| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07871348B2 |
Vehicle hybrid powertrain system and method of operating same
A torque-producing machine and planetary gear set biases torque between primary and secondary drivelines of a vehicle. A first element of the planetary gear set is connected to an upstream torque source. A second element of the planetary gear set is connected to the secondary driveline. A third element of the planetary gear set is connected to a torque-producing biasing machine. |
| US07871343B2 |
Tennis ball retriever
A spring wire loop is affixed to a tennis racquet to enable a player to conveniently scoop a tennis ball off the playing surface and retrieve it. In one add-on embodiment, the loop can be affixed by mounts secured to the strings of an existing racquet; in another it is held in place by the racquet's bumper guard; in a further alternative, the loop can be secured to mounts built into the racquet at manufacture. |
| US07871342B2 |
Golf balls having two or more core layers formed from HNP compositions
The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a dual-layer core and a cover. The core consists of an inner core layer formed from a relatively hard HNP composition and an outer core layer formed from a relatively soft HNP composition. The outer core layer has an outer surface hardness less than the outer surface hardness of the inner core layer. |
| US07871340B2 |
Golf club head having a composite face insert
A golf club head having a composite face insert attached to a metallic body is provided. The club head preferably has a volume of at least 200 cc and provides superior durability and club performance. The face insert includes prepreg plies having a fiber areal weight (FAW) of less than 100 g/m2. The face insert preferably has a thickness less than 4 mm and a mass at least 10 grams less than an insert of equivalent volume formed of the metallic material of the body of the club head. A metallic cap with a peripheral rim is also provided to protect the ends of the composite material of the face insert. Related methods of manufacturing and alternative materials are disclosed. The resin content of the prepreg plies can be controlled through management of the timing and environment in which the resultant prepreg plies are cured and soaked. |
| US07871329B2 |
Casino gambling system with biometric access control
A casino gambling system may comprise a plurality of casino gambling units and at least one computer that may include a biometric input apparatus capable of generating digital data representing a unique physical characteristic of a user and a controller operatively coupled to the biometric input apparatus. The controller may be programmed to control access to the computer based upon digital data generated by the biometric input apparatus. The biometric input apparatus may be a camera for generating an image of a person's face, an eye scanner, a fingerprint scanner, or a microphone and a voice digitizer. The gambling units may be programmed to play a game selected from the group of video games consisting of video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno and video poker. |
| US07871328B2 |
Random pay using non-gaming revenue
A wager amount from a player is received. A programmer input of information based on a specified average value, a specified minimum value, and a specified maximum value is determined. The specified average value is independently specified between the specified minimum value and specified maximum value. A portion of non-gaming revenues is allocated to the progressive prize pool. A random amount is calculated from the progressive prize pool using a function that calculates the random amount using the specified minimum value, the specified maximum value and the specified average value. The calculated random amount is generated between the specified minimum value and the specified maximum value and the function is configured to calculate random amounts that average over time substantially the specified average value. The player is eligible to win the random amount from the progressive prize pool in which the portion of non-gaming revenues was allocated. |
| US07871326B2 |
Method or apparatus for determining performance data in a gaming system
A method, performed by a gaming machine, of displaying performance data. The method includes recording data indicative of the receipt of gaming credit units from a user, wherein the gaming credit units are used as consideration for participation in a chance-based gaming activity provided via the gaming machine. The credit record is updated when a gaming credit unit is used as consideration. The cumulative value of any prize awarded to a user is recorded in a cumulative prize record. The value of the credit used in a used credit record is recorded. During a play session, a first display area displays the value of the credit record to a user. A second display area displays the cumulative prize record; and a third display area displays the value of the used credit record. |
| US07871325B2 |
Means for generating a supplement bonus for an electronic gaming device
A supplemental bonusing system for an electronic gaming device has been developed. The system includes a gaming device with a processor that generates an outcome for the gambling device and a bonus system that generates payout that is supplemental to the payout of the gaming device. The supplemental payout is generated is response to gaming events in the gaming device. |
| US07871309B2 |
Polishing pad
It is an object of the invention to provide a polishing pad capable of high precision optical detection of an endpoint during polishing in progress and prevention of slurry leakage from between a polishing region and a light-transmitting region during the use thereof even after the polishing pad has been used for a long period. It is a second object of the invention to provide a polishing pad capable of suppression of deterioration of polishing characteristics (such as in-plane uniformity) and generation of scratches due to a difference in behavior of a polishing region and a light-transmitting region during polishing. It is a third object of the invention to provide a polishing pad having a polishing region and a light-transmitting region with a concentration of a specific metal equal to or lower than a specific value (threshold value). |
| US07871306B1 |
Minimal force air bearing for lapping tool
A lapping tool for lapping a wafer section in a well controlled manner, has a head with an actuator for bending the row tool, and a force multiplier coupled between the actuator and row tool to multiply the force generated by the actuator for application of greater bending force to the row tool than can be generated by the actuator. Furthermore, at least two actuators, which are controlled together, simultaneously apply force to one force multiplier, so as to further increase bending force. The increase in available force permits the use of a row tool of a ceramic or other material that is substantially stiffer than stainless steel, such as a row tool having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is substantially similar to that of the rowbar itself. The tool further includes structures for tilting or otherwise orienting the wafer section relative to the lapping plate. |
| US07871305B2 |
Push up bra
Disclosed in this specification is a range of push up bras. The range comprises different bra cup sizes, and offers a different amount of padding for different cup sizes in the same range. The different padding provided facilitates a better tailoring of the bra to the body type of the wearer. The padding occupies a decreasing area of the cup as the cup size increases. The centre of the padding is also gradually lowered with increasing cup size. |
| US07871294B2 |
Dual stacked connector
A connector has an insulative housing and two edge card-receiving slots disposed in a stacked arrangement with in the insulative housing. Each slot receives an edge card of an electronic module therein. The slots support conductive terminals that extend from a plurality of individual terminal assemblies. The housing may be positioned in a cage that includes receptacles on a front face of the cage. |
| US07871291B2 |
Power adapter
A power adapter, comprising a cord Storage assembly extendable from a housing to enable a cord to be at least partially wound thereabout, the cord storage assembly retractable within the housing to store the cord within the housing. |
| US07871290B2 |
Battery connector
A battery connector includes an insulating body and a conductive terminal. The conductive terminal is disposed within a receiving space of the insulating body, and includes a fixing portion, a U-shape contacting portion, an elastic portion, and a leaning portion. The fixing portion is fixed within the receiving space. The U-shape contacting portion has a slot defining two U-shape elastic arms. The U-shape elastic arms protrude from an opening of a sidewall of the insulating body. The elastic portion connects between one end of the U-shape contacting portion and the fixing portion. The leaning portion connects with the other end of the U-shape contacting portion. A width of the leaning portion is larger than that of the opening, and the leaning portion leans against the sidewall near the opening. |
| US07871287B2 |
Branching device for an electric line
A branching device for at least one electric line exhibits branching contacts and a housing in which at least one electrically conducting wire terminal is accommodated in a holder. The device is characterized in that contact lips with cutting edges for cutting through the insulation of the wires of the electric line are provided on the wire terminals in that the wire terminals represent the branching contacts and in that a through-channel for the uninterrupted passage of a wire is provided in each wire terminal. |
| US07871286B2 |
Flat multi-conductor cable connector
A flat multi-conductor cable connector comprises a main body and a back plate. Arc-shaped cross-section flat-multi-conductor-cable holding grooves extending parallel to each other are formed in the main body and the back plate in a symmetrical manner. The opposing faces of a flat multi-conductor cable are held in the grooves of the main body and the back plate, so that the cable is sandwiched between the main body and the back plate for electric connection between intended conductors of the flat multi-conductor cable and a device mounted on an upper face of the main body. The number of grooves of either of the main body and the back plate is at least one or more greater than the number of poles of the flat multi-conductor cable. Protrusions are provided in middle portions of alternate grooves of the back plate except the two endmost grooves, and block the alternate groove. |
| US07871282B2 |
Aircraft power connector with differential engagement and operational retention forces
A new and improved aircraft power connector, for electrical connection to an aircraft electrical connector, has incorporated thereon a dual-position mechanism which can effectively alter the engagement force level defined between the electrical connector contact pins of the aircraft power connector and the aircraft electrical connector. When the mechanism is disposed at a first position, the force level is relatively low so as to easily permit connection and disconnection, whereas when the mechanism is disposed at a second position, the force level is relatively high so as to ensure the connection of the aircraft power connector to the aircraft electrical connector and thereby prevent the inadvertent disconnection of the aircraft power connector from the aircraft electrical connector. |
| US07871279B2 |
Sliding lockout key
Receptacles configured to securely mate with hazardous area plugs are provided. The receptacles include a housing, a locking plate, and a sliding lockout key. The sliding lockout key prevents the locking plate from rotating when the receptacle and plug are disconnected or when a standard plug is inserted into the receptacle. When the proper plug is inserted into the receptacle, the sliding key portion is depressed and allows rotation of the locking plate. Upon rotation, pins from the plug contact internal pins of the receptacle and make an electrical connection. |
| US07871267B2 |
Orthodontic apparatus and method
An orthodontic device includes a bracket having a body and the body includes external surfaces. An archwire passageway is formed in the body. An aperture extends from one of the external surfaces of the body to the passageway. A pawl is attached to the body and includes stop and cam surfaces which extend into the aperture. An extendable archwire includes an adjustment portion having a locking surface and a loop-spring therein and the adjustment portion is inserted into and through the passageway. The pawl and the locking surface form a ratchet. The cam surface of the pawl interengages the extendable archwire as the extendable archwire is extended through the bracket under the application of force to the extendable archwire. The stop surface of the pawl interengages the locking surface of the adjustment portion of the extendable archwire preventing retraction of the extendable archwire upon discontinuation of the application of force. |
| US07871259B2 |
Method and device for blow-molding containers
The invention relates to a method and a device for blow-moulding containers from preforms which are previously heated in the region of a heating section and consist of a thermoplastic material. The preforms are transferred to a blowing device following the heating thereof, in which they are shaped to form containers by the application of a blowing pressure inside blow moulds. Said blow moulds respectively consist of at least two blow mould segments. The preforms are transported together with the blow moulds at least along part of a peripheral path of a rotating blow wheel. A separating plane of the blow mould segments is positioned at least in an opened state of the blow station in a rotational direction of the blow wheel, facing forwards, with an angle of inclination in relation to the radial direction of the blow wheel. The blow station is positioned at least in two parts during a transfer process. |
| US07871257B2 |
Injection molding machine
An injection molding machine capable of accurately detecting a rotational force exerted on a screw by resin backflow to easily evaluate states of resin backflow and closure of a check valve. In a state where the screw is stopped axially and rotationally after metering is finished, a load exerted on the screw in the rotational direction is detected. This load is a rotational force exerted on the screw from resin remaining between flights of the screw (resistance torque component). During injection, a load T exerted on the screw in the direction of rotation is detected, and the resistance torque component is subtracted from the detected load T to obtain a backflow torque component generated by resin flowing back through the check valve. By simultaneously displaying waveforms of backflow torque components in a plurality of molding cycles to be overlapped, stability of closure of the check valve is readily evaluated. |
| US07871256B2 |
Cable guide system for a mold forming and extruding machine and a method of use
A cable guide system and method are disclosed for a mold forming and extruding machine. The machine has a pair of spaced apart vertical members. The cable guide system includes a support shaft secured to the pair of vertical members. The support shaft retains a first stop member, a tensioning device, a spool loaded with a flexible reinforcement cable, and a second stop member. The spool cooperates with the tensioning device to prevent the cable from prematurely unraveling. The cable guide system further includes a guide member located below and forward of the spool and in horizontal alignment with a plunger. The guide member is capable of changing the direction of the flexible reinforcement cable as it is unwound from the spool. The plunger is capable of extruding a moldable substance from the machine while allowing the flexible reinforcement cable to pass through an aperture formed therein. |
| US07871254B2 |
Magnetic bearing and coupling device
A follower shaft is rotatably supported coaxially with a driving shaft. An inner rotary permanent magnet having poles in a radial direction is fixed around an outer circumference of the end of the follower shaft. On the inner circumferential surface of a cylindrical coupling, an outer rotary permanent magnet is fixed such that opposite poles face each other between the inner rotary permanent magnet and the outer rotary permanent magnet. A fixed permanent magnet is fixed such that like poles face each other between the fixed permanent magnet and the inner rotary permanent magnet. Thus, rotation of the driving shaft is transmitted to the follower shaft without contact. |
| US07871253B2 |
Stator clamping device for eccentric screw pump
The invention relates to a clamping device which clamps the pump stator with the pump housing and an additional pump end part. The width of the clamping bars is at least 20% of the cross section of the pump stator in order to stabilise the clamping device and the simplify handling. All parts which are required to clamp the pump end part remain on the clamping bars. |
| US07871250B2 |
Chemical liquid supplying apparatus
A chemical liquid supplying apparatus can discharge chemical liquid with high accuracy and monitor a leakage of an incompressible medium from a region between a piston and a cylinder. A pump has a flexible tube for partitioning a pump chamber and a drive chamber, and the incompressible medium is supplied to the drive chamber by the piston reciprocating in a cylinder hole of the cylinder. A bellows cover is provided between the piston and the cylinder, and forms a seal chamber contiguous to a sliding face of the piston. A seal-chamber pressure sensor is attached to the cylinder so as to detect the pressure of the incompressible medium for sealing enclosed in the seal chamber, and a deterioration degree of a seal member is determined by detecting the pressure in the seal chamber. |
| US07871244B2 |
Ring seal for a turbine engine
A turbine engine ring seal for sealing gaps between turbine engine outer seal segments and turbine blade tips. The turbine engine ring segment may have an inner radial surface that defines a portion of a gap gas flow path where the inner radial surface may be formed of an abradable ceramic coating and includes a plurality of gas flow protrusions that are oriented transverse to the gap gas flow path. The gas flow protrusions may induce vortices in the gas flow in the gap gas flow path. Additionally, the gas flow protrusions may be series of peaks and depressions between two adjacent peaks, where the depressions have an approximate semicircular shape. The distance between two adjacent peaks may be equal or greater than a width of the depression and the height of a single peak may be six percent or greater than the distance between two adjacent peaks. |
| US07871240B2 |
Helical spring damper
A damped spring assembly includes a helical spring. The helical spring is movable along an axis and has a winding direction. A damper is movable along the axis and includes a helical shape. The damper is wound in a direction opposite the winding direction. The damper applies a radial load to the spring for damping movement of the spring along the axis as the spring vibrates. The damper has a very low axial spring rate and it contributes very little to the axial load provided by the spring. |
| US07871228B2 |
Device for stowing a road vehicle on a bearing plane so that it can be transported by another vehicle
The device (1) for stowing a vehicle when it is transported on a bearing plane (9) by one of its wheels or from an anchorage on the chassis is characterized in that it is constituted by the following means: a link (2) that has a coupling end (5) provided to engage with a tensioning and retaining mechanism (3), a tensioning end (6), and a sliding sheath (7) for support on a tyre, a mechanism for tensioning and retaining the link (2) that has a roll axis (10) of sufficient length to offer numerous transverse coiling positions of the strap, and a coupling and return assembly (4) passed through by the link (2). Said device therefore enables vehicles to be stowed in two ways: a) by coupling to the vehicle chassis and b) by stowing the vehicle by link (2) on its tyres. This invention relates to the transportation of vehicles on Lorries or railway trucks. |
| US07871226B2 |
Tool head for machine-tools with unbalance damping
The invention relates to a tool head for machine-tools comprising a base body (10) rotatable around an axis of rotation (13), a slider (14) which bears a cutting tool and is adjustable with respect to the base body (10) along an axis of displacement (16) oriented radially with respect to the rotation axis (13) with the aid of a drive mechanism and at least one balancing body (20) for damping the unbalance caused by the slider (14). The aim of said invention is to damp the unbalance and to reduce operating forces. For this purpose, at least two balancing body (20) whose center of gravity (28′, 28″) is offset on the side of the axis of displacement (16) are guidable and/or pivotable with respect to the slider and the base body at points remote from each other. |
| US07871224B2 |
Drill bit and reamer
A tool bit providing a combined drill bit and reamer is disclosed herein. The tool bit comprises an axial bit shaft including a bore end and a shank end. At least one helical land portion is provided on the bit shaft. The at least one helical land portion includes a cutting edge and a trailing edge. At least one reamer blade is provided on the helical land portion at the bore end of the bit shaft. The at least one reamer blade includes a substantially axial cutting edge. A tip arrangement is also included on the bore end of the bit shaft. The tip arrangement includes a center blade positioned between peripheral cutting blades. |
| US07871217B2 |
Pump systems for pump dispensers
A pump dispenser has a large ergonomic actuator designed to ergonomically deliver a composition to a substrate in the consumer's hand without the consumer having to pick up the pump dispenser. The ergonomic design allows the composition to be delivered in a proper aspect ratio to the substrate. The composition can be delivered in such a way that the composition is not aerosolized into the air or delivered to an unintended surface. The method of delivery can be made intuitive to the consumer by providing an actuator skirt that suggests the pumping mechanism or by providing a depiction of a hand or substrate over the pump dispenser. The pump dispenser is also useful for compositions or substrates that are not stable together. |
| US07871213B2 |
Ribbon cartridge including substrate cleaning apparatus
A printer configured to print on substrates that undesirably tend to collect debris before being printed, comprises a print station including a printhead, and a printer body configured to receive a replaceable cartridge that holds a printer consumable (such as a ribbon) and a substrate cleaning structure. The printer body is constructed and arranged so that when a cartridge is received in the body, the cleaning structure is operable to at least assist in removing debris from a substrate. The cleaning structure may comprise a tacky or sticky belt, web or roller. The cleaning structure may be configured to present a sticky surface to a primary cleaning member that engages and cleans the substrates. Alternatively, the cleaning structure may be configured to directly engage and clean the substrates. Preferably, the useful lives of the cleaning structure and the printer consumable are commensurate. Also disclosed is a replaceable cartridge that holds both a printer consumable and a substrate cleaning structure, the cartridge being configured so that when it is received in a printer it is operable to at least assist in removing debris from a substrate. Also disclosed are a method of cleaning an information-receiving surface of a substrate and a method of cleaning a substrate-cleaning member of a substrate printer. |
| US07871212B2 |
Label producing apparatus and label producing system
A label producing apparatus has a pressure roller drive shaft for feeding a cover film supplied from a cartridge storing a cover film capable of supply, acquires the arrangement information by accessing a database storing and holding arrangement information of the article to be arranged, and has a print head and a cutter for producing an auxiliary label by forming the acquired arrangement information for the cover film fed by the pressure roller drive shaft. |
| US07871211B2 |
Coating and developing system, coating and developing method and storage medium
A coating and developing system has a first processing block, a second processing block, and a transfer block interposed between the first and the second processing block. A first direct carrying means carries substrates from a carrier block to the transfer block. The transfer block distributes the substrates to respective film forming unit blocks of the first and the second processing block. Substrates on which films have been formed by the first and the second processing block are collected temporarily in the transfer block. A second direct carrying means carries the substrate collected in the transfer block from the transfer block to an interface block. Use of the first and the second processing block can improve the throughput of the coating and developing system. Since a carrying route from the carrier block to the first processing block, and a carrying route from the carrier block to the second processing block are the same, a carrying program is easy to create. |
| US07871210B2 |
Imaging device with alignment means for aligning shutter unit and imaging unit
An imaging device includes: an image pickup unit including an image pickup element and a control substrate mounted with the image pickup element; and a shutter unit including a blade for adjusting an amount of light reaching the image pickup element and a drive source for driving the blade. The shutter unit includes a terminal portion electrically connected to a coil of the drive source. The terminal portion extends outward from the shutter unit and is electrically connected to the control substrate. The terminal portion and the image pickup unit include alignment means for aligning these each other. The shutter unit is aligned with the image pickup unit via the terminal portion. |
| US07871209B1 |
Camera that warns lens cover still attached
A camera lens cover has a phosphorescent symbol on its inner surface so that if it is engaged with the camera to cover the lens, the symbol can be recognized by the camera and a warning generated that the lens cover remains over the lens. |
| US07871208B2 |
Lens barrel unit with lens barrier, and camera
A lens barrel unit with a lens barrier highly resistant to infiltration of external dirt, dust, and water has a pair of blade members each pivotally movable about a barrier joint hole. Engaging shafts connect to the blade members. The engaging shafts extend coaxially with the barrier joint holes about which the blade members pivotally move. A barrier driving ring applies a driving force to each engaging shafts to rotate it about the corresponding barrier joint hole. The lens barrel has a pair of through holes through which the engaging shafts are rotatably inserted. The engaging shafts are driven for rotation by the driving force transmitted to hook parts of the rotary shaft. The blade members are pivotally movable in the optical axis direction. The lens barrel also serves as a barrier base plate and is disposed between the blade members and the barrier driving ring. |
| US07871205B2 |
Base for underwater camera
A base, securely attachable to any type of watertight housing for an underwater camera without causing rotational displacement during its use for underwater photography, includes an elongated main body and a holder plate disposed on the main body which is transversely movable. The base has a protrusion for preventing transverse motion of a pedestal or a leg structure on the housing. A pair of set screws is provided in addition to a fixing screw that is passed through a fixing hole through the base main body to fasten the base to the camera housing. The base main body has a fixing hole for the fixing screw and a pair of elongated holes for passing the set screws so as to be transversely movable. The holder plate has an elongated hole for passing the fixing screw so as to be transversely movable and screw holes for engaging the set screws. |
| US07871204B2 |
Lens barrel and mobile information terminal device
Disclosed is a lens barrel capable of placing at least a part of multiple lens groups in a retraction status in which the part of the multiple lens groups are accommodated in the lens barrel, and at least a part of the multiple lens groups in a photographing status in which the part of the multiple lens groups are moved closer to an object. The distance between a first lens group (11) located closest to the object and a second lens group (12) located second closest to the object changes in the optical axis direction. A spring mechanism (30) having a compression spring function and a torsion coil spring function in combination is arranged between the first lens group (11) and the second lens group (12). This spring mechanism biases (30) at least the second lens group (12) in the optical axis direction and in a rotational direction in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. |
| US07871200B2 |
Aerostatic bearing spindle system using unidirectional porous metal
Provided is an aerostatic bearing spindle system using a unidirectional porous metal. The aerostatic bearing spindle system using a unidirectional porous metal may be used to serve as bearings in a region is in contact with the unidirectional porous metals when the unidirectional porous metals are rotated at a high speed, the unidirectional porous metals being manufactured with high porosity and directionality using the metallurgical method. |
| US07871197B2 |
Zero reset device for two time counters
Timepiece device for simultaneously resetting to zero two time counters, particularly for a chronograph mechanism, each of the two time counters pivoting about an arbour secured to a cam (6b, 8b), the simultaneous zero reset device (1) including a lever (4) with two hammers (6, 8), which are applied against the respective cams (6b, 8b) when the two time counters are reset to zero, at least one pin (10, 12) used to guide the lever (4) with two hammers (6, 8) being secured to said lever (4) and moving in a shaped aperture (24, 26) made in a bridge (28), characterized in that a ring (16a, 16b, 16c) is mounted to rotate freely about the pin (10, 12) and is inserted between said pin (10, 12) and the shaped aperture (24, 26) in which said pin moves. |
| US07871195B2 |
Mixing device configured to blend food
A mixing device configured to blend food. The mixing device includes a base enclosing a motor. A jar is removably mounted to the base for containing food. A collar is removably mounted between the base and the jar. A dispensing spout is removably mounted to the collar. Further, a splash guard is removably mounted to the base. |
| US07871193B2 |
Mixer having a centrally disposed helical or anchor agitator and eccentrically disposed screw or blade agitator
A mixer having improved axial and radial mixing which retains good mixing time even during large viscosity changes, comprising a housing with at least one helical or anchor agitator located centrally in the housing in combination with at least one eccentrically arranged screw or blade agitator, preferably in mutual engagement, the combination of a helical agitator and a screw agitator enabling a much shorter mixing time as compared to a mixer having only a helical agitator without a screw agitator. |
| US07871192B2 |
LED night light has projection or image feature
An LED night light for night time or dark area use, such as a plug-in wall outlet night light or direct current (DC) operated night light, includes projection or image features to project or present an image, message, data, logo, or time on a ceiling, walls, floor, or other desired surface, or an optics element surface. The optics means may include an optics-lens, slide, convex lens, concave lens, openings, cut-outs, film, grating, or holographic element to create an image at a desired location. The night light may have an adjustable angle or distance between light source and optics-means, as well as other adjustable position, location, or orientation features. |
| US07871190B2 |
Headlight comprising a fixed attached support element on which a reflector is pivotally mounted
A motor vehicle headlight that is able to emit a light beam on a roughly longitudinal axis and that comprises a housing that has a rear bottom and inside which there are arranged; at least one light source that is mounted fixedly in the housing; and at least one reflector that is mounted so as to pivot about a transverse axis with respect to the housing; wherein the headlight comprises an attached intermediate support element that is fixed inside the housing and on which the reflector is pivotally mounted. |
| US07871186B2 |
Pole vibration damping apparatus
A highway lighting apparatus includes a lighting fixture, and a vibration damper. The vibration damper includes a housing having a ball chamber, the chamber being of square shape. One or two vibration damping balls are mounted in the chamber for independent free rolling movement therein. If two balls are used, the ball diameter is shorter than one-half of each of the four chamber sides. If the damper is used on a pole having a side-mounted light fixture, the housing would include a downwardly open socket receiving the top end of the pole, with a center axis of the pole coinciding with respective center axes of the chamber and the socket. In the case where the damper is used on a pole having a top-mounted light fixture, the damper would be mounted below the light fixture on a side of the pole. |
| US07871184B2 |
Heat dissipating structure and lamp having the same
A heat dissipating structure includes a cover. The cover includes an inner heat dissipating body and an outer heat dissipating body. The inner heat dissipating body includes a cylinder and a plurality of first fins extending from an outer surface of the cylinder. The outer heat dissipating body includes a ring portion encircling a part of the inner heat dissipating body and a plurality of second fins extending from one side of the ring portion. In this way, more heat dissipating fins and larger heat dissipating surface area can be formed to enhance heat conduction and dissipation effect when restricted by the size of cover. A lamp with this heat dissipating structure is also provided. A service life of the LED in the lamp can be greatly prolonged. |
| US07871182B2 |
Reflective light bulb cover for recessed lighting
A light bulb cover for use with a recessed lighting fixture consisting of a rigid glass envelope having the outer shape of a flood light and mounting hardware for securing the glass envelope to a light bulb. |
| US07871178B1 |
LED products: flashing LED display
An eye grabber flashing LED store display adaptable to a standard store display peg is a flashing LED device to be used in stores to draw attention to the products the display is intended for. It uses an LED or LEDs, an electronic circuit, and an energy source such as batteries or solar panels or both. The invention is housed or secured by paper, polymer, composite, metal or other material and may optionally double as a sign displaying any means of graphics. The invention is adaptable to many store display methods including the standard peg display for carded products. The LED is preferably positioned either directly on the housing or at the tip of the peg the products hang on where it can be easily seen by anyone within the perimeter. |
| US07871174B2 |
Headband for diagnostic instruments comprising light source and accumulator module
A head band for diagnostic instruments comprising a light source and a battery has, at its back support part (12), a flat housing (21) for adjusting and fixing the head band length by means of a rotary knob (22). An accumulator module (31) optimized with regard to volume, weight and weight distribution can be mounted and detached by means of bayonet-type grooves (25) at the housing (21) and pins (33) at the accumulator module (31), and can be fixed by means of a resilient spring (26) at the housing (21) and a recess (34) in the accumulator module (31) without impairing the function of the rotary knob (22). |
| US07871173B2 |
Multi-colored lighting device
A lighting device. The lighting device includes a base portion, a diffuser portion having a wall defining an inner cavity, wherein the wall includes a plurality of colors, the plurality of colors defining a color pattern, and a light source for illuminating the diffuser portion. |
| US07871171B2 |
Focusing-device for the radiation from a light source
A focusing-device for the radiation from a light source (2) is provided with a collector mirror (1, 1′) which is arranged in a mount (24) and collects the light, in virtual or real terms, from the light source (2) at the second focus (200). The collector mirror (1, 1′) is displaceably connected to the mount (24) via a bearing in such a way that its optical properties remain at least approximately the same even in the event of temperature changes. |
| US07871170B2 |
Protective visor for marine electronics
A visor shield for shielding a marine electronic device from sunlight, weather and spray includes a visor body having a base portion for attachment to an electronic device, and a protruding portion extending from the base portion and sized to extend out from the electronic device to shade a front face of the electronic device. The base portion and the protruding portion can be formed of a unitary plastic part. The base portion can comprise a wall continuous with the protruding portion. A compressible seal can be attached to a surface of the wall and arranged to be compressed against a housing of the electronic device when the base portion is attached to the electronic device. |
| US07871168B2 |
Illumination system for dual-lamp projector
An illumination system includes a first light source, a second light source, a light-uniforming component and a color wheel. The first light source is disposed at a side of the color wheel and provides a first light beam, and the second light source is disposed at another side of the color wheel and provides a second light beam. The light-uniforming component has a light incidence end and a light emitting end opposite to the light incidence end, and the first light source and the second light source are disposed beside the light incidence end. The color wheel includes a plurality of filter units with different colors, each includes a transmissive portion and a reflective portion for respectively making a part of the first light beam pass through to reach the light incidence end, and reflecting a part of the second light beam to reach the light incidence end. |
| US07871167B2 |
Projection image display apparatus
A projection image display apparatus includes a lens unit into which light modulated in accordance with an image signal is entered, a first reflecting mirror having a reflecting surface into which the light passing through the lens unit is entered and by which the light is converged, a second reflecting mirror for reflecting the light reflected by the first reflecting mirror, and a mirror actuator for changing a tilt angle of the second reflecting mirror with respect to the light. |
| US07871165B2 |
Stereo projection apparatus using polarized solid state light sources
A digital image projector includes a first polarized light source; a second polarized light source that is orthogonal in polarization state to the first polarized light source; a polarization beamsplitter disposed to direct light of either the first or second polarization along a common illumination axis; a MEMS spatial light modulator; and projection optics for delivering imaging light from the MEMS spatial light modulator. |
| US07871162B2 |
Diffractive multifocal lens having radially varying light distribution
The present invention provides improved ophthalmic lenses and methods for their design and use. Monofocal and multifocal diffractive ophthalmic lenses having reduced light scatter and/or improved light energy distribution properties are provided. These properties are provided by the diffractive profiles of the invention, often having subtlely shaped echelettes with appropriately curving profiles. Light scatter may be generated by the sharp corners associated with vertical steps between adjacent conventional diffractive echelettes. Smooth diffractive profiles of the invention reduce light scatter. Light energy directed towards non-viewing diffractive orders may have a unwanted effects on vision quality. Diffractive profiles of the invention may limit the light energy in certain, selected orders, thereby improving viewing quality and mitigating unwanted effects such as dysphotopsia. Diffractive profiles of the invention can also vary the light energy distributed between individual echelettes, providing additional advantages in various viewing situations. |
| US07871160B2 |
Ink circulation apparatus and inkjet printer including the same
An inkjet printer includes an ink tank to store ink, an auxiliary tank having an ink chamber through which the ink circulates with the ink tank, a head having nozzles which communicate with the ink chamber and eject ink therethrough, a filter which is positioned inside the auxiliary tank and divides the ink chamber into a first ink chamber which communicates with the ink tank and a second ink chamber which communicates with the nozzles, a circulation pipe which connects the ink tank with the first ink chamber and forms a circulation flow route, and a pump which is positioned on the circulation flow route to apply a negative pressure to the auxiliary tank. |
| US07871159B2 |
Ink loader with adjustable insertion openings
A system for use with a solid ink delivery system of a phase change ink imaging device comprises an insertion opening configured to enable insertion of ink sticks therethrough and into the ink delivery system. An insertion key is movably supported adjacent the insertion opening such that a portion of the insertion key protrudes into the insertion opening. The portion of the insertion key has a shape that is complementary to a key contour on a first ink stick and a second ink stick. A key positioner is operably coupled to the insertion key to move the insertion key between at least two different predetermined positions on the perimeter of the insertion opening. The predetermined positions include a first position that is complementary to a position of the key contour of the first ink stick and a second position that is complementary to a position of the key contour of the second ink stick. |
| US07871158B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method for controlling the image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a main tank, a sub tank, a negative pressure state indicator, a position detector, and a sub tank position indicator. The recording head discharges recording liquid. The main tank supplies the recording liquid. The sub tank is supplied with the recording liquid from the main tank and supplies the recording liquid to the recording head. The negative pressure state indicator is displaced according to a negative pressure state of the sub tank to indicate the negative pressure state of the sub tank. The position detector detects the displacement of the negative pressure state indicator as position information. The sub tank position indicator is detected by the position detector and indicates a position of the sub tank without being displaced according to the negative pressure state of the sub tank. |
| US07871157B2 |
Liquid-jet apparatus liquid introducing needle with air intake suppression
Provided is a liquid-jet apparatus which can suppress liquid consumption by preventing air that can turn into bubbles from entering a liquid introducing columnar body in replacement of a liquid storage member and thus reducing a frequency of execution of a cleaning operation for discharging the bubbles inside a liquid passage. An ink introducing needle in a printer includes: a needle-like protrusion having a tapered portion whose diameter is gradually increased toward its base from its tip; and a straight portion formed linearly and continuously from the tapered portion. In the tapered portion of the needle-like protrusion in the ink introducing needle, groove portions extending to an edge portion of the tapered portion are provided. |
| US07871154B2 |
Piezoelectric printhead
Contemplated printheads include a piezoelectric material in which a channel is formed across the piezoelectric material to thereby create at least part of the nozzle through which ink is expelled from the inside of the printhead to the outside. Contemplated nozzles may be configured as cylindrical elements or ring-shape elements. Consequently, application of a voltage across the piezoelectric channel may result in constriction of the cylindrical element or convex/concave deformation of the ring-shape element. Most preferably, the piezoelectric material, conductive traces, and supporting structures are applied from a liquid phase to a carrier, and shaped using photolithographic methods. |
| US07871153B2 |
Liquid jet head, method of manufacturing liquid jet head, and image forming apparatus
A disclosed liquid jet head includes a nozzle plate having plural nozzles for jetting liquid therefrom, plural flowpaths formed in communication with the plural nozzles, a vibration plate member having a flexible part that forms at least one of the walls of each flowpath, and plural piezoelectric element units having a piezoelectric element member fixed to a base member. Each piezoelectric element unit has plural piezoelectric elements divided by a plurality of slits formed in the piezoelectric element member. The plural piezoelectric element units are arranged in a straight line at predetermined intervals along the plural nozzles. |
| US07871145B1 |
Printing method for reducing stitch error between overlapping jetting modules
A method of printing is described for a page-width printer including a line head having a plurality of jetting modules that are staggered in a page-width direction. In a set up procedure, a test pattern is printed using the nozzles of adjacent jetting modules, and the pattern is analyzed to detect a stitch error in the overlap regions. The results of this analysis is used to calculate a set of correction values to be applied to print data subsequently sent to nozzles of the adjacent jetting modules to make a correction for the stitch error. During a subsequent production run, the print data sent to the nozzles of the adjacent jetting modules is analyzed to sense an image content attribute, such as gray or density level, of the print data. These results of the analysis of the print data is then used to calculate a dynamic adjustment that is used to adjust the set of correction values calculated during the set up procedure. The line head is then used to print the corrected print data by applying the set of adjusted correction values to production print data subsequently sent to the jetting modules. |
| US07871142B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling ink jet pens
A control circuit is provided for controlling ink jet pens having different numbers of internal select lines using external select lines that extend between the control circuit and the ink jet pens and that are shared by the ink jet pens. In one embodiment, the control circuit includes a register that store values, the values indicating whether a pulse is or is not to be sent as to each of the external select lines, a first control module configured to control select pulses sent on a first external select line after consultation of the register, and a second control module configured to control select pulses sent on a second external select line after consultation of the register. |
| US07871138B2 |
Vertical lift door assembly for an appliance
An appliance includes a chassis defining a cavity and having an opening for accessing the cavity and a door assembly joined to the chassis. The door assembly includes a door for closing access to the opening, and the door assembly further includes a door lift sub-assembly having a horizontal slide and a vertical slide. The door is coupled to one of the horizontal slide and the vertical slide. The horizontal slide is moveable between a recessed position and an extended position and is configured to move the door in a substantially horizontal direction. The vertical slide is moveable between a closed position and an open position and is configured to move the door in a substantially vertical direction. |
| US07871137B2 |
Switchgear enclosure door seal
A seal for a switchgear enclosure is described. The switchgear enclosure includes a case having an opening defined by a face frame the face frame having an inner frame surface along a face frame hinge side and a door for covering the opening. The door includes a door inner surface and a door hinge side pivotally attached to the face frame along the face frame hinge side. The seal includes a sealing member disposed along the door hinge side of the door adjacent the door inner surface and configured for movement substantially perpendicular to the door hinge side between a disengaged position and an engaged position. The sealing member comprises a flange for overlapping at least a portion of an inner surface of the face frame along the face frame hinge side when in the engaged position. |
| US07871135B2 |
Vehicle motion control apparatus
This apparatus is applied to a vehicle brake apparatus provided with a hydraulic booster operated by utilizing an accumulator hydraulic pressure that is adjusted to a predetermined high pressure (not less than a lower limit value) by a drive control of a hydraulic pump. This apparatus executes an automatic pressurization control by controlling plural solenoid valves with the use of the accumulator hydraulic pressure. The increasing slope of the brake hydraulic pressure during the automatic pressurization control is determined on the basis of the vehicle motion state. The increasing slope is restricted to be not more than a predetermined restriction value, in the case where the accumulator hydraulic pressure at the time of starting the automatic pressurization control is less than “a reference hydraulic pressure that is greater than a minimum value of the accumulator hydraulic pressure necessary for assisting the brake operation by the hydraulic booster and smaller than the lower limit value”. |
| US07871133B2 |
Locking fixture
In one aspect of the invention, a degradation assembly comprises an impact tip brazed to a carbide bolster. A stem protrudes from the bolster, being adapted to be retained within a bore connected to a driving mechanism. A locking fixture is disposed within the bore and locking the stem to a wall of the bore. |
| US07871132B2 |
Dynamic cinching latch plate
A seat belt system comprises a seat belt, a tongue, and a buckle. The seat belt includes webbing with a lap portion and a shoulder portion. The buckle receives and latches the tongue. The tongue includes a slot to receive the webbing. The webbing slides within the slot to connect the webbing to the tongue. The tongue further includes a cinching mechanism to cinch the webbing in the slot. The system also includes a cinching control module that initiates the cinching mechanism to cinch the webbing in the slot when a load of about 3.0 kN or more is exerted on the seat belt. The cinching mechanism prevents translation of the seat belt from the lap portion to the shoulder portion. |
| US07871123B2 |
A-pillar joint for automotive vehicles
An A-pillar joint configuration where the front end frame rail members are welded to the A-pillar eliminates the seals at the interface between the front end frame rail members and the A-pillars. The front flange of the A-pillar is also eliminated in the hydroformed configuration while the hydroformed frame rail members are formed with rearward ends that mate with the shape of A-pillar to positioned flattened ends against the exterior vertical side of the A-pillars for welding thereto. The resulting joint configuration eliminates the openings in the A-pillar for the passage of the front end frame rail members requiring seals to insulate the passenger compartment from engine and road noises. |
| US07871117B2 |
Seat deck assembly or compartment cover for a materials handling vehicle
A materials handling vehicle is provided. The vehicle comprises a main body, a seat deck assembly including an operator seat, and structure for movably mounting the seat deck assembly to the main body. The seat deck assembly moves relative to the main body along a varying radius path. |
| US07871115B2 |
Vehicle entertainment system with motorized hinge
A video system for selective mounting within a cradle secured to a ceiling of an automobile includes a video housing in which a video monitor and a video source are mounted and a base secured to the video housing in a manner that permits rotation of the video housing. The video housing includes a mounting bracket and the base includes a mounting bracket for use in pivotally coupling the video housing to the base. A motorized first hinge connects the base to the video housing for facilitating pivotal movement between the video housing and the base between a use position and a storage position, the first hinge includes a pivot pin having a first end and a second end and extends between, and is coupled to, the mounting bracket of the video housing and the mounting bracket of the base, the second end of the pivot pin is fixedly coupled to the mounting bracket of the base. The drive motor assembly is mounted to the video housing. The drive motor assembly includes a drive shaft having a distal end secured to a distal tip at the first end of the pivot pin permitting rotational motion to be imparted by the drive motor assembly to be transfer to the video housing. |
| US07871112B2 |
Reversible double deadbolt mortise latch
A reversible, double deadbolt latch bolt assembly for securing and locking a door is provided according to the invention. It comprises a lock body to which is slidably mounted a live bolt for movement between an extended position and a retracted position, the live bolt being operated by an actuator, such as a handle cam rotated by means of a door knob or lever-operated spindle. Also slidably mounted to the lock body are at least two cam-operated deadbolts on opposite sides of the live bolt for movement between a locked position and an unlocked position. These cams may optionally be linked to each other within the lock body, so that operation of one of the cams by, e.g., a key cylinder or thumb turn causes simultaneous operation of the other cam. Because of the symmetrical design and structure of the latch bolt assembly of the present invention, it enables a door into which it is inserted to be installed for both left-hand and right-hand hinged applications by mere flipping of the door by the installer without the need to remove the latch bolt assembly in order to further remove and invert the live bolt contained therein, as is customary within the industry. Alternatively, a bi-directional actuator for the live bolt can be used in conjunction with a single deadbolt, such combination still permitting the door to be flipped to accommodate both left-hand and right-hand hinged applications of a door during installation. |
| US07871111B2 |
Method and apparatus for repairing a flawed welded joint in a core spray piping system
A clamp is disclosed which structurally replaces a cracked P3a weld in the piping of a BWRi's core spray line. The clamp includes upper and lower clamp bodies that are joined together by clamp bolts held by keeper nuts with crimp collars engaging the bolts. Upper and lower curved jaws of the clamp bodies contact the piping at a plurality of contact points to form gaps between the piping and curved jaws to thereby ensure that the clamp engages the piping and seals the cracked weld. Conically shaped ends of stop bolts inserted into the upper curved jaw seat into conical holes machined in the core spray line piping to prevent the piping cracked weld from separating after the clamp is installed. |
| US07871106B2 |
Method and apparatus related to transportability of a vehicle
A vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle may include a plurality of attachment devices to couple the vehicle to a harness. The vehicle may include a moveable roll cage which is moveable from a raised position to a lowered position. |
| US07871103B2 |
Interior trim article-mounting structure of vehicle equipped with head protection airbag apparatus
A bezel (44) of a coat hook-equipped roof side register (42) is fixed by fastening, at the coat hook main body portion (50) side, to a mount bracket (76) on a body side by a mount bolt (72), and is elastically engaged, at a louver (84) side, with a mount bracket (108) on the body side by an engaging member (106). Furthermore, a first end portion (110A) of a strap (110) is fixed to the bezel (44) by a screw (114). A second end portion (110B) of the strap (110) is fastened together with the coat hook main body portion (50) to the mount bracket (76) by the mount bolt (72). |
| US07871097B2 |
Pivoting hitch assembly
A hitch assembly that comprises a coupling tongue with a first end and a second end, a substantially U-shaped clevis that is substantially flat in cross section, pivotally coupled to the second end of the coupling tongue by a hitch pin, and an opening formed by the coupling tongue and the clevis, sized to receive a towing member. The hitch assembly is particularly suited for connecting a tow strap or belt to a commercially available tubular trailer hitch receiver, for use in towing operations. |
| US07871096B2 |
Displaceable fifth-wheel hitch assembly
A method and apparatus for providing a displaceable fifth-wheel hitch assembly configured to be mounted in a bed of a truck. The displaceable fifth-wheel hitch assembly includes a platform track, a displaceable platform, and an adjustment assembly. The platform track defines a track space therein and is configured to be mounted in the bed of the truck. The displaceable platform is configured to be positioned in the track space and includes a fifth-wheel hitch coupled thereto. The adjustment assembly includes a means for displacing the platform and a means for locking the platform in place with respect to the platform track and truck. The means for locking the platform includes a locking pin that is spring biased into holes in the platform track. The means for displacing the platform includes an adjustment rod and bracket to displace the locking pin from its locking position. |
| US07871091B2 |
Steering damper apparatus and damper apparatus
A steering damper apparatus includes: a body frame; wheels suspended by the body frame; a steering shaft rotatably supported by the body frame, one end of the steering shaft being connected to the wheel side; a handlebar connected to the other end of the steering shaft for rotating the steering shaft to steer the wheels; and a damper for damping the rotation of the steering shaft. The rotation of the steering shaft is damped by the damper only when there is an input from either the handlebar or the wheels. |
| US07871088B2 |
Cargo cart for wheeled mobility device
Cargo cart 10 can be used independently or attached to a conventional walker 101. Cooperative attach means 40 connect cart 10 in front of walker 101 through roll leader 44, which propels and steers cart 10 in response to user's control of walker 101. In attached mode, rear wheels 34 of cart 10 are suspended above travel surface to allow cart 10 to be steered easily and predictably by roll leader 44. Cart 10 is attached and detached with one hand without tools. Handle 50 and optional cargo basket 29 fold flat for storage. Slots in peripheral rails 24 retain cargo that is wider than cargo support 28. |
| US07871078B2 |
Piston ring and method for the production thereof
A piston ring includes a running surface having a running surface profile, and an upper flank surface and a lower flank surface. At least the running surface is provided with a vapor-deposited layer such that part of the running surface is provided with a removable cover enabling an essentially sharp-edged running edge to be formed between the running surface and at least one of the flank surfaces, once the vapor-deposited layer has been produced and the cover has been removed. |
| US07871077B2 |
System and method for playing a dice game approximating a card game
In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to poker dice and methods of gameplay using poker dice that (i) allows game participants to roll all of the common poker hands (high card, pair, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, royal flush), in an efficient manner, (ii) enhances the gameplay of the poker-related dice game by using six-sided dice, and (iii) enhances the gameplay of the poker-related dice game by allowing wildcards to be incorporated into the poker dice. |
| US07871076B2 |
Sheet conveying apparatus and image forming apparatus
A sheet conveying apparatus having an excellent performance in jam recovery, and an image forming apparatus provided therewith is provided. The sheet conveying apparatus which may switch the conveying direction of a sheet has: a discharge switching member 60; and a moving unit including a rod 64 and a solenoid 63, which engage with the discharge switching member 60 and moves the discharge switching member 60, in order to switch the conveying direction of a sheet. The discharge switching member 60 and the moving unit may disengage from each other. |
| US07871073B2 |
Sheet conveying device, and image forming apparatus including same
A sheet conveying device, that can be included in an image forming apparatus, includes a drive source, a drive roller driven by the drive source, a driven roller to press against the drive roller and rotate with the drive roller, an angular velocity detector to detect an angular velocity of the drive roller, a timing estimation unit to estimate a timing when a sheet-type recording medium enters between the drive roller and the driven roller, and a controller to control the drive source based on detection results obtained by the angular velocity detector. The controller includes a feedback control unit to perform feedback control based on data obtained by the angular velocity detector, and a feed-forward control unit to perform feed-forward control based on data obtained by the timing estimation unit. |
| US07871065B2 |
Sheet feeding device and post-processing apparatus and image forming system comprising the same
A sheet folding device has a releasable clutch between a roll driving device and a pair of folding rolls for folding a sheet bunch so that when a folding blade inserts the sheet bunch to a nip position on the pair of folding rolls, the first and second folding rolls rotate following the inserted sheets. The sheet folding device includes a guide for holding the sheet bunch at a predetermined fold position. The first and second folding rolls arranged at the fold position are in pressure contact with each other. The folding blade inserts the sheet bunch supported on the guide to the nip position on the first and second folding rolls. The roll driving device rotationally drives the first and second folding rolls. The first and second folding rolls and the roll driving device are coupled together via the releasable clutch. |
| US07871064B2 |
Repair fixture
A repair fixture for supporting large cylindrical objects such as a generator rotor, to facilitate field maintenance operations. The fixture has two spaced Vee-blocks that are supported by and moved within vertical channels formed within peripheral stanchions. Clevises are rotatably connected at one end to both lateral sides of the Vee-block and at the other end to a hydraulic piston that is employed to raise and lower the Vee-blocks in unison to accommodate various maintenance requirements. |
| US07871061B1 |
Dual spreading link for gate valves
The invention is a dual spreading link mechanism for application with gate valves. The invention also extends to gate valves employing the inventive dual spreading link. In one application to pendulum gate valves, a valve carriage assembly moves in a pendular manner within a gate valve housing and operates to seal off the flow channel of the housing. The valve carriage assembly is comprised of a valve plate having a valve seat face for engaging with the housing in a sealing manner, a tensioning member which along with a plurality of clip springs provides a contracting force to the valve carriage assembly, and an actuating member which moves laterally within the carriage assembly to alternately spread and contract the assembly. The actuating member is stacked between the valve plate and tensioning member and the actuating member is coupled to the valve plate and tensioning member by a plurality of oblong rotatable links which comprise the dual spreading link. |
| US07871050B2 |
Adjustable tray assembly for holding beverage containers and other items
An adjustable tray assembly for engaging a cupholder in a vehicle comprises a tray having a plurality of cuts to form an aperture; and a frustum adapter having a downwardly tapered cylindrical shape, wherein the frustum adapter defines a first cavity for removably receiving an inserted beverage container, and wherein the adapter is removably inserted in the aperture and in the cupholder to bind the tray in place, and wherein the tray is substantially perpendicular with respect to a central axis of the cupholder and is capable of supporting various items, including food items. |
| US07871049B2 |
Corner climber
The present invention is a novel device for climbing inside corners, outside corners, and a variety of surfaces. The technology presented herein relies on high friction materials, suction devices, adhesive materials, pneumatic devices, etc. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention are designed to clamp onto inside or outside corners such that the devices weight, and an optional load, can be supported. Further embodiments allow the device to climb up, down, and across corners. Moreover, embodiments that can scale flat, rough, or jagged surfaces are also disclosed. |
| US07871044B2 |
Method for vertical takeoff from and landing on inclined surfaces
Takeoff and landing modes are added to a flight control system of a Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV). The takeoff and landing modes use data available to the flight control system and the VTOL UAV's existing control surfaces and throttle control. As a result, the VTOL UAV can takeoff from and land on inclined surfaces without the use of landing gear mechanisms designed to level the UAV on the inclined surfaces. |
| US07871042B2 |
Hydrogen fueled blended wing body ring tank
A toroidal shaped or ring fuel tank located within the loft line of a blended wing body aircraft is disclosed. The ring tank may be used in an aircraft to store liquid hydrogen fuel with a reduced tank weight. The ring tank may be continuous with no tank end domes typically found on cylindrical pressure tanks, reducing tank weight for a given fuel volume. The ring tank configuration avoids increasing the aerodynamic shape of the aircraft and does not encroach on usable passenger or payload areas of the aircraft. In one example the ring tank may be configured in a nose down position such that the forward portion of the ring tank is outside the pressurized cabin area. |
| US07871041B2 |
System, method, and apparatus for leading edge structures and direct manufacturing thereof
Leading edge structures for high performance aircraft and the direct manufacture thereof are disclosed. Direct manufacturing technology is used to deposit leading edge structures directly from a digital model to form near-net shape products. This technique permits a wider range of materials to be utilized, such as casting alloys capable of the highest temperature usage that are not available in billet or sheet form. Refractory metals or high temperature ceramics also may be used to form the entire lead edge structure, or just a replaceable tip of the leading edge structure. |
| US07871036B2 |
Apparatus for generation and use of lift gas
A balloon launch unit produces lift gas to enable balloon launch or to allow the prolongation of balloon flight. A method of using the balloon launch unit can include reforming a fuel source by reaction with water to generate hydrogen-rich lift gas mixtures, and injecting the lift gas into a balloon. A reforming operation can include causing the combustion of a combustible material with ambient oxygen for the release of energy; and heating a reforming combination of reaction fuel and water with the energy released from the combustion of the combustible material, to a temperature above that required for the reforming reaction wherein the fuel and water sources are reformed into lift gas. The amount of the combustible material combusted is sufficient to result in the release of enough energy to heat an amount of the reforming reaction fuel and water sources to the temperature above that required for the reforming reaction. |
| US07871032B2 |
Helicopter
A helicopter that adopts a two-stroke internal combustion engine equipped with a centrifugal force-resistant propeller fan or fan turbine, or that can rotate clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CCW) during driving to directly propel the rotors and realize flight using a rotor wing that reconfigures into a hovering state. The helicopter reduces emissions via improved ventilation and a scavenging air system, reduces aerodynamic loss, reduces the access fee, and possesses the functions of a rotor wing that reconfigures into a hovering state. |
| US07871028B2 |
Chopper unit for baled vegetable material such as straw
A chopper unit for chopping bales of vegetation is particularly well suited for chopping large square bales. The chopper unit mounts on the arms of a transporter unit such as a skid loader. The unit includes a housing having a deck with a window therein. During normal operation, the deck faces upwardly. The housing includes a chopping chamber having the window in the deck at one end thereof, and extending to an opening or window in a side wall of the housing. A bale hopper mounted on the deck can translate along a predetermined path. The bale hopper extends generally upwardly when the unit is in an operating position, and surrounds the window in the deck. A vegetation cutter mounted within the chopping chamber partially projects through the deck's window and into the hopper. Rotating the cutter chops the vegetation into small pieces. The hopper translation allows the cutter to access the entire bottom surface of the bale. A fan preferably forces air into the chopping chamber adjacent to the cutter to sweep chopped bale particles to an opening in a wall of the housing. |
| US07871026B2 |
Method of chopping unwound items
A method and apparatus for separating long, unwound items like fiber, fiber strands, yarn, etc. into short lengths is disclosed. The apparatus has a backup roll, a blade roll that uses novel dummy blade slot fillers between each pair of chopping blades on the blade roll to eliminate or substantially reduce vibration normally encountered when making longer chopped lengths of chopped product. |
| US07871024B2 |
Manure spreader with reverse flighting
A manure spreader includes a box for containing manure. The manure spreader box includes a bottom wall, a front wall, two side walls, and a manure discharge opening. The manure spreader also includes a wheeled frame supporting the box, and a vertical beater assembly for engaging and expelling manure. The vertical beater assembly includes a first vertical beater rotatable about a first axis and includes a shaft having a first flighting forming a left-handed helix, and a second flighting forming a right-handed helix. The manure spreader also includes a manure transfer mechanism for moving manure contained in the box to the manure discharge opening for engagement with the vertical beater assembly. |
| US07871022B1 |
Positionable mister assembly
A positionable mister assembly comprises at least one nozzle structured to disperse an amount of fluid delivered from a fluid supply in the form of a mist. The positionable mister assembly includes a primary positioning portion comprising a conduit member and being structured to interconnect to a fluid supply. A secondary positioning portion is disposed in a fluid communicating relation with the primary positioning portion wherein the secondary positioning portion includes a mister supply member to which the at least one nozzle is mounted. The positionable mister assembly also includes a support portion structured to support at least the primary positioning portion in a plurality of operative orientations. In at least one embodiment the primary positioning portion, secondary positioning portion, and support portion of the positionable mister assembly are structured to be selectively interconnected to one another, allowing for a variety of configurations of the positionable mister assembly. |
| US07871021B2 |
Injection nozzle
The invention relates to a fuel injection valve for internal combustion engines, comprising a valve body (1), with a drilling (3) embodied therein and defined at the combustion chamber end thereof by a conical valve seat (18) from which at least one injection opening (20) leads. A hollow valve needle (8) is arranged in the drilling (3) such as to be displaced longitudinally, comprising a valve sealing surface (35) at the end thereof facing the valve seat (18). A first sealing region (31; 34) and a second sealing region (32; 46; 48) are embodied on the valve sealing surface (35), whereby, on contact of the hollow valve needle (8) on the valve seat (18), the first sealing region (31; 34) provides a seal upstream of the at least one injection opening (20) and the second sealing region (32; 46; 48) downstream thereof. |
| US07871017B2 |
Awning comprising an integrated spraying installation
Awning of the type that is to be mounted on or in a facade or a wall of a building or on a vehicle, comprising a frame and sunshade means in the form of a screen which, in mounted condition, is movable with respect to the facade or wall. With the frame a spraying installation is integrated for dispersing a spray from the frame. The spraying installation comprises at least one nozzle mounted in the frame for dispersing the spray mainly under the screen. Furthermore, impeller means may be provided for effecting an improved dispersion of the spray. |
| US07871012B2 |
Smart card adaptor
A portable adaptor for using a smart card of a first configuration with a smart card reader of a second configuration. For instance, the adaptor may enable use of a contactless smart card with a contact smart card reader, or vice versa. The adaptor is provided with a casing that is configured to engage a contact smart card or a contactless smart card, and where intended for use with a contact smart card reader is provided with an exterior portion that physically cooperates via a contact pad with a contact smart card reader. The adaptor is provided with an interface passing signals between a smart card of a first configuration and a smart card reader, of a second configuration. For instance, an interface for passing signals between a contact smart card and a contactless smart card reader or vice versa. |
| US07871010B2 |
Method, system and smart card reader for management of access to a smart card
The described embodiments relate generally to devices, methods and systems for managing access to a memory card, such as a smart card, by a plurality of accessing devices. Certain embodiments relate to a smart card reader (SCR) for managing concurrent access to a smart card by a plurality of accessing devices, the SCR comprising: a processor; a channel manager responsive to the processor for interfacing with the smart card; a communication interface responsive to the channel manager for communicating with the plurality of accessing devices; and wherein, when a session is open on a first channel between a first accessing device and the smart card and the channel manager is configured to issue an open channel command to the smart card to cause the smart card to open a second channel between the smart card and the second accessing device in response to the session request. |
| US07871009B1 |
RFID label dispenser
Maintaining faulty radio frequency identification (RFID) labels on a surface of a web carrier. The various embodiments of the invention provide apparatus for controlling whether RFID labels are separated from a label web. In one embodiment, a frame has first and second side members, and a peel bar is mounted between the first and second side members. The peel bar has a radial portion that causes an RFID label to be separated from the surface of the web carrier as the web carrier contacts and travels over the radial portion. A cam bar is mounted on the frame and is rotatable. In a first position the cam bar causes the web carrier to contact and travel at least partially around the radial portion of the peel bar, and in a second position the cam bar prevents the web carrier from contacting and traveling at least partially around the radial portion of the peel bar. |
| US07871007B2 |
Microcircuit card attached to an adapter base, card base and manufacturing method
A microcircuit card (31) comprising a microcircuit and a card body, characterized in that this card body is formed of a base (10) in which is formed a cavity provided with a bottom and an internal part fixed in the cavity and to which the microcircuit is joined, the internal part and the microcircuit (12) together constituting at least a part of a second microcircuit card (11) including at least a part of the body of said second card. |
| US07871003B2 |
Information reader for optically reading code on object
An information reader has blocks of bright field illuminating units illuminating an information code directly marked on an object with first lights to regularly reflect the lights on the code, blocks of dark field illuminating units illuminating the code with second lights to irregularly reflect the lights on the code, an optical system, and a control section lighting the blocks of bright and dark field illuminating units by turns or simultaneously. The optical system forms an image of the code from each of the first and second lights or a combination of the first and second lights reflected on the code and reads the code from the images. The first lights are transmitted along an optical axis of the optical system. The second lights are transmitted toward the optical axis while slightly shifted toward the code. |
| US07871002B2 |
Method and apparatus for self-referenced wafer stage positional error mapping
Intra-field distortion for a projection imaging tool is determined using a self-referenced rectangular grid reticle pattern, that includes at least two arrays of alignment attributes that are complementary to each other, is exposed multiple times onto a substrate with a recording media. A reference reticle pattern is exposed onto the substrate, wherein the reference reticle pattern overlaps the grid alignment attributes thereby creating completed grid alignment attributes. Positional offsets of the completed alignment attributes and completed grid alignment attributes are measured and an intra-field distortion from the offsets is determined. |
| US07870997B2 |
ATM that can center different sized cash stacks in a cash outlet opening
An ATM extends a stack of currency notes through a cash outlet opening for presentation to a customer. Each dispensed stack, including those of different sizes, is centered in the opening. The centering of a stack is based on its thickness. The thickness can be based on the quantity of notes in the stack. Different sized stacks require different amounts of movement to be centered. A stack is centered in the opening to facilitate grasping thereof by the customer. |
| US07870995B1 |
Foldable packaging container
A foldable packaging which may include a liquid-resistant paperboard form that is foldable to provide an attractive stackable container that resists water leakage, can be assembled without fastening hardware and has concealed gussets. The packaging can be folded into overlapping flaps and wings which are folded and interlocked to define a generally trapezoidal packaging which can receive a variety of different pot sizes and types. The die cut pattern forming the packaging can be of a universal shape but formed in a variety of different sizes to accommodate different sized potted plants. |
| US07870991B2 |
Electronic component mounting system and electronic component mounting method
In a mounting system having a height measuring instrument for measuring the height of solder paste printed on the electrodes and an electronic component placing apparatus, whether the height of solder paste is right or wrong is determined based on the measurement result of measuring the height of solder paste printed on the electrode. Further, whether or not the transfer of solder paste to the solder bump is required based on the determination result, and if it is determined that the transfer is required, the paste is transferred to an electronic component held in a mounting head. Thereby, the mounting quality can be assured by adding adequately an amount of solder in treating the board causing a shortage of the solder amount due to printing failure. |
| US07870989B2 |
Surgical stapler with timer and feedback display
A surgical apparatus has a clamp and a stapling mechanism. The clamp has a first jaw and a second jaw to clamp on a body tissue at a desired location for a stapling operation. The stapling mechanism is controlled by a trigger handle or a switch assembly. The surgical apparatus has a controller for providing a delay between clamping and actuating of the firing mechanism of the stapling mechanism. The delay provides for a desired amount of time for tissue compression producing a more uniform staple formation. The surgical apparatus also has an indicator. The indicator provides feedback about the status of the stapling mechanism and also displays a time of tissue compression by the clamp. |
| US07870981B2 |
Bracelet donning assistance device
The bracelet donning assistance device is a clamping device for holding a bracelet, allowing the user to easily secure the bracelet about his or her wrist, using only his or her other hand to clasp the bracelet. The bracelet donning assistance device includes a tray having a base and at least one sidewall, defining an open interior region therein for storing jewelry. A shaft is provided, with the shaft having opposed upper and lower ends. The lower end thereof is pivotal with respect to an upper surface of the base of the tray. Additionally, a clamp is secured to the upper end of the shaft for releasably holding the bracelet. A pair of lids are pivotally secured to the at least one sidewall for releasably covering and sealing the open interior region of the tray. |
| US07870977B2 |
Dispenser having an improved inlet valve
A dispenser for use with a liquid product including beads which are rupturable to release additives when rubbed between the hands of a user. The dispenser includes a discharge head reciprocable between pressure and return strokes, and a valve assembly for respectively allowing and preventing liquid product from being discharged during the pressure and return strokes. The valve assembly includes ribs for guiding movement of a check valve disposable in respective valve open and closed positions in which the check valve is disposed out of and in contact with a valve seat. The valve assembly includes primary fluid passages for permitting passage of the liquid and beads into a pump cylinder, and secondary fluid passages for permitting displacement of the beads during translation of the check valve between the valve open to the valve closed positions for thereby preventing accumulation of beads between the check valve and its valve seat. |
| US07870976B2 |
Pressurized can with inner shell
The invention relates to a pressurized can comprising a body, a valve arranged in a dome, a base (16), an inner shell (1) with detachable, push-off type cover (8) arranged on the base (16) and a movable shaft (7) arranged in a fixing element (2) and extending through the base (16) into the inner shell (1) and serving as release element for the inner shell with the inner shell (1) being connected to the base (16) via the fixing element (2), moreover comprising a piston element (3) movable in longitudinal direction of the inner shell (1) and being arranged inside the inner shell (1), the piston element yielding a sealing effect at the inner shell's (1) inner wall and interacting with the shaft (7) in such a manner that when the shaft (7) is moved into the inner shell (1) the piston element (3) causes a liquid present inside the inner shell (1) to be pressurized so that the cover (8) is forced off. |
| US07870974B2 |
Ice bucket having a sliding dispenser
An ice bucket is provided that includes an ice chamber, a dispensing tube, a base, and a sliding dispenser. The ice chamber has a chamber opening in a bottom wall. The dispensing tube is fixed to the bottom wall in communication with the chamber opening. The base has a base opening and a stabilizing bar. The sliding dispenser has a front lip, a depressed tray section, and a slider opening. The sliding dispenser is positioned through the base opening on the stabilizing bar so that an appendage of the dispensing tube is received in the depressed tray section. The sliding dispenser is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The slider opening, in the retracted position, is blocked by the stabilizing portion. However, the slider opening, in the extended position, is unblocked by the stabilizing portion. |
| US07870973B2 |
Methods and apparatus for dispensing solid articles
An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a dispensing channel, a housing and an article supply regulation system. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet and defines a dispensing path therebetween. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles. The hopper chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet of the dispensing channel. The housing includes a floor. The article supply regulation system includes a first divider wall, a second divider wall and a third divider wall configured and positioned in the hopper chamber to define, in combination with the housing: a front region between the inlet and the first divider wall; a first rear region between the first divider wall and the second divider wall; a second rear region between the second divider wall and the third divider wall; and a third rear region on a side of the third divider wall opposite the second rear region. The first divider wall forms a front choke passage between the front region and the first rear region and between the first divider wall and the floor. The second divider wall forms a first rear choke passage between the first rear region and the second rear region and between the second divider wall and the floor. The third divider wall forms a second rear choke passage between the second rear region and the third rear region and between the third divider wall and the floor and/or a side wall of the housing. |
| US07870971B2 |
Diffusion layer for pressure vessels
Disclosed is a vessel and a method of forming the vessel including an inner shell, an outer shell, and a diffusion layer disposed therebetween, wherein the diffusion layer facilitates the venting of a fluid from between the inner shell and the outer shell. |
| US07870965B2 |
Geotextile composite for filtration of contaminated liquids and sediments
Geotextile composite configured to filter liquids The geotextile composites include a pre-filter layer, a post-filter layer and at least two intermediate filter layers disposed between the pre-filter layer and the post-filter layer. At least one fibrous web that includes composite fibers and adsorptive particulates is disposed between the at least two intermediate filters. The fibrous web has a structural component, and a thermally-bondable, polymeric component. |
| US07870961B2 |
Product delivery system for foodstuffs
A product delivery system is device and method able to keep bag of product seal and delivering a bag product in easy and fast way. By tied up (using a fast locking strap) adjustable frame with seal cover to opened bag. Hang the bag on hook up side down (using a clip). By opening a little the caver (lid or zipper), product will drop down. |
| US07870959B2 |
Self-sealed medical sterilization pouch
A self-sealed medical sterilization pouch comprises the following elements of: a first sheet being pervious to sterilization gases and surrounded by at least one printing domain thereon, a plurality of signs being disposed on the printing domain and located outside of a closed space, the first sheet having at least two sterile processing indicators having color response, one surface of an end of the first sheet having a flap; and a second sheet being impervious to sterilization gases, the second sheet having an opening and being joined with the first sheet by a first seal line, a second seal line and a third seal line at a left side, a right side and an upper side to form the closed space, the sterile processing indicators being disposed between the third seal line and a ladle-shaped end and the third seal line and another ladle-shaped end respectively. |
| US07870958B1 |
Shipping insert for protecting a motor vehicle window panel and attached molding during shipping and handling
A motor vehicle window panel or windshield has a lower edge portion with an attached extruded plastic molding having a downwardly projecting portion defining a cavity with an inlet gap for receiving a projecting fin on a cowl panel. A shipping insert of extruded substantially rigid plastics material supports the windshield and attached molding during shipping and handling and includes a base portion adapted to seat on shipping container support members and a tongue portion spaced above the base portion and projecting through the inlet gap into the cavity to support the molding. The insert also has an upper portion supporting a solid locating flange of the molding attached to a bottom edge of the windshield. The base portion of the insert has inclined opposite edge surfaces to facilitate sliding on the support members, and also has an upwardly projecting hook rib for retaining the insert on the molding. |
| US07870957B2 |
Carton with insert and dispenser
A package (10) includes a plurality of articles (B) that are disposed on their sides in a matrix arrangement that includes a plurality of rows (R1, R2, R3) and columns (C1, C2, C3, C4). A lower row (R1) of articles (B) defines a dispensing position (P1) for each column (C1, C2, C3, C4) and upper rows (R2, R3) of articles (B) define descending positions (P2, P3) for each column (C1, C2, C3, C4). A carton (500) encloses the articles (B) and includes a detachable portion (1115, 1315) that can be detached along a severance line (1110, 1310) to expose the articles in the dispensing positions (P1). Inserts (400, 800, 1000) are provided to facilitate dispensing the articles, to control the rate of descent of articles moving from the descending positions (P2, P3) toward the dispensing positions (P1), and/or to provide insulation between the articles as they move toward the dispensing positions (P1). |
| US07870954B2 |
Golf bag with circumferential stay
A golf bag has a partially collapsible side and a bag stand mounted to the partially collapsible side of the bag. The action of the partially collapsible side of the bag collapsing causes the bag stand to deploy. A circumferential stay is mounted to the partially collapsible side of the golf bag to prevent the body of the bag from folding inward as the partially collapsible side collapses. |
| US07870953B2 |
Cigarette package
A cigarette package having an inner pack of a cigarette bundle, an inner box containing the inner pack in a sealed state, a hinge-lid outer box containing the inner box, a containing space secured between the outer box and the inner box by using an outer blank for the outer box, and a printed article in a folded state, which is disposed in the containing space. |
| US07870950B2 |
V-shaped product conveyor
A conveyor system includes first and second upstanding posts disposed in longitudinally spaced apart relation to one another. Each post is surmounted by forward and rearward support arms that form a “V”-shape. A forward drive belt is mounted for rotation along a path of travel perpendicular to the forward support arms. A first embodiment cradles a product container between the forward drive belt and a rearward primary support arm. A second embodiment includes the first embodiment structure and adds a rearward secondary support arm. A third embodiment includes the primary but not the rearward secondary support arm, the forward drive belt and a forward secondary support arm. A fourth embodiment includes the rearward primary and secondary support arms, the forward drive belt and a forward secondary support arm. The product container is tilted from vertical so that the conveyor follows a path of travel including curvatures having no guide rails. |
| US07870943B2 |
Apparatus and method for orienting articles
An apparatus comprises a moving arrangement for supporting and moving along an advance direction a plurality of articles; and orienting units movable along said advance direction and such as to contact and orient the articles by displacing angularly each article around an axis thereof so as to position the articles in respective output positions, the orienting units being such as to maintain the articles in contact with the moving arrangement, a detector being provided for each orienting unit for detecting an initial angular position of a respective article associated thereto and for promoting a desired angular displacement such that each article is brought in the output position. |
| US07870942B2 |
Coin-roll storage
A coin-roll storage 1 comprises a storage body 1a and a coin-roll drawer 11 (12, 13) having a plurality of coin-roll storage portions 14 provided therein, each coin-roll storage portion 14 being adapted for storing one coin roll therein. Each coin-roll storage portion 14 of the coin-roll drawer 11 (12, 13) is adapted for storing therein the coin roll of any denomination. A determination unit 16 is adapted for determining the denomination of each coin roll by detecting an outer diameter, an axial length and material of the coin roll. |
| US07870940B2 |
Frictionally engaged free-wheel clutch
A frictionally engaged free-wheel clutch with an exterior ring, an interior ring approximately concentric in reference thereto, and several clamping bodies arranged in the circular gap between the interior and the exterior ring, which block a rotation of the interior ring relative to the exterior one in one direction and release it in the opposite direction. Here, it is essential that the clamping body and/or the running paths of the interior and/or the exterior ring are provided with a friction-increasing coating. |
| US07870938B2 |
Collector shoe device
An object of the present invention is to realize a structure able to well retain contact performance between an overhead line and a slider 7b, across the entire lengthwise direction of the slider 7b. The slider 7b formed of slider elements 34a and 34b divided in the crosswise direction of a vehicle, is supported on the upper surface of a slider support body 9. A center support member 12 forming the slider support body 9 is elastically deformed downward in a concaved shape across the longitudinal direction, due to a load applied due to contact between the overhead lines and the slider 7b. Also, together with this, both ends of the center support member 12 are supported on a shoe body 3a so as to allow free oscillation via the respective end section support members 13. As a result, even if the overhead lines are positioned on both of the end sections in the lengthwise direction of this slider 7b, the slider 7b is able to track the movement of the overhead lines due to elastic deformation of the center support member 12 and to the rising and falling of the center support member 12, and hence the above object can be achieved. |
| US07870937B1 |
Combination luggage and computer workstation
This is a combination computer work station, cosmetic desk, casual/open tote and luggage set device. The device is easily transported and the area to push or pull luggage may be expanded to stow various pieces of luggage. Luggage may be partially filled yet secured by the divider device. |
| US07870935B2 |
Traction drive power transmission device
A traction drive power transmission device, where a lubrication oil can be stably and continuously applied for a long period to portions at which rollers and a shaft are in contact with each other, shortage of the lubrication oil does not occur at the contact portions, the lubrication oil is not wasted, and which does not impair work environment by contaminating floor surface etc. A traction drive power transmission device has at least one drive roller (12a), a follower roller (12b), and a circular cylinder-like shaft (11). The shaft (11) is held between the drive roller (12a) and the follower roller (12b). When the drive roller (12a) is rotated, rotational force by the rotation is transmitted to the shaft (11) to drive it in its axial direction. The device has a lubrication oil-delivering portion (20) with application bodies (22-1, 22-2) for applying a lubrication oil only to portions where the shaft (11) is in contact with the drive roller (12a) and the follower roller (12b). |
| US07870929B2 |
Engine assembly, acoustical liner and associated method of fabrication
An engine assembly, an acoustical liner and an associated fabrication method are provided to address fan blade flutter and fan noise control simultaneously within the same liner area. Fan blade flutter is therefore controlled without necessarily increasing the weight of the engine, impairing the structural integrity of the engine, or increasing the noise generated by the engine. The acoustical liner may have additional acoustical degrees of freedom which permit these seemingly competing concerns to be addressed in a complementary manner. The acoustical liner may include inner and outer barrels with the inner barrel having a perforated face sheet, a perforated back skin and a core disposed between the perforated face sheet and the back skin. The fluid communication between the core and the space between the inner and outer barrels provides additional acoustical degrees of freedom which may be utilized to reduce fan blade flutter while concurrently limiting fan blade noise. |
| US07870928B1 |
Bass reflex type speaker device
A bass reflex type speaker is disclosed. The bass reflex type speaker includes an enclosure, two speakers, and a bass reflex tube. The enclosure includes a main portion and two protruding portions protruding from the main portion. The main portion defines a sound cavity therein. The protruding portion defines a sound path therein communicating with the sound cavity. The two speakers are connected to the corresponding protruding portion to close the sound path. One end of the bass reflex tube is fixed in the enclosure, and the other end of the bass reflex tube extends out of the enclosure. |
| US07870926B2 |
Vehicles including jack shaft having clutch and coupling engine and front wheel
A vehicle includes a front wheel, a rear wheel, an engine, and a jack shaft. The engine is coupled with the rear wheel and the jack shaft. The jack shaft is configured to selectively couple the engine with the front wheel. |
| US07870917B2 |
Drive device for electrically movable vehicles and electric wheelchair having same
The invention provides a drive device for electric vehicles which is small-sized, improved in heat radiating characteristics and adapted for use with a drive wheel of reduced diameter, and an electric wheelchair comprising the drive device. The drive device is provided on the inner periphery of each of left and right drive wheels (80), (80) of the electric vehicle and comprises a casing (30) supported at one end thereof by an axle (22) on the electric vehicle, a motor (40) housed in the casing (30) and having a rotating shaft (43) aligned with the axle (22), and a housing (50) rotatably fitted around the casing (30) and rotatable by the rotation of the motor (40). The drive wheel (80) is provided around the outer periphery of the housing (50) and rotatable therewith. |
| US07870914B2 |
Traction assembly for a vehicle
This invention relates to a traction assembly for a vehicle which uses an endless traction band and a plurality of wheels for propulsion. More particularly, the traction assembly comprises a sprocket wheel which has a different size and number of sprocket teeth depending on whether the traction kit replaces the front wheels or the rear wheels of the vehicle. The sprocket wheel of the traction kit can also be configured such that its sprocket teeth are laterally offset. The traction kit can also comprise an anti-torque system that prevent physical contact between the traction kit and the vehicle and that can bias the position of the traction kit in order to improve the steering performance. Finally, the traction assembly can comprise a pivotable extension which lengthens the traction assembly and improves its traction capabilities. |
| US07870913B1 |
Bearing assemblies, and bearing apparatuses and motor assemblies using same
Various aspects of the present invention relate to bearing assemblies configured to accommodate non-uniform loading and misalignment with an adjacent bearing assembly. In one aspect of the present invention, a bearing assembly is disclosed. The bearing assembly comprises a compliance ring including a plurality of beams. Each of the beams is circumferentially spaced apart from each other. The bearing assembly further comprises a plurality of bearing elements, with each of the bearing elements positioned adjacent to a corresponding beam of the plurality of beams. Each of the bearing elements deforms one of the corresponding beams when loaded. An additional aspect of the present invention is directed to a bearing assembly in which bearing elements thereof may be mounted to a support element without using a brazing process. Further aspects of the present invention are directed to a thrust-bearing apparatus, a radial-bearing apparatus, and a downhole motor that incorporates disclosed thrust-bearing and radial-bearing assemblies. |
| US07870912B2 |
Centralizer-based survey and navigation device and method
A Centralizer based Survey and Navigation (CSN) device designed to provide borehole or passageway position information. The CSN device can include one or more displacement sensors, centralizers, an odometry sensor, a borehole initialization system, and navigation algorithm implementing processor(s). Also, methods of using the CSN device for in-hole survey and navigation. |
| US07870911B2 |
Pile driver
A pile driver includes a leader rotation/holding mechanism that can firmly hold a leader in a rotatable state and also reliably rotate the leader using a general-purpose, inexpensive hydraulic motor by keeping the hydraulic motor from action of a bending moment from the leader. The pile driver has a leader revolver that includes a mechanism for rotating a leader. The leader revolver includes an outer tube and an inner tube that is concentrically arranged inside the outer tube via a pair of tapered roller bearings provided at two upper and lower positions. A lower part of the leader is connected, in an integrally rotatable state, to an upper part of the inner tube protruding upward from an upper end opening of the outer tube. A hydraulic motor is placed in a lower part of the leader revolver. |
| US07870910B2 |
Vibration generator for a vibration pile driver
A vibration generator for a vibration pile driver has imbalance masses that can rotate and which are disposed on shafts. The rotational position of the imbalance masses can be adjusted relative to one another. A control and regulation circuit is provided which has a memory unit for storing ground composition data sets or task-specific default data sets with defined operational characteristic variables. The unit also has sensors for continuous detection of the defined operational characteristic variables, an evaluation unit for comparing the operational characteristic variables that are determined with the operational characteristic variables of the selected default data set, a regulation device for regulating the vibration generator, and a control device for controlling the adjustment of the rotational position of the imbalance masses relative to one another. The vibration generator is part of a vibration pile driver. |
| US07870906B2 |
Flow control systems and methods
Disclosed herein is a device for controlling flow within, e.g., a production well or an injection well. The device consists of a movable flow passage and a stationary variable choke or valve that is sensitive to flow parameters and automatically adjusts itself to provide a predetermined flow rate through the device. |
| US07870905B2 |
Controlling the pressure within an annular volume of a wellbore
A process is described for replacing at least a portion of the liquid within the annular volume of a casing system within a wellbore with a second liquid. The second liquid is preselected to provide a measure of control of the pressure within the annular volume as the fluid within the volume is being heated. |
| US07870900B2 |
System and method for controlling a progressing cavity well pump
A system and method for controlling the speed of a progressing cavity liquid well pump to increase liquid production from a well while avoiding operation of the well in a pumped-off state. A controller controls a variable speed drive to drive a progressing cavity liquid well pump at a set pump speed while measuring well and system parameters indicative of pumping performance and/or liquid production from the well. The set speed of the pump is changed in steps either increasingly or decreasingly by the controller, acting through the variable speed drive, in response to the measured well and system parameters. The controller, responsive to the measured well and system parameters, challenges the set pump speed by varying the set pump speed so as to increase the production from the well while avoiding pump and well operation in a pumped-off state. |
| US07870898B2 |
Well flow control systems and methods
Flow control systems and methods for use in hydrocarbon well operations include a tubular and a flow control apparatus. The tubular defines a well annulus and includes an outer member defining a flow conduit. Fluid communication between the well annulus and the flow conduit is provided by permeable portion(s) of the outer member. The flow control apparatus is disposed within the flow conduit and comprises conduit-defining and chamber-defining structural members. The conduit-defining structural member(s) is configured to divide the flow conduit into at least two flow control conduits. The chamber-defining structural member(s) is configured to divide at least one of the at least two flow control conduits into at least two flow control chambers. Each of the flow control chambers has at least one inlet and one outlet, each of which is adapted to allow fluid flow therethrough and to retain particles larger than a predetermined size. |
| US07870897B2 |
Dual function cleaning tool
A cleaning tool for cleaning a liner top in a well bore. The tool includes cleaning elements, typically scrapers, which are arranged eccentrically to an axial bore through the tool. The elements are biased outwardly to contact an inner surface of a polished bore receptacle (PBR) at a position with a curvature to match the PBR and to present leading edges of each element when positioned at a surface of a neighbouring casing. The tool may further provide a top dress mill and act as a packer actuator sub. This provides a tool which performs a number of functions on a single trip in a well bore. |
| US07870896B1 |
Extended wear ball lock for rotating head
An improved rotating head that utilizes a box assembly that stores at least one locking element that that allows for movement of the locking balls within the box assembly such that a liner inserted into the box assembly biases the locking elements to a locked position to couple the box assembly and the outer barrel. An integrated wear surface of the present invention seals the bearing elements to extend the life of the rotating head and reduce downtime caused by necessary maintenance of the rotating head. |
| US07870895B2 |
Packer
A packer includes a seal element and a piston. The piston compresses the seal element to form an annular seal in the well. A pressure wave, such as a pressure wave that is caused by a chemical reaction or the detonation of an explosive, is generated in the packer to at least partially assist an operation (the setting of a slip, setting of the seal element, etc.) of the packer. In some implementations, the chemical reaction or explosive detonation occurs in response to a predetermined movement of the piston. |
| US07870893B2 |
Multichannel cooling system with magnetohydrodynamic pump
A cooling device includes a base having cells. A pipe is coupled to the base for each of the cells. The pipes include passages that carry fluid toward the cell and away from the cell. A magnetohydrodynamic pump system coupled to the pipe circulates an electrically conductive cooling fluid within the passages and the cell. An orifice may emits jets of fluid into the cells. A controller coupled to the cooling device may independently control flow rates in two or more cells of the cooling device. The controller may receive information from the temperature sensors on the base of the cooling device for use in controlling the flow rates in the cells. |
| US07870880B2 |
Optimizing planer infeed system and method
An optimizing planer infeed system for feeding an array of workpieces downstream to a planer includes an apparatus for setting the size of the gaps between successive linearly aligned workpieces so that each gap between successive workpieces provides enough time for at least one of movable cutting elements in the planer and movable guiding elements to be moved to their optimized position corresponding to the next successive workpiece. |
| US07870879B2 |
Automated system for precision cutting crooked lumber
An automated saw system for cutting a crooked piece of lumber with a mitered end and a length. The saw system includes a saw for cutting the piece of lumber, a lumber feed conveyor for feeding the piece of lumber to the saw, and a sensor that measures a deviation amount by which the piece of lumber deviates from an idealized straight piece of lumber. A controller communicates with the sensor to adjust either the saw or the conveyor in response to the detected deviation amount so that the piece of lumber is cut to correspond to a cut of the idealized straight piece of lumber. |
| US07870878B2 |
Apparatus for storage and liberation of compressed hydrogen gas in microcylindrical arrays and system for filling the microcylindrical arrays
An apparatus for storage and liberation of compressed hydrogen or other gases is provided. The apparatus includes a housing defining a chamber that includes a cartridge comprising an array of hollow microcylinders defining cavities for storage compressed gas. Each microcylinder has at least one end sealed with a plug made of an easily meltable alloy. The apparatus also includes a gas liberating tool configured for controllable liberating the gas from the cartridge into the chamber; and a control system operatively coupled to the discharge valve and liberating tool, and configured for controlling operation thereof. According to another aspect of the invention, there are provided a system and method for filling a cartridge having an array of hollow microcylinders having open ends. The filling includes placing the cartridge into a chamber of an autoclave, and compressing the gas in the chamber, thereby providing permeation of the gas through the open ends into cavities of the microcylinders. Thereafter, the open ends are sealed with plugs made of an easily meltable alloy. |
| US07870877B2 |
Coated pipes for harsh environments
The present invention relates to a pipe, especially an oil pipe, having a lining comprising a fluoropolymer adhered to its interior surface and a lining formed on its exterior surface. The interior and/or exterior lining may comprise a primer layer comprising a fluoropolymer, and preferably a perfluoropolymer and an overcoat or a preformed film adhered to the primer layer. Either the overcoat or the preformed liner also comprises a fluoropolymer, and preferably a perfluoropolymer. The surface of the lining facing the flowable media, such as oil, may be a pure perfluoropolymer to provide a particularly good non-stick surface for the oil. |
| US07870873B2 |
Dual chamber orifice fitting isolation valve
Apparatus and methods for operating a dual chamber orifice fitting. The dual chamber orifice fitting comprises a body having a lower chamber and a top having an upper chamber. An aperture connects the upper chamber to the lower chamber. A closure member is pivotally mounted to the fitting and pivots about a first axis between a first position and a second position. A pivot arm is rotatably mounted to the body and engages the closure member so that rotation of the pivot arm about a second axis pivots said closure member about the first axis between the first and second positions. |
| US07870856B2 |
Inhaler
An inhaler for administering a medicament in the form of inhalable substances, formulations or mixtures of substances comprises a housing (1) having an inner cavity for holding the medicament, which is coupled to a mouthpiece (2). The housing (1) is rigidly connected to the mouthpiece (2). |
| US07870851B2 |
Device for optically exciting and delivering luminescent projectiles
A theatrical device for optically exciting and delivering objects coated with luminescent material has an enclosure with an inner reflective surface with a hollow transparent excitation passageway extending therethrough. A light source illuminates the objects in the passageway for exciting the luminescent material so that the objects glow brightly. A blower moves the objects through the passageway to an outlet where the glowing objects are projected into an audience for dramatic effect. |
| US07870844B2 |
Control system and method for internal combustion engine
A control system includes: a detecting device that detects the transition in the cumulative amount of heat generated in a combustion chamber based on the pressure in the combustion chamber in an expansion stroke; and a controller that controls the amount of exhaust gas contained in an air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber such that the amount of change in the cumulative amount of heat generated in the combustion chamber through a predetermined crank angle range will become a predetermined value. |
| US07870842B2 |
Engine with desmodromically actuated rocker
An engine comprising a valve, cam lobe, rocker, follower member and an optional spring is disclosed herein. The valve may comprise a valve stem. The cam lobe may have a base circle and a nose. The cam lobe may be attached to a rotating shaft. The rocker may have a valve end portion contacting the valve, a lifter end portion defining a pivot axis of the rocker and a cam surface disposed between the valve end portion and the lifter end portion. The nose of the cam lobe may contact the cam surface for opening the valve. The follower member may be disposed adjacent the cam lobe opposite the rocker. The follower member may be attached to the rocker and have a curved inner surface upon which the nose of the cam lobe contacts for lifting the rocker. The spring may be disposed about the valve stem of the valve for closing the valve stem of the valve. |
| US07870835B2 |
Animal waste disposal system
The present invention relates to animal waste scooper device and system. The scooper includes a base having a blade having a front edge, a back edge, a first side, a second side, a plurality of openings. The base also includes an elongated member having a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the base is attached to or at the bottom portion of the elongated member; and the bottom portion is angled such that the blade axis has an angle in a range of between about 100 degrees and 140 degrees in relation to the top portion; and a hook mounted to the elongated member above the angle. The system further includes a pail having a handle; and a litter box having a bottom surface and four sides extending from the bottom surface, the four sides having a height between about 8 inches and about 12 inches. |
| US07870834B1 |
Rotatable workpiece painter's stand
A painters stand comprising a pair of extensible supports for rotatably securing a workpiece therebetween. Each support is comprised of a stanchion having a collar mounted thereon with a plurality of divergent legs extending therefrom with the stanchion having an intermediate workpiece support approximate the top end and a receiver for a workpiece fastener that will be fastened to a workpiece end whereby the workpiece can be supported between the stanchions. Once mounted in the workpiece receiver a plurality of radially positioned apertures are provided within the workpiece fastener so that one can be selectively co-aligned with a workpiece receiver aperture for insertion of a pin to secure the workpiece while a desired operation is performed, such as sanding and or painting. |
| US07870829B1 |
Boat anchor system
A securement assembly is provided. A support has a lower end and an upper end. The lower end is coupled to the securement assembly. A spear has a leading end and trailing end with a central extent between the leading and trailing ends. A cylindrical member has a passageway slidably receiving the spear between the leading and trailing ends. Adjustment components couple the cylindrical member to the upper end of the support. The adjustment components are adapted to move the cylindrical member and spear between any of a plurality of orientations. The plurality of orientations include a generally horizontal orientation for storing and transportation and a generally vertical orientation for deploying and use. |
| US07870825B2 |
Enhanced method, device, and system for identifying an unknown or unmarked slave device such as in an electronic blasting system
For use in a system having a master device and slave devices (e.g., an electronic blasting system) and utilizing an automatic detection process that causes any slave devices that have not previously been identified to the master device to identify themselves to the master device, an enhancement to the detection process employs at least a second discriminator to detect superimposed responses from simultaneously responding slave devices, and a “deconvolution” algorithm in order to ascertain their identities. |
| US07870822B2 |
Method and system for recapturing and reusing unreacted antimicrobial solutions in spray applications
A system providing for on-site reclamation and re-use of reclaimed antimicrobial solution includes a dispenser, at least one receptacle, piping, and at least one pump. The dispenser sprays antimicrobial solution toward moving raw food products. Unspent antimicrobial solution that did not contact the moving raw food products and rebound antimicrobial solution that did contact the raw food products combine to form a reclaimed antimicrobial solution. The reclaimed antimicrobial solution is collected in the receptacle and is pumped through the piping to a location for reuse. |
| US07870814B2 |
Gun stabilizer
A damping device is disclosed which dampens movement of a weapon on an axis which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the weapon. |
| US07870813B2 |
Radio frequency jammer method
A method for broadcasting electromagnetic waves such that user-selected electromagnetic receivers are prevented from receiving an intended electromagnetic communication. |
| US07870812B2 |
Fruit cutter that cuts fruit exactly and smoothly
A fruit cutter includes a fixed seat, and a cutting device movable relative to the fixed seat. The cutting device includes a movable seat and a blade unit. The blade unit includes a plurality of cutting blades. The cutting blades have an intersection provided with a sharp tapered drilling portion. Each of the cutting blades has a mediate portion provided with a concave guide edge. Thus, the drilling portion of the cutting blades is inserted into the central portion of the fruit to pierce the fruit, while the cutting blades of the blade unit extend from the central portion toward the rim of the fruit to cut and separate the fruit by guidance of the guide edge of each of the cutting blades, so that the fruit is cut into multiple parts easily and quickly. |
| US07870811B2 |
Thermal stripping apparatus
In order to improve the stripping process, a thermal stripping apparatus is proposed which has a thermal stripper with a first holder section and a second holder section. The holder sections are designed to accommodate and hold at least one coating glass fiber, wherein the first holder section is arranged such that it can move with respect to the second holder section along an accommodated glass fiber. A housing is also provided, having a handle section and an appliance section, in which the thermal stripper is accommodated. A drive unit, which has a lever, is operatively connected to the thermal holder section of the thermal stripper such that a movement with respect to the handle section is converted to a movement of the first holder section. |
| US07870807B2 |
Multi axis robot wrist and method of operation
A robot wrist for a painting robot has several wrist sections that can be rotated relative to one another, an internal conduit that passes through the wrist sections, a flexible hose carried in the internal conduit and having a hose drive operating on the hose to achieve positive rotation of the hose in the internal conduit corresponding to the rotation of the wrist sections. |
| US07870805B2 |
Rack-and-pinion steering apparatus
A rack-and-pinion steering apparatus in which a steering gear box for transmitting an operation of a steering wheel to road wheels includes a pinion operatively connected to the steering wheel, a rack bar which has a rack meshing with the pinion, and which is operatively connected to the road wheels, a housing slidably supporting the rack bar, a cylindrical rack guide slidably fitted into a guide hole formed in the housing, and a spring member causing the rack guide to abut on a rear part of the rack bar opposite to the rack by biasing the rack guide. A reaction force, which the rack guide receives from the rack bar, acts on the rack guide in such a way as to cause a rotational moment of the rack guide about an axis different from an axis of the rack guide. |
| US07870800B2 |
Apparatus including a fluid coupler interfaced to a test head
One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus including a fluid coupler interfaced to a test head that includes: (a) a first ring having a top surface disposed in a first plane; (b) a first movable ring, the first movable ring being movable substantially normal to the first plane relative to the first ring; (c) a first flexible diaphragm attached to the first ring along a first attachment perimeter that encloses a first effective surface area, the first flexible diaphragm being attached to the first movable ring; (d) a second ring having a top surface disposed in a second plane; (e) a second movable ring, the second movable ring being movable substantially normal to the first plane; and (f) a second flexible diaphragm attached to the second ring along a second attachment perimeter that encloses a second effective surface area, the second flexible diaphragm being attached to the second movable ring; wherein: (i) the first flexible diaphragm and the second flexible diaphragm form a first channel for fluid flow, there being an intake aperture in the first channel and an exhaust aperture in the first channel; (ii) the test head has an intake channel to internal fluid channels and an exhaust channel from the internal fluid channels, and the test head is movable substantially normal to the first plane; (iii) the first plane is substantially parallel to the second plane; and (iv) the intake aperture in the test head is alignable with the exhaust aperture in the first channel. |
| US07870796B2 |
Load sensor and manufacturing method for the same
A detection element detects at least compression load. A first member has a surface provided with the detection element. A preload adjusting member is substantially in a column shape and has a tip end configured to apply pressure to the detection element. The first member and the second member are connected with each other and configured to transmit load to the detection element. The second member has a fitted portion, which has an inner circumferential periphery being press-fitted with the preload adjusting member. The second member causes elastic deformation in response to adjustment of press-fitting of the preload adjusting member and causes change in preload applied to the detection element. |
| US07870793B1 |
Transit time flow sensor with enhanced accuracy
Ultrasonic transit time flow meters using transducers mounted on insertion probes spaced apart along a pipe axis provide an economical way to measure fluid flow. The accuracy of these flow meters can be improved by providing additional transducers to measure the current speed of sound of a working fluid; the actual spacing of the probes; and the diameter of the pipe through which the fluid is flowing. |
| US07870787B2 |
Piezoelectric thin film and method of manufacturing the same, angular velocity sensor, method of measuring angular velocity by the angular velocity sensor, piezoelectric generating element, and method of generating electric power using the piezoelectric generating element
Provided are a piezoelectric thin film including a lead-free ferroelectric material and exhibiting high piezoelectric performance comparable to that of PZT, and a method of manufacturing the piezoelectric thin film. The piezoelectric thin film of the present invention has a multilayer structure in which a metal electrode film having a plane orientation of (100), a (Bi,Na)TiO3 film, and a (Bi,Na,Ba)TiO3 film having a plane orientation of (001) are laminated in this order. The piezoelectric thin film of the present invention can be applied to a wide range of fields and uses. For example, with the piezoelectric thin film of the present invention, an angular velocity sensor of the present invention having high sensitivity and a piezoelectric generating element of the present invention having excellent power generation characteristics can be constructed. |
| US07870785B2 |
Positive displacement flowmeter
A position displacement flowmeter having a pair of non-circular gears in a rolling contact on a pitch line without slippage. The positive displacement flowmeter comprises a casing and a pair of rotors provided in the casing and rotatable around its center axes. The pair of rotors, have a tooth profile curve which is an oval pitch curve itself having a trajectory of contact points on the pitch line, and they satisfy a condition of r1+r2=K=const r1 dθ1=r2 dθ2, and a moving radius of the oval pitch curve is given by ri=a/(1−b cos nθi) (i=1, 2), where “ri (i=1, 2)” is the moving radius that is a distance from a center of rotation to the oval pitch curve, “a” is a homothetic coefficient, “b” is a flattening, “n” is a number of lobes, and “θi (i=1, 2) is a moving angle. |
| US07870780B2 |
Method for identifying vehicle wheels having low tire pressure
A method for identifying low-pressure tires includes determining the number of revolutions of each wheel over a preselected driving distance, and comparing crosswise by summing the number of revolutions of the diagonally opposite front right/rear left and front left/rear right wheels and taking the difference between the sums, a diagonal containing a low-pressure tire being identifiable via the sign of the difference between the diagonals. A further comparison for each side of the vehicle is effected by summing the revolutions of the front left/rear left side and front right/rear right side wheels and comparing the difference between the sums, the side containing a low-pressure tire being identifiable via the sign of the difference between the sides. The difference between diagonals is compared with a low-pressure threshold value. If the threshold is exceeded, the signs of the difference between diagonals and between sides are logically combined to identify the low-pressure tire. |
| US07870779B2 |
Structure and method to verify diesel particulate filter operation
A sensor for use with a diesel particulate filter in an exhaust system includes a collection device configured to be positioned downstream of the diesel particulate filter such that particulate matter not captured by the diesel particulate filter accumulates on the collection device. The collection device is configured to visually indicate a rate of particulate matter accumulation on the collection device. The rate of particulate matter accumulation corresponds to filter performance. |
| US07870778B2 |
Method and apparatus for estimating engine power
A method is present for estimating engine load factor. Temperature data is obtained from a temperature sensor in a location with respect to an exhaust system for an engine. A rate of temperature change is estimated using the temperature data. A steady state temperature at a selected time is calculated for the location using the temperature data and the rate of temperature change. The engine load factor at the selected time is estimated from the steady state temperature. |
| US07870775B2 |
Drive arrangement for rolling mill
In the case of a drive arrangement for a rolling mill, comprising at least one drive motor (M), a main gear mechanism (HG), a pinion gear mechanism (KWG), a rolling stand (G) with working rolls (AW), and the spindles, couplings and the like which connect these components, the main gear mechanism (HG) is a single-stage one and the drive axis (AN) is spaced apart from the output axis (AB) by an upwardly directed, vertical spacing (vA). |
| US07870768B2 |
Power steering lock unit
The present invention suppresses rattle and assembly inaccuracies of a magnet and magnet detection sensor, and detects with certainty the position of a lock bolt. The power steering lock unit includes a lock bolt, which is movable between lock and unlock positions, an actuator for causing the lock bolt to move; a transmission mechanism for transmitting the drive force of the actuator to the lock bolt; and position detection sensor for detecting the movement position of the lock bolt. The position detection sensor includes a movable member to which a magnet is fixed, a base plate on which a magnetic detection sensor for detecting the magnetic force of the magnet is disposed, and a holder for movably holding the movable member at a prescribed spacing from the base plate. A linking mechanism is provided for operating the movable member in response to operation of the lock bolt or the transmission mechanism. |
| US07870766B2 |
Security container with linked primary and secondary security features
A security storage container has a primary security feature that is adapted to be locked and unlocked with an appropriate key. A secondary security feature is activated when the security storage container is opened without first unlocking the lock with the key. In one embodiment, the secondary security feature includes prongs that are moved to an extended position when the primary security feature of the container is defeated. In the extended position, the prongs will at least damage the item of merchandise protected by the security storage container. The extended position of the prongs may also further lock the item of merchandise within the security storage container. |
| US07870763B2 |
Structure for mounting temperature sensor of steam generation apparatus in drum type washer
The present invention relates to a structure for mounting a temperature sensor on a steam generator, which enables easy and convenient mounting of a temperature sensor on a steam generator. For this, the present invention provides a structure for mounting a temperature sensor on a steam generator in a drum type washing machine including a case which is an exterior of the steam generator, the temperature sensor provided to the case for sensing a temperature of steam generated by a heater, a bracket for fixing the temperature sensor, a fastening portion provided to the case for fastening the bracket to the case with separate fastening members, and a bracket rotation preventive portion provided to the case for preventing the bracket from rotating at the time the temperature sensor is mounted. |
| US07870759B2 |
Process and arrangement for the backup supply of a pressurized gas through cryogenic liquid vaporization
In a process for supplying a pressurized gas, a pressurized gas at a high production pressure is produced as an end product by separating a gaseous mixture in a separator apparatus (3, 5), a liquid to be pressurized is stored in a store (9), storing liquid is tapped, and it is pressurized with a pump (11) and at least part of the pressurized liquid is sprayed in a sprayer (27) to produce the pressurized backup gas (29) having substantially the same pressure or a pressure higher than the pressurized gas to be produced, liquid is circulated in a substantially vertical duct (13), optionally within the cold box (33) of the separator apparatus, and at least part of the duct length is at a level above the sprayer and before and/or after starting up the pump (11), liquid is sent from the duct to the sprayer where the liquid is sprayed to provide pressurized backup gas having substantially the same purity or a purity higher than the pressurized gas to be produced (31). |
| US07870752B2 |
Heat extraction machine and a method of operating a heat extraction machine
The invention relates to a refrigeration machine, particularly a heat pump, comprising a closed circuit, which contains a coolant and in which an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and an, in particular, electrically operated expansion valve are arranged one after the other. The refrigeration machine also comprises an overheating control unit for at least intermittently regulating the temperature of the coolant in the area of the compressor, particularly the compression final temperature. The invention also relates to a method for operating a refrigeration machine of the aforementioned type. |
| US07870751B2 |
Temperature control system and substrate processing apparatus
A temperature control system and a substrate processing apparatus are provided. The temperature control system for controlling temperatures of one or more members of a substrate processing apparatus includes a circulation system for circulating a first coolant to pass through the inside of each of the members, a heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between the first coolant of the circulation system and a second coolant, and a chiller for supplying the second coolant to the heat exchanger, wherein the circulation system includes a branch line for each of the members passing through the inside thereof, the branch line for each of the members is provided with a heating member for heating the first coolant supplied thereto, and the heat exchanger is installed in a room where the substrate processing apparatus is installed. |
| US07870744B2 |
Attachment unit of driving shaft with tensioner nut
A system for attaching the end of a shaft of a gas turbine engine engaged inside a coupling supported by a bearing is disclosed. The system includes a nut with a first thread which is screwed into the shaft and a second thread which is screwed to the coupling. Advantageously, the screw pitches of the two threads of the nut are reversed relative to one another so as to form an adjusting nut. |
| US07870737B2 |
Hooded air/fuel swirler for a gas turbine engine
A gas turbine engine pilot assembly includes a swirler having high and low pressure sides. A hood at least partially encloses the swirler on the high pressure side. The hood is secured over the swirler, in one example. The hood includes an aperture creating a tortuous path from the high pressure side to the low pressure side through the swirler. The hood reduces the differential pressure across the swirler by reducing the velocity and pressure of the air before entering the swirler. In one example, the hood includes first and second spaced apart walls interconnected by a perimeter wall. The walls form a generally annular structure, in one example. At least one of the walls includes an array of apertures communicating with a cavity interiorly arranged within the walls upstream from the swirler. Air from the high pressure side flows through the apertures and is slowed before passing through the swirler and into a combustion chamber. |
| US07870735B2 |
Closed loop expandable gas circuit for power generation
The invention relates to an apparatus that includes a first heat exchanger for heating a first heat transfer medium in a first form from a first temperature to a second higher temperature to provide an increased pressure gas, a first mechanical device configured to use the increased pressure gas to provide mechanical energy to one or more primary components, and one or more additional mechanical devices configured to use the increased pressure gas to provide mechanical energy to one or more secondary components. The mechanical device produces spent gas, and a conversion device is operably associated with at least one of the mechanical devices to convert the spent gas to the first form for re-use. A method is also disclosed for efficiently generating mechanical or electrical energy by heating a first heat transfer medium which is an expandable gas having a boiling point which is below the freezing point of water from a first temperature to a second higher temperature to provide an increased pressure gas; utilizing the increased pressure gas to provide mechanical energy, thus forming a spent gas; and recycling the spent gas to the heating step for re-use as the heat transfer medium expandable gas. |
| US07870732B2 |
Submarine cold water pipe water intake system of an ocean thermal energy conversion power plant
A submarine cold water pipe water intake system of an ocean thermal energy conversion power plant is installed at a cold water inlet of a power boat, and the cold water pipe includes: a water intake head; a water intake pipe formed by connecting composite pipes in a series, and each composite pipe is formed by arranging a plurality of wavy inner pipes sequentially into a tubular shape; a connecting pipe formed by engaging an outer pipe and an inner pipe, and an inner pipe of the connecting pipe being connected to the cold water inlet of the power boat, and an end of the outer pipe of the connecting pipe is connected to a connecting portion of the water intake pipe. |
| US07870731B2 |
Exhaust gas turbocharger for an internal combustion engine
In an exhaust gas turbocharger for an internal combustion engine having a turbine wheel connected, by means of a shaft, to the compressor wheel of a compressor which includes a variable inlet geometry comprising a plunger and a sleeve-shaped partition for controlling an auxiliary duct leading radially to the compressor wheel, which is provided with compressor wheel blades to which air is supplied axially via an axial inlet passage and radially via a radial wheel inlet area, the compressor wheel includes a contoured ring provided at its outer circumferential surface with auxiliary blades disposed over, and aligned with, the compressor wheel blades in the radial and the axial wheel inlet region of the compressor wheel. |
| US07870728B2 |
Hydraulic control arrangement
The invention discloses a hydraulic control arrangement for controlling a number of consumers, particularly of a mobile working machine. In addition to the consumers of the control arrangement, an additional consumer should be able to be connected to a power beyond port. All consumers and power beyond consumers are supplied with hydraulic fluid by a pump. An input pressure scale is provided downstream of the pump, and the greater of the load pressures of the consumers or of the at least one power beyond consumer is applied to the control port of said input pressure scale. |
| US07870727B2 |
Method of controlling a hydrostatic drive
A method of controlling a hydrostatic drive is provided. The hydrostatic drive has a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic engine. The hydrostatic drive further has a first and a second hydraulic reservoir for storing and recuperating energy. Pressure energy is stored in the first reservoir. For the purpose of recuperating the pressure energy stored in the first reservoir, the first reservoir is connected to a suction side of the hydraulic pump. A downstream working line of the hydraulic engine is connected to the second reservoir. In addition, the downstream working-line connection of the hydraulic engine is disconnected from the suction side of the hydraulic pump. |
| US07870721B2 |
Gas turbine engine providing simulated boundary layer thickness increase
A nacelle assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a fan cowl disposed about an axis, a core cowl within the fan cowl and a bleed passage having an inlet that receives a bleed airflow and an outlet that discharges the bleed airflow in an upstream direction from the outlet. The bleed airflow is selectively introduced near a boundary layer of an inlet lip section of the fan cowl. |
| US07870718B2 |
Purge system for an exhaust gas recirculation system
The exhaust within an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system should be purged to allow for access to the components of the EGR system. A system and method for purging the EGR system is provided. The system and method may incorporate an: EGR purge fan, an EGR purge blower, or a turbomachine. The system and method may draw the exhaust out of the EGR system. The system and method may drive the exhaust out of the EGR system. |
| US07870710B2 |
Flip-up arrangement for a mower deck
A mower deck is selectively coupled to the front of a propelling vehicle. The deck includes an electric mowing height adjustment assembly to permit the user to vary the cutting height of the mower deck. The deck is movable about a lift shaft from a generally horizontal use position to an upright storage/servicing position while the deck is coupled with the vehicle. An electric actuator and a switch mount of the mowing height adjustment assembly not only provide the user with a way to adjust the cutting height but also cooperate with the remainder of the mowing height adjustment assembly to allow movement of the deck from the use position to the storage/servicing position. Movement of the switch mount from a generally horizontal, engaged use position to a unengaged position permits the deck to be moved from the use position to the upright storage/servicing position. |
| US07870707B2 |
Methods and computer program products suitable for packaging whole muscle
Methods, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, netting, by: (a) automatically pushing at least one object through first and second axially aligned product chutes; (b) pulling covering material from an exterior surface of a covering material chute residing about the second product chute to automatically enclose the object in the material as the object exits the second product chute; (c) applying at least one clip to the material to secure the object in the material; and (d) pivoting the covering material chute and second product chute together to load a sleeve of material onto the covering material chute. |
| US07870704B2 |
Insulating glazing unit for an opening leaf of a refrigerated enclosure
The invention concerns an insulating glazing wherein the gap between the substrates is filled with at least one rare gas such as argon, krypton or xenon, the inter-layer sheet (50) has a thermal conductivity less than 1 W/m.K, preferably less than 0.3 W/m.K, a low-emissive coating being deposited on at least part of one of the substrates, an anti-frost coating being deposited on part of at least the outer surface of one substrate, the glazing being free of heating element, the glazing having a thermal conductivity coefficient U less than 1.2 W/m.K with a gas filling of at least 85%, and having a light transmission of at least 67% and a light reflection less than 18%. |
| US07870701B2 |
Radiation limiting opening for a structure
A radiation limiting opening for a structure includes a door with a gasket which seals against a door frame about the opening. Spaced apart channels in the door frame define a strike plate therebetween. A film made of a material galvanically compatible with the gasket to prevent corrosion is in intimate contact with the strike plate by a seal. This seal lodges an edge of the film in each channel to create a tortuous path for radiation. |
| US07870697B2 |
Skirting board
A skirting board comprising a base profile and a guard profile. The base profile comprises a receiving portion and a deflecting arm. The guard profile comprises a protruding portion, that interfaces with the receiving portion of the base profile, and a curved portion. The guard profile combines with the base profile to provide at least one open space. Finally, the deflecting arm and the curved portion combine to provide a surface used to finish a corner produced by a floor and a wall. |
| US07870695B2 |
Support apparatus and method for assisted traversal of a structure
Embodiments of the invention relate to an apparatus for assisted walking on stairs or other sloped surfaces. The apparatus may also be used for assisted walking on slippery surfaces. The apparatus comprises a fixed support and a moveable support. The fixed support is fixed relative to the stairs or other walking surface, while the movable support is selectively moveable relative to the stairs and fixed support in a direction substantially parallel to an incline of the stairs. The movable support is selectively positionable relative to the fixed support in one of a plurality of closely spaced discrete locking positions in which the movable support can support a personal relative to the stairs. |
| US07870694B2 |
Panelized roofing system and method
The panelized roof sheathing construction system includes a plurality of panels attached to a building frame structure in substantially abutting relationship. Each panel includes a water resistant barrier layer secured atop the outward facing surface of the panel. The water resistant barrier layer includes a skid resistant surface. Joints between panels are sealed by strips of water resistant tape or the like. The panels are made of lignocellulosic material. The water resistant and skid resistant surface may include indicia for aligning strips of tape or for aligning fasteners. A method for manufacturing the water resistant building panels is also disclosed and includes the steps of feeding a roll of paper onto a forming belt, depositing lignocellulosic material and the binding agent onto the forming belt so as to form a lignocellulosic mat, cutting the mat and paper into segments of predetermined lengths, transferring the segments onto a loading screen, subjecting the segments to heat and pressure so as to impart the skid resistant surface on the paper, and cutting the segments into panels of predetermined sizes. A method of drying-in a building using the panels of the invention is also contemplated. |
| US07870692B2 |
Gutter cover
A gutter cover distributing water across the face of the cover and controlling the rate of water ingress through the cover into the gutter thereby assisting in the separation of water and shedding of debris from the passing runoff water and debris, and preventing debris from building up on the gutter cover. |
| US07870690B2 |
Magnetic mouse trap
The present invention is directed to a magnetic mouse trap for catching mice including a magnet, a holding member, a trap bar, a spring bar, and a base to allow a person to trap mice without having the mice steal the bait before the trap is released. A person can attach the bait to the holding member using the magnet to prevent mice from stealing the bait without triggering the trap bar. |
| US07870687B2 |
Signage apparatus having simple magnet-based structure for ease of modification
A readily modifiable modular sign apparatus is especially useful for fast food restaurants as backlighted menu boards in both indoor and outdoor applications. The apparatus comprises a preferably translucent substrate or mounting board which is preferably planar and has a front surface and a back surface. Precisely positioned holes are prepared at selected locations. These holes are formed to be aligned with thin metal shims which are affixed on the back surface of the mounting board and receive cylindrical magnets on the front surface. The magnets are attached directly to the rear of printed sheets, each of which may have wording or pictorial information or both. The magnets contact the metal shims through the mounting board holes, and are held firmly in position by virtue of both the magnetic attractive force and the shape of the walls of the mounting board holes. The printed sheets may be provided with price carriers to permit personnel to change just food prices without the requirement to replace the entire printed sheet. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, such price carriers are affixed directly to the front surface of the printed sheets in a unitary, integrated structure that provides easy access to the price indicia. |
| US07870682B2 |
Article of footwear having an upper with thread structural elements
An article of footwear includes an upper that is at least partially formed from a base layer and thread sections that lie adjacent a surface of the base layer. The thread sections are positioned to provide structural elements that, for example, restrain stretch in directions corresponding with longitudinal axes of the thread sections. In some configurations of the footwear, a first portion of the thread sections may extend between forefoot and heel regions of the footwear, and a second portion of the thread sections may extend vertically. An embroidering process may be utilized to position the thread sections on the base layer. |
| US07870681B2 |
Article of footwear having an upper with thread structural elements
An article of footwear includes an upper that is at least partially formed from a base layer and thread sections that lie adjacent a surface of the base layer. The thread sections are positioned to provide structural elements that, for example, restrain stretch in directions corresponding with longitudinal axes of the thread sections. In some configurations of the footwear, a first portion of the thread sections may extend between forefoot and heel regions of the footwear, and a second portion of the thread sections may extend vertically. An embroidering process may be utilized to position the thread sections on the base layer. |
| US07870680B2 |
Support liners and arrangements including the same
Support liners and cushions which include including a plurality of compressible protrusions. An arrangement is provided for interconnecting the compressible protrusions, the interconnecting arrangement being adapted to ensure strict compression of the compressible protrusions upon acceptance of a compressive force. |
| US07870677B2 |
Lightweight wheel clamp for vehicle wheel alignment system
A lightweight wheel clamp assembly is provided for attaching to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle. Examples include a wheel clamp having an upper sliding bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel, a lower sliding bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel, a guide bar simultaneously slidably engagable with the upper and lower brackets, and a lead screw threadingly engagable with the upper and lower brackets for adjusting a distance between the upper and lower brackets to rigidly attach the wheel clamp assembly to the vehicle wheel. The lower bracket has a plurality of measuring device mounting locations for adjustably mounting a wheel alignment element. The mounting locations are disposed such that when the wheel alignment element is mounted to one of them, the wheel alignment element can sight to a second wheel alignment element on the opposing side of the vehicle. |
| US07870676B2 |
Eyeglass frame shape-measuring apparatus
An eyeglass frame shape-measuring apparatus is provided in which deformation of the frame shape is determined at each measurement point based on the actual measurement values and even in the case where the frame shape changes in a direction that differs from prediction, measurement of the lens frame shape of the eyeglass frame can be performed precisely, the eyeglass frame shape-measuring apparatus that measures a shape of a lens frame of an eyeglass frame includes a feeler 37 for a lens frame, a drive motor 6 and a control device (FIG. 11) for measurement and calculation of the shape of the lens frame, the control device separates a whole circumference of the shape of the lens frame into a plurality of measuring points and obtains as frame shape information (θn, ρn, Zn) frame shape values (ρn, Zn) measured at each measuring point by moving the feeler for the lens frame so that the feeler 37 is in sliding contact along the shape of the lens frame, the control device compares a frame shape value at one measuring point with an already measured frame shape value and determines an amount of pressing pressure in correspondence to an amount change of a frame shape detected at the one measuring point, in the case where the pressing pressure value differs from a preliminarily set pressing pressure value, the control device resets the pressing pressure value and measures again the frame shape at the already measured measuring point. |
| US07870674B2 |
Production method for oil-impregnated sintered bearing
An end surface 1a of sintered bearing 1 is abutted on a die 10 so that the sintered bearing 1 is mounted thereon, and a tool 40 is abutted on the other end surface 1b of the sintered bearing 1. While the sintered bearing 1 is pressed by the tool 40, high frequency vibration in an axial direction is supplied from a horn 30 to the tool 40 by operating a vibrator 20 so as to give repeated impacts to both end surfaces 1a and 1b of the sintered bearing 1, and pores of the end surfaces 1a and 1b are thereby sealed. The die 10 and the tool 40 have surfaces abutting the sintered bearing 1, and the surfaces have roughness of 0.4 s or less and hardness of HRA 60 or more, and the tool presses the sintered bearing at a pressure of 70 to 700 kPa. The high frequency vibration supplied to the tool 40 has a power of 50 to 3000 W/cm2, and it has a frequency of 10 to 50 kHz. |
| US07870672B1 |
Method for making a stainless steel composite door
A method of making a stainless steel composite door is accomplished by forming an oversized composite core by gluing a sheet of lightweight plywood to a sheet of brushed metallic laminate formed of a layer of metal and phenolic plastic. The thus formed core is cut to form an undercut step through only a portion of the plywood section, leaving the laminate intact. A pan is then laid down on a flat table with flanges pointing up. One-quarter inch thick spacer pads are placed in each of the four corners of the pan. The oversized metallic laminated core, with an undercut step, is placed on top of the pan and centered. Overhead clamps are tightened to hold the core in place in the pan. The metallic laminated core is routed by a trim router having a rotatable bearing and a cutting bit, with the bearing having a lesser radius than the router bit. The difference in radii between the bearing and the router bit is equal to the thickness of the flanges of the pan. |
| US07870669B2 |
Multi-axially forged piston
A multi-axially forged mono-bloc piston includes a lower crown part forged of steel and including a pair of pin bosses and an integral skirt formed as one piece with the pin bosses 20. The lower crown part is friction welded to an upper crown part to form at least one closed oil gallery within the piston head. The lower crown part is forged in the longitudinal direction of the piston as well as laterally to impart longitudinal and laterally forged features of the piston. The laterally forged features may comprise undercut recesses formed in the piston skirt to reduce material in the overall piston structure. The lateral forging may also result in the piston skirt portion being discoupled from the piston head by laterally forged slots formed in the lower crown part 14 between the skirt and head. |
| US07870668B2 |
Method for connecting an electrical connector to a cable connector
An electrical connector includes a sleeve defining an axis and a contact assembly inserted in the sleeve, the contact assembly including pieces that move axially relative to one another during a fault close operation. An interface between the sleeve and the contact assembly is configured to permit replacement of the contact assembly without replacing the sleeve. |
| US07870666B2 |
Wire routing tool and method
A wire routing tool includes a guiding tip, a malleable shaft having a first end operatively connected to said guiding tip and a second end, and a guiding head having a first end operatively connected to said second end of said malleable shaft and a second end including a connector. |
| US07870664B2 |
Method of making circuitized substrate with a resistor
A method of making a circuitized substrate including a resistor comprised of material which includes a polymer resin and a quantity of nano-powders including a mixture of at least one metal component and at least one ceramic component. The ceramic component may be a ferroelectric ceramic and/or a high surface area ceramic and/or a transparent oxide and/or a dope manganite. Alternatively, the material will include the polymer resin and nano-powders, with the nano-powders comprising at least one metal coated ceramic and/or at least one oxide coated metal component. An electrical assembly (substrate and at least one electrical component) and an information handling system (e.g., personal computer) utilizing such a circuitized substrate are also provided. |
| US07870663B2 |
Method for manufacturing multilayer wiring board
Provided is a method for manufacturing a multilayer wiring board, by which interlayer connection is efficiently performed and a non-penetrating hole having a hollow structure or a through hole can be formed at the same time without damaging a plated portion on the inner wall of the through hole. A first printed board (1) is provided with a wiring, which has a wiring section and a bump mounting pad (14), and a substrate section. The method is provided with a step of forming a solder bump (3) on at least a bump mounting pad on the first printed board or a pad section of a second printed board (2) having the pad section (15) by using a solder paste, and a step of bonding the first printed board and the second printed board in layers by having an insulating adhesive (4) between the first printed board and the second printed board and electrically connecting the first printed board with the second printed board. |
| US07870657B2 |
Manufacturing device for bending an electromanetic element of an electrical machine
The manufacturing device for bending an electromagnetic element of an electrical machine, which includes a stator lamination (5), has a first device (10) for bending the stator lamination (5) to form a pre-curved stator lamination and a second device (25) for final forming of the pre-curved stator lamination. The second device (25) includes a first assembly (29) for axially fixing and pressing the pre-curved stator lamination and a second assembly for radially centering and pressing the pre-curved stator lamination. The first device (10) includes a bending mandrel (11) around which the stator lamination (5) bendable, which has an outer diameter that is larger than an inner diameter of the fully bent electromagnetic element. |
| US07870651B2 |
Elasticized side members
The disclosure provides embodiments for elasticized members used as closures for garments, such as diapers, jacket cuffs, and similar articles, the elasticized member having an elastic body having an attachment region adapted for attachment of the elastic body to a garment and a fastener positioned on a distal portion of the elastic body, wherein the elastic body is structured to reduce curl along longitudinal edges and corners of the elastic body upon application of tension to the fastener. |
| US07870650B2 |
Slide fastener slider
A slide fastener slider comprising: a slider body; a pull tab holder body attached to the slider body in a cantilevered state with one end portion thereof fixed to a top face side of the slider body; an opening/closing member disposed slidably on the slider body so as to open and close a gap formed between an other end portion of the pull tab holder body and the upper blade; and an elastic member for urging the opening/closing member to a closing position of the gap, so that a pull tab is detachably held between the slider body and the pull tab holder body, the slider further comprising a fitting sliding structure in which the pull tab holder body is fitted to the slider body from a front or rear end thereof so as to be relatively slidable in a length direction of the slider body. |
| US07870648B2 |
Disk-shaped object of synthetic thermoplastic material, and method for producing same
A disk-shaped object of synthetic thermoplastic material has contact surfaces on opposite sides that possess a rough texture. In a method for production of the disk-shaped object, synthetic material is injected under pressure in a plasticized state into a cooled molding tool and removed therefrom after a cooling phase, the molding tool having correspondingly rough molding surfaces to form the rough contact surfaces of the object. |
| US07870642B1 |
Anti-sag hinge
There is disclosed an anti-sag hinge (10) which includes a mounting flange assembly (12) pivotally coupled to a strap assembly (15). The mounting flange assembly includes a mounting flange (16) having four mounting holes (17) therethrough. The strap assembly includes a strap (31) extending from a cylinder portion (32). The strap includes four elongated mounting holes (42), a screw adjustment flange (43) having a threaded screw hole (44) therein. The strap also includes a moveable adjustment bracket (50) mounted for lateral movement relative to the underlying strap. The adjustment bracket also includes an adjustment screw mounting flange (52), a adjustment screw (53) extending through an adjustment bracket mounting hole (54) and threaded into screw adjustment flange screw hole. Lastly, the adjustment bracket includes four mounting holes (56) extending therethrough and generally in alignment with strap elongated mounting holes (42). |
| US07870640B2 |
Convertible blower/vacuum
A convertible blower/vacuum for selectively blowing or vacuuming debris. The blower/vacuum may include a housing to which a blower/vacuum tube is coupled. The tube may be movable, relative to the housing, to allow a primary passageway of the tube to selectively communicate with either an air inlet of the housing or an air outlet. The blower/vacuum may further include a vacuum receptacle having an opening that selectively communicates with the air outlet when the passageway of the tube communicates with the air inlet. |
| US07870639B2 |
Spray extraction nozzle for taking in liquids from a surface
A spray extraction nozzle for taking in liquids which have been applied to a surface includes a suction duct which ends in a suction mouth, and a spray nozzle, as well as an adapter for working on surfaces which have different properties. The adapter is connected to the spray extraction nozzle through a pivot axis, and the adapter can be pivoted from a position of rest which is remote from the suction mouth to a position of operation in front of the suction mouth of the spray extraction nozzle. |
| US07870627B2 |
Method and apparatus to stretch shoe uppers
An improved shoe stretching apparatus is configured to facilitate ready operation of the apparatus inside a shoe while minimizing the hand strength required to use the apparatus. |
| US07870622B2 |
Bed rail with fold control and jaw motion control
A bed rail is disclosed for use with a bed. The bed rail includes a clamping device to clamp the bedrail to the bed. The bedrail is moveable between an upright position and a released position wherein the rail is moved downwardly toward a sidewall of the mattress to facilitate climbing upon and climbing off of the mattress. |
| US07870620B2 |
Portable urinal system
A portable toilet for holding waste includes a base having an aperture, an insert for being mounted in the base. The insert includes a first collar coupled to a first container, a second collar, and a second container and the insert including a pad between the first container and the second container. |
| US07870618B2 |
Adjustment mechanism for a helmet
A helmet having a helmet shell including cooperating first and second sections in slidable engagement with one another, at least one locking assembly inter-connecting the first and second sections, the locking assembly including a pivoting member pivotable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the pivoting member in the locked position pressing the shell sections against one another such as to prevent a relative sliding motion therebetween, the pivoting member in the unlocked position allowing the relative sliding motion, and at least one engagement member connected to the first shell section and removably engaging the pivoting member in the locked position to prevent accidental movement of the pivoting member toward the unlocked position. |
| US07874016B2 |
Scanning probe microscope and scanning method
To realize to adapt to a shape of a surface, shorten a measurement time period and promote a measurement accuracy by setting a sampling interval in accordance with a slope of the shape of the surface and controlling a stylus in accordance with the interval, there is provided a scanning probe microscope, in which in scanning the stylus, an observation data immediately therebefore is stored as a history, the sampling interval in X or Y direction is set at each time based on a shape of the observation data, and the stylus is scanned to a successive sampling position. |
| US07874015B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for controlling distribution of digital content in a file sharing system using license-based verification, encoded tagging, and time-limited fragment validity
A method for controlling distribution of digital content includes fragmenting a digital content file into fragments and tagging at least some of the fragments with corresponding tags to provide tagged fragments for distribution. The tags may be generated using a pseudo-random number (PRN) bit sequence. A digital rights license is generated for the digital content file based on the tags and/or fragments. The digital rights license is configured to allow reassembly of the tagged fragments to provide the digital content file. Later, the fragments may be re-tagged with corresponding second tags to provide second tagged fragments for distribution that are different from the first tagged fragments. Related systems and computer program products are also discussed. |
| US07874011B2 |
Authenticating user identity when resetting passwords
The “identity authentication program” (IAP) creates a custom set of authentication questions in response to a user request to have a user password reset. The IAP accesses a record located in a data source containing information related to the user's recent computer activity and generates an authentication question and a corresponding answer based on the record. In order to reset a user password, the user must correctly answer a designated number of questions from the custom set of authentication questions. In a preferred embodiment, the IAP bases authentication questions on recent e-mail messages sent by the user. Because the questions are generated at the time of the user's request, the answers are unique and can not be memorized. Because the questions are based on recent activities of the user, the questions are hard to guess by an unauthorized person. |
| US07874009B2 |
Data processing device
Provided is a data processing device that can prevent data used by a program from being used by another program in an unauthorized manner, regardless of the quality of the programs. The data processing device includes: a CPU 0201 for executing programs; and an unauthorized operation prevention circuit 0105 that prevents unauthorized accesses to data between programs. An unauthorized operation prevention control unit 0106, which operates in the protected mode and controls the circuit 0105, judges whether or not to permit a program B 0103 that runs in the normal mode to use a memory area that is used by a program A 0102 that runs in the normal mode, based on a function flag assigned to the program B 0103. If it judges to permit, the circuit 0105 is set so that the program B 0103 can use the memory area. |
| US07873998B1 |
Rapidly propagating threat detection
A method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium to detect rapidly propagating threats in a network. A rapidly propagating threat is detected by capturing a series of packets as the packets are communicated to nodes of the organizational network. The rapidly propagating threat can be detected without relying upon a known signature for the threat. Behavior of nodes when sending and receiving packets is examined for patterns typical of worm propagation. |
| US07873990B2 |
Information processing apparatus, program and method for transmitting content in security scheme according to license policy
An information processing apparatus is connectable to a user device over a network. The apparatus includes a processor. The processor transmits, in response to reception of a request for a particular item of content, an identification of a security scheme which is applicable to transmission of the particular item of content in accordance with a license policy. When the item of content can be received by the user device in the security scheme, the processor transmits the item of content in the security scheme. |
| US07873984B2 |
Network security through configuration servers in the fabric environment
A network configuration device or entity has control of defined management and security functions in the network, or in many embodiments, in a Fiber Channel fabric. The network configuration device may control many functions. Foremost, it may control the recognition, operation and succession procedure for network configuration entities. It may also control user configurable options for the network, rules for interaction between other entities in the network, rules governing management-level access to the network, and rules governing management-level access to individual devices in the network. In addition, the network configuration entity may exploit policy sets to implement its control. |
| US07873973B2 |
Program guide system with combination category search
An interactive television program guide system is provided in which the program guide may provide the user with a selectable list of combination categories. Combination categories are composed of multiple simple categories such as sports, news, comedy, movies, children, etc. Program listings are supplied to the program guide. At least some of the program listings are associated with combination categories. A combination category build process may be used to assign combination categories to program listings. The user is able to use the selectable categories list to quickly identify programming of interest. |
| US07873971B2 |
Motor having chucking device and disk driving apparatus including same
A motor includes a chucking device to hold a disk having a central opening in a detachable manner. In the chucking device, a turntable part is arranged above a rotor holder and has a disk support surface for supporting the disk. An axially slidable cone part is arranged above the turntable part. A resilient member is axially arranged between the turntable part and the cone part upwardly biases the cone part. Further, the turntable part includes an inner table made of a metal and fixed to the shaft, and an outer table made of a resin material and fixed to an outside of the inner table. The outer table has the disk support surface and is axially spaced apart from the rotor holder in a position where the inner table and the outer table are fixed to each other. |
| US07873966B2 |
Method and apparatus for transferring data to virtual devices behind a bus expander
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for transferring data from a master to a set of applications executing on a slave. Data is received from a master at a device driver in the slave. The data is parsed for an identifier by a virtual hub in the slave, wherein the identifier is associated with the data by the master. The data is sent to an application within the set of applications based on the identifier. |
| US07873963B1 |
Method and system for detecting languishing messages
Provided is a method and system for detecting languishing messages of a storage operating system. Requests to access or manipulate data are received as messages by the storage operating system. The messages are processed after the acquisition of resources. If the resources cannot be acquired, then the messages wait on data structures of the storage operating system. An independent thread of the storage operating system identifies messages that are languishing. Information related to the languishing message is recorded and actions to permit messages to continue waiting or cause storage operating system downtime result. |
| US07873962B2 |
Distributed control systems and methods that selectively activate respective coordinators for respective tasks
Respective coordinators are spawned or activated to coordinate activities with regard to respective tasks. Where the respective tasks require cooperative efforts of a plurality of controllers, the respective coordinators ensure cooperative efforts by generating and communicating cooperative commands to the plurality of controllers. The coordinators may act as clearinghouses for system data, selectively requesting and relaying system information to appropriate controllers. For example, a document processing system activates respective coordinators for respective sheets of print media. The respective coordinators orchestrate the transportation of the sheets by sequentially orchestrating the activities of sequentially selected pluralities of transportation actuator controllers. Selected sheet position information from sensors and/or from models maintained by the actuator controllers may be relayed by the coordinators to selected actuator controllers as appropriate to the sheet transportation tasks. |
| US07873961B2 |
Supervisory operating system for running multiple child operating systems simultaneously and optimizing resource usage
A method and system for supporting simultaneous operation of operating systems on a single integrated circuit. The system includes a supervisory operating system (SOS) managing execution of instructions, each instruction being executable under one of the operating systems; registers grouped into multiple sets of registers, each set maintaining an identity of one of the operating systems; and a dispatcher capable of dispatching an instruction and a tag attached to the instruction, the tag identifying one of the operating systems and the instruction to be executed under the identified operating system to access one of the registers. One or more of the registers are utilized when the instruction is executed, and are included in a single set of the multiple sets of registers. The single set maintains the identity of the operating system identified by the tag, and each of the one or more registers includes an identifier matching the tag. |
| US07873960B2 |
Generic packaging tool for packaging application and component therefor to be installed on computing device
To package an application and a component to be available for use in connection with the application into a package, a type of the package and a location where the package is to be stored are received, as is a selection of the component to be packaged with the application. For the selected component, at least one packaging-specific object in such component is referred to to determine information on how to package the component in the package and/or how to install the component on the computing device of the user. |
| US07873959B2 |
Publishing the status of and updating firmware components
A read-only management object is created to contain information relating to firmware components that can be updated. This information includes a component identifier, a component version and a user-friendly name for the component. The information also includes a state identifier that indicates a state of a device that includes firmware components. Information from the management object can be used by other components as part of a firmware update process. An update management object is dynamically created to deliver an update package to the device. The update package can contain updates to multiple firmware components. |
| US07873955B1 |
Solidifying the executable software set of a computer
System and method for solidifying (or “freezing”) the set of software and configuration data available for execution on a computer. Any additional software installed on the computer after the solidification process will not execute, regardless of whether the installation is initiated or otherwise performed by a person with administrative privilege. The ability to allow new or modified software to execute on the computer rests with an integrity server separate from and outside of the solidified computer. The solidification of software and configuration data proceeds on a level of granularity selectable by the integrity server and any operators thereof. |
| US07873951B1 |
Automated object delegation
A Java code directive automatically defines the fields declaring methods in delegation objects such that the compiler generates the corresponding delegation signatures and/or headers. The configurations define a predetermined sequence, or annotation, of compiler interpreted instructions to identify a class as a delegation class from an invoking object, and generate the required signature, or header in the invoking object. The resulting signature satisfies the compiler restriction to implement each method in the delegation class. Particular methods for which a specific implementation is desired may then be superceded or supplemented by specific coded instructions in the invoking object. In this manner, a developer need not manually code the implementation, or signature (so-called “boilerplate code), for each method in a delegated object (class). |
| US07873950B2 |
Graph theory-based approach to XML data binding
A technique in accordance with one embodiment of the invention automatically generates class interfaces for regular expressions based on graphs that correspond to the regular expressions. According to one embodiment of the invention, a graph is automatically generated based on a regular expression. Strongly connected components within the graph are automatically identified. For each strongly connected component within the graph, a separate method is generated within a class interface for the regular expression. In one embodiment of the invention, if a strongly connected component contains a cycle, then the method corresponding to that strongly connected component is generated to return a List of “T,” where “T” is a type that is as specific as the contents of the strongly typed component permit. |
| US07873948B2 |
Method and system for split-compiling a hybrid language program
A combined language-compiler that provides for the efficient compilation process of hybrid computer code written using a plurality of computer languages by splitting the hybrid code in such a way that each code statement is optimally independently compliable. The designer specifies both computation and communication between different hybrid code modules. |
| US07873946B2 |
Scalable vector graphics, tree and tab as drag and drop objects
A mechanism is disclosed for providing Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) images, Tree and Tab as drag and drop objects. A page design tool receives an indication that a user wishes to place a metadata-defined image onto a page design canvas. The page design tool further receives an association of metadata defining the image, and in response, parses through the metadata to identify properties and characteristics of the metadata-defined image to expose to a user through a graphical user-interface of the page design tool. The page design tool enables a user to assign conditions to the exposed properties and characteristics of the image, as well as map available data sources to the properties and characteristics in order to dynamically control image properties during display. Hence, the page design tool presents graphical user interface tools for simply incorporating otherwise complex objects into page designs. |
| US07873943B2 |
Inserting stack clearing code in conservative garbage collection
A location to insert stack clearing code into a method to be executed in an execution environment of a computer system is determined. The stack clearing code is inserted into the location of the method. The stack clearing code is executed during execution of the method to clear a stack. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US07873941B2 |
Manager component that causes first software component to obtain information from second software component
A distributed software application comprises a first and second software component. A manager component of a management infrastructure for the distributed software application in one example causes a first software component of the distributed software application to obtain information from a second software component of the distributed software application for initialization of the first software component. |
| US07873938B2 |
Method for constructing a variable bitwidth video processor
A method for designing a video processor with a variable and programmable bitwidth parameter. The method comprises selecting logical operations having propagation delay that scales linearly with the bitwidth; determining a desired tradeoff curve; and grouping instances of a logic operation having same properties; for a single instance of each logic operation, matching an actual curve of the logic operation to the desired tradeoff curve, wherein the actual curve is determined by the propagation delay and bitwidth of the logic operation. |
| US07873937B2 |
System and method for lithography simulation
A system has been developed for simulating, verifying, inspecting, characterizing, determining and/or evaluating the lithographic designs, techniques and/or systems, and/or individual functions performed thereby or components used therein. In one embodiment, the system accelerates lithography simulation, inspection, characterization and/or evaluation of the optical characteristics and/or properties, as well as the effects and/or interactions of lithographic systems and processing techniques. In this regard, in one embodiment, the system employs a lithography simulation system architecture, including application-specific hardware accelerators, and a processing technique to accelerate and facilitate verification, characterization and/or inspection of a mask design, for example, RET design, including detailed simulation and characterization of the entire lithography process to verify that the design achieves and/or provides the desired results on final wafer pattern. The system includes: (1) general purpose-type computing device(s) to perform the case-based logic having branches and inter-dependency in the data handling and (2) accelerator subsystems to perform a majority of the computation intensive tasks. |
| US07873934B1 |
Method and apparatus for implementing carry chains on field programmable gate array devices
A method for designing a system to be implemented on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) includes identifying an adder from an intermediate representation of the system. Components on the target device are designated to support and implement the adder as a partitioned adder having a plurality of sub-adders each registering an intermediate result. |
| US07873932B2 |
Method for analyzing component mounting board
A method for analyzing a component mounting board comprising a step (A) for forming a multilayer substrate shell model of a multilayer wiring board, a step (B) for forming a multilayer component shell model divided by element division lines based on the bonding position of a component to the surface of the multilayer wiring board, step (C) for redividing the mounting position of the component in the multilayer substrate shell model, and step (D) for forming an analysis model by bonding the neutral plane of the substrate and the neutral plane of the component through one of a beam element and a solid element, i.e. a bonding element equivalent to mounting conditions of the component, wherein precision of analysis is enhanced while reducing computation cost by performing calculation while imparting boundary conditions to the analysis model. |
| US07873931B1 |
Congestion-based routing with reconfigurable cross-points for dense signal tapping
A computer-implemented method of incorporating probe points within a circuit design for implementation within an integrated circuit device can include routing probe nets of the circuit design in an overlap mode, identifying a plurality of probe net routes including a common overlapping portion, and including a switch at each location within the circuit design where at least two probe net routes of the plurality of probe net routes diverge from a common point. The circuit design can be output. |
| US07873929B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for designing an integrated circuit including generating at least one auxiliary pattern for cell-based optical proximity correction
Method and apparatus for designing an integrated circuit. A new layout is generated for at least one standard cell that incorporates an auxiliary pattern on a gate layer to facilitate cell-based optical proximity correction. An original placement solution is modified for a plurality of standard cells to permit incorporation of cells containing auxiliary patterns while improving an objective function of a resulting placement solution for the plurality of standard cells. |
| US07873928B2 |
Hierarchical analog IC placement subject to symmetry, matching and proximity constraints
A placement tool generates an optimal placement for a plurality of device modules within an analog integrated circuit (IC) subject to device matching, symmetry, and proximity constraints by first defining a multiple-level hierarchy of constraint groups, wherein each constraint group consists of elements that are subject to one of the placement constraints. Each element of each constraint group consists of either of one of the device modules or another one of the constraint groups residing at a lower level of the hierarchy. The tool then generates a hierarchical B*-tree representation of a trial placement for the IC including a separate node representing each constraint group of the hierarchy and a separate node for each of device module not included in any of the constraint groups. Each node representing a constraint group defines relative positions within the IC of each the device modules or lower level constraint groups forming the constraint group that are consistent with the placement constraint on the constraint group. The placement tool iteratively perturbs the hierarchical B*-tree to generate a sequence of trial placements for the IC design and then evaluates a cost function for each trial placement to select a best one of the trial placements as the optimal trial placement. |
| US07873925B2 |
Method and apparatus for computing test margins for at-speed testing
In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for computing margins for at-speed testing of integrated circuit chips. One embodiment of a method for computing a margin for at-speed testing of an integrated circuit chip design includes computing a statistical chip slack for the chip, computing a statistical test slack for the chip, and computing the margin from the chip slack and the test slack. |
| US07873922B2 |
Structure for robust cable connectivity test receiver for high-speed data receiver
A design structure embodied in a machine-readable medium used in a design process may include a system for detecting a fault in a signal transmission path. Such system may include, for example, a hysteresis comparator including a latch having n-type field effect transistor (“NFET”) storage elements. The hysteresis comparator may be operable to detect a crossing of a reference voltage level by an input signal arriving from the signal transmission path such that when the comparator does not detect an expected crossing of the reference voltage level by the input signal, the fault is determined to be detected in the signal transmission path. |
| US07873920B2 |
Methods and systems for displaying network information
Methods and systems for displaying a network structure using force-directed layout are provided. The network includes a plurality of nodes, each node including an associated slack parameter having a value. The method including selecting a central time-directed axis, positioning each network node along the axis using the associated slack parameter value of the network node to determine a distance from the central time-directed axis, and applying force-directed computations to sets of concurrent nodes. |
| US07873917B2 |
Locking relationships among parameters in computer programs
Some embodiments provide a method for locking in a mathematical relationship between a set of at least two parameters in a computer program. The method selects a first parameter. The method defines a mathematical relationship that ties the value of the first parameter to the value of a second parameter. In some embodiments, the mathematical relationship can be a mathematical function, a Boolean function, or a lookup table. The relationship could be directly entered by the user, or the computer program itself could derive it from the user's actions. In some embodiments, the first parameter can be locked to the mathematical relationship. The lock prevents the value of that parameter from being changed, except by changing the value of the second parameter. Some embodiments implement this method by using a GUI with an intuitive set of controls. |
| US07873914B2 |
Multi-layer focusing method and apparatus therefor
A method of and an apparatus for efficiently navigating a plurality of contents which are reproduced in a device for reproducing interactive contents, such as a computer, a DVD player, a PDA, or a cellular phone, by using a device having a limited number of input keys. Focusing layer values are allotted to contents elements to form focusing layers and the contents elements included in any one focusing layer are provided to a user. The focusing is moved when a command to move the focusing is input from the user. Accordingly, any kind of media storing interactive contents formed by using markup language is navigable using the device having the limited number of input keys, such as a television remote controller. |
| US07873912B1 |
Process and system for providing a reduced set of fields associated with a report layout
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for presenting fields associated with a report format suitable for displaying data associated with a plurality of fields, the plurality of fields being associated with one or more records. A layout is obtained, the layout being a report format including the plurality of fields. A user selection is received. A first list of fields that are pertinent to the layout (e.g., including the plurality of fields) is presented when the user selection is in a first state. For instance, the first list of fields may include only the fields that are in the layout (e.g., visible to the user). When the user selection is in a second state, a user is presented or provided access to a second list of fields, where the second list of fields includes fields that are not in the layout. The second list of fields may also include the fields that are pertinent to the layout (e.g., those fields in the layout). |
| US07873911B2 |
Methods for providing information services related to visual imagery
Methods for providing information services related to visual imagery and operational details of various methods are described. The methods enable the capture of visual imagery, the request and presentation of information services related to the visual imagery, augmentation of visual imagery and continued interaction with the information services. |
| US07873909B2 |
Manipulation and merging of graphic images
Multiple user interfaces are presented to allow a user to easily and quickly manipulate and merge graphical images. A first user interface allows the user to select amongst available graphical images one or more images to edit and merge. A second user interface allows the user to edit at least one of the selected images using a variety of editing features. Another user interface is provided to facilitate the merging of the selected images. Still another user interface is provided for editing the composite image created from the merging process. Finally, another user interface is provided to allow the user to output the image to file in an e-mail, to a printer, to memory, or the like. Providing multiple user interfaces allows for directed user interaction that increases the simplicity of creating composite graphical images. |
| US07873904B2 |
Internet visualization system and related user interfaces
Systems and methods are described for an Internet visualization system and related user interfaces. In one implementation, the system analyzes Internet search logs to determine most popular search queries across the world at a current time. A user interface displays a keyword of each of the most popular queries in a single visual display that relates each query to a geographical location of greatest popularity. The system can also filter queries according to demographics. In one implementation the user interface provides a 3-dimensional Internet visualization that adopts an ocean or seascape theme. The ocean floor displays a map of the world, and query bubbles rise from geographical locations on the map. The size and duration of each query bubble denotes the relative popularity of a given query. |
| US07873901B2 |
Small form factor web browsing
A large web page is analyzed and partitioned into smaller sub-pages so that a user can navigate the web page on a small form factor device. The user can browse the sub-pages to find and read information in the content of the large web page. The partitioning can be performed at a web server, an edge server, at the small form factor device, or can be distributed across one or more such devices. The analysis leverages design habits of a web page author to extract a representation structure of an authored web page. The extracted representation structure includes high level structure using several markup language tag selection rules and low level structure using visual boundary detection in which visual units of the low level structure are provided by clustering markup language tags. User viewing habits can be learned to display favorite parts of a web page. |
| US07873900B2 |
Ordering internet voice content according to content density and semantic matching
A method of establishing a bi-directional voice communication link with a network access provider, locating a page responsive to a voice command, identifying one or more highlights on the page, transmitting via the bi-directional voice communication link, a voice response corresponding to a aural recitation of the one or more highlights, receiving a voice selection signal identifying a selected one of the one or more highlights, and locating content associated with the selected one of the one or more highlights. |
| US07873899B2 |
Mapping schemes for creating and storing electronic documents
A method is provided for generating mapping schemes for creating target electronic documents with data from a source, and for storing data from source electronic documents into a target. Commands from a user are received creating a mapping between the attributes of the source and the attributes of the target. Multiple attributes of the source may be mapped to a single attribute of the target, and multiple attributes of the target can be mapped to a single attribute of the source. Commands, specifying actions to be performed when data from the source is converted to the target, may also be received from a user. A mapping scheme is then generated using the mapping between the source and target attributes, and the actions defined on the source and the target. |
| US07873898B2 |
System and method for searching error messages
A user interface component receives an input error message. A query enhancer component derives error messages from the input error messages using error pattern(s) representative of the input error message and error sub-pattern(s) of the error pattern(s). A result aggregator component inputs each error message to search engines, receives search results, aggregates the search results, and provides the search results to the user interface. The enhancer component may include a pattern composer component to locate error patterns representative of the input error message, and a sub-pattern generator component to derive error sub-patterns from the error patterns. The aggregator component may determine whether the search results are in agreement with a predetermined criterion. If not, the aggregator component may request the enhancer component to provide additional error messages to input to the search engines. This process can be iteratively repeated until the search results are in agreement with the predetermined criterion. |
| US07873897B2 |
Devices and methods for bit-level coding and decoding of turbo codes
A bit-level turbo code encoder is provided. The bit-level turbo code encoder is configured to receive a first input data sequence and generate a first output data sequence. The bit-level turbo code encoder includes a first non-binary convolutional code encoder, a bit-level interleaver, and a second non-binary convolutional code encoder. The first non-binary convolutional code encoder is configured to process the first input data sequence and generate a second output data sequence. The bit-level interleaver is configured to receive the first input data sequence as a first sequence and interleave the first sequence at bit level to generate a fourth sequence. The second non-binary convolutional code encoder is coupled with the bit-level interleaver and configured to receive the fourth sequence and process the fourth sequence to generate a third output data sequence. |
| US07873895B2 |
Memory subsystems with fault isolation
An exemplary memory subsystem with fault isolation comprises a first data bus routing data groupings in a lower 72 bits to a first memory expander, and a second data bus routing data groupings in an upper 72 bits to a second memory expander. A first memory module receives all of the data groupings in the lower 72 bits of each memory expander. A second memory module receives all of the data groupings in the upper 72 bits of each memory expander. A failure in any one or more bytes in an ECC word indicate failures in the computer memory system. |
| US07873893B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding data
A method and apparatus for turbo encoding with a contention-free interleaver is provided herein. During operation an input block of size K′ is received. The original input block and the interleaved input block are encoded to obtain a codeword block, wherein the original input block is interleaved using an interleaver of size K′ and a permutation π(i)=(f1×i+f2×i2)mod K′, where 0≦i≦K′−1 is the sequential index of the symbol positions after interleaving, π(i) is the symbol index before interleaving corresponding to position i, K′ is the interleaver size in symbols, and f1 and f2 are the factors defining the interleaver. The values of K′, f1, f2 are taken from at least one row of a table. The codeword block is transmitted through the channel. |
| US07873887B2 |
Burn-in test circuit, burn-in test method, burn-in test apparatus, and a burn-in test pattern generation program product
A burn-in test circuit according to the present invention includes a scan chain formed by a plurality of scan flip-flips connected in series, a circuit under test input with an output from one of the plurality of scan flip-flops as an activation signal, and a scan chain loop circuit being configured to an output signal of the scan chain determined according to an output of the circuit under test back to the scan chain. |
| US07873883B2 |
Method for scrubbing storage in a computer memory
A method for scrubbing storage in a computer memory which includes a plurality of memory modules each having plurality of memory chips. The method includes selecting a pattern that correlates with physical structures for scanning the memory chips of the memory modules for errors, scanning a memory chip of a memory module for errors based upon the selected pattern. The method further includes successively scanning remaining memory chips of the respective memory module for errors when an error is found in the scanned memory chip, and scanning a memory chip of another memory module when an error is not found in the scanned memory chip of the respective memory module. |
| US07873882B2 |
Circuits and methods for repairing defects in memory devices
Some embodiments of the invention include a memory device has a number of memory segments connected to a supply source through a supply control circuit. The supply control circuit isolates a selected memory segment from the supply source when the selected memory segment is defective. The memory device replaces a defective memory segment with a redundant segment. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07873878B2 |
Data integrity validation in storage systems
A data storage method comprises storing first data in at least a first data chunk, wherein the first data chunk is a logical representation of one or more sectors on at least a first disk drive in a storage system; storing first metadata, associated with the first data, in at least a first appendix, wherein the first appendix is a logical representation of a sector region on at least the first disk drive in the storage system, and wherein the first metadata comprises first atomicity metadata (AMD) and first validity metadata (VMD) associated with the first data; and storing a copy of the first VMD for the first data in at least one low latency non-volatile storage (LLNVS) device. |
| US07873875B2 |
Debugging system, debugging circuit and information processing apparatus
A debugging system includes a CPU that is a debugging target and a debugging circuit. The CPU has an output part configured to independently output stack access information of a stack access and data access information of a data access excluding the stack access, as data access information of the CPU that is monitored by the debugging circuit. The debugging circuit has a trace part configured to independently generate and output trace information of the stack access from the stack access information that is output from the CPU and trace information of the data access excluding the stack access from the data access information that is output from the CPU. |
| US07873874B2 |
System and method for controlling synchronous functional microprocessor redundancy during test and analysis
A system for testing a processor. The system includes a gold processor and a test access port (TAP). A processor that is a under test (DUT) is coupled to both the gold processor and the TAP. Test signals are simultaneously provided to both the gold processor and the DUT such that the gold processor and the DUT operate in synchronous functional lockstep. The TAP may also input test signals into the gold processor and DUT simultaneously and access data from each of these processors through separate test data out (TDO) connections. Test output data accessed from the gold processor may be compared to test output data accessed from the DUT to determine if any differences are present. The comparison data generated may then be used for analysis purposes. |
| US07873872B1 |
System and method for remotely debugging application programs
A method, system, and apparatus for debugging an application program from a workstation that is remote from a server on which the application program resides includes invoking the application program from the workstation via a network interface; displaying a user frame at the workstation that includes information generated by the application program; providing a debug view option at the workstation for generating a debug frame of the application program; and displaying the debug frame at the workstation when the debug view option is selected. A user can select options to switch between the user frame and the debug frame. The debug frame includes information about one or more components of the application program such as a list of the variables or objects, and the fields, methods, and/or the constructors associated with them. When the debug view option is selected, the information for the user frame is saved, and can be restored to regenerate the information on the user frame when the user view option is selected. The developer can view internal, public, and private code associated with the application program without compromising the security of other application programs on the server. This ability to remotely debug application programs in accordance with the present invention is thus more time and cost efficient than previous methods, and also alleviates concerns about security and unauthorized access to the server. |
| US07873870B2 |
Storage controller and data erasing method for storage device
A storage controller changes a block size to carry out a shredding process. A data shredder uses a large block size set by a block size setting part to write shredding data in a storage area of a disk drive and erase data stored therein. An error arising during the writing operation of the shredding data is detected by an error detecting part. When the error is detected, the block size setting part sets the block size smaller by one stage than the initial block size to the data shredder. Every time the error arises, the block size used in the shredding process is diminished. Thus, the number of times of writings of the shredding data is reduced as much as possible to improve a processing speed and erase the data of a wide range as much as possible. |
| US07873868B1 |
Method for obtaining higher throughput in a computer system utilizing a clustered systems manager
An apparatus for and method of enhancing reliability and performance within a cluster lock processing system having a relatively large number of commodity instruction processors which are managed by a highly scalable, off the shelf platform. Because the commodity processors have virtually no system viability features such as memory protection, failure recovery, etc., the cluster/lock processors assume the responsibility for providing these functions. The low cost of the commodity instruction processors makes the system almost linearly scalable. The cluster/locking, caching, and mass storage accessing functions are fully integrated into a single hardware platform which performs the role of the cluster/lock master. The validity operation throughput of the clustered systems manager is increased by aging out validity entries for each of the process owners via a background operation. This minimizes the number of exclusive locks that must be utilized while performing a validity operation. |
| US07873866B2 |
Computer system, storage system and configuration management method
Maintenance storage system by storage system is enabled, and the removal or replacement of a storage system is enabled while continuing the operation of a system.In a computer system including a first storage system having a plurality of first storage devices and a second storage system having a plurality of second storage devices, when the number of the first storage devices under normal operation in the first storage system is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold, and data stored in the first storage devices under normal operation can be migrated to the second storage devices, the data stored in the first storage devices under normal operation are duplicated to the second storage devices, and information indicating that the first storage system can be removed from the computer system is output. |
| US07873863B2 |
Portable computing device with a non-volatile memory drive
A portable computing device, in which an internal non-volatile memory drive that is used to boot to a functional device GUI is automatically swapped with a temporary RAM drive if the internal non-volatile memory drive is found to be corrupted. The non-volatile memory is typically Flash memory, but the principle of the present invention can be applied to any kind of non-volatile memory that could become corrupted. Default configuration files may be automatically copied to the RAM drive. These may, for example, allow at least emergency voice calls to be made. |
| US07873862B2 |
Maintaining a primary time server as the current time server in response to failure of time code receivers of the primary time server
A primary time server of a Coordinated Timing Network remains as current time server, even if time code information of the primary time server is unavailable. The primary time server receives the necessary or desired timing information from a secondary time server and uses that information to maintain time synchronization within the Coordinated Timing Network. |
| US07873861B2 |
Apparatus to use fabric initialization to test functionality of all inter-chip paths between processors in system
A method, apparatus, and program for systematically testing the functionality of all connections in a multi-tiered bus system that connects a large number of processors. Each bus controller is instructed to send a test version of a snoop request to all of the other processors and to wait for the replies. If a connection is bad, the port associated with that connection will time out. Detection of a time-out will cause the initialization process to be halted until the problem can be isolated and resolved. |
| US07873860B2 |
External storage and data recovery method for external storage as well as program
The data is automatically recovered to a desired arbitrary point in an external storage without imposing a burden on the host computer. An application on a host computer instructs data recovery control processing of a disk control apparatus to set a recovery opportunity. It is possible to register arbitrary plural points as a recoverable point by setting a recovery flag included in journal data. In the case in which data is recovered due to occurrence of a failure or the like, the application requests a list showing recovery opportunities which have already been set. The application designates a point to which data is recovered on the basis of the recovery opportunity list. The disk control apparatus recovers the data to the designated point on the basis of a backup disk and a journal disk. |
| US07873858B2 |
Clock signal generation device and method
A clock signal generator for a USB device. The clock signal generator includes a control circuit and a clock generator that does not need to include a crystal oscillator. The control circuit counts the cycle of the clock signal during the period between two sync signals successively inputted, and generates a frequency control signal corresponding to the count value. The clock generator generates the clock signal with a frequency corresponding to the frequency control signal. The clock signal generator can generate a clock signal that is suitable for the data transfer rate defined, in the USB specification. In addition, the clock; signal generator can generate an RX clock signal so that an RX data signal can be recovered with its energy being stable. |
| US07873857B2 |
Multi-component module fly-by output alignment arrangement and method
A method and multi-component electronic module device are provided that control the timing of output of data from a plurality of components on the multi-component module. One or more of the components are programmed to delay outputting data by a corresponding amount of time. In one embodiment, the one or more components are programmed such that all of the components output data at substantially the same time when they respond to a control signal. This is particularly useful for multi-component modules that are configured to respond to control signals in a so-called fly-by (or other) configuration that results in the control signal arriving at the components at different times causing the components to react to the control signal at different times. |
| US07873855B2 |
Method, system and calibration technique for power measurement and management over multiple time frames
A method and system and calibration technique for power measurement and management over multiple time frames provides responsive power control while meeting global system power consumption and power dissipation limits. Power output of one or more system power supplies is measured and processed to produce power values over multiple differing time frames. The measurements from the differing time frames are used to determine whether or not system power consumption should be adjusted and then one or more devices is power-managed in response to the determination. The determination may compare a set of maximum and/or minimum thresholds to each of the measurements from the differing time frames. A calibration technique uses a precision reference resistor and voltage reference controlled current source to introduce a voltage drop from the input side of a power supply sense resistor calibration is made at the common mode voltage of the power supply output. |
| US07873853B2 |
Data storage apparatus, power control, method, and communication apparatus
A data storage apparatus includes a memory, a monitoring unit for monitoring an unauthorized action on data stored in the memory, a first power supply for supplying power to the monitoring unit, and a power storage unit which supplies power to the monitoring unit when supply of the power from the first power supply to the monitoring unit is stopped and which is charged while the power is being supplied from the first power supply to the monitoring unit. |
| US07873852B2 |
Logical battery partitions configured by user interface
A logical battery partitioning approach is disclosed. In one embodiment, a power management system in a portable computing device having a plurality of subsystems can include: (i) a battery coupled to a plurality of subsystems; (ii) a first battery variable provided to a first subsystem to indicate a characteristic of a first logical battery partition; and (iii) a second battery variable provided to a second subsystem to indicate a characteristic of a second logical battery partition. A battery variable can include an accessibility control, or a percent of battery power available, for example. |
| US07873851B1 |
Powering disk drive spinup
A method is used in powering disk drive spinup. A disk drive is powered with a primary power source and is temporarily powered with a secondary power source in addition to the primary power source. The secondary power source powers the disk drive when the disk drive is spinning up. |
| US07873849B2 |
Motion sensor data processing using various power management modes
Systems and methods for processing motion sensor data using various power management modes of an electronic device are provided. Power may be provided to a motion sensor during a first power mode of the device. In response to the motion sensor detecting a motion event with a magnitude exceeding a threshold, the sensor may transmit a wake up signal to a power management unit of the device. In response to receiving the wake up signal, the power management unit may switch the device to a second power mode. The device may provide power to a processor and load the processor with a motion sensing application when switching to the second power mode. During the second power mode, motion sensor data may be processed to determine that the motion event is not associated with an intentional user input and the device may return to the first power mode. |
| US07873848B2 |
Method for rapidly shifting a communication apparatus to a power save mode in an adhoc network
Power saving cannot be implemented in the adhoc mode by only the IEEE 802.11 standard. This is because communication partners mutually utilize the power save mode in the adhoc mode, and their states must always be managed. In the adhoc mode, the number of communication partners is not always one, and all stations which join a network are candidates, increasing the load of implementation. To solve this problem, a communication apparatus notifies a change to power save mode by an ATIM packet, RTS packet, or null packet. When the ATIM packet or RTS packet is transmitted, the communication apparatus can notify the partner of a change in mode regardless of whether the partner is in the power save mode. When the null packet is transmitted, the communication apparatus can rapidly notify the partner without waiting for any beacon. |
| US07873846B2 |
Enabling a heterogeneous blade environment
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving a request for power-up of a first blade of a chassis, enabling the first blade to power-up in a reduced boot mode and receiving a communication including characteristic information and policy information associated with the first blade, and analyzing the characteristic information and the policy information to determine a policy and a boot configuration for the first blade. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07873842B2 |
Power supplier with combinable power output ports
A power supplier with combinable power output ports includes plural power output ports which include at least a unit output port, wherein the unit output port has two terminal slots in which two power terminals at different potentials are respectively mounted, and the unit output port can be combined with another power output port to form a combined output port having another voltage output. The power supplier of the present invention, according to the demands of the user, provides different voltage output standards or sets through combining the unit output port with another unit output port or combining the unit output port with the base level output port to transform into the needed voltage output. |
| US07873839B2 |
Method of and apparatus for reproducing information, and security module
An information reproducing apparatus of the present invention includes a secure module and a main memory. The information in the secure module can not be accessed from outside. The secure module reads, using a direct access method, information relating to software stored in the main memory. The secure module checks a falsification of the software by comparing the information read with the information stored in advance in the secure module. |
| US07873836B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method, recording medium, program, and wireless communication system
The present invention provides a wireless communication system having a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus communicating with each other in a wireless manner. The first information processing apparatus includes first transmission means for transmitting a wireless signal for computing a position of the first information processing apparatus to a second information processing apparatus. The second information processing apparatus includes first reception means, computation means, determination means, and second transmission means. The first information processing apparatus further includes second reception means for receiving the data transmitted from the second information processing apparatus. |
| US07873834B2 |
Image forming apparatus, storage medium storing program for acquiring time stamp, digital data management system, and method for acquiring time stamp
An image forming apparatus having a network communication function, includes a data input unit which inputs digital data; a data transmission unit which transmits the input digital data to a data management server for management of data; a digest generation unit which generates a digest of the input digital data; a digest storage unit which stores the digest generated by the digest generation unit; a time stamp acquisition unit which acquires a time stamp for authentication of an input time of the digital data from a time stamp station by issuing a time stamp request including the stored digest at a scheduled time; and a data management directive unit which transmits the acquired time stamp to the data management server for management of the time stamp and the transmitted digital data, associated with each other. |
| US07873832B2 |
Mechanism for secure participation in a transaction by a third party
Mechanisms for securely allowing a participant computing entity to engage in a transaction initiated by an initiator computing entity and managed by a coordinator computing entity. The initiator provides a transaction initiation request to the coordinator. Upon receipt, the coordinator accessing a transaction coordination context that includes information such as a secure key that may be used by a participant to register in the transaction. The coordinator then provides the coordination context to the initiator, which provides the coordination context to the participant(s) that are also to engage in the transaction. Each participant then generates a registration request that is based on the coordination context, and that is secured using the secure key provided in the coordination context. |
| US07873827B2 |
Communication system, certificate update device, and communication device
There is provided a communication systems in which a public key certificate is easily updated. The administration PC transmits SSL communication request to the print server which is searched by the print server search broadcast. If the server certificate (public key certificate) received from the print server at the time of SSL handshake is determined to be likely to expire, the CSR create request and the CSR parameters are transmitted to the print server. The print server creates CSR based on the received CSR parameters, and transmits the CSR to the administration PC. The administration PC transmits the received CSR to the CA. The CA generates the server certificate based on the received, and transmits the CSR to the administration PC 20. The administration PC transmits the certificate install request and the server certificate to the print server. The print server updates the server certificate by installing the received server certificate. |
| US07873817B1 |
High speed multi-threaded reduced instruction set computer (RISC) processor with hardware-implemented thread scheduler
A reduced instruction set computer (RISC) processor includes a processing core, which is arranged to process a software thread. A hardware-implemented scheduler is arranged to receive respective contexts of a plurality of software threads, to determine a schedule for processing of the software threads by the processing core, and to serve the contexts to the processing core in accordance with the schedule. |
| US07873816B2 |
Pre-loading context states by inactive hardware thread in advance of context switch
A circuit arrangement and method utilize thread pair context caching, where a pair of hardware threads in a multithreaded processor, which are each capable of executing a process, are effectively paired together, at least temporarily, to perform context switching operations such as context save and/or load operations in advance of context switches performed in one or more of such paired hardware threads. By doing so, the overall latency of a context switch, where both the context for a process being switched from must be saved, and the context for the process being switched to must be loaded, may be reduced. |
| US07873815B2 |
Digital signal processors with configurable dual-MAC and dual-ALU
DSP architectures having improved performance are described. In an exemplary architecture, a DSP includes two MAC units and two ALUs, where one of the ALUs replaces an adder for one of the two MAC units. This DSP may be configured to operate in a dual-MAC/single-ALU configuration, a single-MAC/dual-ALU configuration, or a dual-MAC/dual-ALU configuration. This flexibility allows the DSP to handle various types of signal processing operations and improves utilization of the available hardware. The DSP architectures further includes pipeline registers that break up critical paths and allow operations at a higher clock speed for greater throughput. |
| US07873813B2 |
Variable length VLIW instruction with instruction fetch control bits for prefetching, stalling, or realigning in order to handle padding bits and instructions that cross memory line boundaries
A computer system with a processing unit and a memory. The processing unit is arranged to fetch memory lines from the memory and execute instructions from the memory lines. Each memory line is fetched as a whole and is capable of holding more than one instruction. An instruction comprises information that signals explicitly how the processing unit, when processing the instruction from a current memory line, should control how a part of processing is affected by crossing of a boundary to a subsequent memory line. The processing unit responds to the information by controlling said part as signaled by the information. |
| US07873810B2 |
Microprocessor instruction using address index values to enable access of a virtual buffer in circular fashion
A modular subtraction instruction for execution on a microprocessor having at least one register. The instruction includes opcode bits for designating the instruction and operand bits for designating at least one register storing an offset index, a decrement value, and an address index. When the modular subtraction instruction is executed on the microprocessor, the address index is modified by the decrement value if the address index is not zero and is modified by the offset index if the address index is zero. For example, the address index is repeatedly decremented using the decrement value until it reaches zero, and then the address index is reset back to the offset index. The operand bits may include multiple fields identifying multiple registers selected from the general purpose registers of the microprocessor. The modular subtraction instruction enables access to a buffer in memory in circular fashion by virtue of its operation. |
| US07873807B1 |
Relocating a program module from NVRAM to RAM during the PEI phase of an EFI-compatible firmware
Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media for relocating a program module executing within a PEI phase from a NVRAM to a RAM are provided. According to one method, a program module is executed from NVRAM prior to RAM being initialized in the PEI phase. While the program module is executing from the NVRAM, it is operative to store an in-memory entry point in a hand-off block. When the RAM is initialized and becomes available in the PEI phase, the in-memory entry point for the module is retrieved from the hand-off block. The RAM address of the in-memory entry point is then calculated, and the program module is executed from the RAM at the calculated in-memory entry point. |
| US07873804B2 |
Apparatus for facilitating disaster recovery
An apparatus, method, and computer program for facilitating disaster recovery of a first computer system, wherein first data residing on a first storage device associated with the first computer system is recoverable from second data residing on a second storage device associated with a second computer system and wherein the second storage device is operable to have an associated state of powered up or powered down. A receiver receives an update operation for updating the second storage device. A processor updates a non-volatile storage means with the update operation, prior to update of the second storage device, wherein the non-volatile storage means is associated with the second computer system. |
| US07873802B2 |
Systems and methods for recovering electronic information from a storage medium
In one embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for retrieving certain electronic information previously stored on certain storage media after a threshold set in the storage retention criteria has been exceeded in an electronic information storage system that stores electronic information on storage media in accordance with a storage retention criteria is provided. The method includes storing a record in a memory associated with a system manager that assigns the storage retention criteria to the certain electronic data, designating the storage media available for overwrite after the threshold set in the storage retention policy has been exceeded, identifying the certain storage media available for overwrite, and retrieving information from the certain media after the threshold set in the storage retention policy has been exceeded. |
| US07873801B2 |
Partitionable accounting of memory utilization
Managing physical memory for one or more processes with both a minimum and a maximum amount of physical memory. Memory sets are created, each specifying a number of credits. The total number of credits specified by all memory sets are equal to the total number of pages in physical memory. One or more processes are bound to a memory set. All of the processes bound to a memory set are collectively referred to as the workload of the memory set. Each physical page is accounted for to ensure that each workload can utilize at least the number of physical pages equaling the number of credits in its memory set. Additionally, a workload is permitted to use physical pages that are being explicitly shared by workloads of other memory sets. Accordingly, a workload with both a minimum and a maximum amount of physical memory is specified by its memory set. |
| US07873800B2 |
Address generator for an interleaver memory and a deinterleaver memory
Method and device for generating an address value for addressing an interleaver memory. Consecutive address fragments to which a most significant bit(s) is to be appended are generated. Only a fraction of the address fragments generated, which potentially will exceed a maximum allowable value, is compared to the maximum allowable value. If the compared address fragment exceeds the maximum allowable value it is discarded. If the compared address fragment does not exceed the maximum allowable value it is accepted. |
| US07873798B2 |
Information processing device and method, recording medium, and program
An information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a recording medium, and a program for generating preference information based on consecutively and inconsecutively viewed programs recommends the programs matching a user's preferences. A preference information extraction unit extracts program preference information based on metadata about programs and records a history of viewing of the programs. Preference information about a program that has been viewed for the first time is recorded as special program preference information. User preference information is generated on the basis of information about the preferred programs whose viewing count has exceeded a threshold value. A control unit automatically makes recording reservations of the programs whose viewing count has exceeded the threshold value. If an automatic recording reservation is canceled, a preference information updating unit updates the user preference information to reflect the metadata about the program whose recording reservation has been canceled. |
| US07873793B1 |
Supporting speculative modification in a data cache
Method and system for supporting speculative modification in a data cache are provided and described. A data cache comprises a plurality of cache lines. Each cache line includes a state indicator for indicating anyone of a plurality of states, wherein the plurality of states includes a speculative state to enable keeping track of speculative modification to data in the respective cache line. The speculative state enables a speculative modification to the data in the respective cache line to be made permanent in response to a first operation performed upon reaching a particular instruction boundary during speculative execution of instructions. Further, the speculative state enables the speculative modification to the data in the respective cache line to be undone in response to a second operation performed upon failing to reach the particular instruction boundary during speculative execution of instructions. |
| US07873792B2 |
Prefetching in a virtual memory system based upon repeated accesses across page boundaries
A system and method of improved handling of large pages in a virtual memory system. A data memory management unit (DMMU) detects sequential access of a first sub-page and a second sub-page out of a set of sub-pages that comprise a same large page. Then, the DMMU receives a request for the first sub-page and in response to such a request, the DMMU instructs a pre-fetch engine to pre-fetch at least the second sub-page if the number of detected sequential accesses equals or exceeds a predetermined value. |
| US07873781B2 |
Data storage management method for selectively controlling reutilization of space in a virtual tape system
A method for selectively controlling reutilization of space in a virtual tape system (VTS) having a buffer and a multiple volume tape cartridge includes transferring data volume files to the VTS. The buffer transfers the data making up these files as virtual tape volumes (VTVs) to different locations of the cartridge for storage. A file is selectively designated for the VTS to delete from storage after a date included with the file has elapsed by deleting the VTVs corresponding to the file from the cartridge to reuse space of the cartridge. The method includes detecting if a file transferred as VTVs to the cartridge has been designated for deletion. The VTS is prohibited from deleting the file after the date has elapsed if the file was not designated for deletion and is allowed to delete the file after the date has elapsed if the file was not designated for deletion. |
| US07873779B2 |
Memory page size auto detection
Methods and apparatuses are presented for memory page size auto detection. A method for automatically determining a page size of a memory device includes receiving page size extents of the memory device, determining a bus width of the memory device, detecting a number of pages having an automatic detection marker, and determining the page size of the memory device based upon the detected number of pages and the received page size extents. An apparatus for automatically determining page size detection includes logic for performing the above presented method. |
| US07873776B2 |
Multiple-core processor with support for multiple virtual processors
A multiple-core processor with support for multiple virtual processors. In one embodiment, a processor may include a cache including a number of cache banks, a number of processor cores and core/bank mapping logic coupled to the cache banks and processor cores. During a first mode of processor operation, each of the processor cores may be configurable to access any of the cache banks, and during a second mode of processor operation, the core/bank mapping logic may be configured to implement a plurality of virtual processors within the processor. A first virtual processor may include a first subset of the processor cores and a first subset of the banks, and a second virtual processor may include a second subset of the processor cores and a second subset of the cache banks. Subsets of processor cores and cache banks included in the first and second virtual processors may be distinct. |
| US07873772B2 |
Portable and programmable medical device
A medical device system includes a portable medical device and a docking unit on which the medical device can be removably mounted. The docking unit is configured to communicate with a controller of the medical device when the medical device is mounted on the docking unit to instruct the controller to execute a selected program. |
| US07873768B2 |
Peripheral device enabling enhanced communication
An apparatus including first and second memory devices, wherein each memory device includes data storage, a controller for controlling data transfer to and from the data storage, and a plug with contacts for connecting with the power, ground, and data contacts of an independent port of a host system. Additionally, the first and second memory devices are interconnected to share power and communicate data directly between the first and second memory devices. The memory devices may be any type of external memory device, such as a flash drive, or a peripheral device having a high data transfer rate, such as a digital video camera. |
| US07873766B2 |
Integrated systems testing
A hard disk drive system comprises an interface that receives test configuration data, that transmits test result data, and that transmits and receives application data. A system on chip (SOC) includes integrated system test (IST) modules. A memory module communicates with the SOC and includes memory and an IST module. One of the IST modules communicates with the interface and is a master IST module that receives the test configuration data and that configures others of the IST modules for testing a component of the hard disk drive system. |
| US07873765B1 |
Method and system for detection of peripheral devices and communication of related devices
Detecting of peripheral devices and communication of related information are described herein. One or more devices are detected. The one or more devices may include a peripheral device coupled to a client. Data regarding the detected devices is obtained. Such data may include information about the devices and their accessories. One or more offerings related to the one or more peripheral device are obtained based on the data. The one or more offerings may include advertisements regarding the devices. The one or more offerings relating to the devices are received at the client. Then, the one or more offerings are presented at the client. |
| US07873764B2 |
Switch with enhanced human interface device support
The present invention relates to a system and method for switching keyboard human interface devices (HIDs) and video displays. Provided is a switch with emulation support for advanced HID features. The switch uses information contained in HID report descriptors to extract information contained in HID reports and insert the extracted information into a switch report, which is sent to a host computer. |
| US07873761B2 |
Data pipeline management system and method for using the system
The present invention relates to a data pipeline management system and more particularly to a minimum memory solution for unidirectional data pipeline management in a situation where both the Producer and Consumer need asynchronous access to the pipeline, data is non-atomic, and only the last complete (and validated) received message is relevant and once a data read from/write to the pipeline is initiated, that data must be completely processed. The data pipeline management system according to the invention can be implemented as a circular queue of as little as three entries and an additional handshake mechanism, implemented as a set of indices that can fit in a minimum of six bits (2×2+2×1). Both the Producer and Consumer will have a 2 bit index indicating where they are in the queue, and a 1 bit binary value indicating a special situation. Both parties can read all the indices but can only write their own, i.e. P and wrapP for the Producer and C and wrapC for the Consumer. For management of the handshakes a set of rules is provided. |
| US07873759B2 |
Information processing system and method of allocating I/O to paths in same
Provided is an information processing system that communicates with a storage apparatus through a plurality of paths Pi (i=1 to n, where n is a total number of the paths), and that issues an I/O to the storage apparatus through one of the paths Pi. The information processing system sets weights Wi for the respective paths Pi; obtains an I/O issue interval di of each of the paths Pi by dividing a sum total ΣWi of the weights Wi by the weight Wi set for the path Pi; obtains I/O issue timings ti(m)of each of the paths Pi by using the following equation: ti(m)=di/C+m·di (m=0, 1, 2, . . . ) (where C is a constant); and issues the I/Os to the paths Pi in an order corresponding to the an order of the I/O issue timings ti(m) chronologically arranged. |
| US07873757B2 |
Controlling complex non-linear data transfers
A direct memory access controller for controlling data transfer between a plurality of data sources and a plurality of data destinations is disclosed. The plurality of data sources and data destinations communicate with the direct memory access controller via a plurality of channels, the direct memory access controller further communicates with a memory and a processor. The memory stores two sets of control data for each of the plurality of channels and for the processor. The direct memory access controller is responsive to a data transfer request received from one of said plurality of channels or from said processor to access one set of said corresponding control data stored in said memory, said direct memory access performing at least a portion of said data transfer requested in dependence upon said accessed control data. |
| US07873754B2 |
Structure for option ROM characterization
A design structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium for designing, manufacturing, and/or testing a design is disclosed for option ROM characterization by establishing an isolating execution environment for an expansion adapter of a computer, the adapter having an option ROM containing initialization code for the adapter, executing the initialization code for the expansion adapter in the isolating execution environment, identifying operating characteristics of the option ROM, including characteristics of the option ROM unavailable prior to execution of the initialization code in the isolating execution environment, and allocating virtual memory address space in a normal execution environment of the computer to the option ROM of the expansion adapter in dependence upon the identified operating characteristics of the option ROM. |
| US07873749B2 |
Delivering multimedia services
Disclosed is a scalable, hierarchical, distributed network architecture and processes for the delivery of high-performance, end-to-end online multimedia services, including Internet services such as World Wide Web access. The network architecture connects a high-speed private backbone to multiple network access points of the Internet, to a network operation center, to a back office system, and to multiple regional servers in regional data centers. Each of the regional servers connects to several caching servers in modified head-ends, which in turn connect via fiber optics to many neighborhood nodes. Finally, each node connects via coaxial cable to multiple end-user systems. The processes include those for replicating and caching frequently-accessed content, and multicasting content customized per region or locality. |
| US07873748B2 |
Synchronization of locally and remotely stored browser data
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for displaying information within a browser. Server browser information is stored on a web server. The server browser information includes a set of first category categories and a set of second category categories. An indication of whether a user is on a public system or a private system is received by the web server. Responsive to receiving the indication that the user is on a public system, only the set of public categories of the browser information is displayed to the user. |
| US07873746B2 |
User interface for a portable, image-processing transmitter
This disclosure details the implementation of a user interface for a portable, image-processing transmitter. The Transmitter's user interface comprises a compact and efficient forum for managing, manipulating, storing, and transmitting digital images of various formats across a wide array of transmission means and protocols. Embodiments of the Transmitter may be employed by photographers, photojournalists, and/or the like to rapidly process, edit, and send high-quality photographs or video to multiple news agencies, newspapers, magazines, television studios, websites, and/or the like while maintaining control over their photographs by allowing them to send reduced quality and watermarked proofs. The Transmitter may be configured via the user interface to allow users seeking to transmit large, high-resolution images to first generate and transmit low-resolution preview images, thereby saving on transmission time and resources. Full resolution versions of the images may then be transmitted as approvals of the preview versions are received. |
| US07873745B2 |
Message receipt version management in network
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for message receipt version management in a distributed computing environment including a plurality of nodes is provided. At least one translation vector is received in at least one additional node of the plurality of nodes from a first node. The translation vector provides information for the at least one additional node to translate between multiple message versions. A message is translated between versions according to the at least one translation vector. The translated message is forwarded to an application program. In one embodiment, the at least one translation vector is stored for future use. |
| US07873744B2 |
Configuration of fibre channel SAN path
System and computer program product are provided to configure a path between nodes through a fabric in a fibre channel storage area network (SAN). A node name is provided for a target node on the SAN and a port name is provided for each port in the target node. A relationship is established in a data structure between each port name and a slot in which each port is physically located in the target node. Prior to configuring a path between a source node and a port in the target node, the ports which are physically connected and logged in to the fabric are identified by port address. The port names corresponding to the port addresses are then identified. The port names are used to generate interface_ids of the ports corresponding to the physical slots in which the ports are located. A data structure is created to maintain the relationship between interface_ids and port names. To establish a path connection between a port in the source node and a selected port in the target node, the node name of the target node and the interface_id of the selected port are input to the data structure and the port name of the selected port is output. The port name is then used to obtain the address of the selected port and an I/O session path opened between the source and target nodes. |
| US07873742B1 |
Providing content per delivery endpoint
Selecting content for processing based on user device preferences and characteristics of the user devices. Embodiments of the invention include a notification having different content formatted for a plurality of different user devices. In this manner, the content provider delivers content without knowing a priori the specific user device that will process the content. The content includes non-rendered content such as extensible markup language (XML) data. |
| US07873737B2 |
Method and system for restricting access to user resources
A user's set top box (STB), or other client, executes a shell and has an application program interface (API) by which certain features of the client can be controlled. The client is in communication with a walled garden proxy server (WGPS), which controls access to a walled garden. The walled garden contains links to one or more servers providing network-based services. The client sends a request to the WGPS to access a service provided by a site in the garden. To provide the service, the site sends the client a message containing code calling a function in the API. The WGPS traps the message from the site and looks up the site in a table to determine the access control list (ACL) for the site. The ACL is a bit-map that specifies which functions of the client's API can be invoked by code from the site. The WGPS includes the ACL in the header of the hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) message to the client. The shell receives the message and extracts the ACL. The shell uses the ACL to determine whether the code has permission to execute any called functions in the API. If the code lacks permission, the shell stops execution and sends a message to the site indicating that the site lacks permission. Otherwise, the shell allows the code to call the function. |
| US07873734B1 |
Management of multiple user sessions and user requests for multiple electronic devices
A method and apparatus for supporting a plurality of user sessions for a plurality of electronic devices with or without cookie technology and transmitting requests and session data to appropriate servers in an enterprise network is provided. In accordance with one example embodiment, a method is provided of supporting a plurality of user sessions for a plurality of electronic devices. The method includes the step of receiving a user request from a client. A user session and a session key are established, the session key having an association with the user session. The plurality of user sessions can co-exist with other user sessions. A method is further provided for converting a plurality of incoming requests from a plurality of electronic devices into a plurality of new requests. The method includes reading one of the plurality of incoming requests and comparing at least one property associated with the request to at least one predetermined value. The one of the plurality of new requests is forwarded to a server device configured in a network, where the server device is determined by the result of comparing at least one property associated with the request to at least one predetermined value. |
| US07873732B2 |
Maintaining service reliability in a data center using a service level objective provisioning mechanism
There is provided a method, a data processing system and a computer program product for maintaining service reliability in a data center. A probability of breach of a resource in the data center is determined. A breach of a resource may be the failure of the resource, the unavailability of a resource, the underperformance of a resource, or other problems with the resource. If the probability of breach exceeds a predetermined value, then additional resources are made available to the data center in order to prevent a breach of the resource from affecting the performance of the data center. |
| US07873731B1 |
Use of per-flow monotonically decreasing TTLs to prevent IDS circumvention
Systems detect maliciously formed TCP/IP retransmit packets attempting to pass through an intrusion detection system (IDS) and prevent them from reaching their destination by forcing early flow termination. As each packet arrives in the IDS, the TTL field is monotonically decreased by setting it to the smallest TTL received from the packet flow. Any packet flow that attempts to confuse the sensor with a low TTL will be starved off and will never reach the destination host. Each flow may be periodically reset to a high value or to the current packet value to allow flow recovery. In another embodiment, the TTL decrease mechanism may operate on a contingent basis, determined by the presence or absence of the flow identifier on a pre-determined list of flows that should never be restricted. |
| US07873727B2 |
System and method for evaluating streaming multimedia quality
A system and computer program for evaluating in real-time streaming multimedia quality. The system including a multimedia server connected to a multimedia source and a remote client in communication with the multimedia server over a network. The multimedia server is configured to receive multimedia content from the multimedia source and to transmit the multimedia content as a multimedia stream. The multimedia stream includes a plurality of audio frames and a plurality of video frames. The remote client is configured to establish a multimedia session with the multimedia server, receive the multimedia stream via the multimedia session, monitor the media quality of the multimedia stream, and passively compute a subjective quality of the multimedia stream. |
| US07873724B2 |
Systems and methods for guiding allocation of computational resources in automated perceptual systems
The present invention leverages analysis methods, such as expected value of information techniques, rate-based techniques, and random selection technique, to provide a fusion of low-level streams of input data (e.g., raw data) from multiple sources to facilitate in inferring human-centric notions of context while reducing computational resource burdens. In one instance of the present invention, the method utilizes real-time computations of expected value of information in a greedy, one-step look ahead approach to compute a next best set of observations to make at each step, producing “EVI based-perception.” By utilizing dynamically determined input data, the present invention provides utility-directed information gathering to enable a significant reduction in system resources. Thus, of the possible input combinations, the EVI-based system can automatically determine which sources are required for real-time computation relating to a particular context. |
| US07873722B2 |
Techniques for supporting multiple devices in mobile applications
Techniques for interacting with a client process on a mobile device connected to a network over a wireless link includes managing information at a mobile applications server executing on a platform connected to the network. The information includes device profile information about the mobile device. First data is received from an application. The first data describes graphical elements for display on the mobile device. It is determined whether the first data exceeds a capacity of the mobile device based on the device profile information. If it is determined that the first data exceeds the capacity, then a subset of the first data is formed that does not exceed the capacity of the mobile device. The subset of the first data is sent to the client process. If it is determined that an external converter does not convert using a particular format, then a first description of graphical elements is converted internally into a second description using the particular format. Second data including the second description is sent to the client process. These techniques allow network-based services to be made readily available to a wide range of mobile devices without having to explicitly program each application for providing one or more network-based services to support all forms of mobile devices. |
| US07873718B2 |
Methods and systems for imaging device accounting server recovery
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems, methods and devices for maintaining imaging device (IDev) accounting data in the event that an imaging device's primary accounting server becomes unavailable. |
| US07873712B2 |
System and method for aggregating management of devices connected to a server
A system and method are described for aggregating management of devices connected to a server. In one embodiment, devices connected to a server may be identified by an operating system of the server. The devices may be in communication with one another through a network. The operating system may communicate a network identifier of each device to a service processor of the server. The service processor may aggregately manage the devices independent from the operating system. The service processor may receive management commands from an external source. Each of the management commands may be associated with one of the connected devices, but the connected devices may be incapable of communicating directly with the external source. The service processor may communicate each management command to the device associated with the management command using the network identifier of the associated device. The management command can then be performed on the associated device. |
| US07873709B2 |
Systems and methods for recommending website hosting applications
Systems and methods of the present invention allow for recommending hosting applications. An exemplary method may comprise the steps of receiving a URL for a Submitted Website from a potential customer, determining the features of the Submitted Website, and offering Hosting Applications (that implement the Submitted Website's features) for sale to said potential customer. |
| US07873708B2 |
Systems and methods for providing mobile advertising and directory assistance services
Rich multimedia content is provided to a wireless device, particularly in response to a request for directory assistance generated by a client application. The multimedia content is provided as a multimedia message including bundled multimedia elements such as images, sound, text, and video files. The multimedia elements are compiled into a single multimedia presentation or deck that includes multiple screens that are automatically advanced for the convenience of the wireless device user. The user can interact with elements of the multimedia presentation, for example by placing orders, providing payment information, controlling playback, and forwarding or saving the deck to the wireless device. Multiple decks may be retrieved by a single request, and the decks are presented in an order determined by a bidding system or according to user preferences. Elements can be presented visually and/or audibly, and the user can interact using voice commands, manual entries, or stored entries. |
| US07873707B1 |
Client-side URL rewriter
A system and method for client-side URL rewriting. In one embodiment the method comprises a client sending a request for content to a client proxy, wherein the request for content comprises a first URL. The client proxy may then rewrite the first URL and redirect the request for content to a reverse proxy server. In such an embodiment, the request for content may be sent to the client proxy based on a proxy configuration of the client. In a further aspect of the method above, rewriting the first URL with the client-side URL rewriter may comprise rewriting the request for content to a second URL, and including an indication of the first URL in the rewritten request for content. Furthermore, the first URL may correspond to an intranet server, while the second URL may correspond to the reverse proxy server. |
| US07873698B2 |
Alert management messaging
Techniques are described for providing alert management messages in a broadcast environment to individual recipients or to identifiable groups of recipients. |
| US07873692B2 |
Instrumentation and control information providing method, instrumentation and control information providing system, instrumentation and control information providing server, and instrumentation and control equipment
A customer submits a service application by accessing the home page of a service provider through a personal computer 3, and transmits the data including the operation amount and the control amount of a temperature controller 4 to a server 2 of the service provider. The server 2 accumulates the received data, and in accordance with the contents of the received service application, processes the accumulated data and provides the services of calculating the control parameter for the temperature controller 4, producing a model of the object of control and making a diagnosis by checking for a temperature control fault. |
| US07873687B2 |
Method for calculating a result of a division with a floating point unit with fused multiply-add
The invention proposes a Floating Point Unit with fused multiply-add, with one addend Method for calculating a result of a division with an A-register and a B-register for two multiplicand operands and a C-register for an addend operand, wherein a divide processor using a subtractive method for calculation with a divisor register and a partial remainder register and a multiplier associated to an subtractor uses the C-register as input, wherein while loading the fraction of the dividend through the divisor register into the partial remainder register of the divide processor a calculated shifting is applied for alignment by using the multiplier associated to the subtractor. |
| US07873683B2 |
File system having transaction record coalescing
An electronic data system comprises memory storage having stored data, file system software, and a transaction file. The transaction file is maintained by the file system software, and includes a plurality of transaction records corresponding to transactions that have been or are to be executed on one or more files and/or the or more directories of the file system. The file system software operates to organize and maintain the stored data in the files and directories and also to coalesce multiple transaction records meeting one or more criteria into fewer coalesced transaction records. The physical memory space required by the transaction file is reduced by the transaction record coalescing. The coalesced transaction records may be constructed so that they represent a logical result of applying each transaction record of a transaction record set in chronological order. Once the coalesced transaction records have been committed in the file system, the physical memory used by the original transaction records in the set may be reclaimed for further use (e.g., to store further transaction records) or may be otherwise removed from further use (e.g., when the physical memory is located in a block of memory in a flash-like memory device that has reached its maximum number of write and/or erase cycles). |
| US07873681B2 |
Moving data from file on storage volume to alternate location to free space
Files on a computing device are defined to include data and metadata relating to the data. Data from each file has been removed therefrom and stored at an alternate location and the file is in a reduced, ghosted form. Each of at least some ghosted files has been fully or partially reconstituted for use by retrieving the data thereof from the alternate location and associating such retrieved data with such ghosted file to form the reconstituted file. Upon receiving a trigger based on a triggering event, files are selected from among the fully and partially reconstituted files and never-ghosted files based on first predetermined selection criteria, and each of at least some of the selected files are re-ghosted. |
| US07873678B2 |
Lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) schema definition using extensible markup language (XML)
A computer receives a schema that lacks information required by a directory access protocol (e.g. LDAP) and automatically generates information that conforms to the directory access protocol and supplies the generated information as output in a new schema. Such automatic schema transformation allows a human who is creating the schema, to enable usage of the directory access protocol to interface with a directory implementing the schema, without knowing the directory access protocol. The computer of some embodiments receives the schema being input, in a predetermined human-readable language (e.g. XML). Hence, an XML developer who lacks knowledge of LDAP can use traditional XML tools to prepare an LDAP-incompatible schema, for use in implementing a directory (e.g. address book) that is accessed by an LDAP client (e.g. cell phone) via an LDAP server. The new schema can be output in any form (e.g. text/binary) and in any language. |
| US07873676B2 |
Contextually analyzing data in tabular and graphical reports
Techniques are provided for analyzing data called “pivot points” which allows users to instantly generate a report based on all available dimensions for any cell in a tabular report or any data point in a graphical report. In one embodiment, the techniques involve placing a unique UI element or menu next to or on each data point, and clicking on this UI element brings up an automatically filtered list of the valid reports available for just this sub-set of the data. Once the user selects which view they want, a report is automatically generated based on those dimensions with just this subset of data. |
| US07873672B2 |
Efficient query processing of DML SQL statements
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for efficiently processing DML SQL statements through minimal logging and optimized insertions. Rows are inserted into a table in a database in a sorted order. When an insertion of a particular row into the table causes a page split and a new page created during the page split is empty, the new page is locked until an end of a transaction associated with the insertion is completed. When the page split is caused by appending monotonically increasing values at an end of the table, the sorted order will guarantee that the new page is empty. Minimal logging is performed. When the transaction associated with the insertion is completed, a forced checkpoint is performed. |
| US07873670B2 |
Method and system for managing exemplar terms database for business-oriented metadata content
An example management system comprises an indexing engine, an index store and an example engine. The indexing engine indexes content of source business oriented metadata. The indexing engine has a content scanner for reading the business oriented metadata, and building a content index of the business oriented metadata. The index store stores the content index of the business oriented metadata. The example engine manages logical associations of terms in a query using the content index. |
| US07873663B2 |
Methods and apparatus for converting a representation of XML and other markup language data to a data structure format
Systems, methods and apparatus operate to convert a markup language representation such as XML to a data structure format such as a tree containing representations of constructs in the markup language representation. The operations receive a markup language representation containing encoded items representative of markup language constructs and identifying a sequence of encoded items within the intermediate representation that represents a respective markup language construct. In response, the system establishes, within a buffer of nodes, a new node for the sequence of encoded items that represents a respective markup language construct and creates, from the buffer of nodes, a linked data structure that represents relationships between the markup language constructs represented within the markup language representation. |
| US07873661B2 |
Network system as well as a method for controlling access from a first network component to at least one second network component
In a method for controlling access from a first network component to at least one second network component, a unique user identification for a user of the first network component is calculated by the first network component. A request created by the first network component on the basis of an order is transmitted with the unique user identification to the second network component. A rights checking instruction is created by the second network component on the basis of the unique user identification. The rights checking instruction is transmitted by the second network component to the first network component. Access for the user to the second network component is provisioned by the second network component when a transmitted result of a check indicates that the user is authorized for access to the second network component. |
| US07873656B1 |
Apparatus and methods to reduce proxy overhead in a gateway
An arrangement within a gateway for evaluating a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) request. The gateway is configured to be organized into at least a kernel space and an application space during operation. The one or more drivers are configured to reside within the kernel space of the gateway and configured to perform at least intercepting the URL request and querying at least an information service. The querying is also configured to obtain information attributed to a URL that is associated with said URL request. |
| US07873654B2 |
Multimodal natural language query system for processing and analyzing voice and proximity-based queries
The present invention provides a natural language query system and method for processing and analyzing multimodally-originated queries, including voice and proximity-based queries. The natural language query system includes a Web-enabled device including a speech input module for receiving a voice-based query in natural language form from a user and a location/proximity module for receiving location/proximity information from a location/proximity device. The query system also includes a speech conversion module for converting the voice-based query in natural language form to text in natural language form and a natural language processing module for converting the text in natural language form to text in searchable form. The query system further includes a semantic engine module for converting the text in searchable form to a formal database query and a database-look-up module for using the formal database query to obtain a result related to the voice-based query in natural language form from a database. |
| US07873652B1 |
Electronic presentation generation system and method
A method of presenting electronic data includes associating presentation data with data from which the presentation data was selected. The presentation data is associated with the data to permit searching of the presentation data and the data from which the presentation data was selected. |
| US07873651B2 |
Method and system for interactive decision tree modification and visualization
A method in a server coupled to at least one client for modifying a data mining model for display to a user of the client, the data mining model maintained by the server, the method comprising: receiving a request message from the client to modify the data mining model; generating change definitions from the request message to modify the data mining model; storing the change definitions in a document; and, transmitting the document to the client, the client being adapted to generate a modified data mining model for display to the user from the change definitions. |
| US07873647B2 |
Web services device profile on a multi-service device: device and facility manager
A technique is provided for implementing multiple Web services on a multi-functional device (MFP) executing multiple service applications. A Device Facility Manager (DFM) executing on the MFP represents the MFP by responding to discovery, metadata, and logging requests with device location, metadata and logging information. When a client application discovers the services provided by the MFP, the client application may communicate directly with a service application executing on the MFP. The client application requests the service metadata of the service application and then transmits SOAP requests, which the service application processes. The implementation of one or more Web Service specifications may be packaged into one common module so that the complexity of the Web Services is hidden from developers. New services may be added to the MFP and existing services may be updated through communication with the DFM. |
| US07873641B2 |
Using tags in an enterprise search system
An interface can allow for associating documents with tags. A search system can use connections between the tags and documents to determine search-independent rank values for the documents. The search-independent rank values can be combined with term matching indications to get a total relevance of the document. |
| US07873640B2 |
Semantic analysis documents to rank terms
A method, apparatus and computer program product provides for a semantic analyzer to produce and rank semantic terms to reflect their relationship to the theme and topics of a document. The text and the document can have no relationship to any pre-selected keywords before the semantic analyzer performs text extraction. The semantic analyzer extracts text from a document and performs semantic analysis on the extracted text. The semantic analyzer provides a plurality of ranked semantic terms as a result of the semantic analysis and associates semantic terms with the document as semantic keywords. The semantic terms define content to be presented with the document where the content is an advertisement, a link to a remote information resource or a second document. |
| US07873637B2 |
Automatically imparting an index by using various kinds of control signals
An index imparting system is capable of avoiding reconditioning work, automatically generating accurate metadata, and automatically imparting information relevant to a program. The index imparting system is provided with: a control signal detecting section to identify a type of each control signal and an identifier for uniquely specifying each control signal following the detection of various kinds of control signals and obtain time of the detection. An index generating section to generate metadata following the acquisition of a type, an identifier, and time identified at the control signal detecting section and, in the meantime, imparts attribute information to the metadata. |
| US07873634B2 |
Method and a system for automatic evaluation of digital files
There is provided a method for automatic evaluation of target files, comprising the steps of building a database of reference files; for each target file, forming a training set comprising files from the database of reference files and building a test set from features of the target file; dynamically generating a learning model from the training set; and applying the learning model to the test set, whereby a value corresponding to the target file is predicted. |
| US07873633B2 |
Interleaving search results
Search result interleaving may be provided. First, a first list comprising online results may be received. Next, a second list comprising local results may be received. Then a subsequence common to the first list and the second list may be determined using a longest common subsequence algorithm. Next, an interleaved list may be created using the determined subsequence and a smart merge interleave algorithm to interleave the first list and the second list without hurting relevance. |
| US07873632B2 |
Systems and methods for associating a keyword with a user interface area
Systems and methods for associating a keyword with a window are described. In one described system, a computer program, such as an indexer, captures processor, or query system, associates a keyword with a first user interface area. The query system or other computer program receives a signal that the first user interface is inactive and that a second user interface area is active and, in response, generates an implicit search query that includes the keyword associated with the first user interface area. |
| US07873628B2 |
Discovering functional dependencies by sampling relations
To discover functional dependencies in a large relation, a sample of tuples from the relation is collected. The sample is examined to determine whether one or more candidate functional dependencies exist just within the sample as a nominal dependency. When a nominal dependency is found in the sample, than all the tuples in the relation are examined to verify whether the nominal dependency holds for the whole relation. Candidate functional dependencies are disqualified when either a nominal dependency is found or when it is verified as functional dependency that holds for the entire relation. |
| US07873624B2 |
Question answering over structured content on the web
Structured content and associated metadata from the Web are leveraged to provide specific answer string responses to user questions. The structured content can also be indexed at crawl-time to facilitate searching of the content at search-time. Ranking techniques can also be employed to facilitate in providing an optimum answer string and/or a top K list of answer strings for a query. Ranking can be based on trainable algorithms that utilize feature vectors for candidate answer strings. In one instance, at crawl-time, structured content is indexed and automatically associated with metadata relating to the structured content and the source web page. At search-time, candidate indexed structured content is then utilized to extract an appropriate answer string in response to a user query. |
| US07873621B1 |
Embedding advertisements based on names
The present disclosure includes a system and method for embedding advertisements associated with names. In some implementations, a method includes receiving a request for an advertisement to embed in a Web page identifying one or more search results. The search results are based, at least in part, on a name of an individual. One or more advertisements associated with the name of the individual are identified. |
| US07873615B2 |
Control object based report generation using a central class
A system and technique for generating reports dealing with control objects utilizing a central class, such as a control factory class, without redundant use of container and control classes. The central class creates the entire graphical user interface needed in a particular report during the report's initialization. By calling the central class, the programmer does not have to initialize the class and use a special object within the program and simply may provide the central class with two tables: a container table and a control table. The programmer need not provide the actual control and container classes to the central class through the tables. The programmer need only provide the description of the construction of the graphical user interface through the tables. |
| US07873614B2 |
Method and system for creating and utilizing managed roles in a directory system
Role is a comprehensive grouping mechanism. In a client-server directory system, roles transfer some of the complexity to the directory server. A role is defined by its role definition entry. Any client with appropriate access privileges can discover, identify and examine any role definition. A “managed” role is one that can be configured to provide search results similar to those available with a static grouping mechanism, i.e., to create a group entry that contains a list of members. Managed roles allow a user to create an explicit enumerated list of members. A managed role is a label stored with a directory entry. |
| US07873610B2 |
Meta-configuration of profiles
Disclosed are methods for creating, applying, using and retrieving profile information that includes attributes that may be stored separately from, or with, the content to which the profiles are being applied. In this manner, profiles can be shared in various environments and across various applications. Attributes that have corresponding attributes in other content can be applied to the other content, as long as each of the attributes is valid. In computer aided design applications, the profile can be stored in a profile repository embedded within the CAD model. In addition, profile controllers are disclosed which control the attributes of a profile that can be used with selected content and other content and send a notification that a profile is available for use by other content. |
| US07873607B1 |
Model driven consolidator of database information
A method for specifying a consolidator for consolidating data from a plurality of database systems is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a user action wherein the user action specifies an action that modifies a knowledge base wherein the knowledge base includes schema information and matching information relating to the plurality of database systems. The method further comprises deriving an event from the user action wherein the event triggers a consistency rule that causes a modification of the knowledge base and generating from the knowledge base a registry that comprises the consolidator wherein the registry includes a master database and a consolidator application. |
| US07873603B2 |
Document archival system
An archival computer system for receiving digital documents from document source computers, archiving such digital documents, and providing the digital documents to client computer systems. The archival computer system is provided with a document database, a supplemental digital media database, a document input device, an archival computer, and a server. The document input device receives digital documents from the document source computers. The digital documents include non-pixalated, non-rastered digital documents, and supplemental media. The archival computer receives the digital documents, and archives data from the non-pixalated, non-rastered digital documents in the document database, and data from the supplemental media in the supplemental digital media database. The server, upon request, outputs a composite document including data stored in the document database and the supplemental digital media database. |
| US07873602B2 |
Apparatus and method for maintaining databases on application servers
A central database server (10) supports a central database (12) that contains central database content. A first archiving module (30) archives central database content into a content archive (32). A second archiving module (44) archives the content archive (32) and supporting software (18, 46) into an application archive (50). An application server (20) supports a computer code execution environment (60) for executing the application archive (50) to organize the content of the content archive (32) into a database on the application server (20). |
| US07873598B2 |
Slicing of relational databases
A method and a processing device may be provided for creating a shadow database, having a size being approximately a desired percentage of a size of a relational database. Referential integrity of tables of the relational database may be preserved in the created shadow database. A representation of a connected graph may be created, based on a schema description of the relational database, and may be used to find driving tables and related tables of the relational database. Portions of driving tables of the relational database may be copied to corresponding tables of the shadow database and rows of tables of the relational database, related to the copied portions of the driving tables, may be copied to corresponding tables of the shadow database in a number of iterations until the size of the shadow database is approximately the desired percentage of the size of the relational database. |
| US07873595B2 |
Computing a group of related companies for financial information systems
Techniques are disclosed by which users looking for financial information about publicly traded or private companies may richly and interactively navigate both pricing and material news information about those companies. The techniques facilitate and encourage the user's use and understanding of financial information presented. Related company information can also be provided to the user, where related companies are organized by hierarchal categories for a meaningful display. |
| US07873594B2 |
System analysis program, system analysis method, and system analysis apparatus
A system analysis program which can accurately analyze the operational status of a system without modifying functions of the system for providing services. A message analysis unit analyzes the contents of collected messages, and determines the times of occurrence of the messages, the process types requested by the messages, and whether or not each of the messages is a request message or a response message. In response to an instruction for model generation, a model generation unit generates a transaction model satisfying at least one limiting condition related to caller-called relationships between processes, based on a set of messages selected in accordance with a selection criterion based on the certainty of existence of caller-called relationships. Then, in response to an instruction for analysis, an analysis unit analyzes the processing status of a transaction based on a protocol log conforming to the transaction model. |
| US07873588B2 |
Mobile e-learning method and apparatus based on media adapted learning objects
A method, apparatus and system of a mobile e-learning method and apparatus based on media adapted learning objects are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes processing an e-learning course based on a set of executable files and a number of auxiliary files associated with the set of executable files to install the e-learning course to a mobile device with an application program, selectively replicating a subset of the set of executable files and the number of auxiliary files to the mobile device, presenting the subset of the set of executable files and the number of auxiliary files of the mobile device in a particular sequence when processing a signal data associated with a menu of the e-learning course, and analyzing an assessment result data based on the subset of the set of files to communicate the assessment result data to a repository of a content management system. |
| US07873586B2 |
Risk assessment in a gate area of an airport
A risk assessment method and system. The method includes receiving by an inference engine, first sensor cohort data associated with a first cohort located within a gate area of an airport. The inference engine receives first group technology inferences associated with the first cohort. The inference engine generates first risk cohort inferences based on the first group technology inferences and the first sensor cohort data. The inference engine receives first inference data comprising a first plurality of inferences associated with the first cohort. The inference engine generates second inference data comprising a second plurality of inferences associated with the first cohort. The second inference data is based on the first inference data and the first risk cohort inferences. The inference engine generates a first associated risk level score for the first cohort. The computing system stores the second inference data and the first associated risk level score. |
| US07873583B2 |
Combining resilient classifiers
A classification system is described for resiliently classifying data. In various embodiments, the classification system constructs a combined classifier based on multiple classifiers that are constructed to classify a set of training data. The combined classifier can be constructed in parallel with the multiple classifiers and applied to classify data. |
| US07873582B2 |
Maze creating method, antenna optimum designing method, program, and antenna, using two-bit/quaternary chromosomes
An antenna optimum design method according to this invention includes the steps of generating blocks by dividing a metal patch on an antenna element plane vertically and horizontally; setting reference point blocks in alternate blocks and assigning chromosomes to the reference point blocks; determining ways to arrange metal patches in blocks contiguous on one side to the reference point blocks, based on the chromosomes assigned to the reference point blocks; and searching for an optimum chromosomes to be assigned to the reference point blocks by a genetic algorithm to optimize antenna characteristics. |
| US07873581B2 |
Method and system for determining the reliability of a DC motor system
A method and system for determining the reliability and a remaining time before failure for a DC motor system is provided. The method and system may determine the reliability and a remaining time before failure with a statistical confidence. The method and system may includes acquiring historical motor data, obtaining operational data, performing failure analysis, developing a causal network, and performing an integrated causal network and reliability analysis of the DC motor system. |
| US07873577B1 |
Sensitive data aliasing for transaction-card and other applications
Database management and security is implemented in a variety of embodiments. In one such embodiment, data sets containing retail transaction information are analyzed using aliases representing transaction card identifiers. In another embodiment, the transaction card identifiers are stored in an encrypted form for use from a secure access, while the alias identifier is available for standard access. |
| US07873572B2 |
Financial transaction system with integrated electronic messaging, control of marketing data, and user defined charges for receiving messages
A method of performing financial transactions between users of Summa accounts, each Summa account including an electronic messaging system that provides for crediting and debiting at least one financial account associated with each Summa account. The invention also allows each user to define a schedule of receipt charges associated with the identities of other users to be charged as compensation for accepting delivery of their messages. With the user's permission, a record of purchases made from the Summa account may be maintained in a marketing database, increasing the value of use's market identity and the corresponding value of receipt charges they user may collect. Major benefits of the invention include, but are not limited to: (1) electronic financial transactions are completed in a more secure manner with appropriate tracking and verification, (2) message recipients receive income from the value of their market identities, and (3) commercial enterprises can more readily identify individuals interested in receiving their commercial offers. |
| US07873571B1 |
Brokerage account fund management method
The funds of a client of a brokerage, are automatically transferred into and retrieved from affiliated banks on an as-needed basis. Funds on deposit at banks are F.D.I.C. insured and earn interest. Multiple banks that are commonly owned and separately chartered and which receive brokerage account funds, enable the brokerage to multiply the F.D.I.C. insurance coverage for client funds. The aggregate amount of funds transferred into affiliated banks is limited to prevent runs on a bank. The funds of a client transferred into each bank is limited to multiply the amount of FDIC insurance that can be provided to each client of a brokerage. |
| US07873570B2 |
Method and system for updating a loan portfolio with information on secondary liens
A computer-based method of updating a client loan portfolio with information on secondary liens relatable to portfolio properties includes inputting property data from the portfolio, monitoring a secondary lien database for secondary liens relatable to the property data, and notifying the client if a secondary lien is detected. Notifying the client may include generating a secondary lien report containing an AVM score or a CLTV ratio, and updating the portfolio by generating a new version of the portfolio that includes secondary liens detected during monitoring. A system may include a client station for inputting data for monitoring, an FTP server for uploading the data from the client station, and a mainframe server for standardizing the data, searching databases for secondary liens, calculating the AVM score and CLTV ratio, and generating the secondary lien report for delivery to the client station via the FTP server. |
| US07873568B1 |
Loan management account
One or more brokerage collateral accounts held at a financial institution are provided. A bank loan account secured by at least one of the collateral accounts with the financial institution is established. The bank loan account interfaces with the collateral accounts within the financial institution. The bank loan account has a credit limit that is based on a market value of the secured collateral accounts. The collateral accounts include various types of assets. The loan account includes a revolving line of credit, any number of term loans, or letters of credit. The interest rate of the line of credit may be based on a selected index rate. Further, the loan account may be used as an overdraft account for the secured collateral account. Clients may access both their collateral accounts and their loan account through the brokerage infrastructure including an integrated portal with a network of computers or via telephone. |
| US07873567B2 |
Value and risk management system
A method of and system for transforming data from a plurality of systems into models of each of the segments of organization value and using said models to support the analysis, measurement and optimization of one or more aspects of organization risk and value. |
| US07873566B1 |
Systems and methods for selectively accessing or using financial account data for subsequent risk determination
Systems and methods are provided for selectively determining when and from what source to access information received from a demand deposit account (DDA) associated with a given check or other promissory payment transaction, as well as for selectively incorporating the DDA information into a risk assessment for the transaction. Information received from the DDA can include an indication of the existence of sufficient funds in the account (or lack thereof) to cover the check in question, as well as a current status code for the account. Use of the DDA information may be integrated into an overall risk assessment process performed for the transaction, such that the influence of negative factors in one part of the risk assessment may be mitigated by other factors in the risk assessment and such that overall effectiveness of the risk assessment is enhanced. Systems and methods for selecting an access path for accessing a DDA to settle a promissory payment are also provided. |
| US07873564B1 |
Computer system for an auction exchange for financially settled contracts
Various embodiments show a system for conducting an auction for a plurality of financially settled contracts: The system may comprise at least one processor. The at least one processor may be programmed to receive a plurality of first participant bids from a first participant and a plurality of second participant bids from a second participant. The at least one processor may also be programmed to match a batch of bids, where the bids may be linear combinations, to create a plurality of awarded bids that may maximize an economic surplus or maximize a volume of awarded bids. Degenerate price solutions may be solved by minimizing variations from historic pricing levels for a contract. The contracts may include, for example, an oil contract, a coal contract, a natural gas contract, an electricity contract, a weather contract, a weather-related events contract, a commodities contract, a location specific service contract (e.g., passenger contract and/or freight contracts), a financial derivative contract or credit default contract on any of an entity's issued securities. |
| US07873561B1 |
Method and system for maintaining an order on a selected market center with maximum price exemption parameter
A posting market center and process are disclosed for maintaining a market center-restricted order on a selected market center. In a market which allows price exemptions, the market center and process disclosed hide a received market center-restricted order which technically crosses or locks the away market, but would be marketable if an acceptable contra-side order was then available in the posting market center's internal order book. The posting market center then maintains this hidden order until it is fully executed, is canceled or can be displayed on the public order book. |
| US07873560B2 |
Method and system for automated transaction compliance processing
A system for automated transaction compliance processing comprises a list server providing access to one or more lists of securities with trading restrictions and a rules engine which processes compliance requests to determine if, based upon the relationship between the requesting party and the company on behalf the compliance is being performed, the transaction is permissible. Compliance determinations are made using a set of predefined compliance rules. When a request is evaluated, a compliance rule set indicating which rules are to be evaluated at that time is generated in accordance with a party profile indicating the relationship between the party and the company. A message indicating whether or not the transaction complies with trading restrictions is then returned. The system can be stand-alone or integrated with an electronic trading system. The compliance processor can also be used to analyze reports to ensure that the report contents comply with confidentiality requirements prior to public release of the report. |
| US07873559B2 |
Financial system that provides investment funds and a death benefit
A method and system is disclosed for managing funds within separate accounts. The invention permits a distributor to market and an investor to purchase a single product that combines the benefits of a family of funds with the protection element of a death benefit or living benefit. To create the product, a legal entity issues an instrument typically stock comprised of a common stock and a preference stock having beneficial rights. The holder of a beneficial right controls the investment allocations over funds within separate accounts. The value of the preferred shares will be based on the value of underlying shares invested in separate account funds. The separate accounts are not available to satisfy the company's general or common stock obligations. |
| US07873557B2 |
Information, document, and compliance management for financial professionals, clients, and supervisors
A method and system for integrating and managing information, documents, and compliance among financial professionals, financial professional clients, and financial professional supervisors. The method and system of the invention considers all information necessary for a financial professional to run their business and includes information relevant to the client and supervisor. This information includes full information management, electronic file management, compliance management, broker/dealer oversight, portfolio management, calendar management, and communications management. This information is presented to the financial professional, client, and supervisor in distinct yet integrated modules. Additionally, the method and system of the present invention offers tools for the financial professional, client, and supervisor that are relevant to their respective needs. |
| US07873542B2 |
Method of distributing product utilizing preloaded mini-pallets
A method of utilizing a mini-pallet to create, organize, and move product stacks is provided where orders are preloaded on mini-pallets, placed in a trailer and then offloaded by account location with a hand truck. |
| US07873541B1 |
System and method for aggregating advertising pricing data
The present invention relates to a method and system for aggregating advertising pricing data and providing that data to one or more clients. This data may be provided to the client in the form of various reports that allow a client to gauge the advertisement market more accurately and make a better informed decision when deciding to purchase advertisements. In one embodiment, a client is also able to access forecasting reports that predict the future of the advertisement market so that the client can more accurately make a decision about purchasing advertisement slots in advance. |
| US07873537B2 |
Providing deep linking functions with digital rights management
A method for providing deep linking activities with digital rights management. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes identifying a hypertext link on a source web page as a deep link and, upon selecting the deep link, accessing a deep link table associated with the deep link. The hypertext link refers to a target web page on a target web site. The deep link table contains web page links and rules operable for establishing web content that is to be presented to a visitor of the target web site. The method also includes displaying web content to the visitor in accordance with the rules. The invention also includes a system and a storage medium. |
| US07873535B2 |
Method and system for modeling marketing data
A method for automatically processing marketing and sales information. The method includes receiving data relating to one or more products, including data pertaining to marketing performance of the products and the marketing input drivers that influence the marketing performance. The method also includes analyzing the received data to determine response curves for the products, the response curves representing an optimal fit between a weighted combination of the input drivers of the products and their respective performance data. The method further includes adjusting the response curves based on feedback from one or more analysts to predict the future behavior of the response curves, determining an allocation of marketing resources based on the adjusted response curves, and presenting to a user the received data, the determined response curves, the adjusted response curves, and/or the marketing resources allocation. |
| US07873534B2 |
Collecting CRM data for feedback
Collecting and analyzing usage data from a CRM database provides useful insights into improving future versions of CRM software. Options for the type of data to be collected may be presented and several opportunities may be available to tailor the data to be communicated to the CRM provider. |
| US07873531B2 |
Estimation mechanisms that utilize a complexity matrix
An example of a solution provided here comprises receiving project-characteristic inputs for a project, receiving major-services inputs for the project, applying analysis rules to the inputs, and outputting, for the project, at least one complexity measure that is usable in an estimation process. |
| US07873530B2 |
Method and system for solving stochastic linear programs with conditional value at risk constraints
An apparatus including a calculator to determine an optimal solution to a stochastic linear programming problem or a stochastic mixed-ineteger linear programming problem with conditional value at risk constraints (CVaRs). The optimal solution is determined by generating a sequence of solutions that converge to the optimal solution. |
| US07873529B2 |
System and method for analyzing and correcting retail data
A computer system and method is disclosed that analyzes and corrects retail data. The system and method includes several client workstations and one or more servers coupled together over a network. A database stores various data used by the system. A business logic server uses competitive and complementary fusion to analyze and correct some of the data sources stored in database server. The data fusion process itself is an iterative one—utilizing both competitive and complementary fusion methods. In competitive fusion, two or more data sources that provide overlapping attributes are compared against each other. More accurate/reliable sources are used to correct less accurate/reliable sources. In complementary fusion, relationships modeled where data sources overlap are projected to areas of the data framework in which fewer sources exist—enhancing the accuracy/reliability of those fewer sources even in the absence of the other sources upon which the models were based. |
| US07873528B2 |
Healthcare claims loss control systems and methods
A method for controlling healthcare claim payment losses including accessing information about a claim after a payer is prepared to pay, but prior to payment, evaluating the information including at least one of determining indications of fraud, validating service coding and editing as indicated, identifying possible payment discounts, and developing analytics indicative of risk for future claims, and providing loss control recommendations based at least partially on the evaluation, prior to paying the claim. Also a loss control system for healthcare claims with a loss control engine and a database in communication with the loss control engine, wherein the loss control engine accesses information about healthcare claims from the database after the claims have been processed for payment and wherein the loss control engine further analyses the claims for potential cost savings and returns a loss control recommendation for each claim to the database before payment of the respective claim. |
| US07873522B2 |
Measurement of spoken language training, learning and testing
The fluency of a spoken utterance or passage is measure and presented to the speaker and to others. In one embodiment, a method is described that includes recording a spoken utterance, evaluating the spoken utterance for accuracy, evaluating the spoken utterance for duration, and assigning a score to the spoken utterance based on the accuracy and the duration. |
| US07873516B2 |
Virtual vocal dynamics in written exchange
The illustrative embodiments described herein provide a computer implemented method and computer program product for providing context in an electronic text communication. A biometric gathering input device is associated with a sending data processing system. A first set of metrics is identified based on a sender interacting with the biometric gathering input device. A sending communications process on the sending data processing system is calibrated based on the first set of metrics. During the generation of the electronic text communication, a portion of the first set of metrics is identified based on the sender interacting with the biometric gathering input device to form a second set of metrics. The second set of metrics and the electronic text communication are sent from the sending data processing system to a recipient data processing system. The second set of metrics is represented at the recipient data processing system using criteria selected by a recipient of the electronic text communication. |
| US07873513B2 |
Speech transcoding in GSM networks
There is provided a method of transcoding an Enhance Full Rate (EFR) 12.2 Kbps encoded frame into an Adaptive Multi-Rate (AMR) 12.2 Kbps encoded frame, where the method comprises receiving the EFR 12.2 Kbps encoded frame from a first codec; determining if the EFR 12.2 Kbps encoded frame is a Silence Insertion Descriptor (SID) frame; if the EFR 12.2 Kbps encoded frame is determined to be the SID frame, the method further comprises transcoding the EFR SID frame. There is also provided a method of transcoding an EFR 12.2 Kbps encoded frame into an AMR 12.2 Kbps encoded frame, where the method comprises receiving the AMR 12.2 Kbps encoded frame from a first codec; determining if the AMR 12.2 Kbps encoded frame is an SID frame; if the AMR 12.2 Kbps encoded frame is determined to be the SID frame, the method further comprises transcoding the AMR SID frame. |
| US07873512B2 |
Sound encoder and sound encoding method
Even when a combination of the stegonography technique and prediction encoding is applied to sound encoding, a sound encoder does not cause deterioration in quality of decoded signals. In the device, an encoding section (102) outputs an encoding code (I) to a bit embedding section (104). A function extension encoding section (103) generates an encoding code (J) for information required for extending functions of the sound encoder (100) and outputs it to the bit embedding section (104). The bit embedding section (104) embeds information on the encoding code (J) into a part of bits of the encoding code (I) and outputs the resultant encoding code (I′). A synchronization information generating section (106) generates synchronization information according to the encoding code (I′) after the bit embedding and outputs the synchronization information to the encoding section (102). The encoding section (102) updates the internal state and the like on the basis of the synchronization information and encodes the next digital sound signal (X). |
| US07873500B1 |
Two-way connection in a graphical model
A graphical modeling environment is provided for a user to build a model for physical systems using blocks connected through signals. The user may build a model with the flexibility of user-defined implementations available in the graphical modeling environment and with the architecture provided by modeling tools for modeling physical systems. A two-way connection port may be provided for adopting an architecture that supports modeling of physical systems in the graphical modeling environment. The user may use the two-way connection port to make the model built in the graphical modeling environment look architecturally like a model built using physical modeling tools. |
| US07873499B2 |
Methods of populating data structures for use in evolutionary simulations
In particular, this invention provides novel methods of populating data structures for use in evolutionary modeling. In particular, this invention provides methods of populating a data structure with a plurality of character strings. The methods involve encoding two or more a biological molecules into character strings to provide a collection of two or more different initial character strings; selecting at least two substrings from the pool of character strings; concatenating the substrings to form one or more product strings about the same length as one or more of the initial character strings; adding the product strings to a collection of strings; and optionally repeating this process using one or more of the product strings as an initial string in the collection of initial character strings. |
| US07873498B2 |
Remote hardware inspection system and method
The invention discloses a remote hardware inspection system, including a remote monitor station and a client server. The monitor station includes a hardware inspection unit and a first network interface. The hardware inspection unit is for generating a hardware inspection command which is transmitted to the server by the first network interface. The server includes a second network interface, an input/output unit, and a managing/controlling unit. The input/output unit has an inspection program. The second network interface receives the hardware inspection command and transmits it to the managing/controlling unit. In response to the hardware inspection command, the managing/controlling unit generates and transmits a trigger signal to the input/output unit to implement the inspection program. Thereby, the inspection program writes data into the target hardware of the server according to the content of the hardware inspection command. |
| US07873497B2 |
Variable indication estimator
A variable indication estimator which determines an output value representative of a set of input data. For example, the estimator can reduce input data to estimates of a desired signal, select a time, and determine an output value from the estimates and the time. In one embodiment, the time is selected using one or more adjustable signal confidence parameters determine where along the estimates the output value will be computed. By varying the parameters, the characteristics of the output value are variable. For example, when input signal confidence is low, the parameters are adjusted so that the output value is a smoothed representation of the input signal. When input signal confidence is high, the parameters are adjusted so that the output value has a faster and more accurate response to the input signal. |
| US07873496B2 |
Method and device for fault detection in an N-winding three-phase power transformer
A method and a device for fault detection in an n-winding, three-phase power transformer. For each of the windings (Wi) the three phase currents (IL1—Wi; IL2—Wi; IL3—Wi) are measured. For each of the windings (Wi) deciding if a zero sequence current (I0—Wi) reduction is to be performed depending on at least one user setting (kWi) and if so, deducting the zero sequence current (I0—Wi) from each of the three phase currents (IL1—Wi; IL2—Wi; IL3—Wi). For each of the windings (Wi) generating normalized currents by performing a magnitude compensation and a phase angle shift compensation on the results of the previous step. For each of the three phases (Lx) comparing the normalized current of a single winding with the normalized currents of all other windings. For each phase (Lx) generating a fault signal, if a difference between the single winding (W1) and all other windings (W2, . . . , Wn) exceeds a predefined level. |
| US07873495B2 |
Welding quality control and monitoring system
A quality assurance system includes an internet/wide area network interface configured to provide bidirectional communication with user terminals; a wireless interface configured to provide bidirectional communication with mobile user terminals; and a quality assurance database cooperatively coupled with a database manager. The data base manager is configured to populate the quality assurance database with identifications of individual ones of a plurality of construction project welders, weld inspectors and a plurality of weld data logs individual ones of which are associated with a specific welding operation of a construction project. Each weld data log is configured to store information that is at least descriptive of a welder, material used during the specific welding operation, specifics of a completed weld including at least weld location, weld type and weld dimensions, and information descriptive of a weld examination. Information entry into at least one weld data log is made by a weld inspector using a report from one of the mobile user terminals. |
| US07873492B2 |
Method for determining a compaction degree of asphalts and system for determining a compaction degree
In a method for determining a compaction degree of a surface segment, the following steps are provided: passing over the deposited layer of the surface segment to be compacted, determining positional data of a position of the compacting machine, defining a current partial surface of the surface segment of the deposited layer, the current partial surface possibly consisting of a plurality of subsegments which have already been passed over, measuring and/or picking up parameters at the position of the compacting machine, and storing the parameters together with the position data, assigning the parameters to the current partial surface or to all subsegments of the current partial surface, computing, from the parameters, a current compaction degree for the current partial surface or each subsegment of the current partial surface. |
| US07873491B2 |
AC magnetic tracking system with non-coherency between sources and sensors
In an AC magnetic tracker one or more multi-axis field sources, each operating at a different frequency, or frequency set, are detected and tracked in three-dimensional space, even when wireless or otherwise not physically connected to the tracking system. Multiple sources can be tracked simultaneously as they each operate with their own unique detectable set of parameters. The invention not only provides the ability to uniquely identify one or more sources by their frequencies, but also to synchronize with these frequencies in order to measure signals that then allow tracking the position and orientation (P&O) of the source(s). Further, these sources need not be present at the time of system start-up but can come and go while being detected, discriminated and tracked. It also should be noted that application of such systems in multiples with more sensors not synchronized to a source or sources also could be employed to give the reverse appearance of a known source phase and incoherency with the sensors. |
| US07873489B2 |
Dialysis machine with servicing indicator
A dialysis machine that monitors an elapsed time and a number of accumulated hours during a current servicing interval is disclosed. The machine executes a machine-servicing algorithm on at least the elapsed time and the accumulated operating hours to generate a projected servicing interval duration. A servicing event indicator displays servicing event schedule information based on the projected servicing interval duration. A transfusion pump, similarly equipped, is also provided. |
| US07873484B2 |
Method for reliable position monitoring
A method for reliable position monitoring includes: (a) transmitting two measured position values from a position measuring device to a first processing unit; (b) transmitting a setpoint value from a setpoint value generator to a second processing unit; (c) transmitting one of the two measured position values to the second processing unit; (d) transmitting the setpoint value to the first processing unit; (e) performing mutually independent comparisons between the setpoint value and the measured position values by the first processing unit and the second processing unit; and (f) monitoring the measured position values for an electronic shaft break between the position measuring device and the first processing unit. The position values are different and have a defined relationship with respect to each other, and the transmitting (a) includes alternately transmitting the two measured position values to the first processing unit. |
| US07873482B2 |
Diagnostic system for selecting nutrition and pharmacological products for animals
An analysis of the profile of a non-human animal comprises: a) providing a genotypic database to the species of the non-human animal subject or a selected group of the species; b) obtaining animal data; c) correlating the database of a) with the data of b) to determine a relationship between the database of a) and the data of b); c) determining the profile of the animal based on the correlating step; and d) determining a genetic profile based on the molecular dietary signature, the molecular dietary signature being a variation of expression of a set of genes which may differ for the genotype of each animal or a group of animals Nutrition and pharmalogical assessments are made. Reporting the determination is by the Internet, and payment for the report is obtained through the Internet. |
| US07873479B2 |
Methods of diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease
The present invention provides methods, systems, and code for accurately classifying whether a sample from an individual is associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or a clinical subtype thereof. In particular, the present invention is useful for classifying a sample from an individual as an IBD sample using a statistical algorithm and/or empirical data. The present invention is also useful for differentiating between a clinical subtype of IBD such as Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) using a statistical algorithm and/or empirical data. Thus, the present invention provides an accurate diagnostic prediction of IBD or a clinical subtype thereof and prognostic information useful for guiding treatment decisions. |
| US07873475B2 |
Device and method of measuring depth and azimuth
A method of measuring depth and/or azimuth of logging data, the logging data being related to at least one property of a zone GF, CS, CA surrounding a wellbore and being measured by at least a sensor array SA1D, SA2D, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring and storing a first logging data frame F11, F21 corresponding to a first position of the sensor array, acquiring and storing a second logging data frame F12, F22 corresponding to a second position of the sensor array, the first and second position are such that the second logging data frame F12, F22 overlaps at least partially the first logging data frame F11, F21, comparing the first F11, F21 and second F12, F22 logging data frame, and calculating a relative change in the depth ΔDP and/or azimuth ΔAZ of logging data measured by the sensor array SA1D, SA2D between the first F11, F21 and second F12, F22 logging data frame. |
| US07873474B2 |
Driving assist system for vehicle
A mapping block locates the own vehicle and another vehicle on a map DB. Another-vehicle intersection detecting block detects intersections located on a traveling path of another vehicle. An own-vehicle intersection detecting block detects intersections located in front of the own vehicle. A collision-intersection identifying block identifies an intersection that is identical to each other as the possible collision intersection by comparing the intersections detected. An information providing block conducts information provision based on calculations of an arriving time of another vehicle by using a distance to the possible collision intersection and a vehicle speed. Accordingly, the collision possibility with another vehicle can be accurately determined. |
| US07873470B2 |
Map moving apparatus
A map moving apparatus capable of performing desired map movement by a simple input operation without requiring a continuous operation by a user in moving a map screen display region is disclosed. An operated direction, an operated position, an operated speed and the like are detected from an input operation that a user performs on the map screen display region, and a map screen display region input shape recognizing section recognizes an input shape. A polygon shape identifying section extracts data having substantially the same shape as the recognized input shape from polygon data in map display data by using a matching method. When data having substantially the same shape exists, a type of the polygon is identified. In a movement mode selecting section, the movement of a screen map reverses direction when it reaches an end portion in the case where the polygon type is a linear shape, and the movement circulates to continue movement of the map screen where the type is a ring shape with no end portion. In the case where guidance information is detected during the movement of the map, guidance is provided on a screen or by voice. |
| US07873469B2 |
System and method for managing mobile drive units
A method for moving a mobile drive unit within a workspace includes receiving a path. The path includes at least an initial segment and one or more additional segments. The initial segment includes a portion of the path adjacent to the first point; and at least one of the additional segments includes a portion of the path adjacent to the second point. The method further includes storing the path, reserving the initial segment of the path, and moving away from the first point along the initial segment. After initiating movement along the initial segment, the method includes reserving each of the additional segments of the path and moving toward the second point along each of the additional segments while that segment is reserved. |
| US07873468B2 |
Vehicle-mounted apparatus
The present invention provides a vehicle-mounted apparatus whereby a user can easily select and use a Web site in accordance with a point associated with information provided by the Web site and a description of the information. According to the present invention, a precache control unit automatically downloads at least one Web page of a Web site associated with each point matching a predetermined condition to a page cache memory and displays site icons at respective points corresponding to the downloaded Web sites on a map image. In addition, the precache control unit displays the predetermined type of extracted information by analyzing the description of the Web page of each Web site in an information window that pops up from the corresponding site icon. When the user selects one of the site icons, a Web browser displays the Web page of the Web site corresponding to the selected site icon. |
| US07873463B2 |
Method and device for operating a drive unit, a computer program product and a computer program
A method and a device for operating a drive unit, a computer program product having program code and a computer program which allow for an adaptation of a torque loss even outside of an idling operating state of the drive unit. In this instance, the losses of an output variable of the drive unit, in particular of a torque, are adapted. The losses are adapted during a shutdown of the drive unit. |
| US07873462B2 |
Method and device for air pilot control in speed-controlled internal combustion engines
A method for operating a speed-controlled internal combustion engine, including regulating the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine, information concerning a torque to be set being provided as a manipulated variable, limiting the manipulated variable according to a torque limiting value in order to obtain a limited manipulated variable, activating the internal combustion engine as a function of the limited manipulated variable, and increasing the air volume fed to the internal combustion engine for achieving the torque to be set irrespective of the torque limiting value. |
| US07873460B2 |
Controller for fuel injection system
A fuel pressure sensor is provided to each fuel injector respectively and is disposed in a fuel passage between the accumulator and a fuel injection port of the fuel injector in such a manner as to be close to a fuel injection port relative to the accumulator. Output values of a plurality of fuel pressure sensors are acquired, and an average of the output values is computed. The output values are corrected in such a manner as to agree with the average. |
| US07873459B2 |
Load transfer adaptive traction control system
A method of controlling a vehicle that includes determining a dynamic normal load for the vehicle wheel, modifying the requested torque signal from a traction control system in response to the dynamic normal load to form a modified requested torque and controlling the engine in response to the modified requested torque. The controlling may be performed using the ratio of the dynamic normal load and the steady state normal load to form the modified requested torque. |
| US07873454B2 |
Method of identifying predictive lateral load transfer ratio for vehicle rollover prevention and warning systems
A method for controlling stability of a vehicle includes the steps of determining a predictive lateral load transfer ratio of the vehicle by evaluating vehicle performance factors over a period of time, and controlling operation of the vehicle based on the predictive lateral load transfer ratio. |
| US07873447B2 |
Position estimation apparatus, position estimation method and program recording medium
The present invention provides a position estimation apparatus capable of determining whether an estimated value deviates from an actual value and trying a process to correct the estimated value if the estimated value is determined to be incorrect. The position estimation apparatus employs a position prediction unit configured to produce a prediction of the position of a mobile object having an odometry sensor mounted thereon, an environment observation unit configured to keep track of each feature point in the environment of the mobile object, a prediction-error check unit configured to determine whether the position prediction produced by the position prediction unit is correct or incorrect, a position-prediction correction unit configured to correct a wrong position prediction and a position/posture updating unit configured to update the position and/or posture of the mobile object on the basis of a correct position prediction. |
| US07873446B2 |
Altimeter setting display and storage system and method
A system and method for storing altimeter setting values on an aircraft display includes simultaneously rendering an altimeter and an active altimeter setting field, and selectively rendering a standby altimeter setting field simultaneously with the altimeter and the active altimeter setting field. An active altimeter setting value is rendered in the active altimeter setting field, and a stored altimeter setting value may be rendered in the standby altimeter setting field. Preferably, the stored altimeter setting value is selectively rendered in the standby altimeter setting field when the standby altimeter setting field is simultaneously rendered with the altimeter and the active altimeter setting field. |
| US07873442B2 |
System and method for managing and optimizing power use
A system and method to optimize the use of utility power. The system and method obtains real-time and scheduled data. The data is saved into a database. An application is run to optimize the use of the utility power based on forecasted load requirements and available resources. A schedule is produced after optimizing the desired use for the utility power for a given user. |
| US07873436B2 |
Gait generator for mobile robot
When the placement of the elements (mass points, links having inertia, etc.) of a model expressing a robot 1 is determined according to a first geometric restrictive condition from an instantaneous desired motion of the robot 1 that has been created using a dynamic model, this placement is defined as a first placement, and the placement determined according to a second geometric restrictive condition from a corrected instantaneous desired motion that has been obtained by correcting the instantaneous desired motion is defined as a second placement. The corrected instantaneous desired motion is determined such that the moment component calculated from the difference between the first and the second placements approximates a predetermined value. The instantaneous desired motion is created using a dynamic model of the robot. Thus, the motion of the instantaneous desired gait of the robot that has been created using the dynamic model is properly corrected without using a dynamic model, leading to higher dynamic accuracy of an instantaneous desired gait including the corrected motion. |
| US07873435B2 |
Dispensing support device and dispensing support method
To permit a plurality of pharmacists to perform dispensing efficiently and simultaneously despite of simple, low-cost configuration.There are provided: responsible a pharmacist identification means 7 which is provided at each container 14 of a drug rack 3 where a drug D is contained and which identifies a responsible pharmacist; a memory 25 where the pharmacist data is stored; and a control means 24 which, as a result of inputting the prescription data, associates the prescription data and the pharmacist data stored in a memory means 25 with each other to create a prescription table, stores the prescription table into the memory means 25, and then, when the drug is taken out from the drug rack 3, refers to the prescription table based on the pharmacist data of the pharmacist identified by the responsible pharmacist identification means 7, and judges whether or not the pharmacist is permitted to perform dispensing of the drug to be taken out from the drug rack 3. |
| US07873432B2 |
Manufacturing inspection/analysis system analyzing device, analyzing device control program, storage medium storing analyzing device control program, and method for manufacturing inspection and analysis
A position change section of a processing device changes the position of a treatment object, at the time of performing a process by a process section, to correspond to a predetermined position in conformity to the treatment object. An inspection device inspects the occurrence of a defect on the treatment object having been subjected to processes by a plurality of processing devices. Then an analyzing process for specifying in which processing device the defect occurred is carried out based on (i) positional information of the treatment object, in each of the processing devices, and (ii) defect information defected by the inspection device. With this arrangement, during the process of manufacture of treatment objects, it is possible to precisely specify which processing device or processing device group caused the defect, without performing processes such as attaching, to the treatment object, information regarding processing devices which have conducted processes. |
| US07873429B2 |
Network production planning method
Methods of production planning, including a novel method of optimized production planning for a plurality of production plants producing a product for delivery to a plurality of customers using a common distribution network, wherein the product consumption by customers can vary, and the variable cost of producing the product can vary between production plants, over time, and production quantity. The method maximizes profitability by characterizing raw material costs over varying production rates and minimizing variable cost across the network for any given production demand. The method considers the variable cost of producing product in varying production quantities, the variable cost structure of raw material supplies, and how these variable costs vary between production plants. The method also considers the variable cost impact of purchasing product from outside sources. The method produces monthly, weekly, daily, or hourly production plans and can automatically set target production quantities for each production plant to provide the lowest variable cost plan for a given production demand. |
| US07873426B2 |
Digital recording device, digital recording method, program, and storage medium
A digital recording device includes a microphone configured to convert collected sound into an analog audio signal; a first analog to digital converter configured to convert the signal converted by the microphone into a digital audio signal; a first memory configured to store the digital audio signal of the first analog to digital converter; an attenuator configured to attenuate the analog audio signal with a predetermined attenuation factor; a second analog to digital converter configured to convert the attenuated signal into a digital audio signal; a second memory configured to store the digital audio signal of the second analog to digital converter; an audio signal generating unit configured to extract the digital audio signal in one of the first memory and the second memory for a required time range according to an amplitude maximum value of the signal, and generate a new digital audio signal; and an audio signal memory for storing the generated digital audio signal. |
| US07873425B2 |
System and method of processing compressed audio data
A system and method of synchronizing to a frame sequence in an input signal includes tolerating data errors within certain error thresholds. In an embodiment, a Hamming distance between data included in a frame alignment word field and an expected value is compared to a predetermined Hamming distance to determine a synchronization event. |
| US07873423B2 |
System and method for distributing and tracking media
A system and method for tracking media is disclosed. A tracking device package includes a container for shipping media and a tracker coupled to the container wherein access to the media is monitored electronically by the tracker to enable media access. The tracker can be a combination of a GPS system, for determining the location of the media, and a mobile phone for communicating the location to interested parties. The tracker can verify the location of the container and the length of time that the container has been at a particular site. If anomalies are detected with respect to the location and/or the length of time that a container has been located at a particular site, then the tracker can report this information back to the owner of the media being tracked through a central repository and database system. |
| US07873421B2 |
Nasal dilator adapted to provide electrical stimulation
An internal nasal dilator or an external nasal dilator is adapted to provide electrical stimulation. The user applies that nasal dilator to the nose. Within the adhesive portion is an electrode deriving energy from a neuromuscular stimulator. The electrical stimulation enhances air flow to the respiratory system. The nasal dilator may also be an internal variety and may also contain a medication delivery or heating element. |
| US07873417B2 |
Methods and apparatus for pulsed electric field neuromodulation via an intra-to-extravascular approach
Methods and apparatus are provided for pulsed electric field neuromodulation via an intra-to-extravascular approach, e.g., to effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, changes in cytokine upregulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, the ITEV PEF system comprises an intravascular catheter having one or more electrodes configured for intra-to-extravascular placement across a wall of patient's vessel into proximity with target neural fibers. With the electrode(s) passing from an intravascular position to an extravascular position prior to delivery of the PEF, a magnitude of applied voltage or energy delivered via the electrode(s) and necessary to achieve desired neuromodulation may be reduced relative to an intravascular PEF system having one or more electrodes positioned solely intravascularly. The methods and apparatus of the present invention may, for example, be used to modulate one or more target neural fibers that contribute to renal function. |
| US07873414B2 |
Patient characteristic based adaptive anti-tachy pacing programming
A system including at least one implantable sensor circuit adapted to produce an electrical sensor signal related to one or more physiologic cardiovascular events of a subject, a therapy circuit configured to provide anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) therapy, and a controller. The controller includes a tachyarrhythmia detection circuit and an efficacy circuit. The tachyarrhythmia detection circuit is configured to detect a tachyarrhythmia episode in the subject using the electrical sensor signal, and to determine whether the tachyarrhythmia episode is of a type that is treatable with ATP. The efficacy circuit is configured to estimate an efficacy of a currently configured ATP therapy for the subject, and the controller is configured to alter a delivery regimen of the currently configured ATP therapy when the estimated ATP therapy efficacy is deemed insufficient. Other systems and methods are described. |
| US07873412B2 |
Induced current measurement systems and methods
In an embodiment, the invention includes a measurement system for measuring induced currents within an implantable medical device undergoing magnetic resonance imaging. The measurement system can include a resistor connected in series with a conductive loop and electronic circuitry configured to generate a signal representative of a voltage differential across the resistor. In some embodiments, the measurement system includes a fiber optic cable configured to transmit the signal away from the area subject to magnetic resonance imaging. In some embodiments, the measurement system includes a transmitter to wirelessly transmit the signal away from the area subject to magnetic resonance imaging. In an embodiment, the invention can include an implantable medical device including a measurement system for measuring induced currents. In an embodiment, the invention can include a method of measuring an induced current in an implantable medical device undergoing magnetic resonance imaging. Other embodiments are described herein. |
| US07873410B2 |
Implantable medical device with electromechanical delay measurement for lead position and ventricular
The cardiac rhythm management system includes an implantable medical device (IMD) with leads carrying electrodes for sensing cardiac electrical activity, and a physiologic sensor for sensing cardiac mechanical activity. The IMD measures electromechanical delays between electrical activity sensed by the electrodes and mechanical activity sensed by the physiologic sensor. The measured electromechanical delays can be used to detect lead dislodgement and to assess dyssynchrony between two areas of the heart, such as the right ventricle and the left ventricle. |
| US07873406B2 |
Spectroscope for recovering light from re-entrant zone of arterial wall
A spectroscope includes an optical fiber extending through a catheter, and in communication with an optical system. The optical system has a finite focal length. |
| US07873399B2 |
Monitoring of physiological analytes
Methods and devices are provided for measuring the concentration of target chemical analytes present in a biological system. Device configuration and/or measurement techniques are employed in order to reduce the effect of interfering species on sensor sensitivity. One important application of the invention involves a method and device for monitoring blood glucose values. |
| US07873397B2 |
Spectroscopic optical system
Innovative techniques that result in a better signal-to-noise ratio for spectrographic analysis of substances in a target than conventional techniques. In these techniques, light illuminates a target with at least some of the light penetrating the target. At least a portion of the light that penetrates the target is collected from a region on the target's surface that is not directly illuminated. Preferably, at least a majority of the collected light is light that penetrates the target. Also preferably, the light that illuminates the target is in a pattern that partially but not completely surrounds the region from which the portion of the light that penetrates the target is collected. A spectrum of at least a portion of the collected light is analyzed. |
| US07873395B2 |
Headset
A headset worn is provided to be on an ear in such a manner that a speaker is adhered to the ear. The headset includes a headset body; a hook unit for adhering and fixing the headset body to a user's ear part; a key positioned at a part of the headset body such that its key top protrudes; and a touch region having elasticity, and provided to maintain a distance from the key while facing the key, wherein, as the touch region is pressed, the key is pressed and enabled at the same time. |
| US07873392B2 |
Handsfree device
A handsfree device in communication with a remote communication device by one of wireless communication and wired communication for establishing a handsfree call includes a call interruption detection unit for detecting a call interruption by a second call while the remote communication device is involved in a first call and a response command transfer unit for transferring a response command to the remote communication device in response to the call interruption when the call interruption is detected by the call interruption detection unit. |
| US07873391B2 |
Call queue in a wireless device
A wireless phone includes a memory, a processor, and a call queue function, the call queue function to enable the configuration and storage in the memory of a call queue, the call queue comprising an ordered list of entries to dial, wherein the processor and the memory cooperate to enable the call queue function. |
| US07873387B2 |
Radio base station apparatus, radio terminal apparatus, mobile communcation system, and reception operation control program
In response to a connection request from a terminal, a base station provides a signal indicating a reception operation adapted to a transmission operation of the base station to the terminal. Based on the indicating signal, the terminal selects and performs the optimum reception operation. The terminal also provides its own reception operation information in advance to the base station. Based on the reception operation information, the base station transmits a reception operation indication to the terminal. These processes are realized with software by a DSP. |
| US07873374B1 |
Modification of portable communications device operation in vehicles
Restrictions on use of a cellular telephone in a vehicle, such as an automobile, are imposed using a global position system (GPS) device to determine the location of a vehicle in relation to geographic regions in which legal or customer restrictions on cellular telephone use are to be imposed. Network or local short-range wireless transmitters supply information to a cellular telephone describing potentially applicable restriction information retrieved from network databases. In response, a cellular telephone determines applicability of such restrictions and applies them to further use of the cellular telephone while such restrictions continue to apply. Alternative arrangements allow vehicle-based or network based processing of region and restrictions information to yield command messages to cellular telephones to control their further use. |
| US07873373B2 |
Periodic positioning method in mobile communications system
A positioning method in a SUPL based position information system, and more particularly, a method for performing periodic positioning capable of processing a periodic positioning request by a location server or a periodic positioning request by a mobile communications terminal when the location server and the terminal respectively manage a trigger generating the periodic positioning, are discussed. |
| US07873371B2 |
Control system controlling a plurality of real world objects, and a method for handling messages from a mobile user connected to the control system
A method for handling messages from a mobile user, in a control system controlling a plurality of real world objects, wherein the real world objects are represented by software objects and the user selects one of the objects for the message. The method includes receiving information about which of the objects has been selected. A voice message is recorded. The message is stored associated with the software object representing the selected real world object, such that the message is accessible from the control system. The presence of a message associated with the object is indicated. Upon request, the content of the message is presented. |
| US07873369B2 |
Location blocking service for wireless networks
The invention disclosed is a location blocking service for use in a wireless network that tracks the location and identity of network users, such as networks complying with enhanced 911 standards. The service provides a network user with the ability to prevent the location of her wireless handheld device from being disclosed to parties other than the wireless network provider and PSAPs (Public Safety Answering Points). The network user blocks the forwarding of location information by signaling to the wireless handheld device when the location information originates from the wireless handheld device, or by signaling to the network when the location information originates from the wireless handheld device or the network. Primary components of the present invention include at least one user interface and at least one location block processor provisioned in the wireless handheld device and/or the wireless network. The user interface prompts the user of the handheld device to enter the commands that then send the signals to the device or network. |
| US07873368B2 |
Method for tracking location of a mobile unit
Location of a mobile unit is determined by a combined probability, derived from a first probability for possible locations based on a current sample of radio signal characteristics and a second probability that a unit has moved from a prior location or probable location to each possible location. |
| US07873362B2 |
Method for dimensioning or evaluating a radio network
A simple and reliable method for dimensioning CDMA based networks is achieved by a method for evaluating or dimensioning a radio network comprising the steps of—defining a radio network model comprising at least one radio base station and a plurality of mobile terminals, —for each mobile terminal in the model, defining a path gain value for a signal path between the mobile terminal and each of the radio base stations, said method being characterized by the steps of—for each mobile terminal, selecting at least one of said path gain values, —defining a data set comprising at least one parameter based on said selected at least one path gain value for each mobile terminal, and—performing dimensioning calculations on the data set. Especially if data sets are prestored the dimensioning calculations can be carried out in very short time. |
| US07873361B2 |
Method and system for radio coverage planning with multiple resolution profile approach
A method for planning a radiocommunications network includes computing cell coverage in turn including dividing a region around a radio base station into a number of large environment pixels, dividing each large environment pixel into a number of small environment pixels, and, for each target small environment pixel, computing a second quantity indicative of the coverage within the target small environment pixel, wherein each second quantity is computed for the respective target small environment pixel as a function of a mixed environment profile describing the environment between the radio base station and the target small environment pixel along a propagation path of a radioelectric signal radiating out from the radio base station and passing through the target small environment pixel, wherein the mixed environment profile describes the environment within small environment pixels close to the radio base station and the target small environment pixel, and within large environment pixels along the remaining stretch of the radioelectric signal propagation path. |
| US07873358B2 |
Method and system for providing inbound traffic redirection solution
The present invention provides a method for redirecting roaming traffic of a roamer associated with an HPMN and currently roaming in a first VPMN. The method includes detecting by a detection unit coupled to the first VPMN, a registration attempt of the roamer at a second VPMN, upon receipt of a first registration cancellation message of one or more registration cancellation messages, sent by the HPMN. Finally, the method includes causing the HPMN to send a registration response message to a VLR associated with the second VPMN, to thwart the registration attempt of the roamer at the second VPMN, by sending one or more registration messages to the HPMN from a redirection unit coupled to the first VPMN. The redirection unit further facilitates the roamer's mobile communication when the roamer's handset gets stuck in the second VPMN. |
| US07873356B2 |
Search interface for mobile devices
The subject disclosure pertains to systems and methods for providing a user interface for mobile devices. The user interface can include a search function that utilizes user input to search multiple software applications and data sources. Content can be retrieved and presented to a user without requiring the user to navigate to the underlying application or sources supplying the content. The applications or content sources can be local to the mobile device or remotely located, such as an Internet site. One or more types of data can be retrieved and presented to a user based upon the user input. Search results can be displayed and dynamically updated as additional user input is obtained. |
| US07873354B2 |
Services on demand in mobile communications system
A method and an apparatus for implementing the method for using and implementing a service-on-demand in a mobile communication system. The services-on-demand are intended to be received by means of a mobile station. The mobile station monitors a cell transmission and receives parts intended for the mobile station from the transmission. In order to use the services-on-demand, in the method the service-on-demand is offered in the cell to all mobile stations located in the cell over a first channel, a registration message (2-2) is transmitted from the mobile station for registering as a user of the service-on-demand over a signalling channel, an acknowledgement (2-4) of the registration, indicating how the service-on-demand is received, is received at the mobile station, and the reception of the service-on-demand is started over the first channel in a manner indicated by the registration acknowledgement. |
| US07873353B2 |
Method and system for accessing applications and data, and for tracking of key indicators on mobile handheld devices
A method, system, and apparatus for accessing data-driven websites and applications on a mobile client device are described. A request for a website received from the mobile client device is transmitted to a provider. At least one web page template of the website and application data corresponding to the at least one web page template is received from the provider in response to the request, and is transmitted to the mobile client device. Thereafter, in an offline mode, the mobile client device can display a plurality of web pages corresponding to the website, each web page displaying corresponding data of the application data formatted according to a common format provided by the at least one web page template. Furthermore, a method, system, and apparatus for tracking the usage of applications on a mobile client device is provided. The occurrence of at least one user initiated event on the mobile client device during offline operation is enabled. Usage data corresponding to the occurrence of the user initiated event(s) is stored on the mobile client device. The mobile client device is synchronized with a server. The usage data is transmitted to the server. |
| US07873348B2 |
Method for transmitting data in a WLAN network using an EAP message comprising SIP authentication data
The invention relates to a method for transmitting data in a WLAN network (Wireless Local Area Network), whereby WLAN messages are transmitted in the Layer 2 protocol layer between a terminal and an access node of the WLAN network. EAP messages (Extensible Authentication Protocol) are transmitted in the WLAN messages, said EAP messages containing SIP messages (Session Initiation Protocol) with SIP authentication data. |
| US07873344B2 |
System and method to distribute emergency information
A system and method that enables efficient distribution of public warning information using a network infrastructure. Public warning messages are received by a wireless receiver coupled to a network. The wireless receiver broadcasts a message to users on the network responsive to receiving a public warning message. |
| US07873342B2 |
Low IF receiver of rejecting image signal and image signal rejection method
Provided are an image signal rejection method capable of avoiding demodulation of an image signal along with a real signal in a radio frequency (RF) signal and a low IF receiver of rejecting an image signal by using the method. The low IF receiver of rejecting an image signal includes a low noise amplifier, a quadrature I/Q mixer, a signal complex filter, and a phase and gain control block. The low noise amplifier amplifies a radio frequency (RF) signal. The quadrature I/Q mixer generates an I signal and a Q signal by down-converting the amplified RF signal into an IF signal. The phase and gain control block generates an I′ signal and a Q′ signal which are obtained by changing phases and amplitudes of the I signal and the Q signal by using a real signal. The signal complex filter minimizing the image signal in the IF signal and passing the real signal by performing filtering on the I′ signal and the Q′ signal. |
| US07873341B2 |
System and method for adaptive polarization diversity between closely spaced antennas
An electronic device comprises a transceiver and a probe. The transceiver is connected to a first antenna and a second antenna. The first and second antennas are configured to one of transmit and receive radio frequency signals. The first and second antennas are configured to exhibit a polarized diversity. The probe re-establishes the polarized diversity when the polarized diversity has been disrupted. |
| US07873334B2 |
Power control circuitry for a mobile terminal application
The present invention generally relates to the field of automatic power control (APC) circuitries used in the analog front end of a mobile transmitter. It particularly refers to a power control circuitry and a corresponding method for controlling the power level of an RF signal to be transmitted at the output port of a variable-gain power amplifier by performing an additional regulation of the APC loop's reference signal. Thereby, it is proposed to increase the radiated RF power in case a transmitting antenna is mismatched to said power amplifier in order to not release an ongoing call. In case there is a subject very close to the terminal antenna, the antenna load is changed and the increased reflected signal is measured. In a closed loop this increased reflected signal is mixed with a reference ramp signal which is used to calculate a reference signal representing the nominal power level for the power of the RF signal to be transmitted, which leads to an increasing of the radiated power and prevents said call from being released. The step of calculating the reference signal as a function of the reference ramp signal and a DC feedback signal is realized by the substeps of multiplying a processed version of the DC feedback signal by the reference ramp signal and adding the output signal of the multiplication step to the reference ramp signal thereby yielding said reference signal. |
| US07873329B2 |
Transceiver having mixer/filter within receiving/transmitting cavity
A transceiver capable of processing signals having wavelengths of less than 1 millimeter and/or more than 1 millimeter comprising a mixer/filter circuit coupled to an IF filter where said mixer/filter circuit is positioned within a mixer block to receive incoming signals guided into one or more feed horn openings of the mixer block by an optical arrangement. The IF filter is also disposed within the mixer block, but is positioned substantially orthogonal with respect to the mixer/filter circuit for efficient use of space. |
| US07873324B2 |
Apparatus and method for E-HICH/E-RGCH processing, metric estimation and detection
Apparatus and method for processing a received pilot to obtain noise estimation of a pilot channel and processing a received first signal channel, separately from a second signal channel that is orthogonal to the first signal channel, to obtain a signal level of the first signal channel. The noise estimation and the signal level are used to calculate a SNR value. Detection on the first channel is done by checking the SNR and the sign of a soft metric. |
| US07873323B2 |
Method of estimating inter-modulation distortion
In the method, positions of a plurality of transmitting sources within a proximity of a base station are determined. A received signal spectrum of signals received at the base station from the plurality of transmitting sources are simulated. Inter-modulation distortion products are estimated based on the simulated signal spectrum. The estimated inter-modulation distortion products may be used in the design of a radio architecture. The simulating step may be repeated a plurality of times until an acceptable solution is found. Base station operating parameters associated with the acceptable solution may be selected for use in a proposed base station. |
| US07873319B2 |
Methods and apparatus for channel assignment
A method, according to various aspects of the present invention, for assigning channels to a plurality of wireless cells. The method is performed by the plurality of wireless cells. The method includes in any practical order: (1) assigning an initial integer to a master wireless cell, wherein the integer is denominated a current hop number and each one wireless cell has a shape of coverage similar to a square; (2) setting a next hop number as the current hop number plus one; (3) assigning the next hop number to each one wireless cell nearest to each one wireless cell assigned the current hop number; (4) incrementing the current hop number by one; (5) repeating setting, assigning the next hop number, and incrementing until all wireless cells of the plurality of wireless cells are assigned a hop number; (6) forming a nine-cell channel pattern by assigning a channel assignment pattern to the master wireless cell, to each of the wireless cells assigned the initial integer plus one, and to each of the wireless cells that are substantially adjacent to two wireless cells assigned the initial integer plus one; and (7) assigning the nine-cell channel pattern to the plurality of wireless cells such that the center cell of the nine-cell channel assignment pattern falls only on wireless cells assigned the initial integer plus an even integer. |
| US07873315B2 |
Repeater for providing coverage within a wireless communications network and methods thereof
A repeater and methods thereof are provided. The example repeater first receives a donor signal (e.g., from a base station for repeating in a downlink direction, from a mobile station for repeating in an uplink direction, etc.) and a transmitted version of an internally generated pilot signal. The repeater configures an adaptive filter signal to cancel the received transmitted version of the internally generated pilot signal. In an example, the first receiving and configuring steps may be performed during a first mode of operation (e.g., a “training” mode). The repeater second receives the donor signal and a retransmitted version of the donor signal (e.g., retransmitted from the repeater). The repeater cancels the retransmitted donor signal based on the configured adaptive filter signal. |
| US07873314B2 |
Cleaning member, cleaner, image carrier unit and image forming device
A cleaning member includes a cleaning part whose one end portion comes into contact with a surface of an image carrier, and a supporting part that supports the cleaning part and applies a force for pressing the one end portion of the cleaning part to the surface of the image carrier, wherein a surface of a first portion including the one end portion of the cleaning part is bonded to the supporting part with a first adhesive layer, and a surface of a second portion including the other end portion opposite to the one end portion of the cleaning part is bonded to the supporting part with a second adhesive layer having a Type-A durometer hardness which is lower than that of the first adhesive layer. |
| US07873312B2 |
Transfer apparatus, method of manufacturing the transfer apparatus and image forming apparatus using the transfer apparatus
A transfer apparatus comprises a toner image supporting body and a corona transfer means, which are oppositely disposed, and a vibrating unit for exerting vibration force to the rear face of a toner supporting body, disposed opposite to the corona transfer means, wherein the vibrating unit has a cantilever structure for holding an end of a piezoelectric bimorph element in which a pair of piezoelectric bodies each having an electrode, are bonded to both sides of a conductive elastic member (a shim member). A protrusion portion is provided on the other end of the piezoelectric bimorph element. |
| US07873311B2 |
Belt transfer device for image forming apparatus
In a belt transfer device according to an embodiment, rotation of a rear side detection roller or a front side detection roller, which contacts with a rib of a transfer belt and is rotated, is converted into linear driving by using a worm gear. The movement of a linear movement shaft is transmitted to a steering roller through a slider. The steering roller is tilted and meandering of the transfer belt is regulated. |
| US07873310B2 |
Oblique movement preventing device for endless belt and image forming apparatus with it
An oblique movement preventing device for an endless belt, the inner surface of the belt supported by rollers, and at least one roller circulating the belt on the rollers, includes a contact angle changing unit. The changing unit selectively presses either side part of the outer surface of the belt at a position near to the one roller on an upstream side of the one roller in the predetermined belt circulating direction, thereby changing a contact angle of the belt on the one roller along the width direction of the belt. A measuring unit measures a direction and distance of displacement of the belt caused by the oblique movement thereof, and a control unit controls the operation of the changing unit to cease the oblique movement of the belt, based on the measured direction and distance of displacement of the belt. |
| US07873308B2 |
Developer storage case having a discharge opening of a flat shape
A developer storage case includes: a storage case that includes a discharge opening formed in the horizontal direction side surface thereof, that is formed in a flat shape having a horizontal direction width larger than the vertical direction height thereof, and that stores a developer therein; a delivery member that has a center of rotation disposed shifted to the discharge opening, that is rotatably supported on one end wall of the storage case, and that delivers the developer stored within the storage case; and a drive transmission member that is supported on the end portion of the delivery member, and that drives and rotates the delivery member. |
| US07873300B2 |
Single component development device, process cartridge and toner
A single component development device including a toner including a resin, a coloring agent, a wax, a charge control agent and an inorganic particulate, a development roller to bear the toner on the surface of the development roller and transfer the toner to an image bearing member and a thin layer forming member to regulate a thickness of the layer of the toner while in contact with the surface of the development roller via the toner borne thereon, wherein a regulating pressure A between the thin layer forming member and the development roller is from 25 to 60 (N/m), a content Z (weight %) of the charge control agent satisfies the following relationship (1) and an average dispersion particle diameter D (nm) of the charge control agent satisfies the following relationship (2): 0.029×A−0.150>Z>0.013×A−0.013 Relationship (1) D<6.3×A−106.3 Relationship (2). |
| US07873289B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method to control a velocity ratio thereof
An image forming apparatus and a method to control a velocity ratio thereof. The image forming apparatus includes a developing device to rotate opposite a photoconductive medium and to supply the photoconductive medium with a developer, and a controller to control a velocity ratio of the developing device to the photoconductive medium according to an accumulated number of printed copies. |
| US07873288B2 |
System and method for detecting a fire in a fixer unit of a printer or copier
In a fixer unit system and method to detect a fire in a fixer unit of an electrographic image generation device, at least one portion of a fixer region of the fixing unit is monitored with a photoelectric sensor arranged adjacent to a substrate material having a toner image to be fixed, at least one portion of radiation generated by at least one heat radiator of the fixer unit is not detected by the photoelectric sensor by not passing said at least one portion of the radiation generated by the at least one heat radiator through to the photoelectric sensor by use of an optical filter associated with the photoelectric sensor. An error signal is output when a fire in the fixer region is detected with the photoelectric sensor. |
| US07873287B2 |
Image forming apparatus addressing an abnormality in the cooling device and a method of controlling the image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus according to the invention includes a cooling fan as a cooling device, an image formation processing unit, a changeover unit, a main control unit, a secondary control unit, and a power supply unit. The main control unit and the secondary control unit make an appropriate action in association with each other in the event of the occurrence of an abnormality in the cooling device. The changeover unit is configured to connect the image formation processing unit to the main image formation control unit in the main control unit in a case where power is supplied to the main control unit, and to connect the image formation processing unit to the secondary image formation control unit in the secondary control unit in a case where power supply to the main control unit is stopped by the power supply control unit in the secondary control unit. |
| US07873283B2 |
Method of monitoring optical signal to noise ratio and optical transmission system using the same
The invention aims to provide a monitoring method that can measure an optical SNR in an ultra high speed optical transmission system with high accuracy, and an optical transmission system using the same. To this end, in the optical transmission system to which the monitoring method of the present invention is applied, the degree of polarization of an optical signal transmitted from an optical transmission apparatus to an optical receiving apparatus via an optical transmission path is measured by a DOP measuring device, and an optical SNR of the optical signal is determined by an optical SNR calculation circuit based on a measured value of the degree of polarization. |
| US07873279B2 |
Light transfer apparatus for an electronic device
An electronic device [200] includes a housing [100] for containing circuitry [205] that generates a light beam. The electronic device includes pivotal portions [105, 110] of the housing. A light receiver [245] is associated with one of the housing pivotal portions. A light redirecting mechanism [215] is mounted at a predetermined location of the housing other than to the one pivotal portion thereof and is configured to redirect the light beam in a plurality of predetermined optical paths in which the light receiver is disposed with relative pivoting between the housing pivotal portions. |
| US07873276B2 |
System and method for registration of network units
A system and method for registration of network units is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an optical network unit (ONU) in a passive optical network (PON) that can have a controller element to receive a registration code, send the registration code and a serial number of the ONU to an optical line terminal (OLT) that configures the ONU for temporary connectivity with the PON, and upon an expiration of the registration code or a termination of the temporary connectivity, re-send the serial number to the OLT to re-configure the connectivity with the PON. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US07873272B2 |
Optical pulse characterization using phase modulation
An optical pulse monitor (OPM) that determines an optical phase profile for a pulse train by (i) modulating the optical phase of pulses in the pulse train using a periodic waveform and (ii) generating a derivative of a spectrum of the resulting modulated signal with respect to the waveform's amplitude. In one embodiment, an OPM has a phase modulator that modulates the optical phase of pulses in a received pulse train using a periodic waveform supplied by a configurable drive circuit. The drive circuit temporally aligns the waveform with the pulse train to serially produce each of four selected temporal alignments. An optical signal analyzer measures a spectrum of the modulated signal generated by the modulator for each of these four temporal alignments and provides the four measured spectra to a processor. The processor uses the measured spectra to determine two spectrum derivatives with respect to the waveform's amplitude. The processor samples each of the spectrum derivatives at frequency points separated from one another by the frequency of the periodic waveform and uses these samples to obtain a series of complex values. The processor then calculates the optical phase profile for the pulse train based on the phase of a complex value obtained by summing the series. |
| US07873267B2 |
Focus detection device, focusing state detection method and imaging apparatus
A focus detection device comprises: focus detection elements including light-receiving elements that generate a pair of signals corresponding to a pair of light fluxes each passing through an imaging optical system that includes a lens and an aperture stop; and a focus detector including a processor that determines a focus adjustment state of the imaging optical system with an f-number slower than a full-aperture of the imaging optical system when a specific condition is fulfilled. |
| US07873265B2 |
Filament lamp and light irradiation type heat treatment apparatus
A filament lamp comprising a bulb which has a hermetically sealed portion on at least one end and multiple filament assemblies, each filament assembly comprising a coiled filament and connected leads to supply power to that filament, the filament assemblies being sequentially arranged in the axial direction of the bulb, the leads of each filament assembly being electrically connected to respective multiple conductive parts set in the sealed portions, and power being independently suppliable to each of the filaments. A respective one of the coiled filaments is located in a respective first quadrant formed by intersecting planes that are perpendicular to each other and that are tangent to an outer coil diameter of the respective coiled filament. The leads are positioned in quadrants other than the quadrant in which the coiled filament is located. A light irradiation type heat treatment apparatus uses a plurality of such filament lamps. |
| US07873258B2 |
Method and apparatus for reviewing video
One embodiment is a method for reviewing videos, comprising: deriving at least two video segments from unedited video footage based upon a previously determined unique saliency, each saliency associated with a corresponding one of the video segments; and displaying a display window for each of the derived video segments substantially concurrently. |
| US07873257B2 |
Light-guide solar panel and method of fabrication thereof
The present invention is that of a solar energy system that uses a light-guide solar panel (LGSP) to trap light inside a dielectric or other transparent panel and propagates the light to one of the panel edges for harvesting by a solar energy collector such as a photovoltaic cell. This allows for very thin modules whose thickness is comparable to the height of the solar energy collector. This eliminates eliminating the depth requirements inherent in traditional concentrated photovoltaic solar energy systems. |
| US07873254B2 |
Mounting member for fixedly holding cylindrical mounted part on printed wiring board
A mounting member has a tube, and a plurality of clamps. The clamps hold the tube or outer portions on both sides of the tube. Therefore, the external load on the mounted part can be minimized while at the same time the mounted part is easily held fixedly on a board such as a printed wiring board. |
| US07873252B2 |
Adapter panel with lateral sliding adapter arrays
An adapter panel arrangement including a chassis and a panel of adapters. The adapters defining open rearward cable connections and open forward cable connections of the panel arrangement. The adapters being arranged in arrays that slide independently of other adapter arrays to provide access to the open rearward and open forward cable connections. |
| US07873246B2 |
Beam steering element and associated methods for manifold fiberoptic switches and monitoring
An optical system comprising a combination optical switch and monitoring system based on an array of mirrors, and a moveable reflective element co-packaged together, including discrete sets of fiber ports wherein λn from input fiber ports is focused on λn mirror via the use of shared free space optics; such as shared beam steering elements, dispersive elements, and optical elements, and discrete arrays of MEMS mirrors utilized to select and switch selected wavelengths from the input fiber port(s) to an output fiber port(s) of the optical switch, and wherein a moveable reflective element sharing the same free space optics is utilized to sweep across and reflect selected portions of the optical spectrum back to a photodetector. By correlating reflective element position with power measured, a processor can obtain a spectral plot of the wavelength band of interest, as well as calculate parameters such as center wavelength, passband shape, and OSNR. |
| US07873244B2 |
Light control device
To provide a light control device which is possible to realize a velocity matching between a microwave and an optical wave or an impedance matching of microwaves even through a signal oath having a high impedance of 70Ω or more, and is possible to reduce a driving voltage. The light control device having an electro-optical effect includes a thin plate 1 having a thickness of 10 μm or less, an optical waveguide 2 formed in the thin plate, and a controlling electrode from controlling light which passes through the optical waveguide, wherein the controlling electrode includes a first electrode and a second electrode which are disposed so as to interpose the thin plate, wherein the first electrode has a coplanar type electrode which includes at least a signal electrode 4 and a grounding electrode 5 (51), wherein the second electrode includes at least a grounding electrode 54 and is configured so as to apply an electric field to the optical waveguide in cooperation with the signal electrode of the first electrode, and wherein the signal electrode of the first electrode includes a branched signal path in which at least one signal path is branched into two or more in the middle of the path. |
| US07873241B2 |
Method for superimposing optical information in a scanning microscope
A method for superimposing optical information in a scanning microscope includes determining a transformation matrix, and superimposing first optical information of a CCD image and second optical information of at least one piece of second image information using the transformation matrix. |
| US07873240B2 |
Method for analyzing geographic location and elevation data and geocoding an image with the data
A method for geographically registering a perspective image of a location assigns elevation values to elements or pixels of a two dimensional array of image elements or pixels of the location. The elevation value for each image pixel is obtained using a corresponding database stored reference digital elevation model, or a three dimensional surface model of the location. The reference elevation model or surface model is composed of rows and columns of elevation values corresponding to two dimensions of location values at a sensed location shown in the image, or is composed of a three dimensional surface or volume model of the location, such as a computer-aided design model or any other means of describing the three dimensional characteristics of the sensed location. |
| US07873237B2 |
Degrading 3D information
A method is provided for degrading 3D information such as a 3D image file from its original form so that that the subject matter of the 3D image is altered in a way which prevents one from reverse engineering or manufacturing the subject matter of the 3D image while the degraded image is still identifiable or recognizable as that of the original 3D image. The degrading method selectively alters dimensions or relationships between portions or parts of the 3D image from their original form while maintaining the integrity and recognizablility of the image as that of which was in the original 3D image. The present method can be applied to both original CAD files as well as reduced or lightweight files produced from an original CAD file. |
| US07873232B2 |
Method and system for image background suppression using neutral adjustment of color channels
Printing systems and methods are presented for image background and neutral adjustment of luminance-chrominance pixel values corresponding to a scanned image, in which white and black pixels are identified which have luminance values close to whitepoint and blackpoint values for the image, and which have chrominance values close to the chrominance neutral point. The chrominance values of these identified white and black pixels are selectively reduced based at least partially on proximity to the chrominance neutral point and chrominance of one or more neighboring pixels. |
| US07873229B2 |
Distributed processing for video enhancement and display power management
In visual display devices such as LCD devices with backlight illumination, the backlight typically consumes most of device battery power. In the interest of displaying a given pixel pattern at a minimized backlight level, the pattern can be transformed while maintaining image quality, with a transform determined from pixel luminance statistics. Aside from, or in addition to being used for such minimizing, a transform also can be used for image enhancement, for a displayed image better to meet a visual perception quality. In either case, the transform preferably is constrained for enforcing one or several display attributes. In a network setting, the technique can be implemented in distributed fashion, so that subtasks of the technique are performed by different, interconnected processors such as server, client and proxy processors. |
| US07873224B2 |
Enhanced image/video quality through artifact evaluation
In an image/video encoding and decoding system employing an artifact evaluator a method and/or apparatus to process video blocks comprising a decoder operable to synthesize an un-filtered reconstructed video block or frame and an artifact filter operable to receive the un-filtered reconstructed video block or frame, which generates a filtered reconstructed video block or frame. A memory buffer operable to store either the filtered reconstructed video block or frame or the un-filtered reconstructed video block or frame, and an artifact evaluator operable to update the memory buffer after evaluating and determining which of the filtered video block or frame, or the un-filtered video block or frame yields better image/video quality. |
| US07873220B2 |
Algorithm to measure symmetry and positional entropy of a data set
A method and algorithm for measuring the symmetry (SYM=total symmetry) of N points based on counting the number of “elementary symmetric recognition acts”, or having two distances d(A,B) and d(C,D) be equal within a given tolerance t. The same algorithm can be adapted to measure un-normalized positional entropy deficit (UPED) and positional entropy of N points. These parameters (SYM and UPED) come out almost the same for small occupation numbers (1<=k<=4). Here the occupation number k is the number of equal distances in the figure for a given value d. The algorithm can be incorporated into an imaging device, such as computer graphic programs or cameras, to solve problems of defect detection, say in gems, or object detection. |
| US07873217B2 |
System for line extraction in digital ink
A system for line extraction in digital ink. The digital ink represents handwritten input and is comprised of a stroke sequence. The system comprises a processor configured for: receiving the digital ink from a pen device; segmenting the strokes into a sequence of substrokes; grouping substrokes about a selected substroke into a temporally preceding group of substrokes and a temporally subsequent group of substrokes; calculating a centroid for each substroke or group of substrokes; calculating angular differences between the selected substroke and its temporally neighbouring groups of substrokes; and determining positions of extrema of the angular differences. The extrema correspond to substrokes at line breaks, thereby enabling line extraction in the stroke sequence. |