section and houses the developer; a toner supply section that includes an upper toner supply part, a lower toner supply part, and a toner transport section; an upper conveying section that includes a rotation shaft, a first conveying member, a second conveying member, and a diameter direction conveying part; and a lower conveying section that conveys at least one of the developer and the toner in a direction opposite to the conveying direction by the first conveying member. |
| US07856192B2 |
Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a movable member movable from an outside of the main assembly of the apparatus to an inside thereof while carrying the cartridge. The cartridge includes a drum, charging and developing rollers, rotatably connected first and second frames supporting different rollers, drum and developing roller driving force receiving portions, first and second portions-to-be-supported, on one and the other ends of the first frame, first and second portions-to-be-positioned, on one and the other ends of the first frame positioned to first and second main assembly side positioning portions during a lowering movement of the movable member toward a transfer belt, charging and developing bias contacts exposed at the other end, and a portion-to-be-urged, on the first frame upper surface for receiving an elastic force to position the process cartridge relative to the main assembly. |
| US07856189B2 |
Image forming apparatus and a method of effectively detecting toner state in the same
An image forming apparatus includes an optical sensor configured to optically detect a density of a reference pattern image, a toner density sensor configured to detect a density of toner in a developing unit, a storing unit configured to store an image area coverage of an output image, a determining unit configured to determine whether a state of toner accommodated in a toner supplying unit is an almost empty state and an empty state or neither based on detection results obtained by the sensors, a controlling unit configured to continuously perform a toner state check when the image area coverage of the output image is greater than a predetermined image area coverage value and the density of the reference pattern image is greater than a predetermined density level after the determination of the state of toner is the almost empty state or the empty state or neither. |
| US07856187B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes: an image forming unit; a fixing unit having a heating part; a rotary drive unit; a driving force transmission unit including a displacement part displaceable to a transmitting position where rotation of the rotary drive unit is transmitted to the fixing unit and a non-transmitting position where the rotation of the rotary drive unit is not transmitted to the fixing unit; a cover configured to cover the heating part; a lock unit configured to selectively lock the cover; and a link unit configured to link the lock unit with the displacement part so that the lock unit locks the cover when the displacement part is displaced to the transmitting position and unlocks the cover when the displacement part is displaced to the non-transmitting position. |
| US07856186B2 |
Image forming apparatus and power control method thereof
An image forming apparatus including: a body; an electronic unit; a replaceable unit that is detachably installed within the body; a power supply that generates and outputs a predetermined operation voltage; a high voltage generating part that receives the operation voltage and generates and outputs a high voltage; an electronic unit driving part that receives the operation voltage and regulates a driving voltage supplied to the electronic unit; and a controller that controls the power supply to cut off the operation voltage if the replaceable unit is not installed within the body. Also taught is a method of operating the image forming apparatus. |
| US07856181B2 |
Stereoscopic imaging device
A compound-eye camera comprises: a camera body substantially shaped like a rectangular solid having a front side and a back side larger than other sides and including a display device on the back side; and substantially L-shaped first and second lens barrels, each storing a refractive optical system including two reflective optical elements for refracting a photographing optical axis twice, the lens barrels guiding subject images incident on a pair of right and left objective lenses to image sensors. In the camera, the substantially L-shaped first and second lens barrels are each disposed along two adjacent inner surfaces of the camera body. Thereby, a compound-eye camera which has excellent portability and enables the installation of a large display device is achieved. |
| US07856179B2 |
Image stabilization control circuit and image-capturing device
An image stabilization control circuit of an image-capturing device prevents overflow of data in an integration process performed in a digital signal process on a signal outputted by a gyro-sensor. A gyro-filter receives, as an input, fixed-point format angular velocity data (Dω) obtained by subjecting an output signal from the gyro-sensor to an analog-to-digital conversion. In the gyro-filter, an input format conversion circuit converts from fixed-point format to floating-point format. A camera shake vibration component is obtained from the floating-point format Dω, is integrated, and data (Dθ) corresponding to an oscillation angle is generated. After a centering process is performed, Dθ is converted from floating-point format to fixed-point format by an output format conversion circuit, and outputted from the gyro-filter. A drive signal for driving an image stabilization mechanism is generated on the basis of the data outputted by the gyro-filter. |
| US07856177B2 |
Lens apparatus and camera
An optical apparatus includes a photographic optical system including an image stabilizing unit supported by a support member via a plurality of elastic members, an actuator configured to drive the image stabilizing unit in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis thereof, a position detection unit configured to detect a position in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the image stabilizing unit, a gravitational direction determination unit configured to determine a gravitational direction based on an output from the position detection unit, a setting unit configured to set a holding position at which the image stabilizing unit is held based on information concerning the gravitational direction output from the gravitational direction determination unit, and a control unit configured to control the actuator based on information concerning the holding position to move the image stabilizing unit to the holding position. |
| US07856176B2 |
Method and apparatus for compensating hand-trembling of camera
A method and apparatus for compensating hand-trembling of a camera with reduced time required for capture compensated images. The method may include: calculating exposure time proper for preventing hand-trembling using an AE (Automatic Exposure) algorithm during an image-capturing standby mode; executing image-capturing multiple times depending on the exposure time at the time of inputting a photographing signal through a photographing button, and detecting the amount of hand-trembling at each time of image-capturing. The storing of images can be selected by a preset number of required images from the captured images as resultant images, the images being sequentially stored from an image having a lowest amount of hand-trembling as a resultant image, whereby an image with reduced hand-trembling can be obtained. |
| US07856173B2 |
Shooting device for electrical image stabilizing using relationship between stabilization information and shooting condition
A shooting device includes a image sensor for capturing an image of a subject, a detection unit detecting stabilization information from the image, a stabilization information recording unit associating a shooting condition during shooting with the detected stabilization information and recording the shooting condition and the stabilization information, and an electronic image stabilization unit. The electronic image stabilization unit extracts the stabilization information corresponding to the shooting condition having a predetermined relationship with the shooting condition by referring to the stabilization information recording unit using the shooting condition, and stabilizes the shooting device shake based on the extracted stabilization information. |
| US07856172B2 |
Jiggle measuring system and jiggle measuring method
A camera shake measurement system includes a display unit for sequentially displaying a plurality of distinguishable test patterns, a first storage unit for storing as a template each of the plurality of test patterns to be displayed, a second storage unit for storing a composite image produced by photographing at least two test patterns as still images from the plurality of test patterns to be sequentially displayed by a photographing apparatus, and a pattern recognition unit for recognizing images that match each of the templates from the composite image by calling the templates from the first storage unit, calling the composite image from the second storage unit, and moving, for each of the called templates, the template while superposing the template on the composite image. |
| US07856167B2 |
Image playback apparatus and method, and program
The present invention relates to an image playback apparatus and method, and a program for enabling a quick display of a last picture of moving pictures during fast forward playback as well as a first picture of the moving pictures during fast reverse playback. Concerning GOPs from a GOP at which the fast forward playback is started to a GOP#(N−1) that is immediately prior to a last GOP#N, encoded video data of I-pictures is stacked in a stream buffer, whereas concerning the last GOP#N, the encoded video data of all frames is stacked in the stream buffer. To the last GOP#N, only I-pictures are decoded and displayed. Thereafter the I-picture and the P-pictures in the last GOP#N is decoded, and only the last picture is displayed. The present invention can be applied to DVD players or the like. |
| US07856165B2 |
Optical waveguide film and manufacturing method thereof
An optical waveguide film includes a film including a clad layer and a core layer covered by the clad layer; and an adhesive layer formed at least on one surface of the film, having a rough structured surface having an arithmetic mean surface roughness of 0.1 to 2.0 μm, and having a storage modulus at 25° C. of 10 to 100 MPa obtained by dynamic viscoelastic measurement in torsion mode with a frequency of 1 Hz. |
| US07856162B2 |
Large mode area fiber amplifiers with reduced stimulated brillouin scattering
A large mode area fiber amplifier suitable for high power applications includes a core region specifically configured to allow for high power operation while also limiting the amount of SBS that is generated. The composition of the core region is selected to include a dopant (such as aluminum) in selected areas to reduce the acoustic refractive index of the core and limit the spatial overlap between the acoustic and optical fields. The acoustic refractive index is also structured so that the acoustic field is refracted away from the central core area. In one embodiment, the core may comprise a depressed index center portion and surrounding ring core area, with the center portion including the aluminum doping and the ring formed to have a diameter less that the phonon decay length for the operating wavelength(s). |
| US07856161B2 |
Optical fiber faceplates including convergent constituent imaging conduits and tiled imaging arrays incorporating the same
An imaging module includes an optical fiber faceplate with an image-input face, a planar image-output face, and a plurality of adjacently fused, internally reflecting imaging conduits extending between the image-input and image-output faces. The constituent imaging conduits extend along conduit axes that mutually converge in a direction that such that an image inputted through the image-input face is reduced in size along at least one dimension for outputting through the image-output face. The imaging module further includes an imaging detector array including a plurality of photosensitive detector elements arranged in accordance with a predetermined array format. The faceplate is situated in front of the detector array such that light incident upon the image-input face is transmitted through the faceplate and optically communicated to the detector elements through the image-output face. Multiple imaging modules can be tiled in tight formations in order to form a larger format imaging array. |
| US07856160B2 |
Illumination device, image display device, and projector
An image display device includes: a first face; a laser light source device emitting laser light; and a diffractive optical element on which the laser light emitted from the laser light source device is incident, generating diffracted light from the incident laser light, and illuminating the first face with the diffracted light, the first face is provided at a position on which zero-order light emitted from the diffractive optical element is not incident, and an image is displayed by light via the first face. |
| US07856156B2 |
Lithium niobate modulator having a doped semiconductor structure for the mitigation of DC bias drift
There is provided in one of the embodiments of the disclosure a lithium niobate modulator structure for mitigating DC bias drift comprising a highly doped semiconductor layer patterned above an optical waveguide having one or more DC sections and an RF section, wherein a metal layer or contact is in contact with a portion of the semiconductor layer and a buffer layer is deposited in the RF section. There is provided in another embodiment of the disclosure a method for making a lithium niobate electro-optical modulator for mitigation of DC bias drift. |
| US07856154B2 |
System and method of super-resolution imaging from a sequence of translated and rotated low-resolution images
A method and system for super-resolving images from low-resolution sequences comprising an image processor having an input for inputting multiple images of a scene with sub-pixel translations and rotations; one of the images of the scene being a reference image; and at least one memory comprising a gross translation estimation algorithm for estimating overall translations of at least one image with respect to the reference image on the image processor and aligning the inputted images according to the gross translation estimates on the image processor; a sub-pixel estimation algorithm for obtaining the sub-pixel shift and rotation of each image with respect to the reference image; and an error reduction algorithm for applying at least one spatial frequency domain constraint and at least one spatial domain constraint to the images to produce a high-resolution image. |
| US07856151B2 |
Method for edge-based multi rate image sharpness enhancement
The present invention relates to a method for processing digital image data (ID), wherein the process of multi rate, multi resolution and/or multi scale signal processing is involved in order to realize a respective multi rate, multi resolution and/or multi scale sharpness enhancement with respect to said image data (ID). |
| US07856148B2 |
Processing multiview video
Decoding a video signal comprises receiving a bitstream comprising the multiview video signal encoded according to dependency relationships between respective views, and view-dependency data representing the dependency relationships; extracting the view-dependency data and determining the dependency relationships from the extracted data; and decoding the multiview video signal according to the determined dependency relationships using illumination compensation between segments of pictures in respective views, where the multiview video signal includes multiple views each comprising multiple pictures segmented into multiple segments. |
| US07856145B2 |
Image processing system and method therefor, image processing apparatus and method, image capturing apparatus and method, program recording medium, and program
An image processing system includes an image capturing apparatus, and an image processing apparatus. The image capturing apparatus is configured to capture an image including an object, to obtain status information of the object, and to record the image and the status information of the object. The image processing apparatus is configured to specify details of a modification to be applied to the image according to the recorded image and status information of the object, to set setting information for modifying the image on the basis of the details of the modification, to extract a feature value from the image, and to record the setting information in a setting-information recording medium in association with the extracted feature value of the image. |
| US07856140B2 |
Method, computer program, computer and printing system for trapping image data
In a method or computer program product for trapping of image data, the image data in an output image per image point is prepared as color separation data, and the image data is processed. |
| US07856136B2 |
Analysis of patterns among objects of a plurality of classes
A method for the detection and analysis of patterns receives an image containing object labels and performs relational feature development using the input image to create at least one pattern map. It then performs relational feature analysis using the at least one pattern map to create a relational feature analysis result. The pattern detection and analysis method further comprises a recipe for automation control and includes determination of a genetic anomaly.A relational feature development method receives an image containing object labels and performs core measurement table development using the input image to create at least one core measurement table. It then performs feature table production using the at least one core measurement table to create at least one feature table. It also performs PatternMap creation using the at least one feature table to create a PatternMap. The relational feature development method further comprises a PatternMap integration and update step to create an updated PatternMap.A boundary distance measurement receives an image containing object labels and performs structure object mask production using the input image to create structure object mask. It then performs inner distance transform using the structure object mask to create inner distance transform image and finds individual object centroid using the input image to create individual object centroid output. In addition, it finds object boundary distance using the individual object centroid and the inner distance transform image to create object boundary distance output. |
| US07856135B1 |
System for analyzing ocular fundus images
An image analysis system provides for importing, normalizing and co-registering a plurality of ocular fundus images, or images obtained by their decomposition, analysis, processing, or synthesis. Differences between the image are determined and of those differences those that are meaningful (e.g., from a diagnostic point of view) are highlighted. Sequences of these differences, which reflect changes in the eye represented in the images, are synthesized so as to present a view of how the differences manifest over time. Structures of importance in the eye are overlapped so that the information may be presented in a meaningful fashion for diagnostic purposes. |
| US07856132B2 |
Method, a computer program, an apparatus and an imaging system for image processing
A method for processing an image comprising the steps of assigning a value of a positioning error to a detail in the image, wherein the value corresponds to a positioning uncertainty of a position of the detail in the image. The method includes visualizing the value of the positioning error enabling an interactive adjustment of the value. The method further includes storing the adjusted value of the positioning error with reference to a position of the detail in the image. |
| US07856131B2 |
Method and apparatus for internet, intranet, and local viewing of virtual microscope slides
A method of and apparatus for viewing microscopic images include transmitting tiled microscopic images from a server to a client. The client assembles the tiled images into a seamless virtual slide or specimen image and provides tools for manipulating image magnification and viewpoint. The method and apparatus also provides a virtual multi-headed microscope function which allows scattered viewers to simultaneously view and interact with a coherent magnified microscopic image. |
| US07856130B2 |
Object recognition system for medical imaging
An improved system and method (i.e. utility) for segmentation of medical images is provided. The utility fits an estimated boundary on a structure of interest in an automated selection and fitting process. The estimated boundary may be a model boundary that is generated actual boundaries of like structures. In one arrangement, the boundaries may be selected based on the age and/or ethnicity of a patient. In further arrangements, narrow band processing is performed to estimate the actual boundary of the structure of interest. |
| US07856128B2 |
Method of compensating for distortion caused by fingerprint input sensors of heterogeneous fingerprint recognition systems
A method of correcting distortion caused by fingerprint input sensors of heterogeneous fingerprint recognition systems. The method includes a first step of fabricating a measurement pattern for measuring resolutions of a fingerprint input sensor, a second step of measuring image resolutions of an image, acquired by the fingerprint input sensor, using the fabricated measurement pattern for predetermined locations and directions, a third step of designing control lines for compensating for the distortion caused by the fingerprint input sensor, based on the measured resolutions, a fourth step of obtaining average horizontal and vertical resolutions of the acquired image, a fifth step of modeling the control lines based on a ratio of the average horizontal resolution to the vertical average resolution, and a sixth step of compensating for the distortion of the acquired image based on results of the modeling. |
| US07856126B2 |
Position sensing device
A position sensing device is provided which can include a first sensing unit for outputting a detection signal periodically changing in accordance with the movement of an object, a second sensing unit for sensing a reference position of the object, and an arithmetic unit for determining position data corresponding to the position of the object based on the detection signals, where the position sensing device can determine the relative position of a lens unit. |
| US07856125B2 |
3D face reconstruction from 2D images
A 3D face reconstruction technique using 2D images, such as photographs of a face, is described. Prior face knowledge or a generic face is used to extract sparse 3D information from the images and to identify image pairs. Bundle adjustment is carried out to determine more accurate 3D camera positions, image pairs are rectified, and dense 3D face information is extracted without using the prior face knowledge. Outliers are removed, e.g., by using tensor voting. A 3D surface is extracted from the dense 3D information and surface detail is extracted from the images. |
| US07856123B2 |
Method for recognising faces by means of a two-dimensional linear discriminant analysis
The invention relates to a method for recognizing faces in digital images consisting in providing for a knowledge base which contains face images and is hierarchical into several classes each of which comprises different images of the same person. The invention relates to pre-processing said knowledge base in such a way that a minimization of variance in each class and a maximization of variance between different classes are simultaneously obtainable, thereby making it possible to form a vectorial base comprising the discriminant component of said knowledge base. The comparison of a recognizable face with a pre-processed reference face such as the knowledge base and an eventual reconstruction of a recognized face are also disclosed. |
| US07856118B2 |
Methods for recommending a personal care product and tools therefor
A method of product recommendation includes receiving an image taken of a tool, disposed against a target substrate and including a frame with an aperture in which the substrate is visible and a color correction scale disposed proximate to the aperture, the scale having at least a first color correction region and a second color correction region, the color of the first region being different than the color of the second region. The method also includes locating a color correction scale region of the image corresponding to the scale and a target substrate region of the image corresponding to the substrate visible in the aperture, analyzing the scale region to determine a color correction, correcting the image according to the color correction, extracting a set of substrate region values from the substrate region of the image, and generating a product recommendation according to the set of substrate region values. |
| US07856117B2 |
Image processing apparatus
An apparatus that embeds data in an image includes a mark embedding unit that embeds a feature that forms a predetermined pattern in the image, as a mark to be used to specify an area in which the data is embedded, and a data embedding unit that embeds the data in the image of the area specified by the mark. |
| US07856115B2 |
Optimized moving-coil loudspeaker
An optimized moving-coil loudspeaker is described herein. The loudspeaker includes an acoustic-radiating diaphragm that is non-cylindrical shape. The diaphragm is a substantially-planar substrate having uniform density. A moving-coil assembly is coupled to the acoustic-radiating diaphragm. The assembly is configured to move back and forth in a linear fashion. As the assembly is connected to the diaphragm it causes acoustic waves to be emitted from a front surface the acoustic-radiating diaphragm. The acoustic-radiating diaphragm is not supported by a conventional basket, among other differences. |
| US07856109B2 |
Audio signal switching apparatus
An audio signal switching apparatus at least comprises an audio jack, a speaker jack, a detection circuit and a control circuit. The audio jack and the speaker jack are separately configured in a computer system. The detection circuit detects whether the computer system is turned on or turned off. The control circuit is connected to the detection circuit and electrically connects the audio jack to the speaker jack when the computer system is turned off. |
| US07856104B2 |
System and method for ensuring secure communication between TV and set back box
A random number or HDCP key is sent from a TV to a set back box (SBB) over a HDMI channel, and unless the SBB returns the same random number/key to the TV over a USB link, the TV will not communicate further with the SBB. |
| US07856103B2 |
Microcontroller and authentication method between the controllers
A microcontroller includes a program memory configured to store a program group and a first encryption key; a CPU; and an identification (ID) storage section configured to store an identification data peculiar to a user of the microcontroller. The CPU executes the program group to generate a second encryption key based on the identification data and the first encryption key and to encrypt a random number with the second encryption key. |
| US07856100B2 |
Privacy-preserving data aggregation using homomorphic encryption
A method and system for collecting data from devices using a homomorphic encryption of the data is provided. A collection system of a device adds contributions to homomorphically encrypted data and forwards the requests to another device. When the device receives a reply to the request, it uncombines its contribution to the homomorphic encryption of the data. The device then forwards the reply to the previous device. The initiator device ultimately removes its contribution to the encryption and identifies the data. |
| US07856091B2 |
Telephone system responsive to call control protocol
Some embodiments provide receipt by a telephone of call control signals from an external device, the call control signals associated with a third party call control protocol, and execution of telephone call functionality in accordance with the call control signals. |
| US07856090B1 |
Automatic spim detection
A spim detection manager automatically detects and blocks spim. The spim detection manager detects a first incoming instant message from an unrecognized source, and sends a response to that source. The spim detection manager receives a second incoming instant message from the unrecognized source in reply to the sent response. The spim detection manager examines the second incoming instant message, and determines whether the incoming instant messages comprise spim based on its content. In some embodiments, the spim detection manager concludes that at least one of the incoming instant messages was generated by an automated process, and that therefore the incoming messages comprise spim. Where the spim detection manager determines that an incoming instant message comprises spim, it blocks that incoming message. Where the spim detection manager determines that an incoming instant message is legitimate, it forwards that message to the target user. |
| US07856088B2 |
System and method for integrating heterogeneous telephone mailboxes
A system and method for integrating heterogeneous phone message mailboxes in a common interface. A message record is created in a data structure of a local telephone device when a phone message received over a first telephone line is stored in a local answering device is completed. A message alert is received when a remote phone message is stored in a remote mailbox associated with a second telephone line linked to the local telephone device. The remote phone message is sent to the local telephone device for silent playback. The remote message is marked as old at the remote mailbox. A message record is created in the data structure corresponding to the remote message. A program operates to produce an ordered message record list in the data structure that includes, for example, an interleaved chronological list of all phone messages stored in the local and remote mailboxes. |
| US07856086B2 |
X-ray generator
An electron beam corresponding to radiation intensity data is output from an electron source by supplying high energy pulses p-1 through p-n, which correspond to the radiation intensity data of a radiation field, to the electron source from a power source 108. This electron beam is deflected so as to be incident in parallel to the medial axis of a plurality of X-ray target tubes 104-1 through 104-n by a deflection means comprising electromagnets, such that X-ray beams x-1 through x-n, which are produced when the electron beam collides with an inner wall of an X-ray target tube are irradiated with a desired intensity. |
| US07856075B2 |
Clock supply circuit and clock supply method
The present invention provides a clock supply device and a clock supply method by which the holdover characteristics that maintains with high precision the same frequency as the frequency observed immediately before an error can be achieved simply with the addition of a high stability oscillator. An output clock signal that is output from a conventional PLL circuit is monitored with a clock signal of a high-stability fixed oscillator, and the monitor result is written in a memory. A holdover reference generating circuit averages the result written over a certain period of time. When a frequency error monitoring circuit detects a frequency error in an input reference signal, a selector selects a holdover reference, instead of the input reference signal, and inputs the holdover reference to the PLL circuit. Alternatively, the holdover reference generating circuit may select the input of the PLL circuit at the time of an error, and then perform holdover. |
| US07856073B2 |
Digital gain adjustment in a wireless receiver
A radio receiver includes a communication interface, a mixing module, an analog to digital converter, a digital gain block, and a gain setting block. The communication interface receives a continuous time radio signal. The mixing module down converts the continuous time radio signal to a continuous time analog signal. The analog to digital converter converts the continuous time analog signal to a sequence of input digital samples. The digital gain block receives the sequence of input digital samples and gain adjusts the sequence of input digital samples based upon a gain setting to produce a sequence of output digital samples. The gain setting block produces the gain setting at any time as one of a first fixed gain setting, a second fixed gain setting, and a filtered time varying gain when transitioning between the first fixed gain setting and the second fixed gain setting. |
| US07856070B2 |
Method and system for digital baseband receiver with digital RF/IF/VLIF support in GSM/GPRS/EDGE compliant handsets
A method and system for digital baseband receiver with digital RF/IF/VLIF support in GSM/GPRS/EDGE compliant handsets. The method may comprise receiving an input signal which may be a digital RF signal, IF or VLIF signals, and the input signal may comprise of I and Q components. The serial digital RF signal may be converted to a parallel digital formatted signal, the latter of which may be transferred to an input of a multiplexer. The received IF signal or VLIF signal may be filtered and transferred to the input of the DU which may convert the VLIF signal to a baseband signal by processing the VLIF signal with a CORDIC algorithm. The DU may bypass processing the IF signal. The output of the DU may be transferred to the input of the multiplexer, such that the multiplexer may select the parallel digital formatted signal or the output of the DU. |
| US07856069B2 |
Distortion compensation apparatus
A distortion compensation apparatus includes an amplifier for amplifying an input signal, a calculation unit for obtaining a distortion compensation coefficient of the amplifier corresponding to an amplitude level of the input signal, based on the input signal input to the amplifier and an output signal output from the amplifier, a memory for storing the distortion compensation coefficient, obtained by the calculation unit, into a write address being made to correspond to the input signal amplitude level, a distortion compensation processing unit for reading out the distortion compensation coefficient from the readout address of the memory, and for performing distortion compensation processing of the input signal using the distortion compensation coefficient, and an address generator for generating the write address and the readout address, based on the input signal amplitude level. |
| US07856065B2 |
Method and apparatus for correcting IQ imbalance in an OFDM receiver
Methods and apparatus for processing received OFDM signals to compensate for distortions caused by IQ imbalances are disclosed. Receiver circuits may be configured to demodulate symbols from a first logical channel, using an uncompensated received OFDM signal that includes the effects of those distortions. Receiver circuits may be further configured to calculate an IQ imbalance parameter, using the demodulated symbols, for use in compensating the received OFDM signal to reduce the effects of the IQ imbalances. The compensated signal produced thereby may be used for demodulating symbols from a second logical channel, perhaps corresponding to a user data channel. |
| US07856064B2 |
OFDM communication apparatus and OFDM communication method
An OFDM communication apparatus that can set an optimum repetition number to data to be transmitted, thereby improving the error rate characteristic and hence the communication quality. In this apparatus, a repetition number deciding part (153) decides, based on quality information outputted from a quality information extracting part (152), a required repetition number. A systematic bit repetition number deciding part (154) decides, based on the repetition number notified of by the repetition number deciding part (153), an optimum repetition number for the systematic bit. A parity bit repetition number deciding part (155) operates similarly. Repetition parts (103-1, 103-2) repeat the bits in accordance with instructions from the systematic bit repetition number deciding part (154) and from the parity bit repetition number deciding part (155). |
| US07856059B2 |
Determining the number of unidirectional and bidirectional motion compensated frames to be encoded for a video sequence and detecting scene cuts in the video sequence
Methods for processing a set of successive video frames in two passes to determine the number of bidirectional (B) and unidirectional (P) motion compensated frames to be encoded in a video coding system. During the first pass, motion vectors and motion costs are computed for each frame and a derived cost value is computed based on the motion cost of at least one frame. The derived cost value is used to determine the number (NB) of B-frames to be encoded in the set of successive frames. In the second pass, the set of successive frames are encoded where NB frames are encoded as B-frames and some or all motion vectors computed in the first pass are re-used in the second pass. A scene cut detection method is also provided where an impulse-like increase in a ratio of motion costs is monitored. |
| US07856057B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus for motion compensation prediction
A video decoding apparatus includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included. |
| US07856056B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus for motion compensation prediction
A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations each including a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture, generating a prediction picture signal in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination, generating a predictive error signal representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal, and encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination. |
| US07856054B1 |
Scene change identification during encoding of compressed video
A video encoder identifies scene changes during the encoding of video sequences based on the distribution of macroblock types within each image. Once an image is identified as a scene change, control information is sent to a quantizer to adjust the quantization of the image to improve image quality. The image quantization is improved without changing the frame or picture type of the image within its group of pictures. To improve the image quality, the quantizer can directly or indirectly change the quantization parameter used to quantize the DCT coefficients for the image. |
| US07856049B2 |
Ranging and registering cable modems under attenuated transmission conditions
A cable modem communication system includes a plurality of Cable Modems (CMs), a CM network segment, and a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS). The CMTS segregates the plurality of CMs into a first group of CMs with which standard registering and ranging operations are performed and a second group of CMs with which attenuated transmission registering and ranging operations are performed. Each CM of the first group of CMs operable to perform registering and ranging operations by transmitting a ranging burst of a first format. Each CM of the second group of CMs operable to perform registering and ranging operations by transmitting a ranging burst of a second format that differs from the ranging burst of the first format. The CMTS may include a rake receiver that receives and demodulates a plurality of multi-path copies of the ranging burst of the second format. |
| US07856048B1 |
On-chip IQ imbalance and LO leakage calibration for transceivers
The disclosure can provide methods and systems for autocalibrating a transceiver. The method can include upconverting a bandpass input signal by mixing the bandpass input signal with a first local oscillator signal to form an initial transmitter signal. The initial transmitter signal can be looped back to a receiver and downconverted with a second local oscillator signal having a frequency that is different from the first local oscillator to form an intermediate frequency signal. At least one of a gain and a phase of the transmitter can be adjusted based on a transmitter image sideband of the intermediate frequency signal to generate a calibrated transmitter signal having minimized transmitter image sideband. |
| US07856046B2 |
Surface emitting laser diode including grating layer
A surface emitting laser diode includes a ring-shaped first semiconductor layer including an n-type clad layer, a ring-shaped active layer provided on the first semiconductor layer, and a ring-shaped second semiconductor layer which is provided on the active layer and includes a p-type clad layer and a grating layer including grating units continuously arranged in a circumferential direction, each grating unit including a plurality of regions having different refractive indices and being adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. |
| US07856043B2 |
Vertical external cavity surface emitting laser with pump beam reflector
A vertical external cavity surface emitting laser (VECSEL) using end pumping in which a pumping beam is recycled using a pumping beam reflection layer to increase pumping beam absorption is provided. The VECSEL includes: an active layer for generating and emitting signal light; an external mirror that is separated from and faces a top surface of the active layer and transmits a first portion of the signal light and reflects a second portion of the signal light to the active layer; a first reflection layer contacting a lower surface of the active layer and reflecting the signal light to the external mirror; a pump laser for emitting the pumping beam toward the lower surface of the active layer to excite the active layer; and a second reflection layer contacting the top surface of the active layer and reflecting a portion of the pumping beam back to the active layer. |
| US07856036B2 |
Point to multipoint crosslink
A communication network comprises a first central digital subscriber line (DSL) unit having at least one application port and a plurality of DSL ports; a first remote DSL unit having at least one application port and at least one DSL port, wherein the first remote DSL unit is communicatively coupled to the central DSL unit via a first single independent DSL pair having a first EOC channel; and a second remote DSL unit having at least one application port and at least one DSL port, wherein the second remote DSL unit is communicatively coupled to the central DSL unit via a second single independent DSL pair having a second EOC channel; wherein the at least one application port in the central DSL unit is communicatively coupled to an application port in at least one of the first remote DSL unit and the second remote DSL unit. |
| US07856033B2 |
Methods and systems for adaptive communication
One embodiment relates to a method for transitioning from an initial data rate utilizing an initial transmission variable to a new data rate in a multi-carrier communication system. In the method, a first function or a second function is selected to calculate a modified transmission variable, wherein the first function or second function is selected as a function of relative priorities of first and second communication parameters. The new data rate is implemented by modification of transmission variable. Other methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US07856031B2 |
Method and apparatus for guaranteeing fairness regarding access to medium among stations in WLAN
A method and apparatus for guaranteeing fairness regarding access to a medium among a plurality of stations in a wireless local area network (WLAN) where a plurality of high throughput (HT) stations and a plurality of 802.11 legacy stations coexist are provided. In the WLAN, information that allows a plurality of hearing legacy stations and a plurality of hearing HT stations which receive a data frame having an HT format transmitted by a transmitting HT station to fairly contend for use of a medium is transmitted as a frame having a format that can be interpreted by all the legacy HT stations. Therefore, the legacy stations can contend for a medium under the same conditions as the HT stations. |
| US07856029B2 |
Pre-start-up procedure for internal interface of distributed radio base station
A radio base station (20) has an internal interface (26) connecting a radio equipment (RE) (24) and a radio equipment controller (REC) (22). The radio base station performs a pre-start-up procedure or method for the internal (26). The pre-start-up procedure is performed preparatory to and/or in conjunction with a start-up procedure for the internal interface. As on e of its aspects, the pre-start-up procedure involves storing one or more previously proven combinations of line bit rate and protocol as stored combination(s) for use on the internal interface. Prior to synchronization of the internal interface, the stored combination(s) are retrieved and included in a temporary available set of combinations of line bit rate and protocol. Thereafter the start-up procedure for the internal interface is initiated for the purpose of determining efficacy of the temporary available set. Should synchronization of the physical layer by the start-up procedure succeed, the pre-start-up procedure uses a valid combination of line bit rate and protocol in the available set for negotiating between the radio equipment controller (REC) and the radio equipment (RE). Should the start-up procedure fail, the pre-start-up procedure removes a failed combination of line bit rate and protocol from the set. |
| US07856028B2 |
Power dissipation management for wired transceivers
A system, method and apparatus for reducing a power consumed by a physical layer device (PHY). A length of a cable connecting the PHY to a link partner is determined. Based on the length, power provided to one or more components of the PHY, or any portion thereof, is reduced. The power provided is reduced while maintaining a level of reliability specified by a protocol governing operation of the PHY. The length can be determined using time-domain reflectometry (TDR) techniques. Any portion of an echo cancellation filter, a crosstalk filter, an equalizer, a precoder, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a forward error correction (FEC) decoder and/or an FEC coder can be powered-down or power-optimized to reduce the overall power consumed by the PHY. The protocol governing operation of the PHY can be IEEE 802.3. |
| US07856025B2 |
Method and system for intercommunicating between private network user and network with QoS guarantee
A method and a system for intercommunicating between a private network user and a network with QoS guarantee are provided. The bearer control layer entity and the application layer entity obtain the address (port) translation information in the network with independent bearer control layer, and then allocate the resources for the private network user based on the address (port) translation information. According to the present invention, the various function entities may process transmission and translation of the private addresses correctly and hence accomplish a correct addressing and resource allocation. Thus, the problems that the end-to-end QoS resource allocation cannot be accomplished and the end-to-end QoS cannot be guaranteed when the user uses a private address are solved. |
| US07856023B2 |
Secure virtual private network having a gateway for managing global ip address and identification of devices
A gateway apparatus (100) is capable of connecting to an internal network (10) and an external network (50), and includes an information management unit (120) for managing a global IP address of the gateway apparatus and identification information for a device to be permitted to connect to the internal network. The information management unit transmits the global IP address and the identification information over the external network to an external apparatus. In response to a request received over the external network, the information management unit transmits a one-time password over the external network to the external apparatus. The gateway apparatus further includes: a connector unit (130) permitting the device to connect to the internal network, when it receives a URI containing the global IP address and the one-time password from the device to be permitted to connect over the external network; and an address converter unit (140) for converting between an IP address for the external network into an IP address for the internal network and converting an IP address for the internal network into an IP address for the external network. |
| US07856022B1 |
Non-disruptive data migration with external virtualization engine
Transferring I/O from a first storage device coupled to a storage area network to a second storage device coupled to the storage area network includes blocking I/O operations for a first port of the first storage device coupled to the storage area network, where the first port is associated with a first identifier. Transferring I/O also includes coupling the second storage device to the storage area network via a port associated with a second identifier different from the first identifier, coupling a virtualization engine to the storage area network via a first port provided with the first identifier and via a second port, and causing at least a portion of I/O operations received by the virtualization engine through the first port thereof to be routed through the second port thereof to the second storage device without host/application disruption. |
| US07856021B2 |
Packet transfer method and apparatus
When a partial rate guaranteed service is applied to a communication line connecting predetermined routers, a TCP tunnel (TCP connection) is established between the routers, a packet whose destination is a router connected to the communication line is passed through the TCP tunnel, and other packets of an application using a UDP of a VoIP or the like are forwarded by a normal routing control without being passed through the TCP tunnel. |
| US07856020B2 |
TCP receiver acceleration
A transport protocol receiver for receiving a packet from a network, the packet having a header, payload, and connection context. The receiver includes an analysis engine, coupled to receive the packet from the network and adapted to parse and validate the header, locate the connection context, and generate a classification of the header. The receiver further includes a context processing engine, coupled to the analysis engine, and adapted to evaluate and update the connection context, responsive to the classification; and a data dispatch engine, coupled to the analysis engine and the context processing engine, and adapted to convey the payload to a destination, responsive to the connection context, such that the analysis engine, the context processing engine, and the data dispatch engine operate substantially asynchronously. |
| US07856016B2 |
Access control method, access control system, and packet communication apparatus
An access control method for a network including a plurality of packet communication apparatuses is disclosed. The access control method includes a first step in which a sender packet communication apparatus attaches user attribute information to a packet to be transmitted, and a second step in which a communication control mechanism within an end system corresponding to a destination packet communication apparatus or a packet receiving apparatus performs access control based on the user attribute information attached to the packet. |
| US07856015B2 |
Network switch having port blocking capability
A switch is configured to block packets from being transmitted through designated ports. The switch has port bitmap generator configured to obtain a port bitmap and a table is configured to store a block mask indicating which port the packet should not be transmitted. A block mask lookup is configured to determine the block mask for the packet from the table, and a transmit port bitmap generator is configured to determine which ports the packet should be transmitted using the port bitmap and the block mask. |
| US07856011B2 |
Reordering packets
There are disclosed processes and apparatus reordering packets. The system includes a plurality of source processors that transmit the packets to a destination processor via multiple communication fabrics. The source processors and the destination processor are synchronized together. Time stamp logic at each source processor operates to include a time stamp parameter with each of the packets transmitted from the source processors. The system also includes a plurality of memory queues located at the destination processor. An enqueue processor operates to store a memory pointer and an associated time stamp parameter for each of the packets received at the destination processor in a selected memory queue. A dequeue processor determines a selected memory pointer associated with a selected time stamp parameter and operates to process the selected memory pointer to access a selected packet for output in a reordered packet stream. |
| US07856010B2 |
Circulating switch
A circulating switch comprises switch modules of moderate capacities interconnected by a passive rotator. Data is sent from a one switch module to another switch module either directly, traversing the rotator once, or indirectly through at least one intermediate switch module where the rotator is traversed twice. A higher capacity extended circulating switch is constructed from higher-capacity switch modules, implemented as common memory switches and having multiple ports, interconnected through a multiplicity of rotators preferably arranged in complementary groups of rotators of opposite rotation directions. A polyphase circulating switch having a low switching delay is derived from a multi-rotator circulating switch by providing programmable rotators having adjustable relative rotator-cycle phases. A low delay high-capacity switch may also be constructed from prior-art medium-capacity rotator space switches with mutually phase-shifted rotation cycles. |
| US07856005B2 |
Impulsive noise suppression scheme in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
This invention provides an impulsive noise suppression method in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing. The method comprises an equalization and de-mapping step for estimating a preliminary estimation of signal and a total noise estimation by utilizing ideal channel estimation, de-mapping, and pilot insertion technique on received signal; and a SNR comparison step for determining a SNR by dividing said preliminary estimation of signal and said total noise estimation and comparing said SNR with a threshold value. |
| US07856004B2 |
Method for scheduling heterogeneous traffic in B3G/4G cellular networks with multiple channels
A method includes tracking average user throughput, packet delay and jitter for every user that is serviced in an OFDM cellular system; using feedback to determine a potential schedule set responsive to user requirements for data and voice traffic responsive to minimum rate guarantee for data flows, and maximum tolerable delay and jitter guarantees for voice flows; with multiple flows for each user, first determining contending flow for each user responsive to aggregate rate feedback; obtaining search space for the user requirements of rate, delay and jitter responsive to corresponding optimizing strategies; determining individual rate, delay and jitter related schedules providing maximum incremental or marginal utility; and calculating final schedule of users on channels providing maximum incremental or marginal utility among parameter specific schedules form the determining step. |
| US07856003B2 |
Local area network having multiple channel wireless access
A communication network having at least one access point supports wireless communication among a plurality of wireless roaming devices via a first and a second wireless channel. The access point comprises a first and a second transceiver. The first and second transceivers operate on the first and second wireless channels, respectively. Each of the plurality of wireless roaming devices are capable of communicating on the first and second wireless channel. In one embodiment, the first wireless channel is used to exchange data, while the second channel is used to manage such exchanges as well as access to the first channel. In an alternate embodiment, both channels are used to support communication flow, however the first channel supports a protocol that is more deterministic than that of the second channel. Allocation of ones of the plurality of wireless roaming devices from one channel to the next may occur per direction from the access point. It may also result from decisions made by each of the wireless roaming devices made independent of the access point. For example, a decision may be made based on the data type being transferred or based on the current channel load. Such factors may also be used by the access point for allocation determinations. In addition, allocation may be based on the type of roaming device involved, such as allocating peripherals to a slower channel. |
| US07856000B2 |
Apparatus and method capable of improved coexistence of multiple wireless communication techniques
Techniques involving wireless communications are disclosed. For instance, an embodiment provides an apparatus having a first transceiver and a second transceiver. The first transceiver engages in wireless communication using a first technique that employs control packets. The second transceiver engages in wireless communication using a second technique. The second technique may establish a transmission priority over the first technique. Also, the first transceiver may refrain from transmitting the control packets at predetermined times to prevent collisions with prioritized transmissions received by the second transceiver. |
| US07855999B2 |
Wireless station and a transmission method in a wireless local area network
A wireless station, in a wireless LAN, includes a network interface to a network interface device, e.g., a NIC, that includes a transceiver, an antenna, at least a first power supply or energy holder. The wireless station supports transmission of data in frames of variable length. Frame fragmentation is implemented by dividing a (long) frame into a number of frame fragments. Each fragment is sent as a non-fragmented frame. The length of a time period before or between transmission of (consecutive) frame fragments is controlled in order to decrease energy consumption during a predetermined time interval. |
| US07855993B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing power fluctuations during preamble training in a multiple antenna communication system using cyclic delays
Methods and apparatus are provided for reducing power fluctuations during preamble training in a multiple antenna communication system using cyclic delays. A preamble having a legacy portion and a high throughput portion is transmitted (or received) on each of N antennas, wherein at least a portion of the preamble on a first of the N antennas is delayed relative to at least the portion of the preamble on a second of the N antennas, wherein the delay is non-orthogonal amount to introduce variation across the preambles transmitted on the N transmit antennas. The legacy portion may be, for example, an 802.11 a/g preamble. |
| US07855991B2 |
Method and system for idle mode signaling reduction
A method and a system for idle mode signaling reduction (ISR) are provided. The method includes obtaining ISR activation information of a source network, and setting an ISR status of a user equipment (UE) in a target network according to the obtained ISR activation information of the source network. Thus, the ISR status of the UE can be processed when the UE is handed over between networks. |
| US07855985B2 |
Wireless network system and method of transmitting or receiving data over wireless network
A wireless network system and a method of transmitting or receiving data over a wireless network capable of limiting transmission or reception of request packets by stations existing on the wireless network, where directional communication is performed in a high-frequency bandwidth, while a wireless network coordinator is being changed or while the wireless network coordinator is in a busy state. The wireless network coordinator includes a frame generation unit which generates a beacon frame for forming a superframe; a management unit which determines a state of a network and a wireless network station on the network, and inserts a result of the determination in the beacon frame, wherein the management unit sets a field of the beacon frame which indicates whether an accepting command which is transmitted by a station on or participating in the network can be received; and a communication unit which transmits the beacon frame. |
| US07855975B2 |
Response time estimation for intermittently-available nodes
Message exchanges may be executed between a middleware component and at least one intermittently-available node, during connected phases of the intermittently available node with the middleware component. Transmission parameters associated with the message exchanges may be monitored, and a current request message to be sent to the intermittently-available node may be determined, the current request message being associated with a time-to-live. An expected message exchange time of the current request message and a resulting response message received from the node in response thereto may be determined, relative to the connected phases and based on at least some of the transmission parameters. Based on the expected message exchange time, it may be predicted whether the current request message and the resulting response message will be successfully exchanged with the intermittently-available node, prior to an expiration of the time-to-live of the current request message. |
| US07855974B2 |
Method and apparatus for network packet capture distributed storage system
This is invention comprises a method an apparatus for Infinite Network Packet Capture System (INPCS). The INPCS is a high performance data capture recorder capable of capturing and archiving all network traffic present on a single network or multiple networks. This device can be attached to Ethernet networks via copper or SX fiber via either a SPAN port (101) router configuration or via an optical splitter (102). By this method, multiple sources or network traffic including gigabit Ethernet switches (102) may provide parallelized data feeds to the capture appliance (104), effectively increasing collective data capture capacity. Multiple captured streams are merged into a consolidated time indexed capture stream to support asymmetrically routed network traffic as well as other merged streams for external consumption. |
| US07855972B2 |
Creating, modifying and storing service abstractions and role abstractions representing one or more packet rules
The present invention provides a method and system for controlling usage of network resources on a communications network. The method comprising acts of: (a) creating one or more packet rules for analyzing packets received at one or more devices of the communications network, each rule including a condition and action to be taken if a packet received at a device satisfies the condition; and (b) creating one or more service abstractions associated with a user of the communication network, each service abstraction representing a named set of one or more of the packet rules. In some embodiments one or more role abstractions may be created, each role abstraction representing a role of a user with respect to the communications network, and each role abstraction including a set of one or more packet rules, and possibly one or more service abstractions. |
| US07855969B2 |
Selective test point for high speed SERDES cores in semiconductor design
The present invention is directed to a method and system for testing systems involving high speed SERDES cores by exposing an internal nature of signals. The signals are tapped at various external test points. The present invention may take one or more test points in receive and/or transmit paths of high speed SERDES cores, and expose the test points by routing signals to the pins/balls on a chip. Programmable directing (multiplexing) of signals may be utilized to restrict number of output debug ports. Consequently, the number of the pin count required for the chip may be controlled. |
| US07855967B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing line rate netflow statistics gathering
An apparatus and method for using a direct memory access (“DMA”) to facilitate netflow statistics are disclosed. A network device such as a router or a switch, in one embodiment, includes a statistic component, a local memory, and a memory access controller. The statistic component is configured to gather information relating to net usage from packet flows or netflows in response to corresponding index values or tags. While the local memory such as a cache provides the index values or tags assignable to packet flows, the memory access controller such as a DMA transfers at least a portion of the index values or tags between the local memory and a main memory for enhancing capacity of the local memory. |
| US07855965B2 |
Packet network telecommunication system
Packet network telecommunication systems, especially Internet Protocol (IP) telephony removes the need of explicit installing of TSP (TAPI service provider) software or other telephony software at each workstation. Application server software or corresponding control software is arranged to take care of all call control actions on behalf of the phone client software so that the phone client software only needs to receive and transmit speech data streams, and to communicate all control messaging from and to the particular phone client software via the communication link between the control software and the phone client software. Since modern operating systems include support for the user interface devices as well as transmitting and receiving real-time data streams, the phone client software does not require any specific interfacing software to be installed on the client workstation. |
| US07855958B2 |
Determining priority of bearer channels in a wireless telecommunications network
A method is provided of determining priorities of radio bearer channels in a wireless telecommunications network that offers various predetermined levels of quality of service. The method involves determining a numerical value representing a priority rating to be applied to a radio bearer channel. This is done by assigning each of at least two quality of service attributes of the bearer channel with a respective numerical value, then processing the values to provide the priority rating for the bearer channel. |
| US07855952B2 |
Silent failure identification and trouble diagnosis
According to one method for identifying and resolving a silent failure in a telecommunications network, performance data associated with data traffic passing through a network element in the telecommunications network is collected. A determination is made whether the performance data has fallen below a threshold to identify the silent failure at the network element. The silent failure fails to trigger an alarm included on the network element. Responsive to determining that the performance data is below the threshold and thereby identifying the silent failure at the network element, troubleshooting rules may be retrieved. The silent failure is resolved based on the performance data and the troubleshooting rules. |
| US07855951B2 |
Signal transmission scheme for efficient management of common enhanced dedicated channel
A signal transmission scheme for efficient management of a common E-DCH is provided. In the case of a common E-DCH that a UE in an idle mode or in a CELL_FACH status uses within a limited period of time, the UE may notify a Node B of release of radio resources of the common E-DCH using scheduling information including TEBS=0 within the period of time when the UE has completed data transmission. It is possible to prevent unnecessary waste of resources and unnecessary battery consumption of the UE by taking into consideration the above circumstances when triggering new scheduling information since HARQ transmission of the scheduling information has failed. |
| US07855948B2 |
Interference mitigation in a wireless communication system
By virtue of one embodiment of the present invention, dynamic signal to noise ratio measurements made on received signals are used to identify degraded segments of a channel. The degraded segments are then no longer used for transmitting payload data. In the context of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication system, degraded OFDM subchannels, as determined on a real-time basis, are not used to transmit payload data. In an OFDM network where access is shared in the time domain among multiple transmitters and a single allocable time slot includes an integer number of OFDM bursts, the medium access control layer adjusts packet length, and therefore the amount of data to be included in a given slot, in response to the fluctuating number of available subchannels. |
| US07855943B2 |
Optical disk device and method for processing optical disk
According to one embodiment, the invention provides an optical disk device having a drive and a control section. The drive applies recording processing and reproduction processing to an optical disk. When the optical disk is an unformatted blank medium, if the drive detects a medium ID and a medium key block region from the optical disk, the control section judges that there is copyright protection information and outputs display information which is used for the recording processing with respect to the optical disk together with display information showing the presence or absence of the copyright protection information. |
| US07855940B2 |
Pickup lens with phase compensator and optical pickup apparatus using the same
A pickup lens with a phase compensator is composed of a condenser lens and a phase compensator. At least one surface of the condenser lens has a step-like annular zone structure to compensate wavefront aberration generated when recording and reproducing data on an information recording medium having a substrate thickness of t1 with a laser beam having a wavelength λ1 and wavefront aberration generated when recording and reproducing data on an information recording medium having a substrate thickness of t2 with a laser beam having a wavelength λ2. The phase compensator compensates wavefront aberration generated when recording and reproducing data on an information recording medium having a substrate thickness of t3 with a laser beam having a wavelength λ3. |
| US07855939B2 |
Optical disc apparatus employing an objective lens having a high numerical aperture
An optical disk apparatus that includes a movable part having an objective lens for focusing a laser beam onto an optical disk. A lens-holding member holds the objective lens. A protecting member prevents contact of the objective lens with the optical disk. An elastic supporting member supports the movable part, and an actuator drives the movable part toward or apart from the optical disk. The apparatus is constructed not to cause contact of the protecting member with the optical disk in a non-working state of the actuator, even when the elastic supporting member is bent by gravity toward the optical disk. |
| US07855937B2 |
Near-field light generating element and heat-assisted magnetic recording head utilizing surface plasmon mode
Provided is a near-field light generating element capable of avoiding excessive temperature rise, which comprises a waveguide and a near-field light generating layer. The layer comprises: a propagation surface on which surface plasmon excited by the light propagates; and a near-field light generating end at which near-field light is generated. The end is one end of the propagation surface. And a portion of the side surface of the waveguide is opposed to a portion of the propagation surface of the near-field light generating layer with a predetermined spacing so that the light propagating through the waveguide is coupled with the near-field light generating layer in a surface plasmon mode. The near-field light generating layer is preferably tapered toward the near-field light generating end. |