| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07854825B2 |
Symmetical double contact electro-winning
A symmetrical double-double contact mechanism for an electro-deposition mechanism. Using a base insulator, a cap block insulator is formed to support four series of electrodes of two different types (anode and cathode). Because of the contact mechanism employed, redundant contacts are provided so that should a short occur, alternative electrical pathways are available to maintain operation of the affected cathode or anode. |
| US07854821B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus
A substrate processing apparatus includes a heat transfer gas supply mechanism to supply a heat transfer gas through a supply passage into a portion between a worktable and a substrate to improve thermal conductivity between therebetween. Under the control of a control section, the pressure inside the supply passage is measured to obtain a pressure measurement value while the substrate is placed on the worktable. Then, a preparatory flow rate of the heat transfer gas to be supplied through the supply passage into the portion between the worktable and substrate is determined, in accordance with the pressure difference between the pressure measurement value and a pressure reference value, prior to a main process to be performed on the substrate. Then, the heat transfer gas is supplied through the supply passage into the portion between the worktable and substrate at the preparatory flow rate, prior to the main process. |
| US07854820B2 |
Upper electrode backing member with particle reducing features
Components of a plasma processing apparatus includes a backing member with gas passages attached to an upper electrode with gas passages. To compensate for the differences in coefficient of thermal expansion between the metallic backing member and upper electrode, the gas passages are positioned and sized such that they are misaligned at ambient temperature and substantially concentric at an elevated processing temperature. Non-uniform shear stresses can be generated in the elastomeric bonding material, due to the thermal expansion. Shear stresses can either be accommodated by applying an elastomeric bonding material of varying thickness or using a backing member comprising of multiple pieces. |
| US07854818B2 |
Jewelry tag
A jewelry tag has a label with a printable side and an adhesive side. An elongated shank extends from the label and is adapted to attach the label to a jewelry article. A substantially clear flap also extends from the label and is configured to laminate at least a portion of the label. |
| US07854814B2 |
Method for forming a laminated window that can exhibit a variable level of adhesion
A method for forming a laminated window having one or more interlayers that can exhibit a variable level of adhesion is disclosed. The method includes: a) assembling a cast between two plies that make up the laminated window; b) filling the cast with a reaction mixture for forming a polymer material; c) adding at least one first silane comprising an isocyanate functional silane and at least one second silane comprising an epoxy silane to the reaction mixture; and d) curing the reaction mixture. |
| US07854813B2 |
Method of manufacturing a non-woven fabric
A method for manufacturing a nonwoven fabric, wherein a layer of nonwoven fabric is made up of a fiber mixture of at least two different types of fibers is formed. The single nonwoven fabric layer is solidified. The solidified single nonwoven fabric layer is then subjected to heat treatment subject to the condition that shrinkage of at least one of the types of fibers is activated. |
| US07854802B2 |
Surfactant package for well treatment and method 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. |
| US07854801B2 |
Uses of high mullite index calcined kaolin
Disclosed are methods of making calcined kaolin having a high mullite content involving heating to certain temperatures. Also disclosed are systems for making the calcined kaolin having a high mullite content and polymer composites containing the calcined kaolin having a high mullite content. The present calcined kaolin having a high mullite content is particularly useful in making polymer composites. The polymer composites may be used in electrical cable. |
| US07854800B2 |
Alkanolamine-stabilized dispersed rosin sizing agents and their preparation
This invention teaches the stabilization a dispersion of rosin using an alkanolamine salt of the rosin. The stabilized dispersion is used as a sizing agent in papermaking processes. |
| US07854791B2 |
Method and means for simultaneously generating an aqueous froth and numerous micro-droplets for use in filtering a contaminated air stream
A method and apparatus are provided for improving the efficiency of an aqueous froth filter. An array of saturated mesh assemblies interacts with an incoming contaminated air stream. As the air stream flows through the saturated mesh assemblies, an aqueous froth is generated immediately downstream of each mesh assembly. As the bubbles of the froth move downstream towards the next saturated mesh assembly, the velocity of the air stream causes at least some of the bubbles to burst. The bursting bubbles rupture into hundreds or thousands of micro-droplets. The micro-droplets are used together with the aqueous froth to coalesce with or otherwise bind with contaminants in the air stream. An optional feature is that massive particles greater than three microns in diameter are removed by inertial impaction, whereby those heavy particles collide with the walls of serpentine shaped vanes of a mist eliminator. The method and apparatus are capable of filtering chemical and biological warfare agents out of an air stream. The invention is also useful in removing contaminants from industrial air streams. |
| US07854789B1 |
System and process for controlling pollutant emissions in a cement production facility
A system and method for controlling pollutant emissions in a cement manufacturing facility. The system comprises first and second particulate control devices in series and a sorbent supply provided downstream of the first particulate control device. Exhaust process gas from the pyroprocessing unit of the cement manufacturing facility is conveyed through the first particulate control device in order to remove at least a portion of the kiln dust within the exhaust process gas to form a de-dusted exhaust process gas. The kiln dust removed from the exhaust process gas may then be recycled back to the pyroprocessing unit for use in the kiln feed. The sorbent supply injects a sorbent for capturing pollutants into the de-dusted exhaust process gas upstream of the second particulate control device to form a treated gas. The spent sorbent containing the captured pollutants is removed from the treated gas within the second particulate control device to form a cleansed exhaust process gas. |
| US07854788B2 |
Filter membrane
A filter membrane includes a substrate, a polymer layer provided on the substrate and a plurality of filter openings each having a width of from about 2 nanometers to about 5 nanometers provided in the polymer layer. A method of controlling pore size of a filter membrane and a method of decontaminating a filter membrane are also disclosed. |
| US07854787B2 |
Method of removing coating from coated magnesium alloy product, method of making recycled magnesium alloy and method of recycling coating
A method is provided for removing a coating from a coated magnesium alloy product. The method includes a first treatment step of immersing the coated magnesium alloy product in a first alkaline solution, and a second treatment step of immersing the magnesium alloy product, which has undergone the first treatment step, in a second alkaline solution or in an acid solution. The second alkaline solution is different from the first alkaline solution. |
| US07854786B2 |
Reduction process and plant
Reduction process and relative plant for the production of metallic iron by means of the direct reduction of iron ore, in which a reduction shaft is connected to a source of reducing gas obtained from the gasification of coal. The process advantageously comprises a step in which a portion or all of the synthesis gas entering the plant circuit is processed to separate the methane from the rest of the components of said synthesis gas. The advantageous management of the extracted methane enables the entire reduction process to be optimized, making the efficiency of the process independent of the methane content in the original synthesis gas and making it possible to control the carbon content of the product more accurately and more easily. |
| US07854781B2 |
Mount for air filter and bezel assembly
A mount for a bezel/air filter assembly for use in mounting the bezel/air filter assembly directly to the rack or cabinet in which electrical equipment is mounted or contained. The mount is affixed to the rack or cabinet rather than to the electrical equipment mounted or contained in the rack or cabinet, making use of the normally unused frontal area along the rail forming the front of the rack or cabinet, maximizing air flow to the equipment mounted in the rack or contained in the cabinet and allowing greater packaging density. Also, by using the rack or cabinet (rather than the equipment) as a support element, the mount is substantially stronger than if the mount was affixed to the chassis. |
| US07854776B2 |
Reactor including a plurality of substrates to form a reactor main body portion and an envelope portion
A reactor causing reaction of a reactant includes a plurality of substrates provided with top and bottom substrates having provided therein recessed portions for forming closely sealed regions and a plurality of intermediate substrates having provided therein at least openings that communicate with each other, a reactor main body portion including a reaction unit at which the intermediate substrates are formed to be laminated and joined with each other and a reaction flow channel reactant flows formed therein, and an envelope portion which houses the reactor main body portion therein except one end side thereof, via a closely sealed space formed by sandwiching the laminated intermediate substrates between the top and the bottom substrates and by communicating the opening and the closely sealed region on the substrates, and including a support portion which supports the reactor main body portion via the one end side of the reactor main body portion. |
| US07854773B2 |
Method of producing an electrode plate for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery
There is disclosed an electrode plate for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, which comprises a collector and an active material layer provided on at least one side of the collector, in which the active material layer has one or more slits. Such an electrode plate can facilitate infiltration of a liquid electrolyte even when wound at high density and can have high stability of quality. There is also disclosed a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery with high capacity and high quality, which is constructed using the above-mentioned electrode plate. |
| US07854769B2 |
Method and instrumentation for performing minimally invasive hip arthroplasty
A method of implanting a modular hip stem implant having a stem portion and a body portion into a medullary canal of a patient's femur utilizing a two-incision technique. The stem portion is inserted through an anterior incision and the body portion is inserted through a posterior incision where they are interconnected in vivo. The modular hip stem implant is then driven into the medullary canal with force applied through either of the two incisions. |
| US07854768B2 |
Shoulder arthroplasty system
An implant system for total shoulder arthroplasties, hemi shoulder arthroplasties, and “reverse” total shoulder arthroplasties including a humeral stem having an enlarged head portion with interfaces adapted to removably receive various modular interchangeable components, such as articulating liners, spacers, and adapter inserts. The humeral stem functions as a universal platform that may be used in either conventional or “reverse” total shoulder arthroplasties, as well as hemi shoulder arthroplasties, and may remain implanted in place during a revision in which the implant system is converted between the foregoing configurations, for example. |
| US07854766B2 |
Artificial total lumbar disc for unilateral safe and simple posterior placement in the lumbar spine, and removable bifunctional screw which drives vertical sliding expansile plate expansion, and interplate widening, and angled traction spikes
A total artificial expansile disc and a method for posterior insertion between a pair of vertebral endplates are disclosed. The total artificial expansile disc includes at least one pair of substantially parallel plates that move apart along a first axis, in order to occupy a space defined by the vertebral endplates. In another embodiment, each of substantially parallel plates includes a first plate and a second sliding plate. An expansion device or tool is used to move the substantially parallel pair of plates apart along the first axis. A core is disposed between the pair of plates, and the core permits the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another. A ball limiter or ball extender prevents the core from being extruded from between the substantially parallel plates. |
| US07854765B2 |
Electronically controlled artificial intervertebral disc with motor assisted actuation systems
An electronically assisted artificial vertebral disc having an upper disc plate and a lower disc plate is disclosed. An actuator imparts movement to at least one of the upper and lower disc plates. A control device controls the actuator and the amount of movement between the disc plates. The actuator includes a plurality of either linear actuators or rotary actuators that are driven by electric motors in response to the control device. The control device includes at least a first sensor for detecting the position of the actuator and at least a second sensor for detecting the spatial orientation of at least one of the upper and lower disc plates. The control device also preferably includes a microprocessor that calculates the desired positions of the upper and lower disc plates and provides a control signal to the actuator to drive the upper and lower disc plates to their desired positions. |
| US07854763B2 |
Intraparietal aortic valve reinforcement device and reinforced aortic valve
An intraparietal reinforcement device (1) for use in a biological prosthesis (10), as well as a biological prosthesis (10) provided with a device of this type, is particularly suitable for use within the organic tissue of the biological prosthesis (10), and for reinforcing the structure of the prosthesis so that it retains its shape once implanted. |
| US07854760B2 |
Medical devices including metallic films
Medical devices, such as endoprostheses, and methods of making the devices are disclosed. The medical device can include a composite cover formed of a deposited metallic film and one or more polymer layers. The polymer layers contribute to mechanical or biological properties of the endoprosthesis. |
| US07854759B2 |
Prosthetic flow modifying device
An implantable flow modifying device and a method of modifying flow through a lumen are provided. The flow modifying device includes a flexible member configured for permitting fluid flow through the body lumen in a first direction at a first rate and for restricting fluid flow through the body lumen in a second direction at a second rate. The flexible member includes a passageway defined by a sheath of biocompatible material, the passageway having a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is sized and shaped to at least partially restrict fluid flow in the first direction and capable of at least partially collapsing in response to fluid flow in the second direction. The second end portion is adapted to seal with a wall of the body lumen. A diameter of a first opening defined in the first end portion is smaller than a diameter of a second opening defined in the second end portion. |
| US07854752B2 |
System and method for dynamic skeletal stabilization
There is disclosed a system and method for dynamic stabilization which provides for distraction of the inter-vertebral space while still allowing a patient a substantial range of motion. In one embodiment, an inter-vertebral dynamic brace is used to maintain proper distraction. The dynamic brace is designed to allow the vertebrae to which it is attached to move through their natural arc, maintaining the correct instantaneous center of rotation. An adjustable tensioning device is used to maintain the proper distraction and compression forces to restore and maintain proper kinematics, while allowing the dynamic brace to move through an arc centered with respect to the center of rotation of the portion of the spine between the vertebrae. In one embodiment, a method is provided for adjusting the dynamic brace both with respect to the center of rotation of the vertebrae in both the flexion/extension axis and in the superior/inferior axis. |
| US07854750B2 |
Apparatus and method for securing a suture
The present invention provides a method of securing a suture. The method includes providing a retainer having first and second sections. The first section has a central post, and the second section has a central bore dimensioned to receive the central post. The method also includes moving a suture through a passage in the first section, wrapping the suture around the central post, and moving the suture through a channel of the second section. The method further includes interconnecting the first and second sections with the central post positioned in the central bore and with the suture disposed between the first and second sections. Moreover, the method includes bonding the first and second sections together to secure the suture relative to the retainer. |
| US07854749B2 |
Surgical gripper
A surgical gripper includes a gripping section opened/closed to grip an object to be gripped and an operation section which opens/closes the gripping section, wherein the gripping section is configured to be opened/closed by the operation section to take a gripping mode of gripping the object to be gripped so that treatment is performed by the object to be gripped, an adjusting mode of gripping the object to be gripped by a gripping force lower than that of the gripping mode so that an arrangement of the object to be gripped is adjusted while the object to be gripped is held, and a releasing mode of releasing the object to be gripped. |
| US07854739B2 |
Clip apparatus for ligaturing living tissue
A clip apparatus for ligaturing a living tissue includes a clip unit provided removably at a distal end of an insertion part inserted into a forceps channel of an endoscope, and an operating part for the unit, extending in an passage of the insertion part. The unit has a clip holder in an opening of the passage and a passage for elastically opening/closing of a clip, an engaging portion to be opened elastically around the passage when the holder projects from the passage, and longitudinally engaged with the distal end of the insertion part, and a structure preventing excessive opening of the engaging portion when a member connected to the clip and the operating part and moving in the passage is broken at a breakable portion by a pulling force from the operating part. |
| US07854734B2 |
Control system and process for application of energy to airway walls and other mediums
The present invention includes a system for delivering energy to an airway wall of a lung comprising an energy delivering apparatus and a PID controller having one or more variable gain factors which are rest after energy deliver has begun. The energy delivering apparatus may include a flexible elongated member and a distal expandable basket having at least one electrode for transferring energy to the airway wall and at least one temperature sensor for measuring temperature. The PID controller determines a new power set point base on an error between a preset temperature and the measured temperature. The algorithm can be Pi+1=Pi+G(αei+βei−1+γei−2) where α, β and γ are preset values and α is from 1 to 2; β is from −1 to −2; and γ is from −0.5 to 0-5. In another variation, the controller is configured to shut down if various measured parameters are exceeded such as, for example, energy, impedance, temperature, temperature differences, activation time and combinations thereof. Methods for treating a target medium using a PID algorithm are also provided. |
| US07854732B2 |
Fluid medication delivery device
A fluid delivery device is provided for transdermal delivery of fluid medications to patients. The device can comprise a thin envelope which is applied to a patient's skin. The envelope can comprise at least one diffusion layer coupled to at least one impermeable layer such that at least one chamber can exist therebetween. Other embodiments can include internal diffusion layers, and thus can possess additional chambers, as well. The impermeable layer can comprise a top surface of the device. A valve positioned in the impermeable layer can facilitate filling the device with fluid, as well as connection of the device to external fluid sources such as an intravenous bag, pump, or other external fluid delivery system. The diffusion layer can comprise a coiled wire member to control the rate of fluid flow from the device to the patient's skin. |
| US07854729B2 |
Supply chain method and apparatus for sealing and unsealing a vacuum draw path
This application teaches a disposal chain and a supply chain system for sealing and unsealing a vacuum draw path embodying a thrust handle capable of imparting assembly and disassembly thrust forces said system conferring the potential of reducing the amount solid waste mass contributed to the waste stream. |
| US07854727B2 |
Adjustable device delivery system
Herein are described components and use of an adjustable device delivery system including an adjustable internal door which allows angled deployment of medical devices, non-medical devices and electromagnetic radiation. In one embodiment, a slotted outer cannula is used with an inner drive cannula to guide the motion of an adjustable interior door that allows delivery of devices, such as medical instruments, at user-defined angles. The invention also provides device delivery systems that permit withdrawal of the adjustable device delivery system without disruption of a device placed therewith. The device delivery systems of the invention are provided having a steering system that permits exact control of the angle of the adjustable internal door while providing support against longitudinal forces. Also provided are embodiments of the devices of the invention comprising a locking system that provides frictional resistance to overcome unwanted displacement of the door angle and drive system when, for example, manipulation of the device delivery system during its use increases the forces applied to the door surface. The invention further provides methods for using the device delivery systems provided herein for delivering or receiving electromagnetic waves by deflection or reflection of such radiation by the adjustable internal door. The invention also provides methods for steering a device or device delivery system within a confined space. |
| US07854726B2 |
Injector
An injector that may be used to deliver radiographic contrast media and/or flushing solution into a patient's vascular system for the purposes such as obtaining enhanced diagnostic x-ray images. The injector includes a drive ram movable along its longitudinal axis, and a control system that controls operation of the injector. The control system has an enabled state that allows an injection procedure to be performed, and a disabled state that does not allow an injection procedure to be performed. The control system transitions from the disabled state to the enabled state in response to movement of the drive ram along its longitudinal axis. |
| US07854720B2 |
Needle-free injection system
A needle-free injection device in which a gas cartridge or other source of pressurized gas is used to advance a piston and forcibly expel injectable fluid out through an injection orifice. When a gas cartridge is used, the gas cartridge may be moveable from an initial position to an actuating position in which gas is released to drive the injection, and a recoil inhibitor may be employed to prevent the gas cartridge from moving back to the initial position. A gas cartridge seal may be disposed on the gas cartridge and moveable with the gas cartridge to seal the gas cartridge against an interior wall of a gas cartridge housing. The needle-free injection device may also be configured so that sealing is compromised upon full advancement of the piston, so as to de-pressurize the device after delivery of an injection. |
| US07854719B2 |
Method of introducing ultrasonic drug and apparatus thereof
A method of introducing an ultrasonic drug includes irradiating a low frequency sound wave onto a subject, irradiating a high frequency ultrasonic wave onto a target region of the subject, and introducing the drug into the target region. |
| US07854715B2 |
Walk supporting device
A walk supporting device includes a seating member on which a user is seated in a straddling manner and a pair of left and right leg links that support the seating member from below. Each of the leg links is coupled to the seating member to freely swing in a horizontal direction. The seating member is prevented from rolling around a support shaft serving as a swing fulcrum in the horizontal direction of the leg link to improve stability in the horizontal direction of the seating member. A stopper member coupled to the seating member is inserted between joint sections at upper ends of left and right leg links supported by the support shaft. A regulating mechanism that regulates the seating member in a posture orthogonal to an equiangular bisector of an angle in the horizontal direction formed by the left and right leg links may be provided. |
| US07854713B2 |
Cranial remolding orthosis
A cranial orthosis may be used to re-shape a child's cranium. The cranial orthosis includes an inner layer and a resistance piece. The inner layer is made of silicone and grips the patient's head such that the inner layer does not move once it is positioned on the child's head. The resistance piece encircles the inner layer and is made of plastic. The resistance piece may not contact the patient's head. The resistance piece is attached to the inner layer. The resistance piece provides the necessary resistance that shapes the patient's head into the desired shape. An attachment feature may be added to the inner layer. The attachment feature engages openings on the resistance piece to connect the resistance piece to the inner layer. The resistance piece may also include one or more areas of increased width that provide additional support to the patient's head. |
| US07854710B2 |
Massaging apparatus for a massage chair
A massaging apparatus comprises a frame, an elevating base, a kneading device and a pounding device. The frame is composed of a bottom base, two rails, an upper transversal rod and a threaded rod. The elevating base has two U-shaped boards symmetrically mounted at two sides thereon. A rod holder is attached to a lateral section of the elevating base to combine with the threaded rod. The kneading device comprises a first motor, divider and multiple kneading rings in pairs. The pounding device comprises a second motor, two first bearing mounts, a transmitting shaft, two pulling arms, two second bearing mounts and two pounding arms. When both motors actuate individually or simultaneously, the kneading device and the pounding device provide the kneading efficiency and the pounding efficiency respectively and at the same time. |
| US07854709B2 |
Muscle stimulation and massage apparatus
A muscle stimulation and massage apparatus is provided that includes (a) a foot plate which is provided with rollers or skids, (b) a column arranged perpendicularly on the foot plate, and (c) a vibration unit that is arranged on a lift, wherein the lift may travel on guide rails of the column and is fastened in a lockable manner at different heights, with the vibration unit being located on a side outside the region of the column. In one embodiment, the lift may continuously travel up and down over a predetermined height range for a period of time in a programmed manner. |
| US07854706B2 |
Clutch and valving system for tetherless biopsy device
A biopsy device may include a needle, a cutter, and a handpiece. A vacuum pump may be provided in the handpiece for providing a vacuum to the needle and/or to the cutter. A motor may be provided in the handpiece to drive the vacuum pump and/or the cutter. A biopsy device may also include a valving mechanism within the handpiece for selectively communicating a vacuum and/or atmospheric air to the needle. A clutching mechanism may selectively provide communication between a motor and the cutter. Portions of a valving mechanism and a clutching mechanism may be integrally formed. A clutching and valving mechanism may be driven by a first motor; and a cutter and vacuum pump by a second motor. A biopsy device may include batteries for powering motors. A biopsy device may thus provide vacuum and power from within a handpiece, such that the biopsy device is tetherless. |
| US07854702B2 |
Phase selection for cardiac contrast assessment
In one embodiment, at least one visual characteristic from a selected image is used to automatically select an ultrasound image from a set of images from a plurality of heart cycles. In another embodiment, motion correction is performed on ultrasound images that are automatically selected from a plurality of ultrasound images associated with the same phase of the heart cycle. In yet another embodiment, ultrasound images are automatically selected from a set of images based on a time interval that is within a tolerance range from a reference phase of the heart cycle. In another embodiment, a stored user-preference of a phase of the heart cycle is used to automatically select an ultrasound image from a set of images. In yet another embodiment, a user-defined region of interest is placed on an ultrasound image associated with a selected phase of a heart cycle. |
| US07854701B2 |
Non-invasive monitoring of intracranial dynamic effects and brain density fluctuations
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for non-invasive monitoring of brain density variations. At least two ultrasonic pulses having different frequencies are provided into the brain for transmission therethrough. The reflected ultrasonic pulses are then sensed and the sensed signal data are then processed for determining at least two phase differences between the phases of the at least two reflected ultrasonic pulses and the phases of the at least two provided ultrasonic pulses. A phase of at least a beat frequency is determined in dependence upon the at least two phase differences. Data indicative of a brain density variation are determined based on the at least two phase differences and the at least a beat frequency. |
| US07854700B2 |
Capsule-type endoscope
A capsule-type endoscope includes a capsule, an objective optical system, an image pickup element, and at least one illumination light source having a light-emitting surface, and a transparent cover. In several embodiments of the capsule-type endoscope according to the present invention, an inner surface of the transparent cover is spherical within a field of view of the objective optical system so as to have a center of curvature, the center of curvature is offset from the optical axis of the objective optical system, and a specified condition is satisfied so as to avoid flare in the objective optical system caused when light from the one (or more) illumination light source(s) enters the entrance pupil of the objective optical system. In another embodiment, the inner surface of the transparent cover has the shape of an ellipsoid. Observation methods using the capsule-type endoscope are also disclosed. |
| US07854697B2 |
Tinnitus rehabilitation device and method
A tinnitus method and device for providing relief to a person suffering from the disturbing effects of tinnitus is described. The method can be implemented entirely in software to spectrally modify an audio signal in accordance with a predetermined masking algorithm which modifies the intensity of the audio signal at selected frequencies. A predetermined masking algorithm is described which provides intermittent masking of the tinnitus wherein, at a comfortable listening level, during peaks of the audio signal the tinnitus is completely obscured, whereas during troughs the perception of the tinnitus occasionally emerges. In practice it has been found that such intermittent masking provides an immediate sense of relief, control and relaxation for the person, whilst enabling sufficient perception of the tinnitus for habituation and long term treatment to occur. Advantageously the predetermined masking algorithm is specifically tailored to the audiometric configuration of the person. For example, the masking algorithm may be partly tailored to the hearing loss characteristic of the person. A tinnitus rehabilitation device used in conjunction with a personal sound reproducing system is also described. |
| US07854695B2 |
Exercise and therapeutic apparatus
In its preferred form the invention provides adjustable stretching apparatus for stretching the back, shoulders, and/or the neck, in order to assist with postural and vertebral alignment. A preferred apparatus includes a seat, a headrest positioned above and behind the seat, and a convexly curved reasonbly hard, rigid form separating the seat and headrest. The curved form includes a longitudinal channel defined between two ridges, within which channel the spine is supported when in use. The support is preferably rigid. Provision of legs to raise the apparatus above the ground, and provision of varable head rests and seat, greatly improve the applicability of the apparatus in amelioration of a variety of postural and vertebral alignment problems. |
| US07854692B2 |
Reaction training belt with variable release resistance
A cost effective training belt that offers the ability to vary the release resistance and that allows the release resistance to remain relatively constant throughout the life of the belt. In one disclosed embodiment, the reaction belt has a first and second belt detachably secured together with a detaching structure that can connect the first and second belts together in at least two different ways. Each of the connecting ways offers a different release resistance; thereby a user can select the desired release resistance by selecting which way to connect the two belts together. |
| US07854689B2 |
Ice skating training device
An ice skating training device including an arcuate conveyor belt, the belt having a skateable surface; and a plurality of conical rollers supporting said arcuate conveyor belt, at least one of said frusticonical rollers being driven by a motor, ends of said rollers being mounted so that one end is vertically adjustable relative to the opposite end depending on the speed that the ice skater is going. |
| US07854686B2 |
Exercise and dance platform apparatus and systems
A platform or mat for exercising and dancing that is lightweight, has non-slip features and can be folded up for storage. The platform allows a user to determine foot position without having to look down at the platform thus allowing the user to watch a display screen while exercising or dancing. The platform includes tactile indicia molded that foot placement is determined by feel by the user's foot touching the tactile indicia. The material used to make the platform surface includes ethylene vinyl acetate. The platform includes electrically conductive switches that are activated by a force from the user's foot on a segment while exercising or dancing. Placing a user's foot on a segment communicates signals about the user's foot placement to a control device. The control device includes popular video game player devices and computers and includes the use of a display screen. |
| US07854685B2 |
Training system and method
A training system and method include providing a frame, a user support portion coupled to the frame and arranged to support a user, and a user engagement portion coupled to the frame and arranged to be engaged by the body part. A force sensor is provided for sensing a user-applied force at the user engagement portion, and a position sensor is operably connected to at least one of the user support portion and the user engagement portion for sensing a relative position therebetween. A motor is coupled to at least one of the user support portion and the user engagement portion for driving a position thereof with respect to the frame over a range of motion at a preprogrammed velocity, and a controller is provided in communication with the motor, the force sensor, and the position sensor. A knee position mechanism is movably coupled to the frame between the user support portion and the user engagement portion, the knee position mechanism including a sensor in communication with the controller for tracking a horizontal position of a knee of the user over the range of motion. |
| US07854683B2 |
Torque converter clutch control
A system for controlling a torque converter clutch in a vehicle powertrain includes a controller having an input for receiving powertrain operating parameter information. The controller is configured to determine a torque converter speed ratio based on the powertrain operating parameter information and to compare the speed ratio to a specified speed ratio limit. The controller is further configured to determine a target torque converter slip when the speed ratio exceeds or meets or exceeds the specified speed ratio limit; to compare the target slip with a desired slip value based on an vehicle noise, vibration or harshness (NVH) limit; and to control torque transmission of the torque converter clutch based on comparison of the target slip and the desired slip value. A method for controlling a torque converter clutch is also provided. |
| US07854673B2 |
Bicycle sprocket assembly having a reinforcement member coupled between sprockets
A bicycle sprocket assembly includes a first sprocket, a second sprocket and at least one reinforcement member. The first sprocket includes a first main body and a first chain engagement portion. The second sprocket includes a second main body and a second chain engagement portion. The reinforcement member is coupled between the sprockets. Preferably, the reinforcement member is disposed in first and second apertures of the first and second sprockets at a radial location spaced radially outwardly of first and second inner end portions of the first and second sprockets. Preferably, a spacer is disposed between the first and second sprockets radially inwardly of the reinforcement member. The reinforcement member is preferably installable in the first and second apertures by a sliding movement generally perpendicular to a rotation axis of the first and second sprockets. |
| US07854670B2 |
Preformed lacrosse pocket and packaging for same
Included herein is a pocket for a lacrosse head. The lacrosse head includes a scoop, a throat, first and second sides, a front and a back. The pocket comprises a mesh material preformed to a desired shape so that when the pocket is placed on a stick, the location of the deepest or bulbous portion will be at an optimal location and a channel may also be formed. The mesh material is preformed using a mold and/or a heat source. A package is provided to maintain the shape of the pocket during shipment and inventory. |
| US07854668B2 |
Laser ball shooting aid
A signal projecting device wearable on an athlete about to throw a projectile, such as shooting a basketball. The device incorporates a leveling sensor arranged to provide an input signal to the projecting device so that a signal indicative of a body part on which the projecting device is mounted being horizontal with respect to a floor or ground surface. The projecting device may project a generally cruciform light beam of one characteristic, such as color or light pattern, when the horizontal condition is sensed. A second light beam of a different characteristic may be projected when the horizontal condition is not sensed. |
| US07854667B2 |
Method of golf club performance enhancement and articles resultant therefrom
The performance of a golf club is enhanced through the provision of a void space behind a face plate and above a sole portion, to decrease club weight and provide single, or combinations, of selectable weighting elements within volumetric coordinates of an orthonormal matrix about the void space and entire club. The weighted coordinates are provided in response to ball strike, flight analysis and physiologic observation of the golf strike swing. Ball backspin, trajectory, penetration hook or slice, and ballooning may be modified through the use of definable combinations of weighting strategies and sub-strategies. |
| US07854660B2 |
Amusement park ride providing free-flying experience
A vehicle for simulating flight in a park ride having a rotating drive with supports or radial arms. The vehicle includes a body with seats and passenger restraints. A connection assembly is used to attach the body to a support. The connection assembly includes a linkage assembly allowing the body to radially pivot inward and outward relative to the drive assembly based on the angle of the support arm and rotation rate of the drive assembly. The linkage assembly translates radial movement of the body into rotation of the body about a pitch axis. The pitch axis extends through or proximal to the center of mass of the body, and the pivotal connector that supports the vehicle in a pendular manner is spaced apart and above the center of mass. The linkage assembly may include one or more four-bar linkages to provide two degrees of freedom of the body relative. |
| US07854656B2 |
Game apparatus and storage medium having game program stored thereon
Operation information which is output in accordance with a motion of an input device is sequentially obtained. First behavior information representing a state of an object after a first time period, which is a part of a recognition period, is set in accordance with operation information obtained during the first time period using operation information, so as to sequentially change the state of the object. Second behavior information representing a state of the object after a second time period, which is terminated after the first time period and is at least a part of the recognition period, in accordance with operation information obtained during the second time period. Based on at least the second behavior information, the state of the object is sequentially changed after the second time period. |
| US07854655B2 |
Obtaining input for controlling execution of a game program
Methods of obtaining input for controlling execution of a game program are disclosed. Controller input information can identify a current position of a user-movable control stick in relation to a rest position of the control stick. Supplementary input information from an environment can indicate a three-dimensional motion of a user-movable object. A combined input for controlling the execution of the game program can be obtained by processing the controller input information and the supplementary input information. The combined input can be obtained by assigning the value of the controller input information representative of a position of the control stick as coarse control information and assigning the value of the supplementary input information representative of the orientation of the user-movable object as fine control information. |
| US07854654B2 |
Gaming system having multiple gaming machines which provide bonus awards
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server. |
| US07854652B2 |
Server rack service utilities for a data center in a shipping container
A movable data center comprising a portable enclosure in which a data processing module is operatively disposed. The data processing module is assembled onto a rack located in the enclosure that is movable between and operative position and a service position. A heat exchange module is arranged in the enclosure in air flow communication with the data processing module on the rack. The rack may be moved from the operative position in which the rack is in air flow communication with the heat exchange module to the service position in which the rack is not in air flow communication with the heat exchange module. |
| US07854649B2 |
Hand-held power tool, in particular a sander
A hand-held power tool, in particular a sander, includes a housing (10) and a motor (12) located in the housing (10). A driven shaft (16) that extends from a face end (14) of the housing (10) is drivable by the motor (12). A suction conduit (18) extends at least partway through the housing (10). The suction conduit (18) opens as an intake at the face end (14) of the housing (10). |
| US07854645B2 |
Method for polishing
A method is disclosed, whereby a reduced wear of the polishing tool and a reduced duration for the polishing process may be achieved and also free form surfaces and non-rotating workpieces may be polished. The above may be achieved whereby the surface of the tool actually in contact with the workpiece lies off the tool axis. The invention further relates to a method for polishing a surface of a workpiece, via a tool rotating about a tool axis, whereby the workpiece, at least in one region of the workpiece surface has a contacted surface which is part region of a surface for machining, which for its part is at least part of a polishing surface of the tool, whereby the tool axis intersects the polishing surface. |
| US07854644B2 |
Systems and methods for removing microfeature workpiece surface defects
Systems and methods for removing microfeature workpiece surface defects are disclosed. A method for processing a microfeature workpiece in accordance with one embodiment includes removing surface defects from a surface of a microfeature workpiece by engaging the surface with a buffing medium having a first hardness, and moving at least one of the workpiece and the buffing medium relative to the other. After removing the surface defects and before adding additional material to the microfeature workpiece the method can further include engaging the microfeature workpiece with a polishing pad having a second hardness greater than the first hardness. Additional material can be removed from the microfeature workpiece by moving at least one of the microfeature workpiece and the polishing pad relative to the other. |
| US07854643B2 |
Doll pair and apparatus for cheerleading stunts
A first doll is supported upon a support base in a substantially vertical standing position. A stunt apparatus includes a torso clasp which releasably attaches to the first doll torso and which includes an elongated rod pivotally secured to the torso clasp on the first doll. A second doll is secured to one end of the rod by a torso clasp and pivotal attachment. The remaining end of the rod is formed into a handle suitable for allowing the user to manipulate the second doll with respect to the first doll. |
| US07854640B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method therefor
A light weight and a low cost EL display device is provided, in which light emitting elements are formed on a flexible film. A thin metallic substrate is used as an element forming substrate with the present invention, edge portions of the metallic substrate are bent, and the metallic substrate is attached with good adhesion, within a vacuum, to a substrate holder which possesses curvature in its edge portions. After then forming light emitting elements on the thin metallic substrate, the substrate holder is separated. |
| US07854639B1 |
Flotation assembly with monitoring device
A flotation assembly preferably, but not necessarily, of the type installed beneath the seat of a commercial airline and comprising a base structured and configured to define a life vest of the type intended to support an individual in a body of water. A monitoring device preferably comprises a radio frequency identification device or RFID tag, structured for wireless communication, is connected to the life vest in a predetermined location which generally restricts physical access thereto, but does not interfere with wireless communication therewith. As such, an appropriate reader assembly may be brought into the general vicinity of the RFID tags associated with a plurality of the life vests, thereby facilitating the efficient inspection of each of the life vests. |
| US07854638B2 |
Swim fin device
Disclosed herein are apparatus and methods for enhancing swimming and facilitating walking on land. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a foot thong having a body and a toe tether. The apparatus can include a swim fin device having a sole portion, toe portion, and fin portion, wherein the sole portion and toe portion cooperate to define an opening for receiving the toe tether to secure the swim fin device to the foot thong. |
| US07854637B2 |
Multiple venturi nozzle system for watercraft
The present invention is directed to a multiple propeller nozzle Venturi system and assembly consisting of two or more hydrodynamically shaped nozzle rings, axially located around the propeller and connected by the means of a plurality of equally spaced ring connecting fin struts to be used on a wide variety of sizes of watercrafts. By adjusting the conical inclination of one or more of the hydronamically shaped nozzle rings the water passing over is directed into the area of the propeller increasing the thrust pressure, thereby creating a Venturi effect. A skeg shield and a skid plate are incorporated to strengthen, or repair if broken, the lower portion of outboard and inboard-outboard motors. The overall effect of the multiple nozzle Venturi system is to enhance the performance, handling and control of a watercraft so equipped. Multiple nozzle Venturi systems are constructed to be adaptable to all sizes of vessels and all motors found on watercraft. |
| US07854635B1 |
Adapter for air conditioning connector
An electrical connectivity disc (100, 130, 200) includes a plurality of serrated slots (106, 108) positioned about the disc. The disc preferably includes a plurality of barbs (136) about a peripheral edge (104) of the disc (130). A center aperture (110) can be formed in a center of the disc (130). A portion of the serrated slots (108) can be located in communication with the center aperture (110). The discs (130) are inserted into a generally an electrically conductive, cylindrical tubular structure (160). A cable (190) is inserted into a receiving aperture (168) and crimped providing an electro-mechanical interface with the tubular structure (160). The cable (190) provides an electrical connection to an air conditioning power input terminal block. |
| US07854634B2 |
Jack connector assembly having circuitry components integrated for providing POE-functionality
The invention relates to a jack connector assembly having circuitry components integrated providing power over LAN-functionality, in particular for use with regard to Ethernet-networks. An object of the present invention is to provide a jack connector assembly providing integrated power over LAN-functionality and especially avoiding any undesirable and destructive heat accumulation. The object is achieved by a modular jack connector assembly having at least one connector housing (100) and at least one connector insert (200) insertable into the connector housing, each connector housing (100) having a front mating side with at least one port opening (301, 312) for receiving a plug having a plurality of electrical contacts and a rear side (112) for inserting at least one of said connector inserts (200), each connector insert (200) having a front end side and a rear end side and is supporting electrical contacts (240) with contact sections (245, 246) arranged at the front end for detachable connection with corresponding electrical contacts of at least one of said plugs, and is supporting at the rear end side components (260) of a circuitry providing a power over LAN-functionality. |
| US07854631B2 |
Ultra-compact, high-performance motor controller
Featured is a controller for a motor that is ultra-compact, with a power density of at least about 20 watts per cubic cm (W/cm3). The controller utilizes a common ground for power circuitry, which energizes the windings of the motor, and the signal circuitry, which controls this energization responsive to signals from one or more sensors. Also, the ground is held at a stable potential without galvanic isolation. The circuits, their components and connectors are sized and located to minimize their inductance and heat is dissipated by conduction to the controller's exterior such as by a thermally conductive and electrically insulating material (e.g., potable epoxy). The controller uses a single current sensor for plural windings and preferably a single heat sensor within the controller. The body of the controller can also function as the sole plug connector. |
| US07854630B1 |
Module connector
A module connector has a socket and a second shield covered to the socket. The socket has an insulating housing having a rectangular base and four sidewalls extended upwards from four edges of the base, forming a receiving chamber for receiving a lens module, and a first shield coupled with the insulating housing and having four lateral plates. At least one lateral plate has a plurality of locking openings. The second shield has a rectangular frame and four containing plates extended downwards from outer edges of the frame. At least one containing plate has two parallel slits extending upwards and downwards and passing through a bottom edge thereof, forming a free slice therebetween. A plurality of protrusions is disposed at an inner surface of the free slice, corresponding to the locking openings. |
| US07854629B1 |
Power plug system for submersible pump system
A power plug system for use with a submersible pump. One embodiment comprises a male plug end, a female plug end, and a plurality of seals. The male plug end comprises a housing and a conductive sleeve. The housing receives an electrically conductive cable and conducts an electric current from the cable to the conductive sleeve. The female plug end comprises a housing, a conductive pin, and a female plug sleeve. The conductive sleeve is radially sealable within the female plug end through a plug end seal of the plurality of seals. The conductive sleeve and the conductive pin are conductively connectable. The female plug sleeve is radially sealable within a complementary plug end through a female plug sleeve seal of the plurality of seals. The conductive pin conductively connects to a conductive lead of the complementary plug end with insertion of the female plug sleeve therein. |
| US07854625B1 |
Connector for flexible printed circuit board
A connector includes an insulating housing defining a mouth in a front thereof which is surrounded by a bottom wall, two sidewalls and a rear wall, a plurality of terminals disposed in the insulating housing, and an actuator pivotally mounted to the insulating housing for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position. Two insides of the sidewalls define two receiving cavities in fronts thereof facing to each other and communicating with the mouth. Two opposite side edges of the actuator oppositely protrude to form a pair of pivoting portions at front ends thereof pivoted in the corresponding receiving cavities and against rear sides of the receiving cavities when the actuator is closed. A rear end of the base board protrudes downward to form a locking ridge extending transversely to be restrained behind the rear wall and the connecting props. |
| US07854623B2 |
Electrical connecting device having mating state indication means
This connecting device has a connector and a counterpart connector suitable to mate therewith, and at least one RFID tag attached to one of said connectors and suitable to communicate with reader, said RFID tag including an antenna. The device further includes a switch adapted to put the RFID tag either in a first communication state or in a second communication state, depending on the full or incomplete mating state of the connectors. |
| US07854622B1 |
Electrical connecting device
The present invention discloses an electrical connecting device adapted to receive a chip unit. The electrical connecting device includes an insulation base, a terminal set, a circuit board, a cover and a driving mechanism. The insulation base is formed with a terminal area and a first pierced hole. The terminal set is disposed correspondingly in the terminal area. The circuit board is disposed under the insulation base. The circuit board is formed with a pad area, which is disposed correspondingly to and under the terminal area for the terminal set to be soldered on. The circuit board is formed with a through hole corresponding to the first pierced hole. The cover is horizontally and slidably covering the insulation base. The driving mechanism at least has a metal bushing covered into the first pierced hole and the through hole. The driving mechanism further has a cam, which has a driven portion extending to form a first cylinder into the first pierced hole. The first cylinder is jointed into the metal bushing correspondingly. A second cylinder which is off-centered with respect to the first cylinder is formed between the driven portion and the first cylinder and entering the second pierced hole. |
| US07854620B2 |
Shield housing for a separable connector
A separable connector shield housing includes a layer of conductive material disposed at least partially around a layer of non-conductive material. The layers are molded together. For example, the conductive material can be overmolded around the non-conductive material, or the non-conductive material can be insert molded within the conductive material. The molding results in an easy to manufacture, single-component shield housing with reduced potential for air gaps and electrical discharge. The shield housing defines a channel within which at least a portion of a contact tube may be received. A contact element is disposed within the contact tube. The conductive material substantially surrounds the contact element. The non-conductive material can extend along an entire length of the contact tube and other components, or it may only extend partially along the contact tube. The non-conductive material can include an integral nose piece disposed along a nose end of the contact tube. |
| US07854617B2 |
Grounded power adapter
A power adapter includes an adapter base defining a plug member channel between a first channel wall and a plurality of second channel walls that are oriented substantially perpendicularly to the first channel wall. A power member connector is located on the first channel wall. A ground member connector is located on at least one of the plurality of second channel walls. A plug member includes a plug base having a first plug wall and a plurality of second plug walls that are oriented substantially perpendicularly to the first plug wall, a power member located on the first plug wall, and a ground member is located on at least one of the second plug walls. The plug member is operable to be inserted into the plug member channel to engage the power member with the power member connector and the ground member with the ground member connector. |
| US07854615B1 |
Rotational connector for welding torch
A rotational connector for connecting a welding power cable to a welding torch may include an enclosure, an end cap, a torch stud, a cable stud, and a biasing member. The enclosure may have an internal surface. The end cap may have an end cap biasing surface. The end cap operably connects to the enclosure. The torch stud may include a flange that has a contact surface and a biasing surface. The cable stud may include a flange that has a contact surface and a retention surface. The cable stud retention surface may have a shape corresponding to the enclosure internal surface. The biasing member may be disposed between the end cap biasing surface and the torch stud biasing surface urging the torch stud contact surface into engagement with the cable stud contact surface and urging the cable stud retention surface into engagement with the enclosure internal surface. |
| US07854614B2 |
Multi-contact universally jointed power and/or signal connector devices
An adjustable at least four-way electrical connector for signal, power, voice and/or data communication, comprising at least four adjustable electrical connections utilizing a ball and socket type physical connection device and including a weatherproofing gasket; also an adjustable fiber optic connection device utilizing ball and socket type construction wherein an optical fiber can be split into a plurality of optical fibers via a connection device providing for rotation and pivoting. |
| US07854610B2 |
Orthodontic tooth retention system
A method and apparatus for delivering an orthodontic retainer system wherein pairs of magnets are applied to adjacent teeth in a patient's mouth. The retainer system may include a pair of dental modules, in the form of mutually attracted members, that are temporary retained on a delivery member and positioned on a patient's teeth. In one exemplary embodiment, the dental modules have rounded and/or chamfered edges and a sloped lingual surface. In one exemplary embodiment, the delivery member is substantially L-shaped. Advantageously, the substantially L-shape of the delivery member allows an orthodontist to enter only a small portion of the patient's oral cavity to position the dental modules on a patient's teeth. Further, the substantially L-shape of the delivery member eases the orthodontist's delivery of the dental modules into a patient's mouth by substantially eliminating the need for the orthodontist to manipulate or otherwise move the patient's lips, tongue, and/or cheeks. |
| US07854608B2 |
Method and apparatus for heat treatment in a fluidized bed
The present invention relates to a method for the heat treatment of fine-grained solids, in particular gypsum, in which the solids are heated to a temperature of 50 to 1000° C. in a fluidized bed reactor (1), and to a corresponding plant. To improve the energy utilization, it is proposed to introduce a first gas or gas mixture from below through a preferably central gas supply tube (3) into a mixing chamber (21) of the reactor (1), the gas supply tube (3) being at least partly surrounded by a stationary annular fluidized bed (2) which is fluidized by supplying fluidizing gas, and to adjust the gas velocities of the first gas or gas mixture as well as of the fluidizing gas for the annular fluidized bed (2) such that the particle Froude numbers in the gas supply tube (3) are between 1 and 100, in the annular fluidized bed (2) between 0.02 and 2 and in the mixing chamber (21) between 0.3 and 30. |
| US07854599B2 |
Circulating pump and method for the fluid lubrication of a spherical bearing in an electric motor
A circulating pump with an electric motor, which comprises a rotor and a stator, is proposed, the rotor being mounted on a spherical bearing which comprises a sliding body with a convex spherical surface and a bearing bushing with a concave spherical surface and which is fluid-lubricated, in which pump a flow system for passing lubricating fluid through a lubricating region between the sliding body and the bearing bushing is separate from a gap between the stator and the rotor. |
| US07854595B2 |
Wind turbine blade tip shapes
A blade for a wind turbine includes a chord of length “c” positioned with a leading edge tip chord angle and trailing edge tip chord angle of between approximately 45 and 75 degrees; a tip having a shear web plane radii distribution in the ranges of L/c (%)R/c (%) 0-10%1.03-3.68% 30-40%2.91-5.79% 60-70%1.77-2.5% 90-100%0.229-.350% where “L/c” is a range of an approximate normalized location along the chord line expressed as a percentage of the chord length from a leading edge of the blade; and where “R/c” is a range of an approximate normalized shear web plane tip radius expressed as a percentage of the chord length, for each normalized location L/c. |
| US07854592B2 |
Wind turbine rotor, a rotation controlling mechanism and a method for controlling at least one blade of a wind turbine rotor
The invention relates to a wind turbine rotor comprising at least one blade and at least on pitch mechanism comprising a ring shaped motor for controlling the blade. The wind turbine rotor is characterized in that, the ring shaped motor controls the blade through gearing means of a planetary type. The invention further relates to a rotation controlling mechanism comprising, at least one ring shaped motor for controlling the rotation of at least one first part in relation to at least one second part. The rotation controlling mechanism is characterized in that, the ring shaped motor controls the relative rotation through gearing means of a planetary type. Even further the invention relates to a method for controlling at least one blade of a wind turbine rotor. |
| US07854588B2 |
Stamped torque converter stator blades and a torque converter stator with stamped blades
The present invention broadly comprises a blade for a torque converter stator including a body, a first end, and a second end; a stator blade assembly; and a stator for a torque converter including a plurality of blades, a housing, and a core ring. The first end is arranged to engage the housing and the second end is arranged to engage the core ring. In some aspects, the blade is stamped or the body is arcuate. The assembly includes a plurality of separate blades. In some aspects, each blade is stamped or bodies for adjacent blades at least partially overlap with respect to a radial plane through an axis for the stator. In some aspects, an axial opening between blades widens radially outward or inward. |
| US07854583B2 |
Stator joining strip and method of linking adjacent stators
A compressor having a plurality of vane units each having at least one airfoil projecting from the base. Each base has a groove, so that when the vane units are disposed circumferentially adjacent, the grooves of the respective vane units are circumferentially aligned. A metal strip is disposed in the groove of a plurality of adjacent vane units to link the vane units forming a more rigid ring of vanes that are less susceptible to vane motion, e.g., caused by pressure fluctuations within the compressor of a gas turbine. |
| US07854577B2 |
Freight container
The freight container is constructed with relatively thin sidewalls of relatively high-strength steel, permitting thinner corrugations. This results in a greater internal width for the container, while still having an external width not exceeding the nominal 102″ or 2.6 meter national and international standards. By forming the sidewalls of sufficiently high strength materials, the sidewalls may be constructed to have a thickness not exceeding one inch each, thereby providing a nominal internal width of 100″ for the container. This permits the placement of U.S. standard pallets having lengths and widths of 56×44 inches in an alternating array, with each pallet group forming a square of 100″ on a side. In this manner, a total of twenty-four pallets may be placed within the freight container. |
| US07854572B2 |
Piling machine with high-pressure jet spiral bit and its piling method
A piling machine with high-pressure jet spiral bit, including an underpan, a pile frame, a drill pipe, a drill bit having an upper leaf helix, a lower leaf helix and a middle leaf helix, a power system, a high-pressure concrete casting system and a high-pressure jet grouting system. The drill bit is disposed at the head of the drill pipe and has multiple nozzles disposed thereon, a diameter of the middle leaf helix is constant from the top to the bottom thereof, a diameter of each of the upper leaf helix and the lower leaf helix decreases from the top to the bottom thereof so that the drill bit with upper and lower tines is formed, the drill bit is spiral, the high-pressure jet grouting system is disposed in the drill bit, and the nozzles are disposed on the drill bit. A piling method is also taught herein. |
| US07854571B1 |
Systems and methods for handling piles
A pile driving system comprising an engaging system comprising a suspension system, a vibratory system, and first and second clamp assemblies. The primary housing is operatively supported by an arm assembly of a support system. The suspension system is configured to resiliently oppose movement of a secondary housing within a limited range of movement relative to a primary housing. The vibratory system is rigidly connected to the secondary housing. The first and second clamp to assemblies are supported by the secondary housing. In a first mode, the first clamp assembly rigidly connects the secondary housing to the pile, and in a second mode the second clamp assembly rigidly connects the secondary housing to the pile. The pile driving system drives the pile using a driving force generated by the support system and/or a vibrational force generated by the vibratory system. |
| US07854568B2 |
Diving equipment
Diving equipment easily operable by disabled persons, aged persons, etc. and wearable by oneself. The diving equipment such as buoyancy controlling device (BCD) has the function to hold a tank on the shoulder of a wearer and the function as a life jacket providing buoyancy to the wearer. In the diving equipment (BCD) of which the overall is formed in a vest-like shape, a tank holding part (2), shoulder parts (3) positioned at the both shoulder portions of a diver, and the portion (4) positioned at the center of the thoracabdominal part of the diver are formed continuously to each other so as to constitute rigid structural members. Most or all operating portions (5) are installed at the portion (4) positioned at the center of the thoracoabdominal part of the diver. |
| US07854566B2 |
Nozzles incorporated into a milling machine
In one aspect of the invention, a system for removing a layer of a paved surface comprises a vehicle adapted to traverse a paved surface in a selected direction. The vehicle also comprises a milling drum with an axle connected to the vehicle, the drum being adapted to rotate around the axle substantially normal the selected direction. A moldboard is positioned rearward of the milling drum and also connected to the vehicle. A plurality of nozzles is disposed proximate a bottom end of the moldboard and is in communication with a fluid reservoir through a fluid pathway and the plurality of nozzles is adapted to move independent of the moldboard. |
| US07854562B2 |
Internal feed manual paint brush
A manually operated internally fed paint brush having a resilient handle forming a refillable paint reservoir and a brush head with a fluid delivery path connecting the reservoir to the brush head via a siphon tube having an inlet positioned at a lowermost region of the reservoir when the paint brush is generally horizontal. A combined valve and O-ring seals an outlet of the siphon tube and selectively opens in response to compression of the reservoir. A latching mechanism retains the brush head to the handle. A trough having a spout is provided for filling the paint brush. |
| US07854560B1 |
Adhesive container with tear-away wiper element
An adhesive container for use with a liquid adhesive, wherein the container comprises a body, a bottom, a side wall and a top. The container can include a stem extending from the lid and a dauber applicator connected to the stem, wherein the dauber applicator and the stem are stored within the container. The dauber applicator retrieves a portion of the liquid adhesive through at least one opening and the wiper removes portions of the liquid adhesive allowing the liquid adhesive to fall back into the body of the container and keep the removed portions of the liquid adhesive from dripping externally to the container. |
| US07854558B2 |
Developer waste reuse
An apparatus for reusing developer liquid in a plate processor device includes: a new developer liquid container (13); a work in progress developer liquid tank (10) for plate processing is filled with developer liquid (15) from the new developer liquid container (13); a waste developer liquid container (14) configured to receive spilled over developer liquid (16) from the work in progress developer liquid tank (10); and replenish means configured to replenish the waste developer liquid (21) from the waste developer liquid container (14) back according to the conductivity level of the waste developer liquid. |
| US07854556B2 |
Camera mounting system
A camera mounting system comprises a pair of rail members, a camera mount arranged to support a video camera on the pair of rail members and a base mount arranged to support the pair of rails on a tripod. The camera mount and the base mount are supported for adjustment relative to one another along the rail members. The camera mount supports the video camera thereon and is supported on the rail members by a pair of link members, each pivotally coupled at a lower end on the rail members and at an upper end on the camera mount. The linkage permits the camera mount and camera thereon to be adjusted in elevation relative to the rail members by pivoting the linkage while being arranged so as not to project below the rail members in both lowered and elevated positions such that the linkage does not interfere with relative movement between the base mount and the camera mount. |
| US07854555B2 |
Camera platform stabilizing systems
A camera crane has a telescopically extendible arm with a camera platform supported at the front end of the arm. A mechanical leveling system is linked to the camera platform to keep the camera platform in a substantially horizontal or level position, regardless of the elevation angle of the arm. A counter weight moves along the arm as the arm extends and retracts, to help keep the arm balanced. A stabilizing system provides instantaneous corrective movements to the camera platform, to keep the camera platform level. The stabilizing system includes a sensor for sensing the angular position of the camera platform. An electronic controller provides a positive preload to a first motor, and a negative preload to the second motor, driving the camera platform, to avoid backlash. Upon sensing an out of level position, the controller provides a corrective signal to the motors, causing both motors to drive the camera platform back towards level. |
| US07854551B2 |
X-ray detecting stand and X-ray imaging apparatus
An X-ray detecting stand that includes an X-ray detector, a vertical column that supports the X-ray detector so as to be movable, and elevating device for raising and lowering the X-ray detector along the column through a belt, including a balancing mechanism that exerts force, which balances a load by the X-ray detector, to the belt by a clockwork spring. The balancing mechanism has a wire having one end coupled to the belt at the side opposite to the X-ray detector, a wheel that reels up the other end of the wire, and a clockwork spring that applies take-up torque to the wheel. |
| US07854550B2 |
Intelligent illumination thermometer
A thermometer includes an illuminated display, which may act as an intelligent indicator of the change and level of temperature. The thermometer includes memory unit accommodating multiple users and their past records respectively. When a new temperature reading is obtained, the thermometer compares the new temperature against the immediate preceding record of the same user. The thermometer further includes a display module indicating the change of temperature reading and the fever status of the user. |
| US07854545B2 |
Wristwatch featuring a case the back of which can house a stone in contact with the skin
The present invention provides a wristwatch the case back of which is designed as a seat for a stone of the same shape and size and the stone is fitted to the case by a ring, which allows the stone to project a few millimeters so that the stone is in contact with the skin of the wrist. |
| US07854541B2 |
Backlight unit with socket connector, and liquid crystal display module using the same
A backlight unit with socket connecter includes: a bottom frame having a topside and a backside; at least one lamp on the topside of the bottom frame; a socket connector disposed on a backside of the bottom frame, the socket connector being connected to the lamp; and a backlight circuit board having a plug connector connected to the socket connector. |
| US07854538B2 |
High intensity tactical vehicle infrared and white headlight system
A headlamp for a vehicle or other application, including a circular arrangement of groupings of IR LEDs in a retaining ring, each grouping of IR LED providing a different beam pattern of infrared illumination, and a HID lamp surrounded by the retaining ring, for providing visible light. A switch system is also provided, for enabling either the visible light or the infrared light, and for selecting a beam pattern. |
| US07854531B1 |
Bridge seal for a warning light assembly
The disclosed bridge seal includes a substantially rigid bridge component and flexible gutter seal arranged to span the openings between adjacent housing modules of a modular warning light assembly such as a lightbar. The bridge seal physically connects the adjacent ends of base and dome components to each other and defines a fluid flow channel to guide water away from the area between housing modules. The disclosed bridge seal integrates discrete housing modules into a connected weather resistant enclosure having a longitudinal path for control and power distribution conductors extending the length of the lightbar. |
| US07854528B2 |
Illumination apparatus for bag toss game
A light array for illuminating the circular opening in the platform of a bag toss game includes a circular frame and mating cover that define a hole, at least equal in area to the opening. A plurality of lights (LEDs) is positioned in the annular enclosure formed by the frame and cover. The cover includes a transparent wall through which light is projected to the opening in the platform. An annular printed circuit board is supported in the annular enclosure and mechanically supports and electrically connects the LEDs to a switched battery source. Different embodiments for blinking and sequencing the LEDs are shown. A laser diode arrangement for producing a cross hair pattern of beams in the platform hole is also described. |
| US07854527B2 |
Combination LED fixture and raceway
A combination under-cabinet LED fixture and raceway is comprised of an upper housing member to which either a lower housing member may be secured thereto to create an LED fixture or to which a raceway cover may be secured thereto to create a raceway. A modified form of the invention comprises an upper housing member and a lower housing member with the lower housing member being selectively reversibly inserted into the upper housing member to form either a raceway or an LED fixture. |
| US07854526B2 |
Lamp holder
A lamp holder applied in a backlight module includes a base and at least one clamp element. The base has a high reflectivity, while the clamp element is of a transparent and fluorescent characteristic. In addition, the clamp element has a clamp part to hold the lamp. When light radiates from the lamp, the light of the lamp can penetrate through the clamp element. |
| US07854517B2 |
Projector system having cooling fan
A projector includes a light source unit, a light source side optical system, a display device for producing a projected image to be projected, a projection side optical system for projecting the projected image produced by the display device, a blower acting as a cooling fan for cooling the light source unit, an exhaust air temperature reducing unit for reducing the temperature of highly heated air which results from the cooling of the light source unit by the cooling fan, and exhaust vents for expelling exhaust air from the exhaust air temperature reducing unit to the outside. The exhaust air temperature reducing unit is made up of a heat pipe and fins. |
| US07854515B2 |
Projection type image display apparatus
An projection type image display apparatus includes a projection optical system having a plurality of concave mirrors and digital micromirror device (DMD). An optical path from the DMD to the concave mirror closest to the DMD is a sealed space which is surrounded by an image forming device holding plate holding the DMD, an optical component holding member holding the concave mirror and the image forming device holding plate, and a cover glass (transparent dust-proof cover) arranged on the optical path from the DMD to the concave mirror closest to the DMD. |
| US07854514B2 |
Polarized, led-based illumination source
An illumination source includes a number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) operating at a first wavelength. Light from the LEDs illuminates a phosphor material that generates light at a second wavelength. A reflective polarizer transmits light at the second wavelength in a first polarization state and reflects light at the second wavelength in a second polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state. The light at the second wavelength reflected by the reflective polarizer is directed back towards the phosphor material without an increase in angular range. In some embodiments the LEDs, having a conformal layer of phosphor material, are attached directly to the first surface of a liquid cooled plate. A liquid coolant contacts a second surface of the plate. |
| US07854513B2 |
One-way transparent display systems
A display system includes a projection screen and a projector. The projection screen includes a retarder plate between a polarizer and a transparent screen. The projector projects an image through the polarizer and the retarder plate onto the transparent screen. The image is visible from a first side of the transparent screen but invisible from a second side of the transparent screen because any light passing twice through the retarder plate is blocked by the polarizer. |
| US07854511B2 |
Apparatus, methods and systems for non-invasive ocular assessment of neurological function
A portable, non-invasive binocular scanning apparatus for rapid assessment of neurological function in cases of potential trauma, disease, and/or exposure to chemical treat agents. The scanning apparatus may utilize a combination of light sources for the measurement and assessment of pupillary response, retinal imagery, and/or other ophthalmologic biomarkers. The scanning apparatus can detect and assess a wide range of neurological and physiological conditions by obtaining pertinent measurements from the retina and pupil in real time. |
| US07854502B2 |
Ink-jet recording apparatus
An ink-jet recording apparatus comprises rollers, an endless conveyor belt, a nip roller, and an ink-jet head. The endless conveyor belt is stretched between the rollers. The nip roller cooperates with an outer surface of the conveyor belt to sandwich a recording medium. The ink-jet head has nozzles from which ink is ejected to the recording medium that is conveyed in a predetermined conveyance direction by the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt has a base member, an elastic layer formed on an outer surface of the base member, and an adhesive layer formed on an outer surface of the elastic layer and holding thereon the recording medium. The elastic layer deforms in its thickness direction when the recording medium is sandwiched between the adhesive layer and the nip roller. |
| US07854496B2 |
Inkjet printer with small drop size
An inkjet printer configured for ejecting ink droplets having a volume in the range of 1 to 2.5 pL, the printer comprising: a printhead having a plurality of nozzles assemblies, each nozzle assembly comprising: a nozzle chamber for containing ink, the chamber having a nozzle opening and an ink inlet, the nozzle opening having a maximum dimension in the range of 4 to 12 microns; and a bend actuator for ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle opening by generating a positive pressure pulse in the ink during bending of the actuator; and an ink supply system configured for supplying ink to the printhead at a positive hydrostatic pressure in the range of 1 to 300 mm H2O. |
| US07854494B2 |
Nozzle plate, method of manufacturing nozzle plate, and image forming apparatus
The nozzle plate has a nozzle hole formed therethrough, the nozzle hole being defined in the nozzle plate with an inner surface including a first liquid-philic portion, a liquid-phobic portion and a second liquid-philic portion that are arranged in this order from a side near the nozzle mouth, the first and second liquid-philic portions having liquid-philicity, the liquid-phobic portion having liquid-phoblicity. |
| US07854492B2 |
Pagewidth printhead assembly with support member laminate structure
A pagewidth printhead assembly comprising an elongate support member, the elongate support member includes a core element defining separate ink reservoirs and a laminate structure at least partially surrounding the core element. A plurality of printhead integrated circuits is mounted to the core element so as to be substantially aligned with one another along the elongate support member. The laminate structure includes at least a first layer of a first material adjacent the core element, a second layer of a second material adjacent the first layer, and a third layer of the first material adjacent the second layer, and the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first material is different to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the second material. The effective coefficient of thermal expansion of the support member is substantially equal to that of the plurality of printhead integrated circuits. |
| US07854489B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A disclosed image forming apparatus includes a carriage having a head for jetting droplets; a pattern forming unit configured to form, on a belt, a pattern used for detecting displacement of landing positions of the droplets; a reading unit configured to scan the belt before the pattern formation to output a first result, and scan the pattern to output a second result; a correcting unit configured to correct the displacement based on the second result; a frequency analyzing unit configured to calculate frequencies of the belt and amplitudes of respective frequency components based on the first result; and a peak frequency calculating unit configured to calculate peak frequencies of the belt based on the frequencies of the belt and the amplitudes of the frequency components, the peak frequencies being frequency components whose amplitude exceeds a predetermined level. The pattern is formed at a frequency different from the peak frequencies. |
| US07854483B2 |
Track for crawler vehicles
A metal track for crawler vehicles, the track having a metal chain hinged with substantially rectangular metal shoes, each of which has a work surface with arrow-shaped teeth defined by a front portion of one arrow-shaped tooth and a rear portion of another arrow-shaped tooth spaced apart on the work surface and complementary in shape; each portion of arrow-shaped tooth cooperating with a complementary portion on a respective adjacent shoe to define a complete arrow-shaped tooth. |
| US07854482B2 |
Safety guard mounting/dismounting device for a baby seat
A safety guard mounting/dismounting device for a baby seat is provided. The safety guard mounting/dismounting device comprises a mounting seat fixed to leg tubes of the baby seat, a connecting member whose one end being fixed to the safety guard and the other end being inserted into the leg tube of the baby seat, and an engaging assembly disposed in the connecting member which includes an engaging device and a restoring spring, wherein the engaging device includes a hook like portion which is movable between an engaging position where it may engage with the leg tube and a disengaging position, and the restoring spring is arranged such that it may bias the hook like portion of the engaging device toward the engaging position. |
| US07854476B1 |
Baby seat
A baby seat includes a seat shell equipped with a folding stand and straps for fastening to an adult chair, a seat back shell having two smoothly arched top protrusions at the top side to show the configuration of the head of an animal, two armrests connected between the seat back shell and the seat shell and a soft seat cushion configured to exhibit the configuration of an animal and divided into a seat back portion that carries a design and a seat portion, the seat cushion having a sleeve extended from the top side thereof for sleeving onto the seat back shell and two flexible tie cords respectively affixed to two opposite lateral sides thereof with stitches for insertion through insertion slots on the seat shell to tie the seat cushion to the seat shell, the sleeve having two curved portions fitting the smoothly arched top protrusions of the seat back shell to enhance positioning stability of the seat cushion on the seat back shell. |
| US07854475B2 |
Sliding roof
The present invention provides a sliding roof for a vehicle including a plurality of roof panels separately mounted on an opening of a fixed roof of the vehicle in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a guide frame attached at a lower portion of each side edge of the opening, and an anchor installed into the guide frame to engage with at least part of the roof panel, so as to assist open-close operations of the plurality of the roof panels in the vicinity of a closed state thereof. Sliding of sliders attached to the each guide frame allows the plurality of the roof panels to open or close in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle. The sliding roof for a vehicle further includes a guide member installed into the guide frame to guide a movement of engagement portions of the plurality of the roof panels adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The anchor and the guide member are installed into an identical groove formed on the guide frame. |
| US07854473B2 |
Vehicle front structure
A vehicle front structure includes: a lower dashboard; an upper dashboard frontward extending from an upper end portion of the lower dashboard, both the lower and upper dashboards partially defining an engine compartment; damper housings disposed on a right side and a left side of the engine compartment, with right and left ends of the upper dashboard being joined to the respective damper housings; and a stiffener extending in a vehicle width direction which is fixed to an upper portion of the upper dashboard, wherein the stiffener is integrally formed of: a first transversal element connecting an upper portion of the right damper housing and an upper portion of the left damper housing; a second transversal element extending in the vehicle width direction and positioned rearward relative to the first transversal element; a plurality of longitudinal elements each connecting the first transversal element and the second transversal element. |
| US07854470B2 |
Load transmission body for vehicle
A load transmission body for a vehicle, transmitting an impact load to a floor of the vehicle body, the load transmission body includes: a pair of side walls fixed to the floor of the vehicle body and extending in a vehicle front-back direction; a front reinforcing wall having a closed cross-sectional structure, extending in a vehicle width direction, and reciprocally coupling with the pair of side walls; a rear reinforcing wall disposed at a vehicle rear side of the front reinforcing wall, having a closed cross-sectional structure, extending in the vehicle width direction, and reciprocally coupling with the pair of side walls; and a side reinforcing member disposed at each of the front reinforcing wall and the rear reinforcing wall, extending in the vehicle front-back direction, and coupling the front reinforcing wall with the rear reinforcing wall. |
| US07854468B2 |
Self-deploying drag reducing device
A drag reducing apparatus is hingedly mounted to the rear of a truck or trailer vehicle so that the apparatus can be pivoted clear of the rear doors of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a hinge assembly that allows the apparatus to open substantially flat against the side of the vehicle so as not to impede the full movement of the doors. The apparatus includes an arrangement of connected panels that are initially folded flat against the back of the vehicle but automatically open to a drag reducing configuration at a sufficient vehicle speed. The connected panels are further configured so that the force of gravity automatically returns the panels to their initial folded configuration when the vehicle speed falls below a threshold. The apparatus incorporates a modular construction that allows replacement of individual panel sections. The mounting frame is constructed to augment the drag reduction characteristics of the apparatus. |
| US07854467B2 |
Airflow control devices based on active materials
An airflow control device comprises a body and an active material in operative communication with the body. The active material, such as shape memory material, is operative to change at least one attribute in response to an activation signal. The active material can change its shape, dimensions and/or stiffness producing a change in at least one feature of the airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness to control vehicle airflow to better suit changes in driving conditions such as weather, ground clearance and speed, while reducing maintenance and the level of failure modes. As such, the device reduces vehicle damage due to inadequate ground clearance, while increasing vehicle stability and fuel economy. An activation device, controller and sensors may be employed to further control the change in at least one feature of the airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness of the device. A method for controlling vehicle airflow selectively introduces an activation signal to initiate a change of at least one feature of the device that can be reversed upon discontinuation of the activation signal. |
| US07854466B2 |
Mounting system for ballistic panel
A ballistic panel and mounting assembly for use with a vehicle door having a side impact structure. The panel having first and second separable members, and a plurality of upper brackets and side brackets used to secure the respective first and second members to both the beltline of the vehicle door and to the side impact structure. The brackets configured such that the panel is mounted outwardly of the window hardware and associated control mechanism and adjacent the side impact structure. In addition, connectors located on the first and second members operate to connect or join the respective members together. |
| US07854463B1 |
Vehicle operator enclosure
A garden tractor is equipped with an enclosure for protecting the tractor's operator from the weather, dust, dirt, insects and sunlight. A frame assembly mounted on the tractor supports an enclosure having panels with transparent windows and a door to allow the tractor's operator to enter and exit the enclosure. |
| US07854462B2 |
Folding head restraint
A seat assembly is provided that has a head restraint pivotally mounted to the seat back for movement between an operative position and a stowed position. The seat assembly has a seat mounting assembly that comprises at least one floor latch assembly. The floor latch assembly is operable between a latched position locking the seat assembly to the floor and a released position allowing the pivotal movement of the seat assembly to a folded position. The floor latch assembly is operatively coupled to the head restraint to release the head restraint from the operative position when the floor latch assembly is in the released position and prevent the head restraint from being locked in the operative position until the floor latch assembly is back in the latched position. |
| US07854461B2 |
Slide/flip-up type seat for automobile
A slide/flip-up type automobile-seat is disclosed. The seat is provided with lock-release restricting mechanisms provided at lower rail members of a slide rail mechanism for keeping slide lock levers in unlockable states with respect to the lower rail members during flipping-up movement of an entire seat or in a state where the entire seat has been flipped up, and for keeping striker locks in states of being unallowable to be unlocked when the lock levers are in states of incompletely locked with respect to the lower rail members. Each of the lock-release mechanisms includes a restricting arm which includes an arm body, a rising-up piece rising up from one end portion of the arm body and having a height reaching a position under a rear end portion of corresponding one of the lock levers, and a retaining piece which is provided at a side edge of the arm body and to which a corresponding one of extension rods extending from the striker locks is connected. The restricting arm is pivotally supported to a corresponding lower rail member with the rising-up piece being inserted through an elongated hole formed in the lower rail member, in such a manner that the rising-up piece is moved between the position just under the rear end portion of the lock lever and a position just behind the rear end portion of the lock lever according to forward and rearward strokes of the extension rod when the striker lock is unlocked and locked. |
| US07854457B2 |
Gearshift finisher
A gearshift finisher assembly comprises a finisher for bridging a gap between a gear selector plate and an adjacent or surrounding vehicle trim panel and a retainer including means for attachment to the trim panel. The finisher is engaged with the retainer for floating movement of the finisher with respect to the retainer, for example by engaging formations associated with the finisher and the retainer. The finisher may be engaged with the retainer via an intermediate fastener such as a plastics frame spring clip shaped to engage the finisher and the retainer. |
| US07854454B2 |
Head lamp low speed collision protector
A system for protecting a head lamp of a motor vehicle includes at least one headlamp protector device. The at least one headlamp protector device is adapted to be coupled to a bumper beam and adapted to be coupled to a crush can. The at least one headlamp protector device extends beyond the end of the bumper beam to protect the head lamp during an impact event. |
| US07854453B2 |
System for detecting objects colliding with automotive vehicle
A system for detecting objects colliding with an automotive vehicle includes a bumper-reinforcing member disposed behind a front bumper, a supporting member disposed behind the bumper-reinforcing member, forming a small gap therebetween, and a load sensor disposed between the bumper-reinforcing member and the supporting member in an overlapped manner. A load caused by a collision and detected by the load sensor is fed to an electronic controller that determines whether the object colliding with the vehicle is a pedestrian or other objects. Since the load sensor is mounted in a manner overlapping with the bumper-reinforcing member and the supporting member, an increase in a longitudinal length of a bumper structure by installing the load sensor is minimized. The load sensor may include plural detecting plates, each having a strain gage mounted thereon. |
| US07854451B2 |
Anchor pile coupling system
Disclosed is an anchor pile coupling system, consisting of a male and female pile coupling which can be attached to opposite ends of a piling, as well as a top drive which is used to apply rotational force to the piling string in order to guide it into the anchoring surface. |
| US07854448B2 |
Airbag arrangement
An airbag arrangement for restraining an occupant of a motor vehicle. The vehicle roof is bounded by lateral roof edge regions extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and also bounded by a front window cross member extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. A first section of the folded-up airbag can be arranged along a lateral roof edge region. A second section can be angled away from the first section transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, wherein the second section of the airbag is arranged along a longitudinal side of the front window cross member. The airbag can be disconnected from the vehicle body in the region of the second section or be connected releasably thereto when the airbag is deployed. Therefore, when the airbag is deployed, the entire second section can be deployed freely. |
| US07854444B2 |
Convertible utility cart
A convertible cart capable of being converted into a Bellman luggage cart, platform cart, or dolly cart. The convertible cart includes: (a) a platform having a third width, W3, (b) a first frame having a first width, W1, detachably coupled to the platform at a first position, (c) a second frame having a second width, W2, detachably coupled to the platform at a second position apart from the first position, (d) first coupling connector configured to detachably engage the first and second frame, respectively, with the platform, (e) a third frame having two ends detachably coupled to the first and second frame, respectively, (f) second coupling connector means detachably engage the third frame with the first and the second frame, respectively, and (g) a plurality of wheels operable mounted to the platform, in which W3>W2>W1. |
| US07854443B2 |
System for connecting supply lines
A system for connecting supply lines between a tractive vehicle and a semi-trailer that can be coupled to the latter, a semi-trailer coupling and an automatic line coupling system comprising at least one connector jack being situated on the tractive vehicle and the semi-trailer having at least one supply circuit comprising a first supply console for connecting to the tractive vehicle and for receiving a plug-in element that is located on at least one supply line of the tractive vehicle and/or a plug that is configured to fit the connector jack. The aim of the invention is to provide a system for connecting supply lines for tractive vehicles, comprising an automatic line coupling system that permits the coupling of conventional semi-trailers. To achieve this, a second supply console is located on the tractive vehicle and is permanently connected to the connector jack of the line coupling system and the plug-in element can be selectively connected to the first or second supply console. |
| US07854438B2 |
Suspension system with swaged axle and welded arm brackets and method of manufacture
A trailing arm suspension system and method of manufacture wherein a tubular axle is formed with a central area and trailing arm attachment areas outboard of the central area. The axle central area and attachment areas have a substantially uniform outer surface diameter, and the wall thickness of the attachment areas is thicker/greater than the wall thickness of the central area. Inboard and outboard arm brackets are secured by welding to the axle arm attachment areas and trailing arms are secured, at one end thereof, between an inboard and an outboard arm bracket. At their other ends, the trailing arms are adapted to be pivotally secured to the vehicle. The arm brackets are secured to the axle by inserting the axle through an axle receiving hole in the brackets and providing a 360° weld bead at the interface between the axle and arm brackets. A brake spider is secured at each end of the axle outboard of the arm brackets by inserting the axle through an axle receiving hole in the spider and providing a 360° weld bead at the interface between the axle and spider. A spring seat is secured to the trailing arm and is adapted to carry a spring and transfer the vehicle weight from the spring to said trailing arm. |
| US07854437B2 |
Vehicle conversion assembly and method of converting a vehicle
A conversion assembly for enabling or improving wheelchair accessibility to a front-wheel-drive vehicle, wherein said assembly comprises rear suspension mountings for fixing to the structure of the vehicle in place of an existing rear suspension such that a portion of a floorpan of the vehicle of sufficient width to accommodate the width of a wheelchair can be lowered between said rear suspension mountings. A method of converting a front-wheel-drive vehicle to enable or improve wheelchair accessibility to the vehicle, the method including the steps of removing an existing rear suspension from the vehicle, installing rear suspension mountings to the vehicle, one at each side of the structure of the vehicle, and lowering a portion of the floorpan of the vehicle between said rear suspension mountings. |
| US07854436B2 |
Axle lifting device for a vehicle
Axle lifting device for a vehicle, in particular for vehicle axles with pneumatic suspension, comprising a supporting element, a lifting element, and a lever element, the supporting element and the lever element being connectable to one another via the lifting element such that when the lifting element is actuated, the supporting element is supported on a frame element of the vehicle and the lever element exerts a preferably vertical force on an axle control arm of the vehicle in order to lift the axle control arm, and the lever element is mounted essentially in a stationary manner so as to be rotatable or pivotable with respect to a distal end of the axle control arm and/or the frame element, and the supporting element is rotatably or pivotably supported on the lever element. |
| US07854433B2 |
Dynamic seal
A dynamic shaft seal assembly is provided including a dynamic seal for engaging a rotary shaft. The dynamic seal includes a base portion that is mounted within a casing and has an axially extending barrel portion extending from a radially inner end of the base portion. The axially extending barrel portion terminates in a radially extending leg portion which extends inwardly from an end of the axially extending portion. A generally conically shaped seal portion extends from an end of the radially extending portion and the seal portion includes a radially inner face engaging the shaft and a radially outer face having a stiffening bead integrally formed thereon. The stiffening bead reduces the seal's propensity for “bell mouthing” while the axially extending barrel portion provides improved shaft followability for the dynamic seal. |
| US07854432B2 |
Dynamic seal
A dynamic shaft seal assembly is provided including a dynamic seal for engaging a rotary shaft. The dynamic seal includes a base portion that is mounted within a casing and has an axially extending barrel portion extending from a radially inner end of the base portion. The axially extending barrel portion terminates in a radially extending leg portion which extends inwardly from an end of the axially extending portion. A generally conically shaped seal portion extends from an end of the radially extending portion and the seal portion includes a radially inner face engaging the shaft and a radially outer face having a stiffening bead integrally formed thereon. The stiffening bead reduces the seal's propensity for “bell mouthing” while the axially extending barrel portion provides improved shaft followability for the dynamic seal. |
| US07854430B2 |
Card shuffling device and method
A device for shuffling a deck of playing cards is described. The cards are placed in a compartment having a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, and dimensioned so that the cards are constrained in rotation in two of the three axes. The device is oriented so that a thickness dimension of the deck is horizontal, and groups of cards of the deck of cards are ejected in a vertical direction so as to provide a spacing of between a top edge of cards at rest and a bottom edge of the cards being ejected. The time duration of the ejection process is sufficient to effectively randomize the deck of cards. The ejection of cards may be by a plurality of pistons, and the pistons may be actuated by a motor, a solenoid or by air pressure. |
| US07854427B2 |
Paper feed tray unit for a printer
A paper feed tray unit for a printer comprises: a paper sensor for detecting a paper on a support; a guide position sensor formed of a reflection photosensor for detecting the position of slide guides; and a paper width detection sheet with marker lines having reflectances corresponding to paper sizes. A controller detects a paper on the support using the paper sensor. If no paper is present, the controller recognizes the position of the slide guides based on a signal from the guide position sensor detected from the paper width detection sheet, and controls a drive mechanism to move the slide guides to a position corresponding to a paper size input by a user before placing a paper on the support. This enables easy paper setting on the support, and prevents the slide guides from moving if a paper is present on the support, preventing the paper from being crushed. |
| US07854426B2 |
Method and device for inscribing printed products
An apparatus (10) for inscribing folded printed products (12) having a first product part (14) and a second product part (16) joined together by a fold (18). The printed products (12) are conveyed by a conveyor device (22), with the fold (18) astride receiving saddles (26) disposed transversely to the direction of conveyance (F), through an inscribing section (30) to which a inscribing station (60) is assigned. For the inscribing of an outer side (56) of the first product part (14) disposed in leading arrangement in the direction of conveyance (F), a region (66) of the outer side (56) comes into contact with a fixed support surface (58) assigned to the inscribing section (30) and is inscribed by the inscribing station (60). For the inscribing of an inner side (48) of the second product part (16), the first product part (14) is respectively raised from a supporting member (38), assigned at least in the inscribing section (30) to the receiving saddles (26), such that a region (78) of the inner side (48) of the second product part (16) is exposed and this exposed region (78) comes to bear upon the support surface (58) and can hence be inscribing by the inscribing station (60). |
| US07854423B2 |
Modular lift assembly
A lift assembly having a drum rotatably mounted to a frame and linearly translatable with respect to one or more portions of the frame. A plurality of head blocks can be connected to the frame along a helical mounting path, wherein linear translation of the drum during takeoff or take-up can maintain a predetermined fleet angle between a take off point from the drum and the head block. |
| US07854421B2 |
Mounting bracket and method of fabrication thereof
A mounting bracket made in a single sheet of material having lateral faces connected by a joining faces, a region of the joining faces being deformed to comprises an aperture and at least one downward and one upward slot on each side of the aperture, thereby hingedly securing a hook comprising side arms and an open loop. |
| US07854418B2 |
Image forming apparatus including supporting legs
An apparatus or an image forming apparatus including a main body having a first supporting leg configured to be connectable to the main body, a second supporting leg fixed to the main body, and the position of the main body to connect the first supporting leg is selectable. The apparatus may be stable on the installation surface if the center of gravity of the apparatus is transformed. |
| US07854417B2 |
Height adjustable stand
An exemplary stand (60) includes a housing (610), an adjustable base (68), a pulley (630), a sleeve (635), a rotating member (636), a resilient member (632), a sliding member (62), and a cable. The adjustable base is fixed to one end of the housing. The adjustable base has a driving component (681), a follower (682), and a rotation shaft (683). The driving component is configured to rotate the follower. The rotation shaft is fixed to the follower. The pulley is rotatably connected to the housing. The sleeve is slidably disposed on the housing, and engages the rotation shaft. The rotating member is rotatably received in the sleeve. The resilient member is fixed to the adjustable base. The cable partially coils around the pulley, and connects the resilient member to the rotating member. A sliding member is slidably connected to the housing and fixed to the cable. |
| US07854413B2 |
Installing structure of wire harness
An installing structure of a wire harness includes a link which has an end portion and is pivotally connected to a mating member by a shaft portion provided on the end portion. The wire harness extended from the mating member is installed along the link. A guide portion is provided at the end portion of the link. A slider for holding the wire harness is slidably engaged in the guide portion. |
| US07854412B2 |
Energy-efficient electro-thermal and electro-mechanical ice-protection method
A region of an airfoil to be protected from accreted ice is heated to reduce the strength of the bond between the ice and the airfoil, and is mechanically deformed to shed the accreted ice after the bond has been sufficiently weakened. Heating ceases before substantial water runback is generated. The mechanical deformation and the cessation of heating occur approximately simultaneously. |
| US07854401B2 |
Faucet wand
A faucet wand includes a waterway having a body with a cavity therein. A plate is attached to the body to cover the cavity and form a conduit in the waterway. |
| US07854400B2 |
Fuel injector
A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine includes a solenoid coil which is actuable by an electrical line, a valve sleeve which forms an outer coat of the fuel injector in a discharge-side region, and a valve housing. The fuel injector further includes a plastic sleeve, which houses the solenoid coil and the electrical line. The plastic sleeve is slid over the valve sleeve in assembly. The plastic sleeve has two parts interconnected by a crosspiece, with a recess formed in a radial region adjacent to the region of the crosspiece. |
| US07854394B2 |
Timed aerosol fragrance dispenser for forced-air duct installation
A timed aerosol fragrance dispenser includes a housing containing a programmable microprocessor, a low-voltage DC power source, a piezoelectric assembly for spraying timed bursts of fragrance, and circuitry for activating the piezoelectric assembly, and a magnetic reed switch air flow detector. A fragrance-containing reservoir attaches to the housing, which incorporates a clip which allows the dispenser to be secured to a heating and air conditioning vent register. When the air flow detector senses air flow from the vent register, the microcontroller in combination with other circuitry generates current pulses having a voltage sufficiently high to activate the piezoelectric assembly. Intervals between pulses are switch selectable. In addition, the normal programming can be overridden to spray fragrance for a set period even in the absence of air flow from the vent register. |
| US07854393B2 |
Air freshener
A clip on type air freshener device having a housing with openings in walls thereof permitting air flow through a cavity in the housing. A bottle that holds a supply of fragrance bearing liquid is mounted on the housing and has a wick with a portion thereof projecting into the cavity in the housing. An open ended sleeve is mounted on housing in axial alignment with such projecting wick portion and is adjustably moveable axially along the wick selectively in one position to completely cover the wick projecting portion and in another position leave at least a major portion thereof exposed to air flow through said housing openings. The wick cover is exposed through an opening in the housing giving the user a visual indication as to the amount of wick exposed for evaporation of the fragrance during usage of the device. |
| US07854392B2 |
System for fastening a rail for a rail vehicle
A system for fastening a rail includes a sleeper having a supporting face supporting the flange of the rail and merging at its sides into respective levelling faces situated at a higher level than the supporting face, an angled mounting plate having a central portion on the underside of which is formed a support surface by which the angled mounting plate can be placed down on the respective levelling face assigned thereto, a supporting portion formed onto the central portion and pointing downwards from the underside of the latter and which can bridge a clear space between the flange of the rail and the levelling face, a resilient member which can be placed down on the angled plate and has two holding arms by which the resilient member can exert a holding force on the rail, and a clamping member which can exert a clamping force on the resilient member. |
| US07854388B2 |
Method of verifying proper installation of a zoned HVAC system
A method and control is provided wherein the sensors in a plurality of zones are properly associated with the dampers associated for each of the zones after installation. A technician goes to each zone and sends a signal from the sensor, and the control then makes a change at the associated damper. The technician can then ensure the two are properly associated within the control. |
| US07854386B2 |
Printing currency documents
A method of printing a security document having a security feature, the method including, receiving the security document, and encrypted identity data at least partially indicative of an identity of the security document. The identity is decrypting using a secret key associated with the public key, allowing a signature to be generated using the determined identity. The signature is a digital signature of at least part of the identity. The signature is used in generating coded data at least partially indicative of the identity of the security document and at least part of the signature. The coded data is then printed on the security document. |
| US07854385B2 |
Automatic region of interest focusing for an imaging-based bar code reader
A variable focus imaging lens assembly for an imaging system of an imaging-based bar code reader for imaging and decoding a target bar code. The lens assembly includes an automatic focusing system for energizing a drive mechanism and imaging system to move a movable lens from the predetermined position along its path of travel and generate a series of image frames; analyzing one or more image frames of the series of image frames to determine a region of interest, the region of interest including an image of a target bar code; analyzing the region of interest in subsequent image frames of the series of image frames to determine an amount of blurring; selecting an image frame from the series of image frames having blurring less than a threshold amount of blurring; and utilizing a decoder to decode the image of the target bar code in the selected image frame. |
| US07854382B2 |
Light collection assembly with self-retaining lens in electro-optical reader
An assembly for collecting light from indicia includes a chassis having a port through which the light from the indicia passes, and walls bounding an interior compartment. A self-retaining frame constituted of an optical material is non-adhesively mounted within the compartment in an assembled position. The frame has an integral lens optically aligned with the port in the assembled position for optically modifying the light passing through the port, and a plurality of legs in gripping frictional interference engagement with the walls in the assembled position. A sensor is optically aligned with the lens, for sensing the light optically modified by the lens. |
| US07854379B2 |
Coded record sensing apparatus for sheets including magnetic indicia
A system for sensing coded records and structures for sensing coded records are used to sense sheets including notes and checks. The system includes at least one movable sheet supporting plate member in an automated banking machine. An angular reflective piece operatively connected with the plate member enables sensing sheets using radiation from transversely positioned sensors. The automated banking machine includes a deposit accepting device. The deposit accepting device is operative to receive a stack of sheets and to separate each sheet from the stack through operation of a picker. Each sheet is aligned with the sheet path and analyzed by analysis devices including at least one magnetic read head, an imager and/or a validation device. Sheets determined not to have at least one property of a genuine sheet are returned to a user of the machine. Sheets determined to have at least one property of genuine sheets are processed and stored in the machine. |
| US07854378B1 |
Automated banking machine system and method
A banking transaction processing system includes customer stations and at least one server provider station. The customer stations include automated banking machines. Each automated banking machine includes a card reader that reads indicia on user cards corresponding to financial accounts. Each automated banking machine also includes a cash dispenser. Service providers at service provider stations are enabled to communicate with customers at automated banking machines to help carry out transactions. Customers at automated banking machines may also carry out banking transactions without the involvement of service providers. Pneumatic tube transport systems may be used for moving items between local service providers and customers. In some embodiments, computers operating facial image transformation software and vocal sound transformation software enable outputs at customer stations which correspond to facial images and vocal sounds that customers may find more acceptable than those produced by the actual service provider. |
| US07854374B2 |
Theft preventative mailbox with rear residential and storage vault door and remote unlocking activation mechanism
What is disclosed is a secure mailbox having at least an upper compartment with a plurality of sides, a front mailbox door hinge-ably coupled to a front edge of a side of the upper compartment, a locking and unlocking mechanism being adapted to lock the front mailbox door to the upper compartment and an unlocking activation mechanism coupled to the locking and unlocking mechanism; an upper rear mailbox door hinge-ably coupled to a rear edge of a side of the upper compartment, a locking and unlocking mechanism being adapted to lock the rear mailbox door to the upper compartment and an unlocking activation mechanism coupled to the locking and unlocking mechanism and a lower compartment having a lower, rear mailbox door hinge-ably coupled to a rear edge of a side of the lower compartment, at least one trap door being located between the upper compartment and lower compartment. |
| US07854371B2 |
Storage container
Aspects of the present invention feature a stackable tray storage container suitable for holding fruit and food. The stackable tray storage container has a rectangular base having a first rectangular shape with a pair of base widths and a pair of base lengths, a pair of end walls having a second rectangular shape extending upward foldably attached along opposite base widths connecting each end wall to the rectangular base and having a corresponding pair of cutouts along each fold along the base widths forming a pair of tray handle interlocks, a corresponding pair of handle extensions foldably attached along a top edge of each end wall and a pair of walls extending upward foldably attached along opposite base lengths and having a third rectangular shape, wherein each of the walls along the length have a pair of foldably attached flaps that fold inward and attach to the pair of end walls. |
| US07854370B2 |
Collapsible storage device
A collapsible container includes a plurality of wall panels. Each wall panel is connected to each adjacent wall panel at a hinged connection, and the wall panels are arranged so as to articulate at the hinged connections between a collapsed position and an expanded position defining a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall. The collapsible container further includes a deformed portion on a side wall disposed across a hinged connection. The deformed portion projects toward an exterior of the collapsible container to releasably lock the hinged connection in a convexly bowed position when the collapsible container is in the expanded position. |
| US07854363B2 |
Structural assemblies and preforms therefor formed by friction welding
A preform and method for forming a structural assembly are provided. The preform can be formed by friction welding structural members to a base member and subsequently providing a connection material to join the structural members. The resulting preform can be formed with dimensions and a configuration that approximate the dimensions and configuration of the structural assembly. Thus, the structural assembly can be formed by joining multiple members that are generally smaller than the finished assembly. |
| US07854362B2 |
Advanced multi-shouldered fixed bobbin tools for simultaneous friction stir welding of multiple parallel walls between parts
A multi-shouldered friction stir welding tool comprises an integral shank-pin unit having a plurality of pin portions for driving into a plurality of joints. A shank portion of the shank-pin unit is for attachment to an optional axial tension rod. A plurality of friction stir welding modules comprise a pair of shoulders that is connected to the shank-pin unit. The proximal end of each shoulder faces the pin portion of the shank-pin unit, whereby the shoulder and pin(s) rotate in unison. A pair of split collars or a pair of nuts is connected to the shank-pin unit and faces the distal end of each shoulder. The plurality of friction stir welding modules are connected to each other and rotate in unison to simultaneously make a plurality of parallel welds. |
| US07854360B2 |
Driving power tool having a control circuit
It is an object of the invention to provide a technique for preventing power tool from being operated by a malfunction of the control circuit. A representative driving power tool includes a movable element, a drive unit to drive the movable element, an actuation circuit to actuate the drive unit, a control circuit and an operation switch that outputs an operation signal. The control circuit outputs a control signal when the operation signal for instructing driving of the movable element is outputted from the operation switch. The actuation circuit actuates the drive unit when the control signal is outputted from the control circuit. Actuation of the drive unit is blocked when the control signal outputted from the control circuit is abnormal. According to the invention, a movable element can be prevented from being moved by malfunctioning of the control circuit. |
| US07854358B2 |
Carrier for at least one bicycle
A bicycle carrier includes a base holder mountable to a vehicle and a support holder for holding a bicycle. The support holder is movably connected to the base holder to be movable along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle between a neutral position in which the holders extend over one another and an operating position in which the support holder extends out from the base holder. A tail light is movably connected to the support holder to be movable between a stored position in which the tail light is stowed in the support holder when the support holder is in the neutral position and a functional position in which the tail light extends out from the support holder and is orientated transversely to the longitudinal vehicle direction when the support holder is in the operating position. |
| US07854357B2 |
Dispensing apparatus with locking cap
A dispensing apparatus having a container, a rotatable dispensing structure or spout assembly and a locking structure or cap. The spout assembly is rotatable between a closed position and an open dispensing position and the locking cap is slideable between a spout assembly restraining position and a release position. The container includes a pair of side grooves, a pair of side ledges and a lateral groove. The locking cap includes a pair of runners for engaging the container side grooves, a pair of rails for engaging the container side ledges and a lateral flange for engaging the container lateral groove. |
| US07854354B2 |
Docking station for a liquid container including a liquid dispenser
A docking station for use with a liquid container which supports the container in a convenient fixed location. The docking station is designed to accept a liquid container having a predetermined height and diameter. The docking station includes a cam operated actuator which is movable between an upper “open” position to a lower “closed” position. When the actuator is moved to its lower closed position, the actuator opens a valve in the liquid container to permit liquid to be drawn from the container. When the actuator is in its upper position, the valve in the container is closed. A manually controlled dispenser is mounted on the upper end of the docking station which is in communication with a source of water under pressure and the liquid being drawn from the container so as to mix the same and to dispense the same. |
| US07854353B2 |
Device for dispensing, especially atomizing, a preferably cosmetic liquid
A device for dispensing, especially atomizing, a preferably cosmetic liquid has a dispensing head which can be manually depressed for dispensing of the liquid and can be turned to set the dispensing direction. In order to ensure simple and reliable handling, the device has a catch arrangement so that the dispensing head can be turned with a catching action. In a preferred embodiment, the catch arrangement has at least one catch cam, preferably several catch cams that are spaced in the direction of rotation. The catch cam or cams engage catch recesses with a catching action, especially radially relative to the actuation direction of the delivery head. |
| US07854345B2 |
Vehicular fuel tank arrangement
A fuel tank arrangement for a vehicular agricultural applicator is provided. The fuel tank arrangement includes a fuel tank having an interior cavity defined by an uppermost wall, a lowermost wall, and a series of side walls extending therebetween. The interior cavity includes an expansion space defined upwardly in the vertical direction above a maximum fill line. The arrangement further includes a fill neck extending from the uppermost wall to receive the supply of fuel. The fill neck includes an uppermost end opposite a lowermost end that defines the maximum fill line. A bridge that defines a passage therethrough interconnects the fill neck and the expansion space of the fuel tank. A lowermost end of the passage is horizontally aligned at the lowermost end of the fill neck, and the passage extends upwardly in the vertically direction therefrom. |
| US07854344B2 |
Lid having locking flap handles with improved elastic hinges for airtight containers
A lid for an airtight container has a rim part for sealing to the container and plural locking flap handles extending from the rim part and rotating between open and locked positions. Each handle has a locking protrusion for locking to the container in its locked position, and a film hinge with an outer surface that smoothly curves continuously into an upper surface of the rim part of the lid, in the open position of the handle. The film hinge has an elastic hinge part that extends by a predetermined length to disperse an impact generated when the handle is locked to the container and the elastic hinge part is folded as the handle is moved from its open to its locked position. |
| US07854343B2 |
Fluid containers with reservoirs in their closures and methods of use
Fluid containers are disclosed which have fluid reservoirs in their closures. These reservoirs are advantageous to hold sacrificial fluid which lessens the loss of the fluid of interest to the outside through evaporation. The reservoirs may have openings to the inside or outside of the container, or to both. Reservoirs with openings to the outside serve to reduce evaporative loss by raising the partial pressure of fluid in the vicinity of the contact between the closure and the remainder of the container. The reservoirs may be refillable without opening the container. In one embodiment a fluid reservoir allows the zone of contact between the closure and the remainder of the container to be immersed in fluid, so that gases seeking to escape the interior of the container must pass through fluid. |
| US07854339B2 |
Convertible container and plate
Foldable container including a base having a first base portion and an opposing second base portion. The base has a base surface free of hinge lines between the first base portion and the second base portion. A sidewall surrounds at least a portion of the base and extends generally upward from the base with a non-uniform height to define a compartment. A rim having a first rim portion and an opposing second rim portion is disposed proximate the top edge of the sidewall. At least one transition region is formed in the sidewall to allow the first base portion to pivot between an open position and a closed position. When in the open position, the container defines a plate. When in the closed position, the first base portion defines at least a portion of a cover relative to the second base portion. A packaged product is also provided, including a foldable container and a cover member removably attached to the rim of the foldable container in the open position to contain a product therein. |
| US07854337B1 |
Breakaway closure member with offset nipple
A breakaway closure member for removably covering an opening in a plumbing device, such as a laundry box, pressure test cap, floor drain, shower drain, closet flange, or the like includes a circular disc with a peripheral rim and a hollow nipple extending outwardly from the circular disc. The peripheral rim is connected to the plumbing device by a thin web or area of reduced thickness. The nipple is radially outwardly offset from the center of the disc so as to be generally adjacent or tangent to the peripheral rim. If the nipple is radially compressed, such as by squeezing with a pair of pliers, the peripheral rim is pulled radially inward in an area proximate the nipple, thereby creating a crack in the area of reduced thickness. |
| US07854336B2 |
Beverage dispenser having an airtight valve and seal
A beverage dispenser includes a container defining a container volume, and a substantially spill-proof cap, having a suction portion and an aperture on top of the suction portion, coupled to the container. A valve with a slit is inserted between the container and cap so that the slit is placed beneath the aperture of the cap. A pressure sensitive seal is placed on top of the aperture of the cap, so that a vacuum is created between the cap and the beverage inside the container. The slit is formed so that the beverage will flow through the slit of the valve and thus out of the aperture of the cap only if a suction force is applied on the suction portion of the cap 20. |
| US07854334B2 |
Product display with front barrier
A standardized or basic product display device is provided with a standard front barrier for identifying and restraining a spring-urged column of displayed products in conjunction with a plurality of secondary barrier elements which can be easily and securely mounted onto the primary barrier to accommodate reconfiguration and enlargement of the display device. The secondary elements have lower portions of inverted U-shaped configuration which can be selectively applied over external edge margins of the primary barrier and secured thereto by locking detents. The secondary barrier element enables the front barrier of the display device to be enlarged, both in width and height to accommodate larger product packages than contemplated for the standard display device in its minimum configuration. In one form, the secondary barrier element has a vertical extension of narrow width, providing effective restraint of tall packages while maximizing visibility of the front of the package. |
| US07854332B1 |
High-density disk storage and retrieval cylinder
This invention provides high-density storage for data storage media such as compact disks (CDs), digital video disks (DVDs), and similarly shaped objects. The design consists of horizontal storage pockets within a storage cylinder. Multiple pockets lie on a horizontal plane, and each pocket has a pocket opening on the perimeter of the storage cylinder. The pocket openings on each horizontal plane are shifted with respect to the pocket opening below it creating a spiral storage pattern around the periphery of the storage cylinder. Pocket openings are centered on notches that run vertically along the cylindrical perimeter of the cylinder. |
| US07854329B2 |
Hollow element for the support of a filter medium including support means in the form of spiral portions with a substantially constant slope, and a corresponding filter assembly
This invention relates to a hollow element designed to cooperate with a filter cartridge of a filter assembly for fluid circulating in an engine or a hydraulic equipment, of the type with support means for a filter medium included in the said cartridge, the said support means extending from connection means and designed with recesses between them through which the said fluid is free to flow, characterized in that the said support means extend from one of the said connection means to another following a path defining a spiral portion with a substantially constant slope. |
| US07854328B2 |
Filter cartridge for a reversible flow filter
In order to produce a filter cartridge for a reversible flow filter for filtering a fluid which comprises a filter cartridge interior surrounded by a filtering medium, whereby the filtering medium is adapted to be cleaned in a particularly effective and uniform manner during the back flushing phase, it is proposed that the filter cartridge should comprise a reverse flow damming body which is arranged in the interior of the filter cartridge and is movable in a longitudinal direction of the filter cartridge by the reverse flow when back flushing the filter cartridge and produces a local increase in the dynamic pressure of the reverse flow, whereby the reverse flow damming body does not abut against the filtering medium when back flushing the filter cartridge. |
| US07854322B2 |
Facilitated fast-opening packaging of plaster and method of manufacturing
The present invention refers to a fast-opening plaster packaging comprising a plaster having at least an adhesive support protected with at least two films (P1, P2) made of protective material and detachable from the adhesive support, and an envelope (E) suitable for containing the plaster. The envelope has at least two portions (E1, E2) mutually dividable and each dividable portion of the envelope is anchored to at least one of the protective films (P1, P2). The packaging is characterized in that at least one of the protective films (P1, P2) has at least a cut (I1, I2) suitable for shaping one or more columns and one or more arcades (LA) or semi-arcades. The column(s) is(are) joined to the corresponding semi-wrapper (E1) at anchoring line (C1) of the protective film (P1) and is(are) able, upon pulling at least one of the portions (E1) of the envelope (E), to fold onto itself(themselves) as such one or more arcades or semi-arcades (LA) made of protective material are substantially not involved into folding. |
| US07854317B1 |
Personal item organizer
An organization container having multiple internal compartments or straps to secure and organize personal care and hygiene items with a flap top to provide easy access to personal care and hygiene items. The organizing container can fit into different size purses or bags and be moved easily between bags, and that can stand securely on its own when outside the purse or bag. |
| US07854313B1 |
Escalator handrail sanitizer
A sanitizer dispenser unit is mounted on escalator handrails, moving walkway railing or any revolving handrail. It would mount either on the in-going or out-going portion of the handrail, and would continuously sanitize the surface of the handrail with a micromist and be easily refillable by maintenance personnel. |
| US07854312B2 |
Push device for transferring glass articles
A push device, for transferring glass articles from an intermediate supporting plate to an unloading conveyor, has at least one seat bounded by two flat supporting surfaces converging with each other and forming between them an angle of over 90°, and by at least one further supporting surface adjustable in position with respect to at least one of the two flat supporting surfaces; the article being retained close to a convergence area of the two flat supporting surfaces by a circuit for feeding compressed air between the two flat supporting surfaces. |
| US07854311B2 |
Escalator or travelator
An escalator or travelator comprising a circulating step belt or panel belt. Each step or panel of a belt is provided on each side respectively with a supporting roller and a chain roller, which are guided on supporting roller rails and chain roller rails in forward travel and in return travel. Supporting roller return travel rails are adapted to support the supporting roller only partially. |
| US07854308B2 |
Flipping apparatus
An exemplary flipping apparatus includes a slider, a flipping member and a holding table. The slider is slanted relative to the horizon. A first end of the flipping member is connected to the slider. The flipping member includes a first flipping plate and a second flipping plate facing the first flipping plate. The first flipping plate and the second flipping plate are contoured to define a workplace groove to receive a workpiece to be flipped. An angle defined by the slider and an end section of the first flipping plate opposite to the slider is less than an angle between the slider and the horizon. The holding table is connected to a second end of the flipping member, and the second end is opposite to that of the first end of the flipping member. |
| US07854295B2 |
Active noise control system
An active noise control apparatus and an active noise control system for reducing noise using an active vibrator, such that edges β of the vibrator (i.e. genesis locations of a bending moment of force caused by the vibrator) agree with positions α on a distribution of the bending moment of force caused by noise vibration of a panel, and such that the edges β of the vibrator are aligned with the positions α on the panel where a sign, of the distribution of the bending moment of force over the panel caused by the noise vibration, reverses. As a result, a control vibration approximate to the noise vibration can be excited. Accordingly, when the vibrator is fixed by agreeing the edges β of the vibrator with the positions α determined by noise frequency desired to be reduced, noise due to a target noise frequency can be effectively reduced. |
| US07854294B2 |
Sound-attenuating earmuff having isolated double-shell structure
An earmuff assembly with a double-shell structure is disclosed for use with a sound-attenuating circumaural headset. The earmuff assembly comprises a cup-shaped outer shell mounted on a resilient outer sealing ring and a cup-shaped inner shell mounted on a resilient inner sealing ring. By means of the two sealing rings the outer and the inner shells are brought into abutment with the head surface around an ear of a wearer. Both shells are structurally rigid. The sound attenuation performance is maximized by isolating the inner shell from the outer shell. |
| US07854292B2 |
Power assisted steering system with an auxiliary electric pump
A power assist steering system for a vehicle, especially for a truck or commercial vehicle, is disclosed that includes a mechanical engine-driven power steering pump that pumps hydraulic fluid to a power steering unit, and an electrical pump adapted to pump hydraulic fluid so as to optimize a power steering flow to the power steering unit and to minimize internal pump flow. |
| US07854290B1 |
ATV with dual silencers
In some embodiments, a vehicle having multiple silencers may include one or more of the following features: (a) a chassis carrying a seat, (b) a steerable pair of front wheels and at least two rear wheels coupled to the chassis, (c) a steering member for steering the front wheels, (d) an engine carried by the chassis for powering the vehicle, (e) at least one exhaust manifold operably coupled to the engine, (f) at least one exhaust pipe coupled at one end to said at least two exhaust manifolds, (g) a first silencer coupled to the other end of said one or more exhaust pipes, (h) a second silencer coupled to the first silencer to route exhaust through the length of each silencer, and (i) a crossover tube which couples the first silencer to the second silencer. |
| US07854286B2 |
Motorcycle having concealed brake caliper
A motorcycle includes a wheel support member, a wheel, and a brake caliper. The wheel support member has a wheel mount portion. The wheel is rotatably attached to the wheel mount portion. The brake caliper is attached to the wheel support member at a location spaced from the wheel mount portion such that the brake caliper is at least substantially concealed from view by the wheel support member when the motorcycle is viewed in a direction from the wheel support member to the wheel along a rotational axis of the wheel. |
| US07854284B2 |
Upper rotating body and construction machine therewith
The present invention is provided with a pair of vertical plates disposed on a rotating frame, a fuel tank and a working oil tank aligned on the rotating frame in the front-back direction, hydraulic pipes for coupling a control valve provided in the working oil tank and a working actuator, and a retaining tool for retaining the hydraulic pipes between the control valve and the actuator, and the hydraulic pipes are arranged from the control valve to the retaining tool through a clearance formed between the fuel tank and the working oil tank. |
| US07854283B2 |
Optimization method for power generation systems
Apparatus for controlling the power output efficiency of a power generation system based on an operator input. A processor is coupled to the input means and (i) receives the generated operator command, (ii) receives a plurality of detected ambient air conditions, (iii) receives a plurality of detected engine performance parameters, (iv) determines first and second engine control commands based on the received pilot thrust command, the detected ambient environmental conditions, and the engine performance parameters, and (v) outputs control commands to optimize the efficiency of the power generation system. |
| US07854282B2 |
Hybrid electric vehicle
A highly energy efficient automobile that provides payload, safety and performance capacities similar to a comparable vehicle of a given vehicle class. The current invention is ideal for short to medium range urban and suburban driving. The current invention incorporates components in a unique and novel way, in which these components combine to form a system that produces an automobile that reduces overall air pollution while encouraging the commercialization of alternative energy sources. The current invention features an lightweight, low rolling resistance, digitally controlled and direct-drive electric propulsion system. A lightweight spaceframe with a suspension system provides a structure for mounting a low-aerodynamic-drag body system and other components. An intelligent power and thermal management system coupled with a removable auxiliary power module supplies the electrical energy required. While the preferred embodiment is substantially a passenger vehicle, the current invention may be scaled to other land vehicles. |
| US07854281B2 |
PTO clutch for work vehicle and operating apparatus for same
A PTO clutch for a work vehicle and an operating structure for the PTO clutch includes: a PTO clutch having a clutch member and receiving drive power from an engine; a clutch control mechanically coupled to the clutch member for manually operating the PTO clutch via the clutch member; a PTO brake disposed downstream of the PTO clutch with respect to a direction in which power is transmitted, the PTO brake being movable to a braking position in association with a clutch disengaging operation of the clutch member; and a control retaining device for retaining the clutch control at a clutch disengaging position. |
| US07854272B2 |
Agricultural implement having forward folding wing booms
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. |
| US07854271B2 |
Marker assembly having rigid link and cam assembly
A marker assembly mountable to an agricultural implement includes a set of interconnected frame sections that can be pivoted with respect to one another to retract the marker assembly for transport and/or storage. The marker assembly has a support wheel that supports the marker assembly above the ground as the marker assembly is being deployed and when in an extended working position. The point at which the support wheel engages the ground is controlled by a rigid link and cam assembly. The rigid link has a first end connected to a first frame section and a second end connected to a lever arm that is connected to a link of a second frame section. The rigid link is operative to pull down on the lever arm when the marker assembly is being deployed so as to force the second frame section away from the first frame section. The amount the second frame section pulls away from the first frame section is determined by the cam assembly. |
| US07854268B2 |
Deep water hurricane valve
A storm plug for temporarily isolating an offshore well in deep water includes a retrievable service packer connected to a valve housing containing a movable isolation sleeve and a standing valve. The standing valve precludes the fluid flow through a portion of the isolation sleeve. The isolation sleeve being hydraulically actuated from an open position to a closed position. In the open position, fluid may flow through flow ports in the standing valve to an annular bypass area between the valve housing and the isolation sleeve. In the closed position, the isolation sleeve prevents fluid flow through the valve housing. The valve may be hydraulically actuated as compared to conventional storm valve that are set by workstring rotation. The running tool used to run the storm plug into the well may be hydraulically disconnected from the valve housing. |
| US07854266B2 |
Smooth bore latch for tie back receptacle extension
A tie back receptacle extension includes a stinger having a smooth bore latch assembly carried thereon which includes a wedge device and a ramp, and the ramp outwardly displaces the wedge device to secure the stinger within a substantially smooth bore. A smoothbore latch assembly includes a spiral wound spring received in a recess, and the recess and the spring extending circumferentially relative to a stinger. A ramp outwardly displaces the spring relative to the recess in response to displacement of the spring relative to the ramp. A method of securing a stinger within a substantially smooth bore includes: providing a latch assembly on the stinger; inserting the stinger into the bore; and engaging the latch assembly with the bore, thereby securing the stinger relative to the bore, without the latch assembly engaging any recess formed in the bore. |
| US07854262B2 |
Sorel cement compositions, amine phosphono retarders, and associated methods
Methods of cementing comprising introducing a cement composition into a subterranean formation, wherein the cement composition comprises a Sorel cement and an amine phosphono retarder; and allowing the cement composition to set. |
| US07854259B2 |
PC rod guide with rotor ridges
A rod guide is provided for use in a rotating rod string (12) for powering a progressive cavity pump (14) for pumping downhole fluids through tubing (16) to the surface. The rod guide includes a rotor sleeve (20) secured to the rod string. The rotor sleeve includes a plurality of axially spaced reduced diameter body portions 22, and a plurality of axially spaced enlarged diameter ridge portions 24. Upper and lower stop surfaces 26, 28 on the ridge portions permit axial movement of the stator sleeve with respect to the rotor sleeve. A stator sleeve (40) positioned over the rotor sleeve, and has a sleeve body (42) with a generally circular configuration with opposing circumferential ends (44, 46) spreadable to position the stator sleeve about the rotor sleeve. A plurality of ribs (48) extend outward from the stator sleeve body. |
| US07854255B2 |
Heat exchanger
In a heat exchanger in which the number of parts is small, assembling is easy, bonded portions between each part are fewer and reliability of brazing is improved, a core body is constituted by turning up and bending a strip-shaped metal plate in a fanfold manner, and first flow passages and second flow passages are formed alternately in the thickness direction. Both ends of each of the first flow passages are blocked by each comb tooth of a pair of comb-state members, and a fin is set within the second flow passages so as to constitute a core. And a cylindrical casing is fitted with the outer periphery of the core body, and the casing is constituted by a channel-state material covering three faces of the outer periphery of the core body and a lid material blocking an opening of the channel-state material. In the core body, a starting end and a terminating end of the turning-up/bending of the strip-shaped metal plate are both located on the turned-up end edge on one side, the starting end the terminating end form a fitting edge portion turned-up with the section in the U-shape conforming to the plate thickness of the channel-state material, and the end edge of the opening of the channel-state material is fitted with the fitting edge portion so as to braze/fix the both. |
| US07854254B2 |
Systems and methods for making seals in heat exchangers
Systems and methods for improving heat exchangers by implementing self-energizing seals. In one embodiment, a U-tube heat exchanger includes a shell enclosure, a tube sheet, a closure and a set of tubes welded to the tube sheet. The tube sheet separates first and second chambers from a third chamber in the shell enclosure. The closure seals the first and second chambers. Each tube extends from the first chamber, through the third chamber to the second chamber. The improvement comprises a seal between the shell enclosure and either the closure or the tube sheet. The seal includes conically tapered sealing surfaces on the shell enclosure and closure or tube sheet which form a wedge-shaped gap. A seal ring having surfaces complementary to the sealing surfaces of the shell enclosure and closure or tube sheet is positioned between the sealing surfaces to form a self-energized seal. |
| US07854253B2 |
Corrosion inhibitors, corrosion inhibiting heat transfer fluids, and the use thereof
Disclosed is a corrosion inhibitor for use in heat transfer fluids having a conductivity of less than 200 μS/cm, the corrosion inhibitor having an azole compound, and at least one of a siloxane based surfactant, colloidal silica, or a mixture thereof. Also disclosed is a corrosion inhibiting heat transfer fluid, the heat transfer fluid having a conductivity of no more than or equal to 200 μS/cm and comprising the disclosed corrosion inhibitor. Also provided is an assembly comprising an alternative power source and a heat transfer system in thermal communication with the alternative power source, the heat transfer system comprising the disclosed corrosion inhibiting heat transfer fluid. In addition, a method of making a corrosion inhibiting heat transfer fluid is disclosed wherein the disclosed corrosion inhibitor is added to heat transfer fluid having a conductivity of less than 200 μS/cm. |
| US07854251B2 |
Method and device for casting molten metal
The invention makes it possible to manufacture high-quality cast parts in a productive manner in that a casting mould with a filling opening pointing in the direction of gravity is provided during the casting of molten metal. The casting mould with the filling opening is coupled to a melt container containing the molten metal, and the molten metal is conveyed from the melt container into the casting mould counter to the direction of gravity. The casting mould is sealed directly after filling with molten metal using a locking means which is at least temporarily connected to the casting mould in a fixed manner, in that the casting mould is decoupled from the melt container directly after closure of the casting mould and in that the casting mould is rotated about a horizontal axis of rotation, wherein the casting mould remains in a sealed position with respect to the locking means. |
| US07854249B2 |
Soft top cloth with styling edge
The object of providing a technical function edge and a styling edge is solved by the cloth for a soft top according to the invention which is designed to be stretchable over at least one solid element, wherein the solid element comprises at least one offsetting or indentation, and wherein the cloth overstretching the solid element is deformed by suitable clamping devices such that the cloth substantially follows the contour of the offsetting or indentation in the region of the offsetting or indentation. |
| US07854244B2 |
Low noise pneumatic tire
Disclosed is a pneumatic tire including a single or a plurality of noise absorbing members formed of a porous material attached to one side of surfaces of an elastic band in the longitudinal direction thereof, and also disposed on the tire inner peripheral surface by using the elastic band along the circumferential direction. Further, the tire includes a plurality of width-direction reinforcing members disposed with intervals in the tire circumferential direction on surfaces, facing the elastic band, of the corresponding noise absorbing members and also extending from the elastic band to both ends of the corresponding noise absorbing members in the width direction thereof. |
| US07854242B2 |
Device for discharging tire sealant from a container
A device for discharging tire sealant (3) from a container (2), the container (2) is connectable to a closure element (1). The pressure source (6) is able to be connected to the closure element (1) and, when a positive pressure is produced in the container (2), a removal opening (12) is able to be released in order to discharge tire sealant (3) from the container (2) into a tire. |
| US07854239B2 |
High temperature valve
A trim assembly for a control valve includes a seal for sealing a leak path, where the seal is provided to perform advantageously in high-temperature applications, e.g., applications including temperatures of at least 450° F. (232.22° C.). The control valve comprises a valve body and control element. The control element is disposed within the valve body for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough. The trim assembly comprises a valve seat and a retention ring. The valve seat is fixed to the valve body, and the retention ring is threadably connected to the valve seat. The seal can be effected by an annular graphite seal compressed between the trim assembly and the valve body, or by a metal-to-metal contact between the retention ring and the valve body. |
| US07854236B2 |
Vacuum insulated piping assembly method
Method of assembling a vacuum insulated piping run for conducting a cryogenic fluid in which piping sections are produced in a first location and then assembled in a second location into a piping run. Each of the piping sections incorporates an outer cylindrical casing and an inner pipe for transport of the cryogenic fluid to form an inner annular region for containing insulation that can be radiation shield insulation and aerogel blankets. The piping sections are joined by welding the ends of the inner pipes together and then joining the outer cylindrical casing by a shell-like section. Points of connections are tested by vacuum testing techniques as each of the connections is made. Thereafter, the annular region is purged with a condensable gas such as carbon dioxide and subjected to a subatmospheric pressure. |
| US07854235B2 |
Dental tape and process for obtaining a dental tape
Monofilament dental tapes including a core body having first and second opposing external faces, where at least one of the external faces has a plurality of indentations protruding into the core body of the dental tape, where the plurality of indentations are provided in from about 5% to about 95% of the total area of the first or second external faces, the indentations having a depth within the core body corresponding to from about 0.1% to about 95% of the thickness of the core body, taken transversally to the external face containing the plurality of indentations. |
| US07854232B2 |
Transcranial magnetic stimulation induction coil device with attachment portion for receiving tracking device
A transcranial magnetic stimulation (“TMS”) induction coil device includes an attachment portion for attachment to a tracking device and providing that the tracking device, when attached to the TMS coil device, is at a predetermined location and orientation in relation to a casing of the TMS coil device. The casing of the TMS coil device also includes a reference point for confirming the accuracy of the attachment of the tracking device to the TMS coil device at the predetermined location and orientation in relation to the casing. |
| US07854230B2 |
Heated medical instrument stand with surgical drape and method of detecting fluid and leaks in the stand tray
A medical instrument thermal treatment system according to the present invention is in the form of a stand including a thermally treated tray to thermally treat medical instruments. The stand includes a frame to support the tray, while a drape including a sensing device is disposed over the tray to form a drape container or receptacle within the tray for collecting a sterile medium. The tray is thermally treated to heat the sterile medium in order to warm medical instruments or other medical items placed in the tray. The sensing device provides a signal to the system indicating the presence of liquid and/or leaks within the drape container to facilitate control of system operation. |
| US07854228B2 |
Bronchial flow control devices and methods of use
Methods and systems for lung volume reduction of a patient are described. The methods include implanting a flow control device in a bronchial passageway of the lung. The flow control device regulates fluid flow through the bronchial passageway and includes a valve protector that at least partially surrounds a valve member. The valve protector has sufficient rigidity to maintain the shape of the valve member against compression. |
| US07854226B2 |
Powder inhaler
A powder inhaler includes a container for storing powdered medicament. A metering member has a dosing recess and is moveable between a filling position in which the dosing recess is in alignment with an opening of the container, and an inhalation position in which it is in alignment with an inhalation channel. A mouthpiece is in communication with the inhalation channel for enabling inhalation of the dose of powdered medicament when in the inhalation position. A protective member provided between the metering member and the inhalation channel is moveable between a closed position in which the protective member covers the dosing recess, thereby preventing powdered medicament contained in the dosing recess from entering the inhalation channel, and an open position in which the protective member does not cover the dosing recess, thereby exposing the dosing recess to the inhalation channel for enabling inhalation of the dose of the powdered medicament. |
| US07854224B2 |
Solar chimney with internal and external solar collectors
A solar chimney includes a solar collector which heats air in the chimney, producing updrafts which can be harnessed to perform useful work. The solar collector may be located inside or outside the chimney. The device may include a reservoir for storing a heat transfer fluid, thus enabling the device to be used during both day and night. The solar chimney may be equipped with both internal and external solar collectors, operating in parallel. The solar chimney may also be equipped with multiple external solar collectors, connected in parallel to a reservoir. The solar chimney of the invention provides a convenient and practical way to convert solar energy into electrical power. |
| US07854222B2 |
Pyrocatalytic coatings for heating devices
Heating devices such as self-cleaning ovens include at least one surface comprising metal oxide crystalline catalytic material disposed thereon. The metal oxide crystalline material includes perovskite and perovskite-like materials, pyrochlores, rare earth metal oxides, spinels, and combinations of the foregoing. Also disclosed herein are processes for process for forming a pyrocatalytic coating on a substrate. |
| US07854213B2 |
Modulated gap segmented antenna for inductively-coupled plasma processing system
An inductively coupled plasma source is provided with a peripheral ionization source for producing a high-density plasma in a vacuum chamber for semiconductor wafer coating or etching. The source has a segmented configuration with high and low radiation segments and produces a generally ring-shaped array of energy concentrations in the plasma around the periphery of the chamber. Energy is coupled from a segmented low inductance antenna through a dielectric window or array of windows and through a segmented shield or baffle. The antenna for the source is a planer coil having at least two windings with the gap between the windings variable or modulated to control the antenna inductance around the antenna. The antenna has a plurality of, for example three, high inductance segments as a result of the conductor windings being closely spaced alternating with low inductance segments as a result of the conductor windings being widely spaced. The antenna and a shield are part of a plasma source. The shield has a plurality of high transparency segments aligning with the high inductance segments of the antenna. The shield may also have one or more additional high transparency segments along the low inductance portions of the antenna enhance formation of a plasma ring in the chamber. |
| US07854209B2 |
Workpiece cloth positioning guide device for sewing machine
A workpiece cloth positioning guide device for a sewing machine includes a projector which projects a sewing reference mark onto an upper side of workpiece cloth placed on a sewing bed of the sewing machine. The projector includes a telescopic cylindrical body having an upper end provided with the light source and a lower end, a transmission part provided in a lengthwise middle portion of the cylindrical body and formed with a mark forming pattern for forming the sewing reference mark, a projector lens provided in the lower end of the cylindrical body, and a projector lens elevating unit which raises and lowers the projector lens, and a mark size setting unit which sets a size of the circle of the sewing reference mark to a desired size. |
| US07854207B2 |
Data processing unit and pattern forming method
A printing and embroidering system having a positional data appending system that is adapted to append positional data indicating positions of a first image and a second image with respect to each other to first image data representing the first image to be formed by one of printing and embroidering and second image data representing the second image to be formed by the other one of printing and embroidering, a first image forming unit with a first fabric holding member, which is adapted to form the first image based on the first image data on a fabric being held by the first fabric holding member, and a second image forming unit with a second fabric holding member, which is adapted to form the second image based on the fabric being held by the second fabric holding member, wherein the first image forming unit is provided with a mark forming system, which is adapted to form a predetermined mark represented by the positional data on the fabric, and wherein the second image forming system is provided with a misalignment eliciting system, which is adapted to elicit a misalignment between a position of the predetermined mark formed on the fabric held by the second fabric holding member and a position represented by the positional data appended to the second image data prior to forming the second image. |
| US07854205B2 |
Chamber for slowing particles flowing in a pneumatic conveyor conduit
A chamber apparatus for reducing the speed of particles carried in a pneumatic conveyor conduit includes a chamber with an inlet port in the chamber, the inlet port adapted for attachment to the pneumatic conveyor conduit, and an outlet port in a lower portion of the chamber. A plurality of flexible bristles is secured at ends thereof to a wall of the chamber and extend into the chamber such that particles carried in an air stream entering the inlet port contact the bristles. The chamber is configured such that particles falling inside the chamber move out of the chamber through the outlet port. |
| US07854201B2 |
Igniter assembly
An igniter assembly includes, an electric igniter and igniter collar, and a resin fixing the electric igniter into the igniter collar. The electric igniter has an igniter main body and a conductive pin which extends from the igniter main body. The igniter collar has a first through hole formed in the axial direction and at least one second through hole formed separately from the first through hole and being provided to the igniter collar. The electric igniter is fixed inside the first through hole by the resin, and the resin is also charged into the second through hole. |
| US07854199B2 |
Printing plate registration using a camera
A method and apparatus for determining the alignment of printing plate (14) mounted on an imaging drum (12), and applying an image to a printing plate while maintaining registration and alignment between the image and a reference edge (15) of the printing plate include mounting the printing plate on a plate-making machine (10) and then determining the locations of at least two points on the reference edge. The locations of two or more points are used to determine a transformation that is applied to image data to yield transformed image data (27). The transformed image data is used to image the printing plate. A method and apparatus for determining the locations of the points using backlighting avoids errors encountered in illuminating from the top. |
| US07854197B2 |
Method for manufacturing printed circuit boards using legend printing stencil
An exemplary legend printing stencil for printing a circuit substrate for manufacturing a number of printed circuit board is provided. The stencil includes at least a first printing portion, at least a second printing portion and a junction portion between the first printing portion and the second printing portion. The first printing portion and the second printing portion each define a number of legend holes therein. The first printing portion and the second portion are configured for attaching on and covering the corresponding circuit board unit of the circuit substrate to print legends on the circuit board unit. The junction portion defines a slot therein and is configured for attaching on and covering the corresponding connection portion of the circuit substrate to print a legend ink layer on the connection portion. A method for manufacturing a number of printed circuit boards using the stencil is also provided. |
| US07854192B2 |
Device and method for preparing a drink from a food substance contained in a capsule
The invention relates to a method of wetting and/or dissolving a substance contained in a capsule for producing a beverage consisting, by means of a piercing and injection element, in piercing the capsule and injecting a liquid under pressure into the capsule to wet and/or dissolve the substance; the piercing and injection element being arranged so as to inject the liquid into the capsule in the form of at least one thin layer extending in a continuous, divergent and multidirectional manner, covering a spray surface in an arc of a circle inside the capsule. The invention also relates to a device comprising a flow channel and a valve designed to close off the channel in a first position, called the rest position, and to open under the effect of the pressure from the liquid against an elastic element so as to free a passage as a function of the pressure and thus create the thin layer of liquid. |
| US07854189B1 |
Modular missile launching assembly
The invention is related to a modular missile launching assembly, more particularly, a compact modular missile launching assembly that is easily attachable to smaller sized watercrafts, allowing for quick installation. The missile launching assembly is encased in a substantially rectangular container with a launching lid to which one or more missiles are attached. A hydraulic lifting device within the substantially rectangular container is used to lift the launching lid from a closed or stowage position to an open or operational position. |
| US07854188B1 |
Calibrated taper crimp die
An ammunition case reloading die assembly, and method of use, that provides calibrated adjustment of taper imposed on the mouth of an ammunition case. A calibrating ring or cap bears indicia in the form of polygonal faces, splines or radially-directed markings. The ring or cap rotates with an upper portion of the die for threaded adjustment of the position of the die within the frame of a reloading press. The die has a longitudinal bore, a lower portion whereof is tapered for imposing a tapered crimp upon the mouth of the case. The taper of the longitudinal bore is preferably chosen to make each partial rotation of the calibrating ring or cap through one indicium correspond to increasing the taper imposed on the mouth by one thousandth of an inch per case longitudinal inch. |
| US07854184B1 |
Quick-release device for umbilical
The present invention is a quick-release device for engaging an umbilical. The device includes a coupling base and arms. The coupling base has a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the coupling base is configured for attachment to a valve known in the prior art which is used within rescue chambers. The first arm is pivotally connected with the top surface of the coupling base. The second arm is pivotally connected with the top surface of the base. Each arm defines anterior portions to enagage the umbilical. The first arm and second arm are configured to move relative to one another to engage or disengage the umbilical. In operation, a user moves the first and second arms towards one another to engage the umbilical in fluid connection to the valve. To disengage the umbilical from the fluid connection with the valve, the user releases the spring-biased arms. |
| US07854182B2 |
Operating apparatus for hydrostatic continuously variable speed-change device for work vehicle
A work vehicle includes a hydrostatic continuously variable speed-change device, a gear type multiple-stage speed-change device disposed downstream of the hydrostatic continuously variable speed-change device with respect to a direction in which power is transmitted, first and second oil passages, a bypass oil passage communicating the first and second oil passages with each other, a valve mechanism for opening and closing the bypass oil passage, and a manual operating member provided in a driving section for opening and closing the valve mechanism. |
| US07854176B2 |
Method for determining the mass flow through a coriolis mass flowmeter
To ascertain the mass-flow of a Coriolis mass-flow meter, an oscillation of a measuring tube is produced with the frequency f and the resulting oscillatory movement is registered at two different measuring points with two oscillation sensors. The analog sensor signals X17, X18 of the two oscillation sensors are converted into digital sensor signals S1 and S2 and further processed in a digital signal processor DSP. In the signal processor DSP, the sum signal Σ and the difference signal Δ are formed from the two sensor signals S1 and S2. Then the sum signal is rotated by 90°. In a further method step, the shifted sum signal is multiplied with the difference signal Δ. After ascertaining the amplitude of the sum signal Σ, the mass-flow is ascertained using the formula {dot over (m)}˜|Im(Δ)|/(|Σ|f). It is not necessary for the method, that the two sensor signals S1, S2 have equal amplitudes. Thus, a controlling of the analog signals X17, X18 to equal amplitudes can be omitted. |
| US07854173B2 |
Strain sensor
A strain sensor (10) for measuring strain greater than 10%, the sensor (10) comprising: an upper polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate (20) having measurement electrodes (90) extending therethrough; a lower PDMS substrate (30) bonded to a lower surface of the upper PDMS substrate (20), and an upper surface of the lower PDMS substrate (30) having a patterned portion (50); and a conductive fluid (70) contained within the patterned portion (50) in contact with the measurement electrodes (90). |
| US07854172B2 |
Hermetic chamber with electrical feedthroughs
A pressure cavity is durable, stable, and biocompatible and configured in such a way that it constitutes pico to nanoliter-scale volume. The pressure cavity is hermetically sealed from the exterior environment while maintaining the ability to communicate with other devices. Micromachined, hermetically-sealed sensors are configured to receive power and return information through direct electrical contact with external electronics. The pressure cavity and sensor components disposed therein are hermetically sealed from the ambient in order to reduce drift and instability within the sensor. The sensor is designed for harsh and biological environments, e.g. intracorporeal implantation and in vivo use. Additionally, novel manufacturing methods are employed to construct the sensors. |
| US07854171B2 |
Temperature compensated miniature pressure sensor
The present invention relates to a temperature-compensated pressure sensor assembly for fitting within the valve stem of a vehicle tire. The assembly includes a substrate assembly defining a plurality of holes. A pressure sensor is mounted to the substrate assembly. The pressure sensor includes a first deflectable membrane defining a first chamber and a first cap mounted to the membrane to form a second chamber. A temperature compensation sensor is mounted to the substrate assembly. The temperature compensation sensor includes a second deflectable membrane mounted to the substrate assembly to define a third chamber and a second cap mounted to the other membrane to form a fourth chamber. |
| US07854167B2 |
Stator core loosening diagnosis device and stator core loosening diagnosis method
A diagnosis device for diagnosing loosening of a stator core of a rotary electrical machine. The diagnosis device has: excitation means for vibrating the stator core in the radial direction; vibration detection means for detecting the vibration of the stator core in the radial direction; means for frequency-analyzing an output signal of the vibration detection means that detects vibration generated in the stator core when the stator core is vibrated by the excitation means so as to extract a measurement natural vibration mode of the stator core in a circular ring natural vibration mode; means for estimating a circular ring natural vibration mode of the stator core from shape data of the stator core; and means for determining a clamping state of the stator core by comparing the measurement natural vibration mode and a determination criterion obtained based on the estimated natural vibration mode. |
| US07854166B2 |
Method for evaluating an instrument operating force
Different loads are applied to the skeletal muscle of at least one of an upper arm, an upper limb girdle, and a lower limb of the test subject to cause isometric muscle contraction under each load and measure the muscle activity of the skeletal muscle. Then, an upper limit of the muscle activity in a region where a magnitude of the load and an intensity of the muscle activity have a linear relationship is determined as the limit in an appropriate muscle activity range that suits the test subject. Subsequently, the muscle activity of the skeletal muscle of a test subject operating an instrument is measured, and the test subject's force for operating the instrument is evaluated based on a frequency distribution where the frequency of the muscle activity of the skeletal muscle being exercised to operate the instrument is distributed with respect to the obtained limit. |
| US07854164B2 |
Flowmeter for determining a flow direction
A flowmeter determines the flow direction of a fluid. The flowmeter has a measuring element, around which the fluid flows. The measuring element has fiber-optic cable and at least two electrical heating elements that lie adjacent to the fiber-optic cable(s) by which a respective heat stream emanating from the respective heating element and directed towards the fiber-optic cable, the directions of the heat streams being at least proportionately reversed. In addition, depending on the flow direction of the fluid, the individual heat streams are correlated to different extents with the flow direction. An electromagnetic wave that can be coupled into the fiber-optic cable(s) can also be influenced according to the temperature of the fiber-optic cable(s). Additionally, the flowmeter has a control unit, which is used to feed electric energy to the two or more heating elements, one after the other, and an evaluation unit, which is used to evaluate the temperature effect of the electromagnetic wave emanating from the individual heat streams and to determine the flow direction of the fluid. |
| US07854160B2 |
Diagnostic systems and methods for the high pressure side of fuel systems in common fuel rail engines
A fuel system diagnostic module comprises a pressure module and a fault diagnostic module. The pressure module determines first and second pressures of a fuel rail of a fuel system at first and second times, respectively. The second time is after shutdown of an engine. The fault diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a fault in the fuel system based upon a comparison of a predetermined period with a period between the engine shutdown and the second time. |
| US07854154B2 |
Process and computer program for controlling a rolling process
The invention relates to a method for controlling a rolling process, in which a metal strip is rolled flat by use of at least one roller. It is known from the prior art that the relative position of a neutral point represents a measure of the instantaneous stability of a rolling process. However, traditional methods for calculating the position of the neutral point do not accurately represent the actual properties of metal and therefore have only limited usefulness for predicting the stability of a rolling process. In order to allow better control of a rolling process for rolling a metal strip with regard to the actual behavior of the metal strip, the invention proposes a new method for calculating the relative position of the neutral point, in which in particular the flat yield stress ke and the hydrostatic pressure pNH at the neutral point are incorporated. |
| US07854149B2 |
Dielectric waveguide and method of making the same
In general, in one aspect, the invention features a method that includes exposing a surface to a first gas composition under conditions sufficient to deposit a layer of a first chalcogenide glass on the surface, and exposing the layer of the first chalcogenide glass to a second gas composition under conditions sufficient to deposit a layer of a second glass on the layer of the first chalcogenide glass, wherein the second glass is different from the first chalcogenide glass. |
| US07854145B2 |
Plasma torch for overcladding an optical fiber preform
Disclosed is a plasma torch for overcladding a primary preform of an optical fiber. The plasma torch includes a confinement tube for confining an induced plasma and a torch base. The torch base has a ceramic surface internal to the confinement tube. The plasma torch has extended life even at high input powers. |
| US07854143B2 |
Optical fiber preform with improved air/glass interface structure
An optical fiber preform comprising a plurality of longitudinal air holes is subjected to a thermal treatment (i.e., heating), coupled with the application of a compressive force on either end of the heated preform to compress the entire preform structure a predetermined amount. The thermal compression treatment has been found to smooth any roughened glass surfaces and heal microcracks that may have formed during the preform fabrication process, essentially “knitting” the glass material back together and forming a preform of improved quality over the prior art microstructured preforms. |
| US07854140B2 |
Reheat dehumidification system in variable speed applications
A refrigerant system is provided with a reheat function selectively utilizing the heat rejected by the variable speed drive controller and electronics that are often employed in known refrigerant cycles. By placing at least one of these variable speed drives in the path of air being delivered to an environment to be conditioned, the air is reheated to a desired temperature, after it has been overcooled in the evaporator to provide a desired humidity level. In this manner, the variable speed drive is cooled, and the reheat function is provided, without the requirement of any additional flow structure. |
| US07854134B2 |
Air conditioner
An air conditioner is provided with a refrigerant circuit and an operation controller. The refrigerant circuit includes a heat source unit, a refrigerant communication pipe, an expansion mechanism, and a utilization unit. The heat source unit has a compression mechanism and a heat source side heat exchanger. The heat source unit is connected to the refrigerant communication pipe. The utilization unit has a utilization side heat exchanger and is connected to the refrigerant gas communication pipe. The operation controller performs an oil-return operation in advance for returning oil pooled in the refrigerant circuit when a refrigerant quantity judging operation is carried out for judging the refrigerant quantity inside the refrigerant circuit. |
| US07854129B2 |
Refrigeration apparatus
Disclosed is an apparatus that provides refrigerant based energy storage and cooling. When connected to a condensing unit, the system has the ability to store energy capacity during one time period and provide cooling from the stored energy during a second time period. The system requires minimal energy to operate during either time period, and only a fraction of the energy required to operate the system during the first time period is required to operate the system during the second time period using an optional refrigerant pump. |
| US07854123B2 |
Turbomachine nozzle cover provided with triangular patterns having pairs of vertices for reducing jet noise
The pattern relates to a cover for a turbomachine nozzle, the cover having a plurality of patterns each with an outline of triangular shape having a base and two vertices that are spaced downstream and interconnected by a side. For each pattern, the vertices present respective curved outlines and they are interconnected by a curved portion presenting a radius of curvature greater than the radii of curvature of the outlines of said vertices, each side being connected to the trailing edge of the cover via a curved outline presenting a radius of curvature greater than the radii of curvature of the outlines of the vertices and greater than the radius of curvature of the outline of the curved portion, and the vertices and the curved portion are inclined radially towards the inside of the cover, with the curved portion being radially offset outwards relative to the vertices. |
| US07854122B2 |
Cooling method and apparatus
Apparatus for adaptive cooling comprising a first component having at least one aperture extending therethrough with a sacrificial component positioned within the at least one aperture. The first component is operable at a maximum duty temperature and the sacrificial component has a melting or sublimation point below the maximum duty temperature of the first component. The sacrificial component defines an effective aperture the size of which may be increased if, in use, the sacrificial component is subjected to a temperature between the melting or sublimation point of the sacrificial component and the maximum duty temperature of the first component. |
| US07854116B2 |
Hydraulic pump flow shut-off valve
A load sense valve assembly includes a first valve in flow communication with a pump discharge line, a second valve in flow communication with the first valve, and a third valve in flow communication with the first valve. The first valve can be a solenoid actuated directional control valve. The second and third valves can be hydraulic pilot actuated directional control valves. |
| US07854115B2 |
Post-pressure compensated hydraulic control valve with load sense pressure limiting
An array of valve sections in a hydraulic system are connected to a supply line, a tank return line, and a load sense line. One valve sections includes a control valve with a metering orifice through which fluid flows from the supply line to a valve outlet. A load sense node is coupled by a load sense orifice to the load sense line. A load sense pressure limiter prevents pressure at the load sense node from exceeding a threshold level. A pressure compensator is connected in a fluid path between the valve outlet and one of the hydraulic actuators. The pressure compensator opens and closes the fluid path in response to pressure at the valve outlet and pressure at the load sense node, thereby governing the maximum amount of pressure that the respective valve section can apply to the hydraulic actuator. |
| US07854113B2 |
Catalyst temperature estimation device
In a fuel cut period, an adsorbed CO quantity calculation section calculates the amount CATco of CO adsorbed on a catalyst, and an exhaust O2 quantity calculation section calculates the amount GASo2 of O2 in exhaust gases. CO oxidation reaction heat ΔHr produced when the calculated amount CATco of adsorbed CO reacts with the calculated amount GASo2 of O2 in the exhaust gases is calculated by a ΔHr calculation section, and used in estimation of the temperature of the catalyst. |
| US07854112B2 |
Vectoring transition duct for turbine engine
A transition duct (112) is provided at the outlet of a turbine engine. The transition duct transitions the outlet of the tip turbine engine (10) from round to rectangular. The transition duct also provides a plurality of variable vanes at the outlet of the transition duct. The transition duct incorporates a perimeter slot (124) providing cooling to the duct outer wall and attached components. The variable vanes (120) are installed to vector the exhaust gases. This allows the aircraft to decelerate, hover or accelerate in the forward direction by commanding the position of the variable vanes. One potential application of the tip turbine engine is for vertical installations in aircraft. |
| US07854111B2 |
Axial flow positive displacement turbine
An axial flow positive displacement turbine includes inner and outer bodies having offset inner and outer axes respectively extending between a relatively high pressure inlet and a relatively low pressure outlet. At least one of the bodies is rotatable about its axis. The inner and outer bodies have intermeshed inner and outer helical blades wound about the inner and outer axes respectively. The inner and outer helical blades extend radially outwardly and inwardly respectively. Each of the bodies has at least two blades. There is one more or one less outer helical blades than inner helical blades. The inner and outer bodies may both be rotatable about inner and outer axes and geared together in a fixed gear ratio. The turbine may have first and second sections with a first twist slope greater than a second twist slope respectively of the inner and outer helical blades. |
| US07854106B2 |
Gasket for press-on twist-off closure
A press-on, twist-off container assembly of the type that is used, for example, and baby food containers includes a container that has, as conventional, a finish portion with at least one external thread and a closure that is mounted on the container. The closure is of the press-on, twist-off type and includes a panel portion and a skirt portion that together define a generally cylindrical interior recess. As is conventional, a deformable gasket is mounted within the interior recess that has a thread engaging portion that is deformed so as to at least partially conform to the external threads of said finish portion of said container. The thread engaging portion advantageously has a plurality of inwardly extending raised flutes that are circumferentially spaced irregularly about the thread engaging portion. At least some of the flutes are in contact with at least one of the external threads at respective points of contact, and each external thread has a total distance spanned by such points of contact. As a result of the irregular spacing of the flutes, the container assembly will have an aggregate distance spanned that is a sum of the total distance spanned for all of the external threads that is less than it would be were the flutes spaced regularly. Accordingly, the amount of torque that is necessary to remove the closure is comparatively reduced. |
| US07854102B2 |
Panel for lift doors
An improved panel (10) for lift doors, made of metal or another suitable material, including a plate (12) in a basically rectangular shape, whose longer sides extend in height and are folded back with a “C”-shaped profile in the longitudinal direction to form opposed edges or rims (14) turned towards the longitudinal axis of the plate itself, the lower base of the latter being equipped with a basically “S”-shaped back fold including a horizontal flat portion (22) along which a plurality of fissures (24) are made which receive a portion of the lower edge of one or more stiffening members (36). |
| US07854092B2 |
Mezzanine gate system
A gate system (10) includes two spaced sides (12, 14) defining a work area (16) between the sides (12, 14). A first opening (18) is defined between first ends of the sides (12, 14), and a second opening (38) opposite to the first opening (18) is defined between second ends of the sides (12, 14). Two gates (82, 92) for opening/closing the first and second openings (18, 38) are respectively coupled with two shafts (40, 50) rotatably supported by one of the sides (12, 14). The shafts (40, 50) are rotatably interconnected wherein pivoting of one of the gates (82, 92) in a direction causes pivoting of the other gate (82, 92) in an opposite direction. Each gate (82, 92) includes a groove (85, 95) that receives a vertical beam (60, 62) of the other side (14) when the gate (82, 92) is in a closed position. Biasing elements in the form of gas cylinders (110, 120) between the side (12) and the gates (82, 92) prevent the gates (82, 92) from slamming into their closed positions. |
| US07854091B1 |
Flowerpot
A flowerpot comprises a box body and a spacer. The buckling sheets of the spacer are buckled to the buckling recesses of the box body; and the spacer is placed upon the projection sheets and the wall assembly; a lower space and rear side of the box body below the spacer is formed with a water collecting tank and the space of the upper front side of the box body above the spacer is formed with a planting tank. In use, the hook of the spacer and the hook portion of the box body is attached to one supporting rod of a frame assembly and the two protrusions are placed upon another supporting rod. The water draining opening guides water from an upper flowerpot to a lower flowerpot. The water absorption sheets installed in the spacer can guide water from the water collecting tank to the planting tank automatically. |
| US07854088B2 |
Animal trap
The animal trap includes an enclosure for containing a number of relatively large animals. An entry path (game trail, etc.) extends from the enclosure to an automated drop gate at the entrance, or may comprise the enclosure with a gate at each end. At least one double articulated trip arm is placed along the entry path. The trip arm does not actuate the gate when moved toward the enclosure, i.e., when animals pass through the entry path from the drop gate entrance to the enclosure. However, animals passing in the opposite direction move the trip arm(s) toward the gate, causing at least one trip arm to close a circuit and drop the gate to close the trap. The trap is thus configured to capture a number of herd animals, e.g., wild pigs, passing from the gate toward the enclosure, before one of the animals turns back and trips the gate. |
| US07854087B1 |
Remotely operable bait deploying system and associated method
A remotely operable fish bait deploying system including a remote controller adapted to be carried by a user, a fishing rod spaced from the remote controller, and a toy vessel anchored to the fishing rod. A first primary line is anchored to the toy vessel and extends rearwardly therefrom. A second primary line is adjustably connected to the actuator interface and trails behind the toy vessel. The actuator interface automatically adjusts a longitudinal length of the second primary line based upon instructions received from the on-board controller. A plurality of flotation members are directly coupled to the second primary line respectively and remain spaced from the first primary line. A plurality of auxiliary lines are directly anchored to each of the flotation members and terminate underwater wherein each auxiliary line is provided with a hook attached to a distal end thereof for holding bait. |
| US07854079B2 |
Animal marking tag consisting of a shell comprising two coloured elements
The invention relates to an animal marking and identification tag which is intended to receive a protrusion using an irreversible joining technique. The inventive tag comprises upper and lower shells which house an electronic member therebetween. The shells are assembled to one another by means of laser welding. The upper shell comprises at least two elements which are assembled such as to extend axially from one another, said elements including a dark base element which serves as an obstacle to the laser beam and a brightly-coloured top element which renders the tag visible. |
| US07854078B2 |
Chain assembly
In one aspect of the invention, a chain assembly comprises a boom comprising a sliding surface and a plurality of chain links adapted to slide along the sliding surface. At least one polycrystalline ceramic enhanced insert at an interface between the chain links and at least a portion of the sliding surface. |
| US07854077B1 |
Shoe having configurable message board
A shoe having a configurable message board positioned therein. The configurable message board comprising apparatus for selecting a displayable character from a plurality of characters. The shoe having a plurality of windows with each having a manipulative element for selecting a displayable character from a plurality of characters with said characters including letters, numbers and graphic symbols. The display optionally providing illuminable elements including back lighting the user selected display. |
| US07854074B2 |
Magnetic end hook for tape measure, manufacture method and application thereof
A magnetic end hook on tape measure, comprises a magnet (3) and a main body (1) of the end hook which includes a horizontal portion (11) jointed with a tape blade, a vertical portion (12) having a front surface (12b), a rear surface (12a) and at least one hole (121) for setting said magnet (3); wherein the magnetic end hook further comprising an gasket (2), said gasket has an adapted hole or groove (24) for receiving said magnet (3). A method of manufacture and an application are also described. Compared with the prior art, in this invention, the gasket, additionally set between the hole of the end hook and the magnet on the magnetic end hook, is resilient and can adjust the preferred distance between the magnet and the inner wall of the hole. Therefore, the magnet is mounted more firmly and the probability of falling or breaking is reduced. |
| US07854071B2 |
Customized shoe and insole, method and apparatus for determining shape of a foot and for making a shoe or insole
A method and kit of parts for measuring the comfortable shape of a foot for a person. The kit comprises front and rear platforms of adjustable height and a supporting surface for accommodating the plantar surface of a foot extending between said platforms. The aforementioned components can be adjusted to various settings with a view to determining a comfortable plantar foot shape. The foot shape can then be captured by scanning with an optical or mechanical probe or scanner. A method of making a customized shoe and shoe last on basis of the captured foot shape is also disclosed. |
| US07854069B2 |
Azimuth angle measurement system and method for operating the same
An azimuth angle measurement system includes a rotatable ring, a wire coupled at a first end to the ring, a length measurement device configured to measure a length of a portion of the wire that extends from the ring, and a control system configured to determine an azimuth angle based on the length of the portion of the wire extending from the ring. |
| US07854067B2 |
Low friction folding knife
A folding knife has a slot disposed in the thickness of the tang with a roller cam extending outside of the perimeter of the tang and rotatably attached within the slot. A safety assembly disposed within the handle has a stud extending through a slot in the handle and moves the assembly between a safe and an unsafe position. In the safe position the safety assembly is forced against the tang thereby preventing opening. An adjustable bias element assists the blade in exiting the blade slot. The bias element is in spring communication with the roller cam. Applying pressure to the stud urges the blade from the closed position as the bias element is centered with the roller cam and the blade is forced to an open position by the spring force of the bias element on the roller cam. |
| US07854065B2 |
Liquid discharge head manufacturing method
A manufacturing method for a liquid discharge head that includes a discharge port forming die member, where discharge ports for discharging liquid are formed, and liquid flow paths that communicate with the discharge ports, includes the steps of mounting, on a substrate, a first side wall forming member for forming portions of side walls of the liquid flow paths, forming, on the first side wall forming member, a first photosensitive material layer that serves as a second side wall forming member for formation of the other portions of the side walls, patterning the first photosensitive material layer to provide the second side wall forming member, forming, on the second side wall forming member, a second photosensitive material layer that serves as the discharge port forming member, and patterning the second photosensitive material layer to provide the discharge ports. |
| US07854064B2 |
Enhanced weldability for high strength cast and wrought nickel superalloys
A method for repairing a turbine engine component comprises the steps of providing a turbine engine component formed from a nickel-based superalloy, removing any defects from the turbine engine component, the removing step comprising subjecting the turbine engine component to a solutioning heat treatment using a heating rate in the range of from 29 degrees Fahrenheit/minute to approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit/minute as the component passes through a temperature in the range of from 1100 degrees Fahrenheit to 1600 degrees Fahrenheit, and welding the turbine engine component to effect the repair. A deliberately slow post-solution treatment cooling rate is used to substantially prevent weld cracks. |
| US07854062B2 |
Method for manufacturing circuit device
A method for manufacturing a circuit device, which is suitable for connecting a plurality of laminated wiring layers to each other through an insulating layer, is provided. In a method for manufacturing a hybrid integrated circuit device of the present invention, a first wring layer is formed by laminating a first conductive film on a first insulating layer, and patterning the first conductive film. In the first wiring layer, a first connection part which is protruded in a thickness direction is formed. Moreover, the first wiring layer including the first connection part is covered with a second insulating layer. The second insulating layer is formed of a first resin film and a second resin film. The second resin film contains fewer inorganic fillers than the first resin film. Thus, there is an advantage that a through-hole can be easily formed. |
| US07854061B2 |
Component mounting apparatus, vibration controlling apparatus, and vibration controlling method
A component mounting apparatus mounting a component on a substrate includes a driving unit, a frame structure, a first outputting section, and a compensating section. The driving unit includes a head to hold the component and a driving mechanism to move the head. The frame structure is equipped with the driving unit. The first outputting section detects a vibration of the frame structure and outputs first displacement information as displacement information of the frame structure caused by the detected vibration. The compensating section compensates a position of the head that moves by the driving mechanism based on the first displacement information. |
| US07854060B2 |
Magnetic head substructure for use for manufacturing a magnetic head
A substructure in which a plurality of pre-head portions are aligned in rows is to be cut later so that the pre-head portions are separated from one another. A surface formed by cutting the substructure is lapped to form medium facing surfaces. The substructure includes a plurality of sensors that respectively show individual sensor values corresponding to values of a plurality of different parameters each of which has an influence on characteristics relating to the pole layer and each of which depends on the position of the medium facing surface. The individual sensor values are resistance values each of which varies according to the position of the medium facing surface. The plurality of sensors are electrically connected to each other to form a composite sensor that shows a composite sensor value, which is a resistance value that depends on the resistance values of the plurality of sensors. |
| US07854056B2 |
Production method of a rotor
The present invention has an object to propose a method of producing a rotor, capable of reliably fixing a magnet to a rotor core with resin and preventing breakage of the rotor core. The present invention includes a step of fixing a permanent magnet to a rotor core by injecting molten resin into a slot by injection molding on the condition that, assuming that: a dimension between an end surface of the rotor core and an end surface of the permanent magnet is a core end surface-magnet interval; and a minimum value of a dimension between an inner surface of the slot and a side surface of the permanent magnet, allowing the molten resin to fully fill a clearance between the inner surface of the slot and the side surface of the permanent magnet by injecting the resin into the slot through a cylinder, is a minimum slot-magnet interval value, and a value of the core end surface-magnet interval is equal to or larger than the minimum slot-magnet interval value. |
| US07854055B2 |
Method for producing a commutator
A commutator includes a conductive part that has a cylindrical body and a plurality of coil latching portions at intervals circumferentially on one axial end; and an insulating part formed inside the conductive part. The conductive part includes segments that are insulated for each latching portion by cutting axially the conductive part, and latching claws that are provided in a projecting state on an inner peripheral surface of the segments and embedded in the insulating part, wherein the latching claws include axial latching claws that are long in an axial direction and project inward, and circumferential latching claws that project circumferentially. |
| US07854054B2 |
Attachment for power tool
An attachment for a rotary cutting tool includes a first member for selectively coupling the attachment to a rotary cutting tool at a first location and a second member for selectively coupling the attachment to the rotary cutting tool at a second location. The attachment also includes a body extending between the first member and the second member and a handle extending from the body at a location between the first member and the second member and oriented substantially perpendicular to the body. The body is arranged between the handle and the rotary cutting tool when the attachment is coupled to the rotary cutting too. The attachment also includes a shaft extending from within the body and a base coupled to shaft and configured for contacting a workpiece when the rotary cutting tool is forming cuts in the workpiece. |
| US07854045B2 |
Quick release watch band
A quick release jewelry band is configured to release a wrist-watch from the wrist of a wearer if the watch band is subject to an excessive load which may injure the wearer. |
| US07854043B2 |
Binding machine
This practical new model makes an improved binding machine known to the public, which includes main body, handle, ratchet wheel, roller, fastening belt, latch reed spring, control plate. Among them, the handle's side board is linked with the main section's side board through torsion spring. In this manner, when the fastening belt needs to be tightened as the binding machine is being used, the user can press down the handle which will resume its initial position with the bounce force of the torsion spring. It is not necessary for the user to push it back to the initial position after pressing the handle down. It is very easy and labor-saving with higher efficiency. Furthermore, it can also set a coil spring in the outside end of the roller. The fastening belt can withdraw inside the main section automatically, which is very convenient. |
| US07854034B2 |
Brush
A brush includes a head section having a scrubbing area and a handle section coupled to and extending from the head section. The handle section includes a proximal segment, a distal segment coupled to the head section, and a recess segment positioned between the proximal segment and the distal segment. The recess segment includes a recess having a first sidewall and an opposite second sidewall. The recess includes a center point between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The proximal segment extends from a free end of the handle section to the center point and the distal segment extends from the center point to the head section. The weight of the proximal segment of the handle section balances the combined weight of the distal segment of the handle section and head section when the recess is placed on a dividing wall of a double sink. |
| US07854031B2 |
Foam spring mattress
An aspect of the present invention relates to a method and system of receiving information of a user's support facility comfort requirements; using a software application to determine a proper support facility firmness configuration to match the user's requirement; selecting foam springs with the proper user required firmness as determined by the software application; and configuring the selected foam springs within the support facility to match the user's firmness requirements. |
| US07854027B1 |
Toilet flapper ventilation system
A toilet flapper ventilation system includes a water-tight electric fan enclosed in a structure which slows the descent of the flapper section through the water in the toilet tank. A guiding system is used to direct the flapper section's rise and fall, and ensure its water-tight return to the flapper valve. The cusp at the lower end of the flapper section has an angled opening which directs the suction of the fan from the toilet bowl through the water discharge tube. The upper end of the flapper section is connected to a flexible, hollow tube which directs the air flow through a filtration system. |
| US07854025B2 |
Protective and decorative covering for sports helmets
A covering for a sports helmet is provided. The covering including a band having at least a portion composed of a first heat shrink material. The band being sized to cover the sports helmet after an application of heat to the first heat shrink material. Also provided is a sports helmet. |
| US07854024B2 |
Adjustable fitting ring structure
An adjustable fitting ring structure includes a connecting base, a fitting ring, a guiding part, and an adjustable part. The connecting base has a receiving slot. There's a plurality of concave wedged slots on the receiving slot. The end portions respectively pass through the connecting base and each have a long slot. A gear portion is located in the long slot. The guiding part includes a base portion, a gear, and a plurality of flexible arms. Each of the flexible arms has a wedged body that contacts the wedged slot. The adjustable part is pivoted with the base portion to make the guiding part rotate so that the two end portions move in the same direction or in different directions. Thereby, the dimension of the fitting ring can be adjusted. It is easy for users to adjust the fitting ring. The structure is simplified and the assembly process is simple. |
| US07854019B2 |
Garment accessory
A garment accessory for attachment to a hem of a garment for prevention of entrapment of the garment beneath a foot or shoe of the wearer, comprising an adhesive-backed flexible and conforming film having a low-friction surface. |
| US07854018B1 |
Golf glove patch system
A golf glove patch system has a backing sheet fabricated of a plastic material, a patch with a lower and an upper surface and with a peripheral edge taking a geometric shape, and an adhesive secured to the lower surface of the patch adjacent to its peripheral edge with a central free of adhesive. The patch is temporarily coupled to the backing sheet through the adhesive and is adapted to be removed from the backing sheet and placed on the glove and secured to the glove by the adhesive. The central extent of the patch is over a tear in the glove and is in contact with a portion of a user's hand. |
| US07854017B2 |
Protective garments that provide thermal protection
A thermally protective fabric includes a composition of inherently flame resistant fibers, and interstices having insulating pockets of air, wherein at least some of the air is incorporated into the interstices through a mechanical working process. |
| US07856664B2 |
Method, system and computer program for a secure backup license server in a license management system
A method and a corresponding apparatus for a high availability license management system. The system has a License Backup Server for ensuring uninterrupted service, while at the same time preventing any possible malicious use. According to the present invention, only two servers are required for realizing a secure system. The first server hosts a License Server A 303 and Agent C 305. License Server A 303 contains certificates for all available licenses. The second server hosts a Backup Server B 309 which contains the same licenses of License Server A. Agent C monitors the operation making sure that Backup Server B does not grant any license while License Server A is up and running. |
| US07856663B2 |
Security screening of electronic devices by device identifier
A method, system, and program for security screening of electronic devices by device identifier are provided. A security scanning system detects an identifier from an electronic device. The identifier may be a radio frequency identifier or other type of identifier which is preferably detectable by the security scanning system regardless of the operating status of the electronic device. The security scanning system queries a database with the identifier for information about the electronic device. Responsive to receiving the information about the electronic device from the central database, at least one real-time scanned characteristic of the electronic device is compared with this information. The information includes characteristics of the components of the electronic device and an x-ray overlay of the electronic device. If the real-time scanned characteristics and the information match, then electronic device is designated as secure. |
| US07856660B2 |
System for efficiently handling cryptographic messages containing nonce values
A system for determining the validity of a received cryptographic message while ensuring for out-of-order messages is utilized to provide for secure communications among peers in a network. In particular, a secure communication module may be configured to accept the cryptographic message in response to a received nonce value of the received message is greater than the largest nonce value yet seen. Otherwise, when the received nonce value is not the largest nonce value yet seen, the secure communication module may be configured to compare the received nonce value with a nonce acceptance window. If the received nonce value falls outside the nonce acceptance window, the secure communication module may be further configured to reject the received message and assume that a replay attack has been detected. If the received nonce value falls within the nonce acceptance window, the secure communication module may be further configured to determine if the received nonce value has been seen before by comparing the received nonce value with a replay window mask. If the received nonce has been seen before, the secure communication module may be further configured to reject the received message and assume a replay attack. Otherwise, the secure communication module may be further configured to accept the message and add the received nonce value to the replay window mask. |
| US07856653B2 |
Method and apparatus to protect policy state information during the life-time of virtual machines
A scheme for protecting policy state information during the lifetime of a virtual machine is presented. In order to protect and preserve the policy state information of the virtual machine, a process creates a source policy, a mapping policy, and a binary policy. These policies are all different representations of a security policy. The different policy representations are chained together via cryptographic hashes. |
| US07856651B2 |
VSB communication system
A VSB communication system comprises a VSB transmission system and a VSB reception system. The VSB transmission system multiplexes a coded MPEG data and a coded supplemental data having a null sequence inserted therein, with required multiplexing information included in a field synchronization signal or in a supplemental data according to a number of the supplemental data packets being transmitted. The VSB reception system detects the required multiplexing information from the field synchronization signal or the supplemental data and decodes the multiplexed data by using the null sequence and the detected multiplexing information, as well as demultiplexes the multiplexed data into the MPEG data and the supplemental data. |
| US07856650B1 |
Signal processing apparatus and methods
A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming. |
| US07856649B1 |
Signal processing apparatus and methods
A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming. |
| US07856648B2 |
Method for processing VOD data in mobile station
Disclosed is a method for processing VOD data in a mobile station including a multimedia processor and an MSM for controlling the mobile station. The method comprises the steps of negotiating PPP option information by performing PPP negotiation for making communication with a server when the mobile station accesses to a WAP through the MSM; transmitting the PPP option information negotiated through the MSM to the multimedia processor; setting a VOD data route using the transmitted PPP option information as PPP information of the multimedia processor; processing VOD data, which are received in the MSM according to the VOD data route, up to an RLP layer of the VOD data, and then transmitting the VOD data to the multimedia processor; and processing the VOD data, which are transmitted to the multimedia processor, from a PPP layer which is a lowest layer in the multimedia processor. |
| US07856645B2 |
Displaying programming and non-programming contents on user-display systems across computer networks
According to one embodiment, a system and method for displaying on a user-display system a program comprising a programming content including a plurality of programming content segments and a non-programming content including at least one non-programming content segment. The method includes receiving in the user-display system a first programming content segment of the programming content transmitted from a first source across a computer network, identifying at least one non-programming content segment associated with the first programming content, the identified non-programming content segment received in the user-display system from a second source across the computer network, and displaying the identified non-programming content segment by the user-display system. |
| US07856642B2 |
Chucking mechanism, brushless motor having the chucking mechanism, and disk driving apparatus having the brushless motor
A tip portion of a claw member is, when the same is at a lowest position, axially above a bottom surface of an upper disk base of a multi-layered disk. By virtue of such configuration, the tip portion will not be caught between the upper disk base and a lower disk base of the multi-layered disk. |
| US07856636B2 |
Systems and methods of sharing processing resources in a multi-threading environment
Systems and methods of sharing processing resources in a multi-threading environment are disclosed. An exemplary method may include allocating a lock value for a resource lock, the lock value corresponding to a state of the resource lock. A first thread may yield at least a portion of the processing resources for another thread. The resource lock may be acquired for the first thread if the lock value indicates the resource lock is available. |
| US07856634B2 |
Load distribution system, and event processing distribution control apparatus, and an event processing distribution control program
In a load distribution system, a plurality of processing servers are installed and a context-dependent distributor is arranged in a stage before the processing servers such that a distribution rule is set to the distributor to appropriately distribute an event to an associated processing server, the event being necessary for the server to execute a processing rule set thereto. To achieve the processing distribution in a system of this type, a plurality of processing servers are disposed and an event processing distribution control unit sets event processing rules to the respective processing servers for individual applications. The distribution controller sets a distribution rule associated with context of an event to a distributor so that the event is distributed to an associated server beforehand designated to process the event. This makes it possible to accomplish load distribution for the processing servers. |
| US07856633B1 |
LRU cache replacement for a partitioned set associative cache
A method of partitioning a memory resource, associated with a multi-threaded processor, includes defining the memory resource to include first and second portions that are dedicated to the first and second threads respectively. A third portion of the memory resource is then designated as being shared between the first and second threads. Upon receipt of an information item, (e.g., a microinstruction associated with the first thread and to be stored in the memory resource), a history of Least Recently Used (LRU) portions is examined to identify a location in either the first or the third portion, but not the second portion, as being a least recently used portion. The second portion is excluded from this examination on account of being dedicated to the second thread. The information item is then stored within a location, within either the first or the third portion, identified as having been least recently used. |
| US07856632B2 |
iMEM ASCII architecture for executing system operators and processing data operators
A computing system that includes a number of processing elements, a memory and a multi-task controller is disclosed. The computing system operates on ASCII instructions which includes a set of ASCII operators. The operators include both ASCII data operators and ASCII system operators. The system operators include characters for specifying a request to obtain resources, to perform a task switch, to perform a task suspension, to execute a branch, to transfer results of an operation into a task data register, to transfer data into a processing element, to record the current location of instruction execution in the task code space, to treat a sequence of symbols as a group, and to perform an output function. Data operators include characters for specifying a request to perform arithmetic and logical operations on data. |
| US07856627B2 |
Method of SIMD-ization through data reshaping, padding, and alignment
A method for handling Simple Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) architecture restrictions through data reshaping, padding, and alignment, including: building a global call graph; creating array descriptors for maintaining array attributes; gathering array affinity information; performing global pointer analysis and escape analysis; performing loop-based analysis to identify a SIMD opportunity; building an array affinity graph; performing graph partitioning on the array affinity graph to construct an array reshaping plan; performing data reshaping on the array affinity graph; and performing SIMDization on the array affinity graph wherein SIMDization comprises automatic generation of SIMD code. |
| US07856622B2 |
Computer program runtime bottleneck diagnostic method and system
A computer program runtime bottleneck diagnostic method and system is proposed, which is designed for use in conjunction with a computer platform for providing a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) POST (Power On Self Test) runtime bottleneck diagnostic function, which is characterized by the capability of recording the runtime length of each of the constituent code modules of the BIOS POST routine during runtime such that a diagnostic report in electronic form can be generate to show which one of the constituent code modules of the BIOS POST routine is most time-consuming during runtime to allow BIOS POST program developers to make modifications to the code to make it more optimized and thus more efficient to run with a reduced runtime length. This feature allows the computer platforms with the optimized BIOS POST routine to have a faster startup time and thus more competitive on the market. |
| US07856615B2 |
Computer method and apparatus for managing software configurations using change flow hierarchies
Computer method and apparatus for managing configurations of programming models is disclosed. A software development workspace respective to a user holds a programming model configuration specified by the user. The configuration is formed of one or more model elements. For each user workspace, one or more change-flow hierarchies define flow of changes to model elements. |
| US07856609B2 |
Using constraints in design verification
A method for generating a constraint for generating a constraint for use in the verification of an integrated circuit design includes identifying a target in a netlist (N) of the design and creating an overapproximate abstraction (N′) of the netlist. A space state (S′) is created by enumerating the states of N′ from which the identified target may be asserted. A constraint space C′ is then derived from the state space S′, where C′ is the logical complement of S′. The process is repeated for multiple selected targets and the constraint spaces from each iteration are logically ANDed. Creating an overapproximate abstraction may include replacing a sequential gate with a random gate. Identifying a sequential gate may include selecting a target in the netlist, performing underapproximate verification of the target, and, if a spurious failure occurs, selecting a gate further down the fanin chain of the currently selected gate. |
| US07856608B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating current source noise model for creating semiconductor device model used in power supply noise analysis
A model generation method for generating a semiconductor device model used for power supply noise analysis, is performed by, calculating noise values for various circuit elements based on current source noise waveforms calculated in accordance with a current flowing from a power supply when a state of the elements changes, determining the time when the change of state of the elements causing the current source noise occurs in relation to successive timing windows each having a predetermined time width, and calculating noise by unit time and adding up for each divided unit time the noise value calculated for all elements whose timing window is present in the unit time, wherein a timing determination unit determines the worst case and other noise generation timing based on the noise generated in each unit time. |
| US07856604B2 |
Method and system for visualization and operation of multiple content filters
A system for operation and visualization of multiple content filters, including a plurality of filter interfaces for setting parameters of corresponding content filters that filter a catalog of assets, each content filter having a lock status being in a locked or an unlocked state, and each filter interface having a display generator for rendering a user interface display, wherein at least one such user interface display for a content filter is dependent upon the lock status of another content filter, and a lock processor for setting the lock status of at least one content filter. A method and a computer readable storage medium are also described and claimed. |
| US07856602B2 |
Updatable menu items
A menu is displayed within a graphical user interface. The menu of one exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of selectable menu items within the menu. One of the menu items includes a first region and a second region. The first region presents a static title for the menu item, and the second region includes text that is capable of scrolling. The text within the second region of the first menu item is scrolled in response to the first menu item being selected. For example, the selection may be made by hovering a pointer above the first menu item. The scrolling may then be paused when the pointer is moved away from above the first menu item. |
| US07856600B2 |
System and method for user driven interactive application integration
A system and method is provided for integrating portlets. When viewing portlets within a portal container, a user is presented with a choice of one or more sources of data and, for each source, one or more actions that the user can take regarding the source. When an action is selected, it causes the source data to be transferred to one or more “target” portlets that have also been activated by the user. The set of actions available from a given source is automatically provided given the available target portlets. As each portlet is initialized, it informs a “broker” of the actions that the portlet supports along with the type of data that is used by the action. When a portal page is being constructed, each portlet identifies to the broker the sources of data within the portlet along with the values and data types corresponding to the sources. |
| US07856598B2 |
Spelling correction with liaoalphagrams and inverted index
Systems, methods, media, and other embodiments associated with (non)contiguous n-gram based spell correction are described. One exemplary system embodiment includes logic for creating contiguous and non-contiguous trigrams, logic for creating an inverted index relating trigrams and the words from which they were generated, and logic for comparing trigrams associated with a word to spell check to trigrams associated with the words selected using the inverted index. |
| US07856596B2 |
Method and system for separation of content and layout definitions in a display description
A method and system for specifying alternate layouts of a user interface element of a display description is provided. In one embodiment, a display system provides a display description language that separates the definition of content of a user interface element from the layout of the user interface element. This separation allows alternate layouts to be specified that are conditionally applied to content of the user interface element without having to repeat the content. In another embodiment, the display system allows each element of a table to be positioned within a specific cell within the table. |
| US07856593B2 |
Low complexity decoding of low density parity check codes
An improved decoder and decoding method for low density parity check (LDPC) codes is provided. Decoding proceeds by repetitive message passing from a set of variable nodes to a set of check nodes, and from the check nodes back to the variable nodes. The variable node output messages include a “best guess” as to the relevant bit value, along with a weight giving the confidence in the guess. The check node output messages have magnitudes selected from a predetermined set including neutral, weak, medium and strong magnitudes. The check node output messages tend to reinforce the status quo of the input variable nodes if the check node parity check is satisfied, and tend to flip bits in the input variable nodes if the check node parity check is not satisfied. The variable node message weights are used to determine the check node message magnitudes. |
| US07856588B2 |
Data allocation in memory chips
In one embodiment, a memory device comprises a first partition to divide the memory device into a first segment to hold a first data block and a second segment to hold a second data block, and a codeword in a single internal word of the memory device. |
| US07856587B2 |
Memory reduction in DVB-H applications
A method of storing DVB-H data from a DVB-H data burst, the method comprising: identifying erasures in the data burst; and storing non-erasure data from the data burst in memory locations of a memory that would be used to store erasures. |
| US07856583B1 |
Techniques for enhanced reliability of data transfer with dynamic scaling
A recovery chunk is generated based on information found in each chunk in a group of chunks. For example, the group of chunks includes three chunks of which information in the three chunks is used to generate a recovery chunk. The recovery chunk is then used to recover a single lost chunk in the group of chunks. The three chunks and the recovery chunk are sent to a receiver over a network. If one of the three chunks is lost, the recovery chunk is used to generate the lost chunk. The recovery chunk is used to recover a single lost chunk, however, the recovery chunk is not used to recover more than one lost chunk in the group. The number of chunks is also dynamically adjusted based on chunk loss at a receiver. This adjustment is based on the bandwidth used and reliability desired. |
| US07856582B2 |
Techniques for logic built-in self-test diagnostics of integrated circuit devices
A method, system and computer program product for performing real-time LBIST diagnostics of IC devices. During LBIST, stump data and identifiers of test cycles are saved in the IC device-under-test (DUT). If compressed stump data does not match a pre-defined coded value (i.e., “signature” of the test cycle), the saved stump data and an identifier of the failed test cycle are preserved, otherwise the determination is made the DUT passed the test cycle. Identifiers and stump of the failed test cycles are used to analyze errors, including virtually non-reproducible errors. |
| US07856574B2 |
Internet connectivity evaluation
Internet connectivity evaluation provides for easy, efficient and effective testing of the Internet connectivity behavior between an operating system hosted on a computing device and an IGD (Internet Gateway Device) interacting with the computing device. With a user's computing device communicating with one or more servers, or server-type devices, interacting with, or otherwise communicating with, the Internet, Internet connectivity evaluation can quickly and cost-effectively be performed to identify known major issues in the interaction between the operating system hosted on the user's computing device and an IGD. |
| US07856569B2 |
Method and device for a switchover and for a data comparison in a computer system having at least two processing units
A method and a device are provided for performing switching and data comparison in a computer system having at least two processing units which each process data at a specified clock pulse, in which a switchover arrangement is provided and switching takes place between at least two operating modes, and a comparison unit is provided. A first operating mode corresponding to a compare mode is provided, and a second operating mode corresponding to a performance mode is provided. A synchronization arrangement is provided which assigns to the specifiable data a clock pulse information as a function of a processing unit, and at least the comparison unit takes into consideration this clock pulse information in the corresponding data. |
| US07856566B2 |
Standby arrangement for power supplies
An electronics product has a control unit responsive to a power-on remote control signal to enable DC power converters to supply power for normal operation of the product and to a microprocessor for responding to other remote control signals. The microprocessor controls the control unit to return to a standby mode of the product by disabling the DC power converters. The arrangement facilitates eliminating a conventional standby power supply and achieving a very low standby power consumption. |
| US07856563B1 |
Managing disk drive power states
Disk drive power states are managed. Information is received for use in determining a desired power state of a disk drive that is not currently being accessed. The disk drive is caused to have a spun up power state before the disk drive is next accessed. |
| US07856562B2 |
Selective deactivation of processor cores in multiple processor core systems
A method includes applying a voltage to a first processor core of a plurality of processor cores to deactivate the first processor core, the voltage less than a retention voltage of the first processor core. The application of the voltage can be in response to a software setting. The software setting can be configured via a user input, a software application, an operating system, or a BIOS setting. Alternately, the application of the voltage can be in response to a permanent hardware setting, such as the state of a fuse associated with the first processor core. |
| US07856560B2 |
Digital information recording apparatus and recording/reproducing apparatus
In a digital information recording/reproducing apparatus, information recorded on a hard disk with copy restriction thereof is protected from being copied onto other hard disks by means of a PC, etc., to be produced a large number of illegal copies, i.e., infringing a copyright.The information is recorded onto a hard disk drive through encryption thereof, with using an identification being number unique thereto, when it is recorded onto the hard disk. With this, normal reproduction is prevented, since the drive identification number necessary for decryption is different from, even if it is copied onto the other hard disk. Also, a version information of the hard disc is memorized in an information management circuit. When the information is illegally copied onto the other hard disc, the version information is changes; therefore it does not coincide with the version information memorized in the information management circuit. With this, illegal reproduction of the information copied can be prohibited in the reproducing operation. |
| US07856559B2 |
Packet communication node apparatus for authenticating extension module
A module type node apparatus for packet communication of this invention includes an extension module for executing predetermined processing and a node apparatus main body for forwarding packet data to the extension module, the extension module including a memory for storing connectivity authentication data, and a module controller for transmitting the connectivity authentication data stored in the memory to the node apparatus main body for packet communication when the connectivity authentication data is requested from the node apparatus main body for packet communication, the node apparatus main body for packet communication being characterized by further including a connectivity authentication unit for authenticating permission of connection of the extension module based on the connectivity authentication data received from the extension module, and a connection controller for receiving the packet data from the extension module when the connectivity authentication unit permits the connection. |
| US07856556B2 |
Codeword-enhanced peer-to-peer authentication
Peer-to-peer authentication may be accomplished by sending a digital certificate to a responder, receiving a randomized codeword in response to the sending, creating a secure fingerprint based at least in part on the digital certificate and randomized codeword, creating a first bit sequence based at least in part on a first portion of the secure fingerprint and a second portion of the randomized codeword and indicating the first digital certificate is authenticated based upon whether the first bit sequence matches a second bit sequence received from the responder via an out-of-band communication in response to the sending. The size of the first bit sequence is less than the size of the secure fingerprint. According to another aspect, the first bit sequence is compared with a rendering of the second bit sequence, using an out-of-band communication, by associating the first bit sequence with one or more indices into an array of representations. |
| US07856555B2 |
Write accessibility for electronic paper
A system and method to control the writing on electronic paper (e-paper). An e-paper device may incorporate authentication indicia as part of informational data written on e-paper material. The informational data is protected by a security methodology that is accessible to authorized entities. A reader device may be used to help make a verification determination of whether encrypted or encoded data has been altered. In some instances an output alert operably coupled to the reader device serves as a verification status indicator. |
| US07856549B2 |
Regulating power consumption
A system for dynamically regulating power consumption in an information technology (IT) infrastructure having a plurality of compute nodes interconnected over a network is provided. The system includes at least one virtual machine (VM) host deployed at each of the plurality of compute nodes, the at least one VM host is operable to host at least one VM guest, and the VM hosts on different ones of the plurality of compute nodes are version compatible to enable migration of the VM guests among the VM hosts. The system further includes a management module connected to the plurality of compute nodes over the network to receive a native measurement of a performance metric of a computing resource in each of the plurality of compute nodes, the management module is operable to dynamically regulate power consumption of the plurality of compute nodes by migrating the VM guests among the VM hosts based at least on the received performance metrics of the plurality of compute nodes. |
| US07856548B1 |
Prediction of data values read from memory by a microprocessor using a dynamic confidence threshold
Prediction of data values to be read from memory by a microprocessor for load operations. In one aspect, a method for predicting a data value that will result from a load operation to be executed by the microprocessor includes accessing an entry in a load value prediction table that stores a predicted data value corresponding to the load operation. The predicted data value is provided as a result of the load operation without waiting for execution of the load operation to complete based on a confidence parameter stored in the entry compared to a dynamic confidence threshold. |
| US07856540B2 |
System and article of manufacture for removing alias addresses from an alias address pool
Provided are a system and article of manufacture for removing alias addresses from an alias address pool. A plurality of alias addresses are assigned to an alias address pool, wherein the alias addresses in the alias address pool are capable of being dynamically assigned to a device to service I/O requests to the device. An operation is initiated by a process to remove a specified alias address from the alias address pool. An indicator is set to prevent additional processes from removing one alias address from the alias address pool in response to initiating the operation. The specified alias address is removed from the alias address pool. |
| US07856536B2 |
Providing a process exclusive access to a page including a memory address to which a lock is granted to the process
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for providing a process exclusive access to a page including a memory address to which a lock is granted to the process. A request is received for a memory address in a memory device from a requesting process. A lock is granted to the requested memory address to the requesting process. The requesting process is provided exclusive access to a page including the requested memory address for a page access time period. The exclusive access to the page provided to the requesting process is released in response to an expiration of the page access time period. |
| US07856534B2 |
Transaction references for requests in a multi-processor network
One disclosed embodiment may comprise a system that includes a home node that provides a transaction reference to a requester in response to a request from the requester. The requester provides an acknowledgement message to the home node in response to the transaction reference, the transaction reference enabling the requester to determine an order of requests at the home node relative to the request from the requester. |
| US07856529B2 |
Customizable memory indexing functions
Methods and apparatus related to memory indexing. Receiving indications of an indexing function for use with a memory. Performing indexing functions with a processor before addressing a memory location. Referencing a customizable lookup table to determine a memory location. Translating a computer program to control a computer system to use a desired indexing function. Determining desired indexing functions based on performance of a computer system. |
| US07856518B2 |
Information processing device
An information processing device comprising a data record medium access unit into which a data record medium, which has a first operation mode and a second operation mode as operation modes and has a first sub-operation mode and a second sub-operation mode as sub-operation modes of the second operation mode, is inserted and which gains access to the inserted data record medium, wherein it is necessary to stop power supply to the data record medium when the access to the data record medium is switched between the first operation mode and the second operation mode, but it is not necessary to stop the power supply to the data record medium when the access to the data record medium is switched between the first sub-operation mode and the second sub-operation mode and a selection unit which allows a user to select a type of access to the data record medium inserted into the data record medium access unit, wherein the information processing device is able to select an operation mode having a fastest data transmission rate among operation modes in which a newly detected data record medium is operable on the basis of a mode selection table. |
| US07856516B2 |
Interfacing incompatible signaling using generic I/O and interrupt routines
A method for interfacing single transfer and burst transfer components, comprising: processing transfer completion of a byte in burst transfer as an interrupt; maintaining the current state of signal lines to prevent occurrence of next interrupt; copying the transferred byte from buffer to memory; and allowing next interrupt; and enabling sending of next byte in burst transfer. This invention interfaces incompatible signaling of the components, and solves the handshake, communication and buffering problems involved. The methods also include polling simulating an interrupt, prevention of premature transfer and overwrite, interrupt on an edge of a busy signal, disabling and enabling clock to maintain current status, packet exchange protocol involving header, body and checksum, command and status packets, copying task waiting on a blocking semaphore which is signaled by interrupt handler task, and signals from a first component routed to a conversion component which generates new signals compatible with the second component. |
| US07856511B2 |
Processing of data to suspend operations in an input/output processing system
A computer program product, an apparatus, and a method for processing communications between a target and an initiator an input/output processing system are provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes: sending a message between the initiator and the target, the message requesting suspension of input/output operations between the initiator and the target for a period of time, the period of time being defined by the message; and responsive to the message, suspending input/output operation messages for the period of time. |
| US07856509B1 |
Transparently providing layer two (L2) services across intermediate computer networks
A device provides layer two (L2) services between customer networks that are coupled by one or more intermediate computer networks. The device comprises a routing process that receives label information for a label switched path (LSP) through the intermediate networks. The device further comprises a L2 service that receives L2 service information from a device associated with second customer networks. In accordance with the label information, the device transports L2 communications between the first and second customer networks through the one or more intermediate networks. By utilizing label information in this manner, the device may minimize the impact of providing L2 services through the intermediate networks. |
| US07856508B2 |
Accessing vended products or services using a wireless device
Methods, apparatus, and business techniques are disclosed for use in mobile network communication systems. A mobile unit such as a smart phone is preferably equipped with a wireless local area network connection and a wireless wide area network connection. The local area network connection is used to establish a position-dependent ecommerce network connection with a wireless product or service access device supplied by a vendor. A negotiation sequence is carried out to electronically contract the services of the negotiated wireless peripheral from the vendor using a prepaid ecommerce protocol. The negotiated wireless peripheral is a general product or service vending device and the mobile unit acts as a digital authentication and payment device with digital pre-paid payment capabilities. The techniques are useful in many applications to include ticketing and admission systems to events and other types of services that involve ticketing. |
| US07856505B2 |
Instantiating a communication pipeline between software
An embodiment not only instantiates a pipeline that allows communication between first and second executable nodes regardless of whether the nodes have compatible or incompatible interface views, but also structures the pipeline based on the relationship between the interface views so, for example, the pipeline does not consume unnecessary overhead or introduce unnecessary data-transfer delay. For example, an embodiment compares a first interface view of a first executable node to a second interface view of a second executable node. A first communication pipeline having a first structure is instantiated between the first and second nodes if the first view has a first pre-established relationship to the second view, and a second communication pipeline having a second structure is instantiated between the first and second nodes if the first view has a second pre-established relationship to the second view. |
| US07856504B2 |
Server device, inter-server device connection method, program, and recording medium
A procedure from when device registration is completed until an always-on connection session with a server apparatus is established is simplified. Upon receiving a start request for directly accessing a controlled device from a controlling device via a service server, a direct-access management server transmits a direct-access URI obtaining request to the controlled device. The controlled device transmits a direct-access-port NAT setting request to a router. Upon receiving a notification of a global-IP-address and port-number obtaining error from the router, the controlled device transmits, to the direct-access management server, an error code for giving an instruction for a new remote video-recording reservation using tunneling. Upon receiving the error code, the direct-access management server assigns a tunneling port in the server, creates a direct-access URI based on the information of the port and so on, and transmits the direct-access URI to the controlling device via the service server. |
| US07856502B2 |
Cheap paxos
A distributed computing system can be operated in a fault tolerant manner using a collection of auxiliary computing devices and more main computing devices than the number of faults the system can tolerate. A quorum of all of the main computing devices can be used. In the event of a failure, an alternative quorum from a selected set of quorums, comprising at least one main computing device and some or all of the auxiliary computing devices, can be used to complete pending operations and to select a new set of quorums. Alternatively, another state machine, comprising at least one main computing device and some or all of the auxiliary computing devices, can select a new quorum comprising the currently operating main computing devices, and the new quorum can then complete pending operations and can continue to select proposals using the proposal number assigned by the other state machine. |
| US07856500B2 |
Method for placing composite applications in a federated environment
Techniques for placing at least one composite application in a federated environment are provided. The techniques include analyzing a composite application to be deployed in a federated environment, obtaining one or more application artifacts, analyzing feasibility of placing one or more application components at one or more clusters in the federated environment without knowledge of resource availability at each of the one or more clusters, and generating a mapping of the one or more application components to the one or more clusters such that an application requirement is met, wherein the one or more application artifacts are distributed across a federated environment. |
| US07856496B2 |
Information gathering tool for systems administration
A method and program product for gathering information about a system. A user logs on to the system, and in response, computer programming automatically identifies application instances executing in the system, determines whether the system is configured for high availability, determines whether each of the identified application instances is configured for high availability, determines if the system is a node of a cluster of systems, and compiles and displays a unified report of the resulting information. The foregoing type of information is automatically compiled and displayed for other systems as well, in different respective sessions. |
| US07856489B2 |
Simplify server replacement
There is provided techniques for automating attachment of a server to a storage area network (SAN). In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided which includes storing identifiers in a memory associated with an enclosure adapted to house one or more servers. The identifiers are correlated to a particular location of the enclosure. Additionally, the method includes providing the identifiers from the memory to host bus adapters (HBAs) associated with a particular location when a server is placed in the particular location. |
| US07856483B2 |
Information management systems with time zone information, including event scheduling processes
Information management systems with time zone information, including event scheduling processes are disclosed. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a computer-implemented scheduling method that can include identifying a difference between a participant time zone and a user time zone, reviewing availability information for the participant and/or one or more selected time preference periods for the participant, and selecting a time range for an event. The method can further include reviewing one or more selected time preference periods for the user. Another aspect of the invention is directed toward a computer-implemented method for associating time zone information with a contact in an information management program application that includes selecting a contact, analyzing contact information associated with the contact, and determining a time zone for the contact based on the analysis of the contact information. |
| US07856480B2 |
Method and apparatus for exchanging heartbeat messages and configuration information between nodes operating in a master-slave configuration
A node (101, FIG. 1), within a networked computer system (100), is capable of supporting communications with other nodes relating to operating multiple application instances in a master-slave configuration. Each node periodically generates and sends (520, 526, FIG. 5) a Heartbeat message (FIG. 8) that indicates the operational status for one or more application instances being managed by the node. When a node receives a Heartbeat message from a remote node, it evaluates (FIG. 10) the Heartbeat information for each application instance reported in the message, and takes any appropriate actions. The node also determines (1206, FIG. 12) whether new configuration information should be obtained for each of the application instances the node is managing, and requests (1210, FIG. 12) that new configuration information, when necessary. |
| US07856478B2 |
Presence system and method for providing access to web services
A presence system provides access to web services offered by presentities. The presence system includes a presence server for collecting and storing presence information on a presentity and providing the presence information to watchers of the presentity. The presence server further receives from the presentity web service invocation information providing access to one or more web services of the presentity. The presence server provides the web service invocation information of the presentity, along with the presence information of the presentity, to the watchers of the presentity for use by the watchers in invoking the web services of the presentity. |
| US07856476B2 |
E-mail proxy
A system and method for providing e-mail messages to a user in a more efficient manner. Specifically, the system and method of the present invention enable attachments to be downloaded separately from the text-part of the e-mail message, which requires less bandwidth to download. Instead, these attachments are represented by links in the message which is downloaded to the e-mail client of the user, such that the user can “click on” or otherwise select a link in order to retrieve the attachment. Preferably, the attachment is downloaded to the computational device of the user in a streamed manner. |
| US07856471B2 |
Method and apparatus for binding multiple profiles and applications to a single device through network control
A method and apparatus turns a typical home telephone system into a platform for delivery of web based content and services. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a broadband enabled telephone system for the home and a series of web servers that collect, package, and deliver personalized content and services to all of the telephone handsets throughout the home. With this end-to-end solution, any information or services available via the web can be delivered through a broadband enabled telephone system. Through the web, each member of a family can build a profile which defines what information and services they want available through the handset. In addition, each handset can be dynamically personalized for any family member. The color screens on the handsets become windows through which an individual can view and interact with a broad range of content and services. The audio channels thus become an extension of the voice based services, such as messaging and voice chat. |
| US07856468B2 |
Server reservation method, reservation control apparatus and program storage medium
To allow many users to efficiently use the functions of a processing server that performs predetermined processing, via a network and also to prevent interference by illegal users. In a content supply system, in order to use a streaming server to perform a live distribution, a user PC to be used makes a reservation for a time zone, etc. to a server reservation control center. When the reservation is accepted, the user PC sends a reconfirmation (reconfirmation of the reservation) to the server reservation control center by six hours before the distribution start time according to the reservation. If the reconfirmation is not made by six hours before, the server reservation control center cancels the reservation. On the other hand, if the reconfirmation is made by six hours before, the server reservation control center confirms the reservation and carries out billing processing. |
| US07856463B2 |
Probability density function separating apparatus, probability density function separating method, testing apparatus, bit error rate measuring apparatus, electronic device, and program
There is provided a probability density function separating apparatus that separates a predetermined component from a given probability density function. The apparatus includes: a domain transforming section that is supplied with the probability density function and transforms the probability density function into a spectrum in a frequency domain; and a deterministic component computing section that multiplies a multiplier coefficient according to a type of distribution of a deterministic component included in the given probability density function by a first null frequency of the spectrum in the frequency domain and computes a peak to peak value of the probability density function with the deterministic component. |
| US07856460B2 |
Device, method, and computer program product for structuring digital-content program
A program structuring device includes a play-list collecting unit that collects a play list for a content in which a time series is defined; a first storage unit that stores cutoff points that appear in the play list and are breakpoints of a program structure of the content, in correspondence with a frequency of appearance of each of the cutoff points; a calculating unit that calculates a level of relevance between scene segments defined by the cutoff points from the frequency of appearance of each of the cutoff points; an extracting unit that extracts multi-level chapter divisions based on the level of relevance; and a second storage unit that stores the extracted multi-level chapter divisions structured into a tree form. |
| US07856459B2 |
Recording apparatus, recording method, and disc shaped record medium
A digital recording apparatus using a disc shaped record medium is disclosed, that comprises a means for extracting outlined information of each of a plurality of files recorded on the disc shaped record medium, a means for correlating the extracted outlined information and the plurality of files and generating an index file, and a means for recording the index file to a predetermined position of the disc shaped record medium, wherein when a predetermined operation mode is performed, a plurality of types of data of the plurality of files are output in a predetermined format. |
| US07856458B2 |
Online analytical processing (OLAP)
A method and system for generating an n-dimensional matrix presentation of at least part of an m-dimensional database including data records and a least one key dimension. Each key dimension includes data value fields. Each data value field has real data therein. A sorting sequence of fact numbers is calculated. The fact numbers are integers that identify the data records. Entry points for each dimension of the n-dimensional matrix presentation are calculated. Each entry point is calculated to be linked with a corresponding fact number of the sorting sequence. A cardinality of the n-dimensional matrix presentation is calculated in dependence on the calculated sorting sequence and the calculated corresponding entry points. The n-dimensional matrix presentation is generated based on the calculated cardinality and the calculated entry points. |
| US07856456B2 |
System and method for electronically managing medical data files
A network server arrangement including a processor with a machine readable storage encoded with software for execution by the processor. The network server arrangement is responsive to requests to access a medical record of an individual and generates summary medical record data including summary information having a plurality of data elements associated with the individual, at least one of the data elements conveying medical information about the individual, and a pointers component including at least one pointer pointing to a network location containing importable medical information in connection with the individual that is not contained in the summary information component. The pointer includes a machine readable address part for processing by the client, allowing the client to import the medical information from the network location, and a label part for displaying to a user the nature of the medical information residing at the network location. |
| US07856454B2 |
Data model for business relationships
A data model that allows for relationships between entities, also referred to as parties, to be modeled as attributes of an entity and for customization of the data model in a manner that facilitates upgrading of the data model. The data model defines a party class that includes a party identifier and a list of relationships of that party with other parties. The relationships may include represented-by relationships, customer-of relationships, contact-of relationships, or employee-of relationships. The party class can be sub-classed (i.e., be a base class for a derived class) depending on the type of party that is being model. |
| US07856453B2 |
Method and apparatus for tracking functional states of a web-site and reporting results to web developers
A software tool for enabling automated tracking of activity related to the status and usage statistics of a plurality of Web sites on a data packet network is provided. The software tool comprises a network communication capability for establishing network communication between the software tool and the tracked Web sites; a plurality of data-reporting modules for obtaining and reporting data about tracked Web sites; a data input function for excepting data from the reporting modules and from external sources; a data recording function for recording and logging the data received from the reporting modules and from the external sources; and a data management function for organizing and storing the received data and rendering the data accessible for use in software development. A software engineer or developer accesses the site-tracking software and connected database through a Web browser from a network-connected workstation in order to utilize data mined from Web sites for the purpose of creating routines enabling automated navigation and site manipulation by proxy for subscribed users. |
| US07856452B2 |
Data processor
To provide a technique of writing data efficiently on a storage medium and thereby play back a content continuously. Specifically, the file allocation table (FAT) of a storage medium is supposed to be read on a partial FAT basis and data is written by a preferred method for that reading method.A data processor writes a content data stream on a storage medium, on which a data storage location is defined based on a file allocation table (FAT). The processor includes: a control section for determining the amount of data to be read continuously until a portion of the data stream, which should be played back during a data stream reading suspended period, is acquired, the suspended period including at least a time for reading a partial FAT forming a part of the FAT; an area detecting section for detecting an available area, in which that amount of data is storable, from a partial area managed by a single partial FAT; and a writing section for writing the content data stream on the available area, whereby the data stream is readable, and the content is playable, based on the partial FAT. |
| US07856438B2 |
Device and method for semantic analysis of documents by construction of n-ary semantic trees
A semantic analysis device includes a structural and semantic database and a document interpreter. The document interpreter includes an N-ary tree controller for constructing an N-ary tree from a decomposition of a document and an ordered sequence of verbal entities and structural and/or semantic constraints. The N-ary tree includes a root node formed by a primary verbal entity and structures formed from a subordinate verbal entity related directly or indirectly to the root node by a link having a connecting characteristic. The document interpreter also includes a semantic tree controller for determining object and activity types from the N-ary tree and database, activate by certain nodes of the N-ary tree, for constructing a semantic tree with principal nodes for objects and activities and connected by semantic relationships from connecting characteristics of the N-ary tree, and to which attributes are associated based on other nodes of the N-ary tree. |
| US07856437B2 |
Storing nodes representing respective chunks of files in a data store
To provide a data store, nodes representing respective chunks of files are stored in a predefined structure that defines relationships among the nodes, where the files are divided into the chunks. The nodes are collected into plural groups stored in persistent storage, where some of the nodes are collected into a particular one of the groups according to a locality relationship of the some of the nodes. |
| US07856436B2 |
Dynamic holds of record dispositions during record management
Dynamically withholding certain records from a disposition during record management. Search criterion that identifies records that should be withheld from the disposition may be received. The content of the records and/or information about that record content may be compared to the search criterion to determine which of the records should be withheld from the disposition. The comparison may take place in accordance with a pre-determined schedule, when hold status information for a record is accessed, or at any other time. |
| US07856434B2 |
System and method for filtering rules for manipulating search results in a hierarchical search and navigation system
A method is disclosed for modifying the results of a search performed in a collection of items by a search and navigation system. The method includes receiving a query from a user interface and determining a navigation state, defined by expressions of attribute-value pairs, based on the received query. The user interface accepts both selecting and deselecting of any of the attribute-value pairs in an expression corresponding to a navigation state to obtain an expression corresponding to a different navigation state, and each selection and deselection forms a new query. The method further includes retrieving, from the collection, items associated with the navigation state to form a set of unmodified search results, the set of unmodified search results having an arrangement for presentation to the user. A rule filter that includes a metadata expression is applied to a set of rules, each rule having a trigger, an action, and metadata. The application of the rule filter to the set of rules includes evaluating the metadata expression of the rule filter based on the metadata of each rule and passing rules for which the metadata expression of the rule filter evaluates as logical true. The trigger of each rule passed by the rule filter is evaluated, and the action of each rule for which the trigger of the rule evaluates as logical true is executed to modify the unmodified search results to form modified search results. |
| US07856432B2 |
Systems and methods for searching and displaying search hits in hierarchies
A method or system may search and display search hits as a hierarchy of objects in a computed-based environment. For example, the method may include performing a search on the objects based on search criteria entered by the user, and identifying search hits based on the search performed on the objects, each search hit corresponding to an object matching the search criteria. Further, the method may include providing a display including a hierarchy of objects and indicating the search hits identified from the search to the user, and providing a set of control buttons to permit the user to navigate the display and view the search hits. |
| US07856429B2 |
System and method for a digital representation of personal events enhanced with related global content
There is provided a system and method for creating a digital representation of personal events enhanced with related global content. Personal event frameworks are selectable by the user and are provided with insertion points to receive media items therein and are structured to complement type of personal event. Media items are automatically reformatted as necessary. The instant invention allows the user to enhance the event framework by inserting related global content, wherein global content stands for media items matching either the date, location or event type. The additional content is provided from local sources or over the Internet. |
| US07856427B2 |
System and method for suspending transactions being executed on databases
A database management system managing one or more databases to suspend access to at least one selected database by one or more processes or applications (e.g., message processing programs, batch messaging programs, etc.). In some instances, the one or more databases may include one or more IMS databases. Access to the at least one selected database may be suspended to enable one or more operations to be performed on the at least one selected database by the database management system and/or an outside entity (e.g., a user, an external application, etc.). For example, the one or more operations may include an imaging operation, a loading operation, an unloading operation, a start operation, a stop operation, and/or other operations. In some instances, access to the at least one selected database may be suspended without canceling transactions being executed by the one or more processes or applications on the selected at least one database. |
| US07856421B2 |
Maintaining memory checkpoints across a cluster of computing nodes
A method and system for increasing reliability and availability of a multi-processor network. A system includes a network with at least two nodes, with each node comprising a multi-processor unit (mpu) and memory. The mpu includes one or more processors and a wiretap unit. The wiretap unit and the memory included in the node are coupled to the processors in the node. The wiretap unit is configured to monitor memory accesses of the processors and convey data indicative of such accesses to a second node. The second node maintains a replica of memory in the first node, and is configured to undo modifications to the memory if needed. In the event of a hardware or software fault, the nodes are configured to restart the application on another node. |
| US07856420B2 |
Zero latency enterprise enriched publish/subscribe
Solutions for reducing latencies in enterprise operations and business processes adaptation particularly as related to enriched publish and subscribe are proposed by the present invention. These solutions are implemented in a zero latency enterprise (ZLE) framework that allows the enterprise to integrate its services, applications and data in real time. Namely, an enterprise equipped to run as a ZLE is capable of integrating, in real time, its enterprise-wide data, applications, business transactions, operations and values. An operational data store operates as an information broker between the applications such that applications publish messages to the central repository and subscribe to messages from the central, rather than exchange request-response messages directly with each other. Thus, enriched publish and subscribe improves information synchronization between applications and reduce the number of request-response messages the applications would otherwise exchange. Consequently, an enterprise conducting its business as a ZLE exhibits superior management of its resources, operations and customer care. |
| US07856418B2 |
Network-extensible reconfigurable media appliance
Extensible reconfigurable media appliance for security and entertainment captures images digitally for storage. Digital effects and filters are applied to incoming video stream on-the-fly or to video data stored in memory. Digital effects and filters are dynamically stored, modified, updated or deleted, providing extensible reconfigurable effects studio. Digital media appliance communicates wirelessly with other media appliances, computers, security systems, video storage, email, chat, cellular services or PDAs to provide seamless integration of captured video stream. |
| US07856413B2 |
Dynamic search criteria on a search graph
A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that, in an embodiment, display icons representing search terms on a search graph, having at least one axis. The axis represents a search criteria. The position of the icon specifies a value (such as an importance or weight) of the search criteria. A search engine uses the search terms, the search criteria, and the value to conduct the search. The results of the search are displayed in a results pane, and the search results are updated as the positions of the icons on the search graph change. The search criteria associated with the axes of the search graph may also change. In this way, the user interface for the search is made easier for the user to control. |
| US07856410B2 |
Simulation enabled retail management tutorial system
A system is disclosed that provides a goal based learning system utilizing a rule based expert training system to provide a cognitive educational experience. The system provides the user with a simulated environment that presents a business opportunity to understand and solve optimally. Mistakes are noted and remedial educational material presented dynamically to build the necessary skills that a user requires for success in the business endeavor. The system utilizes an artificial intelligence engine driving individualized and dynamic feedback with synchronized video and graphics used to simulate real-world environment and interactions. Multiple “correct” answers are integrated into the learning system to allow individualized learning experiences in which navigation through the system is at a pace controlled by the learner. A robust business model provides support for realistic activities and allows a user to experience real world consequences for their actions and decisions and entails realtime decision-making and synthesis of the educational material. A store management tutorial system is enabled for providing active coaching on aspects of inventory management, stocking, advertising, return on revenue, markdown, assortment strategy and other aspects of retail management. Techniques for process sensitive help are also integrated into the system to provide contextual examples to guide a user in performing a task. |
| US07856406B2 |
System and method for managing accounts payable and accounts receivable
A system and method for managing accounts payable that allocates at least a portion of an invoiced dollar amount to a virtual account associated with a vendor, allows the vendor to request that a dispersal dollar amount be transferred from the virtual account to a real account associated with the vendor, and initiates an electronic transfer of the dispersal dollar amount from a real account to the real account associated with the vendor. |
| US07856399B2 |
Linking a merchant account with a financial card
Systems and methods for linking a merchant card with a merchant account. A financial institution that issues the merchant card to a merchant acts as both issuer and acquirer for the merchant. The merchant uses the merchant card to accept other financial cards as payment. Funds due the merchant are added to an available balance of the merchant card rather than depositing the funds in a settlement account. The funds can be added to the available balance before the transactions settle and can be accessed by the merchant. The financial institution also authorizes transactions when the merchant uses the merchant card as a regular cardholder to make payment. The merchant name can be changed on a per transaction basis if desired. |
| US07856398B2 |
System and method for supporting a security-trade financing service
A computer implemented system and method for supporting or facilitating security trade financing by a trading company (TC) of a deficient-asset company seeking capital (CSC) with a limited number of deficient assets. |
| US07856397B2 |
System and method for creating financial assets
A method, the method comprising decomposing each of a plurality of home mortgage loans into a plurality of sub-loan level cash flows, repackaging the plurality of sub-loan level cash flows to form a plurality of financial assets backed by the plurality of sub-loan level cash flows, making a determination of accounting rules that apply to the plurality of financial assets, and storing and tracking accounting data for the plurality of financial assets based at least in part on the accounting rules. |
| US07856396B2 |
System and method for assigning responsibility for trade order execution
An embodiment of the present invention provides a system and method for a sponsoring organization to: (1) utilize a rules-based computer system to capture trade orders from sub-advisors (money management firms) in order to implement a pre trade compliance review process, thereby enabling the sponsoring organization to prevent the execution of trade orders by a sub advisor that violates securities laws and/or account restrictions; and (2) determine and assign, based on expected market impact of a trade order to buy or sell securities, whether responsibility (discretion over the decisions related to how, when and with whom a trade order is executed) for executing the trade order is assigned to the money management firm for an investment portfolio or to the sponsoring organization of that portfolio. Trade orders are categorized in real-time as “high touch” (significant effort and market impact) or “low touch” (insignificant effort and market impact). |
| US07856392B1 |
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. |
| US07856389B2 |
Dynamic book yield analysis
The present invention relates to systems, methods, data structures and user interfaces for generating and presenting information as to how and why the book yield of an investment portfolio changed over a time interval. Dynamic book yield analysis is particularly useful for bond portfolio analysis and management. Transactions and events that occur in a financial market during a pre-specified time period and relating to a portfolio of assets are identified by a computer server. Specifically, the book yields and book values for these transactions and events are accessed from the portfolio accounting system and the data for each transaction/event are categorized according to transaction/event type (though net cash equivalents are first separated out into their own category). The categorized information is then stored in a data structure residing on the system. Book yields and book values are identified for the portfolio of assets at the beginning and end of the pre-specified time period and book yields and book values are calculated for each category of transactions/events previously identified. The effect of each category of transactions/events on the book yield of the portfolio of assets is then quantified. The results of the analysis can then be displayed to investors and portfolio managers in dynamic book yield attribution reports generated by a reporting system. The reports can be used by these investors and portfolio managers to make and execute additional investment decisions based, at least in part, on the quantified impacts of each category of transactions/events on the portfolio book yield. |
| US07856383B2 |
Transaction allocation
Systems and methods of allocating transactions among business objects are described. Allocation is accomplished using a multi-phase process. In a first phase, allocation of the transactions among a set of business objects is attempted. In a subsequent phase, allocation of transactions that were either unallocated, under-allocated, or over-allocated in the first phase is determined. The second phase includes using a set of allocation rules to identify business objects configured to manually determine allocation of the unallocated, under-allocated, or over-allocated transactions. The invention is applicable to a variety of business objects including people, organizations, accounts, tasks, or the like. |
| US07856376B2 |
Internet-based frequency and award redemption system and method
An on-line frequency award program is disclosed. A user may access the program on-line and may browse a product catalog for shopping. The user may electronically place an order, upon which the program automatically checks the user's credit and electronically issues a purchase order to the supplying company. The program also calculates award points, updates the award account of enrolled users, and communicates that number of awarded points to the user. Enrolled users may browse through an award catalog and electronically redeem an amount of awarded points towards an award. The program then electronically places an award redeeming order with the fulfillment house and updates the user's award account. |
| US07856373B2 |
Targeting content to network-enabled devices based upon stored profiles
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. |
| US07856370B2 |
Method and system for displaying predictions on a spatial map
A method and system for displaying predictions on a spatial map includes using a data analyzer for analyzing heterogeneous data having a spatial component to find utilizable data and using machine learning to automatically extract relationships from the utilizable data. The extracted relationships are used to make a prediction about at least one location on the spatial map and present that prediction in an oblique or perspective view. An interface presents the prediction on the spatial map in the form of a heat map overlying a 3-D topographical map. Although the 3-D map can be shown as any form of graphical projection including an oblique projection or orthographic projection, preferably a perspective view is used. It is also preferred that the graphical projection be interactive. The heat map may be 2-D or 3-D and be selectively displayed depending on the preference of a user. |
| US07856368B2 |
Methods and systems for providing personalized information to users in a commercial establishment
The present invention provides systems for and methods providing a user in a commercial establishment with personalized information, which can include a personalized shopping list, targeted advertisements, health information, nutritional information, promotional offers, offers on sale items, offers on discounted items, manufacturer's coupons, storewide coupons, information on user specific favorite items, and information on user specific staple items. Also disclosed is a device for and method of providing the precise location of a user in a commercial facility comprising a signal receiver and position calculating system that uses one of biangulation and triangulation techniques. Also disclosed, is a system for and method of providing a user in a commercial establishment with personalized information, which can include targeted advertisements, health information, nutritional information, promotional offers, offers on sale items, offers on discounted items, manufacturer's coupons, storewide coupons, information on user specific favorite items, and information on user specific staple items using the user's precise location with respect to items for purchase in the user's immediate vicinity. |
| US07856366B2 |
Multiple accounts for health record bank
A health record databank configured to associate electronic health records with multiple-accounts is provided. A network-accessible storage repository is used to store a plurality of electronic medical records for a plurality of individuals. In turn, individuals are provided with an electronic health records account (EHR account), wherein the EHR account is available to store electronic health records associated with the individual, in the storage repository. The individual may authorize access to the electronic records in a given sub-accounts. Requests for access may include both requests to deposit records into the sub-account, and requests to retrieve and view the records in a given sub-account. |
| US07856364B1 |
Systems and methods for retaining or shifting prescription market share
Systems and methods are provided for retaining or shifting prescription market share. The systems and methods may include receiving a claim from a pharmacy computer, where the claim is associated with a drug requested by a customer, routing the claim to an adjudication engine for benefits processing, and receiving, from the adjudication engine, coverage information for the claim, where the coverage information indicates an amount payable by the customer. The systems and methods may further include determining whether a discount or payment is available to reduce the amount payable by the customer, where the discount or payment is associated with funding by a pharmaceutical manufacturer. If the discount or payment is available, the systems and methods may include transmitting at least a notice of availability of the discount or payment to the pharmacy computer, or automatically adjudicating the claim back to the pharmacy with the reduced amount payable by the customer. |
| US07856362B2 |
System and method for early identification of safety concerns of new drugs
A system and method for identifying safety concerns regarding a drug identify a first group of patients that have received the drug from a database of healthcare claims and extract one or more medical events that the first group of patients have experienced from the database. The system and method also identify a second group of patients that have received a comparator drug in the database and extract one or more medical events that the second group of patients have experienced. The medical events of the first group are compared to the medical events of the second group to determine at least one common occurrence therebetween. The common occurrence(s) is then filtered based upon one or more user defined outcomes, each including at least one diagnosis, procedure or therapeutic classification; non-medical criteria; and/or patient laboratory test data. |
| US07856361B1 |
Lifenet
A computer network system which links one or more life insurances, a selected funeral home, hospitals and the Social Security Administration to notify all concerned entities when a death has occurred. A hospital death notice is posted and automatically sent to a selected funeral home director who then notifies, the appropriate life insurance companies, Social Security Administration, pension providers and other concerned entities. |
| US07856358B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing search capability and targeted advertising for audio, image, and video content over the Internet
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for extracting the content of a video, image, and/or audio file or podcast, analyzing the content, and then providing a targeted advertisement, search capability and/or other functionality based on the content of the file or podcast. |
| US07856357B2 |
Speech synthesis method, speech synthesis system, and speech synthesis program
A speech synthesis system stores a group of speech units in a memory, selects a plurality of speech units from the group based on prosodic information of target speech, the speech units selected corresponding to each of segments which are obtained by segmenting a phoneme string of the target speech and minimizing distortion of synthetic speech generated from the speech units selected to the target speech, generates a new speech unit corresponding to the each of the segments, by fusing the speech units selected, to obtain a plurality of new speech units corresponding to the segments respectively, and generates synthetic speech by concatenating the new speech units. |
| US07856350B2 |
Reranking QA answers using language modeling
In a QA (Question/Answer) system, candidate answers in response to a question received are ranked by probabilities estimated by a language model. The language model is created based on an ordered centroid created from the question and information learned from an information source such as the Internet. |
| US07856347B2 |
Facilitating simulation of a model within a distributed environment
Simulation of models within a distributed environment is facilitated. A model is partitioned based on clock domains, and communication between partitions on different processors is performed on synchronous clock boundaries. Further, data is exchanged across the network on latch boundaries. Thus, management aspects of the simulation, such as management associated with the global simulation time, are simplified. |
| US07856343B2 |
System and method for design evaluation of mobile devices using virtual reality based prototypes
A design evaluation system of mobile devices using virtual reality based prototypes is proposed. The system includes: a storage unit for storing therein 3-dimensional computer-aided design data of a virtual mobile device; a component selection unit for performing a selection among the 3-dimensional computer-aided design data stored in the storage unit and fetching the selected data therefrom; a design parameter setting unit for setting design parameters of the virtual mobile device; a 3-dimensional model visualization unit for visualizing the virtual mobile device to a 3-dimensional model by using the design parameters and the fetched data; a product motion control unit for simulating motions and functions of the visualized virtual mobile device; and a design preference display unit for displaying user design preference for the visualized and simulated virtual mobile device. |
| US07856342B1 |
Automatic reinforcement modeling
Methods and program products for presenting a view of physical element, the physical element represented in a computer aided design (CAD) model, and integrating a presentation of structural reinforcement of the physical element into the view of the physical element. |
| US07856341B2 |
Heat sink
Sensors are located on first and second regions of a heat sink, with a portion of the heat sink interposed between the first and second region sensors. The heat sink is connected to a component by an attachment that conducts heat from the component to the heat sink, and a third sensor is located on the component or the attachment with a portion of the attachment disposed between the third sensor and the first and second heat sink region sensors. Temperature readings from the sensors are compared to identify a failing one of the heat sink, the attachment portion, and the component with respect to heat conduction, which includes identifying the interposed heat sink portion as failing in response to a divergence between temperature inputs from the first and second heat sink region sensors. Rate-of-rise temperature readings may also be observed and compared, including to historical values. |
| US07856340B2 |
Multi-functional sensor and method of sensing
A multi-functional sensor for deriving information on a recording sheet material comprising an impact-applying unit for applying an external mechanical force onto the recording sheet material, a signal-detecting unit for detecting a signal of response of the recording sheet material to the external mechanical force, a signal-processing unit for processing the signal, and a signal-judging unit for deriving a property of the recording sheet material by comparison of a signal from the signal-detecting unit or the signal processing unit with information memorized preliminarily, wherein the signal-processing unit comprises a separation section for separating the signal from the signal-detecting unit into output signals on the properties of the recording sheet material, and a processing section for deriving, by statistical treatment, a correlation equation showing a correlation between the separated output signal and the properties of the recording sheet material. |
| US07856335B2 |
Device, method, and system for calibration of a flow meter used in conjunction with a ventricular assist device
A blood flow calibration system 500 including a computer 400 operable to determine and store calibration data for a flow meter 124, a test system 530operable to simulate blood flow for the flow meter 124, thereby allowing the computer 400 to determine the calibration data, and a programmer 300 operable to transfer the calibration data from the computer 400 to the flow meter 124. The flow meter 124 preferably includes a power management circuit 348a,b operable to detect whether the flow meter 124 is powered. In the event that the flow meter 124 is unpowered, the power management circuit 348a,b is preferably able to supply power to a portion of the flow meter 124 in order to transfer the calibration data thereto. |
| US07856327B2 |
State and topology processor
A State and Topology Processor (STP) may be communicatively coupled to one or more intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) communicatively coupled to a electrical power system to obtain one or more current measurements, voltage measurements, and dynamic topology data therefrom. The STP may receive the measurement data and may determine a current topology and a voltage topology therefrom. A current processor may use the current topology and the current measurements to refine the measurements, perform KCL, unbalance, symmetrical component, and consistency checks on the electrical power system. The voltage processor may use the voltage topology and the voltage measurements to perform similar checks on the electrical power system. One or more alarms may be generated responsive to the checks. The data may be displayed to a user in a display of a human machine interface and/or may be transmitted to a user programmable task module, and/or an external control unit. |
| US07856324B2 |
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. |
| US07856320B2 |
Systems for gene expression array analysis
Disclosed are methods and systems for applying independent component analysis (ICA) and other advanced signal processing techniques to automatically identify an optimal number of independent gene clusters and to efficiently separate gene expression data into biologically relevant groups. Embodiments of the methods and systems of the present invention provide an interface that allows the user to review the results at various stages during the analysis, thereby optimizing the type of analysis performed for a specific experiment. Also disclosed are methods and systems to mathematically define the relationship for gene expression within a group of interrelated genes. |
| US07856306B2 |
Vehicle-mounted engine control apparatus
A vehicle-mounted engine control apparatus can accurately measure the resistance value of a label resistor arranged in an exhaust gas sensor for correcting characteristic variation thereof by using a reduced number of wires. An electric heater of the exhaust gas sensor, which is powered from a second power supply wire, as well as the label resistor and air fuel ratio measurement elements are connected to the apparatus which is powered from an on-vehicle battery through a first power supply wire. A power feed voltage of the apparatus is input to a multichannel AD converter through voltage dividing resistors, so that a positive end potential of the label resistor is measured alternatively. A negative end potential of the label resistor is input to the converter as a divided voltage thereof with a fixed resistor. The label resistance value is calculated from a fixed resistor current and a label resistor voltage. |
| US07856305B2 |
Control system and control method for internal combustion engine
A control system for an internal combustion engine calculates a provisional target value of the throttle opening in accordance with an accelerator pedal travel, upon detection of a sudden operation of the accelerator pedal. The system also calculates a target pressure change in the surge tank according to the provisional target value, on the basis of the actual surge tank pressure and the cylinder intake mass airflow, using a virtual intake system model. The control system sets a target throttle opening in accordance with the surge tank pressure and the cylinder intake mass airflow, so as to provide the target pressure change under a condition of the actual surge tank volume. |
| US07856302B2 |
Work machine with transition region control system
A transition region control system has one or more sensors configured to transmit a signal representative of a speed of a work machine moving over a first surface. The transition region control system also has one or more surfacing components configured to form a second surface generally coplanar to the first surface, wherein the second surface may include a transition region generally non-coplanar to the first surface. The transition region control system further has a data input system configured to transmit data representative of the transition region to a controller. The controller may be configured to determine the speed of the work machine based on the signal received from the one or more sensors and control the operation of at least one of the one or more surfacing components to at least partially form the transition region based on the speed of the work machine and the data representative of the transition region. |
| US07856301B2 |
Device and method for controlling a machine
Method and device for controlling a machine which is intended to be operated in several different operating states, the machine being intended to utilize different types of equipment in at least two of these operating states for different activities. The device includes a means (1) which is intended to be actuated and which can be set in a number of different positions (2-6), and each of these positions corresponds to one of the operating states. |
| US07856300B2 |
Seat with side support control for vehicle responsive to distance and position in curve roads
A seat apparatus for a vehicle including a motor for operating a side support portion, includes, a sensor for detecting that the vehicle is driven on a curve, a distance between curves calculating program for calculating a distance between curves, and a control state determining program for determining a control state of the vehicle, the control state being set to one of an unexecuted state, an executed state and a standby state, wherein the motor operates the side support portion so as to be retained to a supporting position when the control state of the vehicle is set to the executed state. |
| US07856298B2 |
Adaptive diagnostic cable
An apparatus and method are provided that allow a scan tool to communicate with a data link connector in a vehicle. A cable that can automatically multiplex its connections in order to make the appropriate connections between the scan tool and a data link connector based on a communication protocol of the vehicle under test. This allows the scan tool to communicate with the data link connector regardless of the pins being used by the communication protocol of the vehicle. |
| US07856297B2 |
Method and system for informing a vehicle telematics user of a connection status
A method for informing an in-vehicle telematics unit user of a connection status generally includes establishing a connection between the telematics unit and a call center, and initiating communication between the user and a call center service advisor. Next, the communication may be temporarily suspended while maintaining the connection. A connection status signal informing the user of the status of the connection is transmitted from the call center to the telematics unit during the temporary suspension in communication. After the signal is transmitted, the communication between the user and the call center service advisor is ultimately restored. |
| US07856292B2 |
System and method for lowering a temperature of liquid exiting a heat exchanger in a vapor compression system
A pull-down control process for a chiller system is provided. The pull-down control process can override the capacity control process for the chiller system to pull-down the leaving chilled liquid temperature faster than the capacity control process. The pull-down control process can maintain pre-rotation vanes in a fully open position to pull-down the leaving chilled liquid temperature as quickly as possible to a predetermined setpoint. |
| US07856287B2 |
Large scale supply planning
A production planning technique inputs demands for products. Each of the demands having multiple due dates, and the multiple due dates having different priorities. An explosion process utilizing linear programming and heuristics is performed to identify demands for components that are used to make the products (the explosion process maintains the multiple due dates and corresponding priorities for the components) and performs an implosion process utilizing linear programming and heuristics to assign resources to the components considering the multiple due dates and corresponding priorities. |
| US07856284B1 |
Incremental transformation and progressive rendering of multidimensional data
Audio data is processed and displayed in a series of spectral displays that progressively display the data at greater and greater resolution. Processing and displaying of the audio data is performed in a series of passes. For each pass, spectral data is generated from a portion of the audio data. The spectral data is cumulated and a display is rendered from the cumulated spectral data. This process is repeated until all of the passes have been completed. |
| US07856283B2 |
Digital microphone interface, audio codec and methods for use therewith
A digital microphone interface includes a phase generator for generating a phase signal. A clock generator produces a digital microphone clock at a selected frequency based on the frequency select signal, and supplying the digital microphone clock to a digital microphone. A first data latch, operably coupled to the phase generator, produces a stream of first data from a first channel of the digital microphone, based on a phase select signal and the phase signal. |
| US07856275B1 |
Vestibular system stimulation apparatus
Apparatus for the non-invasive and specific activation of the vestibular system in a patient. Preferred embodiments of the present invention allow for the placement of a stimulating electrode in the ear canal while providing a firm and comfortable coupling with the patient. The stimulating electrode is a deformable material that contacts the skin in the ear canal. A stimulating device operates in cooperation with the stimulating electrode to generate a stimulation waveform for the stimulation of the vestibular system. |
| US07856274B2 |
Vestibular stimulation system and method
An apparatus and method in which the portions of the labyrinth associated with the labyrinthine sense and/or the nerves associated therewith are stimulated to perform at least one of the following functions: augment or control a patient's respiratory function, open the patient's airway, induce sleep, and/or counteract vertigo. In one embodiment, the vestibular stimulating system of the present invention includes 1) a stimulation element that performs the actual stimulation of the tissue, 2) a sensor to detect a physiological condition of the patient, and 3) a power/control unit that receives the signals provided by the sensor and causes stimulation energy to be provided to the stimulation element at an appropriate timing, level, pattern, and/or frequency to achieve the desired function. However, the present invention also contemplates eliminating the sensor in favor of applying a predetermined pattern of stimulation to the patient. |
| US07856273B2 |
Autonomic nerve stimulation to treat a gastrointestinal disorder
A method and apparatus for stimulating a portion of a vagus nerve of a patient to treat a gastrointestinal disorder is provided. At least one electrode is coupled to at least one portion of a vagus nerve of the patient. The portion of the a vagus nerve may include an esophageal plexus, a myenteric plexus of aurbach, a submucous plexus of the meissner, a principal nerve of the lesser curvature of the stomach, and a gastric branch of said vagus nerve. An electrical signal is applied to the portion of the vagus nerve using the electrode to treat the gastrointestinal disorder. |
| US07856272B2 |
Implantable interface for a medical device system
An implantable interface system for a medical device system providing selective interconnectivity between conduits and therapy elements. The interface system contains connecting elements that each provide a robust connection between a selected conduit and a selected therapy element. The interface system enables the use of a surplus of therapy elements so that treatment to the same site (in the case of electrode migration or failure), or to different sites but within the spatial domain of the interface's elements may be delivered through the spare/excess therapy elements without the need for additional major surgical procedures. |
| US07856270B2 |
Cardiac pacing using adjustable atrio-ventricular delays
A pacing system for providing optimal hemodynamic cardiac function for parameters such as contractility (peak left ventricle pressure change during systole or LV+dp/dt), or stroke volume (aortic pulse pressure) using system for calculating atrio-ventricular delays for optimal timing of a ventricular pacing pulse. The system providing an option for near optimal pacing of multiple hemodynamic parameters. The system deriving the proper timing using electrical or mechanical events having a predictable relationship with an optimal ventricular pacing timing signal. |
| US07856266B1 |
Implantable cardiac stimulation device providing reduced defibrillation thresholds and method
An implantable cardiac defibrillation device provides pre-shock stimuli to reduce the defibrillation threshold (DFT). The device includes an arrhythmia detector that detects fibrillation of a fibrillating chamber of a heart and a pulse generator that provides a fibrillation therapy output responsive to the arrhythmia detector detecting fibrillation of the fibrillating chamber of the heart. The therapy output includes a defibrillating shock having an output magnitude exceeding a temporary defibrillation threshold of the fibrillating chamber and at least one pre-defibrillating shock output pulse that reduces an initial defibrillation threshold of the fibrillating chamber to the temporary defibrillation threshold. An electrode system having at least two defibrillation electrodes delivers both the at least one pre-defibrillating shock output pulse to the heart and the defibrillating shock to the fibrillating chamber of the heart. |
| US07856264B2 |
Systems and methods for patient interactive neural stimulation and/or chemical substance delivery
Systems and methods for patient interactive neural stimulation and/or chemical substance delivery are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes affecting a target neural population of the patient by providing to the patient at least one of an electromagnetic signal and a chemical substance. The method can further include detecting at least one characteristic of the patient, with the characteristic at least correlated with the patient's performance of an adjunctive therapy task that is performed in association with affecting the target neural population. The method can still further include controlling at least one parameter in accordance with which the target neural population is affected, based at least in part on the detected characteristic. |
| US07856263B2 |
Transdermal systems for the delivery of therapeutic agents including granisetron using iontophoresis
A disposable skin-worn device for the transdermal delivery at least one dose of charged therapeutic substances, including granisetron, by iontophoresis, the device comprising a donor reservoir containing an amount of a therapeutic substance to be delivered transdermally by iontophoresis, a counter reservoir, a source of electric power connected in a circuit between the donor reservoir and the counter reservoir and a control system for controlling current flow in the circuit to enable at least one dose of the therapeutic substance to be delivered transdermally by iontophoresis and wherein the control system includes a control element selected from the group consisting of a sensor activated by an external signal and a switch. |
| US07856262B2 |
Volume specific characterization of human skin by electrical immitance
This invention relates to a sensor assembly and a method for measuring characteristics of a surface, preferably skin, comprising a first pair of current supply electrodes coupled to a current source, providing an electrical current to the skin, at least one pickup electrodes at chosen positions relative to the current supply electrodes, at least a first of said pickup electrodes being coupled to an instrument for measuring the voltage between said first pickup electrode and at least one of the pickup or current supply electrodes. |
| US07856261B2 |
Cable with spacer for positioning multiple medical sensors
A subject monitoring apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a drive unit (10); a sensor unit (50); and a plurality of cable end units (500) for providing electrical connection between electrodes disposed on a subject and cables passing from the cable end units to the drive and sensor units. Each cable end unit includes first and second connectors (340, 380), and a spacer (400) which substantially maintains a pre-determined distance (L) between the first and second connectors. |
| US07856260B1 |
Implantable cardiac patch for measuring physiologic information
An implantable cardiac patch is configured to be joined to a surface of a heart and includes a body portion having an inner surface configured to be joined to the surface of the heart. The body portion also has a plurality of pores extending into the body portion from the inner surface. A plurality of electrodes are attached to the body portion such that the electrodes are positioned proximate the surface of the heart, and a lead is electrically connected to the electrodes at a connecting portion of the lead. The lead has a proximal end configured for joining to an implantable device. |
| US07856255B2 |
Electronic apparatus
Provided is an electronic apparatus including a casing, a first jog dial, and a pressing operation detection unit. The casing includes a first surface and a second surface. The first jog dial is exposed from the first surface and the second surface, is capable of rotating around a first axis substantially parallel to the first surface and the second surface as a center, and is capable of being pressed from a first direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface and a second direction substantially perpendicular to the second surface. The pressing operation detection unit detects a first pressing operation from the first direction and a second pressing operation from the second direction. |
| US07856254B2 |
Mobile communication terminal and method of controlling the same
A mobile communication terminal including a first rotary key configured to generate a first signal when the first rotary key is rotated, in which the first signal indicates a direction and an amount the first rotary key is rotated, a second rotary key configured to generate a second signal when the second rotary key is rotated, in which the second signal indicates a direction and an amount the first rotary key is rotated, a display unit configured to display a screen thereon, and a controller configured to control a specific operation on the displayed screen based on the first and second signals. |
| US07856251B2 |
Device and method for using a rotating key and controlling a display in a mobile terminal
A device and method for using a rotating key on a mobile terminal is provided. The mobile terminal includes a plurality of dome switches which can detect a contact signal when pressed and a plurality of contact surfaces which can detect the position of the rotating key in each direction of rotation. The device and method comprises a folder opening/closing sensor for detecting whether a folder of the mobile terminal is opened or closed; first and second display sections for displaying menus or data according to the operation of the rotating key; and a control section for controlling the mobile terminal to display a menu or data selected by the operation of the rotating key on the first display section or the second display section according to an output from the folder opening/closing sensor. |
| US07856250B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing SOHO BTS interference using antenna beam coverage based on pilot strength measurement messages
A small office/home office base transceiver station (SOHO BTS) server capable of managing interference by correlating pilot strength measurements sent by mobile devices and directing the attenuation settings for each transmit path. An array of antennas coupled to an array of transmit paths are selectively activated one at a time. When a transmit path is activated, the SOHO BTS server sets the associated variable attenuator to its maximum level. The SOHO BTS server detects whether a radio environment report or and a pilot strength measurement message (PSMM) containing information about a mobile station's pilot strength is present. When the pilot strength is greater than a predetermined value, the SOHO BTS server increases the setting on the attenuator. Otherwise, the SOHO BTS server decreases the attenuator setting until such pilot strength information is available or if the lowest attenuator setting has been set. The other transmit paths are also tested accordingly. |
| US07856249B2 |
Combined mass storage and subscriber identity module providing information security and apparatus for use therewith
A mass storage and subscriber identity module includes a frame and a mass storage device supported by the frame. The module also include a first connector supported by the frame and configured to be removably connected to a smart card and a second connector supported by the frame, electrically coupled to the mass storage device and the first connector, and configured to be removably connected to an electronic device. The module further includes an interface circuit configured to control access via the second connector to information stored in the mass storage device based on information in a smart card, e.g., a SIM card, connected to the first connector. |
| US07856248B1 |
Communication device
A communication device which includes a voice communicating means, an automobile controlling means, and an OCR means, which further includes a caller ID means, a call blocking means, an auto time adjusting means, a calculating means, a word processing means, a startup software means, a stereo audio data output means, a digital camera means, a multiple language displaying means, a caller's information displaying means, a communication device remote controlling means, and a shortcut icon displaying means. |
| US07856246B2 |
Multi-cell data processor
The exemplary embodiments of this invention provide a data processor having a processor engine composed of a plurality of processor cells, each cell including a local instruction memory and an instruction sequencer and being configured for selective connection with at least one adjacent cell enabling communication between cells. The processor engine is configured to be interposed between a radio frequency section and a baseband section to process data output from the baseband section prior to inputting the processed data to the radio frequency section, and to process signals output from the radio frequency section prior to inputting processed data to the baseband section. A plurality of communication-related functions are mapped into a corresponding plurality of regions of cells, and local instruction memory is configured to store program instructions for implementing all or a part of the associated function. As examples, one function may be a CORDIC function and another function may be a FIR filter function. |
| US07856244B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling vector graphic in mobile phone
Provided is a mobile phone including: a transceiver for receiving voice and data signals from outside; a voice processing part for demodulating the voice signal input from the transceiver and outputting the voice signal as a voice, and modulating a voice received from outside and converting the voice into a voice signal; a control part for processing the voice signal and the data signal received from the transceiver; a display part controlled by the control part to display a vector graphic; a memory for storing an operating program of the control part and a system program; a vector graphic processing part for producing and modulating a vector graphic in response to control of the control part and outputting the vector graphic to the display part; and a button including an input part for transmitting an input from outside to the control part, the input part performing the function of connecting to a wireless Internet service when pressed and controlling the size of the vector graphic when rolled. |
| US07856231B2 |
Mobile communication terminal having a radio frequency calibration data recovering function and a method of backing up and restoring calibration data
A mobile communication terminal, and a method of backing up and restoring calibration data thereof disclosed, thereby enabling a terminal to repair damage to radio frequency calibration data. The present invention includes a radio frequency calibration data checking unit comparing a checksum value of radio frequency calibration data stored in an internal terminal memory to a checksum of backup data value stored in a SIM card according when the terminal is turned on, the radio frequency calibration data checking unit determining whether the radio frequency calibration data stored in memory is the same as the data stored on the SIM radio frequency calibration data recovering unit for restoring the radio frequency calibration data from the SIM card. |
| US07856226B2 |
Systems and methods for IMS user sessions with dynamic service selection
Under one aspect, a system generates dynamic call models within an IMS network, allowing different user entities (UEs) to have different service experiences. The IMS network includes application servers (ASs) and a serving call state control function (S-CSCF) that receives and then forwards UE service requests. The system includes storage media storing a service tree, which defines potential call models that map potential UE service requests onto ASs. At least two potential call models map a specified potential UE service request onto different ASs that can provide different service experiences. The system includes control logic for providing session control, which receives UE service requests from the S-CSCF, receives the service tree from the storage media, generates a call model for each UE based on potential call models defined by the service tree and on the requested service, and invokes a specified AS based on the generated call model. |
| US07856218B2 |
Direct conversion receiver
In a direct conversion receiver, to cancel a DC offset generated in the baseband processing block, negative feedback arrangements comprising a gain control amplifier and a low-pass filter are respectively attached to the I and Q signal branches of the baseband block following mixer outputs. The gain control amplifier in each negative feedback circuit is gain adjusted so that the product G·B of the gain G of a primary gain control amplifier and its own gain B will be constant and thereby the DC offset is cancelled. This DC offset cancellation can be applied in a continuous receiving system with no intermittent time during a receiving operation. Capacitance elements located off-chip can be reduced to those to be used only in the low-pass filters in the negative feedback circuits, whereas many off-chip capacitance elements have been required to be inserted between each stage of gain control amplifiers in conventional baseband chains. |
| US07856213B2 |
Method, system, and device for specifying selective override of do-not-disturb functionality
The present invention provides methods, systems, and devices for selective override of do-not-disturb in a wireless communications network, in which a user is provided with the option to query and modify the ignoring of do-not-disturb (DnD) for certain reasons. In some embodiments, DnD is ignored when an incoming call is an urgent call. In other embodiments DnD is ignored when an incoming call is an emergency call. In some embodiments a call processing server manages and performs selective override of do-not-disturb in an OMA compatible system. In yet other embodiments, a mobile device is adapted to send to a dispatch network a request to query or set an ignoreDnD flag, along with associated ignoreDnD reasons. |
| US07856211B2 |
Broadband wireless communications systems and methods using multiple non-contiguous frequency bands/segments
Wireless communications transceivers include a transmitter that is configured to selectively frequency shift and transmit portions of broadband information over multiple non-contiguous narrowband frequency bands/segments, each of which is too narrow to carry the broadband information. A receiver also is configured to receive and selectively frequency shift portions of broadband information from multiple non-contiguous narrowband frequency bands/segments, each of which is too narrow to carry the second broadband information. Broadband information thereby may be transmitted and received in a regulated communications environment, even though a given provider may only be assigned discontinuous frequency bands/segments, none of which is wide enough to carry the entire broadband information. |
| US07856210B2 |
Power step control for high-speed downlink shared channel packet access
A radio access network node comprises a transport format selector (44) which uses plural input parameters for determining a transport format for a high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH). The transport format selector is arranged to protect radio quality (e.g., the signal to noise ratio (SIR)) of the high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH) against a radio quality fluctuation due to one or more of fast fading, power variations, or interference variations. The radio quality fluctuation may be a downlink power variation caused by or accompanying transmission on the high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH) itself (or any other channel such as a DPCH). The radio quality fluctuation may jeopardize reliability of or render inaccurate (e.g., stale) a reported value for a first input parameter ascribed to a radio condition and utilized to determine the transport format. The transport format selector promotes radio quality of the high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH) by compensating, in the determining of the transport format, for any inaccurate representation by the reported input value of a radio condition which may have changed at the time of transmission of the high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH). The first input parameter (for which the transport format selector anticipates a difference) can be, for example, a channel quality indicator (CQI) which represents the radio condition of radio channel quality. |
| US07856209B1 |
Method and system for location estimation in wireless networks
A method of estimating a location of a wireless device providing a wireless attack. The method includes disposing a number of sniffers in a geographic region and receiving a number of wireless signals at one or more of the number of sniffers. The method also includes processing the number of wireless signals to identify a subset of the number of wireless signals that are associated with the wireless device and determining a number of received signal strengths associated with the subset of the number of wireless signals. The method further includes providing an estimation of the location of the wireless device utilizing the determined received signal strengths associated with the subset of the number of wireless signals. |
| US07856203B2 |
System for inhibiting texting and similar distractions while driving moving vehicles
A system is disclosed for preventing moving vehicle drivers from cell phone texting while that vehicle is moving. This system comprises a motion detector and a moving vehicle's contiguous interior compartment containing at least four courtesy signal transmitters and at least one conventional cell phone having a text keyboard, a microphone, and a courtesy signal receiver disposed in the microphone which is in the keyboard. This compartment may also have devices in it which control the speed and direction the moving vehicle will go, and if so, it may have a moving vehicle driver, who may also be the aforementioned cell phone user, located to operate these devices. The cell phone may enable or disable the keyboard based on courtesy signal transit times and the motion indicator, but this determination may be overridden by the cell phone service provider, or person of authority located in the vehicle's contiguous interior compartment. |
| US07856200B2 |
Semiconductive belt, semiconductive roll and image forming apparatus using these members
A semiconductive belt includes: at least one different resistance portion that is configured to partly differ in surface resistance from surroundings, wherein the at least one different resistance portion is at an angle with respect to a direction perpendicular to a belt end portion. |
| US07856195B2 |
Image forming apparatus whose image bearing member is rotated by a pulley
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material is constituted by an image bearing member, a driving source, a first pulley rotatable by actuation of the driving source, a second pulley, connected to a rotatable member, for transmitting rotation of the driving source to the image bearing member, a belt supported by the first pulley and the second pulley, a first pressing member which is disposed upstream from the first pulley with respect to a rotational direction of the drum and located closer to the second pulley than a rotation axis of the first pulley so as to press the first pulley through the belt, and a second pressing member disposed at a position substantially symmetrically opposite from the first pressing member with respect to a line connecting the rotation axis of the first pulley and a rotation axis of the second pulley so as to press the first pulley through the belt. |
| US07856194B2 |
Intermediate transfer unit-mounting and dismounting mechanism and intermediate transfer unit-mounting and dismounting method
An intermediate transfer unit mounting and dismounting mechanism for an image forming apparatus including a transfer belt unit that is provided as a separate structure from the apparatus body and can be mounted to and dismounted from the apparatus body, includes: a coupling/decoupling manipulator disposed at the coupling portion between the intermediate transfer unit and the apparatus body for coupling/decoupling. The coupling/decoupling manipulator includes a threaded portion to fasten the intermediate transfer unit and the apparatus body and a drive gear for transferring driving force for conveying the intermediate transfer belt. While the threaded portion is rotated to release the fastening between the transfer belt unit and the housing, the transfer belt is conveyed by the drive gear that rotates in linkage with the rotation of the threaded portion. |
| US07856183B2 |
Circuit for transmitting signals in a network node, particularly for a channel card for an optical wavelength division multiplex (WDM) signal trasmitting device
A circuit for transmitting signals in a network node, particularly for a channel card for an optical WDM signal transmission device, with a first holding device assigned to the local side of the network node, which can be freely equipped by means of a local-side transceiver unit and which has an internal transmitting port connection and an internal receiving port connection which, in case first holding device is equipped with local-side transceiver unit, are connected to the respective transmitting or receiving ports of local-side transceiver unit, with two additional holding devices assigned to the remote side of the network node having similar ports. A controllable signal switching unit is provided with novel construction to configure connections between the respective internal ports. |
| US07856171B2 |
Method and apparatus for expressing amount of camera motion
A method and apparatus for preventing image blur due to camera motion, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for sensing a camera motion, calculating an amount of the camera motion based on the sensed camera motion, and expressing the calculated amount of the camera motion to a user so that the user can prevent image blur. The method includes: sensing the camera motion; calculating an amount of the camera motion based on the sensed camera motion; and expressing the calculated amount of the camera motion. |
| US07856170B2 |
Device for producing steam and cooking appliance
A heatable housing and a device such as a cooking appliance including a heatable housing for producing steam includes at least one wall that delimits an interior space, which is enclosed by the housing at least in areas and which serves to hold a liquid to be vaporized. The wall has at least one hollow for accommodating at least one heating device. |
| US07856169B2 |
Reproduction device, program, and reproduction method
A BD-ROM playback apparatus for selecting and playing back one among text subtitle streams together with a moving picture. PSR 48-61 store Decode Capability flags whose set values indicate, for each language, whether or not a decode capability is present. Procedure executing unit 20 judges whether each text subtitle stream can be displayed, by referring to each set value of flags. Stream selection unit 17 selects a text subtitle stream judged as being able to be decoded. Here, the decode capability for a language being present indicates presence of rendering capability for converting character codes of the language into bitmaps, and support capability for supporting properties of the language. The b16 to b23 in PSR 30 includes a permission flag indicating whether stream selection unit 17 is permitted to select an unsupported language for which rendering capability is present but not support capability. |
| US07856168B2 |
Recorder/reproducer and content data protection system for preventing unauthorized use of content
The recorder/reproducer, when moving a first content data, writes a second content data, which is obtained by re-coding the first content data recorded in a first recording medium, into a second recording medium instead of the first content data, writes one or more first partial information extracted from the first content data into the second recording medium, and makes the first content data irreproducible, using one or more first invalidated partial information having one-to-one correspondence with the extracted one or more first partial information. When restoring the first content data, it makes the irreproducible first content data reproducible, using the one or more first partial information recorded in the second recording medium. |
| US07856163B2 |
Planar lightwave circuit, design method for wave propagation circuit, and computer program
A planar lightwave circuit is provided which can be easily fabricated by an existing planar-lightwave-circuit fabrication process, which can lower the propagation loss of signal light and which can convert inputted signal light so as to derive desired signal light. A planar lightwave circuit having a core and a clad which are formed on a substrate, has input optical waveguide(s) (111) which inputs signal light, mode coupling part (112) for coupling a fundamental mode of the inputted signal light to a higher-order mode and/or a radiation mode, or mode re-coupling part (113) for re-coupling the higher-order mode and/or the radiation mode to the fundamental mode, and output optical waveguide(s) (114) which outputs signal light. The mode coupling part or the mode re-coupling part is an optical waveguide which has core width and/or height varied continuously. |
| US07856152B2 |
Light condition recorder system and method
A light condition recorder system and method including a light condition recorder (104) responsive to a lighting environment (102) and generating an environment signal (112), a light simulator (106) responsive to the environment signal (112) and generating a lamp control signal (114), and a lamp system (108) responsive to the lamp control signal (114) and generating a simulated lighting environment (110). |
| US07856147B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing a compressed image in an order other than the order of which it was compressed
An image processing system that can receive compressed image data corresponding to a representation of an image and process that image data in an order that is independent of the order in which that image data was compressed. A first pass decoding identifies certain information pertaining to the coded units within the compressed image data. Based upon that information, the coded units in the compressed image data may be decoded in an order that is different than the order in which they were encoded, and portions of the image may be rotated by a multiple of 90° independently of other portions of the image, thereby reducing the amount of memory needed to decompress and rotate the compressed image data. |
| US07856141B2 |
Method for adjusting saturation and contrast of an area of an image and apparatus thereof
A method for adjusting saturation of an area of an image is disclosed. The method includes calculating a deviation level of a pixel in the area of the image by a processor and calculating a modified saturation value of the pixel in the area of the image according to the deviation level of the pixel in the area of the image and an original saturation value of the pixel in the area of the image by the processor. The deviation level indicates brightness differences of the brightness values among the pixel and a pixel set in a vicinity of the pixel in the area of the image. The pixel set includes pixels in the vicinity of the pixel of the area of the image. |
| US07856138B2 |
System, method and computer software product for inspecting charged particle responsive resist
A system software product and a method for evaluating a mask, the method including the stages of: defining multiple CD measurement target windows; defining multiple pattern recognition windows such that the multiple CD measurements windows do not overlap the multiple pattern recognition windows, wherein each CD measurement target window and an associated pattern recognition window are positioned within a measurement area that is scannable without introducing a substantial mechanical movement; performing multiple critical dimension measurements of multiple patterns of an object being manufactured by exposing the mask to radiation, wherein the performing comprises using at least one CD measurement target window and at least one pattern recognition window; and evaluating the mask. |
| US07856124B2 |
Image evaluation device, method and program
More accurate image evaluation is achieved by using information about faces contained in images. An information acquiring unit acquires, from an image containing at least one face, information about the size and the position of the at least one face. An evaluation value calculating unit calculates an evaluation value representing a result of evaluation of the image based on the information about the size and position of the at least one face acquired by the information acquiring unit. |
| US07856122B2 |
Method and device for collating biometric information
A feature amount obtained from an image group for registration is stored as dictionary data in a memory. When an input image group constituted of a plurality of images is supplied to be collated with the dictionary data, the images constituting the input image group are classified based on a specific classification standard, a feature amount obtained from each of the classified image groups is collated with the feature amount stored as the dictionary data in the memory, and a result of the collation of all the input image groups with the dictionary data is determined based on a result of integrating a plurality of collection results of the classified image groups with the dictionary data. |
| US07856119B2 |
Embedding data in material
An apparatus including a transformer for transforming transform domain data into time domain data and a combiner for receiving material and combining said time domain data with said material to form data embedded material. Hence, the material is not subject any transformation at all. |
| US07856116B2 |
Authenticating identification and security documents
The application discloses identification and security documents and methods and systems for authenticating such identification and security documents. In one implementation, a document includes a first surface; and a second surface. The first surface comprises a first set of print structures and a second set of print structures. The first set of print structures and the second set of print structures cooperate to obscure the location on the first surface of the second set of print structures. The second set of print structures is arranged on the first surface so as to provide a reflection pattern. In one example, the reflection pattern includes a diffraction grating. The second set of print structures is preferably provided on the first surface with metallic ink. In other implementations a financial instrument or identification document is provided with an organic light emitting diode (OLED) array. The OLED array displays information thereon. The information is preferably correlated to the information on or in the financial instrument or identification document. |
| US07856114B2 |
Magnetic speaker grill
A speaker assembly having a removable grill. The grill includes a perforated portion circumscribed by a flange. The flange has one or magnets disposed around an outer periphery of the flange. The speaker body has corresponding slugs disposed so as to align with the magnets of the grill upon assembly. The magnetic bond formed between the slugs and magnets keeps the grill attached to the speaker body during operation of the speaker assembly. |
| US07856113B2 |
Multi-microphone capsule
A multi-microphone capsule includes a housing, a plurality of microphones disposed in the housing, and an acoustic seal also disposed in the housing, wherein the microphones include an omni-directional microphone, a uni-directional microphone, or combinations thereof. The microphones are placed front-and-back or side-by-side, or a part of the microphones are placed side-by-side and the other microphones are placed front-and-back with the part of the microphones. |
| US07856112B2 |
Desktop terminal foot and desktop system
The present invention discloses an inventive microphone assembly for desktop communication systems. It utilises the advantages of placing the microphone in a desktop conferencing system as close as possible to the tabletop surface, without exposing the microphone for unfavourable mechanical or acoustic influence. This is achieved by building it into the footing in front of system, in a mechanically controlled and robust way. In this way, the high frequency response can be controlled to optimise sound quality, and at the same time the microphone assembly can be configured as a flexible unit that easily can be re-used in other systems. |
| US07856111B2 |
Hearing aid with sound tube serving for retention in concha
A hearing aid device has a custom-fit shell that fits into the helix lock area of the outer ear of a hearing-impaired person, and an RIC tube that is held in the concha of the outer ear and terminates in the ear canal. The combination of the custom-fit shell and the RIC tube in the concha retain the hearing aid in the outer ear. |
| US07856108B2 |
Method for preventing an output device from being damaged
The present invention relates to a method for preventing an output device from being damaged, which comprises the steps of: dividing the output value of an output device into a plurality of areas, defining a ratio value to every area, receiving a desired output value, determining the current area where the desired output value device is located, and calculating the desired output value with the ratio value to obtain an actual output volume and output the actual output volume. |
| US07856106B2 |
System and method for determining a representation of an acoustic field
This system for determining a representation of an acoustic field (P) includes: acoustic wave acquisition elements (1) including a plurality of elemental sensors (21 to 2Q) which are distributed in space and which each deliver a measurement signal (c1 to cQ); and elements (8) for processing by the application, to the measurement signals (c1 to cQ), of filtering combinations representative of structural characteristics of the acquisition elements (1) in order to deliver a plurality of acoustic signals (sc1 to scN) which are each associated with a predetermined general reproduction direction defined relative to a given point in space (14), the set of acoustic signals (sc1 to scN) forming a representation of the acoustic field (P). The system is characterized in that the elemental sensors (21 to 2Q) are distributed in space in a substantially non-regular manner and in that the filtering combinations are representative of that distribution. |
| US07856105B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing of amplifier linearization signals
A feed-forward amplifier includes a main amplifier having input signals and amplified output signals and an error amplifier for amplifying distortion signals to be added to the amplified output signals of the main amplifier to produce an amplifier output. A pilot tone modulation and recovery circuit modulates a pilot tone to be coupled to the input signals of the main amplifier and recovers the pilot tone from the amplifier output. The pilot tone modulation and recovery circuit includes a digital filter and a signal source. The signal source is used to both modulate the pilot tone and control the digital filter for recovering the pilot tone. |
| US07856102B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing a message authentication code using a pipeline
Methods and apparatus provide for: dividing a quantity of data values into a plurality of blocks; dividing the plurality of blocks into respective sub-sets of blocks; computing an intermediate message authentication code block for each sub-set of blocks by performing a first cipher block chaining algorithm on the blocks of each sub-set of blocks; and computing a message authentication code block for the plurality of blocks by performing a second cipher block chaining algorithm on the intermediate message authentication code blocks. |
| US07856101B2 |
Method for elliptic curve scalar multiplication
The method for elliptic curve scalar multiplication is a method for fast, efficient multiplication of a point on an elliptic curve by a scalar. Two different parameters are used to assign separate projective coordinates to the x-coordinate and the y-coordinate. The x- and y-coordinates are projected by ZLx and ZLy, where Lx and Ly are exponential functions having a common base, i.e., Lx=gnx and Ly=gny, respectively. The use of projective coordinates reduces the number of inversions in scalar multiplication, thereby speeding processing time. Furthermore, since the parameters Lx and Ly are exponential functions, and since the base g is invariant, g−1 can be precomputed and stored. This practically eliminates any further inversions, since Lx−1=(g−1)nx and Ly−1=(g−1)ny so that inversions are simplified to exponentiation by substitution, further speeding processing time and reducing storage requirements. |
| US07856099B2 |
Secure data transmission between two modules
The invention relates to a method for secure data transmission in connections between two functional modules of an electronic unit. A first module of a message of k bits in a word code of n bits is injection coded with a constant Hamming weight of w. The word of code is transmitted to a second module. An error signal is generated when the Hamming weight of the word of code of n bits, received by the second module, is different from w. In the absence of error, the code word is decoded, where k, w and n are whole numbers. The invention further relates to a corresponding electronic circuit. |
| US07856096B2 |
Erasure of DTMF signal transmitted as speech data
A DTMF signal processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a data divider unit, a DTMF signal component analyzer unit, a weighting processing unit, a buffer, a DTMF signal erasure determination unit, and a DTMF signal erasure processing unit. The data divider unit divides speech data into a plurality of divided speech data, and the DTMF signal component analyzer unit analyzes whether or not the divided speech data has a DTMF signal component. The weighting processing unit applies a weighting value to divided speech data analyzed at this time and stores the resultant speech data in the buffer, and also applies a weighting value to past divided speech data previously stored in the buffer when the result of the analysis indicates that the analyzed divided speech data has the DTMF signal component. The DTMF signal erasure determination unit determines based on the weighting value whether or not to erase the divided speech data stored in the buffer. The DTMF signal erasure processing unit replaces the divided speech data with either mute data or noise data, and delivers the replaced data when the result of the determination indicates an erasure. |
| US07856093B2 |
Interactive communication apparatus and connecting method
An interactive communication apparatus has a video signal, obtained by an image pickup device performing an image pickup activity, and which has the obtained video signal sent to another apparatus through a communication device while causing a display device to display an image based on a video signal received from the other apparatus through the communication device. The apparatus includes a storage device storing communicating party information about a communicating party at the other apparatus, the communicating party information including geographical location information and access point information about the communicating party. The apparatus also includes a graphic user interface generating a graphic user interface screen in order to have the display device display the generated screen by mapping an identification image identifying the communicating party onto a map based on the communicating party information in such a manner as to indicate a local time applicable to the communicating party. |
| US07856092B2 |
Method and apparatus for handling disconnected call
A method of handling an interrupted call on a communication terminal, which includes updating a task model table including a plurality of informational fields related to a task performed during a call placed on the terminal, and restarting the task at a location corresponding to where the task stopped executing when the call was interrupted using the informational fields in the task model table. |
| US07856085B2 |
X-ray imaging apparatus
First, a connection state is detected. Next, a determination is made as to whether a connection is made via a dedicated line. If it is determined that the connection is not made via a dedicated line, image accumulation time is calculated. Then, after drive timing is changed, an imaging operation is started. |
| US07856084B2 |
Method for activation of an emitter of a computed tomography scanner
In a computed tomography scanner having an emitter for emitting a beam of given radiation through an object to be analysed, a detector for receiving said beam after the beam itself has traversed the object, and a rotating arm, which supports the emitter and the detector and rotates the emitter and the detector about the object along a series of angular positions, there is generated a succession of first pulses, each of which activates the detector in one respective angular position, and a succession of second pulses for activating the emitter so that it will emit a dose of radiation in each angular position, associated to which is a respective dose of radiation in such a way as to pre-define a distribution of doses of radiation along the series of angular positions. |
| US07856082B2 |
System and method for optimization of a radiation therapy plan in the presence of motion
A computer-implemented method for optimizing a radiation treatment plan for a radiotherapy machine providing independently controlled radiation along a plurality of rays j directed toward a patient and configured to account for the effects of patient motion. The method includes generating a probability distribution function quantitatively expressing patient motion, identifying a prescribed total dose Dip at the voxels i in a treatment area, assigning a fluence value wj for each ray j based on an iterative function, calculating an actual total dose Did produced each voxel i within the assigned fluence values and calculating an expectation value of the dose per energy fluence, dij based on the actual total dose Did and the probability distribution function. |
| US07856078B2 |
Method and X-ray CT system for generating computed tomography displays
A method is disclosed for generating computed tomography displays, in which with the aid of at least one X-ray source, an examination object is scanned in a rotationally circulating fashion with a measured dose rate dependent on the circulation angle, projection data are collected from a multiplicity of viewing angles, and at least similarly redundant projection data from angularly identical or angularly complementary projection angles with a different measured dose are interpolated with distance weighted relative to a projection value and are used for reconstruction. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, during the distance weighted interpolation of the at least similarly redundant projection data an additional noise optimizing weighting is carried out as a function of the noise present per projection value. Furthermore, an X-ray computed tomography system is disclosed for generating tomographic displays of an examination object with the aid of an arithmetic logic unit, including computer program code for evaluating detector data and carrying out a reconstruction, the arithmetic logic unit including program code that during operation executes at least one embodiment of the method. |
| US07856072B2 |
Semiconductor device, memory device and memory module having digital interface
An object of the present invention is to reduce jitter dependent on data patterns by an interface receiver. Another object of the present invention is to provide an LSI capable of automatically adjusting a delay time for jitter reduction so as to be able to control its setting for each device. Since the jitter dependent on the data patterns can be expected according to how the previous state is being placed, the state of data received by the receiver is held, and the timing provided to fetch input data is adjusted according to the held state and the input data. As a control mechanism lying in the receiver, for determining a delay time dependent on the form of mounting, a driver transmits and receives pulse data set at one-cycle intervals and pulse data set at two-cycle intervals as test patterns. The receiver has an automatic control mechanism for determining a delay time optimal to a system from the difference between a rising time of each of pulses different in pulse width and its falling time. |
| US07856068B1 |
Nested preamble for multi input multi output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
A multi input multi output (MIMO) system for transmitting and receiving packets having a nested preamble format included in said packets and having poly-carrier long training sequence (LTS) and signal field (SIG) for training receivers, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Said packets being transmitted using the modulation scheme of a wireless local area network (WLAN) standard, said nested preamble format for allowing said receivers to use one or more receiver antennas to interpret said LTS and said SIG to increase the efficiency of said MIMO system. |
| US07856067B2 |
Unequal hierarchical communications modulation method
Hierarchical modulation preferably uses a 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) modulator with a convolutional encoder that combine to effectively provide unequal protection to two different segments of streaming input data, with improved power efficiency with the same bandwidth efficiency, by encoding the first segment as coded data as LSBs as the second segment remains uncoded as uncoded MSBs, with the MSBs used for QAM constellation modest reliability interquadrant demodulation and detection, and with the LSBs used for low reliability intraquadrant detection, but with the LSBs subject to convolutional encoding and decoding rendering the LSBs with high reliability detection, such that, the two segments have unequal coding and modulation for providing unequal levels of reliability detection. |
| US07856063B2 |
Narrowband interference suppression for OFDM systems
A method for suppressing narrowband interference in OFDM receivers is provided including the steps of acquiring a sample of received data, estimating parameters of each of a number of narrowband interferers from the acquired sample of data, forming an excision filter using the estimated parameters and inserting the excision filter into an OFDM receiver. |
| US07856061B2 |
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 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. |
| US07856060B2 |
Moving picture coding method and moving picture decoding method for performing inter picture prediction coding and inter picture prediction decoding using previously processed pictures as reference pictures
A coding control unit (110) and a mode selection unit (109) are included. The coding control unit (110) determines the coding order for a plurality of consecutive B-pictures located between I-pictures and P-pictures so that the B-picture whose temporal distance from two previously coded pictures is farthest in display order is coded by priority, so as to reorder the B-pictures in coding order. When a current block is coded in direct mode, the mode selection unit 109 scales a forward motion vector of a block which is included in a backward reference picture of a current picture and co-located with the current block, so as to generate motion vectors of the current block, if the forward motion vector has been used for coding the co-located block. |
| US07856058B2 |
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 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. |
| US07856052B2 |
Method and system for low complexity conjugate gradient based equalization in a wireless system
Methods and systems for processing signals in a receiver are disclosed herein and may include updating a plurality of filter taps utilizing at least one channel response vector and at least one correlation vector, for a plurality of received clusters, based on initialized values related to the at least one channel response vector and the at least one correlation vector. At least a portion of the received signal clusters may be filtered utilizing at least a portion of the updated plurality of filter taps. The update may be repeated whenever a specified signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the received signal clusters is reached. The initialized values may be updated during a plurality of iterations, and the update may be repeated whenever a specified number of the plurality of iterations is reached. |
| US07856047B2 |
System and method for concurrent frequency hopping of radio communications
A method and system for selecting frequency channels for a concurrent dual transceiver system are provided. In one aspect, a single hop table for at least two transceivers is used. The single hop table tracks information associated with a plurality of frequency channels that the transceivers can use. An available frequency channel is randomly selected using the single hop table and a transceiver is allowed to communicate via the selected frequency channel for allowed time duration. If communication has not completed for the current communication request, another frequency channel that is available is selected randomly and used. Multiple transceivers may communicate concurrently using this frequency channel selection and hopping method. |
| US07856042B2 |
High efficiency intersubband semiconductor lasers
An intersubband quantum cascade laser structure includes multiple coupled laser stages, wherein each stage has a multilayer structure including an electron injector, an active region with at least one quantum well, and an electron reflector. Electrons injected from the injector into the active region at a high energy level relax to a lower energy level with the emission of a photon at, for example, mid-infrared wavelengths. The reflector reflects electrons at the higher energy level at which they were injected and transmits electrons from the lower energy level after emission of a photon. Multiple layers of semiconductor are formed on each side of the multistage structure to provide conduction across the device and to provide optical confinement of the photons emitted. |
| US07856040B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting devices with non-epitaxial upper cladding
The AlGaN upper cladding layer of a nitride laser diode is replaced by a non-epitaxial layer, such as metallic silver. If chosen to have a relatively low refractive index value, the mode loss from absorption in the non-epitaxial cladding layer is acceptably small. If also chosen to have a relatively high work-function, the non-epitaxial layer forms an electrical contact to the nitride semiconductors. An indium-tin-oxide layer may also be employed with the non-epitaxial cladding layer. |
| US07856038B2 |
Light-emitting module installing thermo-electric controller
There is provided a light-emitting module which suppresses wavelength drift. A light-emitting module according to the invention includes a stem and a cap fixed to the upper surface of the stem. A thermo-electric cooler is mounted on the stem and a base is mounted on the thermo-electric cooler. A laser diode is mounted on one side of the base. A thermistor that measures the temperature of the laser diode is mounted on another side. The other side includes an overhung portion that blocks radiant heat transmitting from the cap toward the thermistor. |
| US07856027B2 |
Inbound blocking of data received from a LAN in a multi-processor virtualization environment
An incoming LAN traffic management system comprising: an I/O adapter configured to receive incoming packets from an Ethernet; a plurality of hosts coupled to the I/O adapter and each having a host buffer; a data router configured to block information received by the I/O adapter into memory locations from an SBAL associated with at least one of the plurality of hosts and in accordance with blocking parameters for the at least one of the plurality of hosts, the data router including an expiration engine configured to expire the SBAL before it is full if at least one predetermined threshold is exceeded. |
| US07856024B1 |
Method and apparatus for integrating routing and bridging functions
An apparatus and method for routing data packets between a routed network and a local bridged network using integrated routing and bridging (“IRB”) functions are disclosed. In one embodiment a bridge interface between a host in the local bridge network and a bridging engine is IRB enabled. An unnumbered Internet Protocol (“IP”) interface is then added between the host and a routing engine in accordance with the IRB enabled bridge interface. Subsequently packets received from the routed network are forwarded directly by the routing engine to the host in the local bridge network via the unnumbered IP interface, thereby bypassing the bridging engine. Through use of an embodiment of the present invention, packet processing delay in each network device is reduced (because of bypassing the bridging engine), thereby decreasing packet latency in an ever growing network. |
| US07856018B2 |
Provisioning point-to-multipoint paths
Establishing a point-to-multipoint path includes establishing a first label switched path from a source to a first destination, where the first label switched path is represented by a first label set comprising first node-label pairs. A second label switched path is established from the source to a second destination, where the second label switched path is represented by a second label set comprising second node-label pairs. One or more of the second node-label pairs are equivalent to one or more of the first node-label pairs. The first label set and the second label set are combined to establish the point-to-multicast path. |
| US07856017B2 |
Traffic diversion in an ethernet-based access network
An arrangement and method for relieving the traffic load on an edge node in a broadband Ethernet-based access network, which normally employs traffic separation such that all traffic is routed via the edge node. Peer-to-peer traffic between end users places a large burden on the capacity of the edge node. The edge node identifies peer-to-peer traffic and generates address conversion information for access nodes connected to the end users concerned. The access nodes identify packets forming part of the peer-to-peer connection, modify address information to conceal the address of the source end user from the destination end user, and vice versa, and reroute the packets through the access network to the destination end user without passing through the edge node. |
| US07856013B2 |
Switch assisted frame aliasing for storage virtualization
An apparatus and process for relabelling and redirecting at least some of the read transaction data frames and the write transaction write data and transfer ready frames in a network so as to bypass a storage manager and pass directly between the client and a storage device via a switch. This eliminates the storage manager as a bottleneck. Some embodiments redirect every read and write transaction, and others redirect only large transactions, or only ones not stored in cache or when latency gets too high. Redirection is accomplished by transmission from the storage manager to a switch redirection commands that contain old and new address data. When a frame to be redirected comes in, its address is compared to the old address data. If there is a match, the new address data is substituted and the frame is passed to a conventional routing process to be routed so as to bypass the storage manager. |
| US07856009B2 |
VoIP gateway apparatus
To allow a call received from an accommodated device to arrive at the other party by diverting the call from an IP network to a detour network even with different numbering systems between communications over the IP network and over the detour network. A VoIP gateway apparatus 1 includes an ISDN terminal side IF portion 101, an IP network side IF portion 102, an ISDN network side IF portion 103, a condition storage portion 109, a detour determining portion 108, and a number editing portion 106. The detour determining portion 108 determines whether a call arriving at the ISDN terminal side IF portion 101 satisfies a detour condition stored in the condition storage portion 109 or not. If so, the number editing portion 106 edits the called party number of the call under a number editing condition stored in the condition storage portion 109 and then transmits it from the ISDN network side IF portion 103. If not, the call is transmitted from the IP network side IF portion 102 without editing the called party number. |
| US07856007B2 |
Power line communication voice over IP system and method
A power line communication system communicating over a medium voltage power line including a VoIP endpoint that transmits voice data and requests to establish a voice connection to a medium voltage (MV) access device is provided. The medium voltage access device may determine a response to the request, allocate voice data packets a higher priority than general data packets, and transmit the data packets over the MV power line according to their priority. The MV access device may provide one or more voice over internet protocol (VoIP) switch functions and, in response to the requests, grant or deny the requests based, for example, on the number of established voice connections. |
| US07856001B2 |
Wireless mesh routing protocol utilizing hybrid link state algorithms
Systems and methods are described for exchanging and determining routes in packet-switched mesh networks. Nodes in the mesh networks may be coupled via wireless and fixed-wire links. Routing protocols used to determine routes include link state protocols and hybrids of link state and path vector protocols. Type-Length-Value formats are provided to facilitate state information for nodes in the packet switched network, allowing paths to be re-routed through the mesh networks in real-time. |
| US07855997B2 |
Long range scheduling for directional antenna manet networks
Method and apparatus for scheduling time division multiple access (TDMA) communications among a plurality of peer nodes arranged to form a wireless ad hoc mobile network. The peer nodes communicate with each other using directional antennas and a TDMA process. The method includes a scheduling process for scheduling at least one transmit time slot during which a first one of the plurality of peer nodes transmits wireless data to a second one of the plurality of peer nodes. |
| US07855995B1 |
QLM maximum likelihood demodulation
The invention provides a method for implementing demodulation of quadrature layered modulation (QLM) communications using maximum likelihood (ML) demodulation algorithms which limit the demodulation loss. QLM layers communications channels over the same bsndwidth and with a differentiating parameter for each layer which enables a demodulation algorithm to recover the data symbols in each layer. QLM supports higher data rates than allowed by the Shannon bound. QLM demodulation algorithms are trellis symbol algorithms, trellis bit algorithms, ML algorithms, and other equivalent algorithms. Trellis algorithms rapidly increase in complexity with the number of layers of communications and with the order of the modulation. ML algorithms are less complex but have demodulation losses which rapidly increase with the number of data symbols. ML demodulation architectures disclosed in this invention limit these losses and are suitable to implement QLM for higher order modulations and for more layers of communications. |
| US07855992B2 |
Multi-antenna solution for mobile handset
A mobile terminal with multi-antenna (200) based on CDMA, comprises a plurality of groups of radio frequency signal processing modules (202), for transforming received multi-channel radio frequency signals based on CDMA to multi-channel baseband signals; a multi-antenna module (206), for combining said multi-channel baseband signals output from the plurality of groups of radio frequency signal processing modules into single-channel baseband signals according to control information received one-off when said multi-antenna module enables a multi-antenna baseband processing; and a baseband processing module (203), for providing said control information to said multi-antenna module and baseband processing said single-channel baseband signals outputted from said multi-antenna module. |
| US07855988B2 |
System, method, and device for routing calls using a distributed mobile architecture
Methods and devices for routing communications between distributed mobile architecture (DMA) servers using DMA gateways are disclosed. Communications information is received at a first DMA gateway for a communications network accessible by a second DMA gateway. The communications information indicates one or more devices that are accessible by one of a DMA server and a legacy communications network. The first DMA gateway and the second DMA gateway participate in a DMA gateway communications network. The communications information is stored in a home DMA register of the first DMA gateway. A communication is received at the first DMA gateway for a target device indicated by the communications information to be served by the second DMA gateway. The communication is routed from the first DMA gateway to the target device by relaying the communication from the first DMA gateway to the second DMA gateway via the DMA gateway communications network. |
| US07855987B2 |
Packet communication system and packet communication method
User communication apparatus 110 in packet communication system 100 has internal network 111, base station apparatus 112, internal server 113, radio network control apparatus 114 and mobile communication terminal apparatus 151. Radio network control apparatus 114 receives an IP packet from mobile communication terminal apparatus 115 via base station apparatus 112 and internal network 111, and directly transfers the IP packet to internal server 113 via internal network 111. |
| US07855984B2 |
Wireless communication device
A wireless communication device includes a transceiving module, an antenna module, and a switch module. The transceiving module includes a first transceiver and a second transceiver. The antenna module includes at least a first antenna for transmitting electromagnetic signals in a first frequency range. The switch module switches different connections between the antenna module and the transceiving module, and includes a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, a fourth switch, and a first duplexer. |
| US07855982B2 |
Providing services to packet flows in a network
A system and method for providing services to packet flows in a communication network. The services include enhanced charging, stateful firewalls, traffic performance optimization (TPO) and advanced services such as content differentiated charging, per-subscriber stateful firewalls, and VPNs, for example. A gateway can be used to route each packet flow through the services on a per-subscriber basis by inspecting accounting messages and checking subscriber profiles prior to setting up a new packet flow session. By directing the packet flow through the services requested latency can be reduced as well as the need to have equipment for each session regardless of whether the service is provided to the packet flow. The services can be provided in-line as well. |
| US07855981B2 |
Network system, spanning tree configuration method, spanning tree configuration node, and spanning tree configuration program
A node that configures a spanning tree over a network to which a plurality of nodes are connected generates a tree after a cost change using another LAN while continuing to operate the tree that existed before the change, and switches the tree that is used for forwarding after the new tree has been stable. |
| US07855980B2 |
Identification of the configuration topology, existing switches, and miswires in a switched network
An exemplary method of identifying configuration topology, existing switches, and miswires in a given network is provided. Given a number of switches, which may be less than the maximum possible for the actual configuration and some ports of which may be miswired, generate a hypothesis for the supported topology of which the existing configuration is a subset. A best fit of the existing switches to the supported number switches of the maximal topology is performed, using formulae for the connections of the maximal supported topology. If supported switches are found missing in the assumed topology, the switch count is increased accordingly, and started over with a new hypothesis. When satisfied with identification, all switch ports are revisited and the connection formulae is used to identify all miswires. |
| US07855978B2 |
Method of displaying nodes and links
The present invention relates to an improved method of displaying nodes, and links between nodes. Instead of the conventional method of displaying nodes and links as points and lines respectively, in accordance with the present invention, the nodes are each represented by parallel node lines. The links are then represented by link lines drawn perpendicular to the node lines, each of said link lines terminating at the node lines representing the nodes connected by the link represented by the link line. A graphical user interface incorporating this improved method of displaying nodes and links is also contemplated. |
| US07855977B2 |
Alarming in a femto cell network
System(s) and method(s) are provided to monitor operation quality of a femto cell network. Operational data received from deployed femto cell access points are aggregated and monitored. Performance rules and associated operational quality indicators (OQIs) facilitate establishing a standard or desired quality of operation. Performance rule(s) comprises weight(s), sampling test(s), and alarm threshold(s) which can be established by a network operator. Collected data on telecommunication performance metrics can be analyzed to identify or calibrate a standard of operation, which facilitates generating performance rule(s). Weight(s) facilitates reducing the scope of operation data that is effectively monitored. OQIs can assess at least one of service quality, capacity, mobility, or provisioning in a femto cell network. Monitoring operational data generates actionable information for the femto cell network. Alarm(s) are generated when one or more OQIs adopt values below associated alarm thresholds. Alarm(s) facilitate prevention of service degradation of the femto cell network. |
| US07855973B2 |
Apparatus, methods and computer program products for transmission of data over an adjustable synchronous radio channel
A data link, e.g., an audio and/or video data link, is established from a data source, such as an audio and/or video encoder, to a data recipient via an adjustable synchronous radio channel, such as an extended Synchronous Connection-Oriented (eSCO) channel between first and second Bluetooth™ devices. A quality of the data link is determined. A transmission interval and a retransmission criterion of the adjustable synchronous radio channel and an error correction coding of the data link are adjusted responsive to the determined quality of the data link to, for example, maintain a fixed information transfer rate over the data link. The transmission interval and retransmission criterion of the adjustable synchronous radio channel and an error correction coding of the data link may be adjusted by communicating channel parameters between the first and second devices over the radio channel to adjust the transmission interval and the retransmission criterion of the adjustable synchronous radio channel. |
| US07855971B2 |
Interface device and topology formation method
When a loop connection associated with a port is detected while the port is in an Untested state ST3, a state machine corresponding to the port shifts from the state ST3 to a Loop_disabled state ST4. The state machine then shifts from state ST4 to a Sleep1 state ST5 while maintaining a Loop_disabled value set at 1. When the state machine in state ST5 detects a bus reset, the state machine shifts from state ST5 to state ST4. Subsequently, the bus reset detection further shifts the state machine from state ST4 to state ST3. |
| US07855970B2 |
Method for retransmission in mobile communication system
Provided is a method for retransmission in a mobile communication system; and, more particularly, to an integrated operation method of Automatic Retransmission Request (ARQ) and Hybrid Automatic Retransmission Request (HARQ) in a mobile communication system. The method includes the steps of: a) shifting to a 2nd layer waiting status upon receipt of 1st layer reception failure information in a sending status that a fragment block of 2nd layer transmission data is transmitted to the a receiver according to the predetermined retransmission number; b) shifting to a 1st layer receiving status upon receipt of 1st layer reception success information in the sending status; and c) shifting to the transmission completion status upon receipt of the 2nd layer reception success information in the sending status. |
| US07855954B2 |
Speculative credit data flow control
A method of speculative credit data flow control includes defining a low watermark value as a function of a number of open buffers in a receiving unit; receiving a data packet from a sending unit; determining whether the data packet includes a packet delay indicator; defining a first speculative credit value responsive to receiving the packet delay indicator; defining a second speculative credit value as a function of the first speculative credit value added to a regular credit value; generating a flow control packet including the second speculative credit value; and sending the flow control packet to the sending unit. |
| US07855953B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing forwarding of data in an autonomous system
A method of managing forwarding of data in a first autonomous system (AS) is described. The first AS includes a plurality of border routers having inter-domain links to one or more remote AS's and an associated exterior communications protocol. The border routers use an interior communications protocol with other border routers in the first AS using primary tunnels. The method comprises the steps, performed at a first border router having a primary route via an inter-domain link to a remote AS, of constructing an alternate route to the remote AS via second border router in the first AS, instigating a backup tunnel to the second border router upon failure of the primary route and sending a failure message to the other border routers. |
| US07855947B2 |
Method for transmitting pilot for multiple carrier system
A method of transmitting pilot signals in a system which performs communication using two or more earners comprises transmitting first pilots and second pilots from at least one user equipment to a base station, the first and second pilots, which are transmitted from the at least one user equipment, being multiplexed by code division multiplexing, and the first and second pilots, which are transmitted from a specific user equipment, having different transmission powers, and transmitting data from the at least one user equipment to the base station depending on the first pilots and the second pilots. Since many UEs can transmit CQ pilots, exact channel estimation can be performed and thus communication efficiency can be improved. |
| US07855945B2 |
Optical pickup apparatus and optical element
An optical pickup apparatus comprises first, second and third light sources to emit light fluxes of wavelength λ1, λ2 and λ3 for conducting recording and/or reproducing information for first, second and third optical information recording mediums having respective protective substrates of thickness t1, t2 and t3 and a diffractive optical element located on a common optical path for the first, second and third light sources. A converged-light spot is formed on the first optical information recording medium with m-th order diffracted-light ray of the wavelength λ1, on the second optical information recording medium with n-th order diffracted-light ray of the wavelength λ2, and on the third optical information recording medium with k-th order diffracted-light ray of the wavelength λ3 generated by the diffractive optical element respectively, wherein one of m, n and k is different from one of other two numbers. |