| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08025492B2 |
Scroll machine
A compressor may include a shell, a compression mechanism, and a seal assembly. The shell may define a first discharge passage. The compression mechanism may be supported within the shell and may include first and second scroll members. The first scroll member may include a second discharge passage. The seal assembly may extend between the first scroll member and the shell and may form a sealed discharge path between the first and second discharge passages. The seal assembly may include a first seal member axially displaceable relative to the shell and the first scroll member. The first seal member may axially abut the first scroll member when in a first position and may be free from axial contact with the first scroll member when in a second position. The seal assembly may maintain the sealed discharge path when the first seal member is in the first position. |
| US08025489B2 |
Portable, remote electromagnetic power system
A portable electromagnetic power system used as a remote alternate power source includes a water tank having an oil reservoir mounted on top of the tank with four cylinders extending through the tank and the two outer cylinders denoted the pressure cylinders and the two inner cylinders serving as accumulators with electromagnets mounted at the ends of each pressure cylinder for reciprocating an internal floating piston and each inner cylinder having a permanent magnet mounted at one end for actuating a magnetized floating piston disposed therein and each magnetized floating piston dividing the inner cylinder into an air chamber portion and a fluid chamber portion with the oil reservoir and the cylinders all in fluid flow registration with each other and the inner cylinders connected to a working pressure line that connects to a device, such as a hydraulic motor, so that the outer cylinder develop working pressure concomitant with the flow of oil therein that is directed to the inner (accumulator) cylinders for providing working pressure to power a device such as a hydraulic motor. |
| US08025484B2 |
Fan rotor assembly
A fan rotor assembly has an inner rotor, an outer rotor, a central retainer and a central shaft. The inner rotor has multiple first blades. The outer rotor is stacked on the inner rotor and has multiple second blades. The central retainer is mounted through the inner and outer retainers. The central shaft is mounted in the central retainer under the inner rotor. The fan rotor assembly with first and second blades provides excellent airflow. |
| US08025482B1 |
Turbine blade with dual serpentine cooling
A turbine rotor blade with a low cooling flow serpentine circuit to provides cooling for the airfoil. The circuit includes a three pass aft flowing serpentine circuit that begins at the airfoil mid-chord region and connects to a series of multiple impingement cooling holes formed within the trailing edge region. A double pass forward flowing serpentine circuit then connects with the triple pass aft flowing serpentine circuit to provide cooling for the leading edge region and is connected to a showerhead arrangement for discharging film cooling air. A blade tip cooling channel connects with the last leg of the double pass forward flowing serpentine to form a 6-pass serpentine flow cooling circuit for the entire blade. Since only the leading edge serpentine channel discharges film cooling air, the serpentine circuit can make use of low cooling flow to provide cooling for the entire blade. |
| US08025481B2 |
Kit for decorating ceiling fan blades
A kit for decorating ceiling fan blades is provided. The kit includes a plurality of fan blade covers adapted to readily conform to the shape of a ceiling fan blade. The covers are embellished with interchangeable decorative images or themes selectable by user. |
| US08025478B2 |
Centrifugal pump
An impeller plate of an impeller of a centrifugal pump, particularly a channel impeller pump, for pumping liquids with solid or gaseous admixtures, is provided with at least one wide vane that is displaced toward the impeller drive by a distance D so that the impeller chamber is enlarged by a rearward portion thereof. In addition, the impeller comprises at least one auxiliary vane having a center width at between 25%-75% of the width of the wide vane. This arrangement improves particularly the gas transporting ability of the pump. |
| US08025475B2 |
Wafer transfer apparatus, wafer transfer method and storage medium
One sensor constituted of a light emission element and a light-receiving element is provided in a path through which a wafer is transferred. The sensor is positioned so that the wafer passes through an area between the light emission element and the light-receiving element. Coordinates of the center of the wafer are calculated based on encoder values obtained when the wafer starts passing through the sensor and when the wafer completes passing through the sensor, position data of wafer transfer arm corresponding to the encoder value, and the diameter of the wafer; and thereby the amount of positional deviation of the center of the wafer from a reference position is calculated. |
| US08025472B2 |
Catalyst loading system
Particulate filling devices and methods are disclosed that use a loading system generally including a loading cart, a drive system, and a line assembly. The drive system generally includes a motor, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a spool, a plurality of cable partitions, and a controller. Each line assembly generally includes cable sections, swivel connectors, one or more spring blocks and a weight. |
| US08025465B2 |
Cutting insert, cutting tool and cutting method using the same
A cutting tool comprises: a first cutting insert having a first side surface for interconnecting a first upper surface and a first lower surface, a first cutting edge located at the intersection between the first upper surface and the first side surface, and a first groove section located in the first side surface and extending to the first upper surface so as to divide the first cutting edge; a second cutting insert having a second upper surface, a second side surface, a second cutting edge located at the intersection between the second upper surface and the second side surface, and a cutting edge reinforcing section located on the second upper surface at an end thereof which is positioned on the second cutting edge side; and a holder for mounting thereto the first cutting insert and the second cutting insert. The first cutting insert and the second cutting insert are mounted to the holder in such a manner that the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge are located on the outer peripheral side of the holder, that the first lower surface and the second upper surface are in proximity to each other, and that the rotation trajectories of the cutting edge reinforcing section and the first groove section are partially superposed on each other. |
| US08025464B2 |
Severing device with controlled triggering
Device for severing parts of a concrete work, comprising a container in which an over-pressure is generated by a gas produced by a chemical reaction between a chemical compound and an aqueous solution after a predetermined delay. The container includes the aqueous solution and is attached to a case comprising a first recess for storing the chemical compound. A burst disk is arranged between the first recess and the container for ensuring a total sealing between the chemical compound and the aqueous solution. The case includes a second recess enclosing an electronic trigger, an actuator being controlled by the trigger to cause bursting of the burst disk after a predetermined delay, causing said chemical reaction inside the container. |
| US08025463B2 |
Offshore foundation system with integral elements for preloading and extracting
The present invention describes an offshore foundation system (10,10a,10b) that is operable for preloading after self-weight installation on a seabed without relying on additional or external ballasts. The foundation system (10,10a,10b) is also operable for extraction by reversing the process of preload operation. In one embodiment, the foundation system (10) comprises a reaction base (20) and suction compartment (60). In another, the foundation system (10a,10b) comprises a plurality of units of reaction base (20) and suction compartments (60), with the units being connected by bridging structures (21). In yet another, the foundation system comprises a reaction base (20) and a plurality of suction compartments (60). A closed-top of the suction compartment (60) projects above the reaction base (20) so that, in use, there is a gap h between a top of a soil plug inside a suction compartment (60) and its closed-top. |
| US08025452B2 |
Print medium supplying device and image forming apparatus having the same
A print medium supplying device, includes a frame, a mounting plate to mount a print medium, an elevating unit to move upward and downward the mounting plate within the frame, and an elastic unit which comprises an installation unit disposed to one of the frame and the mounting plate, a coupling unit coupled to an other of the frame and the mounting plate, and a spring unit provided between the installation unit and the coupling unit to elastically weaken a falling motion of the mounting plate. |
| US08025442B2 |
Apparatus and method for presenting information on transparent resealable storage bags
An apparatus and method for presenting information on transparent resealable storage bags. Embodiments allow for the presentation of graphic images such as numbers, letters, cartoon characters (such as Disney® characters, e.g., Mickey Mouse®), colors, animals, dinosaurs, flowers, trains, cars, planes, hearts, marketing logos, puzzles (including puzzles that are complete when the sides of the bag are next to one another and incomplete when the sides of the bag are separated) or any other information such as instructional information such as questions and answers or information that changes color based on temperature. |
| US08025436B2 |
Whisk
A whisk comprising: a whisk handle, a bushing fixedly attached to the whisk head end of the whisk handle; at least two generally spiral grooves located on the interior surface; a bushing fixedly attached to whisk head end of the whisk handle; an extension member in rotatable and slideable communication with the whisk handle and the bushing, at least two engagement members extending orthogonally from the extension member and slideably engage with one of the grooves; a spring rod, with a whisk head end and a cap end, located within the extension member; an integral cap located on the cap end of the spring rod; a compression spring, in slideable communication with the spring rod, the whisk head end of the compression head pushing against the whisk head base, the cap end of the compression spring pushing against the integral cap. |
| US08025433B2 |
Stroller light
A stroller light that can be easily attached to any standard baby stroller. The stroller light is comprised of a hollow housing that holds a battery pack, electric circuit, and on-off switch. A plurality of LEDs are mounted through apertures on the front and sides of the housing and can sequentially turn on and off. A hollow flag pole can be attached to the housing and wires run from the housing, through the flag pole interior to an electroluminescent wire that is sewn onto the perimeter of the flag and to an amiable light that can be used to help navigate during the evening hours. A photovoltaic solar cell is attached to the outside of the housing and can charge the battery pack during daylight hours. |
| US08025428B2 |
Assembly of light emitting diodes for lighting applications
An assembly of light emitting diodes for a streetlight or the likes comprises a first board having a first matrix of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted thereon defining a first light projection plane and at least another board having a second matrix of LEDs mounted thereon defining a second light projection plane. The other boards are mounted to the first board so as to define an angle therebetween. The LEDs can be mounted to the boards so as to independently define and angle therewith. They can also be oriented towards privileged directions. The present assembly allows providing a more uniform light distribution. |
| US08025425B2 |
Beaconless adaptive optics system
An improved beaconless adaptive optics system and process. A target is illuminated with a high energy laser beam of a directed energy laser. Wave front measurements are made of high energy laser beam reflections from the target. These wave front measurements are analyzed by a high speed processor to determine both high frequency phase components and low frequency phase components in the wave front data. (Applicants' experiments have shown that there is a direct correlation between beam spot size on the target and the phase variance of the reflected laser beam. The correlation is: the greater the phase variance the smaller the beam spot size.) Applicants have developed a technique for providing special control algorithms that provide very high speed control of the elements of a deformable mirror using this phase variance as a feedback parameter. Applicants have also developed algorithms to correct a limited number of Zernike modes associated with the wave front control. |
| US08025421B2 |
Light emitting diode lamp
An LED lamp includes a base, a bracket, a knob pivotably interconnecting the base and the bracket, and a reflector facing the base. The bracket includes two perpendicular arms on which multiple first LED modules and second LED modules are mounted. The first LED modules emit warm light, and the second LED modules emit cold light. The first LED modules and the second LED modules are selective to lighten by manipulating a button attached to the base. |
| US08025414B2 |
Projector, projected image adjustment method, and program for projecting an image while correcting the shape of the image
A projector includes a projection section which projects a calibration image onto a projection target through a projection panel, a shape determination section which determines a shape of the projection target, a correction target area setting section which sets a correction target area, an aspect ratio calculation section which calculates an aspect ratio of the correction target area, a determination section which determines whether or not a value which indicates a difference between the aspect ratio of the correction target area and a reference aspect ratio satisfies a set condition, and an image generation section which generates an image having the shape of the correction target area on the projection panel when the set condition is satisfied, and generates an image having the reference aspect ratio on the projection panel when the set condition is not satisfied. |
| US08025412B2 |
Pump unit and projector using same
A pump unit includes a pump body for discharging compressed air, a communication pipe including an elastic material and having one end fitted into a discharge port, and a pump fixture for fixing part of the communication pipe except for the one end fitted into the discharge port. The pump body is fixed only by the pump fixture. |
| US08025411B2 |
Liquid crystal panel and projector using the same
A liquid crystal panel includes a liquid crystal display element, a micro-lens array, an adjustable lens array, and a lens control unit electrically connected to the adjustable lens array. The liquid crystal display element has a light input surface and a light output surface opposite to the light input surface. The micro-lens array has a plurality of micro-lenses disposed on the light input surface of the liquid crystal display element). The adjustable lens array has a plurality of adjustable lenses disposed on the light output surface of the liquid crystal display element. The lens control unit is capable of controlling focal lengths of the plurality of adjustable lenses. |
| US08025405B2 |
Eye tracking illumination
The invention relates to automatic eye tracking, wherein at least one imaging device (150) registers sequential image data (DEYE) representing at least one eye (181; 182) of a subject (180). A processing unit (170) receives the image data (DEYE), and based thereon, produces a position estimate of the at least one eye (181; 182). The processing unit (170) also produces a control signal (DILL)>which is received by at least one light source (140). The at least one light source (140), in turn, emits at least one light beam (L) being variable, such that a spatial location of an illumination area (AILL) towards which at least one light beam (L) is directed depends on the characteristics of the control signal (CILL). Specifically, the processing unit (170) produces the control signal (CILL) so that the illumination area (AILL) includes a position estimate of the at least one eye (181; 182). |
| US08025402B2 |
Ophthalmic photographing apparatus
To provide an ophthalmic photographing apparatus capable of checking a measurement (photographing) position of a tomographic (cross-sectional) image of a fundus on a front (surface) image of the fundus.The ophthalmic photographing apparatus has a first optical system for obtaining a tomographic image of a fundus by optical coherence tomography using low coherent light, a second optical system for obtaining a visible front image of the fundus, a third optical system for obtaining an infrared front image of the fundus, a monitor, setting means which sets a line for obtaining a two-dimensional tomographic image of the fundus on the infrared front image displayed on the monitor, and control means which establishes a positional correspondence between the infrared front image on which the line is set and the visible front image, and displays a line on the visible front image displayed on the monitor. |
| US08025400B2 |
Pupilometer for pupil center drift and pupil size measurements at differing viewing distances
The present invention generally provides improved devices, systems, and methods for measuring characteristics of at least one eye, and particularly for measuring the physiological changes in eyes under different viewing conditions. An exemplary embodiment provides a pupilometer which measures any changes in location of a pupil center with changes in viewing distances. As the eye often moves significantly during viewing, the pupil center location will often be measured relative to a convenient reference of the eye such as an outer iris boundary. Pupil size may also be recorded, and the measurements from both eyes of a patient may be taken simultaneously. Exemplary embodiments may be configured so as to allow the vergence angle between the eyes to vary with differing viewing distances, regardless of whether one or both eyes are being measured. |
| US08025397B2 |
Retainers
Safety equipment includes both a securing apparatus for glasses or eyewear and having incorporated therein hearing protection devices. In particular, the hearing protection devices and the way in which they are connected may vary in numerous ways to provide flexible, simple, and convenient safety equipment. |
| US08025396B1 |
Magnetic eyewear latch mechanism
The present eyewear includes a pair of lenses, a pair of releasable connectors connected to respective inner ends of the lenses, a pair of temples pivotally connected to respective outer ends of the lenses and a rigid strap connected between rear ends of the temples. The strap is generally U-shaped having substantially parallel legs connected to an arc-shaped base, the substantially parallel legs being connected to rear ends of the temples and when worn, the arc-shaped base extends along the back of a user's head. A tab is permanently secured to one of the inner ends of the lenses or frames and upon joining the releasable connectors, extends to the other of the inner ends of the lenses or frames in order to stabilize the releasable connectors. |
| US08025395B2 |
Industrial safety goggles with frame for ophthalmic micas and impact protection mica
The invention relates to industrial safety goggles provided with permanent ophthalmic micas having a full impact protection mica positioned thereon, wherein said impact protection mica is made from polycarbonate, provides protection against ultraviolet rays and can be removed, thereby enabling the frames to be used as ophthalmic glasses. Said goggles include a ventilation area and the ophthalmic micas have an improved visual field owing to the design of the frame to which they are mounted and fixed using angular incisions in the frame. The frame is provided with an open space at both eyes between the mica and the end of the rim, which provides ventilation and prevents the fogging of the graduated micas. The sidepieces of the goggles are designed to curve at the ends thereof, so that the goggles can be put in place without the user having to remove his/her industrial safety helmet. In addition, said sidepieces are provided with removable pad which are press-fitted and which are joined by a cord that enables the goggles to be hung around the neck when not in use. Said cord takes the form of a resistance cord that can break should the goggles be impeded by any object that could cause an accident. |
| US08025394B2 |
Image recording apparatus
An image recording apparatus includes a recording head that records an image on a recording medium, and a conveyor having an adhesive area and a charged area, that is charged by a charging unit. The adhesive area and the charged area are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the conveyor and convey the recording medium supported on the outer circumferential surface of the conveyor in a conveying direction. A medium feeder supplies the recording medium to the conveyor. |
| US08025392B2 |
Recording apparatus having a movable blocking plate for trapping foreign substances
A recording apparatus with a conveying mechanism and a blocking member are described. The blocking member reduces foreign substances from soiling a unit or member located adjacent to or below the conveying mechanism. The conveying mechanism may be moved to a position permitting access to remove paper jams while the blocking member is located to permit the conveying mechanism to move to the position while continuing to reduce foreign substances from soiling the unit or member. |
| US08025391B2 |
Inkjet recording apparatus
There is disclosed an inkjet recording apparatus including a feeding device, a medium supply device, a remover, and an inkjet head. The feeding device includes a plurality of belt rollers and an endless feeder belt wound around the belt rollers. An outer circumferential surface of the feeder belt functions as a feeding surface on which a recording medium is held while the recording medium is fed. The medium supply device makes the recording medium held on a downward-facing surface of the feeder belt with a recording surface of the recording medium facing downward. The downward-facing surface is a portion of the feeding surface which faces downward. The remover removes foreign matter on the recording surface of the recording medium as being held on the downward-facing surface. The inkjet head has a nozzle from which a droplet of ink is ejected onto the recording surface of the recording medium as being held on an upward-facing surface of the feeder belt. The upward-facing surface is a portion of the feeding surface which faces upward. |
| US08025386B2 |
Inkjet recording apparatus
An inkjet recording apparatus having: a recording head including a nozzle row jetting ultraviolet curable ink on a substrate; and an LED light source including a plurality of LEDs disposed in the direction of the nozzle row, being electrically series-connected, and irradiating an ultraviolet light on ink having been jetted onto the substrate, wherein a total illuminance of two adjacent LEDs of the LED light source on a surface of the substrate is larger than an illuminance required for curing of the ink at an entire area of a section between each two adjacent LEDs, and a maximum of the total illuminance is set to be illuminance less than two times of a minimum of the total illuminance in the section between each two adjacent LEDs. |
| US08025380B2 |
Pagewidth inkjet printer cartridge with a refill port
A printer cartridge for an inkjet printer includes a body configured for user insertion in, and removal from, a cradle of the inkjet printer; a pagewidth printhead incorporated with the body, the pagewidth printhead having an array of nozzles for ejecting printing fluids onto a media substrate; a flexible membrane attached within the body and defining a plurality of pockets each serving as a printing fluid reservoir, each pocket of the flexible membrane being adapted to expand and contract with a volume of printing fluid stored therein; a cover molding for covering the body and sealing the flexible membrane within the body; and a refill port provided on the cover molding and having a plurality of inlets each respectively in fluid communication with one of the pockets, the refill port being configured to removably receive therein a refill cartridge. |
| US08025371B1 |
System and method for creating liquid droplet impact forced collapse of laser nanoparticle nucleated cavities
A device, method and system for causing a controlled collapse of cavities formed within liquid droplets wherein a pressurized jet comprising a liquid and nanoparticle material produces droplets from the breakup of the jet stream. The liquid droplets may be irradiated with energy to produce and expand cavities formed within the droplets by irradiation of the nanoparticles contained within the droplets or alternatively, a volatile fluid with or without a metal nanoparticle may form the cavity. The droplets are collided with a target to collapse the cavities within the droplets. The irradiating (if provided) and colliding are timed to enhance implosion energy resulting from the cavities' collapse. The implosion energy and the fuel in the cavity may be used to activate and sustain a fusion reaction or from any other purposes. |
| US08025366B2 |
Inkjet printhead with nozzle layer defining etchant holes
An inkjet printhead for an inkjet printer includes a wafer substrate defining an ink supply channel therethrough; side wall portions extending away from a surface of the wafer substrate; a nozzle layer supported on the side wall portions and extending parallel to the surface of the wafer substrate, the nozzle layer and the side wall portions defining an array of nozzle chambers, the nozzle layer defining ink ejection ports and etchant holes, the etchant holes being of sufficient diameter to retain ink in the nozzle chamber by surface tension; and a plurality of thermal actuators cantilevered on the wafer substrate, each thermal actuator being respectively positioned in a nozzle chambers to partition the nozzle chamber. A portion of each thermal actuator facing away from a respective ink ejection port is hydrophobic to facilitate the forming of an air bubble between the thermal actuator and the wafer substrate. |
| US08025362B2 |
Liquid discharge method, liquid discharge head and liquid discharge apparatus
A liquid discharge head is arranged in a manner that in the cross-section of a discharge port in a liquid discharge direction, the discharge port includes at least one projection that is convex inside the discharge port; a first area, for holding a liquid surface connecting a pillar-shaped liquid that is elongated outside the discharge port; and second areas where a fluid resistance is lower than that in the first area so as to pull the liquid in the discharge port in a direction opposite to the liquid discharge direction. The first area is formed in the direction in which the projection is convex, and the second areas are formed on both sides of the projection. |
| US08025357B2 |
Fluid ejecting apparatus and ejecting head maintenance method
A method for maintaining a fluid ejecting apparatus including an ejecting head that has an ejecting surface in which a plurality of ejecting ports that eject fluid are formed, and a maintenance portion that performs maintenance processing to recover the ejection of fluid from the ejecting ports and that has a cap member and a wiping member. The method includes performing capping processing to put the cap member on the ejecting surface and to suck, and then wiping processing to wipe the ejecting surface with the wiping member, and performing the capping processing again and then waiting a predetermined time without performing the wiping processing. |
| US08025352B2 |
Ink jet printing apparatus and ink jet printing method
An ink jet printing apparatus is provided which is capable of producing an image with a good balance between image quality and printing speed, without unduly shortening a longevity of a print head, even when an odd-numbered-pass bidirectional printing is performed. To this end, during a bidirectional multi-pass printing with a relatively small number of passes, a stepping mask is used to eliminate image problems caused by a difference in print permitted ratio between forward scan and backward scan. During a bidirectional multi-pass printing with a relatively large number of passes, a flat mask is used to give priority to suppressing density unevenness resulting from nozzle characteristic variations. As a result, the printing apparatus as a whole can produce an image with a good balance between image quality and printing speed, without unduly shortening a longevity of the print head. |
| US08025351B2 |
Recording apparatus having carriage guide members for maintainig parallelism between a recording head and recording medium
A recording apparatus includes guide rails that each control the posture of a carriage at an arbitrary recording position by being in contact with the carriage. The guide rails are disposed on respective sides of a guide shaft in a direction in which a recording medium is conveyed. The length of a gap between the recording medium and the carriage is selectable between a case where the carriage is in contact with one of the guide rails and a case where the carriage is in contact with the other guide rail. Such a configuration provides a compact and low-cost recording apparatus capable of performing recording on recording media having various thicknesses by appropriately adjusting the gap between the carriage and any of the recording medium while maintaining the parallelism therebetween. |
| US08025342B2 |
Close proximity grinder
A close proximity pavement grinder is utilized for grinding close to a raised structure such as a lower surface of curbs close to the curb wall. The grinding apparatus utilizes a wide grinding head with grinding blades mounted along the length of an arbor to grind the lower surface of the curb in a single pass. The grinder includes a narrow bearing and support at the outer end of the arbor and is driven at the inner end so that the grinding may be conducted within close proximity of the curb wall. The grinder has a pivoting grinding head that can be locked at various angles relative to the grinder to match the relative angles between the pavement and the lower surface of the curb. |
| US08025338B2 |
Adjustable head restraint system for an automotive vehicle seat
A support structure of a head restraint system for an automotive vehicle seat includes an actuator configured to be actuated by an occupant. A locking arrangement is disposable within a back of the vehicle seat and is configured to selectively secure the support structure relative to the back of the vehicle seat. At least a portion of the locking arrangement is operatively associated with the actuator. |
| US08025336B2 |
Dental chair
A dental chair for supporting a patient during examination and the performance of procedures on the patient includes a patient support having a seat and a back, a base adapted to engage a floor surface, and a lift arm. The lift arm has a first end pivotally coupled to support structure at a first, terminal end of the base for rotation about a pivot axis defined by the support structure. A second end of the lift arm is coupled to the patient support. |
| US08025331B2 |
Roof assembly for a storage container
A roof assembly is provided for a storage container having two opposing side walls that together define a length of the storage container. The roof assembly includes a plurality of roof panels arranged atop and between the two opposing side walls along the length of the storage container in side-by-side relationship. Each of the plurality of roof panels has opposite sides and opposite ends. Each of the opposite ends of the plurality of roof panels is configured to be secured to a top of a corresponding one of the two opposing side walls of the storage container. Each of the opposite sides of each of the plurality of roof panels is configured to be attached to the side of an adjacent one of the plurality of roof panels. |
| US08025329B1 |
Collapsible airfoil for trucks and trailers
The purpose of the device is to minimize drag and turbulence otherwise occurring at the rear of a semi trailer, in order to reduced the consumption of fuel by a semi tractor. This is accomplished using directionally flexible sheets of composite material, which create contours that taper towards a terminating edge to form a teardrop shape, as established by panels attached to the top and bottom of either door. Along the trailing edge of the main body, another vertical panel known as a wake separator maintains separation between confliction columns of air. An additional wake separator attached to the bottom of the device performs a similar function, and will facilitate collapse in the event of a collision. |
| US08025325B1 |
All terrain retrieval vehicle for medical emergencies
A vehicle for fighting fires, retrieving hazardous materials, performing rescues and providing emergency medical services in remote areas comprises an all terrain vehicle suitably equipped for the task it is intended to carry out. As a vehicle for retrieving hazardous materials, it is equipped with a crane (202) to lift a container (204) of waste onto its deck (206). For emergency medical services and searches and rescues, it has a full length protective wire mesh (252) over driver and occupants and a stretcher (254) elevated on cabinetry (258) so that the stretcher extends over the seat back to fit within the confines of the mesh. |
| US08025321B2 |
Device for actuating a lock integrated in a door, hatch, or similar, especially in a vehicle
A device for actuating a lock mounted in a door includes a handle with a bearing extension at one end, which can be installed from the exterior of the door in a bracket mounted in the interior of the door. A two-part electrical control unit has one control unit located in the handle and a second control unit in the vehicle. Electrical wiring with two sections, which are connected to each other by an electrical coupling part and a mating coupling part, extends between the two parts of the control unit. A receptacle for the electrical coupling part is provided in the bearing extension of the handle. The mating coupling part at the end of one section of wiring projects out through the opening in the exterior panel of the door and is fitted into the coupling part of the handle before the handle is installed. When the handle is to be installed, a common structural unit is available, composed of the handle, the coupling part, and the mating coupling part. When the handle is actuated as intended after installation, its pivot axis serves simultaneously as the axis of rotation for the coupling part and the mating coupling part, which are connected to each other. |
| US08025313B2 |
Suspension subframe structure of vehicle
Disclosed is a suspension subframe structure of a vehicle, which is capable of improving the overall rigidity of a suspension subframe to effectively receive input loads from suspension arms, while reducing the overall weight of the suspension subframe. The suspension subframe structure for supporting a plurality of suspension arms 14, 16 of a multi-link suspension system comprises first and second lateral members 20, 22 each extending in a lateral direction of the vehicle body, a pair of longitudinal members each extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and right and left inclined members 28 each having one end which is located on the side of a respective one of right and left ends of the first lateral member and provided with an upper-arm support portion and a lower-arm support portion, wherein each of the right and left inclined members extends obliquely relative to the lateral direction in top plan view to connect the upper-arm support portion and the lower-arm support portion with a laterally intermediate portion of the second lateral member. |
| US08025312B1 |
Agricultural header transport kit
An agricultural header assembly broadly includes a header and a header transport assembly. The header is disposed in a transport orientation when a rigid beam thereof is out of vertical alignment with the header center of gravity. The transport assembly includes first and second pairs of spaced apart wheels shiftably connected to the rigid beam for movement between a transport position and a field position. The first and second pairs of wheels define respective first and second midpoints therebetween when in the transport position. The first and second midpoints are each disposed in general vertical alignment with the header center of gravity when the header is in the transport orientation to substantially balance the header on the transport assembly. |
| US08025311B2 |
Air-bag
An air-bag comprising: a circumferential wall including facing wall portions which define a free inflation portion in which a distance between the facing wall portions is not controlled and a distance controlled portion in which a distance between the facing wall portions is controlled; and a tether including two edges on each of which a seam margin is provided, both seam margins has a linear stitch which joins the seam margin with the corresponding facing wall portion and controls a distance between the facing wall portions of the distance controlled portion, and at least one of the seam margins has a curved stitch which is continued from an end of the liner stitch and provided at least at one end of the seam margin. The curved stitch forms a gradually expanding portion between the free inflation portion and the distance controlled portion, which gradually expands in an outward direction perpendicular to the facing wall portions. |
| US08025310B2 |
Airbag module
An airbag module for a motor vehicle includes a gas sack that can be inflated with gas to protect an occupant, a gas generator for generating the gas provided for inflating the gas sack, and an additional cooling device comprising an openable reservoir for storing a coolant. The reservoir is opened when the gas sack is inflated, so that the coolant for cooling the gas used to inflate the gas sack can come into contact with the gas. The cooling device comprises a movement generating device that opens the reservoir to release the coolant. |
| US08025309B2 |
Curtain airbag
An airbag module for use in a vehicle includes a gas generator and a side airbag coupled to the gas generator and configured to deploy upon receiving gas from the gas generator. The side airbag includes a main body extending along a ceiling of the vehicle configured to restrain a head of a vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed and an extended portion extending from the main body in a downwards direction and configured to restrain at least a portion of a torso of the vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed. The extended portion is at least partially tucked into the main body and the airbag is folded in a Z pattern and rolled when the airbag is installed. The tuck of the extended portion and the folds of the main body control the deployment angle of the main body and extended portion. |
| US08025308B2 |
Curtain airbag
A curtain airbag assembly comprises an inflatable curtain airbag configured to prevent egress of an occupant out of a window during a collision or rollover event. When the curtain airbag is inflated, a bottom edge of the curtain airbag extends below a window sill in a vehicle. A distance the inflated curtain airbag extends below the window sill is greater than a radius of curvature of the inflated curtain airbag. |
| US08025304B2 |
Drive mechanisms for human-powered machines
An improved power transfer mechanism for use on a human-powered machine, adapted to be drivingly connected to a power take-off device of said machines, includes: a housing adapted in use, to be disposed within a frame of said human-powered machine; at least one crankshaft adapted to be disposed within said housing; respective left-side and right-side crank arms each adapted to be drivingly associated with an end of said at least one crankshaft; and drive transfer means adapted to co-operate with said at least one crankshaft and each associated crank arm, the arrangement being such that a first member of the group comprising and left-side and right-side crank arms and said power take-off device is adapted to be attached to said at least one crankshaft, such that each of the second and third of said members is adapted to be rotatable relative to said first of said members, and each other, only to a limited and controlled degree, whilst not be movable axially or in a longitudinal direction relative to said at least one crankshaft. |
| US08025298B2 |
Sideways-moving ice skate
An ice skate whose blade is disposed at an angle not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boot. The blade may be fixed in this position, or it may be switchable between the nonparallel orientation of the present invention and the parallel orientation typical of traditional ice skates. A pair of sideways-moving skates may be propelled by moving them in an oscillating motion. |
| US08025297B2 |
Bellows with alternating layers of high and low compliance material for dynamic applications
A bellows has a generally tubular elongated bellows body. The bellows body is defined by a wall generally enclosing a volume. The wall has a generally cylindrical inner surface and a generally cylindrical outer surface. The bellows body is formed by alternating layers of low compliance material and high compliance material. The cross sectional shape and dimension of the bellows body are generally constant between the first and second ends. |
| US08025294B2 |
Card shuffler with card rank and value reading capability
A card shuffling device includes a top surface, a card receiving area for receiving an initial set of playing cards, a randomizing or arranging system for the initial set of playing cards, a collection surface in a card collection area for receiving randomized playing cards, the collection surface receiving cards positioned so that all cards collected are below the top surface of the device, and an elevator for raising the collection surface so that at least some randomized cards are elevated above the top surface of the device. An automatic card shuffler includes a microprocessor with memory. An automated calibration system is provided that calibrates the precise position of the card supporting platform on the elevator so that precise insertion of cards can be performed during card handling procedures. |
| US08025293B1 |
Air hockey table
Air hockey tables are disclosed herein. An embodiment of an air hockey table comprises a playing surface bounded by at least three sides; a plurality of air paths extending through the playing surface, wherein air is emittable by the plurality of air paths, and wherein a puck is at least partially floatable on air that is emittable by the plurality of air paths; and at least one opening proximate each of three of the sides, the openings being sized to receive the puck. |
| US08025292B2 |
Transport apparatus and recording apparatus
A transport apparatus includes: a transport roller unit that includes a drive transport roller and a driven transport roller to transport a transported medium to a downstream side of a transport direction; a driven roller holder that rotatably holds the driven transport roller; a support member that supports the driven roller holder and allows it to swing; a load applying resilient member that applies a load to the driven transport roller by being resiliently deformed in a direction along which the driven transport roller approaches the drive transport roller; and an engaging member that is provided separately from the support member to bear the load by engaging with the load applying resilient member. |
| US08025290B2 |
Image forming device and a combination of a fixing device and a sheet jamming determination device
An image forming device including a pair of fixing rollers, a sheet guide unit displaceable to one of first and second positions, a position detector detecting a position of the sheet guide unit, first and second sheet sensors respectively detecting the sheet at a first fixed position upstream of the fixing rollers and at a second fixed position downstream of the fixing rollers, and a control unit including a determination unit and a determination part. The determination unit includes a retrieving part that retrieves first and second threshold time periods when the position detector detects the first and second positions, respectively. The determination part determines whether a first or second time period starting from detecting by the first sheet sensor and ending when detecting by the second sheet sensor are within the first and second threshold time periods, respectively, when the position detector detects the first and second positions, respectively. |
| US08025289B2 |
Recording apparatus performing skew correction
A recording apparatus is capable of reliably correcting skew feeding of a recording sheet in an arrangement for conveying the recording sheet absorbed by a belt surface. The recording apparatus includes: a driving roller for driving the conveying belt wound around the driving roller and electrically charging the conveying belt by application of a voltage; and a pinching roller abutting against the driving roller via the conveying belt. A pinching section, which is formed by the driving roller and the pinching roller, corrects skew feeding of the recording sheet fed from the paper feed section and thereafter the voltage is applied to the driving roller to electrically charge the conveying belt. |
| US08025288B2 |
Conveying device and image forming apparatus
A conveying device that conveys a recording medium includes an aligning member into which the leading edge of a recording medium bumps and a control unit that changes conveyance speed of the recording medium moving on a conveying path to bump into the aligning member. |
| US08025286B2 |
Document feeder flag assembly
An improved document feeder flag assembly is disclosed. The improved document feeder flag assembly allows single handed, on the fly loading of a document sorter. A method for loading a document sorting machine with a single hand, while the method of operating the machine is also disclosed. The document feeder flag assembly includes a baseplate and a pivot post attached to the baseplate. Further, the assembly includes a flag arm having a first side and a second side, the first side of the flag arm is attached to the pivot post. There is also a feeder flag having a first side and a second side, the first side of the feeder flag being attached to a second side of the flag arm. The document feeder flag assembly also includes a resistance device attached between the feeder flag and the flag arm. |
| US08025281B2 |
Sheet post-finishing apparatus and image forming apparatus using the same
In a sheet post-finishing apparatus, a stapling device conducts a saddle stitching process on a bundle of sheets, based on an instruction signal; a sheet guide member, mounted on the stapling device, faces a surface of a sheet to be stacked on a sheet stacking section; a stapling device moving section allows the stapling device to move along a line dividing the sheet into two equal portions, perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction; and a control section controls the stapling device to stand by above a lateral center of the sheet to be conveyed to the stapling device, while the sheets are stacked as the bundle of sheets, and after the bundle of sheets is formed, the control section controls the stapling device to sequentially move to predetermined plural positions, whereby said control section sends the instruction signal to the stapling device which was stopped at the predetermined positions. |
| US08025276B2 |
Mandrel to facilitate thin sheet fabrication
A mandrel 1 includes a top support 10, a first edge support 20, a bottom support 30, and a second edge support 40. The top support and first edge support make-up a first support section. The bottom support and second edge support make-up a second support section. The first support section and the second support section are disposed relative to one another so as to form an outer circumference. A jack 50 is coupled to the first and second support sections and is configured to move the first and second support sections relative to one another so as to adjust the outer circumference of the mandrel. A locking element 60 removably is coupled to the first and second support sections to selectively prevent relative movement between the first and second support sections. |
| US08025275B2 |
Single hand operated ratchet clamp
A single hand operated ratchet clamp comprises a finger ring lever and a typical ratchet clamp having a slide rail, a sliding arm, a fixed arm, and a lever element with pressure plate. The finger ring lever is pivoted to the free end of the lever element so that the ratchet clamp can be operated with one hand only. |
| US08025274B2 |
Insert bearing part, elastomeric insert bearing and shock strut bearing assembly
In an insert bearing part for combining with another insert bearing part structured the same or similar to form an elastomeric insert bearing there is provided a surrounding outer shell featuring a radial portion and an axial portion, an elastomeric body surrounded by the outer shell and a rigid core with an axial throughway for securing the insert bearing, said core protruding axially beyond the axial portion such that when locating the insert bearing part on the other insert bearing part structured the same or similar, the insert bearing parts contact each other substantially at the radial level of the core in forming an axial spacing between opposing axial portions of the insert bearing parts so that the elastomeric body is compressed by the insert bearing parts being brought together. |
| US08025273B2 |
Liquid-filled anti-vibration mounting device
In a liquid-filled anti-vibration mounting device suitable such as for an engine mount, an accommodation room containing a rubber movable plate is formed inside a partition member partitioning a liquid chamber into a pressure receiving chamber and a balancing chamber. The partition member includes a pair of division walls, one adjoining the pressure receiving chamber and the other adjoining the balancing chamber. Each division wall is formed with a plurality of communication holes. The communication holes are arranged to undulate at least a portion of the movable plate towards the peripheral edge thereof at specified circumferential intervals or greater by the action of the liquid pressure through the communication holes. The movable plate thus deformed, particularly its portion towards the peripheral edge, has a small area to come into contact with the division walls at a time, which effectively disperses and lessens a shock due to contact. |
| US08025272B2 |
Air spring and damper unit having a pilot-controlled main valve
An air spring and damper unit for vehicles has, as operating spaces, at least two pressure spaces filled with compressed air and connected to one another via flow channels. The pressure spaces have movable walls in the form of rolling bellows or folding bellows, wherein a pilot-controlled main valve which can be loaded with a control pressure on the low-pressure side is configured at least in one flow direction in a first flow channel. |
| US08025268B2 |
Manual valve
A manual valve comprises a valve element, a rod connected to the valve element, and a knob for moving the rod by screw feeding in an opening/closing direction with respect to the valve element. The valve element is moved by rotation of the knob through the rod. The rod includes an external thread portion on an outer periphery thereof and is not connected to the knob and is held against rotation. Further, the manual valve includes a cylindrical sliding nut rotatably held by a body and formed with an internal thread portion to be engaged with the external thread portion of the rod on its inner periphery and a clip fixed to the knob to be elastically deformably engaged with the sliding nut but disengaged when a larger torque than the predetermined value is applied. |
| US08025264B2 |
Display support device
A display support device is provided, which is disposed at a rear surface of a display, such that the display is able to be suspended on a main support bracket arranged at a wall. The support bracket disclosed in the present invention is provided with one more hooks, for connecting the support bracket to the support bracket body. Furthermore, a positioning bar having a fastening function is pivoted on the support bracket body, so as to fasten the support bracket to a contact surface of the main support bracket by means of the positioning bar after being connected to the main support bracket, such that the main support bracket can be more firmly positioned, thus preventing the support bracket from releasing from the main support bracket due to vibration, and improving the fastness and safety in use. |
| US08025261B2 |
Combination stand and jack for wire spools
A stand used for supporting spools of wire and the like includes a cam which is operable to increase the length of a leg to thereby raise the spool of wire off of the ground. The stand is adjustable to allow its use with different sizes of spools of wire. The stand allows a single person to raise a spool of wire weighing thousands of pounds off of the ground and support the same to allow the spool to rotate freely upon an axle. |
| US08025260B2 |
Sample device with turntable
A sample device to be inserted inside an external tube, having a substantially circular cross-section, may carry a substantially circular plate as part of a turntable to be rotated within the external tube around two substantially orthogonal axes. An embodiment of the sample device may include two substantially coaxial tubes, with the turntable being supported by the outer tube, and two meshing gears, with the first gear being connected to the inner tube and the second gear being connected to the turntable. Another embodiment may include a special cable guide being connected with its first end with the turntable and its second end, being substantially perpendicular to the first end, with the supporting means, with the inner tube, the outer tube and/or the cable guide being connected with a driving unit. Preferably, the surface of the plate to be rotated within the external tube is maximized. |
| US08025258B2 |
Electrical wire bracket device
An electrical wire bracket including a body having an open loop and at least one mounting foot coupled to the body. The bracket also includes at least one hole through the at least one mounting foot for securing the bracket to a mounting surface. A user can pull electrical wire through the open loop of the body and then allow the body to support the electrical wire. |
| US08025255B2 |
Aircraft piloting method and device for picking up a vertical profile of a flight plan
An aircraft piloting method and device for picking up a vertical profile of a flight plan. The device combines a manual piloting device that enables a pilot to control the start of the picking-up of a vertical profile and an automatic piloting device for automatically ending the vertical profile picking-up and following the vertical profile. |
| US08025251B2 |
Reinforcing bar binding machine, wire reel, wire, and method of determining kind of wire
A wire reel containing portion 3 of a reinforcing bar binding machine 1 is provided with a rotation detecting lever 8 and a photosensor 7. When a wire reel is rotated in starting to bind a wire, rotation thereof is detected by the rotation detecting lever switched ON/OFF by a projected portion formed at a side face of the wire reel, the photosensor detects a reflection mark of the wire reel to determine a kind of the wire from a number of the marks, and a twist torque or the like is controlled. Wire information is detected not in an initializing operation (in setting wire) of rotating the wire reel at low speed but in a binding operation of rotating at high speed and therefore, an amount of swinging the rotation detecting lever is large and wire information can firmly be detected. |
| US08025249B2 |
Bi-directional trimmer head spool with curved trimmer line guide
In an embodiment, a spool for a trimmer head has a structure for guiding the trimmer line around a region for a driveshaft. In an embodiment, a component (e.g., a turn knob or a stop) is attached to the spool so that after determining the orientation in which to install the spool, the user is unlikely to install the spool in another orientation, even though the spool is invertible. In an embodiment, the turn knob also includes a structure that allows the turn knob to be used as a tool (e.g., as a wrench or screw driver) that facilitates disassembling the trimmer head. |
| US08025246B1 |
Combined mailbox shredder apparatus
The combined shredder mailbox apparatus provides a single case having a mailbox with downwardly pivoted door positioned above a drawer. The shredder is disposed within the case between the mailbox and the drawer. The apparatus thereby allows a user to shred unwanted mail items rather than carry them elsewhere for disposal. Typical electrical plug, the solar panel and battery, or both can power the apparatus. The heavy duty shredder can shred up to 10 folded sheets or paper at once. The shredder can also shred credit cards and the like and compact discs. |
| US08025245B2 |
Material spreader with integrated wetting system
A material spreader having a hopper for containing material and a liquid tank containing liquid adjacent the hopper. The liquid tank has a passage extending from the hopper through the tank with a discharge opening. An auger extends through the hopper and passage for conveying material to the outlet for delivery to a spinner for distributing the material. At least one nozzle is mounted in the passage for spraying liquid onto the material as it is being conveyed through the passage. |
| US08025241B2 |
Hollow sleeper
In the case of a hollow sleeper (1) for adjusting devices of switch blades of railway points, movable common crossings or cable crossings in any desired sections of track and points, formed as an upwardly open hollow sleeper profile with a planar sleeper underside (2), for fitting in a track skeleton, wherein the cross-sectional width and height are made to match a normal concrete, wooden or steel sleeper, the positional stability on ballast can be improved if the sleeper underside (2) of the hollow sleeper (1) is formed with at least one sunken, downwardly open chamber (5). |
| US08025239B2 |
Multiple image security features for identification documents and methods of making same
An identification document manufacturing method makes an identification document with an optically variable security feature by forming a lens structure in the document's lamination layer along with image information. The method provides image information arranged to include at least two different images. The method uses pressure to form a lens profile in a laminate, including combining the laminate with ink representing the image information to form the document. The document is formed together with the laminate and ink such that the lens profile enables display of the at least two different images when the document is viewed at different predetermined angles. An information bearing document comprises a core layer, an image layer depicting at least two different images, and a laminate layer. The laminate layer is pressed on the core layer such that it forms a lens profile that enables display of the at least two different images when the document is viewed at different predetermined angles. |
| US08025235B2 |
Progressively degrading synthetic markers
There is described a synthetic marker encoding data, the synthetic marker comprising an information payload represented by bits encoded along a spectrum, each of the bits having a priority level assigned thereto ranging from high to low, bits having lower priority levels being encoded along an end of the spectrum which is successively lost with progressively degrading marker viewing conditions compared to bits having higher priority levels. |
| US08025231B2 |
Tag reader
A hand held electronic detector is provided for detecting the presence/absence and/or nature of a mark on an article (not shown) such as a security mark. The article may comprise a product, such as for example a pack of cigarettes. The detector comprises a case or body of strong rigid plastics material. The case comprises front and rear parts and which are connected together by concealed hinges, at their lower edges, so that the parts and can move hingedly between a closed configuration and a fully open configuration, in which the front and rear parts are angularly spaced by approximately 180°. There is a further defined intermediate open configuration in which the front and rear parts and are angularly spaced by approximately 90° . . . . When opening the case from the closed position the hinges ‘lock’ when the front and rear parts reach this intermediate position. The hinges will only ‘unlock’, so that the case can be opened further or closed, if sufficient force is applied. Relative movement of the case parts and to the fully open configuration shown in FIG. 2 is limited by hinges. In an open configuration the detector presents an article-locating station comprising a mounting surface for receiving an article, and alignment means, located on the mounting surface, which in this case is a marked line on the mounting surface with which the security mark should be aligned. |
| US08025230B2 |
System and method for prioritizing visually aimed threats for laser-based countermeasure engagement
The present invention increases the survivability of a helicopter by prioritizing a threat engagement sequence for a laser-based countermeasure system based on the determined relative lethality of each detected visually trained threat (e.g., small arms fire). The system and method defines a plurality of threat effectiveness merit factors, or lethality factors, that are determinable from available helicopter navigation and sensor data, to quantify the danger associated with each detected threat. The system and method then combines the defined lethality factors using a mathematical function, such as a merit function, to numerically quantify the level of threat posed by each threat. The calculated threat values for each of the detected threats are compared to prioritize the threats for engagement by a laser-based countermeasure system, such as a Visual Acquisition Disrupter (VAD) system. |
| US08025226B1 |
Enhanced vehicle identification card
A vehicle identification card is provided to an insured that includes proof of automotive insurance information and charge account information. The card may include an insurance policy covering the insured's vehicle, the VIN number of the vehicle, and other information about the vehicle such as the vehicle's make and model. The card may include account information that allows the card to be used like a credit card. The card may further include means for wirelessly updating information and providing a display to the user, which includes, but is not limited to, a housing, a memory module, a processor, one or more displays, and a power source. |
| US08025225B2 |
Merchandise registration processing system
When obtaining an ID code from a user who holds out an arm to a corresponding merchandise in a noncontact manner, respective information terminal devices accept a registration input of the corresponding merchandise. When accepting the registration input of the corresponding merchandise, registration merchandise information including obtained user identification information and merchandise identification information for identifying the merchandise corresponding to the information terminal device is transmitted to a server device. The server device stores and manages merchandise sales information for the respective ID codes from the registration merchandise information received from the respective information terminal devices. When the ID code is input from a settlement device, the merchandise sales information corresponding to the ID code is transmitted to the settlement device. The settlement device performs the settlement processing based on the merchandise sales information received from the server device. |
| US08025220B2 |
Cardholder localization based on transaction data
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for cardholder localization based on transaction data. In general, a determination of one or more possible base locations of a cardholder of a payment card may be initiated. Transactions of the cardholder may be associated with merchant customer base location profiles, where each of the merchant customer base location profiles models a distribution of base locations of customers with which a merchant has had a transaction. The one or more possible cardholder base locations may be derived from the merchant customer base location profiles. The one or more possible cardholder base locations may be used to determine a home or office location of a cardholder where such information is not otherwise available, to determine whether a cardholder has moved from a stated address, to determine if a cardholder has multiple residences, to detect fraud, and the like. |
| US08025216B2 |
System and method for checkless cash advance settlement
A method for conducting a checkless cash advance settlement is provided, including the following steps: (1) a customer initiates a Debit or Credit POS transaction via a gaming machine; (2) the customer receives authorization or denial; (3) the customer provides his identification and the credit/debit card to a cashier/attendant at the gaming station; (4) the cashier or attendant validates the customer's identity, retrieves the transaction information, and completes the cash advance application; (5) the application prints a non-negotiable instrument, such as a transaction receipt; (6) the customer signs the receipt confirming the transaction with a physical receipt or electronic capture; (7) the receipt image is stored electronically for subsequent transmittal to a central server; (8) the transaction information, including the receipt image if applicable, is recorded on the central server; and (9) the central server generates an ACH file and electronically transmits the ACH file to the casino's designated financial institution. |
| US08025214B1 |
Cash handling device having integrated controller
A cash recycler or other currency handling device includes an integrated controller located within the cash recycler. The integrated controller provides enhanced security and compatibility in cash recycler or other currency handling devices. For example, by using an integrated controller that is pre-configured according to the components of the cash handling device, no additional configuration may be needed and compatibility issues may be reduced or eliminated altogether. In addition, the controller may include a user interface, such as a touch-sensitive display, for receiving user input regarding cash transactions at the cash handling device. |
| US08025213B2 |
Automatic settlement of user account with creditor from transaction kiosk
A transaction kiosk collects cash from a user and then electronically negotiates with the user's creditor to settle a balance on an account with the creditor. The bank recognizes the cash deposited in the transaction kiosk by the user as security for the settlement amount. The cash deposited in the transaction kiosk is considered a cash asset owned by the bank and available to satisfy depositor claims. A transaction processor brokers the transaction between the user of the transaction kiosk, the surety bank, and the creditor. |
| US08025211B2 |
Systems and methods of production, distribution, logistics, and printing of tickets
Systems and methods for the production, distribution, logistics and printing of lottery tickets are disclosed. A central server provides a ticket combination and identifying variable data in response to a request from a computing system terminal. The terminal receives combination and variable data and issues commands for the printing of the same on a plurality of tickets. The tickets comprise a substratum capable of being printed upon at high speeds and colors and images. The printing may be performed at a point of sale. Prior to printing, the plurality of tickets may be imprinted with information related to marketing and appearance. Additionally, prior to the printing, the plurality of tickets do not have a combination or identifying variable data serving to identify the plurality of tickets. |
| US08025208B2 |
Bulk container for liquid and semi-liquid fluid
A bulk container for storing, shipping and dispensing liquid and semi-liquid fluids comprises a bin having a sidewall, a closed bottom, and an open top. The sidewall comprises a plurality of interconnected sidewall panels extending at an angle with respect to one another. A lid is covering the open top of the bin and having a discharge opening therethrough adjacent one side edge thereof. A fluid-containing bag is supported in the bin and a discharge valve is on an upper end of the bag where the discharge valve is positioned to extend through the discharge opening. Valve support means in an upper end of the bin for supporting and holding the discharge valve in position to extend through the discharge opening, the valve support means having a valve support opening therethrough with an elongate generally keyhole shape that is wide at one end and narrow at the other end, the narrow end being aligned with the discharge opening through the lid, the discharge valve being received through the narrow end of the valve support opening, and locking means engaged with the discharge valve to hold it in the narrow end of the valve support opening. |
| US08025207B1 |
Material-saving pizza box
A pizza box and blank having a unique cover-locking structure comprising (a) a tab extending from a front end edge of a panel of a side wall assembly and (b) a tab engaging edge disposed in or on a cover assembly. A main advantage is a cover-locking structure that provides ease of use and secure cover closure, along with possible material savings. |
| US08025206B2 |
Bulk container for liquid and semi-liquid fluid
A bulk container for fluid materials comprises a bin having a plurality of interconnected sidewall panels, a closed bottom, and an open top. A rim around the top of the bin defines a downwardly facing shoulder. A lid covers the open top and has elongated depending skirt panels extending downwardly past the shoulder. A clamping band is tightened around the lid skirt below the shoulder to secure the lid to the bin. Notches in an outer surface of the rim receive bendable locking strips on the lid skirt to lock the lid in position on the bin, and locking tongues on a first skirt panel are engageable in respective locking slots in an adjacent second skirt panel to hold the skirt panels in their operative downwardly folded positions. A tray and liner insert may be positioned in the bin, and a fluid-containing bag may be placed in the liner. |
| US08025205B2 |
Electronic component mounting method
By an electronic component mounting method for electrically connecting bumps to board electrodes, in a contact process for placing a thermosetting resin in a liquid glob state on the board surface and bringing the lower surface of the electronic component into contact with the thermosetting resin, the bumps are pressurized against the electrodes in positional alignment in a liquid glob distribution state where one portion of the liquid glob is arranged inside an electronic component mounting region and a remaining portion greater in liquid measure than the one portion is arranged outside the electronic component mounting region. The thermosetting resin enters into a gap between the electronic component and the board by capillarity in a thermocompression bonding process. This prevents voids occurring in the sealing resin, reinforces bonded portions of bumps and electrodes with thermally cured thermosetting resin, thereby preventing bonded portion breakage due to thermal stress generated during cooling. |
| US08025202B2 |
Method for manufacturing sealed battery
A sealed battery includes an ultrasonic fusion process whereby layers of a positive electrode substrate exposed portion are ultrasonically fused to form a positive electrode fused portion at the positive electrode substrate exposed portion, and layers of a negative electrode substrate exposed portion are ultrasonically fused to form a negative electrode fused portion at the negative electrode substrate exposed portion; and an electrode body formation process whereby a high-energy beam is directed at the positive electrode fused portion to weld a positive electrode collector to the positive electrode fused portion, and a high-energy beam is directed at the negative electrode fused portion to weld a negative electrode collector to the negative electrode fused portion, thus forming an electrode body in which a positive electrode collector is welded to one end of the electrode group and a negative electrode collector is welded to the other end. |
| US08025200B2 |
Friction stir welding machine and friction stir welding tool
A friction stir welding machine is provided that is adapted to perform solid phase welding on a welding portion of materials to be welded, by pressing a welding tool against the welding portion of the materials to be welded while rotating the welding tool, and forcing the welding tool to be advanced into a softened portion which is softened by a frictional heat while stirring the softened portion, wherein a coating made of aluminum nitride is formed on at least a region of the welding tool to be in contact with the materials to be welded. |
| US08025198B2 |
Anastomosis instrument and method for performing same
A surgical instrument for creating an anastomosis includes a housing, a handle extending from the housing and a fastener support member extending distally from the housing. The fastener support member is configured and dimensioned to releasably support a plurality of surgical fasteners. The instrument further includes a tissue retaining mechanism which is selectively movable from a first position relative to the fastener support member to a second position in closer proximity with the fastener support member such that tissue disposed adjacent to the fastener support member is retained thereagainst. Upon actuation of the handle, a fastener firing mechanism simultaneously deforms the plurality of surgical fasteners to complete the anastomosis. |
| US08025193B1 |
Rifle holder device
A rifle holder device for supporting a rifle in a position that is easy to grab for taking a shot is described. The holder device lets a hunter or shooting enthusiast carry a rifle with its weight supported on either his right or left hip. Rifles are rather heavy weapons. Should the hunter or shooting enthusiast carry one in his hands or arms for an extended period of time, his muscles can get fatigued. This makes it more difficult to get off an accurate shot in a timely manner. However, the present holder device puts most of the rifle's weight on the hunter's hip, thereby freeing his hands and arms from having to carry the rifle until it's time to take a shoot. Further, the present holder device is adjustable for carrying rifles of many different sizes. |
| US08025190B2 |
Upgraded ironing machine for ironing trousers
Upgraded ironing machine, particularly for ironing trousers, comprising a supporting structure (2) of at least two substantially vertical pressing plates (3), arranged so they are facing each other and moving from a home configuration, wherein the pressing plates are substantially a long way from each other, and a working configuration wherein the pressing plates are substantially close together, at least one ironing plate (4) substantially vertical and interposable between the pressing plates in the working configuration, at least one supporting element of at least one pair of trousers positionable with the legs laid respectively on the opposite sides of the ironing plate and automated positioning means of the trousers with respect to the ironing plate. |
| US08025188B2 |
Powder feed system
A fine powder is reliably dispensed from a hopper into containers on a moving conveyor belt with the assistance of a powder feed system. The hopper serves as a powder inlet that dispenses by gravity into a feed chamber that is form fitted to the sweep of a relatively slow rotating feed wheel with two spaced sets of pins. A relatively fast rotating agitator is located below the feed wheel which has a series of agitating blades that rotate between the span of the feed wheel pins, the blades in at least one embodiment resemble a J-shape. The agitator is located directly above a rotary trap chamber wheel, which has recesses that take doses of powder and dispense them into awaiting containers moving on a conveyor belt below. |
| US08025187B2 |
In-store combined sample dispenser and merchandising product display
A combined sample dispenser and merchandising unit product display and related method is provided herein. Included is an elongate tray having a first end and a second end, an upper compartment with open roof for standing a plurality of merchandising unit products each containing a flowable substance, and a lower compartment arranged directly below the upper compartment. A sample dispenser is provided which includes a dispensing unit arranged against the first end of the tray and a reservoir holding sampling amounts of the flowable substance, communicating with the dispensing unit and arranged within the lower compartment. |
| US08025182B2 |
Gas cartridge
Fuel gas or some other kind of fluid is stored in a collapsible metallic bag that is attached to a valve and is stored inside a rigid outer container. Between the rigid outer container and the collapsible bag is a space or volume filled with compression gas during use which puts a collapsing pressure evenly upon the bag. In order to reduce bag failures, the outer surface of the collapsible bag has a series of projected streak portions that project outwardly from the vertical length of the collapsing in several locations that prevent the bag from expanding to fill the entire space between the rigid outer container and the bag. These projected streaks form recessed portions in the bag's surface which facilitates the bag collapsing in those predetermined locations evenly which in turn reduces the collapsible bag's failure rate from breaking during operation. |
| US08025179B2 |
Circumferential sleeve for holding a food container upright
One aspect of the present invention discloses a circumferential sleeve made from a single pre-cut blank with no additional material (other than adhesive) added to the blank. The circumferential sleeve has a strip that protrudes from the sleeve and one end of the strip is contiguous to a first portion sleeve such as the bottom edge and the other end of the strip is attached to a portion of the sleeve, such as the rear panel. The strip can be arcuate or L-shaped and permits a food container to stand upright. |
| US08025178B2 |
Drinking vessel
According to the invention a drinking vessel (10) comprises a generally cylindrical container (11) adapted to contain liquid and a generally cylindrical lid (12) adapted to close the container. The lid comprises a generally cylindrical outer member (20), a generally cylindrical inner member (22) located within the outer member so as to define a generally cylindrical aperture (50) between the outer surface of the inner member and the inner surface of the outer member, and a generally cylindrical sealing element (21) located in the aperture. The sealing element normally forms a seal between the outer surface of the inner member and the inner surface of the outer member but is deformable by suction at the end of the aperture remote from the container so as to cause liquid within the container to flow, from the end of the aperture adjacent to the container, out through the aperture under the action of the suction. |
| US08025173B2 |
Collapsible canister liner for medical fluid collection
A collapsible liner for use in a canister of a medical fluid collection system is disclosed. The liner includes a flexible bag extending longitudinally between a top portion opposite a closed bottom portion, and at least one support element connected to the bag and disposed generally laterally relative to a length of the bag. When an interior of the bag is subjected to a vacuum, the at least one support element limits an extent of lateral collapse while permitting longitudinal collapse. |
| US08025171B2 |
Fuel tin
The invention relates to a fuel paste tin, comprising a dished tin body (1) and a sealing lid (3), fixed to the tin body (1) with two pre-scored lines (6), along which a partial lid section (7) may be removed from the sealing lid (3) by breaking a material connection to generate a precisely defined opening (4, 10, 11) in the sealing lid (3). The invention permits the production of fuel paste tins with may be employed directly as paste burners with a desired burn capacity and burn duration, which are economic to produce and cause little litter. |
| US08025170B1 |
Can cap covering
The present invention is a cap covering for a punch-key tab rotably attached to the top of a preformed can, wherein the punch-key tab is to be utilized by a person to punch out a prepared flap seal in the can top along a predefined scored boundary. The cap covering includes an attachable and detachable hollow casing which can be fitted on-demand onto the handle of a punch-key tab.The invention will distinguish individual ownership among identical cans of beverage; will serve as a closure to aid in keeping the carbonation (if any) in the beverage; will aid in maintaining the beverage at the desired drinking temperature; and will act in minimizing spillage, keep bugs and debris out, and in keeping the beverage in an unadulterated state. |
| US08025167B2 |
Crane control, crane and method
The present invention shows a crane control of a crane which includes at least one cable for lifting a load, wherein at least one sensor unit is provided for determining a cable angle relative to the direction of gravitational force. Furthermore, there is shown a crane control for driving the positioners of a crane which includes at least one first and one second strand of cables for lifting the load, with a load oscillation damping for damping spherical pendular oscillations of the load, wherein first and second sensor units are provided, which are associated to the first and second strands of cables, in order to determine the respective cable angles and/or cable angular velocities, and the load oscillation damping includes a control in which the cable angles and/or cable angular velocities determined by the first and second sensor units are considered. Furthermore, a corresponding crane and a method are shown. |
| US08025163B2 |
Wall mounted shelving
A wall mounted shelving unit comprises a pair of shelf supporting wall mounting brackets, each including an upright rear segment and an upright front segment with horizontal crosspieces extending between and connected to the rear and front segments of each bracket. Each crosspiece includes a pair of spaced apart upwardly extending loops or a pair of spaced apart downward extending troughs, and a rear segment of each bracket includes loops for attachment to a wall. Wire shelves rest on the crosspieces, and the upwardly extending loops engage wires on the shelves to prevent relative movement between the shelves and the brackets. Alternatively, the shelf includes downwardly extending shelf trusses that rest in the troughs of the crosspieces. |
| US08025161B2 |
Laminated glass rack, and/or method of making and/or shipping laminated glass panels using the same
Certain example embodiments relate to glass racks that are suitable for both autoclaving and shipping. In certain example embodiments, a glass rack may include a metal base having a grooved bottom connected thereto and a metal upright support substantially parallel to the base. The upright support may include a plurality of fingers covered in a protective material (e.g., rubber tubing) that extend therefrom. The spaces between the fingers may correspond with grooves of the grooved bottom, thereby cooperating to accommodate a plurality of panels (e.g., assemblies prior to autoclaving, laminated glass panels formed by autoclaving, etc.). The grooved bottom may be connected to the base so as to allow for expansion and/or contraction of the metal base relative to the grooved bottom. The rack, as a whole, may be capable of withstanding the temperature and pressure conditions of an autoclave, while also providing sufficient protection for the panels during shipping. |
| US08025159B2 |
Agent for increasing rejection with a permeable membrane, process for increasing the rejection, permeable membrane and process for water treatment
An agent for increasing the rejection with a permeable membrane which comprises an ionic macromolecule having a weight-average molecular weight of 100,000 or greater; a process for increasing the rejection with a permeable membrane which comprises treating a permeable membrane with the agent; a permeable membrane which is treated in accordance with the process; and a process for water treatment which comprises using the permeable membrane are disclosed. By using the above agent, an increased rejection of inorganic electrolytes and organic compounds soluble in water can be maintained for a long time easily and safely at the location of the use of the membrane without extreme decrease in the flux of permeation in the membrane separation using a selective permeable membrane such as a nano filtration membrane and a reverse osmosis membrane. |
| US08025158B2 |
High molecular weight poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) and process therefor
A poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) having a high molecular weight and a reduced content of low molecular weight species can be prepared by a method that includes specific conditions for the oxidative polymerization, chelation, and isolation steps. The poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) is particularly useful for the fabrication of fluid separation membranes. |
| US08025157B2 |
Power recovery system
A power recovery system is used for reducing the total energy consumption in a process such as an industrial treating process or a fluid refining process including the delivery of a fluid under a high pressure. The power recovery system includes a high-pressure pump for pressuring raw water, a reverse osmosis membrane cartridge for treating high-pressure water discharged from the high-pressure pump with a reverse osmosis membrane to produce treated water, a positive-displacement piston pump for pressuring raw water under the pressure of concentrated water which is discharged from the reverse osmosis membrane cartridge without being treated by the reverse osmosis membrane, and a power recovery pump turbine for boosting the pressurized raw water discharged from the positive-displacement piston pump and adding the boosted water to the high-pressure water discharged from the high-pressure pump. The power recovery pump turbine is actuated by pressurized water generated in the power recovery system. |
| US08025154B2 |
Screen panel fastener and fastening arrangement
The invention provides a fastener (10) for a screen panel (20), the fastener including a base section (12) at least two outer engagement means (14) extending from opposite side zones of the base section, the two outer engagement means at least partially opposing one another; and at least one inner engagement means (16) located between the outer engagement means; the inner and outer engagement means including retaining formations (14.2, 16.2) adapted to engage a complementary receiving formation in a screen panel (20) in a snap fit configuration. |
| US08025152B2 |
Sieve apparatus and method for use of same
An apparatus and a method of screening a material containing a solid and fluid where the material is placed on an upper side of a screen element and the material is at least being acted on by vibrations produced by at least one acoustic sound source. The at least one acoustic sound source is arranged to transmit pressure waves to at least a portion of an underside of the screen element. |
| US08025148B2 |
Stackable roll containers
A stackable roll container, in particular, for transporting foods, cosmetic articles, or other articles in large bundles. The stackable roll container includes a preferably rectangular bottom component, with transport rollers mounted on the underside. The stackable roll container also includes two attachment walls located opposite each other on opposite lateral sides of the bottom component. Each attachment wall extends upwardly from an upper side of the bottom component and has a respective rear vertical end brace which is offset from a vertical base plane of the respective attachment wall. Each attachment wall also includes a lower horizontal base brace adjoining the respective rear vertical end brace for that attachment wall. |
| US08025146B2 |
Cooleebob compliant upright drink insulator attachment
Improvements in a compliant upright drink insulator attachment device that is works with a standard drink insulator. The attachment device uses two parts where one part mates with the second part to slip through a standard insulated drink holder. These insulated drink holders are commonly called coolies or koozies and are manufactured with a central hole to allow for draining. A clip connects a compliant cord to one or both of the two parts. The compliant cord is configured as a coiled cord. A weight is connected to the free end of the compliant cord to keep the insulated drink holder in an upright orientation in the water. The compliant cord allows the weight to move semi independent from the insulated drink holder, and further allows the weight to be stored within the insulated drink holder for storage when it is not being used. |
| US08025142B2 |
Apparatus and method of transporting food products to a loading head
An apparatus and method of transporting food products (10) to a loading station (12) having a cooling conveyor (14) that selectively drops food product into a distributor (34). The distributor (34) separates product into at least two lanes (48, 50) and drops product onto a conveyor. A balancing and diverting conveyor (46) monitors and counts product in each lane (48, 50) and diverts product selectively based upon the sensed product. An orienter (70, 80) transfers product from a loading conveyor (68) to a buffer conveyor (72). The buffer conveyor (72) transfers product to a main conveyor (76) which transfers product to a loading head (84). |
| US08025140B2 |
Material processing apparatus comprising a conveyor
A material processing apparatus comprises a conveyor that is rotatable in vertical direction around a horizontal axis that is situated in an element rotatable in horizontal direction relative to the apparatus. The element is articulated to the apparatus at a main point of articulation, and at a point remote from the main point of articulation, articulated to a variable length element which in turn is articulated to the apparatus, and the element is connected to an actuator causing the horizontal rotational movement of the element together with the conveyor, defined by said main point of articulation. |
| US08025139B2 |
Clutch
A clutch having high engaging force and featuring of smooth operation, wherein clutch weights that are biased by return elements are subject to thrusting force caused by constraint sections of a main driving plate that receive and convert torque from an engine into the pressing action against engaging slots defined in the clutch weights so as to gain enhanced engaging force even when the minor difference or error existing on the response time of the clutch weight or the strength of the return elements and also provides anti-reversal function to reduced the oscillation and let the power output more smooth and more stable. Accordingly, slippage of clutch and wear of the clutch wear pad are both reduced and temperature rise of the wear pad is also reduced. |
| US08025138B2 |
Multi-plate clutch system
A multi-plate clutch system includes an outer clutch member having a plurality of first clutch plates thereon, a central spool having a plurality of second clutch plates thereon interspaced with the first clutch plates. The clutch system also includes a cam mechanism including a protruding cam and a recessed cam. The protruding cam and the recessed cam respectively include first inclined faces and second inclined faces, which are inclined in the same direction with respect to the circumferential direction. The protruding cam is thus brought into a point contact with the recessed cam during clutch engagement. As such, the multi-plate clutch system can maintain constant variable characteristics of the clutch capacity even when there is a variation in processing accuracy at the time of the production. |
| US08025136B2 |
Torque converter damper flange with turbine centering feature
A torque converter including a turbine, an output shaft, and a damper having at least one cover plate radially fixed to the turbine, a flange driven by the damper and non-rotatably connected to the output shaft, the flange having an axially extending surface centering the cover plate. |
| US08025135B1 |
Hydraulic damping device for drawer
A hydraulic damping device for drawer includes a cylinder holding a hydraulic fluid, a piston rod moving in and out of the cylinder and having a pin at one end inside the cylinder, a rigid valve block affixed to the inner end of the pin of the piston rod and having equiangularly spaced through holes, a retainer affixed to the outer end of the pin of the piston rod, a piston coupled to the pin of the piston rod and movable along the pin between the rigid valve block and the retainer and having a plurality of axially extending through holes, a number of the through holes of the piston being respectively aimed at the through holes of the rigid valve block for allowing the hydraulic fluid to pass through the piston in one direction at a high speed during outward stroke of the piston rod and to pass through the piston in the other direction at a low speed during inward stroke of the piston and a plurality of spring strips for stopping against the rigid valve block, and a shock absorbing device that buffers the impact of the rigid valve block when the piston rod is extended out of the cylinder. |
| US08025133B2 |
Strut swedge tooling
A railroad freight car brake beam strut assembly including an elongated strut having first and second joined walls. Each wall of the strut defines a bore opening to a hollow center portion and to an exterior of the strut. The bores defined by the walls on the strut accommodate a brake lever pivot pin extending through strut thereby connecting the brake lever to the strut and so as to allow pivoting of the brake lever. Each bore defined by the walls of the strut has a closed marginal edge. One brake pin bushing is accommodated in each bore defined by the strut so as to journal a lengthwise portion of the brake lever pivot pin. The closed marginal edge of each strut bore arranged in juxtaposed relation relative to the end of the brake pin bushing disposed a farthest distance from the axis of the strut defines a plurality of radially spaced stops formed as an integral part of the strut for inhibiting inadvertent axial displacement of the bushings away from the longitudinal axis of and relative to the strut thereby fixing the pivot axis of said brake lever relative to the strut. A method of manufacturing a railroad freight car brake beam strut assembly is also disclosed. |
| US08025132B2 |
System and method for removing brake dust and other pollutants
Systems and methods for capturing pollutants from braking mechanisms are provided. The systems can include a housing partially surrounding at least a portion of a vehicle brake assembly and disposed to receive brake dust from the brake assembly and a collector disposed to capture the brake dust received in said housing. A method can include providing the a providing a housing partially surrounding at least a portion of a vehicle brake assembly and disposed to receive brake dust from the brake assembly and a collector disposed to capture the brake dust received in said housing, creating a first air flow using the forward motion of the vehicle to move the pollutants from said housing to said collector, and capturing the brake dust in said collector. |
| US08025131B1 |
Eddy current braking system for trolley zip line cable with a stationary conductor
A trolley magnetic braking system having a brake block assembly engagable by a trolley, a substantially stationary conductor that is pitch adjustable and a carrier having magnetic members that are driven along the conductive member for braking a trolley. Providing a pitch adjustable conductor allows for modification of how much of the conductor interfaces with the magnets and therein varying the amount of eddy current applied in the braking apparatus. |
| US08025130B2 |
Roller disk brake for a winch
A power device includes a motor, a drive shaft, and a roller brake system including a cam mechanism. The motor may put out a driving torque in a first and a second rotary direction. The cam mechanism includes first and second cam members. The first cam member may be in a driven engagement with the motor and the second cam member may be slidably engaged with the first cam member and coupled to the drive shaft. The first cam member includes a circumferentially disposed ramped surface having a stop member at a first end thereof. The said second cam member is axially and rotatably fixed with the drive shaft and includes an axially extending protrusion disposed about a circumference thereof and slidably engaged with the ramped surface. |
| US08025128B2 |
Ball screw lubricative sealing device
The invention provides a ball screw lubricative sealing device having a simplified lubrication mechanism. It is attachable to an installed standard ball screw nut, capable of retaining larger amount of lubricant and long supply of lubricant to the contacting screw parts, and further includes a sealing function. It includes: generally cylindrical case members having attachment part to be attached to both ends of a screw nut, respectively; plural thin seal plates made of lubricating oil impregnated felt-like fiber material which is a three-dimensionally crosslinked plastic fiber and resilient rubber members, and having a hole each and fitted inside said case member in such a state that they circumferentially overlap with each other, the hole having a shape corresponding to a lateral cross-sectional shape of a screw groove of ball screw shaft; and a plastic wiper fitted with a space from the thin seal plates inside each of the case member. |
| US08025127B2 |
Telescopic table board positioned with resilient pin
A telescopic table board positioned with a resilient pin is provided, which is characterized by the following features: The telescopic table board includes a left table board and a right table board slidely nested with each other; as for the left table board and the right table board, one of them is fixedly provided with a rack, while the other with a corresponding seat bore, in which is a resilient pin positioned, which is mainly composed of a positioning fastener and a spring; the positioning fastener is provided at the head with a tooth head engaged with the corresponding rack, extends at the tail through the seat bore, and is provided at the tail end with a handle; and the spring is sleeved onto the positioning fastener, and functions between the positioning fastener and the seat bore, thus constituting the resilient-pin type telescopic positioning mechanism between the left table board and the right table board. The present utility model endows the operation table board or gangplank with the telescopic function, thus enhancing versatility and satisfying different requirements for length of the table board (gangplank) on various application occasions. |
| US08025124B2 |
Broadband passive distributed tuned vibration and acoustic absorber for modally dense structures
A passive distributed vibration absorber that utilizes multiple discrete mass elements and a viscoelastic layer and that effectively attenuates vibration in modally dense structures excited by a broadband input noise excitation. and is tunable to multiple natural frequencies in such modally dense vibrating structures including low frequencies. |
| US08025123B2 |
Muffler structure for vehicle
The invention obtains a muffler structure for a vehicle which can suppress an emission sound. In a muffler shell for a muffler for a vehicle, there are formed a peripheral joint in which an upper shell and a lower shell corresponding to a plurality of shell structure portions are joined in respective peripheral joint flanges and, and an inter-isolation chamber joint in which the upper shell and the lower shell are joined in inter-isolation chamber joint flanges and in such a manner as to partition a space positioned in an inner side of the peripheral joint into a plurality of isolation chambers and arranged in parallel in a gas flow direction. |
| US08025117B2 |
Power axle for a commercial vehicle
A power axle for assisting an automotive vehicle in ascending and descending steep slopes and grades includes an electromagnetic motor mounted to one floating axle of the vehicle, a junction box mounted to and electrically connected to the electromagnetic motor, a DC/AC power inverter mounted to the cab interposed between and for electrically interconnecting the vehicle's battery to the electromagnetic motor for powering the motor from the battery and control switches mounted on the dashboard and which include an on/off switch and a speed control dial for regulating and controlling the interaction and engagement of the electromagnetic motor with the floating axle of the vehicle. |
| US08025108B2 |
Subterranean methods of processing hydrocarbon fluid-containing deposits and hydrocarbon recovery arrangements for recovering hydrocarbon-containing fluid from hydrocarbon-containing deposits
A subterranean method of processing a hydrocarbon fluid-containing deposit includes, from a subterranean room, providing a borehole into a deposit containing formation fluid comprising fluid hydrocarbon. The borehole has a first end at a wall of the subterranean room, and a second end remote from the subterranean room and received within the deposit. The first end is elevationally lower than the second end. A string of pipe is provided within the borehole from the subterranean room. A cuttings removal fluid is injected from the string of pipe into the borehole and against a wall of the borehole in underbalanced pressure conditions. One of drilling, reaming, or jetting is conducted within the borehole during said injecting of the cuttings removal fluid. Formation fluid comprising fluid hydrocarbon is flowed from the deposit into the borehole during said injecting of the cuttings removal fluid. The injected cuttings removal fluid and the formation fluid within the borehole are flowed at least in part by gravity downhole externally of the string of pipe in underbalanced pressure conditions within the borehole and into the subterranean room. Other implementations and aspects are contemplated. |
| US08025106B2 |
Method for tightening a screw connection and screw driving tool
Disclosed is a method for screwing in and tightening a screw connection (1) to a predetermined tightened level (2), especially a predetermined torque level (2) or a predetermined pretension level, with the aid of a hand-held screwing tool (3) comprising a regulated drive unit (4) and/or control functionality, particularly an electric nut runner (3). A tightening phase (B-C-D), during which the screw head rests against the supporting surface (6) of the screw connection (1), starts following a screwing phase (A). In order to improve said method, the speed (N) of the screwing tool (3) is increased to an output speed (7) for the tightening phase (B-C-D) within an acceleration time (8) in the tightening phase (B-C-D) and is lowered within a delay time (9) prior to or until reaching the predetermined tightened level (2). The combined acceleration time (8) and delay time (9) represents the predominant part of the entire tightening phase (B-C-D), especially in relation to the traveled angle of twist (W) of the screw connection (1), the acceleration time (8) being shorter than the delay time (9). |
| US08025105B2 |
Downhole tool retrieval and setting system
Apparatuses and methods for retrieving a downhole tool from a wellbore are provided. The method includes running a retrieval tool into a wellbore on a conveyance. The retrieval tool configured to automatically manipulate into an engagement position with the downhole tool. Engaging the downhole tool with the retrieval tool and removing the downhole tool from the wellbore. |
| US08025104B2 |
Method and apparatus for delayed flow or pressure change in wells
Degradable polylactic or polyhydroxyalkanoate polymers may be used to viscosify aqueous fluids for use in wells, Sand control screen or liner can be coated with a solid degradable polymer during placement in a well. Mechanical changes or flow changes in a well can be caused by solid degradable polymer that changes physical properties after it is placed in a well. Parts of devices or entire devices can be made of solid degradable polymer that converts to a fluid after selected times in an aqueous environment in a well. |
| US08025102B2 |
Wellbore delivery apparatus
An apparatus for delivering a material into a wellbore comprises a body adapted to be translated along a conduit within a wellbore, with a cavity formed in the body for containing a material to be delivered. The body defines an outlet adapted to be selectively opened to permit the material to be released from the cavity at the required location within the wellbore. In one arrangement the material includes swellable particles which expand upon contact with an activator. |
| US08025098B2 |
Processing hydrocarbons
Systems and methods that include providing, e.g., obtaining or preparing, a material that includes a hydrocarbon carried by an inorganic substrate, and exposing the material to a plurality of energetic particles, such as accelerated charged particles, such as electrons or ions. |
| US08025094B2 |
Yttria-based refractory composition
Method for producing a mold for use in casting reactive metals comprising preparing a slurry of a yttria-based refractory composition and a binder, and using said slurry as a mold facecoat by applying said slurry onto a surface of a mold pattern, wherein said yttria-based refractory composition is obtainable by (a) mixing particles of a yttria-based ceramic material and a fluorine containing dopant, and (b) heating the resulting mixture to effect fluorine-doping of said yttria-based ceramic material. |
| US08025092B2 |
Process and related plant for producing steel strips with solution of continuity
A process for the manufacturing of steel strips with solution of continuity is described, comprising a continuous casting step for thin stabs with a high “mass flow”, a shearing step and subsequent heating in furnace, followed by a multiple stand rolling step, wherein the average temperature of the product at the inlet of the rolling is higher than the surface temperature, which is equal to at least 1100° C., lower than that measured in the inner central area by about 100° C. A plant is also described for the accomplishment of such process, wherein at the inlet of a furnace (25; 35), possibly of the induction type, combined with a temperature maintaining tunnel (36) a shear (3) is provided for, cutting into pieces (24; 34) a slab (22; 32) coming from continuous casting (21; 31), wherein the distance between the outlet of said continuous casting and the inlet into the finishing rolling mill (29; 39) is not greater than 100 m. |
| US08025089B2 |
Mechanism for untangling window cords
A lifting system for a window covering has a movable shaft disposed within a cradle that is held within a head rail. The movable shaft has an end portion and a lift cord wrapping portion. A lift cord is connected to the movable shaft. A transition member is disposed between the end portion and the lift cord wrapping portion. The transition member acts as a ramp to facilitate migration of the lift cord to the lift cord wrapping portion once bird nesting has occurred. |
| US08025087B2 |
Ultrasonic vibration welder
The present invention solves the problem that a connecting portion between a horn and a vibration transmission rod has a tendency to get damaged and the problem associated with the structure in which a chip is attached to an end of the vibration transmission rod, which occur with the known ultrasonic vibration welder. A vibration transmission rod has an end surface serving as a vibration-and-pressure application surface, and a polygonal cross section. The vibration transmission rod is disposed at an end of a horn in such a manner that they vibrate together. The vibration transmission rod and a mass are formed separately. The mass applies pressure to a projection formed at a nodal point of the vibration transmission rod. |
| US08025079B2 |
Clean out tube check valve
Disclosed is a check valve for preventing liquid from entering an attached tube. The check valve includes a cylindrical housing having an inner surface and a removable plug that is at least partially within the housing. The plus has a side wall with at least part of the sidewall sloping in an inwardly direction from a top surface to a bottom surface towards a central axis. The side wall is operable to contact the inner surface of the housing and form a seal, thereby preventing liquid from passing through the housing, the housing being fixedly attached to an inner surface of a tube. |
| US08025078B2 |
Vehicle mountable arm for valve operating machine
A valve operating device includes a mounting for attachment to a vehicle and an elongate arm, the free end of which is only moveable in a plane parallel to the ground. The joints of the arm pivot around vertical axes and the arm is locked into a desired orientation by a brake at each joint. A valve turning machine is at the free end of the arm. The brakes are engaged and released by a control on the valve turning machine. |
| US08025077B2 |
Mechanical fuse to seal pipes upon unintended rupture
The present invention relates to a mechanical fuse to seal pipes upon unintended rupture. When a pressure difference between a first pressure and a second pressure in a pipe is below a pressure threshold, a first spring retains a flap in a first position allowing gaseous fuel to flow from a first portion to a second portion and when the pressure difference between the first pressure and the second pressure is not below the pressure threshold the flap moves to a second position preventing the gaseous fuel from flowing from the first portion to the second portion. |
| US08025071B2 |
Bases and braces for support poles, such as poles for pavilions and umbrellas
Bases are disclosed that comprise a projecting portion designed to receive over it the hollow end of a pole or other elongate member, which may form part of a structure such as a pavilion or umbrella. The projecting portion of the base comprises wedges that move in response to the end of the pole moving over the projecting portion and in so moving, the wedges increase the effective cross section of the projecting portion to engage the inner surface of the end of the pole and to thereby stabilize the structure on a support surface, such as the ground. Braces are also disclosed that pull together adjacent poles of a pavilion to make the structure more rigid. |
| US08025069B2 |
Semiconductor wafer treating apparatus
A semiconductor wafer treating apparatus comprising a housing, holding means rotatably disposed within the housing, rotating means for rotating the holding means, and cleaning means for cleaning a semiconductor wafer held on the holding means. Irradiation means for irradiating the semiconductor wafer held on the holding means with short wavelength ultraviolet radiation is further disposed in the semiconductor wafer treating apparatus. |
| US08025068B2 |
Flossing and oral hygiene tool
A detachable device for improved dental hygiene supports and tensions dental floss above and beyond the bristles of the tooth brush so that flossing can occur using the bristle end of the tooth brush and avoid having the bristles interfere with the flossing process. In preferred embodiments the device is mechanically coupled to a sonic toothbrush to transmit sonic energy to the floss for improved cleaning. In other embodiments the device includes a tongue cleaning implement. |
| US08025064B2 |
Methods for attenuating pressure waves in a patient's eye
Disclosed herein are methods of treating a patient, comprising providing a compressible attenuation device that is moveable from a first, introduction configuration to a second, implanted configuration. The attenuation device is introduced into a treatment site. In one embodiment, the treatment site is a patient's eye. The volume of the attenuation devices changes in response to pressure changes in the treatment site and attenuates pressure changes in the eye. |
| US08025063B2 |
System and method for treatment of upper airway disorders
The present invention provides a system for treating a mammalian patient having obstructive sleep disordered breathing, e.g., sleep apnea. The system has a set of appliances including a first appliance being adapted to displace a mandible of the patient by a first predetermined geometry relative to a maxilla of the patient. The set also includes at least a second appliance adapted to displace the mandible of the patient by a second predetermined geometry relative to the maxilla of the patient. In a specific embodiment, the first predetermined geometry is substantially different from the second predetermined geometry. Preferably, either one of the first appliance or at least the second appliance is worn by the patient based upon a predetermined treatment plan that includes one or more provisions for wearing at least the first and the second appliances. |
| US08025061B2 |
Condom packaging
Condom packaging comprises one or more substantially rectangular pieces of packaging material, each piece of packaging material comprising a central portion and edge portions, the edge portions being separated from the central portion by perforated areas configured to allow the edge portions to be removed, and an expansion member adjacent to or within the condom flange. The one or more pieces of packaging material surround substantially all or all of the condom, and the packaging material, when sealed with the condom inside, includes two substantially flat portions having side edges. The condom flange is attached to the packaging material and squeezing the side edges of the packaging material causes the packaging material and an open end of the condom to form a substantially cylindrical cross section, the expansion member providing rigidity and being configured to aid in formation of the substantially cylindrical cross section. |
| US08025059B2 |
Respiratory device comprising a double lumen endotracheal tube
Device for ventilation with a double lumen endotracheal tube featuring a connecting piece at the end distal to the patient into which the two lumina of the endotracheal tube are extended, separated within the connecting piece by an axial partition wall, a connector with two nozzles leading to a joint connecting section and separated from each other by another partition wall, the connector being attachable to the connecting piece in a way that brings the partition wall and the other partition wall into a sealing contact, a ventilator and at least one tube connected to a nozzle of the connector at one end and to the ventilator at the other. |
| US08025058B2 |
Variable CPAP respiratory interface
The present disclosure relates generally connectors for interconnecting a conduit of a fluid pressure device to an interface configured to deliver a fluid of the fluid pressure device to a patient. A connector includes a body portion configured for fluid connection to the conduit of the fluid pressure device; and a first branch and a second branch each extending from and fluidly connected to the body portion, wherein each branch is configured for fluid connection to the interface. A concavity is formed at an interface between each of the body portions, the first branch and the second branch. |
| US08025057B2 |
Ergonomic and adjustable respiratory mask assembly with headgear assembly
A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame having a main body and a side frame member provided on each lateral side of the main body. Each side frame member includes an integrally formed first connector portion. A headgear assembly is removably attachable to the frame. The headgear assembly has a second connector portion adapted to be removably coupled with the first connector portion provided on the frame. The second connector portion is manually movable to a releasing position to detach the headgear assembly from the frame. The headgear assembly is rotationally adjustable with respect to the frame. |
| US08025055B1 |
CPAP enclosure for the treatment of breathing disorders
A CPAP enclosure used in the treatment of breathing disorder comprises a base connected to a bed, a canopy connected to the base, and a sealing member that connects the canopy to the base. The sealing member forms a substantially airtight seal such that the canopy and the base form a substantially airtight enclosure around at least a portion of the bed. A Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) compressor connects to the enclosure via flexible tubing, and generates a continuous positive airway pressure within the enclosure to treat a patient. A blender blends one or more compressed gasses with the compressed air from the CPAP compressor for delivery to the enclosure. |
| US08025053B1 |
Pressure regulator assembly
A pressure demand regulator assembly for use with a breathing apparatus having a valve assembly that includes an inlet for connection to a source of breathing gas, an outlet for connection to a facepiece to provide breathing gas to the user and an actuator for controlling the flow of breathing gas between the inlet and the outlet in response to the user's respiration. The regulator assembly further includes a flexible elastomeric diaphragm in operative connection with the actuator. The diaphragm is exposed to ambient pressure on a first side thereof and exposed to a positive pressure within the facepiece on a second side thereof. The regulator assembly also includes an impermeable and flexible shield that seals the first side of the diaphragm from certain toxic substances in the ambient atmosphere while allowing the first side of the diaphragm to experience ambient pressure, such that the flexible shield moves along with the diaphragm during respiration without dampening the movement of the diaphragm during respiration of the user. |
| US08025051B2 |
Delivery device
A delivery device for administering particulate medicaments, such as dry powder. The delivery device comprises a body and a flow path comprising a chamber with an inlet and an outlet for the stream of air. The chamber is rotatable in relation to the body. Dislodging means are arranged in contact with the inner surface of the chamber. The dislodging means and the chamber are relatively rotatable in relation to one another, such that the inside of the chamber is cleaned by the dislodging means when the dislodging means and the chamber are rotated in relation to one another. |
| US08025047B2 |
Collapsible locking slingshot
The present invention provides for a collapsible locking slingshot having a quick-release interchangeable band replacement safety system. The present invention also includes a self-centering, open-pocket slingshot pouch and a unique dual-tapered band. The slingshot collapses into a lockable case, improving the slingshot's safety, and enhancing the protection and longevity of the slingshot's components. The slingshot incorporates a unique shoot-over design in which the arms generally are parallel to the shooter's arm during operation. |
| US08025044B1 |
Fuel savings device and methods of making the same
An apparatus for enhancing fuel mileage of internal combustion engine consists of a tube inserted into a fuel line between a fuel storage tank and the engine, the tube having a plurality of electrodes protruding into a fuel passage within the tube. The electrodes are provided with an electrical charge for imparting electrical charges to liquid fuel molecules flowing through the fuel passage of the tube. |
| US08025041B2 |
Method of removing the fuel contained in the lubricating oil of an internal-combustion engine and engine using same
The present invention relates to a method removing the fuel contained in the lubricating oil of an internal-combustion engine comprising an engine block with an air intake circuit for a fuel mixture, a burnt gas exhaust circuit, an oil sump and means for pumping the oil contained in the sump. According to the invention, the method consists in removing, after pumping the oil, the fuel diluted in the oil by heating intermittently the oil for a time ranging from 1/100 second to 10 second, in order to obtain vaporization of the fuel diluted in the oil. |
| US08025040B1 |
Plasma ignition system
To provide a plasma ignition system that can prevent damage on an internal combustion engine due to erroneous ejection of a plasma jet, and further, even when the required voltage of an ignition plug becomes lower, can prevent erroneous ignition by the charged voltage of a PJ capacitor. A plasma power supply circuit of the plasma ignition system includes a voltage-limiting circuit having a first set voltage having an absolute value lower relative to the discharge voltage of the ignition coil, and a second set voltage having an absolute value higher relative to the discharge voltage of the ignition coil, and the first set voltage and the second set voltage are selectively switched according to an operation condition of the internal combustion engine. |
| US08025036B2 |
Valve timing control apparatus
A valve timing control apparatus includes a driving rotation member, a driven rotation member, an advance angle chamber displacing a rotation phase of the driven rotation member relative to the driving rotation member in an advance angle direction, a retard angle chamber displacing the relative rotation phase in a retard angle direction, an advance angle oil passage, a retard angle oil passage, an oil pump, a passage switching valve switching a position between first and second positions, and a drain mechanism provided between the passage switching valve and at least one of the advance angle chamber and the retard angle chamber to accelerate discharge of the hydraulic fluid from one of the advance angle chamber and the retard angle chamber when the hydraulic fluid is supplied to the other of the advance angle chamber and the retard angle chamber. |
| US08025035B2 |
Mechanical variable camshaft timing device
A device for selectively changing phase relationship between first and second rotating shafts in an internal combustion engine where the first shaft is secured for rotation with a worm carrier assembly and the second shaft is secured for rotation with a worm gear includes first and second worms disposed for rotation within the worm carrier assembly and having torsional preloads with opposite hands of rotation and meshing with the worm gear. An actuator turns the first and second worms in a first direction to advance rotation of the second shaft relative to the first shaft and turns the first and second worms in a second direction to retard rotation of the second shaft relative to the first shaft. |
| US08025031B1 |
Aquarium snail collection system
An aquarium snail collection system and method, including a collector that is void of any enclosing structure and having a base and a substantially continuous and substantially permeable sidewall that extends upwardly from a central portion of the base to define an interior bait cavity. An upper portion of the sidewall is left open to permit easy access to the bait cavity and also to provide a structure that does not trap air that might cause the collector to float upwardly from the substrate. |
| US08025030B1 |
Bird feeder apparatus
A bird feeder designed for overhead positioning is provided having a dispensing component which protectively holds and controllably dispenses particulate bird feed, and a refilling component liftable by an elongated staff and configured to add bird feed to the dispensing component. |
| US08025026B2 |
Installation for spraying a multi-component coating material
An installation for spraying a multi-component coating material composed of at least one robot having a moving portion carrying at least one electrostatic sprayer, the coating material having an electrically-conductive component together with at least one second component that is electrically insulating or poorly conductive. The installation further includes a main tank fitted with a unit for making a temporary connection with a circuit for dispensing the first component, and being raised to a high voltage when the connection unit not connected, and a feed circuit for continuously feeding the at least one second component. The main tank and the at least one second component feed circuit are carried by the moving portion of the robot and connected to feed the sprayer. |
| US08025019B1 |
Buoyant bumper apparatus for absorbing water vessel impact against pilings
A bumper apparatus includes a roller rack and rack fasteners for mounting the roller rack vertically along a dock structure; a bumper assembly having a buoyant structure having sufficient buoyancy to cause the bumper assembly to rise and fall with the water surface and thus with the tide and with any adjacent water vessel; and a rack engaging structure slidably interconnecting the roller rack and the bumper assembly so that the bumper assembly is slidable vertically relative to the roller rack. The roller rack preferably includes a spaced apart upright pair of opposing first and second mounting rails; and a longitudinal series of substantially horizontal cylindrical rollers mounted on individual roller axles extending between and connected to the first and second mounting rails so that the rollers protrude forwardly from the mounting rails. |
| US08025015B1 |
Vehicle workstation
A vehicle workstation for mounting laptop computers and other equipment inside a vehicle that is easily attached to and removed from the vehicle and prevents vehicle vibrations and jolts from being transmitted to the equipment. |
| US08025011B1 |
Stun grenade
A stun grenade includes a housing having at least a portion that is not opaque; a light output section disposed in the housing, the light output section comprising a pyrotechnic material; a fuze coupled to the housing, the fuze including a time delay column inserted into the housing; and a noise output section comprising a lower portion of the time delay column and a pyrotechnic material disposed in the lower portion of the time delay column. The light output section and the noise output section are initiated at different times. |
| US08025005B2 |
System and method for protecting vehicle occupants
The present invention is directed to an armor system that protects vehicle occupants from lands mines or improvised explosive devices. In the preferred embodiment, the armor system has an arc member, a membrane, reactive blocks, and a reactive block enclosure. The armor system is designed to dissipate, neutralize, and redirect explosion energy, fragments and shrapnel, thereby ensuring the safety of the vehicle occupants. |
| US08025003B1 |
Fluted firearm barrel
A firearm barrel having barrel flutes on the outer surface of the barrel where the barrel flutes are undercut relative to an outward radial vector from the center of the barrel at an arcuate radial distance that exceeds the arcuate radial distance of an undercut produced by a straight walled flute cutter such that the barrel flutes are hyper-undercut. |
| US08024996B2 |
Power wrench
The invention relates to a hydraulic power wrench comprising a ratchet lever (16) driven by a hydraulic cylinder. According to the invention, said power wrench is provided with a friction brake (20) which operates continuously between the housing (10) and the output shaft (14). In this way, reversed rotations of the output shaft following the individual working strokes are avoided. |
| US08024995B2 |
Systems and methods of a power tool system with interchangeable functional attachments powered by a direct rotational drive
In embodiments of the present invention, a method and system of a power tool system may comprise mounting a functional module to a mounting plate of a power head, the power head configured to mount various functional modules, attaching the power head to a power base for powering the functional module, powering the functional module by directing power from the power base through a direct rotational drive of the power head, and controlling the multi-functional power tool system using a control disposed in the power base. |
| US08024992B2 |
Height adjustment device for saddles or handlebars
A bicycle saddle and handlebar height adjustment device comprising a tubular element (5) provided with means (2) for its connection to said saddle (3) and presenting a portion (4) to cooperate with a support element (6, 7) for said tubular element, said support element being associated with locking means (8) for said first tubular element which maintain the tubular element (5) in a determined position relative to the support element (6, 7), in which alignment means (16) are present between said support element (6, 7) and said tubular element (5) to maintain a determined angular position between the tubular element (5) and the support element (6, 7), said locking means (8) comprising a threaded (132A) ring (132) rotatably fixed to one from among the support element (6, 7) and the tubular element (5), the other from among the support element (6, 7) and the tubular element (5) presenting a thread (5A) cooperating with the thread (132A) of said ring (132). rotation of said ring (132) causing continuous movement of one element relative to the other. |
| US08024991B2 |
Actuator for seat adjusting devices
An actuator, especially for seat adjusting devices with at least one electrical engine having subordinated reduction gear and a disconnecting device for manual operation. The generic actuator is provided with a disconnecting device that can be used in all operating processes in a large number of different applications and that guarantees reliable functioning of the disconnecting device without being over-dimensioned and thus uneconomical. The disconnecting device has a coupling insertion spring which determines the release force of the disconnecting device and a reset spring is provided which resets an actuating device. |
| US08024988B2 |
Drive unit for a motor vehicle
A drive unit for a motor vehicle, comprising an engine, a transmission or gearbox, a clutch aggregate for transmitting torque, the clutch aggregate including at least two friction clutches that are assigned to an input shaft of the transmission or gearbox, wherein at least one of the at least two friction clutches features an energy accumulator operatively arranged to generate a lock-up force required for torque transmission through the clutch aggregate, and a control unit operatively arranged to control an automatic activation of the at least two friction clutches and the transmission or gearbox, wherein in the event of a malfunction of the activation of the friction clutch, the stored energy in the accumulator creates an interruption of torque transmission within a section of the drive unit connected downstream of the clutch aggregate. |
| US08024986B2 |
Environmental sensing unit
A duct mounted environmental sensing unit includes a plurality of sensors for detecting respective parameters of a fluid in a duct. The sensing unit enables at least three sensors to make contact with the fluid through a single insertion point in the duct. |
| US08024981B2 |
Device for test loading
The present invention provides a device for test loading a fuselage barrel, in particular in the aviation and aerospace industry. The device comprises a first and a second pressure bulkhead for sealing the fuselage barrel at the end faces thereof in a pressure-tight manner. The device further comprises a support device which may be coupled to the first pressure bulkhead, on the one hand, and to the second pressure bulkhead, on the other hand, extending through the fuselage barrel. Moreover, the device comprises a loading device which may be coupled to the support device, on the one hand, and to a portion of the fuselage barrel, on the other hand, for introducing loads into the fuselage barrel. The resulting advantage is that gravitational force and/or acceleration forces acting on the masses arranged in the fuselage barrel, for example cargo, in particular during the flight phase may be simulated by means of components which are exclusively arranged within the fuselage barrel, which is pressurized during the test. Thus a provision of through-holes in the fuselage skin for passing through hydraulic cylinders and the sealing of said holes relative to the fuselage skin, as in the device known to the applicant, are avoided. |
| US08024975B2 |
Ultrasonic testing method and ultrasonic testing device using this
An ultrasonic wave is sent from a transmission element to a test element to produce a plate wave in the test element, and the plate wave propagating through the test element is received by a reception element to thereby test the test element on the propagation route of the plate wave. The other probe that is the other reception element or transmission element is disposed between the transmission element and the reception element. A probe holding mechanism that has support legs contacting the surface of the test element and keeps constant an angle of the other probe with respect to the surface of the test element is allowed to support the other probe. And, the other probe is allowed to cross over in non-contact the propagation route of the plate wave extending from the transmission element to the reception element by means of support legs. |
| US08024970B2 |
Passive humidity sensors and methods for temperature adjusted humidity sensing
A humidity sensor having temperature sensing includes a substrate and a RLC (damped resonant) circuit formed in or on the substrate. The RLC circuit comprises a capacitor having a first and a second electrically conductive plate and a moisture sensitive dielectric interposed between the first and second plate. An RL network comprising an inductor and a resistor is coupled to the capacitor and comprises a high relative temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) portion formed from a first material which is coupled to a low relative TCR portion formed from a second material different from the first material. The RLC circuit can be a series RLC circuit. In another embodiment, the RLC circuit can comprises a parallel RLC circuit. |
| US08024962B2 |
Flow-through apparatus for testing particle laden fluids and methods of making and using same
A method of determining one or more bulk rheological properties of a particle laden fluid comprising providing a system comprising a vessel, a pump coupled to the vessel, and a flow-through apparatus coupled to the pump and the vessel, wherein the flow-through apparatus comprises a flow chamber, a bob rotatably disposed within the chamber, wherein the bob comprises an outer geometry adapted for continuous laminar flow in an axial direction, and a gap between the chamber and the bob, pumping the particle laden fluid into the flow-through apparatus, shearing the particle laden fluid within the gap of the flow-through apparatus, and collecting data from the bob and observing the particle laden fluid to determine one or more bulk rheological properties of the particle laden fluid. |
| US08024961B2 |
Simultaneous normal and radial liquid permeameter
A permeameter including a fluid control chamber, a permeability specimen area, and a first outlet from the specimen area measuring fluid as a function of a normal permeability of at least one specimen in the specimen area and a second outlet from the specimen area receiving and measuring further fluid as a function of a radial permeability of the at least one specimen in the specimen area. |
| US08024957B2 |
Downhole load cell
A downhole load cell calibrated for enhanced accuracy. The load cell may be a dry load cell calibrated by storage of pre-determined temperature and pressure data relative to the load cell based on known loads applied thereto. Thus, surface equipment employed with the load cell may include a computer program that takes advantage of the stored pre-determined information. The computer program may then be employed for calibration of downhole load cell data based on readings from the load cell along with downhole temperature and pressure information. |
| US08024950B2 |
Vertical air compliant hemming head
A hemming apparatus is provided for use with a robot in performing a hemming operation. The hemming apparatus comprises a support housing which mounts to a machine and has a pressurizable interior chamber having forward and rearward portions. A slide member includes a piston which is disposed in the chamber, and a plunger extends outwardly from the piston. Means are provided for attaching the housing to a nose having a central passageway. A bearing shaft is disposed within the central passageway, and means are provided for connecting the bearing shaft to the plunger. A hem roller is attached at the end of the bearing shaft. The rearward and forward portions of the chamber are connectible to a source of fluid pressure such that adjusting the chamber pressures moves the piston, thereby causing the bearing shaft to drive the hem roller into engagement with a work piece. |
| US08024949B2 |
Apparatus for decelerating and temporarily accumulating hot rolled product
An apparatus is disclosed for decelerating and temporarily accumulating a hot rolled product moving longitudinally along a first axis at a first velocity V1. The apparatus comprises a curved guide with an entry end aligned with the first axis to receive the product, and with an exit end spaced radially from the first axis and orientated to deliver the product in an exit direction transverse to the first axis. The curved guide is rotatable about the first axis in a direction opposite to the exit direction of the product and at a speed at which its exit end has a second velocity V2 lower than V1 and such that the product is delivered from the exit end as a helical formation of rings and at a third velocity V3 equal to V1−V2. A cylindrical drum is arranged to axially receive the helical formation of rings and to rotate about the first axis in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the curved guide and at a speed such that the product is unwound from the drum at the third velocity V3. A receiver moves to and fro along a path parallel to the first axis to receive the product being unwound from the drum. A shroud is configured to partially encircle the drum, and rotatable interior rollers are circumferentially spaced around the interior of the shroud. The interior rollers are spaced radially from the surface of the drum and extend in parallel relationship with the first axis. |
| US08024947B2 |
Front-loading washing machine having liquid distributing paddles
A washing machine paddle includes a plurality of intake openings for collecting liquid at the bottom and rear of a drum of a front loading washing machine. Discharge openings are located on the paddle toward the front of the drum for discharging liquid therethrough. A baffle arrangement in the paddle directs the liquid collected from the intake openings to the discharge openings upon rotation of the drum to place the paddle into a top location. A drum arrangement and washing machine includes at least one such paddle mounted thereon. |
| US08024944B2 |
Threadless nut
A glassware forming machine baffle arm assembly that includes a quick-connect/disconnect arrangement mounting a baffle manifold on a baffle arm. The arrangement includes a baffle arm having an aperture, and a baffle manifold having a segment extending through said aperture and permitting rotation of said baffle manifold with respect to said baffle arm. The arrangement also includes a threadless nut, and a bayonet connection between said threadless nut and said baffle manifold segment. |
| US08024943B2 |
Method of dividing glass into separate pieces with the aid of a cutting liquid and improved cutting liquid for said method
The method of dividing a glass substrate into separate pieces includes producing a crack along a dividing line on the substrate and acting on the crack with an aqueous cutting liquid during or immediately after producing the crack. The aqueous cutting liquid used in the method has a special composition that reduces the breaking forces applied to the glass substrate in order to divide it. The aqueous liquid contains an ionic organic compound, which has a cation with a positively charged nitrogen atom and a hydroxyl anion. Quaternary ammonium hydroxide compounds are especially preferred as the ionic organic compound. |
| US08024934B2 |
System and method for attenuating combustion oscillations in a gas turbine engine
A system and method for modifying the supply of fuel to injectors to attenuate combustion oscillations in a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine may comprise a combustor, a plurality of injectors and a manifold. The plurality of injectors may be operable to provide fuel to the combustor. The manifold may be configured to supply fuel to all of the plurality of injectors or to only a portion of the plurality of injectors in reaction to a determination of an existence of combustion oscillations. |
| US08024932B1 |
System and method for a combustor nozzle
A nozzle includes a center body and a shroud circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of the center body to define an annular passage between the center body and the shroud. The nozzle further includes a bimetallic guide between the center body and the shroud. A method for supplying fuel to a combustor includes flowing a working fluid through a nozzle, injecting the fuel into the nozzle, and mixing the fuel with the working fluid to create a fuel and working fluid mixture. The method further includes swirling the fuel and working fluid mixture, sensing flame holding in the nozzle, and reducing the swirl in the fuel and working fluid mixture. |
| US08024925B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for controlling a desired torque output
Apparatus, system, and method for controlling a desired torque output on a hydromechanical transmission. Controlling torque output of a hydromechanical transmission provides improved operator feel and control. A control module determines a desired torque output and determines a pressure necessary to influence the displacement of the variable displacement pump to output the desired torque output. A pressure-controlling valve applies that amount of pressure to an actuator, which moves in response thereto, to change the displacement of the variable displacement pump. When the motor speed changes, the control module adjusts the pressure applied to the actuator to provide the desired torque output. |
| US08024917B2 |
Multi-functional power supply for a hall thruster
A multi-functional power supply system for a Hall thruster including a thruster assembly for providing a plasma discharge and a cathode assembly for providing electrons. The cathode assembly includes an emitter, a keeper with a current limiting device, and a heater. A magnetic field source is operatively associated with the cathode assembly for generating a magnetic field to control the discharge. A plasma discharge circuit creates a plasma and accelerates the plasma to produce thrust. A power supply is connected to the keeper and the plasma discharge circuit and is connected to the heater through a switching device responsive to a predetermined condition for interrupting the power to the heater and simultaneously enabling the power supply to deliver power to the keeper and the plasma discharge circuit to initiate production of thrust. |
| US08024914B2 |
Drag-type cotton harvester operated by an independent driving unit
A drag-type cotton harvester operated by an independent driving unit, which comprises a stripper-type cotton picker platform having a series of fingers that are aligned parallel to the forward direction of the machine, wherein the front ends of the fingers are close to ground level and the back ends thereof are ramped in an upward direction; a cleaning apparatus that receives the picked cotton from the picker platform, which cleaning apparatus comprises a set of rotary dentate cylinders that engage the cotton and remove the heavy masses or impurities therefrom, while a rotary brush that is disposed tangential to the dentate cylinders disengages the clean cotton from the aforementioned fingers; and a trailer that receives the clean cotton from the cleaning apparatus, then stores it and transports it. |
| US08024913B2 |
Prepared medication bagging system and method
An apparatus for sealing prepared medications in enclosures includes a tubular sleeve having an open first end, an open second end, and an outer surface. The first end includes at least one first locking member for securely attaching the tubular sleeve to another member. The apparatus also includes a length of a flexible packaging sleeve that is open at one end and has an open interior space. The packaging sleeve is disposed about the outer surface of the tubular sleeve in a compressed form. The open end of the sleeve is sealingly attached to the first end of the tubular sleeve. A tensioner device is disposed about an outer surface of the packaging sleeve and includes a first section that couples the first end of the packaging sleeve to the tubular sleeve and at least two elongated tensioner arms that extend along a length of the tubular sleeve. The compressed packaging sleeve is disposed underneath the tensioner arms such that the tensioner arms apply tension to the packaging sleeve and control the unfurling thereof from the tubular sleeve. The open first end of the tubular sleeve is in communication with the open interior space of the packaging sleeve. |
| US08024912B2 |
Methods for preserving pallet units of fresh perishables in modified atmosphere containing bags
Methods and apparatus for enclosing a palletized container of fresh containers of perishables inside a modified atmosphere-containing plastic bag/enclosure stretched over the containers and over upwardly-folded and sealed margins of a plastic sheet placed between the pallet and the containers to seal the containers of perishables inside the bag/enclosure and to facilitate forming and maintaining a modified atmosphere inside the bag/enclosure. |
| US08024907B2 |
Insulated panels
A panel comprising: a frame member (70) defining a periphery of said panel; a first wall (77) retained by the frame (70) and a second wall (79) opposing said first wall (77) and together with the first wall (77) defining an internal space (73, 74) of the panel; the panel further comprising at least one intermediate wall (78) disposed in said internal space intermediate the first (77) and second walls (79) and which creates a first space (73) in said internal space between said intermediate wall (78) and said first wall (77) and a second space (74) in said internal space between said intermediate wall (78) and said second wall (79); characterized in that the frame includes respective abutment surfaces (80, 81, 82) which receive and retain respective first, second and intermediate walls wherein; the intermediate wall (78) insulates said first wall (77) from said second wall (79). |
| US08024904B2 |
Panel and fastening system for such panel
The invention relates to a fastening system (1) for rectangular, tabular panels (2, 3, 10), especially floor panels. Comprising retaining profiles disposed on the small faces of said panels (2, 3, 10). Opposite retaining profiles match said retaining profiles in such a manner that similar panels (2, 3, 10) can be interlinked. The panels are provided with opposite first retaining profiles that are configured in such a manner that on a panel (2, 3, 10) being in first line a new panel (2) can be locked in second line by attaching the new panel (2) to the installed panel (3) at a temporary angle relative to the installed panel (3) and then swiveling it down into the plane of the installed panel (3). The panel further comprises opposite second retaining elements that comprise corresponding hook elements (6, 7). A hook connection (8) can be established by means of one of the hook elements (6, 7) of the new panel (2) and a hook element (6, 7) of a panel (3) that is already installed in second line by swiveling down the new panel (2). Every hook connection (8) is associated with an additional locking element (13, 22, 26, 27, 34, 35, 36, 40, 46) that prevents, in the hooked state of two panels (2, 3, 10), the book connection (8) from being released in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the installed panels (2, 3 10). |
| US08024899B2 |
Apparatus and systems of interior window framing
An interior window framing system comprising a standardized frame having predetermined dimensions proportionate to a standard window. |
| US08024898B2 |
Universal fenestration cap system and method
In an exemplary embodiment, a window sill comprises a structural base having a first side and a second side, a fenestration cap attached to the structural base, a window frame mounted on the fenestration cap and finish elements applied to the structural base and adjacent to the fenestration cap. The window frame may be removed from the fenestration cap without disturbing the finish elements. Alternatively, a method of installing a window in a window opening comprises providing a window opening and preparing the window opening for receiving a fenestration cap, installing a fenestration cap by placement within and attachment to the window opening in a primary step, and installing a window within the window opening by placement within and attachment to the fenestration cap in a secondary step. |
| US08024896B2 |
Anchor recess former
A device that attaches to the rebar used to manufacture a concrete item and is left in place as the wet concrete is placed within the form for the concrete item and allowed to cure. The device is a hollow, walled, generally cup- or half disc-shaped structure having an outer forming wall and a hollow interior. The device may be a unitary or two part construction having an upper section, a lower section, upper rebar braces, lower rebar braces, and anchor holes. Anchor holes extend through the anchor recess former providing for a passage from the hollow interior to the outside. Upon the curing of the concrete, the present invention becomes an integral part of the concrete item, creating a uniform recess and exposing an anchor that can be used to lift the concrete item. |
| US08024895B2 |
Device for raising and lowering a lighting mast
An arrangement for the raising and lowering of a mast, which includes an upper mast portion and base, which upper mast portion is rotatable about a horizontal pivot axis, located in the base of the mast is described. The arrangement includes (i) docking device for restraining the upper mast portion against rotation; (ii) attachment device for attaching a drive device for driving the docking device between a first engaged configuration wherein the upper mast portion is restrained against rotation and a second disengaged configuration wherein the upper mast portion is free to rotate and (iii) locking device selectable via an intermediate unlocked configuration between a first locked configuration wherein the docking device is engaged and a second unlocked configuration wherein the docking device is disengaged and is characterized in that the locking means is controllable remotely to allow automatic operation of the raising and lowering sequence. |
| US08024894B1 |
Structural vented roof deck enclosure system
A structural support member for use in a roof deck system that is supported on an upper surface of a roof deck support structure. The primary embodiment comprises a substantially vertical outer segment, a substantially horizontal lower segment connected to the outer segment, a substantially horizontal upper segment connected to the outer segment, a substantially horizontal intermediate segment connected to the outer segment between the upper and lower segments, and a substantially vertical inner segment connected to the intermediate segment and the lower segment. The lower segment is secured to the upper surface of the support structure and supports a metal deck. The upper, intermediate, and outer segments form a C-shaped cavity for receiving the end of a barrier material, such as insulation or concrete, which is supported on the metal deck. The lower, intermediate, inner, and outer segments form an elongated channel that preferably has a plurality of vent holes therethrough. |
| US08024889B2 |
Pest control method and apparatus
An apparatus to project toward a tree to disburse a pheromone, comprising: a releaser (20) removably adjacent to a capsule (25) via an extension (120); whereby said releaser (20) and said capsule (25) are disposed adjacent to each other in a deployable state (180), then the releaser (20) separates from the capsule (25) but is still connected via said extension (120) whereby inertia causes said releaser (20) to move away from said capsule (25) into an attachment state (200). A method of applying a pheromone onto a tree branch, comprising: positioning a releaser (20) to a first end (122) of an extension (120); positioning a capsule (110) to a second end (124) of an extension (120); positioning the releaser (20) adjacent to the capsule (110) so that the member (10) is in a deployable state (180); projecting the member (10) in its deployable state (180) whereby inertia causes said releaser (20) to separate from said capsule (110) and form an attachment state (200). |
| US08024866B2 |
Height recording system comprising a telescopic rule with two ends cooperating with an optical beam scanning in a horizontal plane
A height recording system includes a telescopic rule formed from a head and a telescopic assembly used to vary a distance between one support end forming a base for the telescopic assembly and an upper end supporting the head. The height recording system comprises: a measurement system that measures the distance; a receiver including photosensitive cell(s) to detect an optical beam output from a laser system; a module starts or validates a height measurement by the measurement system starting the measurement or the validation in response to the module receiving a determined signal from the receiver; the determined signal being representative of the laser beam being detected by one of the photosensitive cells. |
| US08024864B2 |
Ratcheting cutting tool for plastic pipes
A ratcheting cutting tool for plastic pipes having first and second, elongated rigid members pivotally mounted to each other. Each rigid member has a handle and the first rigid member additionally has an anvil at an end opposite from its handle. A spring-biased, knife blade member with a cutting edge and with a plurality of ratchet teeth is pivotally mounted to the first member. The tool further includes drive and catch pawls pivotally mounted to the respective rigid members. In operation, the handles of the rigid members can be repeatedly squeezed together to progressively move the cutting edge of the knife blade member in a step-by-step manner toward the anvil to cut through a plastic pipe positioned therebetween. A manually operated release mechanism is also disclosed wherein both the drive and catch pawls can be moved in one motion to release positions spaced from engagement with the ratchet teeth to permit the spring-biased knife blade member to be automatically returned to its open position after each cut. |
| US08024863B2 |
Conforming wet shaving razor
A wet shaving razor comprising a cartridge having a length wherein the cartridge comprises an upper frame comprising 1) a blade frame, 2) a shaving blade joined to the blade frame where the blade extends lengthwise along the cartridge, 3) an upper face that surrounds the blade, and 4) one or more serially arranged rear spring elements, each element having a proximate and distal end such that said proximate end is joined adjacent a top edge of the upper face and wherein said distal end is joined to a catch plate; a sub-frame upon which said upper frame is resiliently mounted at its bottom edge near a front edge of said sub-frame wherein said sub-frame further comprises front spring elements; and a catch plate that causes the rear spring elements to foldably engage with a rear edge of said sub-frame to provide removably secured rear spring elements; and wherein the front spring elements and rear spring elements oppose local deformation of the cartridge under shaving forces encountered during shaving. |
| US08024861B2 |
External stroke/flow setting method for fuel injectors
A method for externally adjusting the axial length of a solenoid actuated fuel injector includes the step of externally forming a helical scribe mark in a housing component, thereby changing the axial length of the injector. By adjusting the length of the helical scribe mark and the depth of the scribe mark, and by measuring the stroke or the flow rate of the injector, the stroke or the flow rate of injector may be set precisely. The external adjustment of the length of the housing component may be made in cartridge form as well as in final assembly form of the fuel injector complementing the manufacturing process versatility. |
| US08024860B2 |
Methods for manufacturing an ink cartridge
A method for manufacturing an ink cartridge includes the step of connecting a film or a pair of films to a frame. The films and the frame define an ink chamber therein, and the ink cartridge includes the films and the frame. The method also includes the step of positioning a patterned member adjacent to the films. The patterned member includes a first pattern, and the first pattern includes a first portion and a second portion which is raised with respect to the first portion. Moreover, the method includes the step of forming a second pattern corresponding to the first pattern on the films by generating a pressure differential between a pressure inside the ink chamber and a pressure outside the ink chamber, in which the pressure differential draws the films into contact with the first pattern. |
| US08024859B1 |
Oil pump anti-wear plate for transfer case and method of use
A replacement oil pump plate for attachment to an original equipment manufacture oil pump within a transfer case for elimination of mechanical wear by replacing the abrasive aluminum tabs formed on the oil pump with low-friction plastic tabs is disclosed. The present plastic tab design redistributes the surface-to-surface contact between the magnesium transfer case and the aluminum pump tabs away from the original wear points so that any necessary weld repairs to the transfer case will not be disturbed. The present replacement pump plate is provided in a kit format including a pump plate, machine screws, plastic tabs, and installation instructions. The present invention also describes a method of installing the pump plate kit on the original equipment manufacture oil pump subassembly. |
| US08024852B1 |
Bar mounted tool adaptor
A tool mount assembly includes drop down connections to aid in mounting of a tool to a moving base and a fail-safe tool mounting system for preventing installation of a tool in an undesired or incorrect manner. A plurality of tool mount rails are received within mounts and are uniquely tailored to assure proper placement of tools such as grippers or vacuum cups at desired locations specific to the application requirements. |
| US08024851B2 |
Method of producing a radially expandable prosthesis
A method for producing a radially expandable prosthesis by cutting a pattern in a tubular member, which member has an outer diameter at least as great as the expanded diameter of the prosthesis. |
| US08024849B2 |
Fire extinguisher
The fire extinguisher of the present invention includes a container housing a fire inhibiting material which may automatically discharge its fire inhibiting contents in response to a fire. In one exemplary embodiment, the fire inhibiting material is pressurized within the container and the container is structured and arranged to discharge its fire inhibiting contents in a predetermined direction. Also, a method is provided for constructing a container for holding fire inhibiting contents under pressure and a method and apparatus for effectively and efficiently filling and pressurizing the container with fire inhibiting material, forming a container structured and arranged to expel the fire inhibiting material contained therein in a predefined direction in response to a fire. |
| US08024848B2 |
Double-action clinching method
Double-action clinching includes establishing a first layer on a second layer, and securing the layers between a tool's punch and clinching punch. First layer has less ductility than second layer, and clinching punch diameter is smaller than punch diameter. Layers are secured so: a tool support receives a portion of a second layer surface; clinching punch, slidably positioned in the support, is adjacent another portion of the second layer surface; and punch, positioned opposed to clinching punch, is adjacent a portion of a first layer surface. Pressing the punch into the first layer surface portion forms an aperture through the first layer. Pressing the clinching punch, in a direction opposite to the punch pressing, into the other portion of the second layer surface forces portion(s) of the second layer into the aperture, and forms a micro-interlocking flush-back joint between an aperture side wall and the second layer portion(s). |
| US08024844B2 |
Clip
A clip is easily usable even by a visually handicapped person and a presbyope. The clip has bend sections, rectilinear sections, and a connection section. The bend sections can be located at positions close to each other with a spacing equal to or less than the diameter of the wire material of the clip held between them. The rectilinear sections are bent upward and some are in contact with each other. |
| US08024842B2 |
Hinge and collapsible device utilizing the same
A hinge includes a shaft sleeve, a shaft, and a spring. The shaft sleeve includes a shaft tube, and the shaft includes a fixing rod rotationally received in the shaft tube. The spring is received between the shaft and the shaft tube for guiding lubricant to lubricate the shaft and the shaft tube. The fixing rod is rotatably passed through the spring, and capable of rotating relative to the shaft tube. |
| US08024841B2 |
Hinge
A hinge includes a bracket, a shaft rotatably received in the bracket, a engaging member, a pressing member, and a driving member. The bracket includes a casing portion defining a receiving space therein. The receiving space includes a circular part and a slot connecting the circular part. The engaging member is received in the slot of the bracket. The engaging member includes a slope surface and a screw hole. The pressing member is received in the slot of the bracket. The pressing member includes a pressing portion pressing firmly against the shaft, and a driven portion engaged with the slope surface of the engaging member. The driving member includes a screw pole capable of screwing in the screw hole of the engaging member to move the engaging member toward the pressing member, for driving the pressing member to press firmly against the shaft. |
| US08024840B2 |
Hinge
A hinge includes a bracket, a shaft, and a first interfering member. The shaft includes a post, and a stopper protruded thereon. The post is secured to the first interfering member. The bracket defines a pivoting hole. The bracket includes a restricting block, and a second interfering member located in the pivoting hole of the bracket opposite to the restricting block. The first interfering member together with the post rotates in the pivoting hole until the restricting block resists against the stopper of the shaft to limit a rotational range of the post. The second interfering member engages with the first interfering member to improve the rotation of the post in the pivoting hole of the bracket. |
| US08024839B2 |
Indexing hinge
An indexing hinge comprises a two arm hinge half and an axle hinge half. The two arm hinge half includes two hinge arms, a projecting indexing element disposed therebetween and a first mounting element. The axle hinge half includes two axles, each extending from a toothed indexing element, and a second mounting element. When the axle hinge half is connected to the two arm hinge half by interconnecting each axle with a respective hinge arm, the projecting indexing element abuts the toothed indexing element in such a way as to prevent rotation unless an additional rotational torque is applied. An electronic equipment enclosure installation comprises an electronic equipment enclosure and an indexing hinge. |
| US08024836B2 |
Beam blade windshield wiper assembly having an airfoil
A beam blade wiper assembly including a rubber wiping element and an elongated beam having first and second longitudinal ends. The wiper assembly also includes an airfoil having an attachment portion and an upper portion extending between first and second distal ends. The attachment portion includes a flat rib and a pair of legs adapted to operatively engage the rubber wiping element. The upper portion includes a solid base having a leading edge that extends from the base toward the wiping element. The base and the rib define a space that receives the elongated beam. The base and the elongated beam define a cavity that provides flexibility between the upper portion and the attachment portion during wiper operation. The upper portion further includes a spoiler that extends from the base in a manner opposite to the leading edge. |
| US08024832B1 |
Aquarium cleaning device with debris collecting net
An aquarium cleaning device structured for use with glass or plastic aquarium walls, enabling a dislodging and freeing of debris from the walls, while also simultaneously enabling a collecting of dislodged and freed debris for subsequent removal. The cleaning device includes a frame providable of a rigid, possibly closed, and flattened loop, and a netting material, each of which are preferably sandwiched between two scrubbing pads. An elongated handle portion is fixable to the rigid loop and scrubbing pads, and arranged for secure grasping by a user such that aquarium wall cleaning activities may be conducted. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope and meaning of the claims. |
| US08024830B2 |
Inflatable bed having a built-in electric air pump unit for inflating a mattress assembly
An inflatable bed includes a bedstead assembly, a mattress assembly having at least one air chamber, and an electric air pump unit disposed on the bedstead assembly. The air pump unit includes a centrifugal pump device for performing initial inflation of the air chamber, a diaphragm pump device for performing subsequent inflation of the air chamber, and a control valve operable to allow for and interrupt fluid communication between the centrifugal pump device and the air chamber. |
| US08024829B2 |
Weight activated restraining pillow
Weight restraining pillow has a filled outer perimeter area encompassing a central sling area. The sling is defined in part by two generally parallel outer seams adjacent the outer perimeter, and an inner seam located between the outer seams which help hold the fill of the perimeter in place. When a weighted object is placed on the sling, the perimeter is drawn inward toward the object placed therein. |
| US08024828B2 |
Air cell
An object of the present invention is to provide an air cell which is capable of detecting that the upper end side and the lower end side of the air bag are nearer than a predetermined distance. This air cell has an air bag, a base member to which the lower end portion of the air bag is attached, an air chamber AR configured by the air bag and the upper surface of the base member, a thin film portion which forms the bottom surface of the air chamber and capable of deforming elastically in the up-and-down direction, an extending member configured to extend upwardly from the upper surface of the thin film portion, detecting means which is provided under the thin film portion and which detects downward deformation of the thin film portion. |
| US08024825B2 |
Collapsible crib
The present invention relates to collapsible cribs. The cribs have one or more of the following characteristics: adjustable length and/or, width and/or height, lightweight, easily collapsed, very compact when collapsed and easily carried, stored and transported. Embodiments disclosed relate to pens, cribs, and play yards with and without wheels. |
| US08024824B1 |
Person lifting apparatus and method
The present disclosure provides for individuals who may otherwise have trouble lifting themselves from the floor after a fall. Using the teachings of the present disclosure, such individuals may autonomously regain their footing, without the necessity of calling paramedics or others for help. An individual may crawl onto the seat of the device and then, using either a handcrank or an electric motor, lift himself to a sitting/standing position. |
| US08024823B2 |
Water conservation system
A water conservation system comprising a reservoir for storing water; a toilet water tank for storing water, the toilet water tank is disposed below the reservoir; and a tube fluidly connecting the reservoir and the tank, wherein the tube is configured such that a first end of the tube reaches near a bottom surface of the reservoir, a second end of the tube reaches near a bottom surface of the tank, and an elevated portion with a crest that is oriented above the first end. |
| US08028339B2 |
Network device and method for providing content compatibility between network devices having different respective digital rights management methods
The present invention relates to a network device and a method for providing content compatibility between network devices having different respective digital rights management methods. The method includes exchanging security program lists of the network devices, comparing the security program list of one network device with the security program list of the other network device based on the exchanged security program lists, and installing a security program required for using content of the other network device according to the comparison result. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that the network devices using the different respective DRM-based security programs can exchange content with one another and use the content of the other network device by using the predetermined security program update methods. |
| US08028337B1 |
Profile-aware filtering of network traffic
A system and a method for profiling traffic on a computer network. Flows are observed traversing a communication link. Relative uncertainty values are computed for the dimensions of these flows. These relative uncertainty values are used to identify dominant feature values in the various flow dimensions. Flows having these dominant feature values are filtered. |
| US08028332B2 |
Verification method of a target device connected to a master device
Example embodiments are directed to a revocation lists management method, namely a verification method of a target device connected to a master device, the master device having means to receive a content transmitted by a broadcast centre via a data stream, the master device and the target device authenticating themselves by the exchange of a certificate having at least one certificate identifier. The method includes transmitting by broadcast a target device verification table containing a certificate identifier list, storing certificate identifier list in the master device, extracting a verification data associated to the content, the verification data including the activation or the deactivation of the verification of the target device. If the verification data includes the activation of the verification, the method includes verifying the certificate of the target device by the master device using at least one list stored to authorize or prohibit the exchanges of data with the target device. |
| US08028329B2 |
Proxy authentication network
A Proxy Authentication Network includes a server that stores credentials for subscribers, along with combinations of devices and locations from which individual subscribers want to be authenticated. Data is stored in storage: the storage can be selected by the subscriber. The data stored in the storage, which can be personally identifiable information, can be stored in an encrypted form. The key used to encrypt such data can be divided between the storage and server. In addition, third parties can store portions of the encrypting key. Subscribers can be authenticated using their credentials from recognized device/location combinations; out-of-band authentication supports authenticating subscribers from other locations. Once authenticated, a party can request that the encrypted data be released. The portions of the key are then assembled at the storage. The storage then decrypts the data, generates a new key, and re-encrypts the data for transmission to the requester. |
| US08028327B1 |
Method and system for a low-cost-internet-base station (LCIB) granting a client device temporary access
Methods and systems are provided for a low cost Internet base station (LCIB) to grant a client device temporary access to a wireless network. In an embodiment, an LCIB receives a request from a client device. The request includes a feature code, an access code, and a client-device identifier. The feature code in the request indicates that the client device is requesting temporary access to the wireless network. Upon detecting the feature code in the request, the LCIB compares the access code in the request with a stored access code. If the access code from the request matches the stored access code, the LCIB grants the client device access to the wireless network on a temporary basis. Alternatively, if the access code from the request does not match the stored access code, the LCIB denies the client device access to the wireless network. |
| US08028323B2 |
Method and system for employing a first device to direct a networked audio device to obtain a media item
A method for playing music includes displaying a list of playlists names, selecting one of the displayed playlists names, sending at least one attribute of a playlist corresponding to the selected playlist name to a playlist server, receiving a playlist from the playlist server wherein the received playlist corresponds to the attribute(s), selecting at least one song from the received playlist, sending information representative of the selected song to a content server, receiving the selected song from the content server, and playing the selected song(s). Requesting a playlist on the first device based on attributes, sending the same attributes to a second device having the second device request the playlist and start playing. |
| US08028322B2 |
Method and apparatus for network content download and recording
Methods and apparatus for providing content to users of a network that can be selectively recorded via the user's equipment. In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network, and on-demand (OD) sessions are used to provide high-speed download of the requested content to the users. The user's equipment (e.g., set-top box) is equipped with a high-density recording device which can both record the content onto a selected medium (e.g., DVD) and optionally provide copyright protection via one or more means such as limiting the number of copies that can be made, and/or digital watermarking. The network operator can also restrict the establishment of the on-demand sessions and/or release of the content to subscribers based on parameters including prior purchase of the content by the user, and the timing of the release of the same content via other distribution channels such as rental and retail. |
| US08028317B1 |
Integrated live video production system
Described is a system used in defining and producing a live television broadcast. The system includes one or more control panels, a workstation, a router, and devices. The control panels may be hard control panels or soft control panels. The control panel includes programmable buttons having a display determined in accordance with a show definition. Display and control of a portion of the control panel buttons may vary in response to another control or button selection. Primary and backup communication connections are used to control the live show production. |
| US08028316B2 |
Broadcasting system, broadcasting station apparatus, receiving device, and broadcasting method
A receiving device receives a plurality of first and second program information. The first program information is information relating to each of broadcasting scheduled programs within a predetermined time period from the date of transmission of a broadcasting signal by a broadcasting station apparatus. The second program information is information relating to a broadcasting scheduled program in the future after a predetermined time period from the date of transmission of the broadcasting signal. A controller in the receiving device stores, when there is a reservation based on the second program information, the reserved second program information in a reservation information storage. Thereafter, the controller compares the reserved second program information with a plurality of first program information newly received, and determines whether or not there is first program information that coincides with the second program information. The controller updates, when there is first program information that coincides with the second program information, information relating to the reserved program stored in the reservation information storage on the basis of the first program information. |
| US08028313B2 |
Linear program guide for media content access systems and methods
In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a media content processing subsystem configured to provide at least a portion of a linear program guide to a display for presentation to a user. The linear program guide includes a list of media content carriers and associated media content instances, and an endpoint located at one end of the list. The media content carriers and the endpoint are navigable by the user, and the endpoint is associated with at least one selectable navigation tool for navigating within the linear program guide. In certain embodiments, the selectable navigation tool includes a selectable shortcut to a predefined location within the linear program guide. |
| US08028312B2 |
Information processing apparatus and content registration method, and program
The present invention registers a content so that its composition can be easily recognized, and promotes the reduction of a load in playing processing on the registered content, and improves convenience of users. Also, it evaluates the value of production of a content more properly. An information processing apparatus includes: a generator for generating meta information including content composition information representing a composition of a content to be registered, and mashed-up-or-not information representing whether a content to be registered is a unitary content or a mashed-up content in which a plurality of contents are combined; and a register for registering the generated meta information as content information. |
| US08028306B2 |
Disk storage medium processing apparatus
A disk storage medium processing apparatus includes a disk conveying device for conveying a disk between a disk loading/unloading slot of an apparatus body and a centering position of a traverse unit. The disk conveying device includes a pair of first and second disk guide arms which are pivotably disposed on the apparatus body and which can hold the periphery of the disk to convey the disk. Therefore, the disk storage medium processing apparatus can easily and flexibly conduct the control for conveyance of the disk no matter whether the disk has a small diameter or a large diameter, with keeping protection of the recording surface of the disk and can be formed more compactly. |
| US08028305B2 |
Disk storage medium processing apparatus
A disk storage medium processing apparatus includes an apparatus body having a disk loading/unloading slot, a traverse unit which is disposed in the apparatus body to conduct at least one of recording, deletion, and reproduction of information onto or from a disk, and a clamper supporting device for supporting a clamper which clamps the disk to the traverse unit. A disk conveying device conveys the disk into the apparatus body when a part of the disk is inserted through the disk loading/unloading slot and which ejects a part of the disk through the disk loading/unloading slot from a state that the disk is housed in the apparatus body. The disk conveying device includes a pair of first and second disk conveying arms which are pivotably attached to the apparatus body and holding a periphery of the disk to convey the disk. |
| US08028302B2 |
Software architecture system with embedded virtual router
The invention relates to a network system of at least two appliances, each appliance configured to perform a cycle of operation on an article, and each appliance having its own software architecture. An embedded virtual router enables communication among appliance components independent of the architecture of the software. |
| US08028301B2 |
Restricting recordal of user activity in a processing system
A method/system for restricting recordal of user activity in a processing system. In one form, the method comprises intercepting a kernel API call of the processing system 100, determining if a process initiating the kernel API call is malicious, and in response to a positive determination, terminating the determined process. A table can be updated with request information of the process and it can be determined if a trend of requests exists for the status of the input device, and in response to a positive determination of a trend, the process may be terminated. |
| US08028294B2 |
Progress management for projects
Project progress management technology is made more objective by excluding as much human subjectivity as possible. Consideration is given to levels of importance of check items and tasks. A more accurate grasp of the progress of a project is enabled even if a significant change occurs in the middle of the project. An indication of a “complete” or “incomplete” state is used as a progress indicator of the lowest order tasks of the project, and progress of a high order task is based on the progress of the lowest order tasks. |
| US08028293B2 |
Optimal policies for load balancing for distributed and strategic agents (more technically, optimal coordination mechanisms for machine scheduling)
Providing for scheduling tasks in a distributed system based on an inefficiency of each task on a particular machine as compared with available networked machines is described herein. By way of example, a distribution component can receive a plurality of tasks at a machine assigned by at least one independent agent. In addition, an ordering component can schedule each task on a machine as a function of non-decreasing inefficiency. Such a policy can be implemented locally at the machine, minimizing inter-device communication, while only marginally increasing completion time for the set of tasks. In such a manner, the subject disclosure provides for load balancing of distributed systems in a manner that utilizes fewer resources than conventional approaches. |
| US08028291B2 |
Method and computer program product for job selection and resource allocation of a massively parallel processor
A method for job selection and resource allocation of massively parallel processors, the method includes: providing to a constraint satisfaction problem solver multiple domains, variables, and constraints representative of a massively parallel processor, of queued job requests and of jobs being processed by the massively parallel processor, and generating, by the constraint satisfaction problem solver a result representative of multiple jobs to be executed, at least partially in parallel, by multiple resources of the massively parallel processor. |
| US08028290B2 |
Multiple-core processor supporting multiple instruction set architectures
Multiple instruction set architectures are supported in a system that provides a power-efficient and flexible platform for virtual machine environments requiring multiple support for multiple instruction set architectures (ISAs). A processor includes multiple cores having disparate native ISAs and that may be selectively enabled for operation, so that power is conserved when support for a particular ISA is not required of the processor. A hypervisor controls operation of the cores, locates a core and enables it if necessary when a request to instantiate a virtual machine having a specified ISA is received. The ISA may be specified by a particular operating system and/or application program requirements. |
| US08028287B2 |
Method and scheduler for performing a scheduling algorithm with minimum resource parameter
A method for performing a scheduling algorithm with minimum resource scheduling in a mobile communication system, comprising the steps of scheduling (10) allocation units for a user or service in a scheduling frame, checking whether (20) the allocation units scheduled for a user or service in a particular scheduling frame meet a resource constraint, and releasing the allocation units (40) scheduled for a user or service for that particular scheduling frame for based on the result of the checking step for resource constraint. The invention also concerns a scheduler in a mobile communication system, a base station and mobile terminal comprising such a scheduler and a mobile communication system. |
| US08028283B2 |
Method and system for automated invocation of device functionalities in a network
A method and system that enable an automatic invocation of device functionalities on devices in a network. Invocation mechanisms are provided to support heterogeneous invocation mechanisms including new invocation mechanisms. Invocation mechanisms using scripts can be added without the need for recompilation of support systems such as home-networking middleware systems. This further enables the use of scripts that can coordinate the use of multiple devices in accomplishing a task. |
| US08028280B2 |
Compiler optimisation of source code by determination and utilization of the equivalence of algebraic expressions in the source code
A computer program product and computer system for implementing a method of compiler optimisation of source code during compilation of the source code in a computer environment. The compiler optimisation of source code includes: recasting two algebraic expressions into a form of one or more token pairs arranged sequentially in a string, each token pair including an operator followed by an operand; reducing the strings in accordance with a set of predetermined simplifying rules; and comparing the reduced strings by matching to detect an equivalence of the two algebraic expressions. |
| US08028279B2 |
System and program product for porting code utilizing a portable execution environment
A system for porting code from a native platform to a non-native platform is provided which utilizes a non-native, platform-specific layer of code and a platform-neutral layer of code. The platform-neutral layer substantially emulates the native platform of ported code and provides a platform-neutral interface to the ported code. Together, the platform-specific layer and the platform-neutral layer provide an execution environment in which the ported code operates as a kernel extension of the non-native platform. The platform-neutral layer of the execution environment is portable to other non-native platforms so that code can be ported to another non-native platform by replacing the platform-specific layer with a customized platform-specific layer, which is adapted to the other non-native platform. |
| US08028275B2 |
Control systems and methods with smart blocks
Methods and apparatus for configuring process, environmental, industrial and other control systems generate and/or utilize models representing configurations of control systems and/or the systems controlled by them. Records of changes to the models or the configurations represented by them are maintained, thereby, for example, providing bases for determining current states, prior states and histories of changes. Objects in the model have characteristics, such as an object type characteristic and an area characteristic. Users can have corresponding permissions. A security mechanism apparatus controls access by users to the objects. Composite objects are defined by definition objects and are displayed in encapsulated or expanded formats. Objects can include an edit control type identifier that determines how they are presented for editing. Functionality responds to user commands by transferring characteristics of a first object depicted by the graphical user interface to a second object. Configuration-time formulas contained objects are evaluated to constants prior to downloading to the control system. |
| US08028272B2 |
Control system configurator and methods with edit selection
Methods and apparatus for configuring process, environmental, industrial and other control systems generate and/or utilize models representing configurations of control systems and/or the systems controlled by them. Records of changes to the models or the configurations represented by them are maintained, thereby, for example, providing bases for determining current states, prior states and histories of changes. Objects in the model have characteristics, such as an object type characteristic and an area characteristic. Users can have corresponding permissions. A security mechanism apparatus controls access by users to the objects. Composite objects are defined by definition objects and are displayed in encapsulated or expanded formats. Objects can include an edit control type identifier that determines how they are presented for editing. Functionality responds to user commands by transferring characteristics of a first object depicted by the graphical user interface to a second object. Configuration-time formulas contained objects are evaluated to constants prior to downloading to the control system. |
| US08028267B2 |
Pattern designing method, pattern designing program and pattern designing apparatus
An embodiment of the invention provides a pattern designing method, including the steps of carrying out transfer simulation calculation and step simulation calculation by using physical layout data produced from circuit design data, and comparing a result of the transfer simulation calculation and the step simulation calculation with a preset standard; and carrying out calculation for electrical characteristics by using parameters obtained from the physical layout when as a result of the comparison, the preset standard is fulfilled, and carrying out calculation for the electrical characteristics by reflecting the result of the transfer simulation calculation and the step simulation calculation in the parameters when as the result of the comparison, the preset standard is not fulfilled, thereby extracting the parameters. |
| US08028266B2 |
System and method for automated placement in custom VLSI circuit design with schematic-driven placement
A method for automatically generating an electronic circuit layout with placed circuit elements includes receiving a user provided schematic, the user provided schematic comprising a plurality of circuit elements, each circuit element comprising general parameters. The method associates a plurality of first placement parameters with each of the plurality of circuit elements. The method retrieves, from a design library, design parameters associated with at least one of the plurality of circuit elements. The method selects a subset of circuit elements and receives placement inputs. The method generates a first placed layout configuration comprising adjusted placement parameters, based on the received placement inputs, the first placement parameters, and the design parameters. The method assigns absolute placement coordinates for each of the plurality of circuit elements based on the first placed layout configuration. The method generates an electronic circuit layout with placed circuit elements based on the absolute placement coordinates. |
| US08028264B2 |
Semiconductor device and semiconductor device layout designing method
A semiconductor device including a plurality of cells having an antenna protection element and a cell other than the antenna protection element; and a first dummy pattern and a second dummy pattern arranged in a layer above the plurality of cells. Further, the first dummy pattern overlaps with the antenna protection element, the second dummy pattern overlaps with the cell other than the antenna protection element, and a first layout rule of the first dummy pattern is different from a second layout rule of the second dummy pattern. |
| US08028261B2 |
Method of predicting substrate current in high voltage device
A method of predicting a substrate current in a high voltage device that may accurately predict substrate current components in each of a first region, a second region, and a third region. This may be accomplished by modeling a substrate current component in a third region, in which an inconsistency may occur when a substrate current in a high voltage device is calculated, for example using BSIM3-based modeling. According to embodiments, a substrate current for a third region may be modeled by an expression with a ternary operator, and the modeled substrate current may be added to a substrate current obtained through BSIM3-based modeling. |
| US08028259B2 |
Automated method and apparatus for very early validation of chip power distribution networks in semiconductor chip designs
Validation of full-chip power distribution networks can be performed very early, and continuously throughout the design cycle, to detect real physical power connection problems and enable early correction of power grid designs using early floor plan and power grid design data. Common power connection and distribution errors are automatically addressed as an integral part of the early chip floor planning and chip power build processes providing efficient solutions requiring no extra wiring resource to be implemented and reducing the runtime of required final full-chip physical design checks, and the overall design cycle. |
| US08028253B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining mask layouts for a multiple patterning process
One embodiment provides a method for determining mask layouts. During operation, the system can receive a design intent. Next, the system can determine a set of critical edges in the design layout, and select a first edge and a second edge. The system can then determine a first trench and a second trench using the first edge and the second edge, respectively. Note that an edge of the first trench may substantially overlap with the first edge, and an edge of the second trench may substantially overlap with the second edge. Next, the system may assign the first trench and the second trench to the first mask layout and the second mask layout, respectively. The system can then increase the first trench and the second trench, thereby improving pattern fidelity. The resulting mask layouts may be used in a double patterning process. |
| US08028247B2 |
System and method for window navigation in GUI environment
In a GUI environment including a plurality of windows, a user may establish one or more groups of windows such that the windows comprising each group are related. The user may cycle focus successively between the windows in the group in response to a focus cycle command input by the user. The focus may cycle bidirectionally between the windows in the group in response to bi-directional focus cycle command inputs by the user. The user may shift focus to a window outside of the group by entering a focus shift command. |
| US08028246B2 |
Concierge—shopping assistant
A method for providing access to information related to a digital image record on a data processing device. The digital image record is displayed with a tab emanating from an edge of the digital image record. The tab includes an access point that allows a user to access a category of information related to content contained within the digital image record. |
| US08028243B1 |
Abstraction-aware distributed window configurations in complex graphical user interfaces
A user interface to an application processing complex data of multiple data view abstractions allows selection, placement, size and other configurable characteristics of interface components to be controlled by a user and then associated with the data abstraction and processing task. Multiple configurations may be created to simplify the interface to include only necessary controls given an abstraction level of the data view and the task on that data. The configurations may be stored using symbolic references and subsequently loaded on demand into the interface. Mechanisms may be applied to ensure that similarly referenced configurations in storage are resolved and only the desired configuration is applied. |
| US08028242B2 |
Diagram with configurable wires
Configuring wires/icons in a diagram. The diagram may be an executable diagram such as a graphical program or a system diagram. The diagram may include a plurality of icons that are connected by wires, and the icons may visually represent functionality of the diagram. The diagram may be executable to perform the functionality. Displaying the diagram may include displaying a first wire in the diagram, where the first wire connects a first icon and a second icon. Data transfer functionality may be specified for the first wire and/or the first or second icon in the diagram. The data transfer functionality may be visually indicated in the diagram, e.g., by appearances of the first icon, the second icon, the first wire, and/or icons displayed proximate to these components of the diagram. |
| US08028235B2 |
Multi-windows color adjustment system and method
The invention provides a multi-windows color adjustment system and method that divides the picture frame of a display screen into three or more windows so that the user can compare the color tones of the windows and then select the preferred window. The multi-windows color adjustment system includes a memory read/write controller coupled to an image data input for temporarily storing an input image data and executing read/write control, a window control unit coupled to the memory read/write controller for executing size, data flow and color tone controls of the windows, a line buffer coupled to the memory read/write controller and the window control unit for storing a line data, and a color adjustment unit coupled to the window control unit and the line buffer for executing the processing of color adjustment of the image data in the windows subject to the control of the window control unit. |
| US08028234B2 |
Summarization of sumo video content
Summarization of video content, such as a video that includes sumo, by a method that provides a description of the video, identifies a plurality of segments of the video based upon the provided description, and generates another video based upon the identified segments, having less frames than the original video. |
| US08028233B1 |
Interactive graphical interface including a streaming media component and method and system of producing the same
A multiphase interactive advertisement includes a first phase having a first graphical interface and a second phase having a second graphical interface including at least a streaming media component space. In an exemplary embodiment, the second phase has a dimension that is greater than a dimension of the first phase. The multiphase interactive advertisement further includes a streaming media component incorporated into the streaming media component space of the second phase. The multiphase interactive advertisement, and specifically, the streaming media component, is generated using a software player engine that includes a core set of player variables and controls. |
| US08028230B2 |
Contextual input method
A input method selects a character from a plurality of characters of a logographic script, and identifies characters proximate the selected character. One or more candidate characters are then selected based on a composition input and the proximate characters. |
| US08028217B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding high speed shared control channel
A method and apparatus for encoding and decoding high speed shared control channel (HS-SCCH) data are disclosed. For part 1 data encoding, a mask may be generated using a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) identity (ID) and a generator matrix with a maximum minimum Hamming distance. For part 2 data encoding, cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits are generated based on part 1 data and part 2 data. The number of CRC bits is less than the WTRU ID. The CRC bits and/or the part 2 data are masked with a mask. The mask may be a WTRU ID or a punctured WTRU ID of length equal to the CRC bits. The mask may be generated using the WTRU ID and a generator matrix with a maximum minimum Hamming distance. The masking may be performed after encoding or rate matching. |
| US08028213B2 |
Data transformation method and related device for a testing system
A data transformation method for a testing system includes using a reception end for receiving a test signal comprising a test data and a timing information corresponding to the test data, and using a transformation unit for transforming the test data according to the timing information, so as to generate a test pattern utilized for testing a communication device. |
| US08028211B1 |
Look-ahead built-in self tests with temperature elevation of functional elements
A method and apparatus are disclosed for predicting the failure of a functional element of an integrated circuit during operation. The method includes determining whether the functional element of the integrated circuit device is in an idle cycle, elevating the temperature of the functional element above a normal operating temperature, performing a stress test of the functional element while the functional element is in the idle cycle, and indicating that the functional element, if it fails the stress test, is a potential future failing element. The stress test can include simultaneously providing a margining test voltage and a stress clock signal to the functional element while the temperature is elevated or at a normal operating temperature. The stress test is performed in the background, during continuous operation of the integrated circuit device, such that normal operation of the integrated circuit device is not interrupted. Thereby, the method and apparatus of the present invention allows for failure prediction in a device before it happens, allowing for planned outages or workarounds and avoiding system downtime for unplanned repairs. |
| US08028210B2 |
Semiconductor device
An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device capable of recognizing circuit malfunction in an actual operation and of specifying a point of the circuit malfunction, and the semiconductor device, which does not induce the malfunction in the circuit of a subsequent stage when restoring the malfunction. The present invention is the semiconductor device provided with a plurality of logic circuits and a plurality of judging circuits for judging malfunction based on data from the logic circuits, wherein each of the judging circuits is provided with a first register, delay unit, a second register, a comparator and scanning unit, which makes the second register a shift register to allow to transmit an error signal held in the second register to the subsequent stage, while allowing the comparator to hold a comparison result. |
| US08028207B1 |
Early memory test
A PC BIOS can contain an early memory test that can identify a memory slot containing a bad memory. The BIOS can also contain a program module for using a communications port to report the identified memory slot. The communications port used for reporting is one that can be used without using system memory. In fact, the communications port can be used when there is no system memory installed in the PC. The parallel ports, LPT1 and LPT2 are such communications ports, as are the serial ports COM1 and COM2. An indicator can be electrically connected to the communications port to give a visual indication of a memory slot containing bad memory. |
| US08028206B2 |
Memory device including memory controller
A memory device includes a semiconductor memory including a plurality of memory cells, and a controller including a buffer which temporarily stores data, a data pattern check circuit which checks a predetermined data pattern of data that are stored in the buffer and are to be stored in a plurality of neighboring ones of the memory cells, and sends an address in accordance with a result of the check, and a data correction circuit which corrects a value of data at the address that is sent, and sends the corrected value to the semiconductor memory. |
| US08028202B2 |
Data management device and data managing method for the replication of data
A data management device accessible to a plurality of memories includes a risk unit which determines risk of failure associated with each of the plurality of memories, a selection unit which selects a memory from among the plurality of memories on the basis of the determined risk and a transmitting unit which transmits a replication instruction to another memory of the plurality of memories. The replication instruction causes replication of the data to be replicated that is stored in the selected memory. |
| US08028191B2 |
Methods and systems for implementing shared disk array management functions
Multiple Array Management Functions (AMFs) are connected to multiple redundancy groups over a storage area network (SAN), such as a fiber-channel based SAN. The multiple AMFs share management responsibility of the redundancy groups, each of which typically includes multiple resources spread over multiple disks. The AMFs provide concurrent access to the redundancy groups for associated host systems. When a host requests an AMF to perform an operation on a resource, the AMF synchronizes with the other AMFs sharing control of the redundancy group that includes the resource to be operated on, so as to obtain access to the resource. While performing the operation, the AMF send replication data and state information associated with the resource such that if the AMF fails, any of the other AMFs are able to complete the operation and maintain data reliability and coherency. |
| US08028188B2 |
System and method for testing an application installed on a wireless communication device
The invention describes a test bed, a method and a computer program product for testing an application installed on a wireless communication device. The wireless communication device communicates with a server over a network through the test bed. Further, the test bed is connected to the server and receives various testing parameters from a user. Furthermore, the test bed establishes a wireless connection between the test bed and the wireless communication device. Thereafter, the test bed emulates various network conditions, based on the testing parameters, and subsequently communicates the emulated network conditions to the wireless communication device. The application installed on the wireless communication device experiences the emulated network conditions. The user then tests the application in the emulated network conditions. |
| US08028181B2 |
Processor power consumption control and voltage drop via micro-architectural bandwidth throttling
A method, device, and system are disclosed. In one embodiment the method includes supplying a processor with a first voltage. The method also includes allowing the processor to function within an enhanced processor halt state at the first voltage. The first voltage is a voltage below the lowest compatible voltage for the enhanced processor halt state. The method allows the processor to execute instructions upon waking from the enhanced processor halt state at the first voltage by throttling a maximum throughput rate of instructions being executed in the processor. |
| US08028178B2 |
System and method for providing external power on a universal serial bus
A universal serial bus power control circuit including at least one first switch which selectively couples a power source node to an external power node, a comparator which detects when the external power node is charged, a feedback node for enabling voltage regulation, a charge circuit and a controller. The charge circuit charges the external power node from the power source node and selectively couples the feedback node to at least one of the power source node and the external power node. The controller opens the first switch when the external power node is not charged, controls the charge circuit to charge the external power node while coupling the feedback node to the power source node, and closes the first switch and couples the feedback node to the external power node in a host mode when the external power node is charged. |
| US08028177B2 |
Method for changing power states of a computer
A method for changing power states of a computer sends a shutdown event to all running applications before the computer goes to sleep to prevent data loss in a sleep state of the computer. Furthermore, the method stores a system memory image into a flash memory before the computer goes to the sleep state. Moreover, the method restores the system memory image from the flash memory to the system memory when the computer exit the sleep state to come back the work state. |
| US08028175B2 |
System and method for power sourcing equipment detection of a powered device power failure for power backup
A system and method for power sourcing equipment (PSE) detection of a powered device (PD) power failure for power backup. A PSE can power a PD at a low level of power as a backup power source. Upon a failure in the PDs primary power source, the PSE can detect a transient (e.g., current and/or voltage) on the PD load as a signal that the PD requires additional power. The PSE can then allocate increased power to the port by entering into an active state as compared to a backup state. As the PSE is responsive to the detection of the transient, the PSE need not rely on a real-time communication from the PD. |
| US08028173B2 |
Content distribution systems and methods
An electronic device comprises a first interface operable to receive from a user a selection of a first data set and a processor coupled to the first interface. The processor is operable to access the selected first data set, determine if the user is authorized to receive the first data set, and store the first data set on a memory device. |
| US08028172B2 |
Systems and methods for updating a secure boot process on a computer with a hardware security module
Systems and methods are provided for maintaining and updating a secure boot process on a computer with a trusted platform module (TPM). A boot process may be maintained by inspecting a log of TPM activity, determining data that prevented a secret to unseal, and returning the data to an original state. In situations where this type of recovery is not workable, techniques for authenticating a user may be used, allowing the authenticated user to bypass the security features of the boot process and reseal the boot secrets to platform configuration register (PCR) values that may have changed. Finally, a secure boot process may be upgraded by migrating TPM sealed secrets to a temporary storage location, updating one or more aspects of a secure boot process, and resealing the secrets to the resulting new platform configuration. Other advantages and features of the invention are described below. |
| US08028168B2 |
System and method for verification of personal identity
A system and method for storing identifying information and telephone numbers associated with individuals, and cross-referencing said information so as to link a first individual to other referee individuals capable of identifying the first individual as a result of a telephone conversation. When a relying party wishes to confirm the identity of a contracting party, the system is contacted and, using identifying information pertaining to said contracting party, identifies the set of referee individuals capable of identifying said contracting party, contacts a referee selected at random from the set, and places the contracting party in telephonic communication with the referee. At the conclusion of said telephonic communication, said system invites the referee to state the name of the first individual; by comparing the voice sample with a stored voice sample, the apparatus then provides identity confirmation to said relying party. |
| US08028167B2 |
Method and apparatus for certificate roll-over
A method and an electronic apparatus for rolling over from a first to second trusted certificate in the electronic apparatus. Information containing identification data for identifying the second trusted certificate is acquired in the electronic apparatus. Also, the second trusted certificate, which is preinstalled in the electronic apparatus, is activated based on said identification data. |
| US08028165B2 |
Trusted platform field upgrade system and method
A trusted platform field upgrade system comprises a trusted platform module (TPM) having a volatile memory, the volatile memory having a flag for verifying physical presence in a non-ownership state of the TPM, the TPM configured to enable a field upgrade to the TPM in an operating system (OS) environment based on assertion of the physical presence flag. |
| US08028164B2 |
Practical and secure storage encryption
The present invention relates to an electronic device (301) in which acceleration of data processing operations is provided, the device comprising a secure execution environment to which access is controlled. A basic idea of the present invention is to provide a device (311) for acceleration of data processing operations (an “accelerator”). In particular, the accelerator is used to accelerate cryptographic data operations such that it performs cryptographic operations on data provided to it via a first logical interface. The cryptographic operations are performed by means of encryption/decryption keys provided to the accelerator via a secure second logical interface which may share a same physical interface (312) with the first logical interface or which may use a distinct physical interface (414) from that of a distinct physical interface (412) used as the first logical interface. |
| US08028161B2 |
System for negotiating security association on application layer
A first computer sends a list of possible security associations to a second computer in a message according to a protocol of an application layer, a security parameter index being contained in the message for each security association. The second computer selects a security association and transmits it or an indication of the security association selected by it to the first computer. |
| US08028157B2 |
On-chip security method and apparatus
A boot method an apparatus are described which reduce the likelihood of a security breach in a mobile device, preferably in a situation where a reset has been initiated. A predetermined security value, or password, is stored, for example in BootROM. A value of a security location within FLASH memory is read and the two values are compared. Polling of the serial port is selectively performed, depending on the result of such comparison. In a presently preferred embodiment, if the value in the security location matches the predetermined security value, then polling of the serial port is not performed. This reduces potential security breaches caused in conventional arrangements where code may be downloaded from the serial port and executed, which allows anyone to access and upload programs and data in the FLASH memory, including confidential and proprietary information. |
| US08028156B2 |
Computer initialization data generation that accesses task and initialization databases based on computer ID
An initialization data generator includes a task database in which task descriptions for initializing a computer are specified related with task IDs and an initialization database in which initialization data descriptions for initializing a computer are stored related with initialization data IDs. The initialization data generator takes input of the computer ID of a computer to be initialized and task data, reads task descriptions and initialization data descriptions according to task ordering related with the task data from the task database and the initialization database, based on the task IDs, task ordering, and the initialization data IDs for software modules which are loaded into the computer to be initialized by the tasks corresponding to the task IDs, specified in the task data, and generates and transfers initialization data to the computer to be initialized, thereby initializing the computer to be initialized. |
| US08028154B2 |
Method and system for reducing instruction storage space for a processor integrated in a network adapter chip
Certain embodiments for reducing instruction storage space for a processor integrated in a network adapter chip may include generating MIPS instructions from corresponding new instructions. The new instructions may be in patch code instruction (PCI) format. The new instructions may be decoded and the MIPS instructions may be generated by a MIPS processor within a network adapter chip. Decoding the new instructions may also be referred to as interpreting the new instructions. The new instructions may comprise fewer bits than the generated MIPS instructions. The generated MIPS instructions may be executed by the MIPS processor within the network adapter chip. |
| US08028153B2 |
Data dependent instruction decode
A circuit arrangement and method support data dependent instruction decoding, whereby instructions are decoded, in part, using decode data that is stored in operand registers identified by such instructions. An instruction may include an opcode and at least one operand that identifies a register. During execution of the instruction, the instruction is first decoded using the opcode, and then decode data stored in the operand register is retrieved and used to further decode the instruction, e.g., to select from among a plurality of operations or instruction types associated with the same opcode. |
| US08028145B2 |
Data storage device
A data storage device that performs a process of writing to a memory a plurality of measured data sets received in time series includes: a nonvolatile memory divided in a plurality of blocks to which the measured data is written; and a write control section that performs a processing including successively writing N sets of the measured data to a given block in the nonvolatile memory, and then successively writing next N sets of the measured data to another block, wherein the write control section judges whether or not the N sets of measured data lastly written to the given block of the nonvolatile memory and another N sets of measured data obtained after the N sets of measured data lastly written to the given block contain data with a value outside a predetermined range, writes new measured data to the given block such that the N sets of measured data lastly written to the given block are not overwritten when the data with a value outside the predetermined range is included, and writes new measured data to the given block such that at least one of the N sets of measured data lastly written to the given block is overwritten when the data with a value outside the predetermined range is not included. |
| US08028143B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting memory pre-fetch commands on a bus
A processing system and method is disclosed wherein a processor may be configured to predict an address of memory from which data will be needed, transmit to a memory controller a pre-fetch command for the data at the predicted address of the memory, and transmit to the memory controller a read request for the data at the predicted address of the memory if the data is needed. |
| US08028140B2 |
Save set bundling for staging
Backing up data blocks is disclosed. An indication that a first set of one or more backed up data blocks are related at an application level to one or more other sets of one or more backed up data blocks is received. An associating data that associates the first set of backed up data blocks with the one or more other sets of backed up data blocks is stored. The associating data is used to ensure that the first set and the one or more other sets remain stored together. |
| US08028139B2 |
Remote copy method and remote copy system
In a configuration in which it is necessary to transfer data from a first storage system to a third storage system through a storage system between the storage systems, there is a problem that it is inevitable to give an excess logical volume to a second storage system between the storage systems. A remote copy system includes first storage system that sends and receives data to and from an information processing apparatus, a second storage system, and a third storage system. The second storage system virtually has a second storage area in which the data should be written and has a third storage area in which the data written in the second storage area and update information concerning the data are written. Data sent from the first storage system is not written in the second storage area but is written in the third storage area as data and update information. The data and the update information written in the third storage area are read out from the third storage system. |
| US08028136B2 |
Retaining disk identification in operating system environment after a hardware-driven snapshot restore from a snapshot-LUN created using software-driven snapshot architecture
A program, method and system are disclosed for managing a snapshot backup restore through a hardware snapshot interface, i.e. a hardware-driven snapshot restore, based upon a software-driven snapshot backup, e.g. created with software such as volume shadow copy service (VSS). When conventional hardware-driven snapshot restores are performed using a snapshot backup that was created using the VSS-based software such as copy services, data access issues can arise, due to the operating system assigning of a new disk signature to the disk being restored. This problem can be overcome by temporarily storing the original disk signature and then overwriting the new, incorrect disk signature after initializing the restore. This can ensure that the operating system identifies the source LUNs (and accordingly, the drive letter and mount points of the disk) using the same disk signature as before the restore. |
| US08028125B2 |
Content-addressable memories and state machines for performing three-byte matches and for providing error protection
A method and system for detecting matching strings in a string of characters utilizing content addressable memory is disclosed. |
| US08028124B2 |
Fast processing memory array
The illustrative embodiments described herein provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for increasing efficiency associated with data access. In one illustrative embodiment a memory chip is presented comprising of a plurality of memory units for storing data; a plurality of processing units for processing the data; and a word line and a bit line external to the plurality of memory units, wherein the plurality of processing units directly access the word line and the bit line in accessing the data. |
| US08028119B2 |
Memory module, cache system and address conversion method
A memory system including a non-volatile memory, a cache memory, a control circuit, and a data processing device is configured. The high speed can be achieved by transferring data in the non-volatile memory to the cache memory to retain the same therein. When the data in the non-volatile memory is transferred to the cache memory, error correction is performed so as to improve the reliability. Since the cache memory and the non-volatile memory can be accessed from the data processing device independently, improvement in usability can be achieved. The memory system including the plurality of chips is configured as a memory system module where respective chips are arranged in a stacked manner and wired by a ball grid array (BGA) and wire bonding between chips. |
| US08028113B2 |
Methods and systems for deadlock-free allocation of memory
Methods and systems for memory management. A method for memory management includes: maintaining a reference count for at least one first process associated with a portion of memory; maintaining a shared reference count for at least one second process associated with the portion of memory; and freeing the portion of memory when the shared reference count is decremented to zero. |
| US08028112B2 |
I/O device, network system with I/O device and communication method in network system with I/O device
An I/O device is provided to accurately synchronize clocks between nodes to have a device driving signal directly made out from the clocks, so that operation timing can be synchronized between the nodes regardless of a processing flicker on a host computer and a delay in a communication channel, and so that sending and receiving of a communication frame between the nodes, updating of contents of the communication frame, etc. can be efficiently performed. The I/O device comprises receiving means for receiving information including at least contents instructing an input and output time to a device, time tag generating means for generating a time tag indicative of the input and output time included in the received signal to output the same to device control means, and clock means for generating a clock signal indicative of the present time, wherein the device control means compares the input and output time indicated by the time tag output from the time tag generating means with the present time indicated by the clock signal output from the clock means to output designated data to a device or input data from the device at the input and output time. |
| US08028110B1 |
Non-disruptive data migration among storage devices using integrated virtualization engine of a storage device
Transferring I/O from a first storage device coupled to a storage area network to a second storage device coupled to the storage area network includes blocking I/O operations for a first port of the first storage device coupled to the storage area network, where the first port is associated with an identifier, coupling the second storage device to the storage area network via a port associated with the identifier and reestablishing a connection between the host and the first port to cause I/O operations by the host to be routed to the second storage device. Transferring may also include, following blocking I/O operations for the first port of the first storage device, coupling a second port of the first storage device to the storage area network and migrating data from the first storage device to the second storage device through the second port of the first storage device without host/application disruption. |
| US08028108B2 |
Virtual KVM functionality for computer systems
A method, system, and computer program product for implementing virtual keyboard video mouse (KVM) switching functionality using a processing device in communication with a memory device is provided. Keyboard, video, and mouse signals for a first computer are redirected to be carried over a standardized serial bus connecting the first computer to a second computer. Each of the keyboard, video, and mouse signals are carried at predetermined frequencies. The keyboard, video, and mouse signals on the second computer are identified and separated. The keyboard, video, and mouse signals are passed to an operating system on the second computer. The keyboard, video, and mouse signals are used by the operating system to manage the first computer. |
| US08028106B2 |
Hardware acceleration of commonality factoring with removable media
Systems and methods for commonality factoring for storing data on removable storage media are described. The systems and methods allow for highly compressed data, e.g., data compressed using archiving or backup methods including de-duplication, to be stored in an efficient manner on portable memory devices such as removable storage cartridges. The methods include breaking data, e.g., data files for backup, into unique chunks and calculating identifiers, e.g., hash identifiers, based on the unique chunks. Redundant chunks can be identified by calculating identifiers and comparing identifiers of other chunks to the identifiers of unique chunks previously calculated. When a redundant chunk is identified, a reference to the existing unique chunk is generated such that the chunk can be reconstituted in relation to other chunks in order to recreate the original data. The method further includes storing one or more of the unique chunks, the identifiers and/or the references on the removable storage medium. The acceleration hardware and/or software can reside in multiple devices, depending on the embodiment. For example, hardware and/or software for the chunking and/or hashing functions can reside in one or more of a host computer, a removable storage device, a removable cartridge holder and the removable storage cartridge. |
| US08028104B2 |
Method and system for polling multifunction devices based on performance criteria
A method and system suitable for grouping a plurality of multifunction devices (MFDs), the system including a storage station for storing information gathered from the plurality of MFDs by selectively polling the plurality of MFDs; wherein the information is selectively processed based on static performance data and dynamic performance data relating to the plurality of MFDs. |
| US08028099B2 |
Industrial control system with web enabled I/O modules
An industrial control system provides a programmable logic controller communicating with I/O modules which provide an electrical interface to controlled equipment and which support web servers for communication of I/O data directly with the Internet. The programmable logic controller communicates with the I/O modules over a control-network which may be separate from or shared with the Internet communications. A lock-out system prevents collisions between web clients writing to I/O and allows the programmable logic controller to limit web access to critical I/O points. |
| US08028098B2 |
Peer to peer broadcast content synchronization
A method and apparatus for synchronizing recorded broadcast content on a peer to peer system, in which portions of the content are synchronized between the peers by referring to program clock reference values. |
| US08028096B2 |
Method for using the hand-held device in a multimedia home network
The present invention relates to a hand-held device comprising connection means for supporting an internet data transmission link between the hand-held device and the internet; browser means for fetching internet data from the internet; input means for receiving a user input; and generating means for generating a command script in response to said user input, where said command script is related to said searched internet data; where said command script, when the hand-held device is connected to a multimedia home device, can be processed to initiate a transmission of at least part of said searched internet data and/or other internet data to said multimedia home device. |
| US08028091B1 |
System and method for reducing DNS lookup traffic in a computer data network
To reduce Domain Name System (DNS) lookup traffic in a computer data network, a client computer requests a DNS lookup. A router or other means then sends the request for a hostname of a web server to a DNS server and receives a corresponding IP address. Next, the router forwards the request to the web server. In response, the web server sends an HTML document. Upon receiving the HTML document, the router examines the document for URLs and sends one DNS lookup request for each of the distinct hostnames, regardless of how many times that distinct hostname appears in the HTML document. The router receives IP addresses, each of which corresponds to one of each of the distinct hostnames and modifies the HTML document by replacing the each of the distinct hostnames, including recurrences, in the URLs associated with the image elements with their corresponding IP addresses. |
| US08028089B2 |
On-deck detection for a web site
Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs for detecting an on-deck user of a web site are provided. One embodiment comprises a method for detecting on-deck users for a web site. One such method comprises: providing a web site having an associated primary URL and at least one secondary URL; associating the at least one secondary URL for use in association with a carrier deck; receiving a request for the web site from the carrier deck on a mobile communication device; and determining that the request is from the carrier deck. |
| US08028085B2 |
Optimizing message transmission and delivery in a publisher-subscriber model
Systems and methods for reducing the latency incurred during the publication of a message in a message publication system are provided. In a message publication system wherein the publishing component and the receiving component are located within the same processing space, several of the latency components that are usually unavoidably incurred may be eliminated. In such a system, the messaging queue is not used as a medium between the two components but is instead used as a secondary back-up storage. This results in the elimination of one latency component as the message is directly published from the publishing component to the receiving component. Further time reductions or optimizations occur when the durability, or reliability, of the message publication is not a concern and the messaging queue can be completely disregarded. Yet another optimization occurs when the identity of the subscriber is known in advance by the publisher. |
| US08028080B2 |
Method and apparatus for media data transmission
Methods and apparatuses for processing media data transmitted in a data communication medium. A digital processing system is provided with a time related sequence of media data provided to the digital processing system based on a set of data, wherein the set of data indicates a method to transmit the time related sequence of media data according to a transmission protocol. The set of data, itself, is a time related sequence of data associated with the time related sequence of media data. The time related sequence of media data may be presented and/or stored by the digital processing system. |
| US08028079B2 |
Efficient transform from XML to javascript objects
This disclosure describes data conversion and techniques for sending and receiving data at a mobile device. In one implementation, a proxy server may receive data from a mobile device. The proxy server may convert the data and send the converted data to a network service. In another implementation, a mobile device may convert data and send that data to a network service. The network service may generate data in response and send that data to the mobile device directly. |
| US08028075B2 |
Modified semaphore flags system and method for controlling remote communications
A remote communication system and method are disclosed. An environment is identified defining a plurality of semaphore flags communicated between a first and a second computer as part of a remote session (i.e., the first computer remotely controlling the second computer via the remote session), with each semaphore flag defining an action associated with the remote session. A first application, via a unidirectional communication with the environment, modifies at least one semaphore flag associated with the environment (e.g., modifying commands to open or close files, keyboard scan codes, cursor position, mouse position, clipboard data, screen resolution, or channel administration), wherein the modified semaphore flag is extracted by an interceptor associated with the second computer and, the interceptor, based on a look-up, executes a pre-defined action affecting the remote session, wherein the pre-defined action being different than the modified semaphore flag's associated action. |
| US08028072B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product implementing session-specific URLs and resources
Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement session-specific URIs for allocating network resources by receiving a request from a user for at least one network resource; assigning a session-specific URI to the at least one network resource for use in identifying the at least one network resource and controlling access to the at least one network resource; updating a network directory service with the session-specific URI; and communicating the session-specific URI to the user. The user communicates the session-specific URI to other participants in the session during which the at least one network resource will be used. After a pre-determined time, the session ends and the at least one network resource is de-allocated by, for example, changing the URI of the at least one network resource. Frequent changes of URIs hinder efforts by unauthorized individuals to gain access to network resources. |
| US08028068B2 |
System using a lockbox device for releasing financial information from an information embargo setting
Information is electronically transmitted from an information embargo setting. The latency and/or lag in releasing information from the information embargo setting is reduced to facilitate dissemination of the embargoed information faster than other entities. The entity controlling the release of information in the information embargo setting may include one or more of a governmental agency (e.g., associated with the United States government, associated with the Canadian government, associated with the European Union and/or one or more states included therein, and/or other agencies associated with other governments), and/or other entities. |
| US08028066B2 |
System and method for reactive and deliberative service level management (SLM)
Method and apparatus for service level management, wherein business processes are composed of services. A state of the service is defined by one or more service parameters, and the service parameters depend upon performance of network components that support the service, e.g., component parameters. The state of the service may depend, for example, on a collection of service parameter values for availability, reliability, security, integrity and response time. A service level agreement is a contract between a supplier and a customer that identifies services supported by a network, service parameters for the services, and service levels (e.g., acceptable levels) for each service parameter. |
| US08028063B2 |
Soliciting data indicating at least one objective occurrence in response to acquisition of data indicating at least one subjective user state
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: acquiring subjective user state data including data indicating at least one subjective user state associated with a user; soliciting, in response to the acquisition of the subjective user state data, objective occurrence data including data indicating occurrence of at least one objective occurrence; acquiring the objective occurrence data; and correlating the subjective user state data with the objective occurrence data. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US08028061B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products extracting network behavioral metrics and tracking network behavioral changes
A network behavioral metric is extracted from a communication network based on a relevancy of the metric to network behavior by identifying a network metric x that is defined as a random variable that represents a quantitative measure of a network behavior accumulated over a period of time, selecting a network feature, generating a metric disintegration model for the network metric x comprising at least one normal behavior probability distribution function for the metric x for each value of the network feature, respectively, and at least one abnormal behavior probability distribution function for the metric x for each value of the network feature, respectively, increasing a number of the values of the metric x that indicates normal network behavior and/or abnormal network behavior based on the metric disintegration model, and selecting a network metric x as a behavioral metric based on a relevancy η of the network metric x to the network behavior. Embodiments for tracking network behavioral changes are also provided. |
| US08028058B2 |
Dynamic discovery and reporting of one or more application program topologies in a single or networked distributed computing environment
Dynamic discovery and reporting of one or more application program topologies in a single or networked distributed computing environment allows IT professionals to maintain processes running on the network. In one embodiment, the dynamic discovery is performed by identifying one or more computers in a computer network, identifying one or more processes on each identified computer that are communicating over the network, and displaying a graphical representation of the topology of the processes communicating over the network. |
| US08028055B2 |
Optimal combination of sampled measurements
Two regularized estimators that avoid the pathologies associated with variance estimation are disclosed. The regularized variance estimator adds a contribution to estimated variance representing the likely error, and hence ameliorates the pathologies of estimating small variances while at the same time allowing more reliable estimates to be balanced in the convex combination estimator. The bounded variance estimator employs an upper bound to the variance which avoids estimation pathologies when sampling probabilities are very small. |
| US08028052B2 |
NMS with multi-server change requests processing
An event processing system performs quickly processing of events in a communication network. The system comprises a client process that controls the sequencing of event processing, a plurality of servers that process the events with the help of a shared object library and a dispatcher that selects an available server so that no two servers process events from the same event queue at any given time. The client time-stamps the events and organizes them into event queues per node, using a node identification. An outstanding queue tracks the current events being processed for a node based on a message ID that is returned by the dispatcher when an event is sent to a server. Also, an overflow queue tracks the sequence of nodes to be serviced after a maximum outstanding limit of events being processed at a given time has been reached. |
| US08028051B2 |
Apparatus for adjusting use resources of system and method thereof
The transition of a use resource amount is predicted from the transition of a transaction occurrence amount for each module by using a function that expresses a correlation between a past transaction processing amount and a past use resource amount in a data processing system. After this, an allocation resource amount for each module is automatically fluctuated in accordance with the transition of the predicted use resource amount. |
| US08028046B2 |
System and method of configuring a network device
In a particular illustrative embodiment, a method of configuring a network device is disclosed that includes determining network device information at a network device using a boot strapping protocol during an initial set-up process of the network device. The method further includes automatically modifying a configuration profile of the network device to connect to a network in a first device mode using the network device information. The method also includes receiving configuration information transmitted from a configuration server without requesting the configuration information. The configuration information includes routing information and configuration parameters particular to the network device. The method further includes automatically modifying the configuration profile of the network device to operate in a second device mode based on the configuration information. The first device mode is a non-operational mode and the second device mode is an operational mode. |
| US08028041B2 |
Dynamic content for online transactions
Various methods and systems provide dynamic content to users of online payment service providers without requiring users to log in or otherwise actively engage the payment service providers. In one example, a method includes providing a client device with access to an online marketplace over a network. The method also includes facilitating transmission of a user identifier stored by the client device to a payment service provider. The method further includes receiving dynamic content from the payment service provider in response to the user identifier. In addition, the method includes serving the dynamic content to the client device over the network. |
| US08028039B1 |
System and method for communicating data between wireless mobile hand-held computer and a back-end computer system
An asynchronous, middleware system positioned between a larger computer system and a wireless mobile hand-held computer anticipates the needs of a wireless mobile hand-held computer that is served by the middleware system. The middleware system can anticipate and process needs for a mobile hand-held computer when the hand-held computer is not “synchronized” with a larger computer network. The middleware system can be designed to prepare information for downloading from a larger computer system to a wireless mobile hand-held computer well in advance of a communication link while the hand-held computer is not “synchronized” with the larger computer network. The middleware system can provide a network architecture that is very durable, scaleable, and flexible to serve hundreds and thousands of wireless mobile hand-held computers. |
| US08028034B2 |
System and method for automatically learning mailbox configuration conventions
A system and method automatically learns mailbox configuration conventions. The validator module determines a valid set of configuration parameters used for accessing an electronic mailbox of a user within a mail domain after receiving configuration information from the user that is limited in the configuration parameters required for accessing the electronic mailbox. A learner module accepts from the validator module a set of configuration parameters determined to be valid and generates configuration conventions for a mail domain. A database store is the generated configuration conventions. The validator and learner modules can be operative as part of a web server. |
| US08028029B2 |
Method and apparatus for context-sensitive exchange of electronic information
A method and apparatus for context-sensitive exchange of electronic information, is provided. One implementation involves maintaining multiple signatures for a sender; associating each signature with a recipient address or communication content pattern described based on a rule; sending an electronic communication to a recipient address by automatically selecting a most appropriate signature among the multiple signatures based on the recipient address or content pattern in the communication; and including the selected signature in the electronic communication. |
| US08028025B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for setting/retrieving header information dynamically into/from service data objects for protocol based technology adapters
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for processing a technology specific message. In one embodiment, a computer program product receives a message having a conventional header and a user-defined header that both conform to a predefined header format, each header comprising a header name and a value; identifies each header in the message based on the predefined header format; generates a header structure to store the header name and the value from each header; stores the header structure in a set of header structures of an extendable message business object; and passes the extendable message business object to an integration broker. |
| US08028023B2 |
Extending functionality of instant messaging (IM) systems
Plug-ins for instant messaging (IM) systems are described. By using plug-ins in conjunction with IM systems, the functionality of IM systems may be greatly extended. Specifically, in business applications, such as workflow processes, IM provides a more reliable approach to determining actual delivery of messages. |
| US08028020B2 |
Control unit operations in a real-time collaboration server
In a real-time collaboration server, a control unit manages a collaboration mode. The control unit operates a virtual client that maintains a virtual screen reflecting the status of the collaboration (e.g., the contents of a shared desktop or whiteboard). The virtual client renders collaboration data within the virtual screen. New clients are synchronized with an ongoing collaboration by packing and sending them a copy of the virtual screen. The control unit maintains a queue of collaboration data to be sent to participating clients. Each client may have a pointer identifying the queued data it is processing. The queue may be collapsed (e.g., when it reaches a maximum size) by sending a copy of the virtual screen to one or more clients that have not yet consumed old data in the queue; those clients are then updated to skip the queue entries embodied in the virtual screen. |
| US08028018B2 |
System, device, and method for cooperative processing
A cooperative processing system includes a first data processing component, existing on a first computer, that generates an output containing object having a function of outputting data contained therein to a stream, a pipeline section that causes the output containing object to output the data contained in the output containing object to a stream addressed to a second computer, and causes the second computer to generate an input containing object that receives the stream and stores data transferred through the stream, and a second data processing component, existing on the second computer, that receives the input containing object to perform a data process. |
| US08028014B2 |
Positioning device, method of controlling positioning device, and recording medium
A positioning device, which locates a position based on satellite signals which are signals from positioning satellites, includes a position holding section which holds a reference position P, a stationary condition determination section which determines whether or not the reference position P satisfies stationary conditions B, an average position calculation section which averages the reference position P satisfying the stationary conditions B and a present located position Pg calculated by positioning to calculate an average position Pav, a position output section which outputs the average position Pav, and a position storage section which stores the average position Pav in the position holding section as the reference position P. |
| US08028013B2 |
Fast filtering means and filtering and decimation methods
The invention relates to a hardware implemented filtering method including establishing a representation DIS of the derivative of at least a part of a time-quantized input signal IS, and establishing at least one sample of a time- and amplitude-quantized output signal OS by performing filtering on the basis of at least a part of a filter representation IFC1, IFC2, IFC3 and the representation DIS of the derivative of at least a part of the input signal IS. The invention further relates to a hardware implemented decimation method for decimating a time-quantized input signal IS including dividing the time-quantized input signal IS into intervals, for each of the intervals establishing a sample of a time- and amplitude-quantized output signal OS according to the above mentioned filtering method. The invention further relates to a fast filtering means FFM implementing the above-mentioned methods. |
| US08028011B1 |
Global UNIX file system cylinder group cache
A global cylinder group (CG) cache is stored in file server memory and shared by a plurality of file systems supported by the file server. The global CG cache comprises a number CG entries which are pre-allocated in memory. As different file systems are accessed, global CG entries in the CG cache are used to store CG block information for the accesses. With such an arrangement, a file server may support multiple file systems using a single global CG cache without starvation and other the adverse performance impacts of the prior art. According to one aspect of the invention, the global CG cache is periodically scanned to reclaim memory. In contrast to the prior art, where multiple scans were periodically performed of multiple CG caches for memory reclamation, the use of a single CG cache minimizes the impact of CG cache maintenance on file server performance. |
| US08028007B2 |
Scalable storage and processing of hierarchical documents
Large messages in the form of hierarchically structured documents are processed in a streaming fashion using the ultimate consumer read requests as the driving force for the processing. The messages are partitioned into fixed length segments. The segments are processed in pipeline fashion. This processing chain includes simulating random access of hierarchical documents using stream transformations, mapping streams to a transport's native capabilities, composing streams into chains and using pipeline processing on the chains, staging fragments into a database and routing messages when complete messages have been formed, and providing tools to allow the end user to inspect partial messages. |
| US08028006B2 |
Method and apparatus for exchanging sub-hierarchical structures within a hierarchical file system
A method for replacing a first sub-hierarchy of a New Technology File System hierarchical filesystem (NTFS HFS) with a second sub-hierarchy is disclosed. The first sub-hierarchy includes a first root directory having at least one special system file, and a first plurality of files. The second sub-hierarchy includes a second root directory located in a second location of the HFS, a second plurality of files and at least one placeholder file corresponding to the at least one special system file. The method includes the steps of configuring the first plurality of files to branch from the first root directory once the first root directory is accessed through the second location, exchanging the first plurality of files with the second plurality of files, and exchanging at least one directory pointer corresponding to the at least one special system file with at least one directory pointer corresponding to the at least one placeholder file. |
| US08028004B2 |
Data recording system, data recording method and data recording program
A data recording system 1 includes: a file generating part 3 for dividing digital data so as to generate a plurality of data files and recording the plurality of the data files sequentially into a recording medium 5; a management file judging part 6 for determining one management file for recording management information of the plurality of the data files; and a management information generating part 4 for recording the management information of the plurality of the data files into the determined management file. The management file judging part 6 determines the management file such that the number of the data files managed by the management file does not exceed a maximum data file number L (L is a natural number) that can be managed by the management file. Thereby, it is possible to record the plurality of the data files that are divided from the digital stream data and are recorded, such that the management of the plurality of the data files is easy. |
| US08028000B2 |
Data storage structure
Efficient data storage and retrieval (e.g., in terms of time and space requirements) is facilitated by implementing an indexing structure comprising an indexing array. That is, a functional relationship between elements of a source set and elements of a query result set can be stored in the indexing structure. This allows, for example, a query regarding whether an element is a member of a set (e.g., whether a particular website or Uniform Resource Locator (URL)) has been visited before) as well as a relationship between the member set and the query (e.g., the number of hyperlinks in the website the last time it was visited) to be resolved efficiently. |
| US08027999B2 |
Systems, methods and computer program products for indexing, searching and visualizing media content
The exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method for searching a metadata repository and visualizing the results of the search, wherein the metadata in the metadata repository is associated with a plurality of media content, and wherein each media content including at least one audio track. The method comprises retrieving the media contents used to generate the metadata terms satisfying a search criteria, and generating a ranked list of search results. The method further includes visualizing the ranked list of media contents, and displaying relevant metadata and corresponding associations for the media contents to enable navigation of the at least one audio track included in the media contents. |
| US08027998B2 |
Minutes production device, conference information management system and method, computer readable medium, and computer data signal
A minutes production device includes: a producing unit that produces minutes, based on conference information; a recommending unit that searches a database and recommends information, based on the conference information used by the producing unit to produce the minutes; and an editing unit that edits the minutes, based on the information recommended by the recommending unit. |
| US08027996B2 |
Commitment control for less than an entire record in an in-memory database in a parallel computer system
In a networked computer system that includes multiple interconnected nodes, a commitment control mechanism allows designating certain portions of a record in an in-memory database as mandatory and other portions of the record as secondary, and performs mandatory commitment control once all the mandatory portions are available even if one or more secondary portions are not yet available. The secondary portions may be under separate commitment control that is asynchronous to the commitment control for the mandatory portions, or may be under no commitment control at all. The result is a commitment control mechanism that performs commitment control for portions of a record that are marked mandatory even when one or more of the portions marked secondary are not available. |
| US08027995B2 |
Portable media processing unit in a media exchange network
A method for communication is disclosed and may include storing media and meta-data associated with the stored media. The storing may occur at a first location associated with a first communication device. A channel guide including representations of the stored media may be presented, based on the meta-data associated with the stored media, on a television in a second location. The presenting may occur when the first communication device is communicatively coupled to a second communication device at the second location. In response to receiving a selection via the presented channel guide, at least one media file corresponding to the received selection may be displayed based on the meta-data associated with stored media, on the television and/or a media player in the second location. The first communication device may be a media processing unit. |
| US08027994B2 |
Searching a multi-lingual database
A system and method of searching a database in which documents of different languages are included. The system includes a synonym or keyword dictionary which is bi-directional and allows for translation of keywords between a first language and other languages. The translated words keywords for the document are stored in an inverted index which is then used for searching, either in a selected language, a second language or in all languages, as determined by the user. This use of multiple searching and a translated synonym dictionary avoids the need for translation of the entire document and avoids inaccuracies which may result from translations. |
| US08027990B1 |
Dynamic query suggestion
A query prefix is received from a user device. A user identifier is determined based on the user device. A user category is determined based on the user identifier. A node representing the query prefix is located in a query graph. Descendent nodes of the located node that represent queries are located. Each node has one or more user category specific frequency measures and each user category specific frequency measure is associated with a user category. The queries represented by the located nodes are ranked based on the associated user category specific frequency measure associated with the identified user category. The ranked queries are sent to the user device. |
| US08027989B1 |
Retrieving and providing contextual information
An electronic dictionary may be created by receiving a data request action for a word appearing in an electronic document, accessing information regarding the context of the word derived from within the electronic document in which the word appears, storing the definition of the word along with the context information for the word, and enabling access by the user to the definition and the context information. |
| US08027985B2 |
Sorting data records contained in a query result
A system and article of manufacture for managing query results and, more particularly, for sorting data records contained in a query result obtained in response to execution of a query against a database. In one embodiment, the data records in the query result are sorted on the basis of related information which is retrieved from a corresponding data source. In another embodiment, the sorting is performed on the basis of a value variance which is determined for each of the data records in the query result. In still another embodiment, the sorting is performed on the basis of a requested value range coverage. In yet another embodiment, the sorting is performed on the basis of suitability scores which are determined with respect to analysis routines which are configured for processing the query result. |
| US08027984B2 |
Systems and methods of reverse lookup
In one embodiment, a system and method is provided for reverse lookups using a reverse lookup hint stored in metadata associated with a file or directory. The reverse lookup hint is used to retrieve an entry, comprising a name of the file or directory, which is stored in a map structure related to a parent directory of the file or directory. In an embodiment, the reverse lookup hint comprises a hash value generated from the name of the file or directory. |
| US08027983B1 |
Enhanced query performance using fixed length hashing of multidimensional data
Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer program products, for enhancing query performance through fixed length hashing of multidimensional data. According to one method, a fixed length hash of a multidimensional data record is created where the hash has respective fixed length sections for each data dimension of the record being hashed. The composite fixed length hash is stored with a reference to the original data record to which it corresponds. Query parameters are hashed and compared to a corresponding section of the fixed length hash to determine a set of candidate records. |
| US08027980B2 |
Methods and computer systems for data assignment
Methods and computer systems are provided for data assignment. A computing unit and a data object component for managing a set of data objects are provided. Data objects of the set of data objects can be divided into segments according to selectable criteria. An interface unit may also be provided to interconnect the computing unit and the data object component. The interface unit may be arranged and constructed to include an inventory assignment of segments created in the data object component such that, in case of an assignment inquiry by the computing unit, an assignment of one or more segments being inquired for is carried out in the interface unit. |
| US08027978B2 |
Image search method, apparatus, and program
According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method for searching image data representing an image from a database by using a query image, the image data including information indicative of a shape of a contour of the image, comprising: obtaining a query image data representing the query image; extracting information indicative of a shape of a contour of the query image; and determining the image data in the database on the basis of correlation of the topological characteristics of the shapes of the contours of the images and the query image. |
| US08027972B2 |
Nodal data normalization
Embodiments of the invention may be used to normalize data stored in an in-memory database on a parallel computer system. The data normalization may be used to achieve memory savings, thereby reducing the number of compute nodes required to store an in-memory database. Thus, as a result, faster response times may be achieved when querying the data. In one embodiment, normalization may be performed in a manner to avoid datasets that cross physical or logical boundaries of the compute nodes of a parallel system. |
| US08027971B2 |
Relationship management in a data abstraction model
A method, system and article of manufacture for managing relationships in a data abstraction model abstractly describing data in a database. One embodiment provides a method of linking logical branches of data in a database based on the relationships. The method includes accessing a data abstraction model abstractly describing the data in the database. The data abstraction model defines a logical tree structure having a plurality of logical branches. Relationships between logical fields of different logical branches are identified and logical links abstractly describing the identified relationships are created. |
| US08027967B2 |
Setting checking information collecting method, setting checking information collecting device and recording medium that records setting checking information collecting program
A device includes, a search controlling information storing unit that stores, for each searching purpose, the search controlling information indicating whether or not the search is to be proceeded for the kinds of parts between the interfaces in the parts is defined and registered, a set information collecting unit that decides the interface of the parts to be searched, according to the search controlling information for each search object, from both the design information of the system constitution diagram and the registered information of the library database of the parts and the interfaces, and traces the connection relations of the interfaces thereby to collect the set information of the searched parts and the interfaces from the library database of the design information of the system constitution diagram, the parts and so on. |
| US08027966B2 |
Method and system for searching a multi-lingual database
A system and method of searching a database in which documents of different languages are included. The system includes a synonym or keyword dictionary which is bi-directional and allows for translation of keywords between a first language and other languages. The translated words keywords for the document are stored in an inverted index which is then used for searching, either in a selected language, a second language or in all languages, as determined by the user. This use of multiple searching and a translated synonym dictionary avoids the need for translation of the entire document and avoids inaccuracies which may result from translations. |
| US08027960B2 |
Intelligent deletion of elements to maintain referential integrity of dynamically assembled components in a content management system
A content management system (CMS) uses an element deletion mechanism to maintain referential integrity of dynamically assembled elements in a repository. Element properties such as probability, popularity and recent usage that are not explicit relationships between parent documents and child elements are logged. A deletion policy is then defined in terms of the logged element properties. When a request to delete an element is received, the deletion mechanism checks the logged properties against the deletion policy. If the element's logged properties satisfy the deletion policy, the element is deleted from the repository. If the element's logged properties do not satisfy the deletion policy, the element is not deleted. In this manner referential integrity may be enforced for elements that are dynamically assembled. |
| US08027954B2 |
Portable media player recommendation system
A method and apparatus for providing a portable device recommendation system. The method may include storing, on a portable device, preferences of a user of the portable device with respect to media content, and facilitating sharing of desirable media content between this user and a user of another portable device based on the user preferences. |
| US08027948B2 |
Method and system for generating an ontology
A method of generating an ontology includes determining plural concepts from a data set by using a first predetermined pattern, using a second predetermined pattern to determine a relationship between the plural concepts, and between a concept and a concept token in the plural concepts, and generating the ontology based on the relationship. |
| US08027946B1 |
Higher order logic applied to expert systems for alarm analysis, filtering, correlation and root cause
The present invention is directed to a system and method for applying second- and higher-order logic to analysis of event descriptive information, such as alarms, error messages, and fault signals. |
| US08027937B1 |
Systems, devices, and methods for providing multiple services to premises over communication networks
Methods, systems, and devices for providing one or more virtual networks for a plurality of services are disclosed. The device may include a secure access node coupled to a wide area communication network and a premises communication network. The secure access node may have a node software platform, one or more node processors, a node storage device, and one or more node communication interfaces. Further, the secure access node may receive a plurality of data packets through one of the one or more node communication interfaces. The node software platform may execute on one of the node processors and may include a node deep packet inspection engine, a node rules generation engine, a node rule check and notification generation engine, a node service segregation engine, a node communication software application, and a node service adapter software application. |
| US08027936B2 |
Apparatus for and method of establishing digital content right, and computer program product
An apparatus for generating copyright information for a secondarily processed content obtained by performing secondary processing on an original content, includes a secondary processed substance acquiring unit, a default license information generating unit, and a license information editing unit. The secondary processed substance acquiring unit acquires operation substances of the secondary processing performed on the original content. The default license information generating unit obtains rights expressions for the operation substances acquired by the secondary processed substance acquiring unit to generate default license information including the rights expressions as an initial value. The license information editing unit accepts selection of a desired rights expression by a user from the rights expressions of the default license information generated by the default license information generating unit to generate license information of the secondary processed content from the selected rights expression. |
| US08027935B1 |
Systems and methods for value bearing indicia balance reservation
Systems and methods which operate to reserve an amount of value associated with a value bearing indicia (VBI) request or requests are shown. Embodiments facilitate completion of a multiple VBI session without failing due to insufficient value balance once the session has begun. Additionally or alternatively, embodiments facilitate later or subsequent (e.g., scheduled) completion of a VBI session, whether a session for a single VBI or multiple VBI, without failing due to insufficient value balance. Value reservations may be made automatically and/or manually. Embodiments provide various reservation priority levels, such as to individual users, user groups, user systems, sessions, types of sessions, jobs, etc., in order to facilitate completion of various desired operations without failure due to insufficient value. Value reservation techniques according to embodiments do not introduce additional transactions into a normal VBI session flow. |
| US08027933B2 |
Postal package delivery system
The present invention relates to a Postal package delivery system for forwarding a packet from a sender towards a destination through a postal network where the postal network comprises a plurality of postal nodes for sorting and forwarding the package through said network via at least one node of said plurality of postal nodes towards the destination. The forwarding of the package is based on the address of said destination, where a tag associating device is able to associate a tag of the package flexibly with a physical address of a plurality of addresses of said destination. |
| US08027930B2 |
Method and apparatus for updating certificate information between buyers and suppliers
A computer system that manages compliance information between a buyer and a number of suppliers includes a database and is operable to store supplier guidelines corresponding to a product the buyer desires to purchase, store a list of approved suppliers, provide the suppliers with access to the supplier guidelines, store compliance information indicating whether one or more of the suppliers is in compliance with the supplier guidelines, and selectively update the list of approved suppliers in response to the compliance information. The computer system is also operable to store supplier certificates and to request updated supplier certificates provided directly from a certification issuer. |
| US08027925B1 |
System method and apparatus for authorizing access
The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for enforcing software licenses for resource libraries such as an application program interface (API), a toolkit, a framework, a runtime library, a dynamic link library (DLL), an applet (e.g. a Java or ActiveX applet), or any other reusable resource. The present invention allows the resource library to be selectively used only by authorized end user software programs. The present invention can be used to enforce a “per-program” licensing scheme for a resource library whereby the resource library is licensed only for use with particular software programs. In one embodiment, a license text string and a corresponding license key are embedded in a program that has been licensed to use a resource library. The license text string and the license key are supplied, for example, by a resource library vendor to a program developer who wants to use the resource library with an end user program being developed. The license text string includes information about the terms of the license under which the end user program is allowed to use the resource library. The license key is used to authenticate the license text string. The resource library in turn is provided with means for reading the license text string and the license key, and for determining, using the license key, whether the license text string is authentic and whether the license text string has been altered. Resource library functions are made available only to a program having an authentic and unaltered license text string. |
| US08027916B2 |
Method and apparatus for screening financial transactions
A system for screening money transfers. According to one embodiment of the invention an operator is provided with at least one prompt to request further information about an attempted money transfer. The operator can be prompted with a series of questions to facilitate a regimented screening process of suspicious transfers. |
| US08027914B2 |
System and method for providing instant-decision, financial network-based payment cards
A system and method for issuance of a financial network-based payment card (generally known as a “credit card”) almost instantaneously after application, wherein an applicant applies for a credit card by entering data into a data entry system, advantageously by filling in a plurality of predefined forms in a computer-based data entry system. The applicant's data is sent via a data network to a central decision center, which approves or disapproves the application. If the application is approved, data is generated and delivered to a card production system, which embosses and magnetically encodes a card blank. The card is then delivered to the applicant. |
| US08027911B2 |
Hedging exchange traded mutual fund or other portfolio basket products
A system for pricing and/or determining a basket of financial instruments for hedging investment risk in actively managed traded funds is described. The system uses a trusted computer system and includes a computer storage medium storing a computer program product. The product determines a basket of hedging instruments by applying statistical or economic based factor analysis to estimate the NAV or provide a hedging basket to rack actual NAV of an actively managed traded fund. |
| US08027905B2 |
Generating adjusted bids of entities according to a new external bid
An initial external bid of an enterprise that is based on initial component bids of plural entities is received by a tool. The tool receives margin values representing margins acceptable to the entities. A new external bid is received that is different from the initial bid, and adjusted component bids of the plural entities are generated by the tool according to the new external bid and the margins of the entities. |
| US08027904B2 |
Method and system for creating and trading corporate debt security derivative investment instruments
A method of creating and trading corporate debt security derivative investment instruments on an exchange, as well as a trading facility for trading such derivatives, is disclosed. Corporate debt security derivative investment instruments are created by identifying a credit rating service that includes a plurality of risk categories. Unique monetary values are mapped to risk categories and an entity rated by the credit rating service is identified. A corporate debt security derivative investment instrument is then created whose value is determined at least in part by the monetary value to which the risk category associated with the rated entity is mapped. |
| US08027901B2 |
Automatic generation of an order in an instrument in a specified currency
In an automated trading system wherein orders in an instrument in a specified currency are received and a trade in the instrument is performed when, for a certain volume of the instrument, a bid price matches an ask price, a method is provided for automatically generating an order in the instrument in said specified currency. The method comprised the steps of receiving from e.g. a currency market or a market maker a current exchange rate between a currency other than said specified currency and the specified currency; receiving from a trader an order in the instrument in said other currency; calculating a price of the order in the specified currency based on the received order and the current exchange rate; and generating the order in the instrument in the specified currency. |
| US08027899B2 |
System and method for forming a financial instrument indexed to entertainment revenue
A method for forming a securities bundle indexed to entertainment revenue includes determining a first funding amount for a first entertainment event. A second funding amount is determined for a second entertainment event. Next, a dividend schedule is determined for the first and second entertainment events. A securities bundle is formed at least partially based on the funding amounts and the dividend schedule, with the securities bundle comprising a first security and a second security. The first security is associated with the first entertainment event and the second security is associated with the second entertainment event. |
| US08027898B2 |
Method and apparatus for prioritizing a listing of information providers
A method and apparatus for prioritizing a listing of information providers according to a fee value and availability status indicated for the information providers, and providing a set of one or more information provider identifiers that satisfy a request for a type of information provider that has been received from a user over the Internet. The set of information provider identifiers are ranked according to their associated fee values and availability status. A set of one or more files are generated to display the set of information provider identifiers. The set of files are transmitted to the user, and the user is provided access to an information provider identified by one of the set of information provider identifiers. |
| US08027890B2 |
Methods and systems for processing a financial transaction
A method for processing a financial transaction such as an electronic bill payment is provided. The method includes receiving an electronic bill payment wherein the bill payment is submitted on behalf of a consumer in response to a bill associated with a biller, determining using a computer system that the received electronic bill payment is an exception payment wherein the exception payment includes the electronic bill payment submitted by the consumer having consumer entered information not matching a criterion for accepting electronic payment required by the biller, creating an exception addenda record for the exception payment using data stored within a database wherein the addenda record identifies the consumer submitting the exception payment, and posting the exception payment to an appropriate consumer account for the biller based on the addenda record. |
| US08027889B1 |
Systems and methods for price searching via a mobile device reading display screen graphics
Price searching via a mobile device reading display screen graphics is provided. A system for obtaining pricing information comprises at least one subsystem that electronically reads a price of a product using a mobile device scanning a display screen, at least one subsystem that searches for other available products and price data to compare to the electronically read price and product data, at least one subsystem that compares the price data of the other products to the electronically read price data, and at least one subsystem that presents purchase options based upon results of the comparison of the price and product data. |
| US08027888B2 |
Online credit card prescreen systems and methods
In one embodiment, prescreened credit card offers, which are associated with credit cards that a particular borrower would be accepted upon application with the respective issuer, are provided to a borrower via a prescreen provider website and/or a referrer website. In one embodiment, a referrer provides borrower information to a prescreen provider. The prescreen provider initiates and/or performs a prescreening process, which includes accessing credit related information regarding the borrower. The prescreen provider matches the borrower with one or more credit cards that the borrower would like be accepted for, and provides a prescreened offer document to the referrer, or an Internet address of the prescreened offer document. The referrer may then provide the borrower with the prescreened credit card offers by presenting the prescreened offer document to the borrower. The prescreened credit card offers may additionally be filtered according to issuer criteria, referrer criteria, and/or borrower preferences. |
| US08027885B2 |
Complex prices in bidding
Managing bid pricing information comprises receiving transaction information and item data from a buyer, generating a bid invitation containing entries relating to the transaction information and item data, and making the bid invitation available to a plurality of potential bidders, receiving from one or more of the potential bidders bid invitations containing a complex pricing structure and corresponding complex pricing amounts, and selecting a winning bidder based on the complex pricing amounts. |
| US08027883B2 |
Affiliate manipulation system and method
An affiliate manipulation system that permits consumers, ISPs, search engines and intermediaries to maximize affiliate program participation in transactions by or through them. The affiliate manipulation system accesses an affiliate-capable merchant through the Internet at the direction of a buyer or consumer through an ISP or search engine. An affiliate code for a preferred commercial agent is inserted into the purchase order. The preferred commercial agent is the buyer or consumer, ISP, search engine or other designated recipient. When the buyer initiates a purchase from the affiliate-capable merchant, the system inserts the affiliate code for the preferred commercial agent where there was no affiliate code, or replaces an existing affiliate code in favor of the preferred commercial agent. A purchase order is effected through the affiliate-capable merchant. The order is completed and credit for the sale is given to the preferred commercial agent, based upon the affiliate code. |
| US08027882B2 |
Buyer-initiated shipping system
A system and method in which a buyer registers for a buyer's shipping account and uses the shipping account to pay shipping costs associated with purchases made over the Internet. When a buyer purchases merchandise over the Internet from either a retailer's website or from an individual through an online auction, the buyer is capable of controlling the shipping process by logging on to their buyer's shipping account. Among other things, the buyer can use their shipping account to select the desired type of shipping service (overnight air or ground) and populate a shipping label with shipping information such as delivery address, return address, and preferred delivery time windows. Once the shipping label has been populated and verified, the shipping label is electronically transferred to the seller for use in shipping the package. The system and methods of the present invention allow the buyer greater control over the shipping process. In many cases, the present invention will also help buyers/receivers control costs by eliminating the shipper's shipping and handling fee. |
| US08027880B2 |
Acquisition option in auction configuration
A configuration is configured to allow purchase of an item available in an auction. The configuration transmits to a bidder a plurality of bids for use in an auction. Each bid is given a predetermined bid value. The configuration provides for display a selectable interface to place a bid on the item and a selectable interface to purchase the item at the retail price. The configuration receives from the bidder at least one bid on the item. In response to each bid received from the bidder for the item, the configuration reduces the retail price for the item by a value corresponding to the bid value. The configuration then provides for display the reduced retail price in response to each bid received from the bidder for on the item. The bidder can continue with the auction in an attempt to receive the auctioned item at a low cost or may purchase the auction item at a retail price minus the total of the value of bids placed by that bidder. |
| US08027879B2 |
Exclusivity bidding for mobile sponsored content
In embodiments, the present invention provides a method and system for receiving a bid for an exclusive sponsored content item to be presented on a mobile communication facility, the bid including an amount and at least one exclusivity characteristic relating to a mobile subscriber characteristic and matching the at least one exclusivity characteristic with the exclusive sponsored content item based at least in part on a relevancy for presentation to a mobile communication facility. |
| US08027876B2 |
Online advertising valuation apparatus and method
A method comprising for determining the value provided to an advertiser through the advertiser's online advertisements. The method may begin with providing an online advertisement linked to content. A macro-context may be obtained that quantifies the affinity of the content for a plurality of domains corresponding to a semantic space. A personalization vector may be obtained that quantifies the affinity of at least one aspect of a user for the plurality of domains. The user may then select the online advertisement. A match value may be calculated that quantifies the similarity between the personalization vector and the macro-context. The advertiser may then be charged a monetary amount for the user's “click.” The monetary amount may be based, at least in part, on the match value. |
| US08027875B2 |
Method for measuring packet advertising effectiveness
This invention generally relates to a method for measuring the effectiveness of an advertising method that facilitates purchases involving or assisted by a website. More particularly the method discloses how to measure the advertising effectiveness of widely distributed resealable packets of liquid that bear website addresses to prompt or facilitate direct access to websites. Data derived from the packet's manufacturing, distribution and website access is used in measuring the advertising effectiveness disclosed in this method. |
| US08027872B2 |
Passenger transportation system and method for obtaining tickets in such a system
A method for obtaining tickets for journeys in a passenger transportation system (VSY) which comprises stations (S11 . . . S00) for entering and/or leaving transport means (VM1, VM2) of the system (VSY) for journeys between the stations (S11 . . . S00), wherein at least one station (S11 . . . S00) of the system (VSY) is assigned at least one contactlessly readable data carrier (T11 . . . T00) and/or at least one transport means (VM 1, VM2) of the system (VSY) is assigned at least one contactlessly readable data carrier (T10, T20), wherein the contactlessly readable data carriers (T11 . . . T00; T10, T20) contain ticket information items (IN11, IN23, INOO), and one of the contactlessly readable data carriers (T11 . . . T00; T10, T20) is read by a mobile reader (MOD) in at least one station (S11 . . . S00) and/or in at least one transport means (VM1, VM2), and the corresponding ticket information item or items (IN11, IN23, IN00) is/are stored in the mobile reader (MOD). |
| US08027870B2 |
Method and apparatus for formalizing information technology (IT) business decision making
A method, framework, and system for providing formalized Information Technology (IT) business decision making, which includes determining a relationship between at least one Information Technology (IT) environmental element and at least one Information Technology (IT) performance metric, and determining a business value based on the at least one Information Technology (IT) environmental element and the at least one Information Technology (IT) performance metric to optimize an Information Technology (IT) business decision based on at least one predetermined business objective. The at least one predetermined business objective is based on a set of system constraints. |
| US08027868B1 |
Trade area analyzer
Methods and computer-readable media having computer-usable instructions for evaluating, analyzing and displaying trade information for a user. Customer addresses are received, and then a buffer area is created around each of the customer address. The buffer area for each address is combined to generate at least one aggregated area that is then disaggregated to define a polygon which is useful for generating a density map that is added to a data base. The data base is analyzed to indicate an ideal retail location for a new store, and/or determine which retail store to relocate or close. |
| US08027866B2 |
Method for estimating purchases made by customers
Purchases made by customers of a supplier of interest from other suppliers are estimated based upon panelist data regarding purchases made by panelists from the supplier of interest and from the other suppliers, and based upon customer data regarding purchases made by the customers from the supplier of interest. The panelists are a subset of the customers. A linear relationship between the purchases made by the panelists from the supplier of interest and the purchases made by the panelists from the other suppliers is determined. Based upon the customer data and the linear relationship, the purchases made by the customers from the other suppliers are estimated. |
| US08027865B2 |
System and method for providing E-commerce consumer-based behavioral target marketing reports
A system and methods which enable modeling of end consumer interests based on online activity and producing e-commerce reports is described. The method includes scoring and classifying interests and preferences of consumers in relation to various items being offered as function of time and utilizing such scores to predict purchasing activity and revenue yield for n-dimensional combinations of interest for generation of consumer lists for target marketing and merchandising. The method also includes converse modeling of the performance and behavioral profile of items offered as a function of consumer activity. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims. |
| US08027862B2 |
Time series pattern generating system and method using historical information
An object of this invention is to analyze history information for each of a plurality of instances, and generate a time series pattern for each of a plurality of business processes. A time series pattern generating system analyzes the history information of an instance generated upon each execution of a class that defines a series of processes and is constituted by components having a defined order, and generates a time series pattern. The history information is generated upon each execution of the components, stored in chronological order, and includes a class identifier, a component identifier, an instance identifier, and component processing time information. Information relating to the processing order of the components that are executed in each instance is created, dependence relationships between the components are estimated, and a time series pattern including a component processing order is generated. |
| US08027858B2 |
Cycle planning tool for territory management
Electronically creating a schedule plan of events which replicates one or more previously scheduled events. A source date range is acquired into a memory of a machine. A set of previously scheduled events within the source date range is identified. A target date range is received through a user interface. At least a portion of the previously scheduled events is assigned to a date within the received target date range to create the schedule plan. The schedule plan is posted to a calendar. Another method creates a schedule plan on the basis of one or more search criteria used for identifying any match from a database. At least a portion of any matches are assigned a time slot within a target date range of a calendar program. |
| US08027856B2 |
Automated notification of part revisions for outside suppliers
Revision of a part specification document, such as a drawing, a part specification, or a bill of materials, prompts execution of an automated notification process. A unique part number associated with the revised part specification document is employed in searching open purchasing documents for purchase orders or request for quotes containing the part number. Electronic mail addresses for outside supplier contacts are kept in the database and linked to the supplier master of the open purchasing documents containing the part number. An electronic mail notification of the part specification document revision is generated and transmitted to each electronic mail address identified as being associated with an open purchasing document containing the subject part number. |
| US08027854B2 |
Method, system, and computer program product for interfacing with information sources
A method, system and computer program product for interfacing between information requesters and information sources. In an embodiment, information is obtained from one or more information sources in response to client requests. In an embodiment, information received from information sources is cached for future use, such as for future client requests. In a caching embodiment, information can also be received by monitoring traffic between an information source and a third party, and/or by proactively querying the information sources. Proactive queries can be generated to populate a cache and/or to update presently cached information. In a caching embodiment, the invention includes methods for determining whether to respond to a request for information out-of-cache and/or with real-time information from an information source. In an embodiment, the invention interfaces with airline availability information sources. The invention also includes, without limitation, methods for interfacing with information sources through proxies, methods for ordering and prioritizing queries, methods for processing queries in a distributed architecture, and time-out features. |
| US08027841B2 |
Centralized server obtaining security intelligence knowledge by analyzing VoIP bit-stream
Systems and methods provide security intelligence knowledge of network communications. Particularly, VoIP packetized data being communicated over the network, together with other types of data communications over the network, is monitored and detected. From the VoIP packetized data, select portions or streams of the VoIP packetized data are identified. The select packetized data is then matched to a fingerprint or other indicia that indicates that the data is suspect for security intelligence knowledge purposes. The matched data is translated for purposes of taking security precautions based on the content of the security intelligence knowledge so gleaned. |
| US08027838B2 |
Method and system for connecting characters, words and signs to a telecommunication number
This invention relates to the field of wireless data and instant communication technologies and describes a method and a system for connecting words, phrases, or symbols of any languages or multimedia expressions, within the content of transmitted data, to telecommunication codes. The presented method of the invention selects a group of Telecom Codes, defines Content Names, assigns the Content Names to the Telecom Codes, receives the transmitted content, and redirects the content to the connected Telecom Codes after detecting the existence of the Content Names. The presented system of the invention combines both software and hardware functions, with the hardware portion comprising a Processor, a Memory, a Display Device, an input Device, and a Communication Interface, and the software portion comprising an Operating System, a Client Data Management Module including Management Interface, a Database Software, a group of Telecom Codes as well as other connectable Telecom Codes configured in the Database Software, a group of defined Content Names configured in the Database Software, the Connection Relations and the Rules of Directing configured in the Database Software, an Analysis and Redirecting Module, and a Communication Interface. The presented method and system, of the invention solves the difficulties in memorizing and input cumbersomeness when long Telecom Codes of many digits are used, and leads to five new application developments; Information Portal, Multiple Content Names Connecting to Single Telecom Code, Multiple Telecom Codes Connecting to Single Content Name, Connection of Classified Advertisements, and Interactive Customer Relation Management (ICRM) and Supplier Relation Management (ISRM) System. |
| US08027831B2 |
Information display control apparatus and recording medium recording information display control program
An information display control apparatus includes an example sentence storage unit that stores a plurality of example sentences, an input unit that accepts a user's operation of inputting a string of characters, an example sentence search unit that, when a compound word consisting of a plurality of constituting words which are combinable and splittable is input via the input unit, searches the example sentences in the example sentence storage unit for an example sentence containing the compound word in a combined state where the plurality of constituting words are combined and an example sentence containing the compound word in a split state where the plurality of constituting words are split, and a display control unit that displays the example sentences searched by the example sentence search unit. |
| US08027829B2 |
System and method for integrated circuit emulation
A system and method for integrated circuit emulation. One embodiment provides a system for in-circuit emulation of an integrated circuit device with program-controlled components. The system includes an integrated circuit device with program-controlled components used in a system for normal operation. The integrated circuit device having at least one program-controlled emulation unit emulating at least one of the program-controlled components of the integrated circuit device, and at least one statistics memory for storing statistical data of the program-controlled emulation unit during emulation. |
| US08027828B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronizing processors in a hardware emulation system
A method, apparatus and method for compiling a hardware design for performing hardware emulation using synchronized processors is described. The apparatus comprises a plurality of processors defining a processor group for evaluating data regarding a hardware design and a synchronizer for synchronizing the operation of the processor group while emulating at least a portion of the hardware design. The method comprises providing a synchronization signal to a plurality of processors defining a processor group for evaluating data regarding a hardware design, receiving a ready signal from the processor group, and providing an execution signal to the processor group, where the execution signal causes the processor group to evaluate a submodel. The method for compiling the hardware design comprises converting at least one high-level construct into a sequence of operations and identifying a sequence of operations that comprise at least one conditional submodel. |
| US08027826B2 |
Evaluation device consisting of a logic simulator and a simulation result table
Evaluation by logic simulation can be favorably performed. A target packet determination part determines if a target packet which is a response packet that is to be transmitted with respect to a request packet that is received is in a simulation result table. When there is a target packet, a response packet output reads out and transmits the target packet from the simulation result table. On the other hand, when there is no target packet, a system controller forces a logic simulator to perform logic simulation regarding the received request packet, disconnects a connection with an opposing connection device, so as to perform reconnection after completion of the logic simulation by the logic simulator. A table generating part writes the request packet and the response packet obtained by the logic simulator into the simulation result table, the request packet and the response packet being made correspondent to each other. |
| US08027822B2 |
Interactive, internet supported health and fitness management system
A wellness system monitors the controlled progress of patients under surveillance and includes a server base station which is generally off-site, a web-site interface and a local station at the point-of-use, which is generally a health or fitness center. A unique data base is created for each user and goals and objectives may be set with progress monitored. Typically, the user will respond to a survey or questionnaire to populate his specific database. This is combined with a professional assessment and an automated measurement of vital statistics such as weight, blood pressure and body composition as measured at the local station. Other data may be entered manually such as height, age and the like. In a more comprehensive system the invention is designed to monitor other data such as cholesterol and blood glucose, as well. The locally input data may be updated at will by the user or on behalf of the user by professional personnel. |
| US08027821B2 |
Method for determining gene knockouts
A method for determining candidates for gene deletions and additions using a model of a metabolic network associated with an organism, the model includes a plurality of metabolic reactions defining metabolite relationships, the method includes selecting a bioengineering objective for the organism, selecting at least one cellular objective, forming an optimization problem that couples the at least one cellular objective with the bioengineering objective, and solving the optimization problem to yield at least one candidate. |
| US08027820B2 |
Method and apparatus for predicting the failure of a component
The invention provides a method and apparatus for predicting the failure of a component using a probabilistic model of a material's microstructural-based response to fatigue. The method predicts the component failure by a computer simulation of multiple incarnations of real material behavior, or virtual prototyping. The virtual prototyping simulates the effects of characteristics that include grain size, grain orientation, micro-applied stress and micro-yield strength that are difficult to simulate with real specimens. The invention provides an apparatus for predicting the response of a component to fatigue using the method. |
| US08027811B2 |
Processing of spectrometer pile-up events
In an energy dispersive spectrometer wherein event (particle/photon) detection is performed by counting events spaced by greater than a shaping time, events which are spaced by less than the shaping time are also collected and counted. These “combined events” are treated similarly to “single events” which are spaced by greater than the shaping time, and can be used to generate combined-event spectra for comparison and/or use with the conventional single-event spectra. The combined-event spectra can be compared to the single-event spectra to provide an indication of data quality; can be subtracted from the single-event spectra to remove artifacts, and/or can be deconvolved into a single-event spectrum to increase the resolution of the single-event spectrum. |
| US08027809B2 |
Home power management system
Systems and methods for managing power usage are provided. The system includes a programmable microprocessor, at least one input mechanism, a memory having instructions and/or other information, a display, at least one power consuming power device and a remote server. The systems allows the user of a power consuming device to receive instructions or other information from the server. The method includes using stored program instructions to generate power device related information on a display, collecting power device data representative of the electrical current or power consumed, connecting to a remote computing facility having a server, and providing the data to a computer remotely located from the central server. |
| US08027801B2 |
Multi drive test system for data storage device
Embodiments of the invention provide a data storage device test method and data storage device manufacture method which allow a tester to perform an operation test of plural data storage devices connected thereto in a shorter period of time. In one embodiment, an operation test of each of plural HDDs 81-84 connected to a tester is performed by making plural HDDs 81-84 execute commands received from the tester, wherein, during a waiting period when exchange stops between the tester and, for example, HDD 81 of which operation test is being executed, the tester executes the operation test of another HDD. Such a waiting period occurs, for example, before HDD 81 becomes ready to receive a command, before a data transfer is completed and before HDD 81 becomes ready to receive the subsequent command. By using this waiting period, the tester issues a command to, for example, HDD 82 if the HDD is ready to receive a command or transfers data to the HDD if data transfer is possible. |
| US08027799B2 |
Digital potentiometer system
A system or circuit for simulating a potentiometer, thermistor, or the like. A pulse stream, having a duty cycle which is varied as a changing pulse width or as a differing number of time slices per time period, may be input to the system. The pulse stream to a transistor or switch-like mechanism may allow a controlled connection of a fixed value resistor to a reference voltage or ground to provide various resultant values of impedance or resistance. A measuring circuit connected to the output of the system may determine a value which is of the fixed value resistor divided by the duty cycle of the pulse train effectively controlling the connection of the resistor to ground. One or more additional circuits may be connected in parallel to achieve greater accuracy. |
| US08027798B2 |
Digital thermal sensor test implementation without using main core voltage supply
A method and apparatus are provided for calibrating digital thermal sensors. A processor chip with a plurality of digital thermal sensors receives an analog voltage. A test circuit coupled to the processor chip receives a clock signal and a register coupled to the test circuit outputs a value on each clock cycle to a digital thermal sensor in the plurality of digital thermal sensors. The digital thermal sensor transitions an output state in response to the value of the register received in the digital thermal sensor equaling a temperature threshold of the digital thermal sensor. The value of the register at the point of transition is used to calibrate the digital thermal sensor. An incrementer increments the value of the register on each clock cycle in response to the value of the register received in the digital thermal sensor failing to equal the temperature threshold of the digital thermal sensor. |
| US08027796B2 |
S/N ratio measuring method in eddy current testing on internal surface of pipe or tube
A method in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of: separating an eddy current signal into an X-axis component and a Y-axis component to obtain signal waveform data of the respective components; excluding predetermined low-frequency components respectively from the respective signal waveform data thus obtained; calculating a noise voltage value V1 defined by the following Equation (1) based upon voltage values X(i) and Y(i) of the signal waveform data of the X-axis component and the Y-axis component from which the low-frequency components have been excluded; and calculating an S/N ratio by dividing a voltage value D of an eddy current signal corresponding to a predetermined artificial flaw by the noise voltage value V1: V 1 = π / n · ∑ i = 1 n ( X ( i ) 2 + Y ( i ) 2 ) 1 / 2 ( 1 ) where n represents the number of samplings of the signal waveform data. |
| US08027794B2 |
System and method for measuring properties of liquid in multiphase mixtures
This disclosure describes measuring properties of a multiphase mixture flowing in a pipe using probes with different sensitivity depths. By generating annular flow of the multiphase mixture in the pipe, the probes may be contacted with the liquid phase of the mixture flowing on an inner-wall of the pipe and apparent permittivities of the annular flow measured by the probes. These measured permittivities may be processed to determine liquid fraction of the annular flow and water-in-liquid ratio of the liquid phase of the annular flow. |
| US08027791B2 |
Self-improving classification system
A self-improving classification system classifies specimens based on class identifiers. The system stores specimen profiles in a database that is updated with additional specimen profiles and with follow-up data that corrects classification of specimens that were initially incorrectly classified. Algorithms use the updated database to discover new class identifiers, modify thresholds of known class identifiers, and drop unnecessary class identifiers to improve classification of specimens. |
| US08027788B2 |
Navigation device and evaluation value setting method
The present invention provides a navigation device that improves the usability. The navigation device includes an evaluation setting unit that generates position information having first evaluation value by setting an evaluation value selected by a user so that the evaluation value corresponds to position information, a position information extraction unit that extracts, of the position information having the first evaluation value, the position information having the first evaluation value corresponding to the evaluation value desired by the user, and a display control unit that displays a position information screen having evaluation value on which the position information having the first evaluation value extracted by the position information extraction unit is reflected on a display unit. |
| US08027787B2 |
Vehicle navigation system and method
A vehicle navigation system and method. The system includes a unit located in a vehicle and coupled to a first network, a traffic information center coupled to a second network, and a server coupled to the first and second networks. A trip plan is generated according to navigation information, vehicle coordinates and trip request information received from the unit, and road information received from the traffic information center. The trip plan is sent to the unit for presentation. The trip plan includes trip overview information and voice prompts associated with one or more landmarks. A trip plan may be a tourist trip plan. |
| US08027783B2 |
Device for guiding an aircraft along a flight trajectory
An aircraft guidance device includes a flight computer that formulates all guidance orders for the aircraft, irrespective of a selected guidance mode. |
| US08027782B2 |
Pattern recognition for random misfire
A control system includes a jerk determination module and a misfire confirmation module. The jerk determination module determines a jerk of a crankshaft associated with a firing event in an engine. The misfire confirmation module selectively confirms that a misfire detected in the engine is valid based on the jerk. |
| US08027777B2 |
Fuel supply system and method for supplying fuel
A fuel supply system supplies composite fuel containing alcohol and gasoline to multiple cylinders of an internal combustion engine. The composite fuel includes main-fuel and sub-fuel. The sub-fuel is lower than main-fuel in concentration of alcohol. Each of multiple first fuel injection valves is provided to each of the cylinders for injecting fuel. Each of multiple second fuel injection valves is provided to each of the cylinders for injecting fuel. A fuel inlet portion supplies at least sub-fuel to each of the first fuel injection valves and each of the second fuel injection valves. A selector control unit selects one of main-fuel and sub-fuel supplied through the fuel inlet portion to each of the first fuel injection valves. |
| US08027773B2 |
Methods and systems for automated control of vehicle braking
Method and systems for automated anticipatory braking of a vehicle are provided. In one embodiment, the system comprises a vehicle accelerator movable between a maximum speed position and a minimum speed position, and a sensor configured to determine the rate of travel of the accelerator toward the minimum speed position. The system further comprises a controller configured to utilize the rate of travel of the accelerator to determine if a rapid braking condition is desired, and to provide a control signal to apply increased negative torque to the drive wheels of the vehicle prior to the user applying the vehicle brake. In some embodiments, driver history and/or other vehicle conditions are taken into account. In some embodiments, negative torque is applied via varying of valve timing, control of combustion chamber intake, control of exhaust backpressure, control of motor energy, and/or shifting of a transmission to a numerically higher speed ratio. |
| US08027771B2 |
Method and apparatus to monitor an output speed sensor during operation of an electro-mechanical transmission
There is provided a method to monitor a sensing system adapted to monitor an output of an electro-mechanical transmission. This includes monitoring rotational speed of a wheel operatively connected to a driveline operatively connected to the output of the electro-mechanical transmission. A first expected output of the transmission is determined based upon the output of the first sensor. A second expected output of the transmission is determined based upon a rotational speed of a torque-generative device operatively connected to the transmission. The first and second expected outputs and an output of the sensing system adapted to monitor the output of the electro-mechanical transmission are compared. |
| US08027769B2 |
Device and method for controlling a vehicle flap or a vehicle door
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for controlling a vehicle flap or a vehicle door, the apparatus having a housing, a first end of which is pivotably coupled to one of the following: a vehicle flap or a vehicle door and a vehicle frame, and a second end of which is pivotably coupled to the other one of the following: a vehicle flap or a vehicle door and a vehicle frame, a drive control device which is arranged on the housing, and at least one sensor which is in the form of an acceleration sensor. An abovementioned apparatus and a method, in which simple and reliable movement as well as detection and evaluation of the movement may be ensured, is provided by virtue of the acceleration sensor being arranged on the housing, and the acceleration sensor detecting the acceleration of the vehicle flap or vehicle door. |
| US08027767B2 |
Method for controlling a vehicle steering system
Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle steering system are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes receiving a desired front road wheel angle signal at a controller. The desired front road wheel angle signal is indicative of a desired front road wheel angle of vehicle wheels. The method further includes receiving a parking assist request signal at the controller indicating a parking assist operational mode is desired. The method further includes generating a desired motor torque signal for controlling a power steering motor in the parking assist operational mode utilizing the controller, based on the desired front road wheel angle signal and the parking assist request signal. |
| US08027765B2 |
Vehicle stabilizer system
A stabilizer system for a vehicle that includes a stabilizer bar and an actuator for changing stiffness of the stabilizer bar, an electric current to be supplied to an electric motor that is a drive source of the actuator is changed based on various parameters. The supply current is made smaller in a situation in which an operational direction of the actuator is toward a neutral position, than in another situation. Further, the supply current is made smaller with an increase in a distance of the operational position of the actuator from the neutral position. Moreover, the supply current is made larger with an increase in a steering speed. In detail, when the supply current is determined by multiplying a basic supply current by a control gain, the control gain is set to change depending upon the above-indicated parameter, whereby the supply current is changed based on the parameters. |
| US08027763B2 |
OBD II readiness monitor tool apparatus and method
An OBDII device method and system includes an inexpensive, user friendly way to determine a vehicle's readiness for emissions testing and if repairs were successful. An audible and/or visual indicator is provided to alert the repair shop technician or driver that the vehicle has completed its drive cycle and may now be tested for compliance with state and federal emissions laws or indicate that the emissions related repairs were successful. |
| US08027761B1 |
Local positioning system for automated lawn mowers
An improved local positioning system (10) utilizing two fixed sonic transmitters (16A,16B) and an omni directional audio receptor (20) mounted on an automated lawn mower (12). Distance between each audio transmitter and the mower is measured by transmitting an RF trigger pulse (88) from the mower to each of the sonic transmitters. Upon being triggered, the first transmitter (16A) sends out an audio pulse which is received by an audio sensor, condenser microphone (22) and the time it takes is measured by a counter (62). Likewise the second transmitter (16B) is later triggered and the time it takes that pulse to be received is measured by the counter (62). The counts are converted to distances and the x-y coordinate which is the location of the mower is calculated by simple trigonometry. The location data which is relative to the sonic transmitters (16A,16B) is available to the microprocessor computer board (72) which utilizes the information to output control signals to a steering and control interface (74). A temperature sensor (76) is also read by the computer to adjust the distance calculation according to those conditions. With the location information, the computer (72) can be programmed to record a path as the mower (12) moves by manual remote control or operate in automatic mode to follow a previously recorded path. |
| US08027759B2 |
Fuel cell vehicle system
A fuel cell vehicle system includes: a propulsion motor capable of driving a vehicle; a fuel cell which generates electric power by supplying a reactant gas to give an electrochemical reaction; an energy storage device which is charged by a generated output of the fuel cell and regenerative electric power of the propulsion motor; an output control device which controls an output current of the fuel cell; and a control device which calculates the regenerative electric power which can be generated by a regenerative operation of the propulsion motor as well as a chargeable power which can be charged to the energy storage device, controls the output control device so that the output current of the fuel cell is restricted when the chargeable power is less than the regenerative electric power, and controls the output control device so that restriction on the output current of the fuel cell is canceled when the chargeable power is equal to or greater than the regenerative electric power. |
| US08027756B2 |
Integrated approach navigation system, method, and computer program product
Systems, computer program products, and methods for displaying navigation performance based flight path deviation information during the final approach segment to a runway and during landing of non-precision flight modes are provided. Improved graphical depictions of navigation performance based flight path deviation information provide pilots and flight crew members with clear, concise displays of the dynamic relationship between ANP and RNP, mode and aspect of flight and related procedures, intersecting flight paths, and current actual flight path deviation from a predefined flight path during the final approach segment to a runway and during landing. For example, an enhanced IAN display may include NPS-type deviation scales to show RNP/ANP relationships and predetermined RNP markers to alert the pilots and flight crew members that the FMC has transitioned from an NPS display for RNAV (LNAV/VNAV) flight procedures to an enhanced IAN display for a non-precision (non-xLS) approach and/or landing. |
| US08027755B2 |
Transportation vehicle system and method for assigning travel path to transportation vehicle
From among a plurality of interconnected segments of a travel route of a transportation vehicle, an operator manually assigns a plurality of segments that form a path for the transportation vehicle to actually travel, such assignment is received, a travel instruction is generated in accordance with the plurality of assigned segments, and the transportation vehicle is instructed to travel in accordance with the travel instruction. |
| US08027754B2 |
On-vehicle device
An on-vehicle device with a storage unit that includes a transfer unit that transfers data stored in the storage unit to another on-vehicle device of equal capability that is also equipped with a storage unit. In the on-vehicle device, the transfer unit is configured by a data transfer jack provided to each of the on-vehicle device and the another on-vehicle device, and a data transfer cable for connecting the transfer jacks. |
| US08027753B2 |
Microscope control unit
A microscope control unit which is composed of a bracket-shaped support frame having a support area, a pillar standing vertically erect on the support area, and a support arm, which emanates from the upper end of the pillar and is aligned parallel to the support area. |
| US08027749B2 |
Handling of patient's own medicine systems, methods, and devices
Systems, methods, and devices are described related to the assignment and management of patient-specific bins. A dispensing device at a healthcare facility includes a number of bins for storage of medical supplies, with some of the bins designated as patient-specific bins allocated to be assigned to patients for storage of their medications or certain other supplies. A central server computer system, in communication with a computer of the dispensing device, may monitor and assign current and future patient-specific use of the bins for the dispensing device. The assignment and management of patient-specific bins may be performed by devices distributed through the system. |
| US08027748B2 |
Medicament container
The invention relates to a method and system that utilizes one or more cassettes or trays that hold medicaments for dispensing. In one embodiment, a method for dispensing includes receiving a signal at a medicament container authorizing the medicament container to dispense a medicament unit contained therein; unlocking an outlet port of the medicament container in response to the signal; dispensing the medicament unit through the outlet port in response to the signal; and locking the outlet port after the medicament unit is dispensed. |
| US08027745B1 |
Non-linear, animated, interactive assembly guide and method for controlling production
A non-linear, animated, interactive assembly guide, and a method and system for creating, using, and managing non-linear, animated, interactive assembly guides to facilitate the assembly of one or more articles of manufacture. The method includes identifying the parts, tools, and test fixtures necessary to create a particular article; creating a three-dimensional graphic representing each said part, tool and test fixture; annotating said graphics; combining said graphics according to a sequence to create a non-linear, animated, interactive assembly guide; displaying said assembly guide where an assembler can observe it while assembling an article; and managing access to said guides. |
| US08027741B2 |
System and method of improved kalman filtering for estimating the state of a dynamic system
Embodiments include systems and methods of estimating at least one state of a modeled dynamic system. In particular, in one embodiment, an observer such as an extended Kalman filter is used to estimate the state of a modeled dynamic system. A covariance matrix associated with state variables of the observer is periodically checked for compliance with a specified condition, e.g., positive definiteness. If the matrix deviates from the specified condition, the matrix is set to a specified value. |
| US08027739B2 |
Medical device having a glass coating and method therefor
A medical device having at least one glass coating between a first and second component. The glass coating forms a portion of a strong, hydrothermally stable joint between components or provides insulation, or tailors an impedance and/or capacitance of an electrode. |
| US08027736B2 |
Lead electrode for use in an MRI-safe implantable medical device
A medical lead is configured to be implanted into a patient's body and comprises a lead body, and an electrode coupled to the lead body. The electrode comprises a first section configured to contact the patient's body, and a second section electrically coupled to the first section and configured to be capacitively coupled to the patient's body. |
| US08027732B2 |
Integrated phase-shift power control transmitter for use with implantable device and method for use of the same
Systems and methods for efficiently transmitting power using a high frequency (e.g., RF) telemetry transmitter are provided. The telemetry transmitter may include a fixed clock source (which may provide a fixed clock signal), telemetry phase shift circuitry (which may include switching circuitry and phase shifting circuitry), and a push-pull network. The telemetry phase shift circuitry generates a phase shifted clock signal that is phase shifted with respect to the fixed clock signal. The fixed and phase shifted clock signals may drive the switching circuitry to produce a high frequency signal that is passed through the push-pull network. The power or magnitude of the high frequency signal is based on the phase delay between the fixed clock signal and the phase shifted clock signal. |
| US08027730B2 |
Systems and methods for treating disorders of the central nervous system by modulation of brain networks
The present invention involves methods and systems for treatment of brain disorders using neuromodulation of brain networks. Treatment of one or more brain networks associated with a brain disorder is realized with a consideration of network dynamics and coupling effects such as indirect stimulation of non-target regions. A brain modulation system (BMS) increases, decreases, or otherwise modulates network regional activity in a differential manner. Therapy may aim to maintain electrical or chemical (relative) characteristics within a specified range. Therapy is initiated/adjusted using network functional imaging data including the use of brain network modeling. Linking rules may guide in the setting and subsequent adjusting of the therapy related to regions of brain network. Novel techniques are described for deterring the emergence of neural adaptation and of unintentional/indirect modulation arising from connectivity between network structures. |
| US08027729B2 |
Micro integrated cardiac pacemaker and distributed cardiac pacing system
A micro integrated cardiac pacemaker includes a control unit for outputting a control signal according to cardiograph information, heart stimulating means for stimulating heart tissue in response to the control signal, cardiograph information extracting means for extracting cardiograph information and outputting it to the control unit, and a power supply unit for supplying drive power. The power supply unit is a biological fuel cell that takes out electrons by oxidation of a biological fuel. The biological fuel cell includes an anode and a cathode. An oxidase of a biological fuel and a mediator are immobilized on the cathode. Blood and/or body fluid are used as an electrolytic solution, and a biological fuel and oxygen in the blood and/or the fluid are used. The biological fuel cell is attached to the end of a catheter and implanted into the heart, and the catheter is withdrawn, without incising the breast. |
| US08027728B2 |
High power implantable battery with improved safety and method of manufacture
A power control circuit for an implantable medical device is presented. The power control circuit includes a first high rate cell, a second high rate cell, at least one resistive load, and at least one control circuit. The at least one resistive load is connected between the first and the second high rate cells. The at least one control circuit is coupled to the first and the second high rate cells. |
| US08027726B2 |
Cardiac rhythm management system with exercise test interface
This document discusses, among other things, cardiac rhythm management systems, devices, and methods providing an exercise test interface. A patient exercise episode is identified using at least one predetermined criteria. Data associated with the episode is obtained. A summary of the episode is displayed for a user. The displayed summary includes at least one prognostic indicator obtained from the data associated with the episode. Examples of prognostic indicators include, among other things, ectopic beats, runs of ectopic beats, rate of decrease of heart rate during a post-exercise recovery portion of the episode, a maximum attained heart rate for comparison to a maximum age-predicted heart rate, as well as other prognostic indicators. |
| US08027725B2 |
Capture verification using an evoked response reference
A method and system for verifying capture in the heart involves the use of pacing artifact templates. One or more pacing artifact templates characterizing a post pace artifact signal associated with a particular pace voltage or range of voltages are provided. A pacing artifact template is canceled from a cardiac signal sensed following a pacing pulse. Capture is detected by comparing the pacing artifact canceled cardiac signal to an evoked response reference. Fusion/pseudofusion detection involves determining a correlation between a captured response template and a sensed cardiac signal. |
| US08027724B2 |
Hypertension diagnosis and therapy using pressure sensor
An example relates to a method for sensing a pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and providing a sensed PAP signal, detecting an abnormal blood pressure (BP) condition using information from the sensed PAP signal, delivering a pacing energy to a heart, and automatically altering at least one pacing characteristic in response to the detected abnormal BP condition. The detecting an abnormal BP condition can include detecting various forms of hypertension or hypotension. The automatically altering the at least one pacing characteristic can include automatically altering at least one of a pacing rate, a pacing waveform, an atriventricular (AV) delay, an interventricular (VV) delay, a pacing mode, or a pacing site. The method can also include delivering vagal nerve stimulation and automatically altering the vagal nerve stimulation in response to the detected abnormal BP condition. The detecting the abnormal BP condition can also include using a sensed auxiliary physiological parameter. |
| US08027722B1 |
Multifocal PVC detection for prevention of arrhythmias
Multifocal PVCs are detected and prevented. If the PVCs being detected have variable coupling intervals and significantly different morphologies, they are deemed multifocal and a prevention therapy is activated for a short period of time. In another embodiment, multifocality and the need for prevention therapy are determined based on morphology alone. Feedback mechanisms are used to adjust thresholds for coupling interval and morphology if the PVCs are considered not multifocal, but ventricular arrhythmia still occurs. In an embodiment, only morphologies are compared. |
| US08027719B2 |
Method and apparatus for delivering defibrillation shock therapy while reducing electrical dispersion due to ventricular conduction disorder
A method and device for delivering defibrillation shock therapy in patients having an inter-ventricular conduction disorder is presented. Ventricular resynchronization therapy is employed to reduce the dispersion of ventricular depolarization which takes place due to the conduction disorder and reduces the safety margin of shocks delivered synchronously with ventricular beats. The method may be employed in the treatment of atrial or ventricular tachyarrhythmias. |
| US08027713B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and image processing method
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus having control unit for fetching a plurality of image data and obtaining an image by a calculation. The control unit performs an unwrap processing to a plurality of regions for removing a main value of a phase rotation amount so as to obtain a distribution diagram of a phase rotation amount caused by magnetostatic unevenness, obtains a plurality of evaluation values based on the phase value between a plurality of regions, selects a desired evaluation value based on the phase value from the plurality of evaluation values, and adjusts the phase values between the regions in accordance with the desired evaluation value. |
| US08027700B2 |
Method and system for forwarding communications
A method includes receiving an identification value from a wireless beacon at a mobile device when the mobile device is within a detection area of the wireless beacon. The method also includes determining whether the wireless beacon is a recognized wireless beacon based on the identification value using a look up table accessible to the mobile device. An alternate communication address is selected from the look up table based on the identification value received from the wireless beacon, and communications addressed to the mobile device are redirected to the alternate communication address. |
| US08027697B2 |
Public safety access point (PSAP) selection for E911 wireless callers in a GSM type system
Public safety access points are selected in a wireless network for E911 calls based on ESRD substitution when ESRKs are not being used. The present invention was conceived as an ESRK workaround solution to implement Phase II of the E911 rules from the starting point of a Phase I implementation. ESRKs, ESRDs or ESRVs are initially obtained and managed for each PSAP in a particular carrier's area. Then, Phase I processes are modified to wait to see if Phase II GSM location information will be reported in a timely manner (e.g., within a second or two or so) before committing to a default selection of a particular PSAP based on information available (e.g., based on the location of a serving cell site). |
| US08027694B2 |
Method and system for messaging across cellular networks and a public data network
A computer program product for instant message communication in a wireless and non-wireless environment. A message is sent from a mobile unit device over a wireless communication network. The message includes a destination address, information associated with the mobile unit device's user, message content and message address. If, according to information previously stored for the mobile unit device's user at the instant message system, the destination address is associated with an instant message function, the associated instant message function is executed at the instant message system using the information contained in the message content, if required as determined by the associated instant message function. If, according to information previously stored for the mobile unit device's user, the destination address is associated with an instant message user name, an instant message is created according to the message content and is sent to the user with the associated instant message user name. |
| US08027685B2 |
Terminal device, and in-zone cell checking method and cell re-selection method thereof
A terminal device including a radio unit that adopts code division multiple access (cdma), which device omits unnecessary cell search by extending an in-zone cell monitoring cycle and a re-selection cycle in a case where under fixed conditions during cell search, when a physical layer and an RRC of the radio unit determine that a mobile phone remains still. |
| US08027681B2 |
Method and apparatus to allow hand-off from a macrocell to a femtocell
A method for hand-off of a CDMA access mobile from a macrocell to a femtocell is disclosed. The method includes tracking each femtocell which mobile stations have allowed access incorporating a mobile station identification for each of the mobile stations. The method continues with storing the mobile station identification for each femtocell. This may occur in a database or similar structure. The message continues on with requesting a hand-off from the macrocell to the femtocell via PN offset and the method concludes with querying all femtocells that have that PN offset that are within range of the macrocell's neighbor list. If only one femtocell fits that criteria the method is done. If more than one femtocell fits that criteria, a priority list may be set up based at least in part on the number of times and/or frequency that the mobile station has been allowed access on the femtocell. The method could include allocating resources for all high priority femtocells and cleaning up resources for the femtocells that do not send a hand-off complete message. |
| US08027679B2 |
Secure intra- and inter-domain handover
To achieve a secure and fast handover in a distributed mobile communication environment (10), the control functionality is lying at the borderline between wireless and wire-bound communication network elements, and it is proposed to, firstly, execute a mutual authentication between a mobile device (26) and a new access point (14) using security context information previously transmitted to the new access point. Then, after successful mutual authentication, a handover will be executed from the current access point (12) to the new access point (14). |
| US08027673B2 |
Desense with adaptive control
A method and apparatus for reducing degradation in the sensitivity of a receiver in a mobile phone are disclosed. The sensitivity of the receiver in the mobile phone is monitored. When the sensitivity degrades below a predetermined threshold, it is determined which feature of the mobile phone is causing the detected degradation. The operation of the feature is changed to reduce the amount of degradation produced by the feature. |
| US08027667B2 |
System and method for wireless coupon transactions
A system and method for delivering coupon messages to a consumer wireless device utilizes a fixed communication device that functions as a base station for the consumer wireless device. The fixed communication device has limited coverage zone. When the consumer wireless device comes within the coverage zone of the fixed communication device, the consumer wireless device selects the fixed communication device as the preferred base station. Upon completion of registration, the fixed communication device transmits one or more coupon messages to the consumer wireless device. The consumer may enter the associated retail establishment and complete a transaction using the received coupon message. The consumer wireless device may be viewed manually, or the display scanned or read electronically to accept the coupon message in the retail establishment. |
| US08027666B2 |
Method and system for authenticating terminal subscriber identity module in IP multimedia domain
A method for authenticating a terminal subscriber identity module in an IM domain includes: sending an AV request to an HSS by the S-CSCF; sending a request message for acquiring the AV to a home device of the UE upon receiving the AV request by the HSS; allocating an SQN for the UE upon receiving the request message, generating an AV based on the SQN, and sending the AV to the HSS by the HLR; sending the AV to the S-CSCF by the HSS; and authenticating the terminal subscriber identity module of the UE according to the AV by the S-CSCF. A system for authenticating a terminal subscriber identity module in an IM domain includes: UE, an S-CSCF, a home device of the UE and an HSS. The invention enables a USIM subscriber to use IM services without changing the USIM card. |
| US08027664B2 |
Media distribution method for mobile communication device
A media distribution system includes a service provider and at least a mobile terminal. The service provider includes at least two district servers which communicate with each other through Internet. The mobile terminal is communicatively linked to at least one of the district servers for wirelessly communicating with a mobile phone of a registered user through a mobile telecommunication network, wherein the service provider forms a communication link for allowing the registered user to obtain a media information from the district server through Internet via the mobile phone of the registered user, wherein the mobile terminal obtains the media information from the district server and transmits the media information to the mobile phone of the registered user through the mobile telecommunication network so as to distribute the media information via the mobile phone of the registered user. |
| US08027663B2 |
Wireless methods and devices employing steganography
A wireless device includes a data capture system, a radiant-energy data transmission system, and a steganographic encoder that hides a plural-bit auxiliary code within data captured by the data capture system prior to its transmission by the data transmission system. An illustrative system, operable with audio input data, is a cell phone that steganographically encodes a user's voice. In some arrangements the steganographic encoding depends on data wirelessly received from a remote location. A variety of other arrangements and systems are also detailed. |
| US08027659B1 |
Configuration of alert messages for emergency alert system broadcast
An Emergency Alert System (EAS) alert message can be provided based on a configuration established by a subscriber of a mobile device as well as a characteristic of the mobile device. The subscriber can interact with an interface provided by the network provider to establish the configuration. Additionally, the mobile device can provide the characteristic such as the location of the mobile device to the network provider. The network provider can use the configuration established by the subscriber and/or the characteristic of the mobile device to determine which alert message to provide to the mobile device. |
| US08027658B2 |
Enhanced emergency service provider
A service enhancement to emergency-911 capability involves a new entity termed an EESP which implements and operates a system that communicates subscriber-specific emergency information portably linked to subscriber identity in a timely fashion to emergency care providers. |
| US08027657B2 |
Sampling mixer with asynchronous clock and signal domains
A mixer 1100 with a plurality of signal paths typically requires separate clock generating hardware for each signal path. However, the redundancy of having multiple clock generating hardware significantly increases power consumption and integrated circuit area when the mixer 1100 is integrated into silicon. A method and apparatus 1125 containing a circuit for generating a set of clock signals that can be shared by the different signal paths is presented. Advantage is taken of the significant capacitance difference between different sampling capacitors in the mixer and the superposition property. |
| US08027651B2 |
Method and apparatus for removing DC offset in a direct conversion receiver
A method and apparatus for correcting direct current (DC) offset errors of a received signal in a direct conversion receiver (DCR) are provided. DC offset correction algorithms are incorporated into the DCR, each algorithm being optimized for a particular receive signal operating environment. The DC offset correction algorithms remove DC offset errors in baseband In-phase and Quadrature-phase signals received within the direct conversion receiver baseband signal path. Individual DC offset correction algorithms are selected for use as determined by a signal quality estimator component. A DC offset correction component of the direct conversion receiver determines an appropriate DC offset correction algorithm suited for a particular operating environment. A criterion for a signal quality estimate is set to control transitioning between DCOC algorithms. A dual threshold strategy may be adopted to transition between one DC offset correction algorithm and another DC offset correction algorithm to provide hysteresis. |
| US08027650B2 |
Iterative multi-stage detection technique for a diversity receiver having multiple antenna elements
A system and method for processing signals are disclosed. The method may include spreading N replicas of a received signal with N orthogonal sequences. A scrambled set of N channel signals may be generated based on the spread N replicas of the received signal. M replicas of a received signal may be spread with the N orthogonal sequences. A scrambled set of M channel signals may be generated based on the spread M replicas of the received signal. The generated scrambled set of N channel signals and said generated scrambled set of M channel signals may be multiplexed onto K multiplexed channel signals on a receiver chain, where M, N and K are integers. The spread N replicas of the received signal may be combined. The combined spread N replicas of the received signal may be scrambled. |
| US08027646B1 |
Communication system and method for filtering and attenuating a signal between an antenna system and a base station
A communication system is supplied for filtering and attenuating a receive signal in between a bi-directional antenna system and a bi-directional base station system. In the communication system, a first circulator is configured to receive a receive signal from a first bi-directional link coupled to the bi-directional antenna system and circulate the receive signal to a first uni-directional link. A signal processing system is configured to receive the receive signal from the first uni-directional link, filter and attenuate the receive signal, and transfer the receive signal to a second uni-directional link. A second circulator is configured to receive the receive signal from the second uni-directional link, circulate the receive signal to a second bi-directional link coupled to the bi-directional base station system, receive a transmit signal from the second bi-directional link, and circulate the transmit signal to a third uni-directional link. Additionally, the first circulator is configured to receive the transmit signal from the third uni-directional link and circulate the transmit signal to the first bi-directional link coupled to the bi-directional antenna system. |
| US08027645B2 |
Systems and methods for automatically tuning a frequency modulator in a mobile device
A method for automatically tuning a frequency modulator in a mobile device is described. A frequency band is automatically scanned using a frequency modulation (FM) receiver. The FM receiver is integrated as a part of the mobile device. Quality associated with channels of the frequency band is analyzed to identify at least one available channel at a first frequency. The first frequency is assigned to an FM modulator. The FM modulator is integrated as a part of the mobile device. A determination is made whether a command to scan for a second frequency is received. If the command to scan for the second frequency is not received, a signal on the first frequency is transmitted by the FM modulator. |
| US08027639B2 |
System and method for secure short-range communication
A system and method for enabling secure short-range communication. A close proximity transmitter is used that is designed with a relatively poor radiator as compared to a conventional transmitter supporting conventional transmissions such as mobile phone communications, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth communication. The close-proximity transmitter and the conventional transmitter are selectively activated based on a communication mode. |
| US08027637B1 |
Single frequency wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for communicating between devices is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises one or more communication devices coordinating transmissions of data packets to function as an access point with respect to a first mobile station and a second station wirelessly communicatively coupled to the one or more communication devices, and the one or more communication devices wirelessly transmitting a first packet and a second packet to the first mobile station and the second mobile station respectively at different time or at time when the transmissions overlap, at least partially, based on whether transmissions of the first and second packets would interfere with each other. |
| US08027635B2 |
Relaying third party wireless communications through a portable wireless system
A portable wireless system is described. The portable wireless system has a controller that is operable to selectively configure the portable wireless system as a personal electronic appliance or a third party wireless repeater that is configured to relay wireless signals between a third party electronic appliance and a wireless network. Accordingly, the portable wireless system (e.g., a cellular telephone, a pager or a personal digital assistant) may act as a wireless repeater for third party wireless communications when the portable wireless system otherwise is not in use. In this way, the portable wireless system increases the utilization of existing wireless network infrastructures (e.g., a cellular telephone network) by making one or more unused wireless channels available to other devices. A novel incentives-based business model that encourages owners of portable electronic appliances to fully utilize existing wireless network capacity also is described. |
| US08027634B1 |
RFID system for subscription services with multiple subscribers and/or devices
The RFID system of the present invention provides activation of a subscription based device wirelessly using a RFID system. The system for activating of a user for a subscription service comprises a first secure RFID sensor associated with a subscription-based device and a second secure RFID sensor associated with a user device. The first and second secure RFID sensors communicate with one another to establish activation of the user device. For example, the first sensor can receive an authentication value associated with the subscription service from the second RFID sensor. After activation, the subscription-based device can broadcast the subscription service to the user device. Alternatively, the user device can also have a capability to verify its separate or related subscription such as WiFi, WiMAX, GSM, CDMA or other wireless-based connectivity service. Also, the user device associated with the subscription-based service can be activated only when a secure RFID sensor is within a predetermined range of the user device. |
| US08027629B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming system
An image forming apparatus of the present invention is arranged so that plural sheets of paper are conveyed to a main conveying path and a sub-conveying path at the time of double-side image formation. In performing double-side image formation jobs on plural sets of sheets of paper, a sequence control section makes a change of sequences for image formation so that a post-process for the previous job can be performed during image formation of the next set. With this, in performing double-side image formation jobs on plural sets of sheets of paper in an image forming system constituted by an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus, images can be formed in succession without suspending image formation of the next set to allow post-processing time for the previous set. This makes it possible to achieve a system with high job efficiency. |
| US08027625B2 |
Developer supporting member, developing roller, developing device, and image forming apparatus
A developer supporting member includes a supporting layer for supporting developer. The supporting layer has a corona discharge resistivity of a specific value. The supporting layer is formed of an elastic layer and a surface layer. The surface layer includes a surface treated with a urethane solution. |
| US08027623B2 |
Developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus having a discharge port facing a section of a transport member without a screw part
A developing device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus of a premix developing system, with which developer splashed by the transport member is not discharged from the discharge port, fluctuations of the amount of developer discharged to the outside are not produced, and the output image quality is stable. The transport member comprises, in a part thereof in the longitudinal direction, a cutaway region where the screw part is not formed. The discharge port faces the cutaway region, and is formed such that the longitudinal length thereof is smaller than that of the cutaway region. A wall part, which protrudes toward the interior of the transport route from a partition wall where the discharge port is formed, is then installed upstream of the transport route in relation to the discharge port and within the range of the cutaway region. |
| US08027622B2 |
Toner replenishing apparatus and image forming apparatus
A toner replenishing apparatus capable of, without increasing a drive torque for rotating the toner replenishing container, scraping toner adhered in a toner replenishing container to reduce the quantity of residual toner that remains unfed from the toner replenishing container, is provided. The toner replenishing apparatus includes a toner replenishing container for replenishing toner stored therein to a developing section by rotation of the toner replenishing container, a magnetic body movably provided in the toner replenishing container, and a magnet disposed closely to an outer peripheral surface of the toner replenishing container and attracting the magnetic body with a magnetic force. |
| US08027620B2 |
Image formation apparatus and developer cartridge
The invention provides an image formation apparatus, to which developing devices, each having an opening, and developer cartridges for respectively supplying a developing agent to the openings of the developing devices are mountable. The apparatus includes: developing device shutters, each configured to open and close a respective one of the openings of the developing devices mounted to the apparatus; and a link mechanism configured to move the developing device shutters in linking with each other. |
| US08027619B2 |
Toner container having a toner agitating function unit with a tubular member having axially spaced ring pieces and openings between the ring pieces
A toner container is mounted to an image forming apparatus in a state of containing toners. The toner container includes: a container body for containing toners; and an agitating unit provided in the container body for agitating the toners. The agitating unit includes: a cylindrical member having a cylindrical peripheral wall and rotating about an axis of cylinder; an opening formed in the cylindrical peripheral wall for allowing the toners to pass through; and a conveying section for conveying the toners in a direction of the axis of the cylindrical member. |
| US08027616B2 |
Belt unit and image forming apparatus
A belt unit includes: a pair of roller members spaced from and opposing each other in a first direction, each of the roller members having an axis extending in a second direction; an endless belt extending around the roller members; a plurality of transfer members arranged along the first direction between the roller members and spaced from one another so as to be enclosed by the endless belt; and a frame that rotatably supports the roller members and the transfer members. The frame includes: a pair of resin side frames spaced from each other in the second direction, each of the resin side frames extending in the first direction; and a resin bridging beam extending between the side frames. |
| US08027609B2 |
Image forming apparatus for counting images formed by the apparatus
An apparatus having an operative mode and a non-operative mode with a method for counting events with a volatile counter and a non-volatile electronic memory having a number N of memory areas, includes counting events with the volatile counter, when the count value has been incremented by a predetermined number M or when the apparatus passes into the non-operative mode, saving the count value to one of the memory areas, with cycling switching of the memory area into which the count value is written; and when the apparatus passes into the operative mode, initializing the counter with the maximum of the count values stored in the N memory areas. |
| US08027602B2 |
Belt feeding device and image heating device with setting means for switching inclination angle of supporting member
A belt feeding apparatus includes an endless belt and a supporting member for rotatably supporting the belt. The belt feeding apparatus further includes a setting member for setting, when the belt is deviated from a widthwisely normal zone, an inclination angle of the supporting member to a return angle to return the belt toward the normal zone. The setting member also sets, when a predetermined time elapses from the belt returning to the normal zone, the inclination angle of the supporting member to a balance angle to keep the belt in the zone. |
| US08027600B2 |
Apparatus for image formation
An apparatus for image formation comprises a fixing member, a pressing member, a heating member, a sensor, and a controller. The heating member heats at least one of the fixing and pressing members during a heating operation. The sensor senses the surface temperature of at least one of the fixing and pressing members. If the surface temperature sensed by the sensor exceeds a threshold temperature, the controller stops the heating operation of the heating member. If the sensed temperature drops below the threshold temperature, the controller starts the heating operation of the heating member. The controller includes a period measuring unit for measuring the switching period at which the controller switches the starting and stopping of the heating operation of the heating member. The controller restrains the heating of the fixing and pressing members if the switching period exceeds a reference time. |
| US08027592B2 |
Infrared remote control signaling generator
An IR signaling generator and method divides the functionality of generation between software and hardware to provide a flexible way to generate IR signals, such as remote control signals. The hardware includes a clock generator for generating a carrier clock signal and a data clock signal, a buffer memory that is loaded with instructions representing an encoded data sequence; a control circuit, and a transmitter including a modulator. Each instruction contains an on/off value that is to be modulated with the data clock signal and a pulse duration value that indicates how long the on/off value is to modulate the clock signal. Using the data clock signal, the control circuit measures the amount of time the on/off value modulates the clock signal and causes the buffer to advance to the next instruction in the sequence when the measured amount of time is equal to the pulse duration value. |
| US08027591B2 |
Resonant quantum well modulator driver
A drive circuit and method of controlling a quantum well modulator are disclosed. The drive circuit can be disposed in an optical transceiver having a quantum well modulator configured to retro-modulate an incoming optical signal. The drive circuit can include separate modulating and bias voltage sources. A level of the modulating voltage and the bias voltage can be determined based on an ambient temperature of the optical transceiver and can be adjusted to compensate for variations in the optical performance of the quantum well modulator. The quantum well modulator can be controlled in intervals. The modulating voltage can be applied to the quantum well modulator during a first interval. A current associated with the modulating voltage can be returned to the modulation voltage source during a second interval. A timing of the first and second intervals can be based on electrical properties of the quantum well modulator. |
| US08027590B2 |
System and method for signal extraction by path modulation
A system includes a transmitter is configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal to a receiver, which is configured to receive the electromagnetic signal and another electromagnetic signal for mixing therewith. Propagation paths of the signals to the transmitter and receiver include a first propagation path of the electromagnetic signal to the transmitter, and a second propagation path of the other electromagnetic signal to the receiver. The arrangement, which is located along either or each of the propagation paths of signals to the transmitter and receiver, is configured to alter the length of a respective propagation path. And the processor configured to recover an amplitude and phase of the transmitted electromagnetic signal, including being configured to receive a sequence of samples of the received electromagnetic signal, and Discrete Fourier Transformation process the sequence of samples. |
| US08027588B2 |
Systems and methods for optical carrier recovery
In one embodiment a system and method pertain to generating a pump from a received optical signal, inputting the generated pump into a phase-sensitive oscillator, and amplifying a carrier component of the pump to generate an optical carrier having the same phase and polarity of an optical carrier of the received optical signal. |
| US08027582B2 |
Autofocus with confidence measure
Autofocusing is performed in response to a weighted sum of previous blur difference depth estimates at each focus adjustment iteration. Variance is also determined across both past and present estimations providing a confidence measure on the present focus position for the given picture. Focus adjustment is repeated until the variance is sufficiently low as to indicate confidence that a proper focus has been attained. The method provides more accurate and rapid focusing than achieved by the best current depth-based techniques, such as those utilizing most recent depth estimation to determine the next lens position. In contrast to this, the present apparatus and method combines all previous depth estimation results in the autofocus process to determine the next lens position based on statistical models and confidence measure. |
| US08027581B2 |
Imaging apparatus, imaging apparatus control method, and computer program
An imaging apparatus includes: a control unit configured to detect a focus position by moving a focusing lens before and after a preset position which is a focusing lens position set by a focus preset function, with the control unit setting a scan range which is a movement range of the focusing lens to a different range according to a setting state of a zoom lens, obtaining an AF evaluation value along with movement of the focusing lens within the set scan range, and determining a focus position based on the obtained AF evaluation value. |
| US08027578B2 |
Optical apparatus including image blur correction device
An optical apparatus includes a shake detection unit to detect shaking applied to a camera; an image blur correction driving unit for driving a lens and correcting image blur caused by the shaking; and a selection unit configured to select whether correction of image blur is to be permitted or inhibited. If image blur correction is permitted, the image blur correction driving unit operates in accordance with a first driving characteristic. If image blur correction is inhibited, the image blur correction driving unit holds the lens near an optical axis in accordance with a second driving characteristic. |
| US08027576B2 |
Method of and/or apparatus for coupling a lens port to a housing for an underwater camera
The invention comprises a method of and apparatus for coupling a lens port to a housing for an underwater camera. The method comprises the steps of providing an inwardly castellated ring and a co-operating outwardly castellated ring, the rings comprising part of or being positioned one on the housing and the other on the lens port. At least one of the rings is rotatable and the outwardly castellated ring can be passed through the inwardly castellated ring. Rotating at least one ring holds the outward castellations against the inward castellations to thereby hold the lens port to the housing. |
| US08027567B2 |
Apparatus for and method of recording information, apparatus for and method of reproducing information, recording medium, and information recording medium
Provided is an information recording apparatus which, in a state where the content of moving picture image information, etc. can be prevented from being inadvertently recognized by the user due to inadvertent presentation to the user of a relevant representative picture image, enables recording the respective information into a recording medium. A reproduction list PL that is to be reproduced is not only recorded into an optical disc 1 but is there also recorded in it a reproduction list display prohibition flag PHF indicating at least whether limiting the display of a representative picture image that represents the content of the reproduction list PL. |
| US08027563B2 |
Recording medium, reproducing apparatus, and reproducing method
In a recording medium on which is recorded a multiplexed stream (231) including a plurality of first packets (V_main) constituting a first I-picture in a first video stream and a plurality of second packets (V_sub) constituting a second I-picture in a second video stream, information for identifying the first I-picture and information for identifying the second I-picture are recorded on the medium. A recording medium can thereby be obtained that enables the rapid detection, from a small amount of information, of a particular picture included in a stream such as a TS in which multiple content streams are multiplexed. |
| US08027559B2 |
Image reproducing apparatus and control method therefor
An image reproducing apparatus is connected to a display device via a video data transmitting unit and a file data transmitting unit and is driven by a battery. The image reproducing apparatus calculates a first electric power required to transmit video data to the display device and a second electric power required to transmit file data to the display device, and acquires a remaining amount of electric power in the battery. Then, the image reproducing apparatus judges whether the acquired remaining amount of electric power in the battery is equal to or larger than the first electric power, is equal to or larger than the second electric power but smaller than the first electric power, or is smaller than the second electric power, and determines whether the image data is to be transmitted as the video data or the file data. |
| US08027558B2 |
Slide arrangement for cable drawer
A drawer slide having first and second rails interconnected by a center rail. The center rail includes a spool configured to provide half-speed travel of the center rail relative to the travel of the first rail. The drawer slide is configured for use with a drawer assembly having a drawer and a chassis. The drawer assembly further includes a radius limiter secured to the center rail. The radius limiter travels at half-speed relative to the drawer. The radius limiter also automatically rotates relative to the travel of the drawer. The chassis includes sides including threaded backing plates, and mounting brackets. The mounting brackets include tri-lobed holes for receipt of a reciprocally shaped washer and a fastener for mounting the brackets to the chassis sides. |
| US08027556B2 |
Waveguide coupling structure
A coupling structure of waveguide including a line defect (LD) waveguide portion having an LD waveguide, an electromagnetic field distribution matching portion (EFDMP) connected between the LD waveguide portion and a first tapered portion, the first tapered portion connected with the EFDMP, and a thin line waveguide portion connected with the first tapered portion and having a thin line waveguide. The EFDMP has a matching portion LD as the LD of a columnar photonic crystal, and the matching portion LD is connected with the LD waveguide. The first tapered portion consists of a first thin wire core, and the first LD of a columnar photonic crystal arranged along at least one side of first thin line core. At least one of the first thin line core and the first LD is connected with the matching portion line defect. The thin line waveguide is connected with the first thin line core. |
| US08027555B1 |
Scalable cladding mode stripper device
A cladding mode stripper for stripping cladding modes from an optical fiber is disclosed. The cladding mode stripper includes a reflective base and a block of a transparent material disposed on the reflective base. The block of the transparent material has a groove in its bottom surface for the fiber. The fiber is thermally coupled to the base and optically coupled to the groove in the block, for example using an index matching gel. The cladding mode light is reflected from the reflective base and is absorbed in a cover enclosing the block. An additional thin block of transparent heat-conductive material can be placed between the fiber and the reflective base, to prevent the index matching gel from contacting the reflective surface of the base. |
| US08027550B2 |
Image-document retrieving apparatus, method of retrieving image document, program, and recording medium
Feature vectors used in discrimination of images include information on feature blocks of images in an image-document retrieving apparatus of the present invention. Text areas of a page image document are combined to form rectangular images. On the basis of information on the rectangular images that are extracted, a geometric structure of the page is analyzed, the page image document is divided into plural blocks, and then a plurality of feature blocks describing features of the page document image are selected from the plural blocks. The feature vectors are constituted of information on the feature blocks thus selected. This makes it possible to provide an image-document retrieving apparatus and a method of retrieving image documents, by which retrieval of image documents containing mainly text and a graphic is improvable in accuracy. |
| US08027544B2 |
Information processing method and information processing apparatus
Processing data which belong to different classes and label data indicating the classes to which the processing data belong are input (S20). A distance relationship between the processing data is calculated (S22). An interclass separation degree between the classes is set (S23). The distance relationship is updated based on the label data and the interclass separation degree (S24). A data mapping relationship which approximates the updated distance relationship is calculated (S25). |
| US08027541B2 |
Image organization based on image content
A system for organizing images includes an extraction component that extracts visual information (e.g., faces, scenes, etc.) from the images. The extracted visual information is provided to a comparison component which computes similarity confidence data between the extracted visual information. The similarity confidence data is an indication of the likelihood that items of extracted visual information are similar. The comparison component then generates a visual distribution of the extracted visual information based upon the similarity confidence data. The visual distribution can include groupings of the extracted visual information based on computed similarity confidence data. For example, the visual distribution can be a two-dimensional layout of faces organized based on the computed similarity confidence data—with faces in closer proximity faces computed to have a greater probability of representing the same person. The visual distribution can then be utilized by a user to sort, organize and/or tag images. |
| US08027537B1 |
Visual object identification by computational majority voting
A method of distinguishing an object in an image. The method including the steps of detecting an image with an optical device where the image includes at least one object. Identifying at least one object using a central processing unit (CPU) that includes a central processing algorithm (CPA) and uses a majority voting analysis of multiple inputs to analyze at lest one object with the CPA. The image selected by the CPU is then displayed on the optical device. |
| US08027533B2 |
Method of automated image color calibration
A method of automated image calibration that corrects for non-uniform illumination and calibrates color that is simple, fast, automated, accurate and reliable. A gray balance algorithm is applied to correct for non-uniform illumination and a color calibration algorithm is then applied to calibrate the human subject data. The system has been applied in multiple clinical sites with different instruments. |
| US08027527B2 |
Method for analyzing defect data and inspection apparatus and review system
The distribution states of defects are analyzed on the basis of the coordinates of defects detected by an inspection apparatus to classify them into a distribution feature category, or any one of repetitive defect, congestion defect, linear distribution defect, ring/lump distribution defect and random defect. In the manufacturing process for semiconductor substrates, defect distribution states are analyzed on the basis of defect data detected by an inspection apparatus, thereby specifying the cause of defect in apparatus or process. |
| US08027526B2 |
Method for providing a 3D X-ray image dataset of a patient's heart
X-ray images are recorded of a patient's heart and the heartbeat phase is registered as that is done. The heartbeat phases are coarsely divided into intervals and all X-ray images that have been assigned heartbeat phase from the interval are used for reconstructing a 3D image dataset. The movement fields of the other 3D image datasets are then calculated for one of said 3D image datasets. Movement fields are vector fields indicating the movements of similar structures from one local area to the other. A departure is then made from the coarse interval division, and for each heartbeat phase a movement field is interpolated individually or at least for fairly short intervals from the movement fields determined in advance, which field is used for generating a deformed 3D image dataset that has been imaged onto a reference heartbeat phase. The deformed 3D image datasets are then added together. |
| US08027525B2 |
Image display method and image display apparatus
An image display method and an image display apparatus realize prevention of misdiagnosis which is caused by corruption of a part of at least one type of information including identification information, information on a series of images, and diagnosis-report information. The image display method and the image display apparatus perform an operation using a predetermined hash function on patient information ID1, examination information ID2, a series of images I1 to In acquired by an intra-subject information acquiring apparatus to generate and add hash data h. Thereafter, the image display method and the image display apparatus, when using case 15a-1, perform an operation using a predetermined hash function to generate new hash data, compare each piece of the hash data h already added and newly generated hash data, and determine whether two pieces of hash data match with each other. Based on the result of determination, the use of the case data is canceled, or display of corrupted image is restricted, for example, so that the misdiagnosis is prevented. |
| US08027524B2 |
Image diagnosis support apparatus and image diagnosis support program
An image diagnosis support apparatus according to the invention comprises an adipose distribution data computing device which figures out adipose distribution data measured of a desired site in a subject from at least one medical image; an abnormal shadow candidate detecting device which detects an abnormal shadow candidate based on the figured-out adipose distribution data; and a display device which displays the abnormal shadow candidate detected by the abnormal shadow candidate detecting device and the medical image in a manner of being related to each other. |
| US08027518B2 |
Automatic configuration of devices based on biometric data
The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can obtain biometric data from a user as the user interacts with a device. Based upon the obtained biometric data, the architecture can determine an identity of the user and automatically apply settings associated with that particular user to the device. The settings can relate to a physical configuration of the device (or aspects, features, and/or peripherals of the device), as well as to a data set employed by the device (or components of the device). As such, a user of the device can benefit from enhanced efficiency, utility, and/or convenience. |
| US08027517B2 |
Method for stratigraphic interpretation of seismic images
A method for stratigraphic interpretation of a seismic image for determining a sedimentary history of an underground zone having application to petroleum exploration. The seismic reflectors of the image are digitized by means of an applied shape recognition technique. At least one attribute characteristic of the structure of the image in the vicinity of each reflector is calculated for a set of reflectors by means of an image analysis technique. This analysis is based on at least one analysis window whose shape is controlled by the associated reflector. Pertinent reflectors, in the sense of the stratigraphic interpretation, are selected from among this set of reflectors on the basis of this attribute. Finally, the sedimentary history of the underground zone is reconstructed from a stratigraphic interpretation of the reflectors thus selected. |
| US08027512B2 |
Method and software program for searching image information
Video systems are widely used in the field of surveillance of buildings, traffic, private homes, supermarkets and the like. For some applications it is useful to save the video information for a later access or analysis. As the saved data volume increases with the number of video cameras of a video system and the recorded time there is a need for video databases, which allow a fast searching for relevant video information. A method for searching image information comprising the steps of: extracting a trajectory of an interesting object in a picture frame sequence, whereby the trajectory is represented by a first set of location points in the picture frames, pre- processing the extracted trajectory to a pre-processed trajectory by applying a spatial correlation filter algorithm, which reduces the number of location points, whereby the pre-processed trajectory is represented by a second set of location points in the picture frames, storing the pre-processed trajectory in a database and applying search queries on the pre-processed trajectory data of the database and a respective software program is proposed. |
| US08027510B2 |
Encoding and decoding media signals
The present disclosure relates generally to encoding and decoding signals from media signals. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: electronic memory for storing blocks of a media signal; an electronic processor programmed for: determining a detection metric for the blocks, the detection metric comprising a measure of coincidence of detection parameters of different blocks; and performing detection operations based on the measure of coincidence of the detection parameters. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well. |
| US08027501B2 |
Headphone
A headphone includes a hanger and two speaker units respectively disposed at the two ends of the hanger. Each speaker unit includes a first shell; a second shell engaged with the first shell, a first air passage being formed between the first shell and the second shell, a second air passage being formed on the second shell, the second air passage having an opening direction different from an opening direction of the first air passage; a cover engaged with the second shell and having a plurality of holes on the cover; and a speaker disposed between the first shell and the second shell. When the speaker outputs sound, airflows generated by the speaker are exhausted through the first air passage, the second air passage and the holes so that the amount of air exhaust is stable and the output audio is of high quality. |
| US08027500B2 |
Narrow profile speaker configurations and systems
A narrow profile speaker unit comprises at least one speaker outputting sound towards an internal surface and through a duct with an output terminus, such as a slot, having a narrow dimension, effectively changing the cross-section of the speaker's audio output wave. A pair of speakers may face one another, outputting sound towards a common output slot. Multiple pairs of speakers may be used to form an inline speaker unit for increased sound output. A slotted speaker unit may include multiple speakers facing the same direction, towards a groundplane or reflecting surface, and having parallel apertures for allowing sound radiation. The speaker units may be integral with or attached to electronic appliances such as desktop computers or flatscreen devices, or may be used in automobiles or other contexts. |