| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08091728B2 |
Wet well apparatus with base form and installation method regarding same
A wet well apparatus, and installation method therefore, that includes a cylindrical body extending between a first end and a second end along a body axis defining an interior material holding volume and a base form closing the first end of the cylindrical body to define a base interior volume adjacent the interior material holding volume of the cylindrical body. The base form is configured to receive a flowable fill material in the base interior volume. |
| US08091726B2 |
Pressure vessels with safety closures and associated methods and systems
A pressure vessel having a cell with a locking pin, and a cap and associated methods and systems. The locking pin may be configured to engage the cap when the pressure vessel is pressurized to prevent rotation of the cap without depression of the cap. |
| US08091722B2 |
Fuel tank fuel system
The present invention provides a fuel draw and return system including a plate, a first fuel tube secured to the plate, and a second fuel tube secured to the plate, wherein the first and second fuel tubes are secured to one another and to the plate to define a triangular shaped connection configuration. |
| US08091718B2 |
Cap for sealing nipple
A cap includes a cavity for receiving the rounded tip of a nipple. The cavity narrows from an open end to a neck, and widens from the neck to a closed end. The neck forms an interference fit with the rounded tip, and the interference fit forms a sealed compartment in the cap that encloses an aperture in the rounded tip. |
| US08091715B2 |
Adjustable pallet display unit
There is provided an adjustable display pallet and a method for manufacturing display pallets. In certain embodiments, display pallets have a pallet base, corner columns, and span members that are adapted to hold individual products or trays of product. Corner columns are adhered to the pallet base in the desired locations. Span members are then inserted through insertion portions on the corner columns. The insertion portions are shaped to receive and secure span member ends. Optional end caps, backer panels and print panels may be provided on the pallet displays to enhance visual aspects of the display, as well as provide additional marketing space. |
| US08091709B2 |
Child-resistant package
A child-resistant package includes a rectangular tray having a pair of sidewalls, a pair of laterally opposed spring arms extending from the sidewalls, a finger tab on each spring arm and a locking lug adjacent to each finger tab. A rectangular shell has an open front end, a pair of sidewalls, a slot extending longitudinally along each of the sidewalls and terminating short of the open front end of the shell, and a locking pocket extending from each slot at a position spaced from the open end of the shell. The tray is slidably received in the shell with the spring arms interiorly adjacent to the shell sidewalls and the finger tabs slidably received in the slots. The locking lugs on the finger tabs are resiliently receivable in the locking pockets on the shell sidewalls in the closed position of the tray within the shell. The finger tabs may be pushed toward each other against resiliency of the spring arms to release the locking lugs from the locking pockets, and then slid forwardly along the slots until the finger tabs engage the ends of the slots adjacent to the open end of the shell to retain the tray within the shell in an open position of the tray extending from the open end of the shell. The tray preferably includes an integrally hinged lid that is closed when the tray is disposed within the shell. |
| US08091704B2 |
Perforated blister packaging
A blister package includes a plastic blister being between top and bottom covers. The plastic blister further includes a perforation that partially extends around a product enclosure. A cut line intersects the perforation along an interior portion of the plastic blister to provide a location for tearing the product enclosure from the plastic blister. |
| US08091703B2 |
Package of tobacco articles having an inner package with a cover flap fixed to a hinged lid
A package of tobacco articles, having: a group of tobacco articles; a cup-shaped outer container (2) having an open top end (6), and a cup-shaped lid (7) hinged to the outer container (2) along a hinge (8) to rotate, with respect to the outer container (2), between an open position and a closed position opening and closing the open top end (6) respectively; and an inner package (3) which is housed inside the outer container (2), encloses the group of tobacco articles, and has a tobacco article extraction opening (4) closed by a cover flap (5); at least a portion of the cover flap (5) is connected permanently and non-removably to the lid (7), so that opening and closing the lid (7) simultaneously also opens and closes the cover flap (5). |
| US08091701B1 |
Magnetic brush protector and storage apparatus
Disclosed are embodiments of an apparatus to store and protect paintbrushes. The apparatus comprises a first outer shell flexibly coupled to a second outer shell in an arrangement suitable for the storage of a paintbrush in the interior space described by first and second outer shells. A brush shaping flap, which is flexibly coupled to an outer shell, maintains the shape of brush bristles while a brush is stored in the apparatus. One or more magnetic elements are used to hold the brush in place in the apparatus. The magnetic elements are positioned to engage the ferromagnetic ferrule of a paintbrush. An attachment means may be coupled to the apparatus thus allowing for convenient attachment to a persons belt. A plurality of ventilation holes may be provided on the apparatus. A spring means may be provided for urging the bristle shaping flap against the brush bristles. |
| US08091700B2 |
Dual use paint brush package and paint palette
A package for holding and displaying paint brushes includes one or more receptacles for holding paint. Once the paint brushes are removed from the package, empty paint receptacles formed in the cover of the package can be filled with paint and thereby serve as an artist's palette. The package can be reused over and over and thereby reduce trash. |
| US08091698B2 |
Transport device for a finger jointing system
A transport device for a system for finger jointing pieces of wood, by packets, has a support. Transport means are provided, which are set up for moving the pieces of wood sliding along the support to the system for finger jointing. The transport means have a gripping device for holding the pieces of wood in place by packets, aligned flush at a first end, which is situated upstream, while the pieces are being pulled to a work station by way of the support. |
| US08091697B2 |
Driver unit for a clutch assembly, in particular a wet-running double clutch assembly
A driver module for clutches, in particular wet-running double clutch assemblies, including a clutch housing and a cover which are connected with each other, enclosing an interior space. The cover is rotationally fixed in relation to the clutch housing in the axial direction and in the circumferential direction by a connecting ring. |
| US08091695B2 |
Dampening element of a vibration damper and a vibration damper
A dampening element for a vibration damper and a vibration damper. The dampening element comprises a body part having flow openings, a dampening part arranged to abut against the body part, the dampening part having openings aligning with the flow openings of the body part. In addition, a cover part is arranged against the dampening part, the cover part being movable in relation to the dampening part for changing the cross-sectional flow area of the openings of the dampening part. |
| US08091690B2 |
Self-boosting disk brake
The invention relates to a self-reinforcing, in particular electromechanical disk brake having a wedge mechanism as the self-boosting device, for example. The invention proposes that the actuating device be attached to a separate holder, which does not have forces or torques of the wedge mechanism applied thereto. |
| US08091689B2 |
Automatic parking brake
The invention relates to an automatic parking brake acting on a disk brake and in which the piston of the brake comprises a cavity in which there is a spring (1) allowing pressure to be applied to the end (12) of the piston cavity. A washer (5) is positioned between the inlet (13) of the cavity and the spring (1). A pressing device (4) allows pressure to be applied to the washer (5) so that it preloads the spring (1). |
| US08091687B2 |
Elevator system
In an elevator system, an operation of a car is controlled by an operation control section. When a specific user in the car is certified by personal authentication of a personal authentication section after a landing call registration operation is performed by a user through a landing call operation section provided on a landing, the operation control section counts registered specific floors present in a traveling direction of the car according to the landing call registration operation in the registered specific floors based on registered floor information received from the personal authentication section, and performs a destination floor registration with the registered specific floor being a destination floor of the car if the number of the counted registered specific floors is one. |
| US08091682B2 |
Sound absorbing system for electronic device
Disclosed herein is a sound absorbing system used for an electronic device that has enhanced noise reduction capabilities, while maintaining the cooling performance of the device and without increasing the size of the device. A disk array has multiple fans installed on each of the right and left sides of its front section. A frame that houses a sound absorbing system is placed in the middle of an airflow path through which air passes from the fans. Two sound absorbers are arranged inside the frame such that each of the sound absorbers faces the right-side or left-side fans. Airflow paths through which air passes from the fans are located in the space between the two sound absorbers. The airflow paths are partitioned by an acoustic board such that each of the airflow paths does not have parallel side faces. The frame, the sound absorbers, the acoustic board, and the airflow paths constitute the sound absorbing system. The sound absorbers and the acoustic board are made of sound absorbing materials such as glass wool, urethane foam, and the like. The sound absorbers and the acoustic board are arranged such that they prevent the fans from being seen from the outside of the sound absorbing system. |
| US08091678B2 |
Input control pattern
A control system for a construction vehicle, such as a motor grader, is provided. The control system includes a plurality of joysticks supported by an operator seat assembly of the motor grader. |
| US08091673B2 |
Straddle type vehicle
A straddle-type vehicle (e.g., a motorcycle) includes an electrical component accommodating section to protect one or more electrical components from heat generated by an engine, even when the vehicle is stopped. The vehicle includes a head pipe, at least one tank rail extending rearward from the head pipe, and at least one down pipe extending downward from the head pipe. A first joint portion is defined between the head pipe and the tank rail, and a second joint portion is defined between the head pipe and the down pipe. An engine is disposed generally between the tank rail and the head pipe. The electrical component accommodating section houses at least one electrical component and is defined generally between the first and second joint portions. In a preferred mode, at least a portion of the electrical component accommodating section is made of heat insulating material to shield the electrical component from heat generated by the engine. |
| US08091671B1 |
Powered snowboard
A snowboard has a removable tripod at the rear. A tiller mounts atop the tripod. The rider end of the tiller supports a motor. The distal end of the tiller supports a powered wheel. The power assembly doesn't compromise the shape and dynamics of a traditional snowboard as much of the prior art has. Another advantage is that it can be made integral with the snowboard and also easily removed. The ease of control with the handle and radical turning ability of over 180° make it unique in this field. The tripod mounting and balancing are also unique and useful. It is lighter in weight and simpler than previous embodiments in this are. The tiller can be locked with the wheel up for freestyle snowboarding. |
| US08091670B2 |
All terrain vehicle
In an all terrain vehicle, an engine unit is at least partially disposed under a seat. An exhaust pipe includes a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion is connected to a rear surface of the engine unit, and extends rearward therefrom. The second portion is connected to the first portion, and has a U-shaped configuration. The third portion is connected to the second portion, and extends forward therefrom. A muffler is connected to the exhaust pipe. The muffler is arranged such that the first portion and the third portion at least partially overlap with an area located between two tangent lines of the muffler. The tangent lines of the muffler are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a tangent line shared by the first portion and the third portion. |
| US08091669B2 |
Battery positioning structure for electric vehicle
A battery positioning structure reliably positions battery modules on a vehicle chassis even when battery modules have different sizes and heights. The battery positioning structure includes a bracket having at opposite ends not only check plates which are configured to be positioned on a body of the electric vehicle but also locks at opposite side edges of the bracket, the bracket being configured to be attached to outer surfaces of the battery modules and to unite the battery modules, and bands configured to extend across the bracket, and linked to the locks at opposite ends of the bracket. The battery modules and the bracket are positioned on the body of the electric vehicle. |
| US08091667B2 |
Method for operating a hybrid electric powertrain based on predictive effects upon an electrical energy storage device
A hybrid electric powertrain includes an electrical energy storage device and electric machines. A method for operating the powertrain to control the electric machines is effective to attain a predetermined state of life profile for the electric energy storage device. |
| US08091666B2 |
Electrically powered vehicle, control device for electrically powered vehicle, and computer readable medium
An electrically powered vehicle includes: a boost converter that boosts a power supply voltage and outputs a boosted voltage; an inverter that receives the boosted voltage from the boost converter and controls a rotating electric machine for travel; and a control device that performs control to limit the boosted voltage when it is determined that the rotating electric machine is in a locked state and both an accelerator and a brake are not operated to be on. |
| US08091663B2 |
Hybrid vehicle and method of controlling the same
In a charge mode (YES in S10), before charging of the electricity storage device by an external power source is started, electricity is supplied from an electricity storage device to an electrically-heated catalyzer (EHC) (S20) and an electrical resistance of the EHC is determined (S30). When it is determined based on the determined electrical resistance that there is no abnormality in the EHC (NO in S40), charging of the electricity storage device by the external power source is started (S50) and electricity is supplied from the external power source to the EHC (S60). When it is determined that there is an abnormality in the EHC (YES in S40), electricity is not supplied to the EHC (S70). |
| US08091662B2 |
Hybrid drive for vehicles and method for controlling a transmission for a hybrid drive
A hybrid drive for vehicles includes at least a main engine, especially an internal combustion engine, a generator, an electric engine, and a planetary transmission including a sun wheel, an internal-geared wheel, a planet carrier, and planet wheels. The planetary transmission also includes at least one output shaft. For a first driving mode of the vehicle, the drive shafts of the main engine and the electric engine are coupled to the sun wheel of the planetary transmission, for the addition of the torques, and, for another driving mode of one of the engines, one of the two engines can be coupled to the internal-geared wheel of the planetary transmission in a non-positive manner, for the mechanical addition of the rotational speeds according to the superposition principle. |
| US08091660B2 |
Hybrid traction system
A hybrid traction system for the traction of a vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, at least a first electric machine and at least a second electric machine, first transmission means suitable for being connected mechanically to said internal combustion engine and to at least one of said electric machines, second transmission means suitable for being connected mechanically to at least one of said electric machines and to the wheels of the vehicle; the system comprises furthermore connecting or restraining means suitable for enabling mechanical power to be transmitted to the wheels of the vehicle only by the internal combustion engine through said first transmission means and said second transmission means. This allows to drive the vehicle using only the internal combustion engine. |
| US08091659B2 |
Hybrid vehicle having engageable clutch assembly coupled between engine and traction motor
A hybrid vehicle includes a battery system, an internal combustion engine, a first motor/generator, a second motor/generator, and an engageable clutch assembly. The engageable clutch assembly is disposed between the internal combustion engine and the first motor/generator. When engaged, the engageable clutch assembly couples the rotor spindle of the second motor/generator with the hollow rotor shaft of the first motor/generator. The engageable clutch assembly may also operate in a first mechanical mode that selectively engages and disengages the internal combustion engine from the second motor/generator, or operate in a second mechanical mode that dampens shock between the internal combustion engine and the first motor/generator when the international combustion engine operates at a rotational speed that is different than a rotational of the first motor/generator. |
| US08091657B2 |
Frame for an all terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle including a frame having longitudinally-spaced ends defining a first longitudinal axis, and an engine supported by the frame. The engine includes a crankshaft defining a second longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis. |
| US08091653B2 |
Methods of formulating weighting agents using processed waste waters
In oil or gas well drilling, saline water is collected and separated into first and second streams of solid or liquid products containing salts. The first or second product is added to drilling fluids as a weighting agent. |
| US08091652B2 |
Method and device for controlling at least one drilling parameter for rock drilling
The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling drilling parameters when drilling into rock with a drilling machine. During drilling, an impulse-generating device using an impact means is arranged to induce shock waves in a tool held against the rock, the said impulse-generating device being displaceable in the drilling direction relative to a supporting means, wherein a pressure level of a shock-wave-generating pressure is controlled during the drilling operation. A drilling speed of the said drilling is determined by determining a movement of the impulse-generating device with respect to the said supporting means, and the said shock-wave-generating pressure is controlled as a function of the said drilling speed that has been determined. |
| US08091648B2 |
Direct connecting downhole control system
A system and method are provided for direct connecting downhole control hydraulics through an oil field hanger, where the hanger is coupled to a wellhead, to hydraulic lines extending outside the wellhead. Further, the direct connection allows hydraulic system integrity with reduced contamination and leakage. Hydraulic tool ports, formed on the hanger, are coupled with hydraulic lines extending downward to a hydraulic tool. Side ports, formed in the hanger, are fluidicly coupled to the hydraulic tool ports. Hydraulic lines extending outside the wellhead are directly coupled with the side ports by accessing the side ports through access openings in the wellhead when the ports are aligned with the access openings. The system can still maintain pressure within internal spaces of the wellhead after the connection by sealing the access openings with flanges, where the hydraulic lines extend through openings in the flanges that are also sealed around the lines. |
| US08091640B2 |
Method and device for cementing a well or a pipe
Introducing within a well or pipe a mandrel equipped with an inflatable membrane which can expand radially under the effect of an internal pressure. Positioning the mandrel opposite the portion to be treated, in introducing a pressurized fluid within the membrane such that its end regions form annular bulges pressing firmly against the wall, whereas its mid-region expands to a lesser degree. Forming a peripheral annular space into which is then injected a cement which is liquid but able to harden. Leaving the cement to set so as to form a solid sleeve. Deflating the tubular membrane. Withdrawing the mandrel together with the deflated membrane. The method can be used in the oil sector, particularly for repairing and/or plugging a portion of casing. |
| US08091637B2 |
Proppant for use in a subterranean formation
A method for filling an annular area within a wellbore penetrated by a subterranean formation is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) introducing a proppant into a wellbore to form a gravel pack of the proppant, wherein a specimen of the proppant has a non-globular and non-fibrous shape, and wherein the shape is further selected to provide the proppant the ability to bridge together such that the proppant has a maximum bridging span of at least 3 times larger than a largest overall dimension of the proppant specimen, where the maximum bridging span is the largest outlet hole diameter that the proppant can bridge under the weight of gravity; and (b) passing fluid through the gravel pack. |
| US08091635B2 |
Apparatus and methods to remove impurities at a sensor in a downhole tool
Apparatus and methods to remove impurities at a sensor in a downhole tool are disclosed. During the testing and/or sampling of formation fluid in a borehole, the downhole tool creates a transient high rate of fluid flow of the formation fluid to remove impurities at the sensor. |
| US08091634B2 |
Single packer structure with sensors
A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer having at least one drain located within the single packer. The single packer is designed with an outer flexible skin and one or more drains coupled to the outer flexible skin. The single packer further comprises one or more sensors positioned to detect one or more specific parameters that may be related to well characteristics and/or single packer characteristics. |
| US08091633B2 |
Tool for locating and plugging lateral wellbores
A tool used for treating and/or maintaining a wellbore that includes acoustic transducers for locating a lateral wellbore that intersects a primary wellbore. The tool includes a sensor to sense water and/or gas, and if the water and/or gas enters the primary wellbore from a lateral wellbore, the lateral to primary intersection can be identified by correlating information from the sensor and acoustic transducers. If needed, the tool can be used to plug the water and/or gas supplying lateral wellbore. The tool may include a bendable sub portion for orienting a portion of the tool for insertion into the lateral wellbore and a plug section for plugging the lateral wellbore after insertion therein. |
| US08091632B2 |
Method and device for the in-situ extraction of a hydrocarbon-containing substance from an underground deposit
A device for the in-situ extraction of a hydrocarbon-containing substance, while reducing the viscosity thereof, from an underground deposit, has at least one injection pipeline extending in the deposit and at least one production pipeline leading out of the deposit, which together form a so-called well pair. The injection and production pipelines each have a starting region extending above ground in some areas, and an active region connecting to the starting region inside the deposit. With the method, during a heating phase hot steam is applied to the injection and production pipelines, while during a production phase hot steam is applied only to the injection pipeline. Furthermore, the active region of the injection pipeline is additionally configured as an induction heater regarding the surrounding area in the deposit. In the associated device, for example, the well pair formed by the injection pipeline and production pipeline can be configured as electrodes. |
| US08091629B2 |
Adjustable wireline sheave for stuffing box
A stuffing box assembly for a wellhead intervention has a stuffing box and an adjustable sheave. The stuffing box has a body with a collar for connecting to a wellhead and with a passage for running wireline therethrough. A frame connected to the body has side plates and has a hub assembly with hubs rotatable about a first rotational axis. An axle interconnects the two hubs and supports them between the side plates. The sheave can rotate about the second rotational axis of the axel to run the wireline into and out of the stuffing box. The hub assembly can be rotated about its axis of rotation to adjust the location of the axle's axis of rotation. This can move the sheave away from a fixed guard, can change how the sheave lines up with the stuffing box, and can move the sheave away from the stuffing box. |
| US08091624B2 |
Cooling system in a motor vehicle
A radiator element in a motor vehicle is disclosed, the motor vehicle including a body, a driver's space with at least one door for access to the driver's space, and a step element with at least one step and situated below the door. An engine cooling system includes a radiator element in which a circulating coolant is cooled by an airflow flowing through the radiator element. The radiator element is positioned close to the step element. An air inlet aperture is positioned between or behind the steps. The radiator element is a second radiator element of the vehicle, operable when the first radiator element cools insufficiently. |
| US08091619B2 |
Heat exchanger with indentation pattern
The invention relates to a heat exchanger with an indentation pattern, and specifically a heat exchanger with heat exchanger plates (1) provided with a special pattern instead of the traditional herringbone pattern. The pattern comprises at least one section with bulges (2) and hollows (3), said bulges and hollows having flat tops and bottoms intended to be placed against respective hollows and bulges of a heat exchanger plate of a corresponding design. The surface area of said tops and bottoms is such in relation to the distance between the tops and bottoms that channels (6) for the flow of a medium are formed between the bulges. |
| US08091618B2 |
Exchange apparatus
An exchange apparatus comprised of hollow perfluorinated thermoplastic tubes fusion bonded into a perfluorinated thermoplastic material to form unified terminal end blocks is disclosed. The hollow tubes are shaped by plaiting the tubes into cords and thermally annealing the cords to set the bends of the plait. The apparatus can have a housing bonded to the unified terminal end blocks. In use a first fluid enters the hollow tubes at openings in a first unified terminal end block, flows through the lumens of the tubes, and exits the tubes through a second unified terminal end block. A second fluid enters the housing, is separated from the first fluid by the wall of the tubes, and substantially fills the space between the inner wall of the housing and the outer diameters of the hollow tubes. Energy is transferred between the first and second fluids through the tube walls. |
| US08091616B2 |
Enhanced heat transfer tube and manufacture method thereof
A heat transfer tube can comprise a tube body, and outer fins integrated with the tube body which are formed by allowing material on the tube body to extend along radial direction of the tube body and wind and extend around the tube outer surface in helical manner, wherein microscale channels are formed on at least one lateral surface of the outer fin. The invention has the advantage that the microscale channel is formed on at least one lateral surface of the outer fin to help increase the heat exchange area of the outer fin surface, improve the fluid disturbance, enhance the forced convention heat exchange out of tube, and significantly improve the heat transfer coefficient; when the enhanced heat transfer tube in the present invention is applied on an evaporator, the microscale channel can greatly increase the number of the nucleation sites, so as to enhance boiling heat exchange in condition of low heat flux density; when the enhanced heat transfer tube in the present invention is applied on a condenser, the microscale channel can improve distribution of liquid membrane thickness on outer fin surface to enhance condensing heat exchange. |
| US08091615B2 |
Heat transfer pipe with grooved inner surface
A heat transfer pipe 21 with grooved inner surface is provided with a pipe body 22 having a pipe axis line ◯ as a center axis line, a plurality of first fins 23 each having a fin height Hf, formed by providing a plurality of spiral grooves 200 at an inner surface of the pipe body 22 along the pipe axis line ◯ and at least a second fin 24 having a fin height hf, provided at a groove bottom of at least one of the spiral groove 200. The fin height hf and a torsion angle α of the second fin 24 are determined respectively to satisfy the following conditions: Hf/15≦hf≦Hf/3 and α=β, when P=W×di×sin β and P≧0.86 wherein a bottom width of the spiral groove 200 is W, a torsion angle of the spiral groove 200 is β, and an inner diameter of the pipe body 22 is di. |
| US08091614B2 |
Air/fluid cooling system
The present invention is an air/fluid cooling system. In one embodiment an apparatus for dissipating heat from a heat-generating device includes a base having a first side configured for thermal coupling to the heat-generating device, an air-based cooling path coupled to the base, for dissipating at least a portion of the heat via air, and a fluid-based cooling path coupled to the base, for dissipating at least a portion of the heat via a fluid. The air-based cooling path and the fluid-based cooling path may be operated simultaneously or individually to dissipate heat from the heat generating device and to allow access to the cooling system, for example for maintenance, repairs and upgrades. |
| US08091606B2 |
Operating wand for venetian blinds
An operating wand has a handle, an upper rod connected by an intermediate rod having one end pivotably attached to the upper end of the handle and the opposite end pivotably attached to the lower end of the upper rod. A sleeve slides along the upper rod between a first position and a second position. When in the first position the sleeve covers a portion of the upper rod, the handle, and the intermediate rod, keeping the handle, intermediate rod and upper rod in a co-linear alignment. When the sleeve is in the second position, the handle and intermediate rod are fully exposed allowing the intermediate rod to be moved relative to the handle and the upper rod so that the intermediate rod is normal to the handle and normal to the upper rod. With the sleeve in the second position the wand can be operated like a crank. |
| US08091605B1 |
Acoustic panel assembly
An acoustic panel assembly may have one or more panels adaptable for reflecting sound waves and a support member to which the one or more panels may be attached. The support member may be extendable and retractable. The one or more panels and the support member may be collapsible into a housing. The one or more panels may be configured in one or more substantially planar portions, one or more substantially curved portions, or a combination thereof. |
| US08091601B2 |
Equipment for bonding by molecular adhesion
The invention relates to equipment for carrying out a process for bonding by molecular adhesion of two substrates to one another during which the surfaces of the substrates are placed in close contact and bonding occurs by propagation of a bonding front between the substrates. The invention includes, prior to bonding, a step of modifying the surface state of one or both of the surfaces of the substrates so as to regulate the propagation speed of the bonding front. The surface can be modified by locally or uniformly heating or roughening the surface(s) of the substrate(s). |
| US08091598B2 |
Motorcycle tire
A motorcycle tire comprises a tread portion having a tread face curved along a radially outwardly convex arc in the cross section of the tire including the rotational axis of the tire. The tread face is provided in the ground contacting region during straight running with three parallel circumferential grooves which are: a wide circumferential groove having a width Wg1 of from 8 to 16 mm and extending along the tire equator; and a pair of narrow circumferential grooves disposed one on each side of the tire equator and having a width Wg2 less than the width Wg1. Each of the narrow circumferential grooves is positioned such that the distance L1 measured along the tread face from the tire equator to the axially outside edge of the narrow circumferential groove is not more than 35% of the width (tw) of the ground contacting region during straight running measured along the tread face. |
| US08091595B2 |
Wood splitter
In a wood splitter for splitting a log of wood into several pieces comprising a receiving chamber for the log of wood which is limited by a stand arranged parallel to the axis of the log of wood, and transverse to the stand and relative thereto, is further limited by limit stops projecting in a direction normal to the said axis of the stand, with at least one limit stop being movable in the direction of the axis and at least one limit stop being designed as a splitting unit a high degree of user-friendliness and a rational method of operation may be achieved in that a splitting wedge designed in the manner of an insert pin held only in the area of the base thereof is associated with the end of the receiving chamber, which splitting wedge can accommodate a splitting insert comprising an insertion pocket which can be inserted into the insert pin, and further a set of tools attached to the insertion pocket containing several splitting wedges which are arranged according to a desired pattern of pieces resembling the blossoms of a tulip. |
| US08091594B2 |
Hands free device for filling tanks
The present invention relates to novel devices and methods of filling tanks designed for holding non-hazardous fluids, especially tanks on recreational vehicles. In a preferred embodiment, the tank to be filled is a water tank. The device of the present invention incorporates several novel and non-obvious features to create a device that permits the filling of tanks in a hands-free manner while keeping water waste to a minimum and preventing the damaging of tank, fill neck or other tank or fill components due to the over filling of the tank. |
| US08091592B2 |
Board storage container and check valve
A substrate container has a container main body to contain a substrate and a check valve which has a cylindrical housing and a valve disc installed in the housing and controls gas flowing from and to the interior and the exterior of the container main body, and is formed by inserting the housing into a through-hole of the container main body. When an end of the valve located inside the container main body is defined as a front end, a check valve has a fixing ring that is mounted on the rear end side in the manner of being rotatable relative to the housing and fixes the housing to the container main body from rearward, and the housing has a first housing installed on the front end side and a second housing inserted into the first housing at the front end and attached to the first housing. |
| US08091591B2 |
Device for filling vessels
A device for the filling of vessels, with a container for liquid and pressurized gas and at least one filling pipe connected with this, which filling pipe comprises a liquid valve and a return gas pipe, whereby a gas pipe discharges into the filling pipe outside the return gas pipe, which gas pipe is connected with the container by means of a pre-stressing valve, so that the pre-stressing valve is positioned on the upper side of the container and the gas pipe discharges into the container from above. |
| US08091589B2 |
Loom and drive device of loom
A loom (1) has feed motor (27) rotating a warp beam (3) in a direction to feeding warps (V) from the warp beam (3), a heddles (10) opening and closing the warps (V) fed off from the warp beam (3), a reed (13) beating wefts (H) inserted into the openings of the warps (V) by a weft inserting device (11), a surface motor (61) rotating a surface roller (17) to pull in the woven fabric (W), which has been beaten by the reed (13) and formed of the warps (V) and the wefts (H), in the pulling direction, a position detector (35) detecting the tension of the warps (V), and a control device 25 having an adaptive filter unit (83) filtering the tension detected by the position detector (35), and controlling the feed motor (27) and the surface motor (61) on the basis of the tension filtered by that adaptive filter unit (83) so that the tension of the warps (V) to a predetermined target tension. |
| US08091583B2 |
Double check valve for a fuel system
Disclosed is a valve having a housing formed with a downstream port and an upstream port, with an axially displaceable plunger biased into sealing engagement of a major flow path extending between the downstream port and the upstream port for admitting flow only in the upstream direction, with the plunger formed having a normally closed minor flow path for admitting flow only in a downstream direction. |
| US08091582B2 |
System and method for hydraulically managing fluid pressure downstream from a main valve between set points
A system for hydraulically managing fluid pressure between selected set points includes a pilot control system operably coupled to a main valve. The pilot control system includes at least one fluid conduit, a variable orifice assembly, and a control pilot valve apparatus. Fluid is passed through a fixed orifice and into a first chamber of the control pilot valve apparatus. Fluid is passed through the variable orifice of the variable orifice assembly and into a second chamber of the control pilot valve apparatus. The main valve is hydraulically opened or closed in response to a pressure differential between the first and second chambers of the control pilot valve apparatus so as to manage fluid pressure downstream of the main valve between the selected upper and lower set points. |
| US08091580B2 |
Pilot switch
A pilot valve is switchable between snap and throttle modes. The pilot valve supplies output gas to a process control valve and has an adjustable biasing member for applying an adjustable force to a pilot plug in a pilot body interior. An opposed force is applied to the pilot plug to overcome the adjustable force and the output gas. |
| US08091578B2 |
Axially adjustable fill limiter vent valve
A fill limiter vent valve (FLVV) adapted for suspension downward into a fuel tank has upper and lower housing members having openings in their cylindrical walls cooperating to define a spill-over level for fuel into the FLVV producing float-initiated vent valve closure during a fuel fill event. The lower housing member has a latching member fixedly engageable with one or more cooperating latching features of the upper housing member in a plurality of relative axial positions; and the spill-over level is varied by relative axial movement of the housing members between those positions. Axial alignment of the latching member and the cooperating latching features is maintained by axially aligned, interacting surface features of the housing members. |
| US08091577B2 |
Valve
A valve seat 20 is arranged between the supply circuit 8 and a downstream circuit 18. A valve body 21 blocks a fluid flow between the supply circuit 8 and the downstream circuit 18 by contacting the valve seat 20. The valve body 21 connects the supply circuit 8 to the downstream circuit 18 for supplying the fluid to the downstream circuit 18 by separating from the valve seat 20. A through hole 24 extends through the valve body 21 and thus defines a part of the supply circuit 8. The through hole 24 is defined in such a manner that the fluid that has flowed from the through hole 24 proceeds between the valve seat 20 and the valve body 21 and is thus supplied to the downstream circuit 18. The valve body 21 is formed in such a manner that a pressure receiving area at an upstream side of the through hole 24 is smaller than a pressure receiving area at a downstream side of the through hole 24. This reduces a pressure loss caused by the fluid passing through a backflow prevention structure that permits forward fluid flow from the supply circuit 8 to the downstream circuit 18 but prohibits backflow of the fluid. |
| US08091576B2 |
By-pass and pressure regulator valve
A by-pass and pressure regulator valve exhibiting: an inlet mouth and an outlet mouth set in reciprocal communication by a main conduit; a by-pass mouth. The by-pass and pressure regulator valve comprises: an obturator, mobile between at least a closed position, in which it interrupts fluid communication between the main conduit and the by-pass mouth, and at least an open position, in which the fluid communication is not interrupted; operating pressure control means, predisposed to move the obturator from the closed position; means for determining a flow pressure loss in fluids crossing the main conduit, arranged along the main conduit in order to separate a first tract upstream of the main conduit from a second tract downstream thereof; obturator command means governed by a fluid pressure difference between the first tract and the second tract of the main conduit, distinct from the operating pressure control means but operatively connected to the obturator. |
| US08091575B2 |
Valve system
A valve system for monitoring and controlling a flow of a fluid additive into a main fluid line is disclosed. The system includes a pump that provides a constant flow of the additive from a fluid reservoir through a supply conduit into the main fluid line. A portion of the fluid additive may be diverted into one or more return conduits leading back to the reservoir by opening a solenoid actuated valve in the return conduit. Flow meters are employed to detect the flow rates of the fluids in the supply conduit and the main fluid line. The flow meters provide signals to a control system, which are effective to control the operation of the solenoid actuated valves to maintain a desired flow of the additive into the main fluid line. |
| US08091573B2 |
Pipeline intervention
An apparatus and method for accessing a sub sea pipeline. The apparatus comprises a entry guide (2) having a channel extending there-through for guiding a pipeline intervention device and means for attaching the entry guide to the external wall of a section of pipeline so that the longitudinal axis (b) through the centre of the channel of the entry guide forms an angle of between about 1° and 10° with the longitudinal axis (a) through the centre of the pipeline section. |
| US08091563B2 |
Hair styling apparatus having cloth-covered heating member
A hair styling apparatus has a heating member and a cloth covering at least a portion of the heating member to define a hair-facing surface onto which hair is placed in contact therewith for heating. The cloth is constructed at least in part of a monofilament of a fluorinated polyethylene. In another embodiment, the cloth is responsive to heating of the heating member to shrink relative to the heating member in at least one of a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction of the cloth. In yet another embodiment, the cloth is unbonded to the heating member and held in tension over the portion of the heating member that defines the hair-facing surface. |
| US08091562B2 |
Cosmetic product applicator with multiple typically oriented elements
Applicator (1) for a cosmetic product, typically a mascara, comprising an application means (4) having an axial core (40) which is unitary with axial rod (3) at its lower part (31) and a stack (41) of a plurality of N elements which cooperate with axial core (40) through a typically central orifice (50) allowing the axial core (40) to extend therethrough, characterized in that: the elements are elements E (5) lacking complete rotation symmetry, and the axial core (40) and the plurality of elements E (5) operate jointly with an angular orientation means for elements E (5) with respect to axial direction (10), in a transverse plane (11) which is perpendicular to the axial direction (10), in a manner that each element Ei (5) is rotatably connected with axial core (40) and has a predetermined angular orientation αi with respect to the axial core (40). |
| US08091559B2 |
Applicator for a hair treatment composition
The present invention relates to an applicator (1) which allows for precise, non-messy and even application of a hair treatment composition to a hair strand. The applicator (1) comprises a plate (10) movably joined by a connection (30) to a well (20) and at least one metering layer selected from non-wovens, foams or combinations thereof. The metering layer has a caliper of from 0.15 mm to 39.5 mm and a compressibility as defined herein of from 59% to 93%. The metering layer may be a first metering layer (50) and be laid upon the rim (222) of the well (20) or may be a second metering layer (60) and be laid upon the internal surface (101) of the plate (10), preferably along the perimeter (103). |
| US08091557B2 |
Device to light and extinguish a cigarette with recovery of the cigarette
The device consists of a first container body (1) with a lighter for a cigarette and a housing seat (2) having a size suitable to house a cigarette and it further has a container body (8) to extinguish the cigarette. |
| US08091551B2 |
Facemask with filtering closure
There is provided a protective media and a method of manufacturing the same. In one aspect, the protective media includes a porous dielectric carrier, an active agent incorporated in the porous dielectric carrier, and an electrostatic charge across at least a portion of the porous dielectric carrier. This innovative media is capable of eradicating microorganisms and/or toxins more efficiently than prior art solutions and can also self sterilize. |
| US08091549B2 |
System and method of administering a pharmaceutical gas to a patient
A method and system for delivering a pharmaceutical gas to a patient. The method and system provide a known desired quantity of the pharmaceutical gas to the patient independent of the respiratory pattern of the patient. The preferred pharmaceutical gases are CO and NO, both of which are provided as a concentration in a carrier gas. The gas control system determines the delivery of the pharmaceutical gas to the patient to result in the known desired quantity (e.g. in molecules, milligrams or other quantified units) of the pharmaceutical gas being delivered. Upon completion of that known desired quantity of pharmaceutical gas over a plurality of breaths, the system can either terminate any further delivery of the pharmaceutical gas or can activate an alarm to alert the user that the known quantity has been delivered. The system also has alarm functions to alert the user of possible malfunctions of the system. |
| US08091548B2 |
Anti-condensation device for catheters
An anti-condensation arrangement for catheters including a heated air generator, a sheath covering a catheter such as to create a cavity with it, and a device for the input of heated air produced by the generator into the cavity wherein the sheath has a venting opening to allow the exit of heated air from the cavity and therefore continuous exchange of air. |
| US08091545B2 |
Apparatus for dispensing pressurized contents
Containers for incrementally dispensing pressurized contents are described. The containers comprise a vessel suited to contain pressurized contents, a port integral with the vessel and through which pressurized contents contained in the vessel can be released from the vessel, preferably incrementally in approximately equal amounts, and a measuring device disposed in or otherwise associated with the vessel such that the quantity or amount of contents in the vessel can be measured or assessed. The measuring device senses ambient conditions in the vessel and, directly or with other components, indicates, for example, the amount of pressurized contents remaining in the vessel and displaying it to an observer. Devices for incrementally dispensing pressurized contents from such containers are also described. |
| US08091543B2 |
Cooking oven with anti-condensation door
The present invention generally relates to a cooking oven, which is provided with a cooking cavity and a door adapted to close the cooking cavity. The door is provided with an outer frame and one or more glass panes supported by such frame along the periphery thereof. On the surface of at least one of the glass panes there are applied heating means, which include a layer of substantially clear, e.g. transparent resistive material, and means adapted to connect two sides of such layer of resistive material to appropriate terminals energizable by an electric voltage supplied from a source available inside the oven. |
| US08091542B2 |
Electric toy gun with a power break control mechanism
An electric toy gun having therein a power break control mechanism consisting of an actuator, a power break control set and a swinging block for breaking off power supply upon triggering of the trigger when the clip is empty. When the clip is empty and when the trigger is pressed, the actuator is forced by a spring-loaded lift rod at the bullet outlet of the clip to move the swinging block and the power break control set, causing a power break holder to be moved away from a power contact holder, and therefore power supply is disconnected, avoiding waste of power supply and component damage. |
| US08091540B2 |
Crossbow
A crossbow includes a trigger mechanism having a trigger housing for receiving a bowstring of a crossbow and a bowstring catch mounted with respect to the housing and adapted to releasably engage a crossbow bowstring brought within the trigger housing. The crossbow further includes a trigger adapted to releasably engage the bowstring catch, the trigger being further adapted to be selectively actuated by a user so as to cause the trigger to release the bowstring catch, thereby causing the bowstring catch to release a crossbow bowstring. Optionally, the crossbow may include a ball disposed between the bowstring catch and the trigger, the ball being adapted to bear and react to forces arising between the bowstring catch and the trigger during at least one of the trigger so engaging the bowstring catch and the trigger so releasing the bowstring catch. |
| US08091538B2 |
Method and device for diagnosing an internal combustion engine; computer program and computer program product
In a method for diagnosing an internal combustion engine having first and second fuel injectors, if a misfire is detected, the following steps are performed in sequence: a first fuel quantity of the fuel is introduced only by the first fuel injector; a check is performed to determine whether a misfire results from the introduction of a first fuel quantity in the first step; a second fuel quantity of the fuel is introduced only by the second fuel injector; a check is performed to determine whether a misfire results from the introduction of the second fuel quantity in the third step; and an engine error is diagnosed if a misfire was detected in the second or in the fourth step. |
| US08091537B2 |
Apparatus and method for engine head
An apparatus and method for improving performance in an internal combustion engine includes texturing on an inner surface of at least a portion of an engine head. The texturing may include elongated raised portions extending in one or more directions that may aid in controlling and directing pre-combustion and/or combustion gases in a combustion chamber for a more unified combustion. The result is improved power and/or efficiency. |
| US08091530B2 |
High pressure fuel pump control for idle tick reduction
A method for controlling a mechanical solenoid valve of a high-pressure fuel pump to supply fuel to an engine is provided. In one example, current supplied to the mechanical solenoid valve is adjusted according to a pressure downstream of the fuel pump. The method can reduce current used to operate the mechanical solenoid valve as well as pump noise, at least during some conditions includes. |
| US08091529B2 |
Regulating method for a volume control
In a regulating method for controlling an electrical actuator, especially a valve for regulating a volume flow in an injection system for an internal combustion engine, a nominal value is set for an actuating variable of the actuator; the actuator is controlled by a pulse width-modulated electrical control signal with a pre-defined pulse duty factor and a pre-defined period for adjusting the desired nominal value of the actuating variable; a flow threshold value is determined according to the pre-defined nominal value for the actuating variable; the flow flowing through the actuator is continuously measured during the control by the control signal and before the end of the period; the measured flow is compared with the flow threshold value/and the flow flowing through the actuator is switched off before the end of the period of the control signal if the measured flow exceeds the current threshold value. |
| US08091527B1 |
Method and apparatus for managing combustion mode transitions in an internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine includes two-step variable lift control mechanisms configured to control magnitude of valve lift of intake and exhaust valves to one of two discrete steps including low-lift valve open positions and high-lift valve open positions. A method for operating the engine includes commanding a transition from a first combustion mode to a second combustion mode. Upon commanding the transition, closing of a plurality of secondary throttle valves configured to control intake airflow to a plurality of intake runners upstream of a plurality of intake valves is initiated. Positions of the plurality of secondary throttle valves are then adjusted to achieve a preferred air charge. The two-step variable lift control mechanisms are then commanded to switch from a first of the two discrete steps to a second of the two discrete steps. |
| US08091524B2 |
Valve timing control device
A valve timing control device includes a driving side rotational member, a driven side rotational member, a fluid pressure chamber, a parting portion dividing the fluid pressure chamber into an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber, a restriction member, a restriction recessed portion for restricting a displacement of a relative rotational phase within a range between a most advanced angle phase or a most retarded angle phase and a predetermined phase when the restriction member is inserted into the restriction recessed portion, and a restriction cancellation passage, wherein a communication between the accommodation portion and one of the advanced angle chamber and the retarded angle chamber via the cancellation passage is interrupted at least when the restriction member contacts one of end portions of the restriction recessed portion, and the restriction member is restricted so as not to move over the other one of the end portions. |
| US08091522B2 |
Variable valve driving device
To provide a variable valve driving device which can accurately control the lift amount of valves and can be manufactured at a low cost. The device has: valves (10) serving as intake valves or exhaust valves of an engine; springs (11) for biasing the valves (10) in the valve closing direction; a cam (12) for pressing the valves (10) in the valve opening direction against a biasing force of the springs; a piston (19) joined to the valves (10); a control chamber (21) configured by a piston insertion hole (20) into which the piston (19) is inserted; and a control mechanism (24) for changing the valve closing timing of the valves (10) by controlling the introduction and discharge of a working fluid into and from the control chamber (21). |
| US08091518B2 |
Cooling passage partition for an internal combustion engine
A partition member used in a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The partition member is arranged in a groove-like cooling passage through which a cooling heat medium flows. The partition member includes a separating wall and a flexible lip member. The separating wall divides the cooling passage into an inner passage and an outer passage. The inner passage is located close to the cylinder bores, and the outer passage is located outside of the inner passage. The lip member extends from the separating wall toward the opening of the cooling passage in such a manner that, when the partition member is arranged in the cooling passage, the lip member contacts one of the inner surfaces of the cylinder block forming the cooling passage. When the partition member is arranged in the cooling passage, the distal edge portion of the flexible lip member contacts the inner surface due to force produced through flexible shape restoration of the lip member. |
| US08091515B2 |
Heat exchanger for hot air generator and boiler
A heat exchanger includes at least one exchanger module, including a combustion chamber for the generation of an exchange fluid, a slotted wall for the passage of the exchange fluid and an expulsion chamber for the exchange fluid provided with a discharge flue. Said exchanger module is formed by a pair of basic elements, each of which contributes to form a part of said combustion chamber, a part of said slotted wall and a part of said expulsion chamber. The basic elements are reciprocally connected in facing position so as to form a single block. The present invention facilitates the assembly operations for a heat exchanger, to obtain modular exchangers and to reduce the structural elements of the exchangers. |
| US08091512B2 |
Animal training apparatus and control method thereof
A spray deterrent application type animal training apparatus and its control method is disclosed. The apparatus affixed to the collar of a dog provides a vibration stimulus, stimulus to olfactory sense and visual sense. The transparent spray deterrent reservoir case of the apparatus allows a trainer or an animal owner to simply identify level of spray substance. A light emitting diode (LED) is secured to the vicinity of a spraying nozzle of the spray unit and indicates a spray path by flashing a light on the spray path. Also, an animal is trained using stronger stimulus for a rapid learning at the beginning of training and is warned against an undesired behavior of an animal using light stimulus after being well trained. |
| US08091510B2 |
Compact culture systems
Devices and methods are disclosed for the containment, hatching, and culture of aquatic and semi-aquatic organisms. Methods and device can be applied widely in the care and culture of aquatic and semi-aquatic organisms important in the aquaculture industry, aquarium and pet hobby, science instruction and education, environmental screening and toxicity testing, and the education-entertainment field. |
| US08091508B2 |
Porous article for training animals for urination and defecation
A porous article for attracting animals to excrete urinal and fecal wastes thereof at a predetermined location includes a scent producing agent that is capable of generating a fragrance to attract the animals to the porous article. Further, the porous article includes an absorbent material that is capable of retaining the scent producing agent. A method for training the animals to excrete urinal and fecal wastes thereof at the predetermined location comprises using the porous article. |
| US08091507B2 |
Pan breeder feeder having fill ports providing outwardly and downwardly angled feed delivering surface
A feeder assembly is used in a feed distribution system having a feed supply conduit. The feeder assembly includes an elongated pan member. The feeder assembly includes first and second fill ports for receiving feed from the feed supply conduit and for providing feed onto a base portion of the pan member. Each fill port provides feed to a separate portion of the base portion of the elongated pan member. The fill ports are defined through an outer grill member having an elongated rim member which is operatively associated with the pan member. First and second drop tube members are associated with the first and second fill ports to direct (feed flowing through the fill ports through first and second lower feed gates and onto the pan member. The drop tube members may have brood gates provided therethrough for providing a raised level of feed in the pan member. |
| US08091501B2 |
Amphibious boats, canoes and kayaks
An amphibious small boat, including rowing/fishing/motor/sailing boats, canoes and kayaks has a removable, retractable wheeled undercarriage enabling the craft to be trailered or managed singlehandedly on the ground; or the undercarriage retracted inboard. The canoe and kayak undercarriage is easily removed. Working loads are distributed to the fabric of the craft. The boat undercarriage can be manually lever-controlled and the lever anchors the undercarriage. A motorized actuator is also given. An elevated towing hitch is used with all embodiments, and includes a safety, breakaway link for highway needs. Signal/running lights are included with the small boat embodiments. |
| US08091498B2 |
Rudder arrangement for ships having higher speeds comprising a cavitation-reducing twisted, in particular balanced rudder
The rudder arrangement for ships comprises a twisted and balanced rudder blade having a slender profile and a low profile thickness and comprising a propeller facing the rudder blade. A rudder pipe is located in the upper region of the rudder blade with rudder post located therein, wherein the rudder blade comprises two superposed rudder blade sections having different heights whose front nose strips facing the propeller are offset in such a manner that one nose strip is offset to port or starboard and the other nose strip is offset to starboard or port. The two side wall surfaces of the rudder blade converge into an end strip facing away from the propeller and have different arc profiles. |
| US08091496B2 |
Mast track with external headboard car
Disclosed are luff extrusions that solve problems of batten chafing and friction locking. The inventive luff extrusions provide batten end receptacles with channels for headboard cars. The luff extrusions absorb the wind-generated compressive forces exerted by the battens on the batten pockets and eliminate the need for sail slides. |
| US08091492B2 |
Process and plant for producing a refuse derived solid fuel
Process and plant for producing a refuse derived solid fuel (RDSF), including a first component having a dry fraction of a solid urban waste (MSW) in a shredded form and at least one second component in a shredded form selected from an elastomeric material and a thermoplastic material, or mixtures thereof, wherein the dry fraction of the MSW, the elastomeric polymer material and/or the thermoplastic polymer material are stored in separate containers and when required are metered and fed in subsequent layers onto a continuous conveyor which discharges into a temporary accumulating container, for example, the box body of a motor vehicle, intended to directly feed the combustion plant wherein the RDSF is burned. In this way, there is no need to premix the various fractions of the RDSF during the production stage and to maintain the resulting mixture constantly stirred in order to prevent compaction and/or separation of fractions. In fact, mixing between the various fractions only takes place at the end of the production process when the RDSF is placed in the temporary accumulation container which feeds the combustion plant. |
| US08091488B2 |
Flip top mechanism for table with nesting capabilities
A table top with a flip mechanism has a frame of two spaced apart legs, each leg having two pivoting wheels, a spine connecting each leg, and a table top hingedly connecting to the spine for rotation off the center of the table. The spine and table top extend upon the longitudinal axis of the table. The spine has generally two parallel spaced apart members. The table top hingedly connects to one member and rests upon the other member when the table top is flat. Lifting the table from a longitudinal edge opposite the hinges, the table top pivots upon the hinges and rotates about the spine until upright. The upright table is then parallel to the legs and occupies a minimum footprint. Alternatively, the legs have wheels for easy movement of the table. |
| US08091486B1 |
Adjustable tray
The adjustable tray provides a central body adapted to receive drinks, food, toys, reading material, or any other item(s) that a user places upon the central body. Retention arms pivotally attached to the central body adjust to a retaining position that extends the retention arms above the central body. The retention arms also adjust to an elevating position that extends the retention arms below the central body to raise the central body. Retention arms also detach from each other to pivot freely to avoid obstructing placement of larger items on the central body. A retention lip also maintains items within the confines of the adjustable tray. Unique webbing of the present invention allows the user to adjust the length of webbing extending from the central body and to secure either the front or the rear of the adjustable tray around the user and/or object(s). |
| US08091484B2 |
Carriage-type conveyance system
The present invention makes it easy to employ a floor surface aisle crossing a conveyance path in a conveyance system using a conveyance carriage 1 which travels on guide rails 7a and 7b laid on a floor surface 6 along the conveyance path, wherein at an aisle crossing section 14 in the conveyance path that the aisle on the floor surface crosses, a pit 15 is provided by digging down into the floor surface 6, and inside this pit 15, elevating guide rails 16a and 16b movable vertically parallel between a raised level at which the elevating guide rails connect the guide rails 7a and 7b before and after the pit 15 and a lowered level at which the upper surfaces of the elevating guide rails become flush with the floor surface 6 are disposed, and over the pit 15, a floor member 18 is laid so as to be flush with or substantially flush with the floor surface 8 while leaving elevating apertures for the elevating guide rails 16a and 16b. |
| US08091483B1 |
Amusement park ride with underwater-controlled boats
A boat ride with precise speed and orientation control. The ride includes a track assembly positioned in a water basin and includes front and rear bogies engaging the track assembly. The boat ride includes a passenger boat and front and rear tethering assemblies coupling the front and rear bogies, respectively, to the boat. The ride includes a propulsion assembly positioned along the track assembly that is operable to independently propel, with linear motors, the front and rear bogies at the same or differing first and second velocities by applying a magnetic force to reaction plates on the bogies. The track assembly includes a joined section and a divided section, which includes a primary track on which the front bogie travels and a secondary track, spaced apart from the primary track, on which the rear bogie travels. The boat may be rotated to any orientation in the divided track section. |
| US08091472B2 |
Post-supported covers for food trays
A food warming apparatus includes one or more heating compartments that can hold one or more trays, each covered by a cover, each tray containing previously cooked food portions. One or more supports are disposed inside a heating compartment. A support includes one or more guide members and one or more stop members. A cover includes one or more engagement sections. Without a tray, the cover rests on the one or more stop members. When a tray is inserted into the receiving space defined by the cover and the support, the cover is lifted. The one or more engagement sections engage the one or more guide members to guide the upward motion of the cover. The cover then rests on the tray to at least partially block an open top of the tray, thereby restricting evaporation of liquids from the previously cooked food portions contained therein. |
| US08091469B2 |
Beverage machine with drip tray device for recipients of different heights
A beverage machine comprising a drip tray device that can accommodate recipients of different heights. The drip tray device is formed of a collect tank and has a first drip support grid removably mounted on the tank for holding short recipients and has a second drip support for longer recipients such as a glass. The whole device is removable for ease of emptying and rinsing. In a possible mode, the first removable grid is provided with a gutter to evacuate liquid in a main collect reservoir. |
| US08091468B2 |
Fluid power linear drive device
A fluid power linear drive device comprises a housing tube on whose outer periphery an output drive slide can slide linearly. For this purpose on the outer periphery of the housing tube there are two guide face pairs each having two guide faces extending along the housing tube on the outer periphery of the housing and, in the axial is direction of a first transverse axis of the housing tube, opposite each other, which in the direction of a second transverse axis, perpendicular to the first transverse axis, are spaced apart. The guide faces, as considered in a cross section of the housing tube, are slanted in each case in relation to the first and second transverse axis, first bearing elements arranged on the output drive slide are engaging the guide faces of the one, first guide face pair, such first bearing elements being able to pivot in relation to a pivot axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing tube independently of each other in relation to the output drive slide, and the guide faces of the other, second guide face pair are engaged by second bearing elements arranged of the output drive slide, the transverse position of the second bearing elements assumed in the axial direction of the first transverse axis in relation to the output drive slide being able to be varied. |
| US08091467B2 |
Hydraulic valve circuit with damage-control override
Hydraulic valve circuits capable of variably limiting respective maximum hydraulic pressures at which an assembly of bidirectional hydraulic power devices can move respective clamping members, such as forks or clamp arms, selectively in a closing movement toward each other, in an opening movement away from each other, or in a side-shifting movement in unison with each other, so as to provide damage-control capabilities for the control of the clamping members. The circuits preferably include one or more pressure-regulating valves interconnected with the assembly of power devices, and capable of variably limiting a maximum side-shifting pressure, at which said assembly can cause said side-shifting movement, in response to a maximum pressure selection. The circuits preferably include at least one override assembly, capable of overriding the maximum pressure selection to thereby lower the maximum side-shifting pressure automatically irrespective of the maximum pressure selection. |
| US08091463B1 |
Machine gun ammunition holder incorporating center of gravity downward ejection-deflector
Devices, apparatus, systems and methods of mounting ammunition holders for side loading machine guns and weapons that downwardly eject spent cartridges. The ammunition holders include adjustable hinges attached side plates that both moves the center of gravity of the left side supported ammunition holder to move in a right direction underneath the machine gun until the ammunition holder is balanced relative to the machine gun. The side plate further deflects the spent cartridges from being directly ejected downward from the machine gun and instead deflect the spent cartridges to one side of the machine gun away from both the machine gun and an operator of the gun. The ammunition containers can be ammunition belt boxes. The ammunition containers can be ammunition pouch bags. Frames can allow for bags to be inserted therein and be pre-shaped to form a deflection surface by a built on side wall which functions as a deflection plate to deflect spent cartridges and shells sideways away from the gun. |
| US08091462B2 |
Firearm attachment locking system
A locking system for a firearm attachment. The locking system having a rotating lock ring having a lock-and-release lever rotatably mounted thereto. The lock-and-release lever having a lock engagement surface optimally configured to forcefully engage a locking surface when in a locked orientation. The locking ring having a nonconcentric engagement surface that repositions in a radial direction when the locking ring rotates and the nonconcentric engagement surface is configured to engage the muzzle of a firearm for locking the muzzle attachment thereto. |
| US08091461B1 |
System for water-based launch of an unmanned aerial vehicle
A system includes a support structure having a compressed air tank therein, a pneumatic launch assembly coupled to the support structure, and an inflatable bladder disposed around at least a portion of a region defined by the support structure and the pneumatic launch assembly. The angle of the pneumatic launch assembly with respect to the support structure is adjustable. The pneumatic launch assembly comprises a launch tube, a compressed air manifold contained within the launch tube and in fluid connection with the compressed air tank, the compressed air manifold having an air outlet, a telescoping guide rod connected to the compressed air manifold, and a shuttle slidably coupled to the telescoping guide rod and at least partially disposed over the air outlet. The system may include a collapsible stabilizing weight coupled to the support structure, as well as communications and control circuitry within the launch tube. |
| US08091460B2 |
Missile secure-release mechanism having wheel lock detent
The invention efficiently and effectively secures and releases a rail-launched missile. An asymmetrical secure-release wheel (70) is defined by several surfaces which extend radially outward from a pivot hole (70K). The surfaces include a wheel unlatch surface (70H), a wheel notch stop surface (70D), a wheel detent surface (70G), a clockwise stop surface (70C) and a counterclockwise stop surface (70B). The wheel (70) is rotatable within a wheel housing (72). When a missile is loaded onto the launch rail, the middle shoe of the missile engages the detent surface (70G) of the wheel. During missile launch, the plume of the missile moves a trigger (110) which pulls a connecting rod (52) aft which results in a wheel lock (78) being disengaged from the detent surface (70G). A microswitch (56) provides a signal indicating whether the wheel (70) is in a latched or unlatched state. |
| US08091459B2 |
Method and apparatus for making a rotary tool for chip removing machining
A method for manufacturing a rotary tool for chip removing machining with at least one chip flute that extends in the longitudinal direction of the tool. The method involves preparing a mixture of a cemented carbide, cermet or ceramics powder and a carrier, such as a polymer, and placing the mixture in an extruding machine. The mixture is extruded in a feed direction by means of a die to form the diameter of the mixture body. The mixture body passes against a chisel which forms a chip flute in the outer periphery of the mixture body by chip-removing machining. When the chisel is displaced away from the mixture body, a non-fluted shaft portion is formed. By rotating the mixture body while contacted by the chisel, a helical chip flute can be formed. Alternatively, the body could be twisted after a straight flute has been formed, whereupon the flute becomes helical. |
| US08091458B2 |
Control of food slicing machines
A food slicing machine is provided which is particularly suitable for slicing food products such as bacon, cheese or cooked meats. The machine has a slicing blade (1), and advancing apparatus (5, 6) operable to engage one end (13) of a food product (4) to be sliced and, on an advancing stroke, push the food product towards the slicing blade for slicing of the other end of the product. The machine includes a sensor (1) operative to produce a sensing signal representative of the position of said one end (13) of the product prior to engagement thereof by the advancing apparatus, and control circuitry for controlling the extent of a return stroke by the advancing apparatus in dependence upon the sensing signal. |
| US08091454B1 |
Jewelry tool
A jewelry tool is disclosed for engaging a body jewelry. The jewelry tool comprises a tubular body having an interior chamber. A tubular core extends between a major end and a minor end. The tubular core is made of a deformable polymeric material. The tubular core is positioned within the tubular body. A bead bore defines a bore dimension and traverses into the tubular core from the major end. The bore dimension of the bead bore is less than a bead dimension of a bead for deforming the bead bore relative to the bead upon insertion of said bead into said bead bore for creating a friction couple. The friction couple secures the bead relative to the tubular body and transfers a rotational force from the tubular body to the bead for threadably engaging and disengaging the bead with a shaft. |
| US08091453B2 |
Wire stripper
A wire stripper includes: a first main body having a main body portion, a rear grip, a lower engaging portion and an internal accommodating space; a second main body having an outer casing, an inner casing received in the outer casing, two upper engaging portions, two first rail holes located on both sides of the outer casing, two second rails, two first rails located on both sides of the inner casing and two second rail holes; and a third main body having a left casing and a right casing combined with each other, a front grip extending downwards from the left casing and the right casing, an acting portion connected between the second main body and the third main body, and a spring portion abutting in the front grip and the rear grip. The second main body and the third main body are received in the accommodating space. |
| US08091449B2 |
Steering apparatus
End portions of lower-side telescopic friction plates 61, 61 which lie to face a front side of a vehicle body are connected integrally by a connecting portion 612, and a lower end 617 of the connecting portion 612 is fixed to an outer circumference of an upper-side lower column 10A by means of welding. When an upper column 11 is fastened on to a vehicle body mounting bracket 3 for tilt and telescopic positioning of the upper column 11, the lower-side telescopic friction plates 61 and upper-side telescopic friction plates 62 are fastened together. The upper column 11 and the lower column 10 are connected together via the lower-side telescopic friction plates 6 and the upper-side telescopic friction plates 62, whereby the rigidity and vibration properties of a steering apparatus as a whole are enhanced. |
| US08091448B2 |
Manipulator with distributed actuation mechanism
The present invention relates to a manipulator having distributed mechanism for maximizing the performance of the manipulator. The manipulator is comprised of a first link; a second link; a joint for rotatably joining the first link and the second link each other; a connector having a first movable node at one end and a second movable node at the other end; a driver for providing power to linearly move the first movable node and the second movable node; and a guide for guiding the first movable node and the second movable node linearly.The first movable node is connected to the first link and is capable of linearly moving and rotating with respect to the first link. The second movable node is connected to the second link and is capable of linearly moving and rotating with respect to the second link. |
| US08091446B2 |
Reverse gear locking mechanism for vehicle
A transmission for a vehicle is disclosed. The transmission has a reverse gear locking device that includes a rotating shaft having a longitudinal axis, the rotating shaft adapted for rotational movement about its longitudinal axis, and a lock connected to the rotating shaft and positioned in alignment with a stopper extending from the shift drum of the transmission. The initial position of the lock prevents the shift drum from engaging the reverse gear. A rotational movement of the rotating shaft tilts the lock out of alignment with the stopper and allows the shift drum to engage the reverse gear. |
| US08091443B2 |
Speed reduction type starter for engines
The speed reduction type starter for engines comprises the engaging part 34 arranged in the perimeter of two internal gears 25 and 29 used for a set of speed reducers coaxially, the magnetic coil 35 that drives the engaging part 34 to the direction of the anti-motor side, and the return spring 37 that pushes the engaging part 34 to the direction of the motor sideWhen the magnetic coil 35 is in the OFF state, the engaging part 34 is pushed to the motor side by the return spring 37 to engage with the 1st internal gear 25 mechanically, so that the rotation of the 1st internal gear 25 is regulated and the 1st reduction ratio is selected.On the other hand, when the magnetic coil 35 is in the state of ON, the engaging part 34 is moved to the anti-motor side to engage with the 2nd internal gear 29, so that the rotation of the 2nd internal gear 29 is regulated and the 2nd reduction ratio is selected. |
| US08091441B2 |
Method for evaluating dispersibility of powder and method for evaluating concentration of airborne powder, and method for designing containment facility using the same
A method for evaluating the powder dispersibility including dispersing a powder allowed to stand inside a closed container by mechanical vibration applied quantitatively to the powder; collecting the dispersed powder on a quartz crystal element or a piezo element; and measuring the mass of the collected powder using a quartz crystal microbalance or a piezo element mass meter to thereby measure the airborne powder concentration in air inside the closed container; a method for evaluating airborne powder concentration at work place using the method for evaluating the powder dispersibility; and a method for designing a powder containment facility using the method for evaluating airborne powder concentration. |
| US08091440B2 |
Non-destructive test apparatus
The present invention provides a non-destructive test apparatus which can be applied not only to a structure in dry conditions but also to a structure constructed under water or in a location to which it is difficult for a worker to gain access. The non-destructive test apparatus includes a support frame which is disposed adjacent to the target structure and has a vertical guide rail, and a vacuum box which moves upwards or downwards along the guide rail of the support frame. The vacuum box is attached to the target structure and creates a vacuum therein. The non-destructive test apparatus further includes a hoist which is provided on the upper end of the support frame to move the vacuum box upwards or downwards, a fastening unit which fastens the support frame and the vacuum box to the target structure, and a vacuum pump which creates a vacuum in the vacuum box. The non-destructive test apparatus further includes a defect detecting unit which measures a strength of vacuum in the vacuum box to determine whether the target structure is defective, and a control unit which controls the elements. |
| US08091438B1 |
Torsion tool
A torsion tool includes a body having an operating head formed thereon for driving a workpiece and a power set disposed therein. A control assembly is installed into the body and includes a seat received therein. The seat includes a microcontroller disposed therein and a sensor electrically connected to the microcontroller, wherein the sensor is disposed in the body for sensing the change of the operating torsion. A transceiver and a switch are respectively electrically connected to the microcontroller. A first conducting set is disposed in the seat. A display module is detachably received in the seat for showing torsion value. The display module includes a second conducting set electrically connected to the microcontroller of the display module, wherein the second conducting set is selectively electrically connected to the first conducting set for directly receiving the signal from the microcontroller of the seat. |
| US08091435B2 |
Ultrasonic measuring arrangement
An ultrasonic measuring arrangement (1) for the flow, speed of sound, density, viscosity and/or temperature measurement of flowing media, including a measurement tube (2) having a measurement section (3), with the tube being disposed in an area of a measurement housing (4). At least two ultrasound transmitting receivers are spaced apart as sensors for sound transmission through the measurement section (3) in the direction of flow of a medium, and opposite thereto, and for signal recording. In order to provide an ultrasonic measuring arrangement (1) that is simple and inexpensive to produce, has a small nominal diameter and permits direct sound transmission through the measurement section (3) at as low a transmission output as possible, the measurement tube (3) is configured together with the measurement housing (4) as a one-piece housing part (5) free of seals and seams, and the sound path form an acute angle with the flow direction of the medium. |
| US08091428B2 |
Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus
An ultrasonic probe has a plurality of modules joined at least along the elevation direction. The module has a plurality of first piezoelectric transducers having a first width with respect to the elevation direction. The module has at least one second piezoelectric transducer having a second width narrower than the first width with respect to the elevation direction. The second piezoelectric transducer is arranged at the module ends with respect to the elevation direction. The module is arranged in such a manner that the second piezoelectric transducer faces the second piezoelectric transducer of the adjacent module. |
| US08091425B2 |
Ultrasonic testing method of threaded joint of pipes or tubes
An ultrasonic testing method relates to a threaded joint of pipes including a pin having an external thread part, a metal seal part, and a shoulder part on an outer peripheral surface, and a box having an internal thread part, a metal seal part, and a shoulder part with the box and pin being fastened together using a lubricant. The method includes transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a plurality of locations along an axial direction of the threaded joint in at least one of the internal thread part, the metal seal part, and the shoulder part of the box; detecting echo intensities and reception times of echoes for the plurality of locations; and detecting an abnormal portion in the threaded joint based on a longitudinal axial directional distribution of the echo intensities and longitudinal axial directional distribution of reception times of the echoes. |
| US08091422B2 |
Breathing gas supply visual broadcast apparatus
A gas measurement apparatus can comprise a sensor and a processor, in an example. The sensor can measure a pressure condition of a gas tank, in an example. The processor can select at least one light source, the light source can be positioned or of a distinct color to indicate a corresponding level of gas remaining in the tank when illuminated. The level of gas can be based on the measured pressure. |
| US08091418B2 |
Transmission system for tire state quantities
A transmission device for motor vehicles for transmitting signals about tire condition variables from a wheel to an electronic evaluating or control unit arranged in the area of the vehicle body, wherein the tire condition variables can be detected especially by one or a plurality of sensor subassemblies (14) which are arranged in a wheel rotatably mounted at the body above the wheel hub (3), characterized in that a coupling device is integrated into the wheel hub, which is composed of a rotor (6a) and a non-rotating stator (6b) to generate a field coupling, and whose one or more field coupling elements (20, 22, 27a, 27b, 29a, 29b, 30a, 30b, 34a, 34b, 39a, 39b, 42, 43) are opposite each other, separated by a narrow air slot (24), and an energy and/or signal coupling takes place by way of electric fields and/or magnetic fields, and/or electromagnetic fields, is meant to determine the rotational speed of the wheel. To this end, the rotor (6a) and/or the stator (6b) is subdivided in a circumferential direction into two or more sectors, with the sectors having a differing permeability for a rotational-speed-responsive field coupling of rotor (6a) and stator (6b). |
| US08091413B2 |
Mass air flow measurement device
An arrangement of a mass intake air flow measurement device suitable for integrating a humidity sensing device as well as a temperature sensing device and a pressure sensing device is provided. A second bypass passage bypassing a bypass passage is formed and a humidity sensing device is mounted in the second bypass passage. A second bypass passage inlet and a second bypass passage outlet formed in a wall surface of the bypass passage are opened parallel to the direction of flow of air flowing in the bypass passage. |
| US08091411B2 |
Apparatus and method for estimating bounce back angle of a stopped engine
An engine control system, controller, and method for estimating a bounce back angle of an internal combustion engine. Typical crank sensors do not indicate crank direction, a feature that would be useful to determine if an engine reversal occurs leading to the engine accumulating a bounce back angle. A crank sensor signal is analyzed as the engine coasts to a stop so an engine reversal can be detected. After an engine reversal is detected, the crank sensor signal is analyzed to determine the bounce back angle. Engine reversal is detected by determining that the crank shaft has decelerated by more than a threshold value, or that the crank shaft has decelerated and then subsequently accelerated. |
| US08091407B2 |
Method and device for monitoring a flow of liquid for the presence of air by means of ultrasound
The invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring a flow of liquid for the presence of air bubbles, in particular the blood flowing in an extracorporeal blood circuit of an extracorporeal blood treatment device. The air bubbles are detected by an ultrasound measurement and the ultrasound signals received in a continuous sequence of time intervals are each compared to a predetermined reference level. When the amplitude of the ultrasound signal, or a parameter correlating to the amplitude of the ultrasound signal, is less than the predetermined reference level, the presence of a defined volume of air is determined. When the number of times the ultrasound signal is less that the predetermined reference value if is greater than the set limit value, it is determined that a critical volume of air is present in the patient's blood and the dialysis is stopped. |
| US08091405B2 |
Device and method for calibrating a pipette or a dispensing system
The present invention relates to a device (1) for calibrating a pipette or a dispensing system comprising a plate (2), said plate (2) comprising at least one channel (3) with a loading port (4) for receiving a test volume of a fluid at one end of the at least one channel and an opening (5) at the other end of the at least one channel, wherein the at least one channel (3) is constructed as a capillary. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for calibrating a pipette or a dispensing system, comprising the steps of introducing a first volume of a fluid into a loading port (4) of a device (1), recording a first length of the fluid column in a channel (3) of the device (1), introducing a second volume of a fluid from the pipette or the dispensing system to be calibrated to the same loading port (4), recording a second length of the fluid column in the channel (3), and computing the volume dispensed by the pipette or the dispensing system by calculating the distance between the second length and the first length and multiplying said distance with the cross-section of the channel (3). |
| US08091404B2 |
Abnormality diagnosis apparatus for NOx sensor
An NOx catalyst of storage reduction type and an after-catalyst NOx sensor are provided in an exhaust passage in an internal combustion engine. The after-catalyst NOx sensor detects the NOx concentration on the downstream side of the NOx catalyst. The NOx concentration on the upstream side of the NOx catalyst is detected or estimated. The possible abnormality of the after-catalyst NOx sensor is determined by comparing the NOx concentration on the upstream side of the NOx catalyst detected or estimated and the NOx concentration detected by the after-catalyst NOx sensor, under the condition that the NOx catalyst does not substantially absorb NOx in exhaust gas. Abnormality diagnosis is performed with the possible impact of the NOx catalyst inhibited. |
| US08091402B2 |
Method of manufacturing bottle can
In this bottle can manufacturing method, when a portion located at the skirt portion 7 is being molded, the portion extending in an opposite direction in which the male threaded portion 6 extends from a lower end 6a of the male threaded portion 6 over a range of at least approximately 180° along a circumferential direction of the skirt portion 7, the inner surfaces of molding pre-form portions of the first circumferential wall portion and the convexly curved surface portion from among the molding pre-form portions of the skirt portion 7 are pressed outward in the radial direction of the bottle can body. |
| US08091401B2 |
New-type thin shredder blade having blade points without steps, blade sets and manufacturing method thereof
Thin shredder blade having blade points without steps, including blade body and cutting part located on periphery of blade body and includes a blade point. The cutting part includes a primary protrusion protruding from the cutting part. The primary protrusion includes a top, an inclined plane extending between the top and blade point, and an acute angle formed by inclined plane and blade body. The plane is an inverted triangle. The cutting part further includes first and second hemlines extending from the blade body and intersecting to the blade point. A first plane extends between the top and first hemline and intersects with the inclined plane. The blade body includes a large protrusion which protrudes in the same direction as the primary protrusion. The blade sets formed by the thin blades and the manufacturing method of the thin blades are provided. |
| US08091400B2 |
Device and method for forming a workpiece
The present invention relates to a device for forming, in particular for cold forming, here in particular for cold extruding, a workpiece, which device has a forming die and a feed device by means of which a relative movement can be generated between the workpiece and the forming die, wherein the device has a frequency generating device which interacts with the feed device and by which the relative movement between the workpiece and the forming die, as generated by the feed device, can be modulated in such a way that following a forward stroke in which the workpiece and/or the forming die pass through a first stroke travel in the feeding direction, a movement of the forming die and/or of the workpiece can be effected in a subsequent reverse stroke, over a second stroke travel in a direction opposite to the feeding direction, and to a method for forming a workpiece wherein a relative movement between the workpiece and a forming die is generated by a feed device, which relative movement between the workpiece and the forming die, produced by the feed device, is modulated in such a way that following a forward stroke in which the workpiece and/or the forming die pass through a first stroke travel, a movement of the forming die and/or of the workpiece can be effected in a subsequent reverse stroke, over a second stroke travel in a direction opposite to the feeding direction. |
| US08091398B2 |
Apparatus and method for the manufacture of a spring unit
Apparatus and methods for use in the manufacture of a spring unit for incorporation into an upholstered article, for example, a mattress, cushion or the like. Coil formation apparatus includes a drive shaft used to control movement of a coil pitch guide member and a link member comprising a connecting rod connected to a radius arm of the drive shaft by means of an adjustable connection. A coil interlinking process comprises compressing a first coil to define a clearance extending a second coil passed the first coil via the clearance, allowing the first coil to extend across the clearance, and contracting the second coil such that the second coil engages the first coil thereby interlinking the first and second coils. Spring unit manufacturing apparatus comprises a plurality of jaw pairs each comprising a first fixed jaw and a pivotal second jaw, the pivotal second jaw being pivoted by a cam and linkage assembly that is operated by a rotary drive shaft. |
| US08091396B2 |
Method for forming an end portion of a cylindrical workpiece
A method for forming a part of deformed cross section with non-rotation symmetry on an end portion of a cylindrical workpiece. The method includes steps of performing a first relative motion of a roller against the workpiece toward its one open end, and performing a second relative motion of the roller against at least a part of outer peripheral surface of the end portion of the workpiece toward the inside thereof, while the roller is rotated relative to the workpiece by one rotation, in such a state as being held to be in contact with the end portion, in a plane which is perpendicular to the moving direction of the first relative motion, and which includes a position where the roller contacts the outer peripheral surface of the end portion, and performing a rotational motion of the roller relatively rotating around the workpiece, while performing the second relative motion, with the roller being held to be in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the end portion. The first relative motion is performed up to a position exceeding the one open end, while repeating the second relative motion and the rotational motion. |
| US08091390B2 |
Hide folding system and method
The present invention is a method and system for processing animal hides in a meat processing facility. In one embodiment, the system the system includes a grading station for determining hide grades, a measuring station for determining at least one hide dimension of the animal hide, a hide folding station, a stacking station adapted to deposit hides at a plurality of stacking sites, a conveyor system and a control system. |
| US08091387B2 |
Method of manufacturing glass articles, method of manufacturing glass gobs, and method of manufacturing optical elements
A method of manufacturing high-quality preforms from glass melt, manufacturing glass elements, such as lenses, by press molding these preforms and, manufacturing optical elements by reheating and press molding these glass gobs. In the method glass gobs are continuously separated from a glass melt flow continuously flowing out of a nozzle and the separated glass gobs are formed with glass forming members that are intermittently or continuously moving. A support member is made to approach the front end of the nozzle, the front end of the glass melt flow is received by the support member, and the support member is dropped more rapidly than the rate of flow of the glass melt flow to separate a glass gob from the glass melt flow. The separated glass gob is transferred from the support member to a stopped or moving glass forming member to mold a glass article. |
| US08091385B2 |
Formation of glass flakes
A method for changing the width of particle thickness size distribution of flakes of material with the flakes being formed by a process that includes the steps of feeding a stream of molten material in a downwards direction into a rotating cup or disc and allowing the material to pass over the edge of the cup or disc in such a manner as to be forced into a gap between a pair of plates surrounding the cup or disc. The movement of material in the process used for forming the flakes is maintained in an angular direction and effected by a flow of air passing through the plates and either side of the material, so as to pull the stream of material in a manner for keeping it flat and, further, to pull the stream of material so that, as solidification of the material is effected, the sheet of material so formed is broken into flakes. The method for adjusting the width of particle thickness size distribution of the flakes of material so formed includes the step of varying the distance between the cup, or the disc, and the entrance to the gap between the plates until the desired particle size distribution is obtained. |
| US08091383B1 |
Two finger ring and two toe ring
A significant improvement in ring designs which greatly increases the size of the ring in order to accommodate larger ornamentation such as stones incorporated into the ring. The present invention achieves its improved design by making the ring large enough so that it encircles two adjacent fingers of a hand or two adjacent toes of a foot, thereby increasing the size of the ring so that it can accommodate larger ornamentation such as large stones. |
| US08091377B2 |
Simultaneous heating/cooling multi air conditioner
A heat pump capable of performing heating and cooling simultaneously is provided. The heat pump includes a compressor, indoor devices that heat or cool an indoor space, outdoor heat exchangers, and switching devices. The outdoor heat exchangers are configured to individually operate as a condenser or an evaporator depending on a ratio of heating to cooling of the indoor devices. When an operation mode is changed, continuous heating and cooling is performed without stopping the system. |
| US08091376B2 |
Bent coil for ducted unit
A bent coil used in a ducted heating and cooling unit improves heat exchange. The bent coil increases the overall surface area of the coil for a given duct volume. Openings in a separation wall focus an air flow from fans towards the bent coil. Fins direct the air through the bent coil, and a net removes turbulence from the air flow prior to moving through the bent coil. The bent coil discharges air both longitudinally and laterally, eliminating the need for any additional ducting downstream from the bent coil to divert air toward the sides. |
| US08091373B2 |
Method of twinning air conditioning units
Heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment units are provided with controllers which may be interconnected to a third or common controller, such as a communicating thermostat, and provide information in a process to determine if two or more of such air conditioning units may be operated as twinned units. Information is transmitted over a data bus between the controllers for the respective air conditioning units and the common controller to determine if the air conditioning units are the same type, of a same family and of essentially the same capacity before permitting twinned operation. If one of the air conditioning units is not twinnable, an alarm signal is generated to prevent operation of the air conditioning units in a multiple-unit configuration. |
| US08091372B1 |
Heat pump defrost system
A heat pump defrost system for efficiently defrosting an outdoor coil while simultaneously operating the heat pump in a normal heating manner. The heat pump defrost system generally includes a primary flow circuit including an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor connected thereto and a reverse valve for toggling a direction of refrigerant flow therethrough, and an auxiliary flow circuit for deicing the outdoor heat exchanger. The auxiliary flow circuit includes a valve for connecting the auxiliary flow circuit to the primary flow circuit, a heat sink in line with the auxiliary flow circuit, wherein the heat sink stores defrost fluid within the auxiliary flow circuit, at least one thermostat to read an outdoor ambient temperature and a control unit for operatively engaging the valve to direct the hot gas from the compressor of the primary circuit within the auxiliary flow circuit and the heat pump according to the outdoor ambient temperature for deicing the outdoor heat exchanger. |
| US08091369B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating electrical power
A superheater in a power plant that superheats steam to operation conditions exceeding an operating limit of an associated steam-producing boiler. The superheater combusts oxygen and fuel with cooled recycled combustion gas to produce a CO2-rich combustion product gas stream at a fixed temperature. The combustion gas is used as the heat transfer fluid in the superheater's heat exchanger. The CO2-rich flue gas stream allows for efficient capture of substantially pure CO2. The superheater may be retrofitted to an existing power plant as a separate component, external to the boiler. The plant may thus have its electrical power output increased, while its overall CO2 emissions per nit of generated power is decreased, even when inexpensive, readily-available fossil fuels are used as the primary fuel for filing the boiler and/or the superheater. |
| US08091361B1 |
Method and apparatus for controlling the final feedwater temperature of a regenerative Rankine cycle using an exergetic heater system
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for increasing the final feedwater temperature associated with a regenerative Rankine cycle, said cycle commonly used in thermal systems such as conventional power plants, whose steam generators are fired with a fossil fuel and whose regenerative Rankine cycle employs a reheating of the working fluid. This invention involves the placement of an Exergetic Heater System in the feedwater path of the regenerative Rankine cycle. The Exergetic Heater System conditions and heats feedwater such that the temperature of the cycle's final feedwater as it enters the steam generator has reached a desired value. The Exergetic Heater System receives its driving steam from an Intermediate Pressure turbine extraction. |
| US08091360B2 |
Driving device
The invention relates to a drive system for motor vehicles comprising a waste heat-producing internal combustion engine and a circuit for draining off at least partially said waste heat with a working fluid which is relievable in an expansion machine, wherein said working fluid comprises several components, wherein at least one component is transferable into a gas phase by absorbing heat of the internal combustion engine and/or another source inside the drive system which also comprises means for separating the liquid fraction from the working fluid prior to the expansion machine pressure removal. The internal combustion engine can be cooled by a first cooling circuit. A second cooling circuit can be used in such a way that the first cooling circuit is cooled thereby. |
| US08091357B2 |
System for recovering engine exhaust energy
A system for recovering engine exhaust energy is provided. The system includes an exhaust system including a first exhaust branch and a second exhaust branch. The system includes a first and a second group of exhaust valves associated with a plurality of engine cylinders. The system also includes an energy recovering assembly. The system further includes a control mechanism configured to control at least one of the first and second groups of exhaust valves according to a determined timing strategy based on at least one engine operating parameter. |
| US08091354B2 |
Exhaust assembly with universal multi-position water trap
An exhaust assembly includes a water trap blocking upstream water flow at a plurality of angular positions enabling universal application and flexibility of orientation. |
| US08091348B2 |
Method and apparatus for exhaust aftertreatment in an internal combustion engine
A method and system for managing an exhaust gas feedstream from an internal combustion engine operative lean of stoichiometry includes steps and apparatus for diverting exhaust around a three-way catalytic converter during NOx adsorber regeneration thereby increasing reductants available in the NOx adsorber to react with the adsorbed NOx. |
| US08091346B2 |
Method for modifying air provided for regeneration
A method for regenerating a filtering device is disclosed. The method may include creating a flow of exhaust with a power source and providing air to a combustion device configured to heat the flow of exhaust. The method may also include determining if a parameter is above a threshold. The parameter may be indicative of an amount of air provided to the combustion device. The method may further include modifying an operating condition of the power source if the parameter is above the threshold, where modifying the operating condition affects the parameter. |
| US08091342B2 |
Technique for production of ammonia on demand in a three way catalyst for a passive selective catalytic reduction system
A method for controlling a powertrain includes selectively initiating an ammonia generation cycle, including injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an engine before a primary combustion event to a calibrated air fuel ratio in a range lean of stoichiometry based upon generation of NOx within the combustion chamber, injecting fuel into the combustion chamber after the primary combustion event based upon an overall air fuel ratio in a range rich of stoichiometry and resulting generation of molecular hydrogen, and utilizing a catalyst device between the engine and a selective catalytic reduction device to produce ammonia. |
| US08091338B2 |
Exhaust gas cleaning apparatus for lean burn internal combustion engine
An exhaust gas cleaning apparatus includes a LNT, a fuel adding device, an exhaust gas returning passage, and a controller. The LNT is provided in an exhaust gas passage of an engine. The fuel adding device is located upstream of the LNT to add fuel to exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust pipe. The exhaust gas returning passage branches off from the exhaust gas passage at a position downstream of the fuel adding device. The controller controls the apparatus to selectively operate in one of first and second modes according to the operating condition of the engine. In the first mode, the fuel adding device adds the fuel to the exhaust gas with the exhaust gas returning passage closed; in the second mode, the exhaust gas is partially returned to an intake air passage through the exhaust gas returning passage without the fuel being added by the fuel adding device. |
| US08091335B2 |
Swept fan ramp for pivot door thrust reverser
A swept fan ramp for a pivot door thrust reverser includes a cylindrical unit with an elliptical flared portion, a side portion, and a rectangular flared portion. The elliptical flared portion is operable to reduce drag on airflow in a reverse direction and is coupled to the top center and bottom center of the circumference of the cylindrical unit. The side portion is operable to reduce side spillage airflow and is coupled to the central left side and central right side of the aft circumference of the cylindrical unit. The rectangular flared portion is operable to promote separation of airflow into an upper airflow path and a lower airflow path, is coupled with the aft circumference of the cylindrical unit, and is connected to the elliptical flared portion and the side portion. |
| US08091331B2 |
Windrow merger
A windrow merger including three pickup and transfer units, a folding system, and a plurality of float mechanisms. The folding system employs simultaneous rearward, outward, and upward folding motion so as to ensure none of the units interfere with the other units while folding, and likewise while unfolding. The folding system can further fold and unfold each of the three pickup and transfer units at the same time. During merging operations, the plurality of float mechanisms of the windrow merger limits the range of motion of each pickup and transfer unit. The float mechanisms further transfer a portion of the weight of each pickup and transfer unit from the ground to the frame of the merger. The units of the windrow merger can also include a rub rail having a surface that reduces swirling or clumping of material as the material is conveyed toward an end of the windrow merger. |
| US08091330B2 |
Draper header with a belt guard and a draper belt having a crop-retaining rib
A harvesting machine includes a draper header with a header frame, a crop-cutting assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the crop-cutter assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the crop-cutter assembly and convey the material laterally. The draper assembly includes a draper belt with a crop-retaining rib to retain severed crop material on the draper belt and to restrict movement of the crop material back to the crop-cutting assembly. At least one belt guard is attached to and disposed along the crop-cutting assembly. |
| US08091319B2 |
Apparatus for packaging non-contact printed comestible products
The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for packaging a non-contact printed edible substrate as well as the resultant packaged product. The packaging apparatus may include a non-contact printer, a carrier, and a package located at a discharge position. The carrier may be constructed and arranged to transport the edible substrate from the print position to the package and orient same in the package so that the printed ink indicia is visible through at least a portion of a panel of the package. At a print position, the non-contact printer is constructed and arranged to apply an edible ink indicia to an edible substrate. The packaging apparatus may form a packaged product having a plurality of compartments where at least one compartment at least partially defined by a panel. The interior of the compartment contains at least one edible substrate comprising a surface and a printed edible ink indicia on the surface so that the ink indicia is visible through at least a portion of the panel. |
| US08091318B2 |
Formed part for vehicle body structural member
Curved portions are formed on a first vertical wall portion that continues from a headwall portion and curved portions are formed on a second vertical wall portion that continues from the headwall portion. A difference in the linear length on the first vertical wall portion side before forming and after forming is cancelled out (i.e., absorbed) by the sum of the amounts that the curved portions protrude. Similarly, a difference in the linear length on the second vertical wall portion side before forming and after forming is cancelled out (i.e., absorbed) by the sum of the amounts that the curved portions protrude. As a result, tensile stress on the first vertical wall portion side and compression stress on the second vertical wall portion side can be prevented or minimized. |
| US08091317B2 |
Wire bolt
A wire bolt comprising an elongated section of wire rope with a section of threaded stud attached to each end is disclosed for use in reinforcing concrete structures. Part of the wire rope portion is coated with a substance to prevent that portion from bonding with the concrete. The threaded rod portion can be attached within the concrete by epoxy or attached to the concrete by appropriate mechanical means. The wire bolt can be attached to a concrete building structure during initial construction of a structure or retrofit into existing structures. Wire bolts should be installed in areas susceptible to shear or bending failure and serve to prevent the concrete sections from separating in a seismic event. |
| US08091315B2 |
Building block comprising light transmitting fibres and a method for producing the same
The present invention relates to a building block (2) comprising embedded light transmitting fibres (6) in a cast material (4), where the fibers are arranged in the cast material from a first lateral surface (8) of the building block to an opposite second lateral surface (10) of the same, whereby a fiber end, respectively, is arranged to end up at a respective position (12) on the first lateral surface (8), and the other end of the fiber is arranged to end up at a respective position (14) on the second lateral surface, whereby the fibers (6), respectively, permits transfer of light through the building block emitted from a light source arranged behind either of the lateral surfaces (8, 10), that the cast material (4) and the embedded fibers (6) therein constitute a building block (2) with a homogeneous structure that can receive load and further that a plurality of fibers (6) are evenly distributed over substantially the whole lateral surface (8, 10), respectively, whereby light can be emitted from the evenly distributed fiber ends in positions (12, 14) over substantially the whole lateral surface. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a building block comprising embedded light transmitting fibers. |
| US08091313B2 |
Drainage place for exterior wall product
An apparatus and method for a drainage system of an exterior wall of a building comprising insulation having a rear face for contact with the exterior wall of the building and a drainage plane positioned on the rear face for removal of water from the exterior wall. |
| US08091309B2 |
Insulation containing inorganic fiber and spherical additives
The present invention provides thermal insulation products such as loose fill, batts and boards, such as duct boards and duct liner. The insulation products include randomly distributed inorganic fibers, which are supplemented with at least about five weight percent microspheres, macrospheres, or both, and preferably include hollow microspheres, which boost the insulation value of the fiberglass thermal insulation by at least about 0.5R. |
| US08091307B2 |
Convection baffle for hollow blocks
The convection baffle for hollow blocks increases the R-value of a hollow block when one or more convection dampers are received within passages defined through the hollow block. The convection baffle includes an upper wall having laterally opposed first and second side edges, a lower wall having laterally opposed first and second side edges, first and second laterally opposed sidewalls, and a central wall having opposed upper and lower edges. The convection baffle is substantially G-shaped. The convection baffle decreases convection current flow within the passage of the hollow block to increase the overall R-value of the hollow block. |
| US08091304B2 |
Construction board
The invention relates to a construction panel, in particular for use in dry construction. |
| US08091302B2 |
Raised floor access panel with integrated leveler
A floor panel plate has four corner portions, four lateral edge portions, an upper load bearing surface, a lower plenum surface, and a clear hole positioned adjacent to each of the corner portions. A threaded collar is vertically connected to the lower plenum surface and positioned in axial alignment with the clear hole. A single handed set screw has an upper tool receiving end and a lower foot end. The set screw engages the threaded collar so that the tool receiving end extends through the clear hole so that when operated the set screw adjusts the upper load bearing surface to a predetermined level in relation to the pedestal head of a pedestal support system. |
| US08091301B2 |
Sound-insulating partition wall and assembly method for such a partition wall
Partition walls for absorbing or reflecting sound waves are already available in various types and qualities. Such partition walls are generally permanently fixed to a structural member of a building, for example, or are otherwise permanently stationed, in order to absorb a substantial part of the incidental sound waves, and thus actually remove them. The invention relates to an improved sound-insulating partition wall. The invention also relates to an assembly method for such a wall. |
| US08091300B2 |
Modular building blocks system and method of manufacture
A block for use in a building panel includes a plurality of layer components. Each of the layer components is separately formed from the others. Each of the layer components provides a load-bearing support function, an environmental protection function, and/or a utility function. The constructive material used to form each of the layer components and a configuration of each of the layer components are selected so as to allow the building panel to meet at least one predetermined criteria when the block is disposed in the building panel and coupled to other blocks. |
| US08091296B2 |
Storm collar apparatus and method of installation
A storm collar includes a shield, an upper anchoring collar, support arms, and a lower anchoring collar. The upper anchoring collar secures the shield to an exhaust stack. The support arms are attached to the underside of the shield and the lower anchoring collar. Gaskets are placed between the joints of the storm collar pieces and between the exhaust stack for a tight fit. The angle of the support arms and the shield provide a compression fit based on the load supported by the shield. The storm collar protects the flashing and joints around an exhaust stack from damage caused by moisture. |
| US08091295B1 |
Machine for constructing height adjustable stair steps
A machine for constructing height adjustable stair steps with tread/riser unit, and riser bracket. |
| US08091293B2 |
Bearing and expansion joint system including same
A bearing is provided for use in connection with expansion joint systems. The bearing may be incorporated into expansion joint systems that are used in roadway constructions, bridge constructions, and architectural structures. The bearing can absorb increased loads that are applied to the expansion joint system. The structure of the bearing also permits improved motion of, and provides improved support for, the components of the expansion joint system that are supported on or engaged with the bearing. |
| US08091291B2 |
Structure used as greenhouse roof frame, greenhouse roof frame, greenhouse framework, greenhouse, and greenhouse framework building method
There is provided a structure which can reduce the lifting workload and the building workload at a high place.A structure 1 of the invention includes a rectangular frame 11 arranged horizontally, a rectangular main beam 12 arranged vertically on the frame 11, and a principal rafter 13 supporting the main beam 12 and can be built on the ground. The structure 1 is used as a greenhouse roof frame. The lifting workload and the building workload for building a greenhouse roof frame, a framework of the entire greenhouse and a greenhouse, can be greatly reduced as compared with those of the prior art. |
| US08091290B1 |
Geodesic entertainment sphere
A device comprising a generally rounded configuration having an inner surface and interior, and an outer surface. There is a wall thickness between the inner surface and outer surface. The entertainment device has a base having a generally tubular configuration with walls and a floor. The base couples to the entertainment Sphere, and forms the base thereof. The device has a plurality of screen subassemblies coupled to the wall thickness of the entertainment device sphere. |
| US08091287B2 |
Forced air heated gutter system
A forced hot-air gutter thawing system includes a multiple of gutter sections which each include a multiple of molded in hot air flow passages adjacent a liquid passageway. A hot air source such as a conventional hot-air type furnace communicates hot air through a manifold which distributes hot-air through the gutter sections to prevent ice and snow from blocking the liquid passageway. The gutter sections are assembled together through heat staking or other fastening arrangement such that the gutter sections may be combined in a modular manner to provide a gutter system for various dwellings. |
| US08091284B2 |
Glass supporting assembly for a motor vehicle door with an unframed upper edge
A glass supporting assembly for a motor vehicle door with an unframed upper edge is provided with a fixed structure and a frame, which has at least one guide to support and guide a glass and is connectable to the door in such a way as to make it tiltable about a substantially horizontal axis of adjustment; a slot is obtained in a tangential direction in relation to the axis of adjustment in one of either the fixed structure or the frame, and is slidingly engaged by a pin with an axis orthogonal to the tangential direction; the pin is carried by the other of either the fixed structure or the frame, carries a screwed locking nut, and is axially rotatable; the rotational motion of the pin is converted into translational motion by a positioning device to position the pin along the slot. |
| US08091282B2 |
Combined sealing system and seal activation system for door/window
A combination sealing system and seal activation system for use with a combination of a panel and a frame includes a first sealing system and a first seal activation system for activating the first sealing system. The first sealing system is positioned within the frame, and the first seal activation system is positioned within panel and includes a movable member configured to engage the first sealing system. The first sealing system includes a movable member. The movable member of the first sealing system is caused to move towards the panel to form a seal between the panel and the frame when the movable member of the first seal activation system moves towards the frame. |
| US08091281B1 |
Removable louver shutter
A removable louver shutter comprises a shutter frame defining an opening and inserts mounted to the frame proximate to the opening. End caps are rotatably mounted along the inserts. Generally planar louvers are each removably attached between corresponding pairs of the end caps so as to be disposed within the opening. At least one link bar connects the end caps so as to move the louvers between an open position and a closed position. |
| US08091280B2 |
Arms full vehicle closure activation apparatus and method
A vehicle is provided having a sensor for detecting a vehicle occupant's presence, and another sensor for detecting an owner's response with respect to automatically opening a vehicle closure panel. An actuator opens the closure panel when the occupant's presence and response are detected. A signal from an emitter outside the vehicle signals occupant presence. A photoelectric and/or optical device, audio receiver, and/or touch-sensitive sensor detects the response. The optical device projects a light beam, and breaking the beam with a gesture signals the response. An automatic closure panel opening apparatus has an RF receiver adapted to receive an RF signal to detect occupant presence, a sensor for detecting the occupant response, and an actuator for opening the closure panel when both the presence and occupant response are detected. A method for automatically opening the closure panel includes detecting an occupant presence and response, and automatically opening the closure panel when a predetermined response is detected. |
| US08091279B2 |
Multiple self watering container system
A multi container system of at least one each of the first container, and at least one second and at least one third container, each of which has a chamber therein. The first container has a water retaining chamber with water input and water output as well as a water self leveling means. The second container has a water transfer chamber in which a wicking tray loaded with a wicking medium is placed, preferably on a drainage tray, said medium being used to transfer the water to the plants disposed in a third container's plant receiving chamber. The container #3 nests within the water transfer chamber of container #2, to receive water therefrom by capillary action. Container #1 is fluidly connected to a first container #2 for water transfer, and a series of containers #2 may be linked, as space limitations and grade permit, or as may be desired. |
| US08091278B2 |
Plant package and methods of forming same using a thermoplastic flower pot
A flower pot in combination with a retaining medium for holding and retaining a floral grouping. The flower pot includes a base portion defining a receiving space for receiving at least a portion of the retaining medium so as to hold and retain the retaining medium. The base portion is constructed of a thermoformed plastic material, and has an upper end, a lower end, and a sidewall extending between the upper end and the lower end. The sidewall is substantially devoid of overlapping folds and has decorative ornamentation associated with at least a portion of the sidewall. |
| US08091276B2 |
Fluid nutrient delivery system and associated methods
A method for efficiently delivering an aqueous solution to plants includes positioning a distal portion of a microporous hydrophobic tubing coated with a hydrophilic polymer adjacent a root system of a plant and channeling an aqueous solution from an inlet to the distal portion through a lumen. The tubing along the distal portion has a porosity adapted for permitting a flow of the aqueous solution therethrough when acted upon by a surfactant root exudate generated by the roots due to water stress. The aqueous solution is held in a reservoir, from which it can be channeled to the hydrophilic device's inlet. A nutrient solution can also be channeled to the plant roots via additional tubing. |
| US08091274B2 |
Method of wrapping a floral grouping
A method for wrapping a floral grouping is disclosed. In the method a substantially shape-sustaining sheet of material having a substantially circular shape is formed into a substantially frusto-conical shaped bouquet holder with an open upper end that has a diameter greater than the diameter of a lower end thereof. A floral grouping may be disposed within the bouquet holder, and the bouquet holder may be further provided with a skirt. |
| US08091267B2 |
Gun-mounted sighting device
A sighting device is mountable to a gun. The device includes a light source (preferably a laser), a power source connectable to the light source and a mount attachable to the gun so that the laser is juxtaposed either the top surface of the gun or a side surface of the gun. In one embodiment, the sighting device includes a bottom rail mountable in a slot on the gun, wherein the slot is preferably positioned on the top surface of the gun. The sighting device may also include a mechanical sight that functions as the rear mechanical sight on the gun and/or a secondary light source. |
| US08091266B2 |
Multifunction tool kit for firearm maintenance
A multifunction tool kit for firearm maintenance has a main tool body having one or more facilities for connection of various tool components. The present invention may include a first tool component having an attachment facility adapted to removably connect to one of the facilities for connection of the main tool body. At least one of the opposing ends of the first tool component may terminate in a feature adapted to fit one or more components on a firearm. A feature may be exposed and extend outwards from the opposing sides of the main tool body when the first tool component is connected to the main tool body. The invention may also include additional tool components, such as a thread protector, an alignment gauge having a grease pot with grease cap, a throat erosion gauge, a spacer with pin punch, a stock liner tool, a muzzle wear gauge, and a handle. |
| US08091264B2 |
Firearm with underarm gun stock
A novel firearm includes an underarm gun stock. The stock of the firearm is to be positioned under the forearm of the firearm user. Alternatively, the firearm has no underarm stock, but the action and barrel of the firearm are disposed beneath the forearm or the wrist of the user. The novel firearms promote a more steady shot with a single hand, the ability to support heavier firepower in a more compact package, and other advantages not found in prior art handguns or rifles. |
| US08091260B2 |
Handheld illuminated warning sign
A handheld illuminated warning sign including front and back translucent plastic members, each having a predetermined size and a predetermined shape, connected together to form the sign. At least one of the translucent plastic members having a predetermined color and warning indicia thereon. A mechanism is engageable with each of the translucent plastic members at a first portion thereof for securing them together. A generally hollow handle member, having a predetermined length, is engageable with a second portion of such translucent plastic members for holding the sign. A light is disposed at one end of such handle and between the translucent plastic members for lighting the sign. A battery is disposed within the handle and electrically connected to the light and a switch on such handle is connected between the light and battery for turning on and shutting off such light. |
| US08091259B2 |
Tower light display for gaming machine
An innovative approach to displaying gaming machine events and advertising for a gaming console is provided by replacing the commonly-used tower light with an integrated set of game and machine event indicators. The tower light may be used to display the actual game being played or, for example, the price of the game, and can be made of transparent material with separate indicator sections conveying game machine events and related information. The tower light is preferably controlled by a controller unit, with LED lights to light up the indicators. |
| US08091257B2 |
Steam iron with acceleration and tilt detection
A steam iron includes a sensor for detecting and measuring movement of the steam iron. The sensor is coupled to an actuator that regulates the flow of steam via a valve located between a steam chamber and steam outlets. The sensor can detect movement in three directions (X, Y, Z) and adjust steam generation based on speed of movement of the iron and tilt angle. A pre-heater is used to pre-heat water in a water chamber. The pre-heated water is provided to a steam chamber where it is later converted to steam. |
| US08091253B2 |
Fabric article treating device and system
A fabric article treating device having a dispenser adapted for location inside of a fabric article drying appliance and a removable reservoir. The dispenser and reservoir are adapted for fluid communication with one another. The reservoir is configured to contain a benefit composition and to minimize leakage of the benefit composition during installation and removal of the removable reservoir. Corresponding male and female fitments establish fluid communication between the dispenser and the reservoir. The male fitment is adapted to pivot to aid in engaging the female fitment. |
| US08091251B1 |
High-speed measuring electronic digital outside micrometer
A high-speed measuring electronic digital outside micrometer allowing a user to make measurements quickly and effectively compared to conventional electronic outside micrometers with rotary thread spindles, which have limited measuring speed. This high-speed measuring electronic digital outside micrometer features: a linear motion digital sensor, a linear scale digital sensor, a linear motion digital sensor base, a digital display unit, an electronic processing unit, a micrometer body, a linear spindle, a linear spindle movement unit, a spindle control unit, a micrometer anvil, and retractable springs. In a stationary position, the measuring surface of the micrometer anvil and the linear spindle are in contact to the other. By operating the spindle control unit, it will create distance between the micrometer anvil and the linear spindle measuring surface. This distance is a measurable distance of the micrometer. By set free of the spindle control unit, the retractable springs will re-set the micrometer to its stationary position. |
| US08091250B1 |
Tape measure end-securing device
An apparatus for improving the speed, accuracy, and economy in obtaining linear measurements during construction includes a body that includes a pair of straddle members that span across a thickness dimension of any preferred type of dimension lumber, including wood and synthetic building materials. If desired, the apparatus is designed to straddle a width, rather than a thickness, dimension. A number of receiving locations, such as edges, slots, or recesses, are provided on the apparatus that each correspond with a particular relative position, edge, mark, end, or surface of the dimension lumber. Each receiving location is able to receive and retain an end of a tape measure. An adjustable thumb member is provided that pivots around a center shaft and is adjustable longitudinally to better secure the end of the tape measure. The retaining force provided by the thumb member is adjustable. A threaded rod, hole in the straddle member, and securing knob are optionally provided for better securing the apparatus to the dimension lumber. |
| US08091246B2 |
Casing or work string orientation indicating apparatus and methods
Casing or work string orientation indicating apparatus and methods. A system for indicating orientation of a structure in a wellbore includes an orientation indicating device responsive to fluid flow through the device, whereby fluid flow through the device at a selected flow rate produces a reduced pressure differential across the device when the device is at a preselected azimuthal orientation, compared to an increased pressure differential across the device produced by fluid flow through the device at the selected flow rate when the device is not at the azimuthal orientation. A method of detecting orientation of a structure in a wellbore includes the steps of: flowing fluid at a selected flow rate through an orientation indicating device interconnected to the structure; and observing a substantially constant pressure differential across the device during the flowing step, thereby indicating that the structure is at a predetermined azimuthal orientation. |
| US08091240B2 |
Assembling method of bearing unit
There is provided an assembling method of a bearing unit which has a bearing having an outer ring and a retainer plate having a retainer hole for holding the outer ring. The assembling method has pressing a plurality of portions in a circumferential direction of a circumferential edge of an inner circumferential portion of the retainer hole of the retainer plate in an axial direction so as to form engagement pawls and moving the engagement pawls of the retainer plate from one axial end of the outer ring to a engagement groove formed on an outer circumferential surface of the outer ring so as to engage the engagement pawls of the retainer plate with the engagement groove of outer ring. |
| US08091236B2 |
Manufacturing method for toothed power transmission member having oil reservoir and toothed power transmission member manufactured by this manufacturing method
A method of manufacturing a toothed power transmission member having an oil reservoir according to the present invention includes steps of forming primitive concave portion, which form a basis for the oil reservoir, on a surface of a toothed power transmission member work, and forming a tooth surface by processing the toothed power transmission member work such that a trace of the primitive concave portion is left on the toothed power transmission member thereby to form a toothed power transmission member. The trace of the primitive concave portion, which is formed in the step of forming a tooth surface and left on the toothed power transmission member, serves as the oil reservoir. |
| US08091235B2 |
Method for manufacturing a substrate for a liquid ejection element
A manufacturing method for manufacturing a liquid ejection element including a liquid flow path which is open at an ejection outlet for ejecting liquid, and an energy generating member for generating energy usable for ejecting the liquid from liquid flow path through the ejection outlet, the manufacturing method, includes a step of forming the energy generating member on a front side of a substrate; a step of forming a top plate member on the side having the energy generating member formed by the energy generating member forming step, wherein the top plate member is a member in which the liquid flow path and the ejection outlet are formed; and a step of thinning the substrate, having the top plate member formed thereon by the top plate member forming step, from a back side thereof. |
| US08091227B2 |
Method of repairing an airfoil surface
This invention relates to the repair and removal of erosion or impact damage using hand sandable elastomeric coatings on a curved substrate, particularly such surfaces as the leading edge of the airfoil. Specialized applicators and methods of use are also disclosed. |
| US08091224B2 |
Method for coupling a battery within an embedded system
A method for coupling a battery within an embedded system is described. The method includes creating a hole extending through a printed circuit board (PCB), inserting a portion of the battery into the hole, and electrically coupling the battery to at least one contact. |
| US08091222B2 |
Method for forming an adapter apparatus using curable material
An adapter apparatus and methods for using in providing such adapter apparatus include providing a substrate having a plurality of openings defined therethrough. A plurality of conductive elements are mounted within corresponding openings thereof using a curable material. |
| US08091219B2 |
Method for establishing a high speed mezzanine connection
A reduced insertion force mezzanine connector is used to couple first and second circuit boards. In one embodiment a connector frame has a first end disposed against the first circuit board and defining a first wall, and an opposing second end disposed against the second circuit board and defining a second wall generally parallel with the first wall. A plurality of wafers are disposed. Each wafer has a first edge in sliding contact with the first wall and an opposing second edge in sliding contact with the second wall. A plurality of electrically conducting pathways extend along each wafer from the first edge to the second edge. A wafer guide structure defines a plurality of wafer-support aisles on the first and second walls for receiving the edges of the wafers to constrain the wafers with a fixed spacing and generally parallel alignment. A plurality of terminals are biased to protrude laterally into each wafer support aisle, and are spaced along the wafer support aisle such that each wafer is movable within the respective wafer support aisle between a first position, wherein each electrically conducting pathway is disposed between adjacent terminals, to a second position, wherein each electrically conducting pathway is in electrical contact with a terminal on the first wall and an associated terminal on the second wall. |
| US08091218B2 |
Method of manufacturing a rigid printed wiring board
Provided is a bending rigid printed wiring board which facilitate the mounting of electric parts (realization of a high producibility and high assemblability substrate circuit) and enables spaces to be saved and which can be easily manufactured.That is, provided is a bending rigid printed wiring board, which is characterized in that a heat resistant resin layer is laminated on a front surface of a hard core material provided so as to contain a gap portion and also on a top surface of the gap portion, in that a heat resistant resin layer is laminated on a rear surface of the core material except the gap portion, in that a conductor layer is laminated and firmly fixed via the heat resistant resin layers and in that the conductor layer is etched, whereby a circuit is formed. |
| US08091216B2 |
Electronic parts mounting apparatus and electronic parts mounting method
An electric parts mounting apparatus includes rotary type multi-nozzle mounting heads. Each of the mounting heads has a plurality of suction nozzles disposed in a radial manner on a rotor mechanism, which rotates around a rotation shaft. A parts mount mechanism is configured such that the axial direction of the rotation shaft coincides with an arrangement direction of tape feeders. A shaft-to-shaft distance of the suction nozzles is set to be plural times as large as a pitch of the feeder arrangement. In a pick up process, a plurality of electronic parts can be simultaneously picked up from the tape feeders. In a parts mounting process, while one of the mounting heads mounts the part, the other mounting head can complete a nozzle changeover operation such that the suction nozzle holding an electronic part to be mounted next is moved to an operation position. |
| US08091214B2 |
Assembling jig for lens module
An assembling jig for lens module comprises a crutch, a mobile carrier and a pressing mechanism. The crutch includes a level mounting base and an erect support wall joined to one side of the mounting base. A firm carrier is fixed on the mounting base. The mobile carrier fixed on the firm carrier comprises a carrier base, several positioning blocks disposed around the top surface of the carrier base, the positioning blocks surrounding a restraining groove in which a PCB with a lens socket is received. The pressing mechanism disposed on the support wall includes a pressing member can move up and down and a drive gear connected to one end of the pressing member. This kind of lens module component assembling jig features in assembling lens component steadily and can be applied to different kinds of lens component. Thus it abates the cost of assembling the lens component. |
| US08091209B1 |
Magnetic sensing device including a sense enhancing layer
A magnetic sensor includes a sensor stack having a first magnetic portion, a second magnetic portion, and a barrier layer between the first magnetic portion and the second magnetic portion. The first magnetic portion and/or the second magnetic portion comprises a multilayer structure including a first magnetic layer having a positive magnetostriction adjacent to the barrier layer, a second magnetic layer, and an intermediate layer between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The magnetic sensor exhibits a magnetoresistive ratio of at least about 62% with a resistance-area (RA) product of about 0.45 Ω·μm2. |
| US08091204B2 |
Method for producing metallically encapsulated ceramic armor
A method for the manufacture of metallically encapsulated ceramic armor through the use of low pressure processing methods in autoclave furnaces or brazing furnaces. |
| US08091201B2 |
Stamped tubular member and method and apparatus for making same
A unique tubular work piece is disclosed along with a novel method and apparatus for manufacturing tubular work pieces from sheet metal stock lighter and stronger structures with less waste and less cost than prior methods. |
| US08091197B2 |
Device and process for assembling oriented objects
A device and a method for assembling oriented objects, such as parts of a pipeline. The device includes means for rotational displacement about a rotational axis of a first and second base. The first base has a first main axis which is perpendicular to the rotational axis and includes first means for supporting objects that can be displaced in translation along the first main axis. The second base has a second main axis which is perpendicular to the rotational axis and includes second means for supporting objects and a revolving plate device for supporting and orienting one of the objects in an angular manner. The revolving plate device can be displaced in translation in relation to the second supporting means along the second main axis. Visualization means enable at least the rotational angle of the plate and the position of the second base to be visualised. |
| US08091196B2 |
Device for mounting a part to the body of a motor vehicle
A device for mounting a part to a body of a motor vehicle. A positioning mechanism positions the part in relation to the body in a determined fixing position, which is geometrically defined in a reference trihedral formed by the longitudinal axis X, the transverse axis Y, and the vertical axis Z of the body. The positioning mechanism includes a temporary mounting structure including a first mechanism mounting the structure to the body in a given use position in which a second mechanism belonging to the structure cooperates with the part to position the part in relation to the body in the above-mentioned determined fixing position, which is defined by a given positioning reference system corresponding to the use position of the structure on the body. |
| US08091191B2 |
Complete machining center and method
A complete machining center has a horizontal machine bed (1) with a vertical-axis trunnion (2) pivotal horizontally with computer-coordination proximate a first-end portion (3) and a traveling tool column (4) with computer-coordinated horizontal X and Y axes and vertical Z tool travel on a compound slide (6) proximate a second-end portion (5) for horizontal access of a cutting tool (12) on the traveling tool column to work pieces on a work-piece rotator (10) and for horizontal access of the cutting tool to work pieces on a vertical-axis milling table (38), either of which are positioned on the horizontally pivotal vertical-axis trunnion (2). A work-piece changer (31) is provided for optionally manual or computer-coordinated work-piece setup, setup reversing and finished-work-piece removal. |
| US08091189B2 |
Method for manufacturing quartz crystal unit, quartz crystal oscillator and electronic apparatus
A quartz crystal unit has a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator that is capable of vibrating in a flexural mode and that has a quartz crystal tuning fork base, and first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines. The quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is mounted on a mounting portion of the case after which the oscillation frequency of the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is adjusted. The quartz crystal unit comprising the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator has a series resistance R1 of a fundamental mode of vibration less than a series resistance R2 of a second overtone mode of vibration. At least one groove is formed in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines so that a width of the at least one groove is greater than a distance in the width direction of the at least one groove measured from an outer edge of the at least one groove to an outer edge of the corresponding one of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines. |
| US08091188B1 |
Footwear eyelet manufacturing apparatus and method of use thereof
The invention as presently conceived discloses an apparatus to aid in holding shoe eyelets in place during the shoe manufacturing process. The apparatus has a large comb shape with a plurality of rod shaped teeth corresponding to the number of shoe eyelet pairs. In operation, each tooth that is threaded through a shoe eyelet pair comprises “eyes” on each end similar to those found on sewing needles. A pair of metal or plastic rods, equipped with locking features, is then threaded through the eyes to secure the apparatus with the shoe eyelet in place. There are various sizes of the apparatus to accommodate different sized shoes and number of shoe eyelet pairs. The use of this apparatus saves time in the manufacturing process while improving work quality and increasing operator safety. |
| US08091187B2 |
Zip fastener end stop
A zip fastener comprises a pair of tapes and coupling elements along adjacent edges of the tapes. The tapes are partly cut away to form a gap into which an end stop is moulded. The end stop is provided so as to extend along the tape edges away from the fastener coupling elements. |
| US08091183B2 |
Wire grip
A wire grip is adapted for fastening a wire and mounted to a tension device which pulls the wire grip to produce a pulling force to the wire. The wire grip includes a basic body and a capstan. The capstan is slidably mounted to the basic body for fastening an end portion of the wire and enabling the wire to be wrapped thereon. The capstan is movable in a direction relative to an axis thereof whereby to ensure the pulling force provided by the tension device is in alignment direction with the pulling force received by a middle portion of the wire. |
| US08091182B2 |
Reel based closure system
Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace. |
| US08091180B2 |
Hinge assembly
A hinge assembly includes a first connecting member, a second connecting member, a rotary member, an elastic member, and a limiting member. The rotary member includes a first pivot portion to engage with the first connecting member and a second pivot portion to engage with the second connecting member. The elastic member is disposed between the second connecting member and the rotary member. The limiting member is positioned on the second connecting member. A sidewall of one of the second pivot portion of the rotary member and the second connecting member defines a limiting structure. The limiting member is disposed on a sidewall of the other one of the second pivot portion of the rotary member and the second connecting member. The limiting member slidably engages with the limiting structure. |
| US08091179B2 |
Hinge assembly for collapsable electronic device
A hinge assembly includes a pivot shaft having a pivot portion, a friction member sleeved on the pivot portion, a support member, and an adjusting member. The pivot shaft includes a pivot portion. The friction member includes a first friction body and a second friction body attached to the first friction body. The support member includes a housing, and defines a receiving chamber in the housing and an adjusting hole communicating with the receiving chamber. The friction member and the pivot portion of the pivot shaft are received in the chamber. An inner wall of the receiving chamber presses the friction member to clamp the pivot portion. The adjusting member is received in the at least one adjusting hole to abut the friction member such that the friction created between the friction member and the pivot portion can be adjusted. |
| US08091175B2 |
Bearing device
A bearing device comprising: an at least partially hollow structural element having a first wall region provided with an opening and a second wall region, the first and second wall regions being located opposite one another; and a punching bushing provided for bearing at least one separate component, the punching bushing comprising a punching blade being in jam contact with a punched out opening of the second wall region such that the punching bushing connects the first and second wall regions. A method of producing a bearing device, the method comprising the steps of: providing an at least partially hollow structural element having a first wall region, provided with an opening, and a second wall region, the first and second wall regions being located opposite one another; introducing into the opening of the first wall region a punching bushing being provided for bearing a separate component; and displacing the punching bushing in a direction of the second wall region in order to punch out part of the second wall region coaxially in relation to the opening of the first wall region such that the first wall region and the second wall region are connected by the punching bushing. |
| US08091174B2 |
Upright vacuum cleaners
The present invention provides an upright vacuum cleaner (10) having an elongate body (12) and comprising a floorhead (14) on which the elongate body is mounted, the floorhead (14) having a first inlet (140) for dirty air, a wand having a second inlet for dirty air, a changeover valve (22) for selecting between a flow of dirty air from the first or second inlet, a dust collection chamber (18) also having a dirty air inlet (180), a duct (28) for conveying said flow of dirty air from the changeover valve (22) to the dust collection chamber inlet (180), and a source of suction power for drawing the dirty air from the first or second inlet through said changeover valve (22) and said duct (28) to the dust collection chamber inlet (180). The changeover valve (22) comprises a linear conduit (24) positionable in fluid flow between the first inlet (140) for dirty air of the floorhead (14) and said duct (28), the duct (28) having a sigmoid curve (30) from the changeover valve (22) to the dust collection chamber inlet (180). When the conduit (24) is positioned in fluid flow between the first inlet (140) and the duct (28), the flow of dirty air from the first inlet (140), through the changeover valve (22) and the duct (28) to the dust collection chamber inlet (180) all lies in a plane. |
| US08091168B2 |
Handheld vacuum cleaner
A handheld vacuum cleaner housing with a frame element forming at least a portion of a handle and extending in a main handle direction. A through hole passes through and is encircled by the frame element, and is configured to receive one or more fingers of an operator. A top casing element is connected to the frame element and covers at least some of a top side of the frame element. A bottom casing element is connected to the frame element and covers at least some of the bottom side of the frame element. The frame element, top casing element and bottom casing element are arranged to form at least part of a vacuum source housing for accommodating at least a part of a vacuum source. A vacuum cleaner having a similar housing, as well as a detachable second housing having a debris compartment and nozzle, is also provided. |
| US08091162B2 |
Arm rail mechanisms for hospital beds
A vehicle for use in hospitals, and the like, giving better mobility, steering, braking and passenger handling while providing comfort to the passengers from the time they lay down until they are standing on the side through the rotation and tilting ability of the frame. |
| US08091158B2 |
Shower bathing apparatus
A shower bathing apparatus is described as including a seat and a first water discharger provided rearward and upward in relation to the seat. The first water discharger is configured to discharge water in a direction forward of the seat. A water discharge direction from the first water discharger and a positional relationship between the first water discharger and the seat may be adjustable so that the water discharged from the first water discharger is able to reach the seat or forward of the seat. The water discharged from the first water discharger may further flow from above a seat occupant's shoulder to the seat occupant's leg. |
| US08091156B1 |
Universal wall mount toilet gasket
The universal wall mount toilet gasket has a planar configuration and has at least one opening therein for engagement about a drain, the gasket being maintained in position by a base of the toilet engaged thereover. |
| US08091155B1 |
Seat lifting system
A seat lifting system includes a toilet and a seat and a lid, which are hingedly coupled together by a hinge and secured to the toilet so that each of the seat and lid are positionable in lifted position or lowered position relative to the toilet. A pivot bar is rotatably coupled to the seat and the lid adjacent to the hinge. A lifting arm is coupled to a first end of the pivot bar. The lifting arm extends outwardly from the pivot bar and engages a bottom face of the seat. The lifting arm lifts the seat when the pivot bar is rotated. A lifting assembly is coupled to the pivot bar and is actuated to rotate the pivot bar to lift the seat of the toilet. The lifting assembly is actuated again to rotate the pivot bar to lower the seat of the toilet. |
| US08091154B2 |
Toilet seat assembly
A toilet seat assembly comprising a seat (2) and hinge means (5) for hingedly attaching the seat (2) to a toilet. The hinge means (5) comprises a mounting block (50) having an arcuate slot (17), and an arcuate seat tang (20) extends rearwardly of the seat which is slidable in the arcuate slot of the mounting block. The assembly may also comprise a lid (3); and hinge means for hingedly attaching the lid (3) to a toilet; and an arcuate lid tang (23) extending rearwardly of the lid which is also slidable in the arcuate slot (17) of the mounting block (50). |
| US08091152B1 |
Custom-fit toilet seat and associated method
A toilet seat for maintaining a stable engagement with an existing toilet base includes a body suitably sized and shaped for conforming to a top rim of the existing toilet base. The seat includes an outer flange statically coupled to a bottom surface of the body and extending downwardly therefrom. The seat further includes first and second inner flanges adjustably coupled to the body and juxtaposed adjacent to the outer flange. Further, each of the first and second inner flanges include a rubber pad directly attached thereto in such a manner that the rubber pads frictionally engage the inner surface of the existing toilet base top rim. The flanges further include first and second deformably resilient spring members which have a corresponding top end anchored to a curvilinear inner face of the first and second notches respectively. |
| US08091145B2 |
Nursing cover
Examples of a nursing cover are described, including a sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein a strap is coupled to the top edge of the sheet and a plurality of D-rings are coupled using another strap to the top edge of the sheet, and a stiffener stitched into the top edge of the sheet and coupled to the sheet using a stitch configured to prevent the stiffener from rotating within a stiffener pocket, the stiffener having a first end cap disposed on a first end of the stiffener and a second end cap disposed on a second end of the stiffener, wherein the stiffener, when worn, bows outward to provide a viewing area, the stiffener having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape wherein the first end cap and the second end cap each comprise a substantially rectangular cavity that is configured to receive the first end and the second end of the stiffener, respectively, wherein the stiffener has a material memory associated with a pre-determined shape, the stiffener assuming the pre-determined shape during a resting state and, when a force is applied, the stiffener is configured to temporarily deform and, when the force is removed, the stiffener reassumes the pre-determined shape. |
| US08091144B2 |
Flameproof, heat resistant, one-piece escape suit
A flameproof, heat resistant, lightweight, one-piece escape suit which includes attached integral mitts or gloves, covered footing, and a hood. The fire and heat resistant one piece suit is designed to be worn over a commercial smoke hood, is formed from a metalized fabric, and meets the requirements of ASTM standard D6413. The suit is designed to be easily slipped onto a wearer's body over typical street clothing, and allows a wearer to wear his or her accustomed footwear for improved safety and comfort. The durable fabric provides protection to a wearer when crawling low to the ground on his or her knees and elbows as is often recommended as a preferred escape posture. The fire and heat resistant one piece suit may be provided in multiple sizes to fit adults and children. The fire and heat resistant one piece suit, as well as a smoke hood, may be packaged into compact, lightweight emergency escape kit bag with unique “glow in the dark” lettering; FIRE ESCAPE KIT suitable for carrying between home and work, etc. |
| US08095991B2 |
Digital rights management of streaming captured content based on criteria regulating a sequence of elements
A captured content rights controller detects a first portion of streaming captured content and a second portion of the streaming captured content after the first portion of the streaming captured content is detected. The captured content rights controller determines whether rendering the second portion of the streaming captured content after the first portion of the streaming captured content is subject to at least one digital rights management protection rule for streaming captured content as specified by at least one owner of at least one restricted element within the streaming captured content captured independent of distribution of the content by the owner of the at least one restricted element within the streaming captured content by determining whether the first portion and the second portion of the streaming captured content in sequence represent a particular selection of content elements specified in a selection of a plurality of content elements protected by the at least one digital rights management protection rule. The captured content rights controller applies the at least one digital rights management protection rule to restrict rendering of the second portion of the streaming captured content after the first portion of the streaming captured content. |
| US08095988B2 |
Forgery-proof digital sound recording device
The present invention provides a digital sound recording device that prevents data stored as digital sound data from being forged. A digital sound recording device according to the present invention includes an input unit, a storage unit, a data communication unit, a processor, and a write protection unit that is provided between the storage unit and the data communication unit, thereby preventing the write control from being performed on the storage unit by the external unit. |
| US08095980B2 |
Detecting malicious behavior in data transmission of a de-duplication system
The present invention provides a method and system of detecting malicious behavior in a series of data transmission de-duplication requests of a de-duplicated computer system. In an exemplary embodiment, the method and system include, (1) if the series includes at least one particular de-duplication request for particular data and a reply to the particular request that the system does not have the particular data, processing at least one subsequent response and (2) determining the existence of the behavior from the at least one subsequent response. |
| US08095972B1 |
Secure authentication for web-based applications
A method, system, and computer readable medium for facilitating user authentication for accessing an application hosted on an external web site by users in an enterprise network. A request is received from a user a request is received from a user to access the application on the external web site. The user is redirected to a secure web page on an enterprise server to log in to the enterprise server. Authentication information for the user is formatted in compliance with a login specification for the application hosted on the external web site. The authentication information is encrypted in compliance with the login specification for the application hosted on the external web site. The user is then directed to the application hosted on the external web site, wherein the user can access the application without having to reenter login information. |
| US08095971B2 |
Universal serial bus (USB) flash drive having locking pins and locking grooves for locking swivel cap
In one embodiment of the present invention a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive with locking swivel cap includes a USB device, a swivel cap having a top swivel cap face and a bottom swivel cap face. The swivel cap is connectably attached to the USB device, four locking pins, two of which disposed on the top swivel cap face and two of which disposed on the bottom swivel cap face, two top locking grooves disposed on a top surface of the USB device, and two bottom locking grooves disposed on a bottom surface of the USB device, wherein the locking pins disposed on top swivel cap face coupled with the two top locking grooves and the locking pins disposed on the bottom swivel cap face couple with the two bottom locking grooves allowing the swivel cap to lock in fully open (180 degrees) and fully closed (0 degree). A USB connector is connected to the USB device to couple the USB flash drive to a host device. A fingerprint sensor area is disposed on the top side of the USB device, the fingerprint sensor scans fingerprints of a user of the portable flash drive with swivel cap and optional fingerprint verification capability, and allowing access to data stored on the portable flash drive with swivel cap and optional fingerprint verification capability. |
| US08095970B2 |
Dynamically associating attribute values with objects
Dynamically associating an attribute and an associated value to an object includes dynamically associating attribute-value sets to an object, but is not so limited. An exemplary system includes a directory component that can be configured to dynamically assign different values, for a set attributes, to an object. An exemplary directory application can be configured to select an attribute-value set for an object based in part on a group membership determination, and a precedence parameter associated with an attribute-value, set, or other grouping. Other embodiments are available. |
| US08095966B1 |
Methods and apparatus for password management
A SAN management application stores a password file in a secure repository inside a database to which the stored passwords provide access. A separate database account (i.e. login) is created to afford access to the password repository. The password repository, typically a database table or file, is stored in a secure area accessible only by the specialized password account. A separate password, or access token, is employed for access to the password repository account. Executable entities, such as processes of the management application, are encoded with the password, or access token, to the password repository account. From the password account, the password repository provides availability to the stored passwords for specific privileged access by designated processes. In this manner, a dual level authorization is provided to privileged database operations, and corresponding logic embedded in particular processes authorized to traverse both levels. |
| US08095960B2 |
Secure synchronization and sharing of secrets
Techniques are provided for secure synchronization and sharing of secrets. A first principal acquires an encrypted access key to a secret store of a second principal. The first principal contacts an identity manager and supplies a decrypted version of the access key. One or more secrets of the second principal may be acquired or modified by the first principal while accessing the secret store. |
| US08095948B2 |
System and method for billing for interactive television
A system and method for billing for interactive television (ITV) includes recording the content accessed by a consumer and the time of access to render an access record. The access record for each interaction with the ITV is stored in a consumer database. When it is time to bill the consumer for a period of usage of the ITV system, the access record for each interaction with the ITV system is retrieved from the consumer database. Access records which do not contain billable content are discarded and a billing list of access records that contain billable content is constructed. Accordingly, each consumer is billed based on his or her respective billing list. |
| US08095947B2 |
Motor and disk driver having the same
A motor and a disk driver having the motor are disclosed. The motor in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a shaft; a boss, which is coupled to one end of the shaft; a bearing, which supports the other end of the shaft such that the shaft can rotate; a holder, which supports the bearing; a stator, which is coupled to the holder; a rotor, which is coupled to the boss and covers the stator; and a ventilation hole, which is formed on a lower surface of the boss such that air flows toward the stator. The motor in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can make the flow of air around a disk stable by forming an air circulation structure, allowing air to flow from the inside to the outside of the motor. |
| US08095937B1 |
Methods and apparatus providing payload event processing for managed objects
A system receives notification that a console has registered to receive a type of managed object event. The system receives a plurality of managed object events from a cache manager. Each managed object event is associated with a managed object. The system parses the plurality of managed object events to determine the type of managed object event for each of the plurality of managed object events, and distributes the plurality of managed object events to the console. The plurality of managed object events are distributed based on the type of managed object event associated with each managed object event within the plurality of managed objects events, and the type of managed object event the console has previously registered to receive. |
| US08095935B2 |
Adapting message delivery assignments with hashing and mapping techniques
A system for efficiently distributing messages to a server farm uses a hashing function and a map-based function, or combinations thereof, to distribute messages associated with a processing request. In one implementation, for example, the hashing function has inputs of an identifier for each message in a processing request, and a list of available servers. Upon identifying that any of the servers is unavailable, or will soon be unavailable, the load balancing server uses an alternate map-based assignment function for new requests, and inputs each assignment into a server map. The load balancing server can then use the map or the hashing function, as appropriate, to direct messages to an operating server. Upon receiving an updated list of available servers, the load balancing server can switch back to the hashing function after the map is depleted, and use the updated server list as an argument. |
| US08095934B2 |
Data delivery system, data delivery method, and computer program product
In a first data delivery apparatus, a user-input receiving unit receives data and a request for executing a workflow, a first data processing unit processes the data based on the workflow, a destination obtaining unit obtains a destination from the workflow, and a transferring unit transfers the data, the workflow, and a progress of the workflow to the destination. In a second data delivery apparatus, a transfer receiving unit receives the data, the workflow, and the progress of the workflow, a workflow executing unit executes the workflow from a non-executed part based on the progress of the workflow, and a data delivery unit delivers data to other destination. |
| US08095932B2 |
Providing quality of service via thread priority in a hyper-threaded microprocessor
A method and apparatus for providing quality of service in a multi-processing element environment based on priority is herein described. Consumption of resources, such as a reservation station and a pipeline, are biased towards a higher priority processing element. In a reservation station, mask elements are set to provide access for higher priority processing elements to more reservation entries. In a pipeline, bias logic provides a ratio of preference for selection of a high priority processing element for further processing in the pipeline. |
| US08095927B2 |
Object oriented component and framework architecture for signal processing
A signal intelligence system comprising a plurality of software components that are programmable to provide a signal intelligence function. The signal intelligence system includes a processor system having a plurality of interconnected processor devices and a plurality of processor managers that are connected to the processor devices and are configured to control software components associated with the processor devices. Further, the signal intelligence system has a framework manager that is configured to interact with the plurality of processor managers to control the processor devices and effectuate the signal intelligence function. |
| US08095924B2 |
Method and apparatus to upgrade driver of image forming apparatus
A method and apparatus to upgrade a driver of an image forming apparatus. The method includes accessing a website having a website driver program useable by the image forming apparatus, converting a class mode of the image forming apparatus from an original class mode to a predetermined class mode that is different from the original class mode, comparing a driver program stored in the image forming apparatus with the website driver program on the website, and downloading the website driver program from the website and storing the website driver program in the image forming apparatus when the website driver program is a later version than the stored driver program. |
| US08095923B2 |
System and method for deploying and managing intelligent nodes in a distributed network
According to methods, apparatuses, and computer program products described by way of non-limiting examples presented herein, a computer system operates as an intelligent node in a distributed network. In one or more embodiments, the installation and execution of a node operating computer program product (“node software”) on a computer system configures that computer system to operate as an intelligent node in a distributed network. The computer system may reside at the edge of the network and thus may include a number of physical world sensors and/or actuators that represent valuable but hard-to-reach data sources/sinks from the perspective of the network at large. The node software operates the computer system as an edge application server and enterprise service bus, intelligently processing data from sensors, actuators, and other edge systems and devices. Other applications, such as server-based data processing and storing, are also easily implemented via the node software. |
| US08095922B2 |
Constructor argument optimization in object model for folding multiple casts expressions
A method and computer program product for providing an optimization for a most derived object during compile time are provided. The optimization determines whether a most derived class object is present during a compile time. Also, the optimization utilizes the most derived class object to obtain a location of a virtual base for the most derived class object during the compile time, and provides the virtual base of the most derived class object during the compile time. The method is executed for a constructor and/or a destructor. The constructor or destructor contains arguments which require conversion to a base type, and the conversion is performed at compile-time instead of at runtime. |
| US08095920B2 |
Post-pass binary adaptation for software-based speculative precomputation
The latencies associated with cache misses or other long-latency instructions in a main thread are decreased through the use of a simultaneous helper thread. The helper thread is a speculative prefetch thread to perform a memory prefetch for the main thread. The instructions for the helper thread are dynamically incorporated into the main thread binary during post-pass operation of a compiler. |
| US08095919B2 |
System and method for delivering customized content to mobile devices
The illustrative embodiment of the present invention provides a platform that enables a content developer to distribute uniform content to multiple types of requesting mobile devices. By authoring content in a generic markup language and using the technologies included in the Mobile Content Framework (MCF), the content developer is able to provide content to multiple types devices without providing different versions of the content. The content may be authored originally in the generic markup language or translated from other languages into the generic markup language by the MCF. The MCF exploits the capabilities and accommodates the limitations of different types of wireless devices by converting generic markup language content to device-specific content. The MCF interacts with device registries holding records of the device attributes in order to provide the device-specific content. The MCF handles these issues for current mobile devices while also being extensible for future mobile devices. |
| US08095917B2 |
Debugger for virtual intermediate language operations
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for testing intermediate language operations. A debugger harness is provided that instruments an intermediate language stream to replace intermediate language operations with equivalent virtual intermediate language operations. A particular intermediate language operation is intercepted from the intermediate language stream and the equivalent virtual intermediate language operation is determined. The virtual machine runs under a debugger harness so that one or more managed applications are executed using the equivalent virtual intermediate language operations. This allows a functionality of the debugger to be tested. |
| US08095914B1 |
Methods for instruction trace decomposition
An instruction trace is segmented into a number of contiguous instruction segments, such that each boundary between adjacent instruction segments is defined by a branch instruction. A segment identifier is assigned to each instruction segment, such that each instruction segment having identical content is assigned a same segment identifier. Using the assigned segment identifiers, the instruction trace is translated into a sequence of segment identifiers. The sequence of segment identifiers is then iteratively consolidated into a prime form that does not include a repetition of a heterogeneous pair of consecutive segment identifiers. The prime form of the sequence of segment identifiers is then rendered in a graphical format. |
| US08095912B2 |
Testing a context-free language compiler
Systems and methods for testing a context-free language compiler. Given a description of a context-free grammar including a set of production rules, a test component applies the grammar description to generate one or more valid test strings of terminal symbols. A value generation component may replace one or more terminal symbols in the set of test strings with values appropriate for the class of the terminal symbol. The resulting set of test strings may be individually applied to a compiler, which returns a response based upon the applied test string that may be used to determine if the compiler is operating as expected. The set of test strings may be generated using every production rule of the given context-free grammar description. In addition to valid test strings, a set of invalid test strings may be generated by making use of a set of invalid production rules while generating test strings. |
| US08095907B2 |
Reliability evaluation and system fail warning methods using on chip parametric monitors
A method of reliability evaluation and system fail warning using on chip parametric monitors. The method includes determining impact of parametric variation on reliability by identifying key parametric questions to be answered by stress, identifying parametric macros for each parameter, and identifying layout sensitive areas of evaluation. The process can also include a set of parametric macros in one of a test site or a product to be stressed, testing the set of parametric macros prior to start of stress and at each stress read out, and setting life time parameter profile for technology. |
| US08095904B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing flexible timing-driven routing trees
A method of producing a flexible timing-driven routing tree is provided. Two or more target nodes are sorted in accordance with data criticality. A source-sink grid is built from one or more source nodes and the two or more target nodes. An initial routing tree is built comprising the one or more source nodes. A routing tree generation algorithm is executed on the initial routing tree, utilizing the sorted two or more target nodes and the source-sink grid in accordance with a user-defined timing factor to construct a flexible timing-driven routing tree. The user-defined timing factor specifies an extent of isolation for a routing path from a given one of the one or more source nodes to a given one of the two or more target nodes. |
| US08095898B1 |
Method and system for implementing electronic design entry
Disclosed are improved approaches for implementing design entry. An efficient, spread-sheet based representation is provided for both the instances and connections in a design. Visualization techniques provide the user with visual cues, to direct and identify compatible connection points, unconnected instances, and contention situations. Techniques are disclosed to automatically filter the spreadsheet in a variety of ways, to help the user to dynamically hide portions of the design space that are not interesting at a particular time, and thus to improve the efficiency with which they can work. |
| US08095895B2 |
Method for defect diagnosis and management
A method for defect diagnosis and management, which is implemented in a process for fabricating an article, comprising the following steps: obtaining an inspection image of the article, wherein the inspection image shows at least one defect of the article; retrieving a design layout corresponding to the inspection image, wherein the design layout has a plurality of conductive regions; matching the inspection image and the design layout for correcting the coordinates of the defect on the design layout; and judging the overlaps of the conductive regions so as to obtain a short failure if the defect covers two conductive regions, obtain a open failure if the defect intercepts one of conductive region, or obtain no failure if the defect overlaps one of conductive region but not intercepts or covers another conductive region. |
| US08095894B2 |
Changing a design rule for forming LSI pattern based on evaluating effectiveness of optical proximity corrected patterns
First, multiple circuit patterns, which will eventually make an LSI, are designed on a cell-by-cell basis, and an initial placement is made for the circuit patterns designed. Next, optical proximity corrections are performed on at least two of the circuit patterns that have been initially placed to be adjacent to or cross each other, thereby forming optical proximity corrected patterns out of the adjacent or crossing circuit patterns. Then, it is determined whether or not optical proximity corrections can be performed effectively using the corrected patterns. If the effectiveness of the corrections is negated, a design rule defining the circuit patterns is changed to make the corrections effective. Thereafter, the initially placed circuit patterns are placed again in accordance with the design rule changed. |
| US08095890B2 |
Method for user interface, display device, and user interface system
A home system for supporting a life behavior, in which a user can effectively select a function or content quickly according to attributes and states of display devices arranged in respective locations and the user behavior. A storage unit holds location attribute information on the devices, time band dependent use frequency for each user, and location dependence of each. A user identifier input unit identifies a user using a function or content. When displaying a menu for the user to select a content and a function, a calculation unit references each database of the storage unit in accordance with the menu display state and generates menu content information correlated to the content and the function. A display unit displays such a menu that the user can easily select a content and a function with higher priority rank according to the menu content information. |
| US08095886B2 |
Context based navigation
When navigating in a screen view composed of entities of differing types, a user may want to focus on any particular entity. Depending on the type of entity the user wants to focus on, the invention system adapts the screen view, as well as navigation behavior, to navigate the desired entity. This is accomplished without explicit action from the user like running a command and selecting the desired entity. Accordingly, a computer method and computer corresponding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention are provided to capture the user's intention to navigate the desired entity and to change the screen view and the navigation behavior. For example, when the user navigates an entity of a given type and the desired entity occupies a greater percentage of the screen view or becomes closer to the desired entity, the screen view and the navigation behavior change conveniently without explicit action from the user. |
| US08095884B2 |
Automatic alignment with subcomponents on a visual layout
A processing device may include a WYSIWYG tool for designing two-dimensional visual layouts. The processing device may display a visual layout including a first object component and a second object component. The first object component, or an object subcomponent thereof, may be moved or resized, or an object subcomponent of the second object component may be moved or resized. When an edge of the first object component or an edge of the object subcomponent, thereof, is within a snapping distance of an edge of the object subcomponent of the second object component, the processing device may attempt to align the edges and may display an indicator indicating alignment of the edges. The first object component or the object subcomponent, thereof, may be drawn to an aligned position with the object subcomponent of the second object component while the aligned edges are within the snapping distance. |
| US08095883B2 |
Indicating the default value for a property to enhance user feedback
A system for indicating a default value for a property of a selected object to a user within a graphical user interface (GUI) of a program module is provided. The property has a value and a state that can be set. The state of the property is one of a default state and a user-set state. The value of the property is assigned the default value when the state is the default state. The system comprises a GUI control having first, second, and third interface elements. The first interface element is configured to indicate the value of the property to the user. The second interface element is configured to indicate the state of the property to the user. The third interface element is configured to indicate the default value for the property to the user when the state of the property is the user-set state. |
| US08095882B2 |
Additional functionality for telephone numbers and utilization of context information associated with telephone numbers in computer documents
Telephone numbers are identified and highlighted on any computer document being loaded into a graphical user interface (GUI) for viewing by a user, and context information associated with the telephone numbers so tagged may also be viewed. The user may click on any particular highlighted telephone number or context information in the computer document while displayed in the GUI window in order to store the telephone number together with any desired context information associated therewith, or perform other functions, such as sending a facsimile transmission to the number, sending a message (e.g., SMS, IM or e-mail) or searching an associated database for prior occurrences of the telephone number or context information. |
| US08095880B2 |
System administration discussions indexed by system components
A method provides, as part of a computer administration system, an administration interface that can operate on almost any computerized device that has a user interface. The computer administration system manages components of a computer system and the administration interface is operable to configure the components and to provide dynamic performance and configuration information of the components to the user as the components operate. The method provides a “commentary input” area on the administration interface while providing the performance and configuration information of a specific component or a set of components. Thus, the method can receive comment(s) about the specific component(s) of the computerized system in the commentary input area. When this occurs, the method stores the comment(s) in a data store in a manner that associates the comment(s) with the specific component(s) that was being monitored. The method also automatically stores contemporaneous component data with each comment in the data store. This contemporaneous component data comprises instantaneous performance and configuration information of the specific component(s) being monitored that is frozen at the time when the comment was received. |
| US08095878B2 |
Method for spell check based upon target and presence of avatars within a virtual environment
The exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to the dynamic activation and deactivation of a spell check feature option for instant message chat session features within a virtual environment. As such, the spell check feature can be activated and deactivated within the virtual environment based upon the identity of an engaged party to chat session or the identities of other parties that are in proximity to the chat session parties within the virtual environment. |
| US08095876B1 |
Identifying a primary version of a document
A system and method identifies a primary version out of different versions of the same document. The system selects a priority of authority for each document version based on a priority rule and information associated with the document version, and selects a primary version based on the priority of authority and information associated with the document version. |
| US08095873B2 |
Promoting content from one content management system to another content management system
Provided are a method, system, and program for promoting content from one content management system to another content management system. Content from a first content management system satisfying a content criteria is determined. The first content management system includes content objects added by users in a collaborative environment. A second content management system providing content objects associated with content categories is processed to determine one of the content categories relevant to the determined content from the first content management system. The determined content is added to the second content management system and the content added to the second content management system is associated with the determined content category. |
| US08095870B2 |
Extensible document transformation language: an innovative way of generating business document and report
In various embodiments, a method for generating documents in native application formats includes receiving a document template as a first document according to a native format. The first document is parsed to generate an Extensible Document Transformation Language (XDTL) template representing the document template. An XDTL execution document is generated based on the XDTL template. A second document is then generated according to the native format based on the XDTL execution document. |
| US08095867B2 |
System and computer program product for copying and pasting displayed elements of a range of cells in an electronic spreadsheet
The present invention is related to displaying and/or hiding, in an electronic multi-dimensional spreadsheet on a user interface, elements of a range of cells, a range of cells including one or more contiguous elements aligned along a given spreadsheet dimension, an element of a range of cells including one or more cells along one or more of the spreadsheet dimensions. |
| US08095862B2 |
End-to-end cyclic redundancy check protection for high integrity fiber transfers
A method, transceiver, and computer program storage product transfer data over fiber between a first transceiver and a second transceiver. The second transceiver is determined to support a high integrity cyclic redundancy check associated with substantially an entire data set in a Fiber Channel Protocol exchange between the first transceiver and the second transceiver. A last data frame in a plurality of data frames is formatted for communication to the second transceiver during the Fiber Channel Protocol exchange. The last data frame includes a plurality of data and at least one cyclic redundancy check field associated with the plurality data and at least one additional cyclic redundancy check field associated with the plurality of data frames. |
| US08095861B2 |
Cache function overloading
A method includes checking a first parameter that indicates whether parity generation and checking for a at least a sub-portion of a cache line is disabled, setting at least one parity bit, corresponding to the sub-portion, in the cache line with a second parameter that indicates an action to perform when the first parameter indicates that parity generation and checking is disabled, passing the at least one set parity bit with the sub-portion to a processor for processing, and performing the action when the sub-portion is processed by the processor, wherein the processor performs the action. |
| US08095860B2 |
Method for implementing stochastic equality nodes
The present invention relates to a decoding method and system for stochastic decoding of linear block codes with parity check matrix. Each encoded sample of a set of encoded samples is converted into a corresponding probability. For each probability a corresponding probability message is the generated by encoding each probability as a sequence of digital symbols. Each probability message is then provided to a respective node of a logic circuitry for stochastic decoding. The logic circuitry represents a factor graph of the parity check matrix of the linear block code. Using the logic circuitry each probability message is processed for determining an estimated sequence of information symbols. If an equality node is in a hold state a chosen symbol is provided from a corresponding memory which is updated by storing output symbols from the equality node when the same is in a state other than a hold state. |
| US08095850B1 |
Rotationally invariant non-coherent burst coding and decoding
An apparatus, system and method can be arranged for coding and/or decoding with a phase invariant coding scheme that is useful for short burst signaling devices. 10-bit data is mapped into a 12-bit data with a non-coherent burst code mapper. A parity generator creates a 12-bit parity data to form a 24-bit extended binary Golay code from the 12-bit data. The values for selected bit fields in the 12-bit data and 12-bit parity data are swapped to generate I and Q data such that sensitivity to changes in rotational phase is removed. I and Q data can be used by a transmitter to transmit a rotationally-invariant signal. On receipt, I and Q signals can be recovered, reverse swapped to generate the parity and data signals, and remapped to recover the transmitted 10-bit data. The receiver can also be arranged to use a soft decoding method for improved signal integrity. |
| US08095848B1 |
Multi-byte cyclic redundancy check calculation circuit and method of operating the same
A multi-byte cyclic redundancy check (CRC) calculation circuit and a method of calculating a multi-byte CRC. In one embodiment, the circuit includes: (1) a plurality of modules each configured to receive remainder bits in first inputs thereof and different numbers of portions of an input message in second inputs thereof and compute candidate CRC bits based thereon, (2) a storage element configured to receive output bits from one of the plurality of modules and provide the output bits to the first inputs as the remainder bits and (3) a multiplexer coupled to first outputs of the plurality of modules and configured to select from among the candidate CRC bits to yield a CRC for the input message. |
| US08095847B2 |
Exception condition handling at a channel subsystem in an I/O processing system
A computer program product, apparatus, and method for handling exception condition feedback at a channel subsystem of an I/O processing system using data from a control unit are provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes sending a command message to the control unit, and receiving a response message in response to the command message. The response message includes exception condition feedback identifying a termination reason code in response to unsuccessful execution of at least one command in the command message. The method also includes interrupting a CPU in the I/O processing system, and reporting status associated with the exception condition feedback to the CPU in an interrupt response block. |
| US08095837B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving random pattern testing of logic structures
A test method and apparatus for randomly testing logic structures. The method includes identifying and analyzing a functional behavior of a logic structure to be covered during the random testing, modifying the logic structure such that the logic structure behaves in a functional manner during random testing, and generating patterns to exercise the modified logic structure. |
| US08095835B2 |
Error scanning in flash memory
Various embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems to scan at least a portion of a memory device for potential errors when a condition for scanning is met. The condition may be dependent on one or more of a number of read operations, a number of write operations, time, and others. Other embodiments including additional methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed. |
| US08095834B2 |
Macro and command execution from memory array
Methods and apparatus for executing internal operations of memory devices utilizing instructions stored in the memory array of the memory device are disclosed. Decode blocks adapted to interpret instructions and data stored in the memory device are also disclosed. Methods can be used to perform internal self-test operations of the memory device by executing test procedures stored in the memory array of the memory device performing a self-test operation. |
| US08095828B1 |
Using a data storage system for cluster I/O failure determination
Techniques are disclosed relating to storing a log of write operations made to a first storage device by one of a plurality of host computers running an instance of a distributed application. The log of write operations is stored at a second storage device. The plurality of host computers communicate status information to the second storage device over respective communication paths. Upon a failure to communicate status information between one of the host computers and the second storage device, the second storage device reads from a predetermined location in the first storage device to determine whether the host computer is still performing write operations. If the second storage device reads an expected signature value written by the host computer, the host computer is deemed to have written data, which indicates that the host computer is operational but that the write operations have not been recorded by the second storage device. |
| US08095827B2 |
Replication management with undo and redo capabilities
A method for replicating a volume of data including selecting a target storage box to receive a physical copy of the actual volume of data stored on the source storage box for replication of the actual volume of data, selecting a point in time storage box to receive a physical copy of actual data stored on the target storage box, physically copying actual data stored on the target storage box to the point in time storage box, performing the replication of the actual volume of data by initiating the physical copying on the target storage box of the actual volume of data, and selectively undoing the physical copying on the target storage box of the actual volume of data by replacing the current actual data stored on the target storage box with the physical copy of actual target storage box data stored on the point in time storage box. |
| US08095822B2 |
Storage system and snapshot data preparation method in storage system
The present invention is devised so that snapshot data preparation processing does not end abnormally as a result of the pool region becoming full with saved data from the primary logical volume during snapshot data preparation. When the CHA receives a snapshot data preparation request, the CHA checks whether or not update information is present in the logical volume that is the object of this data preparation. If such information is present (YES in S51), a check is made from the number of slots in the in the volume control information and the updating amount count value in the update information in order to ascertain whether or not the proportion of the updating amount relative to the number of slots is equal to or greater than the threshold value in the threshold value control information (S52). If this proportion is equal to or greater than the threshold value (YES in S52), the update information is initialized (S53), and physical snapshot control is started (S54). If such is not the case (NO in S52), the update information is initialized (S55), and logical snapshot control is started (S56). |
| US08095819B2 |
Communication network failure cause analysis system, failure cause analysis method, and failure cause analysis program
A failure cause analysis system for estimating a cause of a failure in a communication network from recorded contents of internal processing of a communication apparatus includes: feature extraction means for extracting a statistical feature of the recorded contents at a time of occurrence of a failure; and failure cause estimation means for estimating a failure cause based on similarity between a statistical feature of the recorded contents that is acquired at a time of occurrence of a past failure with a known failure cause and the statistical feature of the recorded contents that is acquired at the time of occurrence of the failure. The failure cause analysis system of a communication network provided can acquire the correspondence between failure features and failure causes from past failure cases irrespective of the number of cases as to communication network failures that are detected from process logs retained in communication apparatuses, and quantitatively incorporate the range of dispersion of the features into a judgment to estimate the cause of occurrence of a failure. |
| US08095818B2 |
Method and apparatus for on-demand power management
An apparatus for on-demand power management including a system controller, a clock domain manager coupled to the system controller and a power distribution manager coupled to the system controller. The system controller monitors a processing demand in a processing system. The clock domain manager provides one or more clock frequencies and, in response to the processing demand, switches between a first set of clock frequencies and a second set of clock frequencies without halting the processing system. The power distribution manager provides one or more operating voltages and, in response to the processing demand, switches between a first set of voltages and a second set of voltages without halting the processing system. |
| US08095814B2 |
Computing device power management
A system, method, and computer usable medium for computing device power management. The method includes identifying a correlation between active states of a computing device and active states of a connected device connected to the computing device through a network, the correlation indicating the desirability of the computing device being active; and providing an active state in the computing device based on the identified correlation. Providing an active state in the computing device based on the identified correlation may include preventing the computing device from entering a power-saving mode based on the identified correlation or waking the computing device. |
| US08095813B2 |
Integrated circuit systems having processor-controlled clock signal generators therein that support efficient power management
Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a clock generation apparatus, system, and method, which include power management. The apparatus is couplable to second circuitry which has a clock input terminal and an inverted clock output terminal. An exemplary apparatus comprises a clock generator, a sensor, and a processor. The clock generator provides a clock signal on a first terminal which is couplable to the clock input terminal of the second circuitry. The sensor is coupled to a second terminal which is couplable to the inverted clock output terminal, and detects a power conservation mode and a power resumption mode of the second circuitry. The processor is adapted to reduce power to the clock generator and to provide a first predetermined voltage or a second predetermined voltage to the first and second terminals in response to the detection of the power conservation mode, and to increase power to the clock generator in response to the detection of the power resumption mode. |
| US08095811B2 |
Reducing power consumption while synchronizing a plurality of compute nodes during execution of a parallel application
Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for reducing power consumption while synchronizing a plurality of compute nodes during execution of a parallel application that include: beginning, by each compute node, performance of a blocking operation specified by the parallel application, each compute node beginning the blocking operation asynchronously with respect to the other compute nodes; reducing, for each compute node, power to one or more hardware components of that compute node in response to that compute node beginning the performance of the blocking operation; and restoring, for each compute node, the power to the hardware components having power reduced in response to all of the compute nodes beginning the performance of the blocking operation. |
| US08095810B2 |
Storage system and power consumption reduction method for the same
In a storage system that includes two or more file servers each including an arbitrary number of operating virtual file servers, a management server: holds a load information table regarding a load on each virtual file server for each time period and redundancy information table for the storage system; judges, with reference to the load information table and redundancy information table, whether or not the loads on the virtual file servers can be handled by a smaller number of file servers than the number of currently-operating file servers; selects, if the judgment result is positive, a power-off target file server and makes another file server fail over a virtual file server in the power-off target file server; and turns off the power-off target file server. |
| US08095807B2 |
Method and system for power saving and state retention in an electronic device including a variation table having a plurality of flags
A method and a system for power saving and state retention in an electronic device are provided. The method for power saving and state retention in an electronic device includes recording a state variation of electronic components of a plurality of groups in a second circuit of the electronic device in a variation table stored in memory of a first circuit or the second circuit of the electronic device; before stopping providing power to the second circuit, selecting some groups from the plurality of groups according to the variation table and making a backup of states of electronic components of the selected groups; and after restoring power to the second circuit, restoring the states of electronic components of the selected groups according to states in the backup. |
| US08095804B1 |
Storing deleted data in a file system snapshot
Aspects of the invention relate to creating a snapshot of a file system on an OAS system. A snapshot of a file system is an image of a file system at a particular point in time. A snapshot of a file system may be used to restore the file system to its state at the time of creation of the snapshot in, for example, situations where the file system has become corrupted. |
| US08095803B1 |
Protecting the privacy of files referenced by their hash
A storage manager provides data privacy, while preserving the benefits provided by existing hash based storage systems. Each file is assigned a unique identifying code. Hashes of the content-derived chunks of the file are calculated based on the content of the chunk and the code identifying the file. When a request to store a chunk of data is received, it is determined whether a chunk associated with the hash has already been stored. Because hashes are based on privacy-preserving codes as well as content, chunks of duplicate copies of a file need not be stored multiple times, and yet privacy is preserved for content at a file level. In other embodiments, hashes indicating whether a given file is public and/or indicating the identity of the requesting user are also sent with storage requests. These additional hashes enable more robust transmission and storage efficiency, while still preserving privacy. |
| US08095801B2 |
Method of protecting microcomputer system against manipulation of data stored in a memory assembly of the microcomputer system
A method of protecting a microcomputer system against manipulation of data stored in a memory assembly of the microcomputer system is provided. The method may protect, for example, a control program stored in the memory assembly of a motor vehicle control device. To secure and reliably protect the microcomputer system against manipulation of the data, the data is stored in the memory assembly marked or encrypted using an asymmetrical encryption method. The data may, for example, be encrypted outside the microcomputer system using an encryption algorithm and a private key, which is accessible to only a limited group of persons. The data may be decrypted in the microcomputer system using a decryption algorithm and a freely accessible public key. |
| US08095798B2 |
Systems and methods for media authentication
A method and system for authenticating a digital optical medium, such as a CD-ROM, determine whether the medium is an unauthorized copy, or the original. The original media is created, or altered, so as to contain anomalous locations from which the transfer of data is accomplished at different rates than a standard digital copy would exhibit. One implementation of the process involves timing analysis of the differences in data transfer rates. Another implementation involves the determination of digital signatures during multiple read operations performed on a data segment. The process can be employed in systems that control access to unauthorized copies, or may be used for other informative purposes. Theft, distribution, and piracy of digital content on optical media, such as computer software (also games, video, audio, e-book content), is often accomplished by copying it directly to another disc using commonly available copy tools and recordable optical media, or the replication of media to another mass manufactured disc. The present invention, which helps to irrefutably identify a unit of optical media as the original, and can correspondingly identify any copy made by any currently available means as such a copy, may prevent an unauthorized individual from making use of any unauthorized copies. This offers significant advantages to content creators who wish to protect their products. |
| US08095797B2 |
Systems and methods for authenticating an electronic message
Systems and methods are disclosed for authenticating electronic messages. A data structure is generated by a computer server which allows for the authentication of the contents and computer server identity of a received electronic message and provides a trusted stamp to authenticate when the message was sent. Data which can authenticate the message, the computer server identity, and the time the message was sent is included into a data structure which is called an Electronic PostMark (EPM). |
| US08095793B1 |
Digital rights management apparatus and method
Apparatus and method for preventing unauthorized usage of a digital content, without requiring a form of copy protection for the distributed media. The distributed digital content is first decrypted, within a digital rights management device, to be re-encrypted for the digital content processing device. The digital content unique decryption key is not shared with the digital content processing device, and is obtain from a secure device communicating securely, using encryption, with the digital rights management device. The unique encryption key used to re-encrypt the digital content, so that it can only be decrypted by the digital content processing device, is obtained, from the digital content processing device, in an encrypted format unknown to the digital content processing device. |
| US08095790B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method, and computer program
A recording/playback apparatus for recording or playing back content is provided. For example, a playback unit plays back a medium on which an encrypted content management unit and an encrypted unit key for encrypting the content management unit are recorded. The encrypted unit key is decrypted according to a predetermined decryption procedure. An obtaining unit obtains subsequently generated or obtained data corresponding to the content data played back by the playback unit and a subsequently generated or obtained data key. A decryption unit decrypts the subsequently generated or obtained data key obtained by the obtaining unit according to the predetermined decryption procedure for decrypting the encrypted unit key to decrypt the subsequently generated or obtained data based on the decrypted subsequently generated or obtained data key. |
| US08095784B2 |
Computer system and method for activating basic program therein
A computer system capable of executing a basic program for providing a program execution environment. The system has a storage device for storing data that is necessary to the basic program during startup, and, for each basic program, configuration data that indicates information relating to data necessary during startup. In the computer system, data relating to the basic program that is to be started is read from the storage device setting, data necessary during startup is acquired from the storage device on the basis of information written in the configuration data, the data necessary during startup is stored in memory space that is in the memory device and that can be accessed from the basic program that is to be started, and a process for starting the designated basic program is executed. |
| US08095782B1 |
Multiple simultaneous context architecture for rebalancing contexts on multithreaded processing cores upon a context change
Graphics processing elements are capable of processing multiple contexts simultaneously, reducing the need to perform time consuming context switches compared with processing a single context at a time. Processing elements of a graphics processing pipeline may be configured to support all of the multiple contexts or only a portion of the multiple contexts. Each processing element may be allocated to process a particular context or a portion of the multiple contexts in order to simultaneously process more than one context. The allocation of processing elements to the multiple contexts may be determined dynamically in order to improve graphics processing throughput. |
| US08095780B2 |
Register systems and methods for a multi-issue processor
A multi-issue processor includes a register file and a plurality of issue slots, each one of the plurality of issue slots having a plurality of functional units and a plurality of holdable registers. The plurality of issue slots include a first set of issue slots and a second set of issue slots, and the register file is accessible by the plurality of issue slots. A location of at least a part of the plurality of holdable registers in the first set of issue slots is different from a location of at least a corresponding part of the plurality of holdable registers in the second set of issue slots. |
| US08095773B2 |
Dynamic address translation with translation exception qualifier
What is provided is an enhanced dynamic address translation facility. In one embodiment, a virtual address to be translated and an initial origin address of a translation table of the hierarchy of translation tables are obtained. Dynamic address translation of the virtual address proceeds. In response to a translation interruption having occurred during dynamic address translation, bits are stored in a translation exception qualifier (TXQ) field to indicate that the exception was either a host DAT exception having occurred while running a host program or a host DAT exception having occurred while running a guest program. The TXQ is further capable of indicating that the exception was associated with a host virtual address derived from a guest page frame real address or a guest segment frame absolute address. The TXQ is further capable of indicating that a larger or smaller host frame size is preferred to back a guest frame. |
| US08095771B2 |
Method and system for caching address translations from multiple address spaces in virtual machines
A method of virtualizing memory through shadow page tables that cache translations from multiple guest address spaces in a virtual machine includes a software version of a hardware tagged translation look-aside buffer. Edits to guest page tables are detected by intercepting the creation of guest-writable mappings to guest page tables with translations cached in shadow page tables. The affected cached translations are marked as stale and purged upon an address space switch or an indiscriminate flush of translations by the guest. Thereby, non-stale translations remain cached but stale translations are discarded. The method includes tracking the guest-writable mappings to guest page tables, deferring discovery of such mappings to a guest page table for the first time until a purge of all cached translations when the number of untracked guest page tables exceeds a threshold, and sharing shadow page tables between shadow address spaces and between virtual processors. |
| US08095769B2 |
Method for address comparison and a device having address comparison capabilities
A method for address comparison, the method includes: (i) receiving an input address; (ii) determining whether the input address is within a memory segment out of a group of memory segments by comparing, in parallel, the input address to memory segment boundaries of each memory segment of the group; (iii) wherein a comparison between the input address and a memory segment boundary comprises: (a) applying a XOR operation on bits of a most significant portion of the input address and corresponding bits of a most significant portion of the memory segment boundary; (b) ignoring bits of a least significant portion of the input address and corresponding bits of a least significant portion of the memory segment boundary; and (c) comparing, by utilizing a set of full comparators, between bits of an intermediate portion of the input address and corresponding bits of an intermediate portion of the memory segment boundary; wherein a location of bits that form the intermediate portion of the input address and of the memory segment boundary is selected in response to an alignment restriction imposed on the memory segment, to a size of the memory segment and in response to a boundary restriction imposed on the memory segment. |
| US08095765B2 |
Memory block management
Various embodiments include one or more memory devices having at least two planes of physical blocks organized into super blocks, with each super block including a physical block from each of the at least two planes. Embodiments include determining defective blocks within the planes. If none of the blocks at a particular block position are determined to be defective, embodiments include assigning the blocks at the particular block position to a super block, and if one or more of the blocks at a particular block position are determined to be defective, embodiments include: assigning the blocks at the particular block position determined to be defective to a super block; and assigning a respective replacement block to the super block for each of the one or more blocks at the particular block position determined to be defective. The respective replacement block is selected from a number of blocks within a respective one of the planes that includes the respective block determined to be defective. |
| US08095762B1 |
Low latency synchronous memory performance switching with drift refresh
A synchronous memory device is configured to switch into and out of a full speed mode to change speed the speed of data transactions without significantly disturbing the frequency of a clock input to a PLL or DLL that provides the internal clock for the synchronous memory device. Since the PLL or DLL receives a clock signal whether or not the synchronous memory device is in a non-full speed mode, the PLL or DLL does not need to settle or relock when the clock signal is reapplied to exit a different speed mode and return to the full speed mode. Therefore, the latency incurred to switch into and out of different speed modes is reduced by eliminating or substantially reducing the time for settling or relocking the PLL or DLL. |
| US08095761B1 |
Low latency synchronous memory performance switching
A synchronous memory device is configured to switch into and out of a full speed mode to change speed the speed of data transactions without significantly disturbing the frequency of a clock input to a PLL or DLL that provides the internal clock for the synchronous memory device. Since the PLL or DLL receives a clock signal whether or not the synchronous memory device is in a non-full speed mode, the PLL or DLL does not need to settle or relock when the clock signal is reapplied to exit a different speed mode and return to the full speed mode. Therefore, the latency incurred to switch into and out of different speed modes is reduced by eliminating or substantially reducing the time for settling or relocking the PLL or DLL. |
| US08095760B2 |
Adjustment number of expanders in storage system
A storage system for storing data includes: a plurality of storage devices; a controller device; a plurality of expanders; and a path adjusting unit. The path adjusting unit includes: a target specifying unit, a destination selecting unit; and a data migrating unit. The target specifying unit specifies target data to be targeted for adjustment in the plurality of storage devices. The destination selecting unit selects a storage device in which to store the specified target data to reduce the number of expanders on a data transfer pathway for the specified target data. The data migrating unit migrates the specified target data to the selected storage device. |
| US08095757B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling access to storage device
The storage regions under command of a storage controller can be simply enabled and disabled to access to by automatically registering connected host computers. Such system can be achieved by taking a step of acquiring N_Port_Name information included in a login frame from the host computers, and a step of displaying a table of access right of host computers to a logical unit under command of storage controller. A security table for the storage controller can be generated by supervisor's setting the access enable/disable flag information. |
| US08095755B2 |
System, method and computer program product for generating a consistent point in time copy of data
Generating a consistent point in time copy of data in a source volume and a target volume is achieved responsively to a first data modification request by writing a first altered version of the data onto a single source volume, asynchronously transferring the first altered version from the first storage site to a target volume located at a remote second storage site, while avoiding copying the first altered version onto other volumes at the first storage site. While asynchronously transferring the first altered version de-queuing a second modification request, and responsively to the second modification request synchronously transferring the first altered version from the first storage site to the target volume. Then a second altered version of the data is written to the single source volume and a copy transferred to the target volume in like manner. |
| US08095750B2 |
Transactional memory system with fast processing of common conflicts
A computing system processes memory transactions for parallel processing of multiple threads of execution by support of which an application need not be aware. The computing system transactional memory support provides a Transaction Table in memory and performs fast detection of potential conflicts between multiple transactions. Special instructions may mark the boundaries of a transaction and identify memory locations applicable to a transaction. A ‘private to transaction’ (PTRAN) tag, enables a quick detection of potential conflicts with other transactions that are concurrently executing on another thread of said computing system. The tag indicates whether (or not) a data entry in memory is part of a speculative memory state of an uncommitted transaction that is currently active in the system. A transaction program employs a plurality of Set Associative Transaction Tables, one for each microprocessor, and Load and Store Summary Tables in memory for fast processing of common conflict. |
| US08095749B1 |
Application pre-launch to reduce user interface latency
A device stores a plurality of applications and a list of associations for those applications. The applications are preferably stored within a secondary memory of the device, and once launched each application is loaded into RAM. Each application is preferably associated to one or more of the other applications. Preferably, no applications are launched when the device is powered on. A user selects an application, which is then launched by the device, thereby loading the application from the secondary memory to RAM. Whenever an application is determined to be associated with a currently active state application, and that associated application has yet to be loaded from secondary memory to RAM, the associated application is pre-launched such that the associated application is loaded into RAM, but is set to an inactive state. |
| US08095747B2 |
Memory system and method
In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a memory controller configured to control first and second memory components. A point-to-point data bus configured to pass data between the memory controller and the memory components may include a direct connection from each memory component to the memory controller. A daisy chained address bus configured to pass commands between the memory controller and the memory components may include a direct connection from the first memory component to the memory controller and a daisy chain connection from the first memory component to the second memory component. |
| US08095743B2 |
Memory access control in a multiprocessor system
Access to a memory area by a first processor that executes a first processor program and a second processor that executes a second processor program is granted to one of the first processor and the second processor at a time. Access to the memory area by the first processor and the second processor are cyclically uniquely allocated (e.g., t≡[(ad mod m)=o]) between the first and the second processor by the first and second processor programs. |
| US08095742B2 |
Microcomputer with address translation circuit
A microcomputer includes a first CPU, a first bus, a first memory, a second CPU, a second bus, and a second memory. The first memory and the second memory are arranged in address spaces individually managed by the first CPU and the second CPU corresponding to the memories. An address translation circuit is provided. When a task so programmed to have a data area in the first memory is transferred to the second memory and executed by the second CPU, the address translation circuit carries out the following processing: the address translation circuit translates an address outputted from the second CPU so that access to the first memory by the task becomes access to the second memory. As a result, the number of access cycles is reduced and degradation in computing capability is avoided when a task is transferred between CPUs for load sharing. |
| US08095739B2 |
Barriers processing in a multiprocessor system having a weakly ordered storage architecture without broadcast of a synchronizing operation
A data processing system employing a weakly ordered storage architecture includes first and second sets of processing units coupled to each other and data storage by an interconnect fabric. Each processing unit has a processor core having an associated cache hierarchy including at least a level one, level two and level three cache memories. A request to perform an update to a portion of a first image of memory contained in the level three cache memory of a first processing unit while at last one kill-type command is pending at the first processing unit, the cache hierarchy of the first processing unit permitting the update to be exposed to any first processor core only after the at least one kill-type command is complete. |
| US08095732B2 |
Apparatus, processor, cache memory and method of processing vector data
An apparatus includes a vector unit to process a vector data, a cache memory which includes a plurality of cache lines to store a plurality of divisional data being sent from a main memory, each of the divisional data of vector data having been divided according to a capacity of a cache line, and a cache controller to send all of the divisional data as the vector data to the vector unit after the cache lines have stored all of the divisional data including the vector data. |
| US08095728B2 |
Method and system for power aware I/O scheduling
A method for retrieving a logical block, including receiving a request to read the logical block, and obtaining metadata associated with the logical block, wherein the metadata includes a replication type used to store the logical block and physical block locations in a storage pool for each physical block associated with the logical block. The method further includes obtaining power state information including a power state for the storage devices specified in the physical block locations, selecting a first set of physical block locations using the metadata, the power state information, and a power-usage selection policy, and generating I/O requests, where each I/O request specifies one of the first set of physical block locations. The method further includes issuing the I/O requests, receiving physical blocks in response to the I/O requests, and constructing the logical block using the physical blocks. |
| US08095727B2 |
Multi-reader, multi-writer lock-free ring buffer
A method for accessing cells of a ring buffer by one or more writers, wherein the one or more writers are prevented from simultaneously accessing a cell of the ring buffer. In addition, a method for accessing cells of a ring buffer by one or more readers, wherein the one or more readers are prevented from simultaneously accessing a cell of the ring buffer. |
| US08095726B1 |
Associating an identifier with a content unit
Embodiments of the invention relate to associating a source string with a target content unit stored on a content addressable storage (CAS) system. This may be accomplished, in some embodiments, by storing on the CAS system an associative content unit that includes the source string in its binding part and includes the target content unit in its non-binding part. |
| US08095725B2 |
Device, system, and method of memory allocation
Device, system, and method of memory allocation. For example, an apparatus includes: a Dual In-line Memory Module (DIMM) including a plurality of Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) units to store data, wherein each DRAM unit includes a plurality of banks and each bank is divided into a plurality of sub-banks; and a memory management unit to allocate a set of interleaved sub-banks of said DIMM to a memory page of an Operating System, wherein a combined memory size of the set of interleaved sub-banks is equal to a size of the memory page of the Operating System. |
| US08095715B1 |
SCSI HBA management using logical units
Systems and methods for accessing host bus adapter (HBA) management features for Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) based HBAs produced by different vendors use a standard interface. A virtual SCSI target is created to emulate each HBA in a system, representing the HBA as a logical unit. Standard commands specified for logical units are used by an HBA device driver to perform HBA management operations. The standard commands may be used to access HBA management features for any HBA regardless of the vendor. Therefore, the HBA communication interface is standardized for HBA devices, permitting efficient access regardless of the operating system or HBA vendor. |
| US08095714B2 |
Electronic device capable of automatically switching between a master mode and a slave mode
An electronic device, includes a USB interface, a processing unit, a master-slave select triggering circuit, a controlling unit, a selection circuit and a switching circuit. The master-slave selection triggering circuit including an input port, a first output port and a second output port. The master-slave select triggering circuit is used to detect the type of external electronic devices connected to the USB interface, if the external electronic device is a master device, the first and second output port output a slave triggering signal, the controlling unit switches off the switching circuit t and the selection circuit selects the processing unit into slave mode; if the external electronic device is the slave device, the first and second output port output a master triggering signal, the controlling unit switches on the switching circuit and the selection circuit select the processing unit into master mode. |
| US08095712B2 |
Apparatus and method to read information from an information storage medium
A method and apparatus to read information from an information storage medium using a read channel, where that read channel includes a data cache. The invention generates an analog waveform comprising the information, and provides that analog waveform to a read channel, and generates a digital signal from that analog waveform using one or more first operating parameters. The method error corrects that digital signal at an actual error correction rate, and determines if the actual error correction rate is greater than an error correction rate threshold. If the actual error correction rate exceeds the error correction rate threshold, then the method captures the digital signal, stores that captured data in a data cache, reads that digital signal from the cache, generates one or more second operating parameters, and provides those one or more second operating parameters to the read channel. Thereafter, the method uses those one or more second operating parameters to read the information from the information storage medium. |
| US08095709B2 |
Device name editing apparatus and device name display method
According to an aspect of the invention, a device name editing apparatus includes: a connector to which a device is connected; a display unit configured to display a device name of the device; and a device name editor configured to allow a user to input character information so as to edit the device name to be displayed on the display unit. |
| US08095707B2 |
Method for synchronization of peripherals with a central processing unit in an embedded system
A method and apparatus for synchronizing I/O peripherals with a CPU in an embedded system is discussed. The method involves receiving an address from the CPU in response to a read and/or write access, translating the address received from the CPU to identify a I/O peripheral to be accessed, disabling the operation of the CPU and synchronizing a memory from the CPU clock domain to the clock domain of the identified I/O peripheral. Upon completion of the read/write access, the identified I/O peripheral sends an acknowledgment, the memory is then synchronized from the clock domain of the I/O peripheral to the CPU clock domain and the operation of the CPU is then enabled.In another embodiment, if the acknowledgement from the identified I/O peripheral is not received within a predefined time duration, reserved data is sent to the CPU and the operation/access can be restarted. |
| US08095704B2 |
Integrated-circuit implementation of a storage-shelf router and a path controller card for combined use in high-availability mass-storage-device shelves that may be incorporated within disk arrays
One embodiment of the present invention is an integrated circuit implementing a storage-shelf router, used in combination with path controller cards and optionally with other storage-shelf routers, to interconnect SATA disks within a storage shelf or disk array to a high-bandwidth communications medium, such as an FC arbitrated loop. When two, four, six, or eight or more storage-shelf routers are used within a storage shelf, and the interconnections between the storage-shelf routers, disk drives, and external communications media are properly designed and configured, the resulting storage shelf constitutes a discrete, highly-available component that may be included in a disk array or in other types of electronic devices. The storage-shelf router features a disk-drive adaptation layer that allows a storage-shelf router to interface to, and manage, any of many different types of disk drives. The disk-drive adaptation layer includes a disk-profile table and associated firmware logic. |
| US08095702B2 |
High speed memory access in an embedded system
Data is processed in an embedded system by writing data read from a peripheral device in response to an event to memory external to the embedded system. The data or a portion of the data is copied to memory internal to the embedded system. Which portion of the data is stored in both the external memory and the internal memory is tracked. The copied data is retrieved from the internal memory by a processor included in the embedded system. The processor has one or more caches logically and physically separated from the internal memory. The processor uses the copied data it retrieved to begin servicing the event. |
| US08095701B2 |
Computer system and I/O bridge
A computer system reduces an overhead by using an I/O switch high in versatility when realizing the sharing of an I/O between virtual computers. The system includes a CPU module #0 having plural CPU cores, an AS bridge 15 connected to the CPU cores, and a main memory that can be accessed from the CPU cores or the AS bridge 15, and AS switches SW0 and SW1 that connect the AS bridge 15 of the CPU module #0 and an I/O blade #5. The CPU module #0 has a hypervisor that divides the plural CPU cores and the main memory into plural logical partitions, and the AS bridge 15 adds virtual path information set in each of the logical partitions and path information of from the AS bridge 15 to the I/O blade #5 to the path information of the AS packet to switch over the AS packet between each of the logical partitions and the I/O blade #5 when relaying the AS packet transmitted or received between the logical partitions and the I/O blade #5. |
| US08095696B2 |
Control method for rewriting firmware on an electronic device
An electronic device includes: a plurality of input terminals; and a control unit in which an operation for determining contents of a digital signal inputted through one input terminal of the plurality of input terminals is repeated while the input terminal is switched to another, and when it is confirmed that a predetermined identifier is included in a digital signal inputted through a certain input terminal, processing is then performed upon real data included in the digital signal inputted through the certain input terminal. |
| US08095694B2 |
Enhancements to data-driven media management within an electronic device
A centralized resource manager manages the routing of audio or visual information within a device, including a handheld device such as a smartphone. The resource manager evaluates data-driven policies to determine how to route audio or visual information to or from various input or output components connected to the device, including headphones, built-in speakers, microphones, bluetooth headsets, cameras, and so on. Among the data considered in the policies are connection status data, indicating if a device is connected, routing status data, indicating if a device is permitted to route information to or from a component, and grouping data, indicating logical relationships between various components. Components may be considered inherently routable, automatically routable, or optionally routable. Numerous other uses exist for such data, including providing simpler and more logical management interfaces. |
| US08095692B2 |
Identification of devices in a medical device network and wireless data communication techniques utilizing device identifiers
A fluid infusion system as described herein includes a number of local “body network” devices, such as an infusion pump, a handheld monitor or controller, a physiological sensor, and a bedside or hospital monitor. The body network devices can be configured to support communication of status data, physiological information, alerts, control signals, and other information between one another. In addition, the body network devices can be configured to support networked communication of status data, physiological information, alerts, control signals, and other information between the body network devices and “external” devices, systems, or communication networks. The networked medical devices are configured to support a variety of wireless data communication protocols for efficient communication of data within the medical device network. In addition, the wireless medical devices may be configured to support a number of dynamically adjustable wireless data communication modes to react to current operating conditions, application-specific data content, or other criteria. |
| US08095691B2 |
Multi-node configuration of processor cards connected via processor fabrics
Provided is a system comprising a first node comprising a plurality of processor cards each including a processor fabric, wherein the processor cards in the first node connect via their processor fabrics; a second node comprising a plurality of processor cards each including a processor fabric, wherein the processor cards in the second node connect via their processor fabrics; and a plurality of communication interfaces, wherein each interface connects one processor card in the second node to one processor card in the first node to enable communication between the connected processor cards to coordinate processor operations between the connected processor cards in the first and second nodes. |
| US08095688B2 |
Staging latency performances and orchestrating network resources with low latency requirements
Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for orchestrating behavior of network resources while reducing latency. According to one embodiment, a system can comprise a first network resource communicatively coupled with a communications network. The first network resource can have predictable latencies and can be adapted to handle network signaling and transport processes. A first enabler introducing greater latencies than the first network resource can be communicatively coupled with the first network resource and can be adapted to control the first network resource. The system may also include an adapter introducing greater latencies than the first network resource and lower latencies than the first enabler and adapted to react to network events and signaling of the communications network not handled by the network resource. An orchestrator can be communicatively coupled with the first enabler and adapted to orchestrate behavior of the first network resource via the first enabler. |
| US08095686B2 |
Method and system for communicating information between a switch and a plurality of servers in a computer network
A method and system are disclosed for communicating information between a switch and a plurality of servers in a computer network. In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a first server constructs an original state of an information packet for transmitting client information to a client on a connection between the client and the server through the switch. The first server modifies a header of the information packet to include computer network information for use by the switch. The first server transmits the modified information packet to the switch. The switch extracts the computer network information from the modified information packet. |
| US08095684B2 |
Intelligent device and media server selection for optimized backup image duplication
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are disclosed for a computer system determining a transport path for a data duplication job. A data duplication job request, being a request that data stored on a source device be duplicated, may be received. A plurality of possible transport path components may be enumerated. The plurality of possible transport path components may include one or more possible destination devices, one or more possible means of transport, and one or more possible media servers. A ranking may be determined for at least a subset of the possible transport path components. An availability may be determined for at least a subset of the possible transport path components. A transport path may be selected based on the determined rankings and the determined availabilities. The data duplication job may be performed using the selected transport path. |
| US08095678B2 |
Data processing
Data is stored in streams of varying size, a plurality of data streams are linked by references to form an application file such that each data stream is a portion of an application file, and an operating system transfers said application file between storage and a client application. Data streams that are below a predetermined size are identified as data fragments, wherein a plurality of data fragments are written to storage in a data block. Each data fragment is analysed to determine whether it is related in content to a first set of data fragments or to a second set of data fragments, the first set of data fragments is placed in a first block and the second set of data fragments is placed in a second block. |
| US08095674B2 |
Method, system and terminal for access control in device management
A method for access control in device management includes: by a terminal, receiving a command that includes a node identifier of a target ID from a server; judging whether the server rights meet preset rights; running the command when the server rights meet the preset rights and the server has an access right (ACL) of the target node identified by the node identifier. The present invention solves the problem that the MOs are beyond control because any server can create any type of MOs in the terminal, thus improving the security of the system. A system and terminal for access control in device management are also provided. |
| US08095673B2 |
Generic format for efficient transfer of data
Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer program products, for transferring, receiving, and storing multiple element data in a string of characters. Multiple data elements are sent in a string of delimited characters and have respective project identifiers, data types, and index numbers used to extract and store the data elements at a receiving computer. |
| US08095670B2 |
Protocol for enabling dynamic and scalable federation of enterprise service buses
In a method and system for creating a federation of a plurality of enterprise service buses (ESBs), a plurality of ESB nodes provide connectivity to one or more services. According to a protocol, at least a portion of the ESB nodes transmit policy-based service advertisement messages to other ESB nodes, wherein the policy-based service advertisement messages include service state information. In response to receiving the policy-based service advertisement messages, each of the ESB nodes stores the service state information received from other ESB nodes in respective distributed registries to create a local view of routable service endpoints in the federation. Each of the ESB nodes then uses its respective distributed registry to make routing decisions when routing service requests. |
| US08095665B1 |
User-friendly features for real-time communications
User-friendly features in Real-Time Communications are described. The description includes a process of determining capabilities and permissions of a remote client, and displaying an indicator for the discovered capabilities and permissions, the indicator indicating available capabilities and permissions for the remote client. |
| US08095661B2 |
Method and system for scaling applications on a blade chassis
In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method for scaling an application. The method includes executing a first instance of the application on a first computer in a chassis, where the first instance of the application is associated with a first VNIC and a second VNIC executing on the first computer. The method further includes loading a second instance of the application on a second computer in the chassis, where the second instance of the application is associated with a third VNIC and a fourth VNIC executing on the second computer. The method further includes re-programming a network express manager in the chassis to direct a portion of network traffic directed to the first VNIC to the third VNIC and executing the second instance of the application after the re-programming. |
| US08095659B2 |
Service interface
A service interface enables an application to be developed independently from a particular service. At execution of the application, the application is wrapped or bound to a service. Advantageously, a configuration file includes instructions that bind particular applications with a particular service. Therefore, if improved services are developed after the application is written, only the configuration file needs to be updated, not the application source code. Accordingly, significant time and expense is saved by allowing applications to be developed independently from particular services. |
| US08095651B2 |
Delayable events in home network
In one embodiment, a method for monitoring events in a home network is provided. A node receives a subscription request from a control point, wherein the subscription request indicates an interest in delayable eventing. A change is detected in an event variable. It is then determined if the control point can receive an event sent from the node. If the control point cannot receive an event sent from the node, an event notification regarding the change in the event variable is stored such that the event notification can be retrieved when the control point can receive communications from the node. |
| US08095650B1 |
Methods and apparatus for real user monitoring including flash monitoring
A system provides a tag for a flash application. The tag identifies a flash event to record during execution of the flash application. The flash event is recorded to monitor performance of the flash application to generate performance metrics. The flash performance monitoring process generates the performance metrics of the flash application based on an occurrence of the flash event during the execution of the flash application, and provides a graphical user interface in which to render a graphical representation of the generated performance metrics. |
| US08095648B2 |
Network device information collection and analysis
Method and system for collecting network device information is provided. A meta-meta model structure is used by a plurality of collectors that collect information from a plurality of network devices. The meta-meta model identifies a network protocol that is used for data collection, identifies the type of information that is to be collected and also identifies how collected data is to be stored in a database. A plurality of collectors is configured to interface with the database. When data needs to be collected, an inventory engine reads the meta-meta model and instantiates a collector to collect and store information in the database as specified by the meta-meta model. |
| US08095643B2 |
Communication apparatus and method providing robust service in the presence of deteriorated radio conditions
Data communication using wireless service discovery is continuously provided even if a radio wave condition temporarily deteriorates or movement of an apparatus occurs. If a temporary deterioration in wireless radio wave environment is found in a communication apparatus including a service discovery function, a search is made again at a raised transmission power. Forcible disconnection processing from a higher-level layer is prevented when communication at the network layer level is ongoing. |
| US08095633B2 |
Cache on demand
Methods and systems are provided for delivering content from a website to a computer device. The website and computer device negotiate terms for use of a cache memory coupled to the computer device. The computer device requests content, such as web page objects, from the website. In addition to transmitting the requested content, the website transmits non-requested content to the computer device. The non-requested content is stored in the cache memory for later retrieval by the computer device. |
| US08095631B2 |
Simplified walk-up enablement of internet-based, personalized access to retail imaging devices and services
An apparatus and method for loading and configuring an imaging device driver to facilitate turnkey remote access via the internet to the complete and explicit feature set and capabilities provided by a specific, user selected, retail imaging kiosk or digital photofinishing system. |
| US08095630B1 |
Network booting
A system for providing a network booting (NB) of at least one client therein is provided. The system includes a torrent-based peer-to-peer (P2P) system imposed on the network system, wherein the at least one client is a peer in the P2P system; and at least one host operable as a source in the torrent-based P2P system to provide at least one NB application to the at least one client through the torrent-based P2P system for network booting of the at least one client. |
| US08095627B2 |
Information processing device, communication system, management device, method, and program
An information processing device comprises: a communication unit which communicates with each device on a network, determines whether to accept data received from a device on the network or not based on a prescribed criterion, and transfers the received data to the inside in response to the received data being determined to be accepted based on the criterion; a setting change unit which makes a setting change to the criterion of the communication unit according to instructions represented by setting request data in response to receipt of the setting request data requesting for the setting change of the criterion from a device on the network via the communication unit; and a judgment unit which judges whether the communication with the device as the sender of the setting request data can be performed normally via the communication unit or not in response to the setting change by the setting change unit according to the setting request data. |
| US08095626B2 |
System and method for configuring a client electronic device
A method and computer program product for obtaining a main configuration file from a client electronic device upon the client electronic device being coupled to at least a portion of a media distribution system. The main configuration file defines one or more enhanced functionalities of the client electronic device. The client electronic device is coupled to the at least a portion of the media distribution system using a binary transfer protocol configured to transfer media data from the at least a portion of a media distribution system to a client electronic device. |
| US08095624B2 |
Architecture for serving and managing independent access devices
A method of providing services from a service provider to a plurality of independent entities, includes defining a predetermined one way trust relationship, separating first services wherein the relationship runs from the service provider to the serviced entity from second services wherein the relationship runs from the serviced entity to the service provider, thus preventing transitive trust. Preferably, the second services do not trust the first services. |
| US08095622B1 |
Methods and systems for collecting information transmitted over a network
The disclosure provides a transparent means of collecting context-dependent data nested in a client-server request/response paradigm. Through the use of an embedded web server, messages are terminated between the user and the disclosure wherein the disclosure takes on the role of a web server. The disclosure then initiates a new request, based on the content of the incoming request and submits this new message to a destination system. In this latter case, the disclosure is acting in the role of a web client. The response coming back from the destination system is then terminated at the disclosure which is still acting in the role of a web client. The content of the response is used to generate a new message which is sent back to the user. In this final phase, the disclosure is acting in the role of a web server. The purpose of this interaction is to capture website structure and function—mapped together is what it termed context-dependent information. |
| US08095620B2 |
System and method for dynamic allocation of a resource
The present invention relates to a system and method for dynamic allocation of a resource. In particular, it concerns a system to dynamically designate a priority for a resource request and to allocate a resource, partially filling or completely filling the request. Partial filling of requests and conditional priorities allows maximum use of resources at low priority while protecting minimum access to resources Thus, the system and method of the present invention improve access and optimization of a Bandwidth On Demand (BOD) satellite communication system. Free resources are used as access channelsthat may be allocated to a user. |
| US08095618B2 |
In-memory caching of shared customizable multi-tenant data
In a multi-tenant data sharing environment with shared, customizable data attributes are assigned to requested data and stored in a cache store along with the requested data. For non-customized data designated as system data, one copy is stored in the cache store for use by multiple tenants allowing optimization of memory and performance for each data request/retrieval operation. A “delete sentinel” attribute may be assigned to non-existing data in the cache store enabling notification of requesting tenant(s) without a need to access the tenant data store each time a request for the non-existing data is received. |
| US08095616B2 |
Contention detection
A multiple computer system is disclosed in which n computers (M1, M2 . . . Mn) each run a different portion of a single application program written to execute only on a single computer. The local memory of each computer is maintained substantially the same by updating all computers with every change made to addressed memory locations. Contention can arise when the same memory location is substantially simultaneously updated by two or more machines because of transmission delays and latency of the communications network interconnecting all the computers. In particular a method of detecting contention is disclosed which utilizes a count value indicative of the number of the sequence of occasions on which each memory location has been updated. Contention is indicated if the currently stored count value and the incoming updating count value are the same. |
| US08095612B2 |
Ranking messages in an electronic messaging environment
The present invention provides methods and systems to score messages exchanged over a network. The methods and systems may gather message interactions of a recipient. A message originating from a sender and destined for the recipient may be received at an email client. A sender score of the message may be determined based on one or more of sender information, the gathered message interactions, and one or more attributes associated with the message. The message may be marked with the determined score in a user interface associated with the email client. |
| US08095610B2 |
Methods and apparatus for centralized and decentralized emergency alert messaging
Apparatus and methods for providing emergency alert system (EAS) data to subscribers of a content-based network for multiple locations including via mobile devices. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a server performing real-time receipt and encapsulation of the EAS data, transport of the EAS data to client devices over an IP or other packet-switched network, and use of applications running on the client devices to decode and display the EAS data. In one variant, a centralized EAS (CEAS) entity is used to aggregate and distribute EAS messages to video registration servers (VRS), which use stored client device data and user preferences to map delivery of relevant EAMs over the IP network. In another variant, instant messaging (IM) infrastructure is used to deliver and display at least portion of the EAS data via a separate transport process. |
| US08095609B1 |
Targeted notification of users of a communications system based on geographic location
A method for transmitting data to one or more users of a communications system by establishing a connection with one or more users; designating targeting rules applicable to online users; acquiring context information of online users; applying the targeting rules to the context information to identify targeted online users; and sending data to the targeted online users. |
| US08095608B2 |
Email wrong transmission preventing apparatus and method
An email wrong transmission preventing apparatus calculates memory ratios of addresses of emails in a transmission log by a model expression in which the memory ratios decline over time, compiles the memory ratios of the emails for each destination to set weights, and records the weights in a user weight list. When receiving a planned outgoing email, the apparatus compares the weight of the destination of the planned outgoing email obtained by referring to the user weight list with a predetermined threshold and determines that the destination is “reliable” only if the weight is over the threshold. If even one of the destinations of the planned outgoing email is not “reliable”, the apparatus causes a sender terminal to display an address check screen to prompt address checking. When “checked” is inputted, the apparatus transfers the planned outgoing email to an email transmission server. |
| US08095606B1 |
Provisioning user email accounts based on incoming emails
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing and using techniques for provisioning a user email account. An email is received, which has an email address comprising a local part and an email address domain. It is determined that an email address account at the email address domain is not associated with the local part of the email address. In response to the determination, a user email account is provisioned in the email address domain based on the local part of the email address. |
| US08095602B1 |
Spam whitelisting for recent sites
The present invention is directed to spam filters which consider browser-generated information, such as a browser log, in determining whether an electronic message, such as an e-mail, is or is not spam. |
| US08095600B2 |
Inter-proximity communication within a rendezvous federation
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for facilitating inter-proximity communication within a rendezvous federation. Nodes maintain collateral ring set entry tables that include collateral rings and corresponding entry nodes into the collateral rings. Nodes can exchange collateral ring set entry state to update one another on the configuration of rings within a tree of rings. Nodes can refer to collateral ring set entry tables, as well as to other nodes, to identify entry nodes into rings that are collateral rings of the node. Messages can be sent to entry nodes in collateral rings. A message can include an indication that an entry node in a target proximity ring is to resolve the message to the node in the target proximity ring which has a node ID closest to an indicated destination node. |
| US08095597B2 |
Method and system of automating data capture from electronic correspondence
A method and system of automating capture of electronic data provide a user with an effective universal Internet identity and e-mail address, comprehensive e-mail filtering and forwarding services, and e-receipt identification and data extraction. Detailed user e-mail preferences data stored at a central server may be selectively altered such that incoming correspondence is redirected in accordance with the user's preferences. Computer program code at the central server parses incoming e-mail header information and data content, selectively extracts data from identified types of correspondence, and forwards extracted data in accordance with user preferences data. Additional computer program code may manipulate the extracted data in accordance with format requirements and display the manipulated data to a user in a desired format. |
| US08095596B2 |
Interoperability using a local proxy server
A home-networking gateway may automatically provide a function based on data identified on a device on a home network. The home-networking gateway may perform the function using another device that is capable of performing the function and is accessible to the home-networking gateway. |
| US08095587B2 |
Performing rounding in an arithmetic operation
An arithmetic unit comprising: an encoding circuit arranged to receive first and second operands each having a bit length of m bits and to generate therefrom a number n of partial products of bit length of 2m bits or less; an addition circuit having 2m columns each having n inputs, wherein bits of said partial products are applied to said inputs for combining said partial products into a result leaving certain of said inputs unused; and a rounding bit generator connected to supply a rounding bit to at least one of said unused inputs in one of said in columns at a bit position to cause said result to be rounded. |
| US08095584B2 |
Random number generator using jitter sampled RF carrier
A random number generator generates a string of random bits from a received RF signal source. A sample-and-hold circuit is coupled to the received RF signal source. The RF signal is sampled by a jittered clock signal from a source coupled to the sample-and-hold circuit. The frequency of the jittered clock signal is less than frequency of the received RF signal. The random number appears at the output of the sample-and-hold circuit. |
| US08095582B2 |
Dynamic search engine results employing user behavior
A method and apparatus for dynamically modifying search results “on the fly” based on the behavior of the user currently conducting a search. In one embodiment, data regarding user behavior is gathered from virtually any activity, including clicks on links, dwell times, downloads, transactions and cursor movements. Subordinate keywords are generated to reflect the intent of the user as inferred from the user's behavior. Subordinate keywords, as opposed to traditional primary keywords, are keywords that are identified as important to the search, but are not necessarily essential for a matched document. They are automatically generated by the system from a variety of places, such as documents clicked on by the user as well as documents that are skipped. The system uses the subordinate keywords to dynamically re-rank thatched documents and advertisements to best reflect the inferred intent of the user in order to continuously provide the most relevant results. |
| US08095578B2 |
Data processing system and method therefor
A data providing system for distributing content data from a data providing apparatus to a data processing apparatus and managing said data providing apparatus and said processing apparatus by a management apparatus. In the system, the management apparatus is configured to provide a key file in which is stored content key data and usage control policy data indicating a content of rights, including permission conditions of the content data. At least a part of said key file is encrypted. The data providing apparatus is configured to provide the content data encrypted by using the content key data stored in the key file. The data processing apparatus is configured to decrypt the key file to obtain the content key data from the key file and determine handling of the content data based on the usage control policy data stored in the key file. |
| US08095575B1 |
Word processor data organization
A computer-implemented word processing presentation method is disclosed. The method includes obtaining an unformatted data structure containing a series of characters representing content for a word processing document, accessing a series of first records in a file associated with the unformatted data structure, wherein each first record contains data correlating a location of one or more characters in the unformatted data structure to a location for the one or more characters in the word processing document, and generating a display of the word processing document by applying the correlating data from the series of records to the series of characters in the unformatted data structure. |
| US08095569B2 |
Customized context menu for files based on their content
Techniques include customizing a context structure such as a context menu based on content associated with an object such as a computer file. For example, a computer-implemented method for customizing a context structure associated with an object comprises the following steps. A content analysis is performed on the object. The context structure associated with the object is modified based on at least a portion of results of the content analysis. |
| US08095568B2 |
System and method for assisting user searches in support system
The invention concerns a method for assisting user searches in a support system and a system for performing the method which comprises the steps of providing a support data structure with nodes comprising support information of a support database, and providing at least one behavioral data structure comprising information about the time the user(s) spend at said nodes, and information about the transition probabilities between each upper node and its lower nodes, and calculating for each lower node that is located below a current node, navigated to by a user of the support data structure, the expectation value of the time gained by navigating directly to that lower node, and selecting at least one of the lower nodes based on said expectation value. |
| US08095567B2 |
Providing alternatives within a family tree systems and methods
A method of creating a family tree includes receiving a request from a user to return a file that includes the family tree and using a plurality of primary source records to construct the family tree based on the request. The records indicate multiple alternatives for at least one branch of the family tree. The method also includes sending a file that includes the family tree to the user. The file includes the alternatives. |
| US08095566B2 |
Managing media files from multiple sources
Apparatus and methods to manage media files from multiple sources provide a mechanism to enhance user interaction with multimedia devices. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. |
| US08095565B2 |
Metadata driven user interface
Metadata is used to create customized user interface (UI) portions for an application. The metadata may be XML-based and can be interpreted and then rendered to implement a customized UI that also supports data binding between data and the UI controls. Once created, the metadata is processed by a rendering engine to display the UI controls. An interpreter may be used to interpret the metadata file before it is sent to the rendering engine. Neither the rendering engine nor the interpreter needs knowledge of the host application and provides support for arbitrary metadata driven UI. The metadata schema may include mechanisms to create custom controls for the UI; programmatically modify the UI controls by providing access to a code-behind assembly as well as support event handling for the UI controls. |
| US08095563B2 |
Configuring computer systems with business configuration information
A configuration server includes a configuration repository that stores a wide range of configuration information for possible use by application programs. The configuration repository may include configuration parameters, settings for the parameters, and meta-data of definitions and descriptions of the parameters. Configuration information is selected from the configuration repository and stored in a configuration directory for later use by application programs at runtime. The configuration information is accessed from the configuration directory when needed by an application program or a component thereof. |
| US08095556B2 |
Controlling modification of components in a content management system
A content management system (CMS) includes a content modification mechanism that checks a modification contract corresponding to a component in the repository, and determines if all relevant criteria in the modification contract corresponding to the component are satisfied before making changes to or allowing reuse of a component in the repository. The modification contract may specify a profile of authors that are allowed to modify the corresponding component. The content management system includes an author profile update mechanism that monitors modifications by authors to components in the repository, and automatically adjusts a profile of each author according to modifications made by the author. In this manner the rank of authors is automatically adjusted and the modification of components is controlled in a way that allows modification by those who are authorized yet restricts modification by those who are not authorized. |
| US08095555B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method and information system
Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus as a terminal apparatus with respect to a server which provides content data, including: a management data acquisition section; a display control section; a selection operation acceptance section; a requesting section; and a content data acquisition section. |
| US08095551B2 |
Annotating shared contacts with public descriptors
A method for annotating shared contacts within a social network with public tags, notes or other data. This allows users of a social network to gain useful information at a glance about others' contacts within that network, as well as providing a means for filtering contacts within that network by user-defined keywords. Such a system improves and simplifies the ability of a user to discover new potential friends and business contacts. |
| US08095549B2 |
Searching for strings in messages
A network device to determine the presence of one or more of the pre-defined strings in a message based on searching for a suffix and a reverse prefix in response to receiving a key search data indicating possible presence of any of the plurality of pre-defined strings. The network device indicates the presence or absence of one or more of the pre-defined strings in the message based on the suffix and prefix search results. |
| US08095544B2 |
Method, system, and apparatus for validation
In a method for validating data, a text of a document is received. At least one fact is extracted from the text. At least one expert refinement is merged with the at least one fact to create at least one modified fact. The at least one modified fact is provided for a review. An expert refinement to the at least one modified fact is captured in response to the review. A superset document based on the at least one pre-existing refinement and the expert refinement is stored. |
| US08095543B1 |
Fast algorithms and metrics for comparing hierarchical clustering information trees and numerical vectors
In various embodiments, a method for determining a similarity between two data sets is disclosed, the steps of which include determining a first list of data clusters for a first hierarchically-organized data set, determining a second list of data clusters for a second hierarchically-organized data set, and determining a similarity between the first and second data sets by calculating a maximum flow between the first list of data clusters and the second list of data clusters. |
| US08095542B1 |
Methods and apparatus for allowing access to content
In one aspect, two ways of accessing a content unit stored on a CAS are provided, wherein the content unit has a content address that is computed based, at least in part, on at least a portion of its content. A first interface is provided to a file system in which the content unit is logically stored as a logical unit identified by a logical identifier, wherein the content unit is accessed in response to a request to the first interface to access the logical unit and identifying the content unit via the logical identifier. A second interface is provided through which the content unit can be accessed via the content address, wherein the content unit is accessed in response to a request to the second interface to access the content unit and identifying the content unit by the content address. |
| US08095541B2 |
Managing electronic data with index data corresponding to said electronic data
An improved approach for managing and sending electronic data which allows one to access electronic data corresponding to a hardcopy document is provided. For example, when the hardcopy bearing a visible image is output, an identification image corresponding to identification data identifying the document is added to the visible image. The identification data can be recognized from the identification image, and used to retrieve various information in a database corresponding to the document. |
| US08095535B2 |
Updating indexing tables in a database system
Updating an indexing tables in a database system comprising a database storing item tables of items appended by timestamps. Each of items is further categorized by timestamp into said tables, and said item tables being indexed by indexing data. The database system further comprises an indexing table for said indexing data, listing the earliest timestamp of said item table together with said indexing data and a system manager for searching said item tables using said indexing table and a maintenance module for said indexing table. |
| US08095528B2 |
Decentralised web annotation
Annotations relating to web sites may be based on blog posts relating to the web sites. A user viewing a web site may concurrently view related blog posts about the web site. More particularly, in one implementation, a method includes detecting when a user visits a web page and receiving, in response to the detection, a group of blog posts that link to the web page. The method further includes displaying an indication of the group of blog posts to the user while the user is visiting the web site. |
| US08095526B2 |
Efficient retrieval of variable-length character string data
Prefixes are registered on a first list as index elements for respective registration patterns. Each prefix is selected as the longest of different-length prefixes that are extractable from a registration pattern in accordance with an extraction rule. Suffixes, which are the remaining parts of the registration patterns excluding the respective prefixes, are registered on a second list. Using different-length prefixes that are extracted from a retrieval key in accordance with the extraction rule, a prefix retriever searches the first list to retrieve a registration pattern whose prefix matches any of the prefixes of the retrieval key. A suffix checker carries out a check on the suffix of the registration pattern retrieved by the prefix retriever, among the suffixes on the second list, as to whether the suffix of the registration pattern matches the suffix of the retrieval key. |
| US08095525B2 |
Method of universal file access for a heterogeneous computing environment
An architecture and system are described that provide a unified file access service within in a managed computing environment composed of diverse networks, computing devices, and storage devices. The service provides mechanisms for remotely accessing the file systems of any managed computer or disk snapshot, independently of the computer's current state (powered on, suspended or powered off), its location within the environment, its hardware type (virtual vs. physical), its operating system type, and its file system formats. The system isolates centralized FPAs from the details of clients, proxies and storage elements by providing a service that decomposes offloaded file system access into two steps. A FPA or a requester acting on behalf of the FPA first expresses the disk set or the computer containing the file systems it wishes to access, along with requirements and preferences about the access method. The service figures out an efficient data path satisfying the FPA's needs, and then automatically configures a set of storage and computing resources to provide the data path. The service then replies with information about the resources and instructions for using them. The FPA then accesses the requested file systems using the returned information. |
| US08095523B2 |
Method and apparatus for context-based content recommendation
Starting with the people in and around enterprises, the expertise and work patterns stored in people's brains as exhibited in their daily behavior is detected and captured. A behavioral based knowledge index is thus created that is used to produce expert-guided, personalized information. |
| US08095517B2 |
Method and system for policy-based protection of application data
A method and system for protecting an application's operational data are described. According to one aspect of the invention, an administrator interacts with a policy distribution server to generate an operational data protection policy. Next, the policy distribution server generates a data protection application embodying the policy. Various computing devices download and execute the data protection application. The data protection application controls how various applications access data storage objects and data interfaces, based on the operational data protection policy. |
| US08095513B2 |
Safe buffer
A method and system for implementing a safe buffer is described herein. The method includes implementing a buffer class that ensures that accesses to memory are performed in a safe manner. The buffer class may be a handle to protected resources in memory. The buffer class may exploit methods to read and write to memory that ensures that read and writes are performed to valid memory locations within buffer bounds. |
| US08095511B2 |
Database data recovery system and method
The present invention relates to a system and method of data restoration, for instance, after the occurrence of a user error. In particular, snapshot database can be maintained that stores a copy of database data. The snapshot database does not have to store a complete copy of all data on a source database, but rather shares data that is common to both but not necessarily identical. If an error occurs on the primary database then the database can be reverted back to a point in time prior to the error by replacing source database files with snapshot files. Additionally, an undo component can be employed in conjunction with the snapshot to approach an error to a finer grained point in time. In brief, the present invention can restore a database much faster and simpler, while utilizing less space and resources than conventional data restoration technologies. |
| US08095508B2 |
Intelligent data storage and processing using FPGA devices
A data storage and retrieval device and method is disclosed. The device includes at least one magnetic storage medium configured to store target data and at least one re-configurable logic device comprising an FPGA coupled to the at least one magnetic storage medium and configured to read a continuous stream of target data therefrom, having been configured with a template or as otherwise desired to fit the type of search and data being searched. The re-configurable logic device is configured to receive at least one search inquiry in the form of a data key and to determine a match between the data key and the target data as it is being read from the at least one magnetic storage medium. This device and method can perform a variety of searches on the target data including without limitation exact and approximate match searches, sequence match searches, image match searches and data reduction searches. This device and method may be provided as part of a stand-alone computer system, embodied in a network attached storage device, or can otherwise be provided as part of a computer LAN or WAN. In addition to performing search and data reduction operations, this device may also be used to perform a variety of other processing operations including encryption, decryption, compression, decompression, and combinations thereof. |
| US08095503B2 |
Allowing client systems to interpret higher-revision data structures in storage systems
A method for allowing client computers in a distributed object-based data storage system to interpret higher revision data structures. In one embodiment, clients request layout maps of objects to be accessed from respective storage managers in the system and then construct and execute directed acyclic graphs (DAG) to accomplish desired I/O operations for data access. When a client computer running an older software revision is not able to interpret a particular data organization supplied by the storage manager that was designed after that client's software was installed, the client sends to the storage manager a description of the desired data access operation. The storage manager, in turn, interprets a data layout scheme for a client on a per-access basis and returns to that client a DAG containing a data structure that describes the sequence of I/O operations necessary to effect the data access. The client can then execute the storage manager-supplied DAG to carry out the data access. |
| US08095501B1 |
Automatic enforcement or relationships in a database schema
A technique for enforcing a database relationship is disclosed. The technique includes specifying within a database schema a reference type that associates two structures and specifies the relationship between the two structures, and automatically generating code that checks the relationship between the two structures based on the specified reference in the database schema. |
| US08095499B2 |
Query consolidation for structured reports
Queries to obtain data from an OLAP cube for a structured report are consolidated. Queries to retrieve data from an OLAP cube for a structured report are consolidated into a single query. Using the consolidated query reduces the number of database hits; avoids reconstruction of the report from the results of the individual queries; and eases the exporting of the report to other applications. Instead of querying the OLAP cube multiple times, a single query is used to obtain the desired information from the cube. Each access definition within the structured report is examined to determine all of the data to be retrieved from the OLAP cube. |
| US08095497B2 |
Process for data driven application integration for B2B
Aspects of the present embodiments provide an eCommerce environment adapted to accept and process various message types (e.g., cXML and mXML). In general, requests are provided from a requesting entity to an application hosting entity. Data from incoming requests are mapped to a format understandable to an appropriate application(s). Responses from the application(s) are then mapped into a response format acceptable by the requesting entity. To this end, embodiments disclosed herein provide processes for the development and execution of a data driven process for mapping multiple request/response message pairs to a single application interface or set of application interfaces. In one embodiment, these processes are driven by development time and run time documents that describe a development time view of the message pairs and the application interfaces as well as runtime instructions for providing the mappings, respectively. |
| US08095496B2 |
Generic AI architecture for a multi-agent system
The invention relates to architecture of a computer program in order to implement a multi-agent system. The architecture enables the agents to interact with a simulation or game world on a first plane and/or with robots in the real world. Said architecture has a second and third plane. Said second plane contains an abstract representation of the simulation world on the first plane which reduces on concepts. Said third plane implements the agents of the multi-agent system. Interfaces are only arranged between the first and second plane, and between the second and third plane, not, however, between the first and the third plane. The artificial intelligence of the agents is implemented on the second and third planes such that the simulation world of the first plane can be widened, which leads to artificial intelligence. As a result, the architecture provides a KI-middleware for, for example, computer games. |
| US08095494B2 |
Rules-based cross-FSM transition triggering
A method for cross-triggering transitions in independent finite state machines is provided. For a given plurality of finite state machine definitions having a plurality of states and a plurality of transitions among the states, two or more independent instances of the plurality of finite state machine definitions are created. In addition, associations between two or more of the independent finite state machine instances are identified. The method uses cross-triggering rules that identify a condition in a first one of the associated independent finite state machine instances that triggers a transition action in a second one of the associated independent finite state machine instances. Each cross-triggering rule is triggered upon an occurrence of the cross-triggering rule condition, and the transition action in the second associated independent finite state machine instance is performed in response to the triggering of the cross-triggering rule. |
| US08095490B2 |
User support device, method, and program
A user support device which accurately judges that a user is in a confused state and supports the user is provided. The user support device includes: a confused state judging unit which judges whether the user is in a confused state or not based on a tendency of variation in dwell time on which a decision making time until a next input action is executed is reflected in a sequence of input actions executed by the user who makes transitions between several menus arranged in a tree structure; and an operation support processing unit which provides operation support when the confused state judging unit makes a positive judgment that the user is in a confused state. |
| US08095486B2 |
Discovering optimal system configurations using decentralized probability based active sampling
A system and method for optimizing system performance includes applying sampling based optimization to identify optimal configurations of a computing system by selecting a number of configuration samples and evaluating system performance based on the samples. Based on feedback of evaluated samples, a location of an optimal configuration is inferred. Additional samples are generated towards the location of the inferred optimal configuration to further optimize a system configuration. |
| US08095485B2 |
System and method for embedding emotion in logic systems
A system, method, and computer readable-media for creating a stable synthetic neural system. The method includes training an intellectual choice-driven synthetic neural system (SNS), training an emotional rule-driven SNS by generating emotions from rules, incorporating the rule-driven SNS into the choice-driven SNS through an evolvable interface, and balancing the emotional SNS and the intellectual SNS to achieve stability in a nontrivial autonomous environment with a Stability Algorithm for Neural Entities (SANE). Generating emotions from rules can include coding the rules into the rule-driven SNS in a self-consistent way. Training the emotional rule-driven SNS can occur during a training stage in parallel with training the choice-driven SNS. The training stage can include a self assessment loop which measures performance characteristics of the rule-driven SNS against core genetic code. The method uses a stability threshold to measure stability of the incorporated rule-driven SNS and choice-driven SNS using SANE. |
| US08095482B2 |
System and method to learn and deploy an optimal user experience in an online system
Methods and systems to learn an optimal user experience. The system receives a request over a network from a user. The request includes context information. The system identifies a response to the request is to be utilized to learn whether a first interface component included in a first plurality of interface components is an optimal choice for a first decision. The response includes an interface. The interface includes the first interface component. The system identifies the response to the request is to be utilized based on the context information. Finally, the system communicates the response over the network to the user. |
| US08095476B2 |
Automated support scheme for electronic forms
Actions associated with entering information into different fields of an electronic form are monitored. The types of support provided for entering the information into the different fields can be dynamically varied according to monitored user actions or according to the context or categories of users, fields, or forms. Different types of query or search engines can be used to further identify the context, intent, or meaning of information entered into the different fields. The identified context, intents, or meanings are then used to provide further on-line support. Other analytics of both field entries and user actions can also be used to provide addition help when entering information into the on-line forms. |
| US08095473B2 |
Process and architecture for structuring facilities revenue bond financing
In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, a process and architecture may be implemented to structure bond financing or refinancing for any municipally owned transportation facilities construction and/or renovation to improve economic and business terms for involved or interested parties. |
| US08095472B2 |
Business object acting as a logically central source for collaboration on objectives
This disclosure provides various embodiments of a system, method, and software for implementing a logically centralized source for collaboration on objectives. In one aspect, the method identifies one or more requirements and requirement statuses associated with a business entity for use in a business object stored within a logically centralized repository, the repository storing a plurality of business objects, identifies one or more solutions and solution statuses associated with the identified requirements for use in the business object, and notifies a party of an update to one of the statuses associated with the identified requirements and solutions. |
| US08095470B1 |
Identifying a content provider
An identifier routine is described which, when executed by a host device, retrieves an identifier stored in a memory card and obtains an image using the identifier. The memory card is physically coupled to the host device. The image identifies a content provider from which the host device receives broadcast content. The identifier routine is then executed by the host device to output the image. |
| US08095469B2 |
Content management program, method and device
An encrypted content and its encryption key under a copy right use condition of prohibiting a copy by the device having received a content are stored, and the encrypted content is copy-transferred with another device through the network, and at the same time, the encryption key is transferred through the network, so that it is stored in either one of the devices.Even when a high definition television broadcast signal received with a copy-once taken as a copy right use condition is recorded, an access flag that controls the presence or absence of the reproduction of the broadcast content for each broadcast content is provided. When an original broadcast content is transcoded into a low resolution, and is transfer to another device, its access flag is turned on, thereby making the reproduction possible. |
| US08095468B2 |
Method for providing protected audio/video content
A method for providing protected content, wherein content usage rights information and/or usage state information is embedded into obtained primary data that serves as a basis for a content item to be provided thereby providing the primary data with the embedded content usage rights information and/or usage state information as the content item. |
| US08095460B2 |
Determinations relating to resource distribution
Systems and methods that may determine whether to provide a resource to a consumer are disclosed. Further methods may allow distributing resources on an expedited basis or recheck previous determinations to provide a resource. In certain embodiment, resource transactions may be categorized. Illustrative categories may be organized by: investment, a non-investment expenditure, or income. In one embodiment, transactions categorized as non-investment expenditures may be categorized into subcategories, including necessities, discretionary, or debt. Calculations may be performed upon the categorized (and/or sub-categorized data). For example, one or more of the following ratios may be calculated: debt-to-income, investment-to-income, and expenditure-to-income. Ratios may be compared to one or more threshold values. Determinations of the threshold may consider information regarding other individuals' or business' resource transactions. |
| US08095458B2 |
System and method for matching loan consumers and lenders
A system and method for matching a loan consumer with lenders via the Internet includes receiving loan consumer application information. The application information is stored in a database. An internally specified filter is applied to the information to determine if the loan consumer meets a set of loan criteria. A subset of the information is submitted to a credit bureau. A credit report is generated based on the subset of information. A lender database is searched to match the customer information and credit report to ranked lenders. A query is transmitted to one of the lenders. A response is generated and received based on the query. Subsequent query and response steps are repeated only after receipt of the previous response, until all lenders have been queried. Only lenders who responded with an approval are presented for review by the customer. |
| US08095446B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling portfolios
Systems and methods are disclosed which relate to the management of asset invested in a fund. The system includes a computer connected to a network which has constantly updated fund data available to compare a current fund with a plurality of possible new funds. The system automatically transfers from one fund to another according to user predetermined criteria. |
| US08095443B2 |
Debt trending systems and methods
A debt trending device accesses credit reports and/or other financial data that is available from one or more financial data sources, for a user and extracts financial account information. The debt trending device may then analyze the account information in order to generate debt trending information that indicates in the form of lists, tables, graphs, charts, etc., information regarding multiple debt accounts associated with the user. |
| US08095439B1 |
Receipt visualization and receipt data applications
Visually presenting spending behavior, spending patterns, and spending activity to a consumer across of their all receipt based purchase transactions. Receipt data is received at a first or host computer from respective transaction processing devices or host systems of respective merchants, or received from self-service action of the consumer, and identifies respective goods or services purchased by the consumer. A user interface is displayed to the consumer and comprises a thumbnail arrangement of discrete objects, each of which represents respective receipts generated by respective transaction or transaction processing devices. A discrete object may comprise data of one or multiple goods or services and includes category indicators that visually inform the consumer about the type of good or service. Embodiments may also involve requesting receipt data utilizing a mobile communication device, searching receipt data collected by the computer and responding to the request with requested receipt data. |
| US08095432B1 |
Recommendation engine for social networks
A method for making a recommendation, comprising obtaining a plurality of recommendations for a plurality of items from a plurality of members of a social networking utility, ranking the plurality of recommendations based on a relationship proximity of the plurality of members to an inquiring member within the social networking utility, wherein the relationship proximity is closest for friends of the inquiring member, and farthest for strangers to the inquiring member, wherein friends of the inquiring member are within a network of the inquiring member, and strangers of the inquiring member are outside of the network of the inquiring network, performing a search for one of the plurality of items, and displaying the plurality of recommendations associated with one of the plurality of items in an order defined by the ranking. |
| US08095428B2 |
Method, system, and medium for winning bid evaluation in an auction
An internal auction system may allow a seller to enter a scheduled auction. The scheduled auction may be a simple scheduled auction and a conditional scheduled auction. The internal auction system may receive parameters for the scheduled auction, determine a scheduled auction as a function of the received parameters, create the scheduled auction, and publish the scheduled auction at a specified start time on a seller e-commerce site visible to a buyer. A simple scheduled auction may be associated with a start time and a duration. A conditional scheduled auction may be associated with a condition and an action to be executed when the condition evaluates to a specified value. |
| US08095427B1 |
Methods for facilitating an online transaction of a firearm
Systems and interfaces communicate information that is necessary to facilitate online firearms transactions with improved certainty and legality. Centralized and standardized pricing indexes provide information that can be used to make educated transaction-related decisions. Firearm regulation data is used to cross-reference jurisdictional requirements and transaction location data to ensure legal compliance with the firearms transactions. Online auction data is filtered according to corresponding jurisdictional requirements as well as inventory records to limit transactions to available and legal transactions. Transaction data is generated and used by FFLs to verify transaction data and to complete the transactions that are initiated by the sellers and buyers. |
| US08095423B2 |
Interactive international bulk trade television
The invention is a method for advancing international trade in bulk goods and related services employing interactive international video broadcasting medium. The broadcaster enters a contract (110) with a manufacturer for listing a product for bulk sales on an international broadcasting medium and authorizing the broadcaster to be a surety for payment and delivery of said product, to receive payment from the buyer and to make a net payment to the manufacturer on the terms of the purchase. The broadcaster then broadcasts the listing (120) on the interactive international video broadcasting medium, which enables viewers to place an order (130) for the product on the specified terms and conditions. Any order is then conveyed to the manufacturer (140) for acceptance. The broadcaster, as surety, accepts payment for accepted orders (150). The broadcaster then transmits the net payment to the manufacturer (160) upon satisfaction of the terms and conditions of the sale, or to the buyer for unsatisfied (170) terms and conditions. |
| US08095422B2 |
Systems and methods for vehicle information management
A computerized system for vehicle management. The system may include a database including information regarding vehicles in a set of vehicles and customer accounts. The system may also include a server coupled to the database that serves user interface pages; a login mechanism; logic implementing rules regarding a relationship between system users on the one hand and information regarding vehicles and customer accounts on the other hand; a search mechanism and a search results interface; and logic that serves a customer account interface, the customer account interface displaying information regarding customer accounts to the extent allowed by rules regarding the relationship between system users and information regarding vehicles and customer accounts. The information regarding customer accounts may include information regarding payments and time remaining in leases in respective customer accounts, or other information. Also described are an internet-based system, a method for vehicle management, and a vehicle management system. |
| US08095418B2 |
Symbiotic mass marketing
The present invention relates to certain methods and systems for promoting the sale of goods and services. According to certain embodiments of the present invention, such methods generally comprise the steps of (1) selling a first good or service to a customer for a discounted price that is less than a standard price, (2) establishing a sales goal (which represents an amount of desired sales of a second good or service to customers during a promotional period), and (3) issuing a credit to, or receiving a payment from, each participating customer based on a level of success achieved towards the sales goal. The invention provides that the extent to which the sales goal is achieved depends on the aggregate sales of the second good or service to the public at large, and is not dependent upon the sales or activity of any single customer. |
| US08095414B2 |
Performance optimization
In embodiments, the present invention is directed to methods of aligning an agent's compensation with an organization's goals, incentivizing an agent to improve their performance, and managing an agent. In one embodiment, the present invention includes defining a performance metric that relates to a goal of an organization. Performance levels are then defined for the performance metric. The performance levels are associated with performance values that an agent must meet to have their performance classified within a performance level. The method also includes providing a compensation rule that defines which of the performance levels an agent must achieve to change their current compensation. The performance of an agent with respect to the performance metric is then monitored to generate an agent performance, which is compared to the previously established achievement values to determine an agent's performance level. |
| US08095409B2 |
Methods and program products for organizing virtual meetings
A method for organizing a virtual meeting includes steps of creating a meeting file, the meeting file including at least a meeting date, a meeting start time, a meeting duration time, and a meeting code. The meeting file is stored on a memory accessible to the network, and at least one attendee is specified. A step of communicating a meeting invitation to the at least one attendee is also performed, with the invitation including at least the meeting date, meeting start time, meeting code, and a meeting entry portal. Methods and systems of the invention may be embodied in computers and computer program products. |
| US08095406B2 |
Content display method, a content display apparatus, and a recording medium on which a content display program is recorded
A content display method is disclosed. The content display method includes the steps of: accepting an instruction input to create a target calendar; extracting a content that indication information has to be displayed in an elapsed period having already passed and a content that indication information has to be displayed in a non-elapsed period to pass from now on in the target calendar based on the instruction input accepted through the accepting step; and arranging the indication information of each of the contents extracted in the extracting step in a corresponding date in a target calendar and displaying the target calendar on a display device. |
| US08095405B1 |
Freight and logistics high performance capability assessment
A high-performance capability assessment model helps a freight and logistics business meet the challenges of the global marketplace. As a result, the freight and logistics business can achieve the clarity, consistency, and well-defined execution of core processes that reduce inefficiencies and waste that result from unnecessary process complexity and exceptions. In addition, the high-performance capability assessment model helps the freight and logistics business to identify specific areas in which improvements may be made, to understand how to make said improvements, and to establish levels of capability along the way to reaching an ultimate capability goal. |
| US08095404B2 |
Decision making and implementation system
A system and method for generating recommendations of analyses of circumstances in business, accounting, science, medicine and other fields. An algorithm is generated using an interactive generation process based on decision tree type inquiries. The algorithm is translated into a computer language and code and loaded onto a computer, preferably on a network. A user inputs data concerning a particular topic, and the algorithm processes the data to generate and display a set of recommendations or analyses. The user inputs additional data which the system uses to refine the initial recommendations or analyses, and this process is repeated until arriving at a final set of recommendations or analyses. The organization and content of sets of display screens changes dynamically as data is input and processed. The data may include degrees of certainty relating to certain data, which is used in both determining a set of recommendations or analyses and expressing a degree of certainty about such recommendations or analyses. |
| US08095401B1 |
Bounce back method, system and apparatus
A customer whose conditional purchase offer (CPO) has been accepted may receive a bounce back offer from a vendor (supplier-partner) of other services or products. The bounce back process determines whether a supplier-partner can participate in a bounce back transaction. If a bounce back transaction is effectuated between the customer and supplier-partner, the partner notifies the principal of the transaction. In the case of automobile rentals, the bounce back process permits a traveler to recognize reduced automobile rental rates while enabling a rental agency to more effectively manage its excess capacity. The CPO management system employing bounce back capability can be utilized to acquire any underlying product and/or service and bounce back product and/or service. |
| US08095394B2 |
Rich claim reporting system
A rich-media system allows a user to illustrate damage and request payment in accordance with an insurance policy or another arrangement. The rich-media system includes network servers that may operate and appear to remote client applications and remote computers as if the network servers were a single computer. A damage indicator tool resident to one of the network servers enables a remote user to visually illustrate damage to an item through a rich-media application. The damage indicator may support a relative pointing device and an absolute pointing device. An incident animator tool linked to the damage indicator tool in some rich media systems enables the remote user to visually recreate an event in a second rich media application. An optional scheduler linked to the incident animator tool and the damage indicator tool may enable the remote user to schedule an appointment to have the damage inspected or repaired. |
| US08095390B2 |
Medical treatment system with a device for supplying patient-related data
The invention relates to a medical treatment system, which has at least one device for carrying out a medical treatment, in particular dialysis treatment and a device for providing patient-related data. The patient-related data is stored by the server and the data can be displayed in a patient mode on a screen. The dialysis system has various security features, which prevent an erroneous input and the erroneous display of patient-related data in the patient mode on the screen. |
| US08095383B2 |
Method and system for providing indexing and cataloguing of orthodontic related treatment profiles and options
Method and system for providing an orthodontic profile indexing and treatment plan including comparing an initial patient condition in each of a plurality of dentition categories with one or more reference conditions in each of the plurality of dentition categories, wherein each of the one or more reference conditions has a corresponding representation, selecting at least one reference condition in one or more of the plurality of dentition categories, where each selected reference condition is similar to the initial patient condition in a same dentition category, and generating a patient identifier based on the corresponding representations of each selected reference condition is provided. |
| US08095382B2 |
Methods and systems for specifying a blood vessel sleeve
Methods, apparatuses, computer program products, devices and systems are described that include accepting three-dimensional blood vessel data; applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data; and presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data. |
| US08095381B2 |
Remote patient support and care by relatives
A telemonitoring central server 12 supports secure data exchange between a number of users, such as a patient, family and friends, medical personnel, suppliers, and the like. A user authenticator 20 authenticates and authorizes a user to the system. Access control is driven by a number of static or dynamic access profiles that are assigned to each user. These profiles dictate the data to which the user is allowed access, the computations available to the user, and the manner in which data is displayed to the user. The presentation style is based on access role, user, age, background, result of previous interactions, information content, authentication level, and the like. Third-party services such as advertisements and discounts for “get well soon” items can also be provided to the user. |
| US08095377B2 |
Method and apparatus for matching buyers and sellers in an anonymous online marketplace
In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for matching buyers and sellers in an anonymous online marketplace. One embodiment of a method for defining a community of network users includes collecting data relating to the network users, where the data is of at least one of the following types: demographic information relating to the network users, Internet Protocol address information relating to the network users, and Internet Protocol traffic information relating to the network users. The collected data is then anonymized, where the anonymizing is performed individually for each type of data. The anonymized data is aggregated to generate an activity-to-demographic mapping representative of network activity associated with particular demographics of the community of network users. |
| US08095372B2 |
Digital process and arrangement for authenticating a user of a database
Digital process for authentication of a user of a database for access to protected data or a service reserved for a defined circle of users or for the use of data currently entered by the user, wherein a voice sample currently enunciated during an access attempt by the user is routed to a voice analysis unit and, herein, a current voice profile is computed and this is compared in a voice profile comparison unit against a previously stored initial voice profile and, in response to a positive comparison result, the user is authenticated and a first control signal enabling access, but in response to a negative comparison result a second control signal disabling access or triggering a substitute authentication procedure is generated. |
| US08095368B2 |
System and method for voice authentication over a computer network
Systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable media are provided for voice authentication. The method includes receiving a speech sample from a user through an Internet browser for authentication as part of a request for a restricted-access resource, performing a comparison of the received speech sample to a previously established speech profile associated with the user, transmitting an authentication to the network client if the comparison is equal to or greater than a certainty threshold, and transmitting a denial to the network client if the comparison is less than the certainty threshold. |
| US08095366B2 |
Fonts with feelings
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that improve the instructional nature of fonts and/or the ability to create instructional fonts. Font characters are modified based on user interaction to enhance the user's understanding and/or fluency of the word. The font characters can have sound, motion, and altered appearance. When altering the appearance of the characters, the system operates on a set of control points associated with characters, changes the position of the characters, and changes the influence of the portion of characters on a set of respective spline curves. A designer or other user can customize the fonts and user experience by creating an episode package that specifies words to include in the user interface, and details about actions to take when certain events fire. The episode package can include media effects to play when a particular event associated with the media effect occurs. |
| US08095363B1 |
Method and system for predicting understanding errors in a task classification system
A method and system for monitoring an automated dialog system for the automatic recognition of language understanding errors based on a user's input communications in a task classification system. If the user's input communication cannot be understood and a task classification decision cannot be made, then further dialog may be conducted with the user if a probability of understanding the user's input communication exceeds a first threshold. Otherwise, the user may be directed to a human for assistance. In another possible embodiment, the method operates as above except that if the probability exceeds a second threshold, then further dialog may be conducted with the user using the current dialog strategy. However, if the probability falls between a first threshold and a second threshold, the dialog strategy may be adapted in order to improve the chances of conducting a successful dialog with the user. |
| US08095359B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding an audio signal using adaptively switched temporal resolution in the spectral domain
Perceptual audio codecs make use of filter banks and MDCT in order to achieve a compact representation of the audio signal, by removing redundancy and irrelevancy from the original audio signal. During quasi-stationary parts of the audio signal a high frequency resolution of the filter bank is advantageous in order to achieve a high coding gain, but this high frequency resolution is coupled to a coarse temporal resolution that becomes a problem during transient signal parts by producing audible pre-echo effects. The invention achieves improved coding/decoding quality by applying on top of the output of a first filter bank a second non-uniform filter bank, i.e. a cascaded MDCT. The inventive codec uses switching to an additional extension filter bank (or multi-resolution filter bank) in order to re-group the time-frequency representation during transient or fast changing audio signal sections. By applying a corresponding switching control, pre-echo effects are avoided and a high coding gain and a low coding delay are achieved. |
| US08095350B2 |
Three-dimensional structure of the APOBEC 2 structure, uses thereof, and methods for treating chronic and infectious diseases
Three-dimensional structure of APOBEC-2 and other structure models of APOBEC proteins obtained by computer modeling that bear similarity with a root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) of 2.0 with the APOBEC-2 monomer, dimer or tetramer. Uses of the three-dimensional structure of APOBEC-2 and models of APOBEC proteins particularly for structure-based drug design of compounds, peptides or mutant APOBEC proteins designed to treat Hyper-IgM-2 Syndrome, B cell lymphomas and lentivirus infections, particularly the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Methods for identifying a compound that binds to any fragment of an APOBEC protein. The method includes obtaining the three dimensional structure of the APOBEC-2 monomer, dimer or tetramer and identifying or designing one or more compounds that bind, mimic, enhance, disrupt, or compete with interactions of APOBEC family proteins with themselves, their nucleic acid substrates and other cellular or viral proteins based on the three dimensional structure of the APOBEC-2 protein. |
| US08095345B2 |
Stochastic inversion of geophysical data for estimating earth model parameters
A computer implemented stochastic inversion method for estimating model parameters of an earth model. In an embodiment, the method utilizes a sampling-based stochastic technique to determine the probability density functions (PDF) of the model parameters that define a boundary-based multi-dimensional model of the subsurface. In some embodiments a sampling technique known as Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) is utilized. MCMC techniques fall into the class of “importance sampling” techniques, in which the posterior probability distribution is sampled in proportion to the model's ability to fit or match the specified acquisition geometry. In another embodiment, the inversion includes the joint inversion of multiple geophysical data sets. Embodiments of the invention also relate to a computer system configured to perform a method for estimating model parameters for accurate interpretation of the earth's subsurface. |
| US08095341B2 |
Systems, methods, and tools for proofing a computer-aided design object
Systems, methods, and tools for proofing computer-aided design (CAD) objects (e.g., CAD drawings or models). The objects are implemented with CAD software and represent an apparatus. An exemplary method includes receiving a CAD object representing the apparatus, determining criteria for proofing the CAD object, determining rules, extracting items of interest from the CAD object, comparing the extracted items with the rules, and tagging the extracted items based on the comparisons. An exemplary criterion for proofing the CAD object is the type of material (e.g., a type of plastic material) for the apparatus to be manufactured in. |
| US08095340B2 |
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. |
| US08095339B2 |
Integrated portable electronics tester
A device and method for testing the functionality of various electronic device components. The device is portable and is capable of being upgraded with changes in technology. The device is enclosed within a housing, which may include a power supply and a display. The disclosed device incorporates a tester for personal computer and laptop components, including but not limited to, power supply, microprocessor, motherboard, system memory, video subsystem, mass storage devices, and cables. |
| US08095338B2 |
Data processing apparatus and method
A data processing apparatus includes a storing unit that stores, for each device, pieces of configuration data defining respective logic circuits that demonstrate different processing performance; a logic circuit configuration unit that configures a combination of the logic circuits onto the devices by reading a piece of the configuration data for each device, from among the pieces of the configuration data stored, and inputting the read pieces of the configuration data to the devices, respectively; a measuring unit that measures total power consumption required at execution of the data processing by the devices; and a logic circuit determining unit that determines, from among combinations of the logic circuits configured, a combination in which an actually measured value of total power consumption falls within a predetermined target value and which demonstrates optimum processing performance as the logic circuits to be configured onto the devices at actual execution of the data processing. |
| US08095336B2 |
Systems and methods for determining whether to add a landmark for visual simultaneous localization and mapping
The invention is related to methods and apparatus that use a visual sensor and dead reckoning sensors to process Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). These techniques can be used in robot navigation. Such visual techniques can be used to autonomously generate and update a map. Unlike with laser rangefinders, the visual techniques are practical in a wide range of applications and can be used in relatively dynamic environments, such as environments in which people move. One embodiment further uses multiple particles to maintain multiple hypotheses with respect to localization and mapping. One embodiment maintains the particles, thereby permitting the SLAM processes to be performed in software using microprocessor-based computer systems. |
| US08095332B2 |
Method for pre-heating hard disk drive of computer device
Disclosed is a method for pre-heating a hard disk drive of a computer device, wherein a temperature sensor and a heater are arranged at preset locations outside the computer device. The temperature sensor detects an external temperature of the hard disk drive, which is compared with an activation temperature threshold stored in a data memory unit of the computer device. The activation temperature threshold is calibrated by a preset compensation value stored in the data memory unit. When the external temperature of the hard disk drive subtracting the preset compensation value is less than the activation temperature threshold of the hard disk drive, the activation of the hard disk drive is prohibited and the heater carries out heating on the hard disk drive until the activation temperature threshold of the hard disk drive is reached; thereafter, the hard disk drive is activated again. Thus, the hard disk drive is protected from damage caused by excessively low internal temperature of the hard disk drive at the time when the hard disk drive is activated. |
| US08095330B2 |
Position detecting device
A position detecting device includes a position calculator that performs an optimization convergence calculation using an evaluation function that expresses an error between a measurement value and a theoretical value of magnetic field information of a detection target to calculate at least a position of the detection target; a storage unit that stores a final convergence result of the optimization convergence calculation performed by the position calculator; and a controller that determines whether a result of the optimization convergence calculation converges, suspends the optimization convergence calculation performed by the position calculator when the result does not converge, and performs, after a predetermined time has passed, a returning process of returning a state of the optimization convergence calculation to a converged state by causing the position calculator to perform the optimization convergence calculation based on the final convergence result. |
| US08095329B2 |
Testing linearity of methods of chemical analysis with various statistical tests
A method for testing the linearity or non-linearity of an actual analyte concentration and a test result, where the actual concentration of the analyte and a test result are determined so that a computation based upon an algorithm may be performed, which allows computation of various variables so that regression may be performed and the linear significance may be determined. |
| US08095328B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring moving surfaces
This present specification provides, amongst other things, an electro-optical monitoring system for obtaining a once-per-revolution signal based on the surface reflection of a rotating device that mandates non-contacting sensor input in potentially hostile environments. The system can use optical and electronic sections to illuminate and detect surface reflections from the rotating surface using existing mounting locations on the periphery of the machine to be measured. The electronic portion is configured to determine a unique mark as the once-per-revolution marker or allow an attending operator to assign a specific marker based on the observed reflected pattern. The optical portion consists of a light source, receiver, and optics that allow for focused and directed light paths. |
| US08095326B2 |
Method and device to predict a state of a power system in the time domain
A method to predict a state of a power system and a device to perform the method are presented, where the method includes the step of performing a Fast Fourier Transform on samples of a periodic waveform signal in order to determine a frequency spectrum of the signal, where the signal was derived from at least one measurable electric quantity of the power system and is representative for the state of the power system. Frequencies and related complex amplitudes at selected peaks in the frequency spectrum are determined and stored together with a time stamp. Afterwards, a predicted value of the periodic waveform signal in the time domain is determined at a prediction time by calculating a sum of sinusoidal signals at the prediction time, where each of the sinusoidal signals is characterized by one of the determined frequencies and its related complex amplitude as well as the time stamp. |
| US08095325B2 |
System and method for gemstone cut grading
A system for grading the cut of a diamond utilizes a number of appearance metrics to generate scores for a number of cut components that affect cut quality. These cut components include brightness, fire, scintillation, overweight, durability, polish, and symmetry. The cut grading system employs a cut grading algorithm that processes the individual scores obtained for the cut components to generate an overall cut grade for the diamond. The scoring methodology and the cut grading algorithm are designed to emulate actual observation grading such that the overall cut grade represents a fair indication of the cut quality of the diamond. In one practical embodiment, the cut grading system is fully automated and computer-implemented. |
| US08095324B2 |
Permanent magnet rotor crack detection
A method and apparatus for permanent magnetic (PM) rotor crack detection includes a sensor which monitors magnetic flux distribution of the PM rotor and identifies the presence of a crack in the PM rotor when a magnetic flux distribution change or anomaly is detected. |
| US08095321B2 |
Modeling device, program, computer-readable recording medium, and method of establishing correspondence
A modeling device is disclosed that easily projects characteristic information obtained from an object onto a differently-shaped object, even if the object, from which the characteristic information is obtained, has a complex shape. A modeling device in one embodiment of the present invention includes a virtually electrifying section to calculate an electric potential at a spot in a heart at the time when a predetermined voltage is applied to the heart, and a projecting section to project a fiber orientation onto a heart model created on the basis of shape information that is input to the input section. The projecting section specifies a spot to be a target of projection on the basis of the electric potential obtained by the virtually electrifying section. Use of the electric potential in specifying the spot makes it possible to easily project the fiber orientation onto any heart having complex and various shapes. |
| US08095319B2 |
System and method for fault identification
A system, which may be and/or may include a computer system, and method for identifying a fault patch position from a seismic data volume. The system and method may include defining an initial active surface in the seismic data volume; identifying one or more active surfaces by minimizing the value of a function for energy; tracking back the active surfaces to find a set of control points; and producing the fault patch position formed by the set of control points. |
| US08095315B2 |
Method of generation and meteorological system with progressive prediction of meteorological situations around a carrier
The disclosure relates to a meteorological system and a method of generation with progressive prediction of data relating to the meteorological situation around a carrier. In at least one embodiment, the method includes reading data relating to the speed of the carrier and to the cloud formations and calculating for each cloud formation the geographical position and the vector of voluminal parameters predicted at a given time horizon. The time horizon is dependent for each cloud formation on the speed of the carrier and the distance separating the cloud formation from the carrier. The method also includes generating a mapping including a representation corresponding to the calculated geographical position and to the calculated vector of voluminal parameters of each cloud formation. |
| US08095314B2 |
Generation of four dimensional grid of probabilistic hazards for use by decision support tools
A new method and system for generating probabilities of objective values of hazards as a fine granularity grid in four dimensions (three spatial dimensions plus time) to be used by decision support and visualization tools. Utilizing the proposed system, proxies for hazard data received at different times and in different formats may be used as input data to a grid of intelligent software agents which generate a four dimensional matrix of probabilities of objective values of hazards. The method allows for proxies and/or subjective information on hazards that may arrive asynchronously and with coarse temporal and spatial accuracy to be converted into a standard fine granularity four dimensional hazard probability grid. The grid is created automatically, without the need for expert human interpretation, can provide visualization of the four dimensional hazard volumes and may be used directly by decision support tools without the need for expert human interpretation. |
| US08095313B1 |
Method for determining collision risk for collision avoidance systems
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for determining the risk of an object collision. The method includes transmitting a signal and analyzing a received signal that is indicative of the presence of a remote object. The signal is then analyzed to determine an initial azimuth value and an initial range for the remote object. Subsequent received signals are continuously analyzed to continuously determine subsequent azimuth values, azimuth value velocities and accelerations, as well as subsequent range values, range value velocities and range value accelerations. The factors are then input into a predetermined formula to yield a risk assessment of collision P. The formulas for determining P can be adjusted to account for such factors as number and proximity of remote objects, as well as the speed and maneuverability of both the remote objects and the vehicle that is avoiding collisions with the remote object(s). |
| US08095312B2 |
Device and method for orbit determination and prediction of satellites providing signals to users
A device and method for orbit prediction of satellites are provided. An accelerometer measures non-gravity forces acting on a satellite. A processor receives measured non-gravity forces from the accelerometer, estimates the contributions of the measured non-gravity forces to the movement of the satellite, and predicts the orbit of the satellite based on the estimated contributions of the non-gravity forces to the movement of the satellite. |
| US08095310B2 |
Video mirror system for a vehicle
A vehicular video mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly that includes a reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector that is at least about 15 percent transmitting to visible light incident at the rear of the reflective element. A video display is disposed to the rear of the reflective element and emits light when actuated that passes through the transflective mirror reflector of the reflective element to be visible to a driver of the vehicle viewing the front of the reflective element. The video display is back lit by at least one light source and is operable to exhibit a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 400 candelas per square meter when the interior rearview mirror assembly equipped the reflective element is mounted and is viewed in the vehicle. |
| US08095309B2 |
GPS assisted vehicular longitudinal velocity determination
A vehicle includes a GPS system and a longitudinal accelerometer. Accelerometer corrections are derived based on GPS velocity data. Individual wheel speeds are determined based on GPS velocity data. Longitudinal vehicle velocity may be determined based on accelerometer data or individual wheel speeds. |
| US08095308B2 |
Navigation apparatus
In a navigation apparatus, a control device superimposes, on a displayed map in a display device, a plurality of marks for indicating a guidance route around a guidance point. The control device fixes a real distance of an interval between the marks without depending on the change in the scales of the map. |
| US08095306B2 |
GUI interface for a road maintenance management control system
A display device for displaying a graphical user interface is disclosed. The graphical user interface includes a first window configured to display a road maintenance map of a mine road network, and one or more links configured to access a second window. The second window is configured to facilitate selection of one or more data files containing data associated with the mine road network. The graphical user interface also includes one or more links configured to access a third window. The third window is configured to access to one or more analysis tools configured to analyze the data. |
| US08095301B2 |
On-vehicle system
An on-vehicle system includes a plurality of control devices, a common data match determining unit, and a common data transmission permitting unit. Each of the plurality of control devices stores control data that includes common data and identification information. A first control device is configured to transmit the common data to a second control device such that the common data is updated. The common data match determining unit determines whether the common data of the second control device matches with the common data of the first control device based on the identification information of the common data when a first update condition is satisfied. The common data transmission permitting unit permits the first control device to transmit the common data to the second control device when the common data match determining unit determines that the common data stored in the first and second control devices mismatch with each other. |
| US08095299B2 |
Method for starting a vehicle engine
A method for starting a vehicle engine includes determining a throttle angle command output based on a throttle adjustment parameter. The throttle angle command output may be further adjusted based on a learned compensation adder and may be based on a number of vehicle engine starts. A throttle angle corresponding to the throttle angle command output is provided. |
| US08095297B2 |
Method and system for pre-ignition control
Methods and systems are provided for addressing cylinder-to-cylinder imbalances in the incidence of pre-ignition and/or knock. Engine cylinders are fueled based on each cylinder's pre-ignition count to balance the incidence of pre-ignition in each cylinder. The fueling is adjusted to maintain engine exhaust at stoichiometry. |
| US08095293B2 |
Method and device for operating an internal combustion engine
In a method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine, a first variable characterizing the air-mass flow to the internal combustion engine is determined, and a second variable characterizing the air-mass flow is determined. The second variable characterizing the air-mass flow is used to derive a third variable characterizing the air-mass flow, which is delayed in time with respect to the second variable characterizing the air-mass flow. A difference is formed between the second variable characterizing the air-mass flow and the third variable characterizing the air-mass flow. The first variable characterizing the air-mass flow is corrected by the difference. |
| US08095289B2 |
Negative pressure control apparatus for vehicle braking operation
A communication passage for generating braking negative pressure is connected to an air passage for respective cylinders at a downstream side of a throttle valve. An air ejector is provided in a negative pressure pipe, to which communication passages for the respective cylinders are converged. A negative pressure passage for a brake booster is connected to the air ejector at a side of suction gas via a check valve. A passage for PCV gas and an intake air branched passage for bifurcating a part of the intake air from a surge tank at an upstream side of the throttle valve are connected to a driving gas side of the air ejector, wherein a negative pressure control valve is provided in the intake air branched passage. The PCV gas and the part of the intake air are forced to flow into the driving gas side of the air ejector, so that the air ejector functions as a vacuum pump. As a result, the braking negative pressure for the brake booster can be surely reduced to a target negative pressure. |
| US08095288B2 |
Reducing oscillations in a motor vehicle driveline
A method for reducing oscillations in a vehicle driveline includes transmitting torque to secondary wheels of the vehicle, determining a first rate of change in speed between the secondary wheels and primary wheels, if a second rate of change in speed between secondary wheels and primary wheels is greater than the first rate of change, reducing torque transmitted to the secondary wheels proportional to a ratio of the first rate of change and the second rate of change, and if the second rate of change is less than the first rate of change, using differential and proportional control to change said torque. |
| US08095286B2 |
Method for controlling shifts in an automated gearshift transmission
A method for controlling a vehicle's automated transmission, which is arranged in a drive train in the force flow between a engine and a drive axle or a transfer box, depending on certain operating parameters and control actions of an adaptive cruise control system (ACC) that can be operated using engine and brake mechanisms to regulate speed and distance from a car in front. The method controls the transmission when an engine torque demand differs from the torque demand of the ACC. The operating mode of the ACC, which is active at the time, and the load direction of the torque demand of the ACC are determined, and the torque demand, used for controlling the transmission when speed or distance regulation is activated, is determined depending on the ACC operating mode and the load direction of the torque demand. |
| US08095283B2 |
Transmission control apparatus
A transmission control apparatus detects a drop in power transmission performance of a clutch actuator, and prevents a failure thereof. When power transmission performance drop detecting means detects a drop in power transmission performance of a first clutch even if a power transmission instruction is given to a first clutch actuator, power transmission in a power transmission path through a first geared transmission mechanism is inhibited, and power transmission in a power transmission path through a second geared transmission mechanism is carried out. When the power transmission performance drop detecting means detects a drop in power transmission performance of a second clutch even if the power transmission instruction is given to a second clutch actuator, power transmission in the power transmission path through the second geared transmission mechanism is inhibited, and power transmission in the power transmission path through the first geared transmission mechanism is carried out. |
| US08095268B2 |
Active suspending
An apparatus includes a force bias element coupled to a plant in a vehicle. The force bias element has a first bandwidth. An active suspension includes a linear electromagnetic actuator located within an interior of the force bias element. The linear electromagnetic actuator has a second bandwidth that is higher than the first bandwidth and is coupled to the plant. |
| US08095265B2 |
Recording, storing, and retrieving vehicle maintenance records
A variety of sensors, such as mechanical triggers, light sensors and motion sensors, magnetic sensors, and radio frequency identification tags, are strategically placed throughout a motor vehicle to detect service and maintenance activities relating to the vehicle during the lifetime of the vehicle. A sensed activity then activates a suitable recording device, such as a video recorder, to record the activity. The completion of the activity likewise is sensed and causes deactivation of the recording device. The recorded activity is typically retained in a non-erasable, indexed storage device from which it can be easily retrieved. The sensors may also be used for tamper detection and vehicle motion detection. |
| US08095262B2 |
Vehicular control apparatus and program storage medium
Whether an anomaly occurs in a data-rewritable second nonvolatile memory is determined by comparison between (i) a diagnosis code stored in the second nonvolatile memory and (ii) data contents stored as a diagnosis table in a first nonvolatile memory. The first nonvolatile memory previously stores the diagnosis table for listing diagnosis codes. If the diagnosis codes are appropriately registered in the diagnosis table, it is thereafter unnecessary to take into consideration whether the diagnosis codes are normally stored in the first nonvolatile memory. This configuration requires no further rewriting of information in the first nonvolatile memory unlike other memories, and thus decreases a possibility of an occurrence of an anomaly to garble the information in the first nonvolatile memory in comparison with other memories. Whether an anomaly occurs in the second nonvolatile memory can be thus performed more appropriately. |
| US08095260B1 |
Vehicle information display
An information display system for a vehicle includes a display screen disposed at an interior cabin of a vehicle so as to be viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle. The information display system is operable to display on the display screen vehicle user information so as to provide information to the driver of the equipped vehicle related to use of the equipped vehicle. The display screen is operable to display video images captured by a rearward facing camera of the equipped vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver. The video images are captured by the rearward facing camera and are displayed on the display screen when the equipped vehicle is executing a reversing maneuver. When the equipped vehicle is not executing a reversing maneuver, the information display system is operable to display on the display screen vehicle user information. |
| US08095258B2 |
Vehicle powertrain, controller thereof, and method for controlling vehicle powertrain
When a hybrid ECU determines that a malfunction in which a moment-adding flywheel cannot be connected to an engine occurs, an engine ECU controls a rotational speed of the engine to a value higher than that in a normal operation. Further, when the hybrid ECU determines that a malfunction in which the moment-adding flywheel cannot be disconnected from the engine occurs, a control is executed so that a ratio of a torque of a first motor to a torque of the engine is higher than that in the normal operation. |
| US08095252B2 |
Piloting method and device avoiding the pilot induced oscillations
A piloting method and device for avoiding pilot induced oscillations filters a piloting order with a non-linear filtering function that is controlled by speed comparison information. |
| US08095250B2 |
Real-time compensation of inertial sensor bias errors under high spin rate conditions
A method of estimating bias errors for an air vehicle in flight under high spin conditions is provided. The method comprises collecting a first set of data samples at a first time and collecting a second set of data samples at a second time. The first time and the second time occur after deployment of the air vehicle and before canard shock. The first and second sets of data samples comprise roll rate data from at least a first gyroscope and acceleration data from at least a first accelerometer. At least a first estimated accelerometer bias from the first and second sets of data samples is calculated. |
| US08095248B2 |
Method and system for GPS based navigation and hazard avoidance in a mining environment
A system and method for GPS based navigation and hazard avoidance in a mining environment are described. The system includes a central application that has a dynamic roadmap definition module adapted to at least allow a user to arbitrarily define features in a geographical information systems database and import overhead imaging data corresponding to a geographical area in which said features are defined. The central application includes a remote position and attitude reception module adapted to at least receive data concerning the position of at least one remote vehicle, a transceiver module adapted for exchanging data with at least one remote vehicle; and a logging and tracking module adapted for at least logging said position of at least one remote vehicle over time. The system also has a remote application; and a communications link adapted for exchanging data between the central application and the remote application. |
| US08095246B2 |
System and method for automatically determining temperature tolerance range
A system for automatically determining a temperature tolerance range of an electronic device directs a temperature regulator to regulate a temperature equaling a previous regulated temperature plus or less a temperature difference. When a determination module determines the electronic device has failed to power on or a test of the electronic device for testing hardware of the electronic device has failed after the electronic device is powered on at a regulated temperature, a limit value of a temperature tolerance range for the electronic device is ascertained. The limit value is equal to the regulated temperature, under which the electronic device has failed to power on or test has failed, less or plus the temperature difference. |
| US08095244B2 |
Intelligent active power management system for renewable variable power generation
A method and system for intelligently directing output boost capabilities of wind turbine generators operating together in a wind plant has been provided. Selected ones of the wind turbine generators have their own individual boost modes of operation that can provide a limited time increase in power output. This boost capability of the selected individual generators is conveyed to the wind plant control upon request and is used to direct individual boot operations of the generators. In some embodiments, weather forecast information including wind forecast information is used to calculate the generators present and future forecasted boost capabilities. |
| US08095241B2 |
Fluid evacuation system with two-way communication filter
An evacuation system includes at least one fluid intake, at least one fluid outlet, at least one operational component such as an evacuation motor, and a first read/write device such as an RFID tag for transmitting, receiving, or storing information. The evacuation system also includes a filter having a second read/write device for transmitting information to the first read/write device. A microcontroller, which is in functional communication with the first read/write device and the operational component, interprets the information received by said first read/write device and controls the operational component based on said interpreted information. |
| US08095238B2 |
Robot development platform
A modular robot development kit includes an extensible mobile robot platform and a programmable development module that connects to the mobile robot platform. The mobile robot platform includes a controller that executes robot behaviors concurrently and performs robot actions in accordance with robot control signals received from the development module, as modified by the concurrently running robot behaviors, as a safeguard against performing potentially damaging robot actions. Also, the user can develop software that is executed on the development module and which transmits the robot control signals to the mobile robot platform over the data communication link using a robot interface protocol. The robot interface protocol encapsulates potentially harmful user-developed software routines from the controller instructions executed by the controller of the mobile robot platform, while nonetheless enabling the user to effectively control the mobile robot platform using the robot control signals of the robot interface protocol. |
| US08095235B2 |
Method for control of humidity and auto-dispensing of pills in a pill box
A method for control of humidity and auto-dispensing of pills in a pill box includes a box having multiple rooms defined therein which are shifted to be in alignment with an outlet. The method controls the humidity in each of the rooms and provides a control unit which controls a transmission unit to proceed a mechanical action to shift the rooms to be in alignment with the outlet according to a time setting signal so as to dispense at least one pill. The method includes a display unit to display time information and provides a reminder to take pills by way of audio and/or light. |
| US08095230B2 |
Method for optimizing the routing of wafers/lots based on yield
A method for increasing overall yield in semiconductor manufacturing including routing wafers or wafer lots based on process variation data obtained from the wafers or wafer lots and on process variation data obtained from tools processing the wafers or wafer lots. A system for increasing overall yield in semiconductor manufacturing includes a module for routing wafers or wafer lots based on process variation data obtained from the wafers or wafer lots and on process variation data obtained from the tools processing the wafers or wafer lots. |
| US08095227B2 |
Apparatuses, systems, and methods utilizing adaptive control
A method for controlling a process, wherein the process has an input and an output, and including controlling the input to the process; predicting the output of the process based on a first set of operating parameters; predicting the output of the process based on a second set of operating parameters; updating the first set of operating parameters when a result from predicting the output from the first set of parameters differs from the output of the process by more than a predetermined amount, wherein the predetermined amount is a function the output predicted by the second set of parameters. The invention also includes apparatuses and systems. |
| US08095224B2 |
EMI shielded conduit assembly for an active implantable medical device
An EMI shielded conduit assembly for an active implantable medical device (AIMD) includes an EMI shielded housing for the AIMD, a hermetic feedthrough terminal associated with the AIMD housing, and an electronic circuit board, substrate or network disposed within the AIMD housing remote from the hermetic feedthrough terminal. At least one leadwire extends from the hermetic feedthrough terminal to the remote circuit board, substrate or network. An EMI shield is conductively coupled to the AIMD housing and substantially co-extends about the leadwire in non-conductive relation thereto. |
| US08095218B2 |
GI and pancreatic device for treating obesity and diabetes
A method is provided, including placing first and second electrodes (90) at respective first and second sites of a duodenum (40) of a subject, and activating the electrodes (90) to increase a blood insulin level of the subject. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08095216B1 |
System to create arbitrary waveforms using an external inductor and an implantable medical device
An implantable stimulation system includes a stimulation current generator encased in an implantable housing, one or more stimulation leads to deliver therapeutic stimulation from the generator to target patient tissue, and inductive elements arranged to condition the stimulation for delivery to the target tissue with increased efficiency and reduced pain sensation. The inductive elements are arranged external to the housing and integral with one or more of a stimulation lead or an external component of the housing, such as a header. The inductive elements serve to condition therapeutic stimulations such that varying the output of the generator allows the system to deliver arbitrary effective waveforms to the target tissue. |
| US08095214B2 |
Perivascular leak repair system
The perivascular leak repair system, and method of using the same, of the present invention provides a sealant reservoir 102 with a repair catheter 104 operably attached; a flow control device 106 disposed between the sealant reservoir 102 and the repair catheter 104, and the flow control device 106 responsive to a flow control signal 108; a heart phase detector 114 generating a diastole phase signal 112; an injection switch 122 generating a injection signal 120; and a flow controller 110 responsive to the diastole phase signal 112 and the injection signal 120, and generating the flow control signal 108. A method of sealing a perivascular leak comprises identifying the perivascular leak 140; inserting a repair catheter to the perivascular leak 142; injecting sealant at the perivascular leak 144; and removing the repair catheter 146. The sealant can be injected when the heart is in diastole to sweep the sealant into the perivascular leak. |
| US08095212B2 |
High-frequency surgical apparatus and high-frequency surgical method for closure of patent foramen ovale
A high-frequency surgical PFO closure apparatus used to treat patent foramen ovale in the heart includes first and second electrodes which grasp living tissue of the patent foramen ovale; a high-frequency power supply section which supplies high-frequency power to the living tissue via the electrodes; an impedance measuring section which measures an impedance value by supplying high-frequency power to the living tissue; a grasping condition determining section which determines, based on the measured impedance value, a grasping condition regarding how the living tissue is grasped in blood by the electrodes; and a control section which controls high-frequency power supply at a predetermined power level needed to treat the patent foramen ovale, according to a result of the determination. |
| US08095206B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting arrhythmias in a medical device
A method and apparatus for adjusting a sensing parameter in a medical device that includes a sensing electrode sensing cardiac signals, a processor to determine an adjusting characteristic associated with the cardiac signals sensed over a predetermined sensing window, and a control unit to update the sensing parameter in response to the determined adjusting characteristic. |
| US08095203B2 |
Data processing for real-time tracking of a target in radiation therapy
A facility for processing data is described. The facility receives a stream of digital location indications, each location indication identifying a location of a patient while undergoing radiation therapy. In response to each location indication of the string, in substantially real-time relative to the receipt of the position indication, the facility performs an action responsive to the location indication. |
| US08095202B2 |
Accelerated shells trajectory MRI acquisition
An MRI k-space data set is acquired using a series of shell k-space sampling trajectories of different radii. Off-resonance effects are reduced and fat-suppression can be improved by using a shorter TR for pulse sequences that sample at smaller radii. At larger radii sampling is repeated with the central axis of the shell sampling trajectory tilted such that the polar regions of shells acquired at the same radii are sampled by the other shell. |
| US08095200B2 |
System and method for using a haptic device as an input device
The invention generally pertains to a combination of a haptic device with a computer-assisted surgery system. The haptic device may be used as an input device, allowing information to pass from the user to the computer-assisted surgery system, and providing functionality similar to common user interface devices, such as a mouse or any other input device. When used as an input device, it may be used for defining anatomical reference geometry, manipulating the position and/or orientation of virtual implants, manipulating the position and/or orientation of surgical approach trajectories, manipulating the positions and/or orientation of bone resections, and the selection or placement of any other anatomical or surgical feature. |
| US08095199B2 |
Portable electrocardiograph with a neutral electrode
A portable electrocardiograph, characterized in that a clamping cover which tends to close automatically is provided on one end of a housing; a finger hole is provided between the clamping cover and the housing; a lower half of the inner wall of the finger hole is defined on the housing; an upper half of the inner wall of the finger hole is provided on the clamping cover; the lower half of the inner wall is provided with a first electrode; the other end of the housing is provided with a second electrode; and the back face of the housing is provided with a third electrode, in which the first electrode or the third electrode is a neutral electrode. According to the present invention, at least one portion of at least one of the middle finger, the so-called ring finger, and the little finger of the user's hand for grasping the electrocardiograph can contact the neutral electrode, such that the error of the measured result caused by electrical potential fluctuation on the measured person's body can be eliminated. |
| US08095195B2 |
Method and circuit for storing and providing historical physiological data
Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods that relate to pulse oximetry. Specifically, one embodiment includes an oximeter sensor comprising a light emitting element configured to emit light, a light detector configured to detect the light, and a memory storing an ambient light value for comparison with a detected ambient light measurement. |
| US08095194B2 |
Probe device
A probe device includes a sheet-like probe holder, a plurality of light-emitting probes and a plurality of detection probes mounted on the probe holder at a predetermined interval, a sheet holding unit holding the probe holder at a predetermined position on the biological surface, and a fixing band mounting the sheet holding unit on the living body. Each of the plurality of light-emitting probes and the detection probes includes a probe body including a light emitting unit or a detection unit, and a probe mounting part detachably mounting the probe body to the probe holder at a predetermined position. |
| US08095193B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling operation of vehicles or machinery by intoxicated or impaired individuals
The present invention relates generally to non-invasive methods and apparatuses for determining analyte properties of a subject and identity characteristics of a subject. Embodiments of the present invention provide analyte property determination and identity determination or verification from the same spectroscopic information, making unauthorized use or misleading results less likely that in systems that include separate analyte and identity determinations. The invention can be used to prevent operation of automobiles or other equipment unless the operator has an acceptable alcohol concentration, and to limit operation of automobiles or other equipment to authorized individuals who are not intoxicated or drug-impaired. |
| US08095191B2 |
Detection and function of seven self-supported orientations in a portable device
An improved mobile electronic device 100 with a unique thin and cost-effective form and design can have a large display 170 in the outward surface of a flip 102, a large full qwerty keypad 138 in the outward surface of a base 108, and a touchpad 186 in the inward surface of the flip. Advantageously, the mobile electronic device is movable to seven different orientations for providing different modes in partially open positions. The mobile electronic device can have a single accelerometer 206, such as located in the flip, or two accelerometers 130 with one accelerometer in the flip and one in the base, to accurately detect the orientation, flip angle, and mode of the mobile electronic device. |
| US08095186B2 |
Integrated dialing
Call initiation on a device with potential for a large number of stored telephone numbers is simplified through the use of an integrated field for entry of an ambiguous filter string. As it is not clear, a priori, whether the user is manually specifying, in the integrated field, a telephone number or providing a filter string for filtering contacts, filtering is performed based on at least one filter string. Among the contacts that are part of a filtering result list, a default contact is selected for quick access. |
| US08095183B2 |
Portable electronic device with detachable keypad module
A portable electronic device includes a first housing, a latching mechanism, and a keypad module. The keypad module can be removed from the electronic device without having to take apart the electronic device. |
| US08095179B2 |
Proxy smart card applications
A system and method for the implementation of a proxy smart card application in a mobile telephone. The mobile telephone receives a smart card related message from a remote terminal. If the smart card related message is related to a function implemented by electronic device software within the mobile telephone, the electronic device software processes the message. If the smart card related message is not related to a function implemented by the electronic device software, the message is transmitted to the smart card. |
| US08095176B2 |
Method and apparatus of subchannelization of wireless communication system
A Bluetooth radio which include a coexistence module. The coexistence module is able to associate the Bluetooth radio with one of a first radio and a second radio by monitoring a desired signal pattern for at least a predetermined time and associating with one of the first radio and the second radio based on a detection of the desired signal pattern. |
| US08095173B2 |
Wireless communication device with physical-layer reconfigurable processing engines
Embodiments of a system and method for signal processing in a wireless communication device are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, the wireless communication device comprises a first reconfigurable processing engine for configuration by a processing unit to perform a plurality of baseband processing operations on baseband samples. The processing unit may reconfigure the first reconfigurable processing engine for performing each of the plurality of baseband processing operations after completion of a prior one of the baseband processing operations. A second reconfigurable processing engine for configuration by the processing unit may perform decoding operations on output data generated by the first reconfigurable processing engine. |
| US08095172B1 |
Connectivity manager to manage connectivity services
A system and method are disclosed for managing the service connectivity of a mobile device to a plurality of connectivity services. A mobile device comprising a service connectivity manager accesses a repository of service connectivity management information. The service connectivity manager uses a first subset of the service connectivity management information to determine the connectivity services supported by a mobile device. A second subset of the service connectivity management information is then used by the service connectivity manager to determine the connectivity services supported by a predetermined network. The service connectivity manager then manages the service connectivity between the mobile device and the connectivity services supported by the predetermined network. |
| US08095169B2 |
Radio communication apparatus and radio communication method
A disclosed radio communication apparatus includes a preceding unit configured to precode multiple streams, a splitting unit configured to split the precoded streams into two or more stream sets each including one or more streams, a sub power optimization unit configured to execute an iterative transmit power optimization algorithm on each of the split stream sets to determine respective transmit power levels for the individual stream sets, a power optimization unit configured to execute the iterative transmit power optimization algorithm by using the determined transmit power levels as initial values for the iterative transmit power optimization algorithm to determine respective transmit power levels for the individual streams, and a transmission unit configured to transmit radio signals from individual transmit antennas at the determined transmit power levels. |
| US08095168B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing closed-loop transmit power control for fractional dedicated physical channel
A method and apparatus for performing closed loop transmit power control of a fractional dedicated physical channel (F-DPCH) are disclosed. Transmit power control (TPC) symbols on an F-DPCH and common pilot channel (CPICH) symbols are received. A short term signal power estimate is calculated using the TPC symbols, and a short term noise power estimate is calculated using the CPICH symbols. A short term signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) on the F-DPCH is calculated. A long term signal power estimate and a long term noise power estimate are calculated using the TPC symbols. A long term SIR is calculated and compared to a TPC quality target. An SIR target is adjusted based on comparison of the long term SIR to the TPC quality target. The short term SIR is compared to the SIR target and a TPC command is generated based on comparison of the short term SIR to the SIR target. |
| US08095167B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmission power balance adjustment in a mobile cellular system
A transmission power control system can establish synchronization by matching adjustment start timings while repeating adjustment periods even when start timings of transmission power balance adjustment are different due to fluctuation of transmission delay of control message from the control station to base station, and can increase circuit capacity by establishing balance of transmission powers between the base stations. In the transmission power control system the base station comprises control means for controlling initiation of a balance adjustment period for performing the balance adjustment from a frame number determined on the basis of frame number of the balance adjustment period. |
| US08095166B2 |
Digital and analog power control for an OFDMA/CDMA access terminal
Aspects describe controlling a power level for an access terminal in a wireless communication system that utilizes multiple modulation waveforms. The power can be controlled after an Access Grant is received in response to an Access Probe until the mobile device transitions into a steady state. A reference power can be continuously monitored and a setting of a power amplifier can be modified only when the reference power changes. A digital gain of a reverse data channel can be adjusted relative to the reference power level. |
| US08095165B2 |
Method and apparatus for uplink power control in communication system
Disclosed is a method for uplink power control in a communication system that includes determining a power control offset for controlling power for traffic to be transmitted by a subscriber station, according to whether a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) is applied to the traffic, and transmitting the power control offset to the subscriber station. |
| US08095163B2 |
System and method for push-to-talk communication in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed communication system
A system to permit push-to-talk communications in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) communication network. Individual wireless communication devices that are part of a Group Call are assigned the same set or sets of OFDM tones for a downlink timeslot. Because each wireless communication device receives the same set of tones, each device will receive a communication simultaneously. The assigned OFDM tones need not be contiguous within a block of available tones. Because a large number of OFDM tones are available, the concept may be extended to a large number of groups that each separately support a Group Call function. |
| US08095162B2 |
Control device for allocating resources to communication devices that use differing protocols and methods for use therewith
A control device includes at least one communication interface for communicating first control data with a first plurality of communication devices that utilize the millimeter wave frequency band in accordance with a first protocol and further for communicating second control data with a second plurality of communication devices that utilize the millimeter wave frequency band in accordance with a second protocol. A resource controller allocates resources of the millimeter wave frequency band to the first plurality of communication devices and the second plurality of communication devices based on the first control data and the second control data. |
| US08095160B2 |
Intermediate station and method for facilitating handover in a multi-hop communication system
An intermediate station and method for facilitating handover in a multi-hop communications system is disclosed. The method may include receiving a handover trigger, finding a target station to receive handover, determining whether the handover requires a timing change, wherein if it is determined that a preamble and broadcast timing change for one or more downstream stations is required, estimating when the handover will take place, instructing the one or more downstream stations to resynchronize, and performing the handover to the target station. |
| US08095157B2 |
Systems and methods for broadcasting and multicasting short message service messages
A method for broadcasting a short message service (SMS) payload is disclosed. The SMS payload is sent to a home network. The SMS payload is encapsulated in a session initiation protocol (SIP) message. The SIP message is sent to a target user equipment (UE). A SIP response is received from the target UE. The SMS payload is extracted from the SIP message. The SMS payload is broadcasted to a plurality of mobile stations. |
| US08095155B2 |
Positioning with wireless local area networks and WLAN-aided global positioning systems
Accurate position capability can be quickly provided using a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). When associated with a WLAN, a wireless device can quickly determine its relative and/or coordinate position based on information provided by an access point in the WLAN. Before a wireless device disassociates with the access point, the WLAN can periodically provide time, location, and decoded GPS data to the wireless device. In this manner, the wireless device can significantly reduce the time to acquire the necessary GPS satellite data (i.e. on the order of seconds instead of minutes) to determine its coordinate position. |
| US08095151B2 |
Providing location information of a user equipment
In a communication system, a method for providing a location service with geographical location information associated with a user equipment capable of communicating with the communication system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: storing connection information identifying a connection of the user equipment in the communication system; and determining whether the user equipment is currently connected in the network. Wherein, responsive to the user equipment not currently being connected in the network, the location of the user equipment is determined in dependence on the last stored connection information for the user equipment. The method also includes the step of translating the connection information into geographical coordinates. |