| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08096716B2 |
Tape printing apparatus
If a top cover 5 has been opened, a link lever 34 is moved backward in conjunction with the motion of the top cover 5, so that a release lever 51 is rotated clockwise as seen from the left side about a level shaft 50. Also, a release gear 49 and a release shaft 48 are rotated about 180° counterclockwise as seen from the left side, via a lever gear 52. Accordingly, a head supporting member 37 is rotated downward, resisting an urging force of a pressing spring 36, so that a thermal head 32 is separated from a platen roller 35 and entry of a roll sheet 3A becomes possible through an insertion port 26. |
| US08096714B2 |
Stenographic keyboard device providing extended set of keys and method for electronically adjusting key depth sensitivity
A device and method for determining key registration settings in a stenographic device, includes providing a plurality of keys making up a standard stenographic keyboard, each key having a resting position, a depressed position, and a range of depression positions between the resting position and the depressed position, receiving information indicating a depression depth of a key on the standard stenographic keyboard, and a processor communicatively coupled to a display and the plurality of keys, the processor operable to cause the display to graphically show, for at least one of the keys, a depression indicator of a current one of the depression positions. |
| US08096711B2 |
Seal cleaning and lubricating bearing assembly for a rotating flow diverter
A rotating flow diverter has a lubricated sealed bearing assembly for isolating bearing elements from wellbore fluids under pressure. The sealed bearing assembly is supported between an outer bearing housing and an axially rotatable quill. The bearing assembly further has bearing elements with a bearing lubricant under pressure and a seal assembly. The seal assembly has at least one sealing element which comprises a body, the body having an outer peripheral wall, an inner sealing surface having a plurality of sealing lips and an annular cavity, and a loading ring for compressionally fitting within the annular cavity to urge the sealing surface radially inwardly for sealing engagement with tubulars. |
| US08096709B2 |
Sliding bearing
A sliding bearing comprises a shaft hole for rotatably supporting a shaft that is inserted thereinto, an inner circumferential surface on which the shaft slides, and plural linearly oblique grooves. The grooves extend in a direction crossing a circumferential direction of the sliding bearing and are formed on the inner circumferential surface at intervals, and the grooves are provided with a lubricant. The oblique grooves have an oblique angle in a range of 10° to 60° with respect to a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction and have a width B in a range of 0.5 to 5 mm in the circumferential direction. The adjacent grooves have a land with a surface as a sliding surface therebetween, and the sliding surface has a width A in a range of 1 to 7 mm in the circumferential direction. A ratio A/B of the width A of the sliding surface of the land to the width B of the groove is in a range of 0.5 to 5.0. |
| US08096708B2 |
Digital linear heat detector with thermocouple heat confirmation
The present invention provides a digital linear heat detector with thermocouple heat confirmation. A digital linear heat detector with thermocouple heat confirmation comprises a first conductor and a second conductor, the first conductor composed of a different conductive material than the second conductor. The first and second conductors are then are twisted together to form substantially continuous spring pressure between the first conductor and the second conductor, thereby causing the layers of the non-conductive heat sensitive thermoplastic material to be in contact. The present invention also includes a monitoring circuit that is configured to monitor resistance along the first and second conductors. When the resistance changes along the first and second conductors, the monitor is configured to detect a short and enter a thermocouple mode. By entering the thermocouple mode, the monitoring circuit is able to identify the temperature at the short and determine the type of alarm condition being created by the short based on a predetermined temperature threshold. |
| US08096701B2 |
Method and apparatus for mixing a gaseous fluid with a large gas stream, especially for introducing a reducing agent into a flue gas containing nitrogen oxides
A method and apparatus for mixing at least one gaseous fluid stream with a large gas stream flowing in a gas duct, especially for introducing a reducing agent into a flue gas containing nitrogen oxides. The gas stream is directed against at least one disk-shaped mixer element on an inlet side that is inclined at an angle counter to the direction of flow of the gas stream, wherein eddy-type whirls form at the mixer element. The gaseous fluid stream is guided essentially to the center of an impact surface associated with the discharge side of the mixer element and is admixed with a gas stream downstream of the mixer element and is guided essentially perpendicularly onto the center of the impact surface on the discharge side such that the gaseous fluid is distributed over the entire discharge side from the center thereof and is incorporated across the entire whirl system formed at the peripheral edge of the mixer element. |
| US08096700B2 |
Heat exchange system for a cavitation chamber
A method and apparatus for regulating the temperature of the cavitation medium for a cavitation chamber is provided. The cavitation medium is pumped through the cavitation chamber through a pair of chamber inlets and an external conduit connecting the two inlets. An external heat exchanger is used to regulate the cavitation medium temperature, the heat exchanger being either directly or indirectly coupled to the conduit. The cavitation medium can be circulated through the heat exchanger during chamber operation or, once the desired cavitation medium temperature is achieved, operation of the circulation system can be suspended. The heat exchanger can be used to lower the temperature of the cavitation medium to a temperature less than the ambient temperature; to withdraw excess heat from the cavitation medium; or to heat the cavitation medium to the desired operating temperature. The heat exchanger can utilize heated heat exchange fluid, cooled heat exchange fluid, thermoelectric coolers, heat sinks, refrigeration systems or heaters. The cavitation medium circulation system can be configured to include a filter and/or a degassing chamber. |
| US08096698B2 |
Load monitoring method and load monitoring apparatus for kneading apparatus
In an extruder or a kneader, load (torque T) values on an input shaft portion of a screw shaft are detected by a load detector installed on the input shaft portion, then an overload condition is determined from a load mean value (Ta) and a load amplitude value (Tw) of the detected load values, and the issuance of an “abnormal” alarm and/or the stop of rotation of the screw shaft are (is) performed when an overload duration time (to) of maintaining the overload condition exceeds a set time (ts). In this way the screw shaft is protected from fatigue fracture caused by application thereto of such a load as does not exceed a designed mechanical strength but causes fatigue fracture. |
| US08096697B2 |
Backlight module and a wire positioning device thereof
A backlight module and a wire positioning/holding device for the frame structure thereof are disclosed. The backlight module mainly includes a frame and a light source module. The light source module is disposed on the lateral side or on the bottom of the frame. The wire holding device mainly includes a main body and a winding pillar. A first guide slot is disposed on the main body, and the first guide slot has an inlet end and an outlet end. The winding pillar extends from the main body and is situated at one side of the first guide slot. The winding pillar and the main body together form a wire holding portion. The wire holding portion is disposed corresponding to the outlet end of the first guide slot to receive the wires of the light source module coming out of the outlet end. Moreover, the wire holding portion and the outlet end of the first guide slot are situated on opposite sides of the winding pillar. |
| US08096696B2 |
Display panel and a light source used therein
A display panel and a light source device used therein are provided. The display panel includes a light-guide thin-film circuit substrate, a light source and a polarizing layer. The light-guide thin-film circuit substrate has a light entrance end and a light exit top surface, and the light source is disposed corresponding to the light entrance end. The polarizing layer is disposed on the light-guide thin-film circuit substrate and parallels the light exit top surface of the light-guide thin-film circuit substrate. The light produced by the light source enters the circuit substrate through the light entrance end, guided and transmitted through the circuit substrate, and then leaves the circuit substrate through the light exit top surface and enters the polarizing layer. The light after passing through the polarizing layer is turned into a polarized light having flat light source effect as a backlight source for the system. A polarizer may even be disposed between the light source and the light entrance end, so the light is turned into polarized light before entering the circuit substrate. |
| US08096692B2 |
Surface light-emitting device and automated transaction apparatus using the same
A surface light-emitting device includes a transparent plate having two main surfaces and a light source. The light source is arranged adjacent to a side of the transparent plate so that the light source radiates light to the inside of the transparent plate from the side of the transparent plate. One main surface of the transparent plate is formed with a plurality of cone-shaped dimples, which reflect radiated light toward the other main surface of the transparent plate. The surface light-emitting device may further include a black sheet arranged adjacent to one main surface of the transparent plate formed with the plurality of cone-shaped dimples. The surface light-emitting device can be used as a guide device for an input/output interface unit of an automated transaction apparatus. |
| US08096689B2 |
Motor-vehicle headlight
A motor-vehicle headlight is specified, having at least one light-emitting diode, and an apparatus for controllable manipulation of the beam path of the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the light-emitting diode. The described motor-vehicle headlight is distinguished inter alia by a particularly variable emission characteristic. |
| US08096688B2 |
In-vehicle illumination device
In an in-vehicle illumination device including: a room lamp section provided with a first light source section, and a light guide plate that guides a light of the first light source section from an end surface thereof and emits the light from a front surface thereof; a first switch for use by the room lamp section; and a vanity mirror section provided with a mirror, when the first light source section is turned on through operation of the first switch, a mode change is made to a room lamp illumination mode in which a first illumination light comes from the room lamp section, and also when the vanity mirror section is in use, the first light source section is turned on, and a mode change is made to a vanity mirror illumination mode in which a second illumination light comes from the room lamp section. The resulting in-vehicle illumination device can be excellent in practicality with the smaller size, and can achieve improvement in terms of design. |
| US08096686B2 |
Trim retention spring and method for recessed lighting fixtures
A lighting fixture is provided that includes a ceiling pan having an opening with a trim received therein. The trim includes a ring with a spring clip attached thereto. The spring clip includes first and second legs having a first end joined at an apex and second free end opposite the first end. The second free ends are fixed to the trim to bias the spring clip in a downward direction to engage a top surface of the ceiling pan and bias the trim in an upward direction toward the ceiling pan. In one embodiment, the ends of the spring clip are fixed to the trim by a screw. In another embodiment, the spring clip is a torsion spring engaging the trim and includes first and second legs with a portion extending therefrom and received in an aperture in the trim. The ends are oriented at an inclined angle with respect to the legs such that when the legs are attached to the trim, the legs are biased in a downward direction with respect to the ceiling pan. The torsion spring clip can be retrofit to the trim ring. |
| US08096684B2 |
Device for influencing a light beam in particular for stage illumination
The device for influencing a light beam includes a primitive element and a housing which is arranged at a rotatable arm and which is rotatable with respect to the primitive element by means of one of the several drive units, and into which a light source for generating a light beam may be introduced, wherein at least one control electronics for operating the device is arranged in the rotatable arm or in the housing. |
| US08096682B2 |
LED lighting device
An LED lighting device includes a receptacle comprising first and second bossed holes each having internal threads, and two opposite shoulders each formed lengthwise along a central line of an inner surface of either side of the receptacle; a cover plate comprising apertures and threadedly secured to the receptacle to form a housing; PCBs each supported by the shoulder and the first bossed holes and fastened in the receptacle by driving threaded fasteners therethrough into the first bossed holes; parallel elongated members each with the housing mounted thereon; units of LEDs electrically connected to the PCB wherein each unit of LEDs is fastened in the aperture; a waterproofing member filled in the housing for protecting the PCB; longitudinal and transverse frame members mounted on one surfaces of the elongated members; and a panel box mounted on the frame members, the panel box being electrically connected to the PCBs. |
| US08096677B2 |
Staggered LED based high-intensity light
A high intensity LED based lighting array for use in an obstruction light with efficient uniform light output is disclosed. The high intensity LED based lighting array has a first concentric ring having a plurality of reflectors and light emitting diodes. The concentric ring has a planar surface mounting each of the plurality of reflectors in perpendicular relation to a respective one of the plurality of light emitting diodes. At least some of the first plurality of reflectors are adjustable relative to the position of the respective light emitting diode to produce a precise beam pattern from the light emitting diode. |
| US08096675B1 |
Performance and color consistent LED
The instant invention discloses a device and method to mix and match LED die at a LED emitter or array level in an array to obtain a consistent average weighted wavelength, and/or desired flux, reducing the spread of a color range and therefore reducing the observed LED color range. The mixing of different wavelength and flux LED's expands the color gamut of the LEDs available to be used in a particular luminaire with a given color specification. |
| US08096674B2 |
Lighting device with selectable output level switching
Various techniques are provided for implementing a lighting device with selectable output level switching. In one example, a lighting device includes a light source, a controller adapted to provide one or more signals to control the operation of the light source, a power terminal adapted to receive a power source, and a tailcap assembly. The tailcap assembly includes a tailcap, a push button, and a washer disposed in the tailcap. The washer includes at least one arm adapted to be pushed against a surface to selectively connect the controller to the power terminal in response to a manipulation of the tailcap assembly. |
| US08096673B2 |
Auto-controlling power saving system for solar energy street lamps
An auto-controlling power saving system for solar energy street lamps includes at least one street lamp, each street lamp having a light source at an upper end thereof; a battery set; at least one solar plate installed at an upper end of the light source for absorbing solar energy; the absorbed solar energy being converted into electric power which is transferred to the light source for lighting up the light source or is stored in the battery set; a main controller for controlling all electric powers of the elements of the system for power management; the main controller controlling actuation, de-actuation and illumination of all street lamps; the main controller being connected to the battery sets of the street lamps and the related elements used; the main controller having a plurality of power control modes for power management and illumination control of the street lamps. |
| US08096671B1 |
Light emitting diode illumination system
An illumination panel has four peripheral edges constructed of an upper plate and a lower plate. Each of the plates has aligned peripheral edges and an upper and lower surface. The upper plate is fabricated of an optically reflective material. The lower plate is fabricated of an optically diffusive material. Each of the illumination panels includes a peripheral frame formed of four edge pieces. Each of the edge pieces is in a cross sectional configuration to receive and support the peripheral edges of the plates. A pair of opposed recesses face each other in the edge pieces. A printed circuit board with a plurality of light emitting diodes is supported in the edge pieces by the recesses. An electrical connector is adapted to disperse electrical power to the light emitting diodes. |
| US08096670B2 |
Light fixtures, lighting devices, and components for the same
A diffuser for a lighting device comprises a diffuser region, a hook element and a nose element. A light fixture comprises a housing with an opening and a diffuser as described above, in which the nose element extends through the opening, optionally further comprising an accessory including at least one spring element engaging the hook element. A light fixture structure comprises a housing defining an opening and an first attachment element comprising a nose element, a hook element and a connection region, and optionally further comprising a diffuser engaging a first portion of the hook element, and/or an accessory which engages a second portion of the hook element. An eyeball accessory comprises first and second housing elements pivotably attached to each other. An accessory for a light fixture comprises a housing member and a spring element engageable with a fixture. |
| US08096665B2 |
Spatially offset multi-imager-panel architecture for projecting an image
A high-resolution image is generated using multiple spatially offset lower-resolution digital micro-mirror device (DMD) panels. Multiple lower-resolution subframe signals for controlling the spatial light modulators are generated from a high-resolution image signal using a resolution reduction and interpolation algorithm. The spatial light modulators under control of the subframe signals are illuminated by a light source and light beams reflected from the spatial light modulators are combined and directed onto a screen for display. |
| US08096664B2 |
Projector with case having bulged exterior surface
A projector for emitting projection light in a projection direction used in a floor set-wall projection and floor set-floor projection modes. The device includes an aspheric reflection mirror, which reflects light from a light source in the projection direction, and a case, which accommodates the mirror. The mirror reflects the projection light to emit the projection light through an opening in the case. The case includes a first setting surface, which is arranged adjacent to a floor when in the floor set-wall projection mode, and a second setting surface, which is arranged adjacent to the floor when in the floor set-floor projection mode. The second setting surface in the floor set-floor projection mode is located immediately below the mirror and bulges to a location that is in alignment with or frontward from a front end of the mirror. |
| US08096661B2 |
Projector having a cross-shaped light beam
A projection-type image display apparatus including: a light source unit; an optical modulator including an incident surface and an output surface both being perpendicular to an optical axis of a light beam emitted from the light source, and configured to modulate a light beam emitted from the light source; a first polarizer provided to a surface of the optical modulator; and a second polarizer provided to another surface of the optical modulator. In the projection-type image display apparatus, the polarization direction of a light beam allowed to pass through the first polarizer and the polarization direction of a light beam allowed to pass through the second polarizer are substantially orthogonal to each other, and the light source unit emits a cross shaped light beam. |
| US08096657B2 |
Systems and methods for aiding computing users having sub-optimal ability
Computer-implemented systems and methods create a user environment tailored to a user's computer abilities. A series of baseline tests are administered to new users for accumulating user metric data, and a database collects and stores the user metrics. Program logic is responsive to data from the data base, where the program logic is programmed to adapt the user environment to correspond to abilities measured through the baseline tests. The program logic is further programmed to adapt user interface controls to compensate for user dexterity abilities. |
| US08096653B2 |
Method for manufacturing lens for electronic spectacles, lens for electronic spectacles, and electronic spectacles
A first recess (102) of a lower substrate (100) is coated with conductive ink to form a first auxiliary electrode layer (104), a lower electrode pattern (105) is formed thereon by vacuum deposition, a second recess (202) of an upper substrate (200) is coated with the conductive ink to form a second auxiliary electrode layer (204), an upper electrode pattern (205) is formed thereon by vacuum deposition, the upper and lower substrates are bonded to each other with an electric element (300) interposed between the lower substrate (100) and the upper substrate (100), and the upper and lower substrates are cut at positions on the overlap portion of the first auxiliary electrode layer (104) and the lower electrode pattern (105) and the overlap portion of the second auxiliary electrode layer (204) and the upper electrode pattern (205) so as to expose the cut surfaces of the substrates. |
| US08096648B2 |
Ink melt device with solid state retention and molten ink pass-through
A phase change ink melting assembly for use in a phase change ink imaging device includes an ink melt perimetric constraint having an open top and a melted ink egress positioned at a bottom of the perimetric constraint. The open top is sized to receive a leading end of an ink stick fed downwardly therethrough. The perimetric constraint includes an interior through path with egress at the bottom and a plurality of melted ink flow paths intermediate the open top and the melted ink egress. The assembly includes a heater for heating the perimetric constraint to a phase change ink melting temperature. |
| US08096645B2 |
Installing fluid container in fluid ejection device
A fluid ejection device ejecting a fluid, the fluid ejection device includes: a fluid ejection unit; a main chassis case; a fluid-containing pack; a container case; and a plurality of holders. The fluid ejection unit ejects a fluid onto an ejection target. The main chassis case houses the fluid ejection unit. The fluid-containing pack contains a fluid for ejection. The container case houses the fluid-containing pack. The plurality of holders is disposed inside the container case. Each of a plurality of holders includes an incline panel that inclines toward the inside base plane, and the fluid-containing pack rests on the incline panel. |
| US08096640B2 |
Print bar
In one embodiment, a print bar includes: a substrate having a longer part and a shorter part extending along and parallel to the longer part such that each end of the longer part extends past each end of the shorter part; and multiple printhead dies on the longer part of the substrate. In another embodiment, a modular print bar includes a first module including multiple printhead dies joined together end to end and a second module including multiple printhead dies joined together end to end. The second module is lapped together end to end with the first module. |
| US08096635B2 |
Duplex printer configured to move printheads before capping
The present invention relates to a duplex printer. The printer includes a support assembly and a pair of printheads mounted for movement with respect to the support assembly and configured to each eject ink upon print media. A print media feed mechanism is configured to feed the print media between the printheads during printing. A pair of movably mounted capping members is configured to cap respective printheads. A printhead movement actuating mechanism is configured to move the printheads into position for capping. A capping member actuating mechanism is configured to move the capping members into position for engagement with the moved printheads. |
| US08096634B2 |
Temperature compensation for full-width arrays write heads
A method and system for compensating for temperature changes is disclosed that includes a mounting bar, a plurality of imaging chips adaptively mounted on the mounting bar, each imaging chip including a plurality of imaging elements, and a temperature determiner to determine a temperature of the mounting bar. A control module enables and disables at least one imaging element based on the determined temperature of the mounting bar. |
| US08096633B2 |
Liquid droplet ejecting apparatus
An object of the invention is to provide a liquid droplet ejecting apparatus capable of determining a type of droplet to be ejected through each nozzle at an arbitrary ejection timing, with consideration of not only an influence of droplet ejections at preceding and following ejection timings, but also crosstalk between a nozzle column and another nozzle column.A data generation circuit of the liquid droplet ejecting apparatus includes a first storage unit, a second storage unit, and a droplet type determination unit. The first storage unit stores therein information on a plurality of types of droplets. The second storage unit stores therein time-sequence information of a type of droplet which information associates each ejection timing of each nozzle with one of the types of droplets. The droplet type determination unit determines a type of droplet to be associated with an arbitrary ejection timing of each nozzle, with reference to an ejection plan of the nozzle included in the time-sequence information, and a type of droplet associated with the arbitrary ejection timing of another nozzle. |
| US08096631B2 |
Ink-jet type image-forming apparatus and ink-jet type image-forming method
An image-forming apparatus is provided which prevents irregularity of an image density and improves the life of heating elements. In a half of recording heads (a group of recording heads 22K2, 22K4, 22K6 not adjacent to each other), off time T2 is shortened at a timing of PWM renewal 1; in the other recording heads (22K1, 22K3, 22K5, another group of the recording heads not adjacent to each other) the off time T2 is not changed at the timing of PWM renewal 1 but is shortened at the timing of PWM renewal 2. As the result, in the region corresponding to the timing from PWM renewal 1 to PWM renewal 2, the amount of the ink droplets ejected from the nozzles of the recording heads 22K2, 22K4, 22K6 is decreased to decrease slightly invisibly the image density formed by the ink droplets ejected from the nozzles 22K2, 22K4, 22K6. |
| US08096630B2 |
Ink jet printer cartridge refilling method and apparatus
The present invention provides an automated system for refilling printer ink cartridges. The system includes a computer with memory provided to store information relating to a plurality of ink cartridges, and a user interface that is connected to the computer and can receive a model number of a particular ink cartridge to be refilled. Moreover, the system employs a vacuum chamber with one or more needles provided to add ink into the ink cartridge. The vacuum chamber is connected to a vacuum pump that draws a suction on the vacuum chamber to reduce pressure in the vacuum chamber. In operation, the computer controls the vacuum pump to reduce the pressure in the vacuum chamber to a specific pressure based on the model number of the ink cartridge, and once this pressure is reached, ink is added to the ink cartridge by the needle accordingly. |
| US08096629B2 |
System for positioning sliding doors
Presented herein is a novel sliding door system that that enables adjustment of at least two sliding doors relative to each other such that surfaces of the sliding doors create a substantially flush surface a support onto which the sliding door mechanism is mounted. The system includes at least one inner and outer sliding door slidably coupled to corresponding guide rails. The guide rail that is coupled to the outer sliding door is selectably moveable by a sliding door mechanism between a first and a second position. In the first position, a user can slide outer and inner sliding doors along said guide rails, whereas in the second position, a surface of the outer sliding door is substantially flush with a surface of said inner sliding door. |
| US08096626B2 |
Latching mechanism for folding drive bay door
An exemplary latching mechanism for folding drive bay door (10) includes a cover panel (12), two brackets (14), two link members (184), a rotatable member (16), and two elastic members (22). The cover panel is configured for covering an entrance of an electronic device. The cover panel forms two pivotally rotatable portions (122) on opposite ends. The brackets are fixed to the electronic device. Each of the brackets defines a guiding hole for receiving the pivotally rotatable portions of the cover panel. Opposite ends of each link member are rotatably connected to the cover panel and the rotatable member correspondingly. The rotatable member is rotatably connected to the brackets. Two ends of each elastic member resist one of the two brackets and the rotatable member correspondingly. |
| US08096624B2 |
Brake control apparatus for vehicle
A brake control apparatus for a vehicle includes a first calculating portion for calculating a master cylinder pressure, a first determining portion for determining whether or not the brake operation is performed, a second calculating portion for calculating a target wheel cylinder pressure, a third calculating portion for calculating a controlled pressure, a controlling portion for controlling a pressure difference control valve, a second determining portion for determining whether or not the vehicle is stopped, and a driving portion for specifying a drive pattern of a motor to a first motor drive pattern in a case where the vehicle is not stopped, the motor driving a pump for discharging a brake fluid, the driving means specifying the drive pattern to a second motor drive pattern in a case where the vehicle is stopped, the driving means driving the motor based on the motor driving pattern specified. |
| US08096623B2 |
Protection structure for outer shell of a hub
A protection structure for outer shell of a hub comprises: a hub and an outer shell mounted at one end of the hub, the outer shell is provided at one end close to the hub with an enlarged flange, on an outer peripheral surface of the outer shell are annularly and spaced-apart formed a plurality of splines and at least one positioning rib, at least at one side of each splines is disposed with a protecting member whose material is different from that of the outer shell. By such arrangements, the protecting member can be assembled with a sprocket to prevent the sprocket from touching the splines. Thus, damages of the outer shell of the hub are prevented. |
| US08096618B2 |
Seat recliner/dump mechanism such as incorporated into a seatback slaved to a floor latch release
A recliner mechanism for use with a vehicle seat having a floor striker engaging bottom and a pivotally associated seatback. A seatback is pivotally secured to a fixed support and includes an arcuate lower surface upon which are defined teeth. A pawl is pivotally secured to the support and includes an upper surface with additional inter-engaging teeth when the seatback is in an upright position. A release cam secures to the support proximate a recessed underside location of the pawl and maintains the pawl in locking engagement with the seatback sector in a first position. The release cam rotates to cause the pawl to pivot out of engagement with the seatback, allowing it to pivot to a dump position opposing the seat bottom and concurrent with the seat bottom releasing from the floor striker and tumbling to a forward rotated position. A floor latch release lever is also pivotally secured to the support and, upon being contacted by the release cam, in turn pivots so that an end feature displaces to prevent the locking pawl from pivoting in a reverse direction against the seatback. The release lever reverse pivots in response to the seat bottom reengaging the floor striker, causing the pawl to reverse pivot its teeth into reengagement with the seatback upon the latter rotating back to the upright position. |
| US08096614B2 |
Locking mechanism
A locking mechanism for a glider rocker having a gliding chair seat mounted on a stationary base, including an operating assembly mounted on the gliding chair seat, a pair of bearing brackets mounted on the stationary base respectively, and a pair of mounting assemblies. Each mounting assembly includes a prop, a strut, a curved elongated member, a mounting bracket, and a restoring spring connected with the curved elongated member and the prop. |
| US08096613B2 |
Head retaining foam liner for car seat
The invention described herein relates to a foam geometry which reduces the tendency of the child's head to slide forward and roll out by contouring the side foam to have its leading edge closer to the center line of the child's seat than some more rearward portion of the side foam thus forming an inward protruding forward lip on the foam. The depth of the protruding lip is the primary determinant of the increase in head retention, but the particular geometry of the lip, foam density or rigidity, and overall depth also contribute. The invention relates to the contour of a horizontal section of a headrest foam liner being closer to the seat centerline at some distance from the seat back than some distance closer to the seat back. |
| US08096612B2 |
Seat system for passenger vehicles
A releasing device for a table part of a seat system for passenger vehicles. In a releasing device for a table part of a seat system for passenger vehicles, in particular for aircraft, comprising seat components such as a seat structure, a seat part, a seat back and an armrest, the position of at least one of these seat components being adjustable, wherein the table part is arranged on the seat structure to be tiltable between an operative position and a stowed position, the table part can be secured in the stowed position by means of a locking device which, for releasing the table part into its operative position, can be actuated by the adjustment movement of at least one armrest. |
| US08096610B2 |
Floor top crossmember
A device for securing a rear seat within a cab of a vehicle, comprising a crossmember configured for attachment to a floor pan of the vehicle, the crossmember cooperating with the floor pan to provide a cavity for storing items within the cab. When the crossmember is attached to the floor pan and the rear seat is attached to the crossmember, the crossmember is contained within the space between the seat and the floor pan without extending into a passenger leg room area. |
| US08096609B2 |
Construction machine, in particular road milling machine, miner, recycler or stabilizer
The construction machine according to the invention is distinguished by the fact that an air-processing apparatus (28) is arranged outside the cab (9) on the machine frame (2), wherein a device (13, 22) for feeding processed and/or fresh air into the cab and used air from the cab is provided, said device having a feed air duct for processed air for the cab and a discharge air duct for used air from the cab. The feed air duct of the air-processing apparatus (13, 22) is connected to the outlet (28C) of the air-processing apparatus (28) and the discharge air duct is connected to the inlet (28B) of the air-processing apparatus. In a construction machine whose control station is rotatably arranged on the machine frame, the arrangement with the air-processing apparatus outside the cab has the decisive advantage that it is not necessary to run hoses and/or lines between the rotatable cab and the machine frame. A preferred embodiment of the construction machine provides for the feed and discharge air duct of the air-processing apparatus (13, 22) to have an outer section (30) which is formed by a component connected to the machine frame in a rotationally fixed manner and an inner section (31) which is formed by a component connected to the cab in a rotationally fixed manner, wherein the outer section encloses the inner section. Thus concentric air conduction via the swivel joint of the control station is possible. |
| US08096608B2 |
Working vehicle with tilt floor
In a working vehicle having a tilt floor, a torsion bar has one end mounted on the tilt floor and the other end thereof mounted on a base frame, and is disposed on the tilt floor which is tilted up and down relative to the base frame. In a maximally opened position where the tilt floor is tilted up and a closed position where the tilt floor is tilted down, a position of a barycenter (G) of the tilt floor on which the driving room (C) is disposed is opposite from each other relative to a turning center of the tilt floor across the top dead center. |
| US08096602B2 |
Roof arrangement for a convertible, and convertible with a roof arrangement of this type
A roof arrangement (17) for a convertible (1) has a flexible convertible-top cloth (19) that can be removed by hand and stretched over a passenger compartment (16) between a cowl (9) and a rear end fastening device (18). A supporting bow (26) is beneath the convertible-top cloth (19) and is arranged in the transverse direction (FQ) of the convertible (1) at a distance behind the cowl (9). A tensioning device (32) keeps the convertible-top cloth (19) tensioned in relation to the cowl (9). The tensioning device (32) braces the convertible-top cloth (19) down adjacent to the supporting bow (26) and approximately in the vertical direction of the vehicle (FH) when the roof arrangement (17) is mounted on the convertible (1). |
| US08096598B2 |
Auto-release venturi with vacuum switch
A material handling system has a vacuum cup assembly engagable with an object and movable to move the object using a pressurized air source, a vacuum cup, a venturi device and a vacuum valve and auto-release valve. The venturi device is in fluid communication with the vacuum cup and connected to the supply line so that pressurized air can be supplied to and through said venturi device to generate a partial vacuum when the perimeter seal of the vacuum cup is engaged with the object surface. The vacuum valve may open and close the supply line at a location upstream of the venturi device in response to a pressure level at the vacuum cup cavity. The auto-release valve may vent the vacuum cup cavity to atmosphere in response to reduced pressure in the supply line at a location upstream from the vacuum valve. |
| US08096597B2 |
Apparatus and method for collecting and disposing pet waste by incineration
Apparatus (10) for pet waste disposal including a portable waste collection receptacle (12) disposed on a handle (13), characterized by a heat source (14) mounted together with the waste collection receptacle (12), capable of incinerating waste (15) disposed in the waste collection receptacle (12). |
| US08096596B2 |
Bumper beam for a vehicle
A bumper beam for a vehicle has two attachment portions (15, 16) with a U-shaped cross section open towards the vehicle. Each attachment portion has a reinforcing member (29) in the form of a hat-profile located within the attachment portion and across the latter, with its webs (31, 32) welded to the webs (13, 14) of the attachment portion. The side flanges (33, 34) of the hat profile have holes (35, 36) for bolts by means of which the side flanges and thereby the bumper beam can be attached to a structural part of the vehicle and the attachment section has holes (41) to allow fastening bolts of this kind to be fastened through these holes. |
| US08096592B2 |
Locking pivot actuator
An actuator is provided that uses two lengths of shape memory alloy (SMA) wire to kinematically couple a first and second lever together. The two SMA wires are routed in generally V-shaped paths around a link pin that is coaxial with the first and second levers. By selectively contracting one of the wires, the link pin slides between a locked and an unlocked position. A locking pin extending from the link pin couples the first and second levers together while the link pin is in the unlocked position. |
| US08096591B2 |
Split joint restraint device with dual pipe size capability
A split ring restraint device having dual pipe size capability for securing the connection between adjacent pipes in water piping systems to prevent leakage or failure of the pipe connection. The restraint device comprises an interlocking, stepped joining interface that can be assembled in one orientation to fit a pipe having a first outside diameter and assembled in another orientation to fit a pipe having a second outside diameter. The restraint device can be used without modification on pipes having different outside diameters. The restraint device can be installed more rapidly than current state-of-the art split ring restraint devices. |
| US08096589B2 |
High-resistance end fitting for a flexible tubular pipe
An attachment fitting and a method for connection to a tubular duct comprising at least one ply of armors, the armors having a free end respectively defining an outer surface, the attachment fitting comprising a bushing and a sleeve having an attachment part and a connection part with a reception portion, the sleeve being mounted on the duct by spreading the free ends of the armor perpendicularly to the reception portion, the armors comprising a widening device, the bushing being mounted about the connection part and forming an annular chamber for receiving a flow of a mass-curing material for encapsulating the free ends of the armors. The widening device connected to the free outer surface of the free ends of the armors. |
| US08096580B2 |
Air bag apparatus and gas generator for the same
An airbag device may include a gas generator comprising: an initiator that is activated by an impact on a vehicle; an ignition agent that is ignited by the initiator; an ignition agent housing chamber that houses the ignition agent; a gas generating agent that is ignited and burned by the ignition agent; and a combustion chamber housing the gas generating agent. An airbag may be inflated by a gas generated by the combustion of the gas generating agent. Further, the ignition agent housing chamber is only partially filled with the ignition agent, thereby forming a space in the ignition agent housing chamber that is not filled with the ignition agent. |
| US08096578B2 |
Knee airbag
A knee airbag apparatus includes a front panel configured to face toward an occupant when the knee airbag deploys and a rear panel configured to face toward an instrument panel when the knee airbag deploys. The rear panel is joined to the front panel to form an inflatable knee cushion configured to inflate to protect an occupant's knees during a crash event. The knee airbag further includes at least one internal tether extending between the front and rear panels. The internal tether is attached to the front panel at a front panel attachment location offset from a rear panel attachment location. The knee airbag further includes an external tether attached at one end to the front panel, and at a second end at the knee airbag housing. |
| US08096571B1 |
Tractor hitch assembly and trailer with hydraulic pump
A tractor hitch assembly comprises a drawbar with a hydraulic pump mounted to a pump mount extending below the drawbar and drawbar couplers formed thereon. A trailer tongue coupler is pivotally connected to the drawbar for pivoting about a roll axis and a yaw axis. The tongue of a trailer is removably securable to the trailer tongue coupler in a plurality of selected vertical alignments. The trailer tongue is formed integral with a main beam of the trailer frame extending the length of the trailer. |
| US08096569B2 |
Convertible cycling-stroller apparatus
A convertible cycling-stroller apparatus is provided. The convertible cycling-stroller apparatus includes a two-part frame; at least one wheel each rotably mounted on the at least one axle on the first frame; at least one wheel each rotably mounted on the at least one axle on the second frame; a riding seat; a drive mechanism; at least one handlebar post attached to the first frame; and a carrier attachable to the first frame. |
| US08096568B2 |
Hydropneumatic axle suspension for vehicles
The hydropneumatic axle suspension for vehicles, especially the front axle thereof, cooperates with at least one suspension cylinder (10) connected to a hydraulic accumulator (26; 24) on both its ring side (14) and the piston side (12). The hydraulic accumulator (26; 24) is triggerable by control electronics (18) with the aid of a valve unit (30; 28) that can be allocated to the hydraulic accumulator (26; 24). The ring side (14) of the suspension cylinder (10) is connected to a pressure value sensor (DA-R) which transmits its measured pressure values to the control electronics (18). The pressure value sensor (DA-R) located on the ring side is connected to the discharge end (38) of the valve unit (30), which can be associated with the ring side (14) of the suspension cylinder (10). |
| US08096567B2 |
Independent suspension with adjustable sub-frame
A carrier housing for receiving a drive shaft that is drivingly coupled to a drive axle is provided, where the carrier housing is also connected to a sub-frame. To provide an adjustable relationship between the carrier housing and the sub-frame, the carrier housing further comprises a cover gear that may be removably coupled to a ring gear, which is attached to the sub-frame. By removing either the cover gear or the ring gear, the carrier housing may be repositioned with respect to the sub-frame. |
| US08096564B2 |
Shopping cart, frame, basket and production methods
The present invention includes a shopping cart frame with mounting bracket units connecting caster wheels and having a plate secured underneath the base with a caster pin receiving hole and spaced-apart flanges flanking the hole and abutting on the base; a shopping cart with a support bar between side uprights for forwardly propping up a primary basket and rearwardly hanging a secondary basket; a cart with a plastic basket having rear structural tubes sheathing the frame's side uprights and being secured thereto; a modular method of making different cart models by providing multiple sets of components with cooperating mounting surfaces for interconnection; a modular plastic basket with a hooked-on suspended tray and a channel-shaped overlay detachably snapped over the edge and tray; a one-piece molded plastic basket with independent branching tubular sections with different thicknesses; and an independent gas-assisted injection method for molding a one-piece plastic basket. |
| US08096563B2 |
Recreation device for sliding downhill on a surface
A recreation device, used for sliding downhill on a surface, on which the rider is suspended above the surface, either in a generally horizontal position—face up or face down—or in a reclined position, thereby providing the rider with a unique experience or sensation. The winter recreation device comprises a slide member having a top and a low friction bottom adapted for sliding on the surface, a support connected to the top of the slide member and extending upward away from the slide member, and a harness suspended from the support, wherein the support and harness are adapted to suspend a user of the apparatus above the surface. |
| US08096561B2 |
Flange gasket
Ring-shaped flange gasket produced from a rubbery-elastic material, said flange gasket comprising two rings (2, 3), each having a ring-shaped reinforcing insert (9, 10), said rings being formed in a wedge-shaped manner transversely relative to the ring axis (4) and, at sides (5, 6) that face each other, adjoining one another at right angles to the ring axis (4) by means of planar surfaces and there being in engagement with one another so as to be rotatable, wherein along at least one circumferential section, the ring-shaped reinforcing insert (9, 10) has a wave profile (11) with an increasing wave height in a region of increasing wedge height. |
| US08096560B2 |
Metal-to-metal seal for smooth bore
A high pressure seal assembly configured for sealing contact with an opposing surface. The seal assembly comprises an annular seal body with a sealing surface on one side of the seal body. An end of the sealing surface includes a sealing face for sealing contact with the opposing surface. The sealing surface also includes at least one support point that contacts the opposing surface when the seal is placed in sealing contact. Strategically positioning the support point on the sealing surface selectively adjusts the sealing contact stress between the sealing face and the opposing surface. |
| US08096559B2 |
Rotary seals
Seal assemblies are herein discussed. The seal assemblies can have a stiff backing ring supporting a seal ring, which is positioned adjacent an inner seal ring. In preferred embodiments, the inner seal ring is made from a material that enables the inner seal ring to absorb media particles in situ to change its particle density. This allows the seal assembly to form wearable surfaces on the fly to decrease wear on the seal ring. |
| US08096557B2 |
Ball game apparatus and method thereof
A ball game apparatus includes a ball target, one or more balls, and a rear unit. The ball target includes an upper target, a bottom net, and a target stand. The upper target is mounted at an upper portion of the target stand. The bottom net is mounted between the target stand and the upper target at a position that the bottom net is below the upper target. The upper target has a plurality of ball scoring holes and an electronic scoring board, wherein an electronic scoring circuit is provided within the upper target. Each ball is made by elastic and flexible material and is filled with iron sands. The rear net unit, which is positioned behind the ball target, includes a net and a rear net stand, wherein the net is supported by the rear net stand to extend to an opened configuration of the rear net unit. |
| US08096556B2 |
Method for playing a wagering game
A method of playing a card wagering game. Each player places an ante. A first number of cards is dealt face down to each player and a dealer to form a player hand and a dealer hand. Players view their cards and decide whether to continue play or surrender. Players that surrender shall fold and forfeit their ante wager. Remaining players place a call wager to continue play. A second number of cards is dealt face down to each remaining player and the dealer so that each player and the dealer now have a hand of the first and second number of cards. If any player does not have at least a four card straight, a four card flush or a four card straight-flush that player loses his ante wager. Each player that has at least a four card straight, a four card flush or a four card straight-flush now plays against the dealer's hand. A player is paid on the player's ante and call wagers in accordance with a pay-table when the player's hand outranks the dealer's hand. |
| US08096554B1 |
Wheel indicator and ticket dispenser apparatus
A game system including a progressive bonus apparatus connected to a plurality of individual game units. In an exemplary embodiment, the progressive bonus apparatus receives score contributions from each game unit to increase a progressive score. When players achieve a predetermined result on a game unit, they receive an award based on the progressive score. Each game unit connected to the progressive bonus apparatus may take the form of a game with a rotating wheel. |
| US08096547B1 |
Sheet stopping structure
A sheet stopping structure includes a sheet pick-up arm, a sheet guide casing and a sheet stopper. A receiving recess is formed in the sheet guide casing. Two sliding slots are respectively formed in two sidewalls of the receiving recess. The sheet stopper is installed in the receiving recess, and movable along the two sliding slots. When the sheet pick-up arm is in a standby position, the sheet stopper is maintained in an upright status and protruded outside the surface of the sheet guide casing. When the sheet pick-up arm is lowered to a sheet pick-up position, the sheet stopper is rotated and then stopped down within the receiving recess. |
| US08096543B2 |
Post-processing apparatus and image forming system
A post-processing apparatus including: a first conveyance section which superposes a plurality of paper sheets conveyed from an image forming apparatus, and conveys with superposed state; a second conveyance section which conveys the paper sheets, sheet by sheet; a switching section which switches to convey the paper sheets either to the first or to the second conveyance section; a punch processing section which temporally stops the paper sheets from the first or the second conveyance section, and forms punch holes on the paper sheets; and a control section, wherein if determined, based on the basis weight or thickness information of the paper sheet, that the punch processing is not executable on the paper sheets with the superposed state, the control section controls to convey the paper sheets into the second conveyance section, and to execute the punch processing sheet by sheet. |
| US08096540B2 |
Tension ring lifting assembly
A tension ring lifting assembly (101) for securing around a pipe, the assembly comprising a tension ring (112) and at least one lifting lug (130) by which the tension ring, and a pipe around which the tension ring has been secured, can be lifted. The tension ring comprises: a plurality of collar segments (114, 116) which can be assembled into a ring around the pipe; a plurality of slip segments (140) adapted to fit between the collar segments and the pipe and to make direct contact with the pipe surface, the collar segments and the slip segments when assembled having inclined contacting surfaces such that an inner diameter across said assembled ring, between the inner faces of the collar segments, varies as the segments move up and down in the collar; means for tensioning (152, 154, 156) adjacent collar segments (114, 116) against one another to secure said ring around the pipe; and means for removeably mounting (7, 9) said at least one lifting lug (130) to the tension ring (140). Prior to mounting of the lifting lug, the tension ring has an outer diameter that is less than the diameter of the tension ring lifting assembly after mounting of the lifting lug to the tension ring. This enables the tension ring to be fitted with a relatively small outer diameter so that the tension ring can pass through an opening before the lifting lugs are fitted. |
| US08096534B2 |
Water distribution tray
A water distribution tray having an improvement including a first downwardly inclined surface therein commencing at a base of a water impingement pedestal within a first of a plurality of channels and ending at a corresponding first of a plurality of discharge apertures, wherein the first downwardly inclined surface has a first declension angle associated therewith, and a second downwardly inclined surface commencing at the base within a second of the plurality of channels and ending at a corresponding second of the plurality of discharge apertures, wherein the second downwardly inclined surface has a second declension angle associated therewith different from the first declension angle. A method of manufacturing is also provided. |
| US08096533B2 |
Packing arranged for an exchange of heat and/or material
A stacked packing column for heat and/or mass transfer has individual horizontal layers including a lower layer that has a greater density that initiates an accumulation, in particular flooding, and that is 1.5 to 10, preferably 2 to 3 times, greater than the density of an overlying upper layer. The upper layer forms oblique flow channels having lower sections that are more vertically aligned than respective upper sections. The lower sections of the flow channels have a larger cross section than the upper sections, and the sections of larger cross section open into the lower layer. |
| US08096530B2 |
Flexible impeller pumps for mixing individual components
A flexible impeller pump includes first and second component housings. The first component housing includes a first flexible impeller and the second component housing includes a second flexible impeller. As these impellers rotate within their respective housings, they draw in and expel individual components into a common receiving chamber. In a particular application, one component is a foamable liquid, and the other component is air, and a mixture of foamable liquid and air is thus created in the common receiving chamber. |
| US08096526B2 |
Rotary actuator lever apparatus having an annular recess
Rotary actuator lever apparatus having an annular recess are described. An example rotary actuator lever includes a cylindrical body that has a first opening and a second opening axially aligned with the first opening, and sized larger than the first opening. The lever arm extends a predetermined distance from the body and has a first arm member spaced from a second arm member. Each of the first and second arm members includes an aperture to receive a fastener to operatively couple the lever to a stem of an actuator. The body includes an annular recess adjacent the first arm member of the lever arm to enable the first arm member to flex relative to the second arm member when the lever couples to the actuator stem. |
| US08096522B2 |
Pressure regulator for gaseous media
A pressure regulator can be used particularly in a CNG-operated motor vehicle as an electronically controlled pressure reducer for maintaining the gas pressure constant on the injection valve used for filling the respective cylinder. The pressure regulator is composed of a control unit (1), a pressure reducer (3) that is controlled by the control unit (1), and a throttle (2) which connects the gas outlets (20, 40) of the working chamber (17) of the control unit (1) and the pressure reducer (3). A piezoelectric actuator (11) which affects the valve (21, 22) of an overflow device (14) makes it possible to specifically modify the gas pressure (P2) in the working chamber (17) of the control unit (1) and simultaneously influence the position of the valve (38, 39) of the overflow device (33) of the pressure reducer (3), thus allowing the output pressure (Pout) of the pressure reducer (3) to be adjusted to a predefined desired value. |
| US08096520B2 |
Connector system
An array of U-shaped flanged brackets and flange tipped posts attached to a supporting surface providing a mechanical connection with an object that is provided with corresponding posts and brackets. The brackets and posts can include electrical contacts or fiber optic contacts for transferring power or signals between connected objects. Various objects can be mounted on the array of brackets and posts to provide positioning flexibility. |
| US08096516B2 |
Tool storage device
A tool storage device is adapted for retaining a hand tool thereon, and includes a seat engaging component and a storage unit. The seat engaging component includes a web wall, and top and bottom walls cooperating with the web wall to define a receiving space. Each of the top and bottom walls has a distal edge. The distal edges cooperatively define an opening in spatial communication with the receiving space. The storage unit includes a slidable seat that has a connecting portion extending into the receiving space through the opening, a positioning plate connected to an outer end of the connecting portion and mounted with a positioning seat, and upper and lower engaging components disposed in the receiving space, each extending from an inner end of the connecting portion and abutting resiliently against the web wall of the seat engaging component. |
| US08096515B2 |
Hanging apparatus for fixing a medical device to a substantially horizontal or substantially vertical support structure
A hanging apparatus is provided that facilitates the attachment of a medical instrument to a support structure. The mechanism includes a generally longitudinal, telescoping assembly that extends outward from the back of the medical instrument and positions a rotatable arm to serve as one face of a clamp, opposing the back of the medical instrument as the second face of the clamp. The mechanism assembly includes a cylindrical shaft that extends outward against the tension force of a spring from a housing component of the assembly. A cam mechanism within the hanging apparatus allows for locking and tightening of the clamp against the support structure after closure of the clamp under the influence of the tensioning spring. |
| US08096512B2 |
Payload modules
A plurality of sufficient closely-packed functional units which are interconnected to form a non-planar payload module assembly 40. Advantageously, the payload modular structure 40 is compact with few piece parts, has low output losses, and is robust enough for supporting complete payloads with or without reflectors. The payload modular structure has utility in various space-based applications as well as in various terrestrial applications. |
| US08096510B2 |
Traction kite with deformable leading edge
A leading edge inflatable traction kite wherein the leading edge structure includes a plurality of spaced segments that are fabricated from a material with a higher elasticity, thus allowing for a greater amount of twisting and bending. The inflatable leading edge includes a series of elastically deformable segments disposed throughout the length thereof to facilitate selective torsional deformation of the leading edge and resulting overall angle of attack of the kite. These elastically deformable segments are preferably integrally formed as part of the leading edge support and are comprised of a material with a high elasticity, namely a higher elasticity than the remaining leading edge segments. Providing elastically deformable segments of high elasticity dispersed along the leading edge combined with regions of lower elasticity maximizes responsiveness and control by allowing leading edge deformation in response to user applied force, while the providing sufficient support to maintain kite stability. |
| US08096508B2 |
Erosion resistant films for use on heated aerodynamic surfaces
The present disclosure provides a tape comprising: a) a single layer comprising a crosslinked polymer, selected from the group consisting of crosslinked polyurethane, crosslinked polyurea, and crosslinked mixed polyurethane/polyurea polymer, and b) an adhesive layer. In another embodiment, the disclosure provides an erosion resistant construction comprising, first, an element of an aircraft comprising: an aircraft skin segment having an external surface, and a deicing mechanism associated with said aircraft skin segment capable of heating said external surface to temperatures in excess of 65° C.; and, second, a tape comprising: at least one layer comprising a crosslinked elastomeric polymer, which may be a crosslinked polymer selected from the group consisting of crosslinked polyurethane, crosslinked polyurea, and crosslinked mixed polyurethane/polyurea polymer, and an adhesive layer; wherein the tape is bonded to the external surface of the aircraft skin segment by the adhesive layer. In another embodiment, the tape comprises at least one layer comprising a semi-interpenetrating polymer network of a crosslinked acrylate and an uncrosslinked polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyurea, and mixed polyurethane/polyurea polymer. |
| US08096507B2 |
Methods and apparatus for optical propagation improvement system
An aircraft turret and fairing assembly for facilitating transmission of a directed energy beam from a directed energy device includes a turret section for directing an energy beam. The assembly also includes a fairing section aft of and adjacent to the turret section. Each of the turret section and the aft fairing section are coupled to an aircraft. The assembly also includes at least one sensor for detecting air speed of the aircraft and air pressure. The turret section and the aft fairing section are configured and positioned relative to one another to direct airflow for generating an aeroacoustic resonance within a desired frequency range in an area aft of the turret section. |
| US08096505B2 |
Deceleration device for a cockpit door for decelerating in case of decompression
A deceleration device for a movable component in an aircraft, the device having a deformation component, wherein the deformation component includes a deformation tool, a deformation body with a deformable region, and a guide device. The deformation tool and the deformation body can be made to engage each other in such a manner by means of the guide device that in the case of movement of the deformation body and of the deformation tool relative to each other the deformable region of the deformation body can be deformed by the deformation tool. |
| US08096499B2 |
Device for feeding combustion air to an engine of an aircraft
A device for feeding combustion air to an engine disposed in an interior of an aircraft is comprised of a primary air inlet duct extending between an exterior surface of the aircraft and the engine, wherein the air inlet duct extends from air inlets disposed in a first region of the exterior surface; at least two further air inlet ducts extending between a second and third region of the exterior surface and the engine, so as to provide a three-way combustion air supply; and a control device configured to switch the air supply to the engine from either or both of the at least two further air inlets duct when a blockage occurs in the primary air inlet. |
| US08096498B2 |
Rotating auxiliary power unit air inlet door
An inlet door assembly includes an inlet door rotatable about an axis of rotation. |
| US08096496B2 |
Helicopter drip pan
A drip pan apparatus for a “M” model BLACK HAWK® helicopter and the like includes an expanded corner structure for accommodating an access port also positioned further outwardly in the corner than in prior drip pan apparatuses, facilitating filter viewing while retaining peripheral o-ring seal. An expanded corner of the airframe skirt is accommodated by the expanded corresponding corner of a frame, which also defines a small radius internal curve. The removable pan has a small radius curve cooperating with the small radius curve of the frame and is sealed thereto by the peripheral o-ring seal sealing the entire pan to the frame. Physical access to the filter is enhanced. |
| US08096494B2 |
Method and device to prepare tubular winding cores
The device to position tubular winding cores on a common supporting and rotating shaft comprises: supporting members for said shafts AS and gripping and handling members 23A, 23B of the winding cores A parallel to the axis of said shaft AS. |
| US08096493B2 |
Bail release mechanism for spinning reels
A bail assembly for a spinning-type fishing reel is disclosed that includes a first bail arm, a second bail arm, a bail wire disposed between the first bail arm and the second bail arm, and a readily releasable attachment device disposed on the first bail arm to readily releasably attach the first bail arm to the reel. |
| US08096490B2 |
Fuel injection valve and fuel injection system for internal combustion engine with the same
A fuel injection valve comprises a valve seat, a movable valve element which is seated on or separated from the valve seat, and a nozzle member having a plurality of nozzle holes. At least one of the valve element and valve seat has a curved surface at a contact position where they contact with each other when the valve element is seated on the valve seat. Two or more of the nozzle holes are provided outside an intersection line of a virtual extension surface along a tangential line to the curved surface at the contact position and a surface of the nozzle member. |
| US08096488B2 |
Showerhead and valve assembly for receiving a rinsing system
An improved showerhead provides a fluid diverter valve that allows quick connection and disconnection of a hand held sprayer used for cleaning shower stalls and bathrooms. The diverter valve includes a valve housing having a water inlet, a first water outlet and a second water outlet. A valve runner moves between a first position wherein the valve runner seats to permit fluid communication between the inlet and the first outlet and a second position wherein the valve runner seats to permit fluid communication between the inlet and the second outlet. The valve runner is moved from the first position to the second position substantially by gravity. |
| US08096485B2 |
Method of preheating injectors of internal combustion engines
In a method and device for preheating an internal combustion engine injector (1) including at least one valve (3) to be activated by an electromagnet (21), in which the coil of the electromagnet (21) is energized before the engine is started, the coil of the electromagnet (21) is periodically powered with a preheating voltage (42), and the current characteristic (33) within the coil is monitored and subjected to an evaluation to detect local current minima (43) and/or maxima (44) caused by armature reactions. |
| US08096484B2 |
Method for the production of dry free-flowing hydrophobin preparations
Method for the production of dry, free-flowing, stable hydrophobin preparations by spraying and drying aqueous hydrophobin solutions, if appropriate comprising additives in a spray device. |
| US08096480B2 |
System and method for encoding and decoding large capacity 2-dimensional color bar code which can be color-corrected
Disclosed herein are a bar code encoding system and a bar code decoding system. The bar code encoding system includes a method for compressing the original data and adding data for error detection and correction to the compressed data to generate a large capacity 2-dimensional color bar code so as to be used as prints in an off-line environment and a large capacity 2-dimensional bar code pattern. The decoding system includes a method for receiving the prints including the 2-dimensional bar code generated by the encoding system through an input device such as a scanner and a camera, searching the 2-dimensional bar code to recognize it, performing color correction and error detection and correction, decompressing the compressed data to decode the original data. |
| US08096477B2 |
Semantic note taking system
A semantic note taking system and method for collecting information, enriching the information, and binding the information to services is provided. User-created notes are enriched with labels, context traits, and relevant data to minimize friction in the note-taking process. In other words, the present invention is directed to collecting unscripted data, adding more meaning and use out of the data, and binding the data to services. Mutable and late-binding to services is also provided to allow private thoughts to be published to a myriad of different applications and services in a manner compatible with how thoughts are processed in the brain. User interfaces and semantic skins are also provided to derive meaning out of notes without requiring a great deal of user input. Linking physical objects to notes are also provided, such as through QR codes. |
| US08096471B2 |
Ballot marking device having attached ballot box
The present invention is generally directed to a ballot marking device adapted to mark a ballot and either return the marked ballot to the voter or automatically deposit the marked ballot into a secure ballot box attached to the marking device. The device includes a presentation device operable to present to the voter a plurality of election choices and ballot handling choices, and an input device operable to receive from the voter at least one selection corresponding to the election choices and at least one instruction corresponding to the ballot handling choices. The device also includes a marking mechanism operable to record the received voter selection on the ballot, a transport mechanism operable to transport the ballot through the device, and a diverter operable to direct the ballot from the transport mechanism into the attached ballot box. An associated method is also disclosed. |
| US08096470B2 |
Upboard customer relationship management system
A system for tracking sales activity and enhancing customer relationships comprising at least one processor, data storage connected to the processor, at least one input device connected to the data storage and processor, a clock means for generating a time record, and computer instructions for: receiving and tracking sales commitments and individual sales data by sales account code and time, tracking the steps of the sales process, tracking total and average time spent with each customer, providing a logical comparison between sales data and steps of the sales process using a discrete event modeling and simulation method to monitor and forecast sales, providing an alarm to at least one client device when sales data reflects sales occurring below sale commitments, and providing customer data relating to an event that brought the customer, items viewed, amount of sales per customer, the customer's address, and reasons for inconclusive sale. |
| US08096467B2 |
Transaction product with hinged puzzle segments
A transaction product includes a plurality of puzzle segments, four skin components, and a machine-readable account identifier. The four skin components each couple and form a hinge between at least two of the plurality of puzzle segments such that the transaction product is configured to be successively folded about the plurality of hinges to undergo a closed chain of transformations from an initial configuration to a plurality of intermediate configurations and back to the initial configuration. The four skin components are each positioned on an external surface of the transaction product when the transaction product is in the initial configuration. The machine-readable account identifier is coupled to at least one of the puzzle segments and links the transaction product to an account or record for tracking a value associated with the transaction product. |
| US08096456B2 |
Fastener driving tool with retractable nose assembly
A fastener driving tool arranged to drive fasteners into a workpiece includes a support, a pair of sub-assemblies movably mounted on the support, each sub-assembly comprising a motor and an associated flywheel, and a nose part retractable relative to the support. The tool is arranged such that, in use, when the nose part is retracted, its movement relative to the support mechanically forces the sub-assemblies toward each other. The forcing of the sub-assemblies toward each other by the retraction of the nose part may move the sub-assemblies from an inoperative position to an operative position. |
| US08096454B2 |
System and method for vehicle article carrier having stowable cross bars
A vehicle article carrier system adapted to be secured to an outer body surface of a vehicle. The system includes a pair of support rails secured to the outer body surface and at least one cross bar. The cross bar has end supports that are able to pivot. The end supports may be secured to the support rails to place the cross bars in an operative position extending generally perpendicularly between the support rails, and elevationally above the support rails. The end supports also enable the cross bar to be placed in a stowed position along the slats where each of the end supports lay generally co-linear with a central portion its respective cross bar. |
| US08096453B2 |
Gun holster
A security holster for use with a handgun. A locking device secures and engages various safety features of the handgun, and retains it in the holster until released by the user. The security holster provides for one handed insertion and withdrawal of a handgun, and prevents unauthorized removal of the handgun. An audible indication of insertion and locking is provided by the locking mechanism security holster. |
| US08096452B1 |
Clothing wrinkle removal apparatus and method
A clothing wrinkle removal apparatus includes a housing that has a bottom wall and a perimeter wall that is attached to and extends upwardly from the bottom wall. The housing includes a cover that is removably coupled to the perimeter wall to cover an access opening into the housing defined by an upper edge of the perimeter wall. The housing has an air passage opening therein. An item of clothing is positioned within the housing with a quantity of water and placed in a microwave oven with the cover on the housing. The microwave is turned on to heat the water and the item of clothing to remove wrinkles from the item of clothing. |
| US08096451B2 |
Apparatus for volumetric batching of granular or powder products in a container
The apparatus is constituted by at least an operating unit comprising: a chute, inferiorly associated to a hopper for containing granular or powder product, the chute being extended downwards to convey the product towards an underlying container; a rotary obturator having a horizontal axis X, for transversally occluding the chute and being laterally provided with an opening destined to place the chute in communication with a batching chamber, realized internally of the body of the obturator and delimited, on an opposite side to the opening, by a gas-permeable wall; a conduit connected at an end thereof to the batching chamber, via the wall, and at another end thereof to aspirating and blowing means; motorized organs for commanding rotations of the obturator, with which the opening is alternatingly oriented upwards, during the loading stage, in order to enable the granular or powder products, falling from the hopper and introduced into the upper part of the chute to enter the batching chamber, which is depressed thanks to the action of the aspirating means, and in a downwards direction, during the subsequent delivery stage, to enable the batched volume of granular or powder product, projected by a jet of pressurized gas generated by the blowing means, to exit the batching chamber and enter the lower part of the chute to descend towards the container. |
| US08096449B2 |
Dispensing appliance for a multiple cartridge
The dispensing appliance for a multiple cartridge or syringe comprising a housing configured to receive the cartridge that has an internal thread and a rotatable portion that has a complementary thread, the internal thread and the rotatable portion cooperating in such a manner that by mutual rotation thereof, the rotatable portion is continuously displaceable relative to the housing in the dispensing direction. The housing is configured to receive the cartridge that has two adjacent storage containers, and a thrust force of the rotatable portion is transmitted to a multiple ram without any pressure relief. This arrangement allows dispensing even highly viscous materials from cartridges with little manual force under high pressure and in a precisely metered manner. |
| US08096448B2 |
Oval cross-section tube, method for the production and device for the use thereof
An elastic substantially tubular package for a semi-liquid or pasty extractable by a finger pressure product comprises a skirt, a head and optionally a cap. The skirt is formed from a wound foil and is provided with a longitudinal weld seam formed by the overlapping of the edges thereof, and the head is fixed to the circumference of the skirt end and forms an oval cross-section at the level of the skirt fixing area. The end of the longitudinal weld seam contacting the head is located in or near an area where the radius of curvature of the oval cross-section is minimal. |
| US08096443B2 |
Variable height adjustable storage capacity container
An adjustable storage container is formed with a removable lid that fits telescopically over the bottom section. The container's storage capacity is adjustable based upon the ability to increase and/or decrease the container's capacity by changing the orientation of the lid placement telescopically over the container bottom. Key slot ledges of differing depths that are designed into the side walls of the container's bottom section enable the lid to perch at different heights above the floor of the container depending upon which orientation of the lid is used when placing the lid telescopically over the container bottom. The abstract is not intended to be limiting in regard to the scope of the invention as defined by the claims to follow. |
| US08096439B2 |
Underground battery container system
A rechargeable battery, such as a 12 Volt battery that is recharged by a solar panel, is placed into a container system that includes an enclosure, having a top portion that is open and a bottom portion that is open, that is substantially buried underground. A sleeve, having a bottom portion that is open and a top portion that is closed, is lowered into the enclosure such that air is trapped inside the top portion of the sleeve when water collects against the enclosure. The trapped air prevents flood water from rising high enough to contact terminals of the battery. When flood conditions subside, the water drains out the bottom portion of the container system into the ground. Additionally, a ridge around the bottom of the sleeve makes it easier to insert the sleeve into the enclosure because the ridge slides over the dirt and debris, but the ridge scrapes and removes unwanted dirt and debris from the enclosure whenever the sleeve is removed to access the battery. A battery platform may be used to raise a battery higher into the sleeve. The entire container system can be completely buried underground, but access to a battery in the container only requires that the dirt covering the top most part of container be removed, and then the sleeve is simply lifted out of the enclosure without having to dig around the enclosure. |
| US08096438B2 |
Fuel tank cap for a fuel tank
A fuel tank cap for a fuel tank of an engine. The fuel tank cap includes a fuel cap cover, a housing having a side wall, a bottom wall, and a receptacle, a fuel vapor adsorption material positioned within the receptacle, an inlet disposed near the bottom wall and configured to provide fluid communication with a fuel tank vapor space, an outlet disposed near the bottom wall and configured to provide fluid communication with the atmosphere, an internal wall adjacent the bottom wall and disposed between the inlet and the outlet, and at least one aperture configured to permit fuel vapor to flow in a vapor flow path from one side of the internal wall to the other side of the internal wall. |
| US08096437B1 |
Disposable, absorbent, steam-permeable, segmented cooking utensil cover
A disposable, segmented, sorbent, steam-permeable, cooking utensil cover for selectively covering foodstuffs in a stovetop cooking utensil, having upstanding sidewalls which terminate at a rim. The cover has sufficient wet-strength to render it rigid. The edge of the cover contacts the rim of the cooking utensil to cover contained foodstuffs and support the rigid cover. The cover is made of steam-permeable, sorbent, fire-retardant material to allow cooking steam to escape, while grease spatter and cooking juices are absorbed; and, to prevent combustion of the cover due to its proximity to the stove heating element. The cover contains a plurality of radial slits to form liftable segments hinged at the cover center to allow independent elevation of a selected segment. A flip-up handle for removing the cover and adhesive lift tabs to facilitate lifting and securing the segments are provided. Once utilized, the entire cover assembly is discarded. |
| US08096432B2 |
Elastomeric draft gear having a housing
A draft gear assembly for cushioning both buff and draft dynamic impact forces being applied to a center sill member of a railway vehicle includes a housing member closed at one end and open at an opposed end, the housing member having a rear portion adjacent the closed end and a front portion adjacent the open end. At least one compressible elastomeric spring is positioned within the rear portion and has a rear end thereof abutting at least a portion of an inner surface of the closed end. A friction clutch mechanism is also provided in abutting engagement with each of the front end of the compressible elastomeric spring and the coupler shank. The housing member may be provided with a pair of ledge portions disposed intermediate its ends and attachment members disposed on the open end for attaching the housing member directly to the coupler shank. |
| US08096428B2 |
Counter display for articles such as perfumes and cosmetic products
The inventive counter display for articles such as perfumes and cosmetic products comprises a connecting element (3) extending between a lower end (3b) fixed to a displaying element (2) and a top end (3a) pivotally mounted with respect to a ceiling (8). A mirror (6) is also arranged on the connecting element. |
| US08096424B2 |
Method for fabrication of elastomeric asymmetric membranes from hydrophobic polymers
Using the methods of the invention, an elastomeric polymer is dissolved in a suitable solvent, cast in one of the membrane casting techniques using a phase inversion technique, and immersed in a coagulation bath comprised of suitable solvent/non-solvent pairs (e.g., THF/water and ethanol). Asymmetric membranes having a dense discriminating layer and a thicker porous support layer suitable for application in pervaporation processes were obtained in a single step. An increase of the polymer concentration in the casting solution gives a more dense layer. When cast as formed using the methods of the invention, the membrane obtained is an integrally skinned membrane comprising a thin, dense separation layer over a porous support layer (asymmetric membrane) formed in a single casting operation. The resulting membrane is homogenous with respect to chemical composition. |
| US08096422B2 |
Apparatus and method for preparing platelet rich plasma and concentrates thereof
Disclosed is a separator-concentrator, such as for separating and concentrating platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) from whole blood that is suitable for office use or emergency use for trauma victims. The PRP separator comprises a motorized centrifugal separation assembly and a concentrator assembly. The centrifugal separation assembly comprises a centrifugal drum separator and a motor having a drive axis connected to the centrifugal drum separator. The concentrator assembly comprises a water-removal module for preparing PRP concentrate. |
| US08096414B2 |
Medical implement dispensing and disposal system
A medical implement dispensing and disposal system. The medical implement dispensing and disposal system comprises a container having an open end with a dispensing chamber and a disposal chamber defined within the container. A cover is configured to substantially close the open end of the container. The cover defines a disposal opening in communication with the disposal chamber. A dispensing opening is defined in either the container or cover and in communication with the dispensing chamber. A biasing assembly is positioned in the dispensing chamber and configured to provide a biasing force toward the dispensing opening. |
| US08096412B1 |
Key remote control cover
A key remote control cover for covering the remote control portion of a remote control key to prevent inadvertent pressing of remote control buttons while handling the key includes a rigid main body portion having an interior, a closed first end, and an open second end. The main body portion is designed for surrounding the bow of a key. A slot is positioned in the closed first end of the main body portion such that the slot is designed for receiving a blade of the key therethrough while the main body portion surrounds the bow of the key. |
| US08096411B2 |
Dispensing container
The invention provides a dispensing container including an outer casing having an open end, a top, a bottom, sidewalls extending between the top and bottom, and an interior compartment, wherein the outer casing further includes a depressible button in the top or bottom and at least one projection adjacent to the depressible button that extends into the interior compartment; and an inner tray slidably received within the interior compartment of the outer casing. The inner tray includes a first end received within the outer casing, an opposing second end extending outwardly from the outer casing, a flexible locking tab positioned proximal to the first end, and an opening adjacent to the flexible locking tab, the flexible locking tab including a first segment extending toward the second end of the inner tray and a second segment extending transversely from the first segment. The second segment is positioned to engage the projection. |
| US08096409B2 |
Apparatus and method for transporting products, having a linear drive mechanism
The invention relates to a transporting apparatus for transporting products, which includes a linear drive mechanism, a continuous conveyor system, having two parallel straight conveyor regions and two curved conveyor regions each connecting one end of the straight conveyor regions, and a plurality of conveyor elements. The conveyor elements extend along the continuous conveyor system and convey the products to be conveyed along at least a portion of the conveyor system while being guided along a guide path. The linear drive mechanism includes a first linear segment and a second linear segment, which are disposed parallel to the straight conveyor regions. The curved conveyor regions of the conveyor system are advantageously embodied as driveless. |
| US08096406B1 |
System and method for controlling casting shakeout retention
A method for controlling the retention time of a casting retained in a mold comprises providing a vibratory shakeout conveyor having a conveying surface, placing the mold on the conveyor; and imparting a vibratory force to the conveyor at a predetermined angle to the conveying surface whereby the predetermined angle determines the retention time of said casting in said mold. A plurality of sensors for detecting mold position and media breakdown may also be employed to detect appropriate mold retention time. |
| US08096405B2 |
Sheet feed assembly
A sheet feed assembly with a pair of rollers to feed sheets of media along a feed path. The roller pair has a drive roller and an idler roller. The drive roller is mounted between two bearings and for rotation about its longitudinal axis. The idler roller is shorter than the drive roller and is held against the drive roller by two guide formations and at either end. The guide formations bias the idler roller against the drive roller while allowing some lateral displacement of the idler roller from the drive roller. |
| US08096400B2 |
Security gate mechanism for a currency handling device
A security gate mechanism for a currency handling apparatus having a currency passageway includes a rotatable gate having a slit therein. The slit is aligned with the currency passageway when the rotatable gate is in an initial position. A drive wheel is coupled to the rotary gate for driving the rotatable gate in first and second directions, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction. A positioning member is selectively engageable with the drive wheel for positioning the rotatable gate in the initial position such that the slit in the rotatable gate is substantially aligned with the passageway. The positioning member is arranged to be engageable with the drive wheel when the drive wheel rotates the rotatable gate in the second direction, but it is not engageable with the drive wheel when the drive wheel rotates the rotatable gate in the first direction. |
| US08096399B2 |
Coin lock
Coin lock comprising a lock housing (1) with two coin openings (2, 3) for insertion of coins (A, B) which enable operation of the coin lock, a bolt piece (8) which is connected to a bolt (9) and is arranged in the lock housing and able to move between a forward and a rear position, and a first and a second coin sensing device, each of which comprises a first (31, 31′, 34-, 34′) and a second (32, 32′, 35; 35′) carrier device to carry a coin with a predetermined minimum diameter, inserted through one of the coin openings, and a hook (14, 15) which; in absence of a coin with the predetermined minimum diameter, borne by the carrier device, and engaging with the bolt piece, prevents the bolt piece from being moved to the forward position, and which, in the presence of a coin with the predetermined minimum diameter, borne by the carrier device, allows the bolt piece to be moved into the forward position. The carrier devices (31, 31′, 32, 32′, 34, 34′, 35, 35′) of the first and second coin sensing devices are arranged at the same side of the bolt piece (8). |
| US08096398B2 |
Efficient movement and storage of funds
A method of efficiently transferring and storing funds in a cash handling device is presented. In some arrangements, funds will be deposited into the cash handling device and transferred directly to an overflow cassette for storage and transport, rather than being transferred to a traditional storage unit, such as a recycle unit. Prior to transferring the funds, a determination may be made as to the level in the recycle unit. If the level is above a predetermined threshold, the level in the overflow cassette will be evaluated to determine if that level is below a predetermined threshold. If so, the funds will be directly transferred from deposit to the overflow cassette thereby minimizing the processing, movement, etc. of the deposited bills to reduce risk of jams, malfunction, service issues, etc. |
| US08096397B2 |
Method and system for handling empty packaging
A method and a system for determining the remuneration for the return of identifiable empty packaging to a receiving point, wherein the empty packaging (7; 8) is identified with respect to at least one selected characteristic thereof, for example, dimension, type of packaging, type of material, recyclability, and deposit value, if any. The remuneration for individual types of empty packaging is related to at least two of a plurality of legal entities (10-15) which, for the return of empty packaging, are remuneration-providing and connectable to a remuneration coordinator (9) in communication with the receiving point in the form of a reverse vending machine (1), and to the remuneration level of the connected legal entities that is applicable at any given time for a particular type or particular types of empty packaging. |
| US08096396B2 |
Dry-running friction lining
The invention relates to a sintered, dry-running friction lining containing no binding agent with a friction lining body comprising a metallic matrix, at least one abrasive material and at least one filler. The friction lining body has a porosity which is greater than 10%. The proportion of the at least one abrasive material in the friction lining body is at most 5% by weight. |
| US08096393B2 |
Breakdown preventive device of rotary damper
In the breakdown preventive mechanism of a rotary damper, when the upper rotor is rotated in one direction, a communication path is formed between the valve body and the lower rotor, and the pressure in the pressure chamber is formed between the lower rotor and the lower housing is lowered, and rotation is easily performed. When the upper rotor is rotated in another direction, the viscous fluid does not flow between the valve body and the lower rotor, and the pressure in the pressure chamber formed between the lower rotor and the lower housing is raised. As a result, the viscous fluid pushes down the relief valve and a cage type relief valve by resisting the elastic element, and thereby prevents breakdown of the rotary damper. |
| US08096392B2 |
Light weight bicycle brake assembly
A light weight brake assembly for bicycles is disclosed. Some embodiments of the invention are designed to enhance assembly adjustability, for example to accommodate geometric variations that occur with various bicycle frame and wheel geometries. Some embodiments of the invention are designed to allow for a brake leverage that can be non-linear and capable of multiplying during brake actuation so that braking force increases more rapidly than brake lever force applied by the user. Some embodiments of the invention are designed to provide a brake sensitivity that is adjustable in use. Some embodiments provide for a quick-release functionality, for example by quickly increasing the gap between the two brake pads so that the wheel can be easily/quickly removed. |
| US08096386B2 |
Actively regulated electromechanical controller for fork lift truck
The invention relates to a method for controlling the load-handling elements of a fork-lift truck, the load-handling elements being used in the method to grip the load to be handled. The load-handling elements are operated using an electrically controlled operating device, which is controlled using an analog control voltage formed using an electromechanical controller. In addition, the analog control voltage coming from the electromechanical controller is regulated actively externally on the basis of measurement data and set criteria, before the analog control voltage formed by the electromechanical controller is conducted to the electrically controlled operating device. The analog control voltage coming from the electromechanical controller is regulated using a feed external to the electromechanical controller, in parallel with the electromechanical controller. The invention also relates to a corresponding operating system and regulating apparatus. |
| US08096380B2 |
Transfer robot
A transfer robot that is safe and produced at low cost is provided. A transfer robot (100) includes a base (7) fixable to a floor surface, a link mechanism provided on the base (7), an arm rotatably attached to the base (7) by the link mechanism, casters attached to a lower surface of the arm and used to move the arm, and a holding section provided on an upper surface of the arm to hold a carriage (13). The link mechanism includes a motor, a first reduction mechanism rotated by the motor, and a second reduction mechanism coupled to the first reduction mechanism and rotating the arm. |
| US08096379B2 |
Force assist arrangement for a slidable coupling
The disclosure includes a force assist arrangement for a slidable coupling, a slidable coupling including the force assist arrangement, and a machine including respectively slidable portions, such as, the slidable coupling, and the force assist arrangement. The force assist arrangement includes at least first and second links pivotably coupled together at one end and to the respectively slidable portions at the other ends, and a force assist device pivotably coupled to the links along their respective lengths. |
| US08096378B2 |
Golf bag vehicle
A golf bag vehicle includes a vehicle body and a driving wheel. The vehicle body includes an axle mounting on a lower portion thereof. The driving wheel includes a wheel frame, a motor and a wheel circle. The wheel frame detachably connects to the axle, and has an inner room. The motor mounts inside the inner room, for electrically connecting with a power supply. The wheel circle receives the wheel frame therein, and is rotatable with respect to the wheel frame. The wheel circle connects with the motor, and is driven by the motor, so that the driving wheel forms a self-driven structure. |
| US08096377B2 |
Generator driving device, hybrid vehicle, and control method for generator driving device
In order to securely prevent, even where a boosting unit is provided, a rush current from arising when a contactor is turned on during a transient state, the voltage of a surge absorbing condenser is controlled so that the voltage difference between the power source capacitor and surge absorbing condenser falls in a predetermined range. The control is performed in the following manner: of the two voltage source inverters of the AC-coupled bi-directional DC-DC converter composing a voltage converter as a boosting unit, only the one that is not connected in parallel with a power source capacitor is activated to perform a chopping operation while the generator is operated with the contactor off. |
| US08096373B2 |
Rotary drill bits and drilling tools having protective structures on longitudinally trailing surfaces
A rotary drill bit or other drilling tool for drilling or reaming through subterranean formation and comprising a body comprising a distal end and gage areas near a proximal end thereof and comprising longitudinally upward extensions of a plurality of blades or legs. A longitudinally trailing, radially inwardly extending surface is associated with at least some gage pads or legs at the longitudinally trailing ends thereof. Protective structures in the form of superabrasive elements comprising a plurality of thermally stable polycrystalline diamonds, or so-called “TSPs” (thermally stable products) are secured to a trailing surface of at least one gage pad. PDC elements may be employed in combination with the TSPs. Non-diamond structures may also be employed, in lieu of or in conjunction with diamond structures, particularly if drilling of ferrous metal casing components is contemplated. |
| US08096370B2 |
Apparatus and method for producing soil elements underground
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for producing nozzle jet columns underground comprising a bore and nozzle rod arrangement (1) for producing a borehole and a nozzle jet column in the region of the borehole, and a measuring device (14) for measuring the nozzle jet column, in particular the diameter of the nozzle jet column, the measuring device (14) being at least partially integrated into the bore and nozzle rod arrangement (1) so that it is possible to measure the nozzle jet column using the mechanical measuring device (14) without the bore and nozzle rod arrangement (1) having previously been withdrawn from the borehole. |
| US08096365B2 |
Hydraulic control system
A hydraulic control system for controlling an external device (4) at a well installation includes a control module (2) for generating electrical and/or optical control signals. A control pod (8) receives the control signals, the control pod controlling the external device. A hydraulic line (10) links the control pod to the external device (4) for controlling it. |
| US08096363B2 |
Circulation control valve and associated method
A circulation control valve can include first and second valve devices and at least one opening which provides fluid communication between an interior longitudinal flow passage and an exterior of the valve. Fluid communication can be provided through each of the first and second valve devices in response to application of a respective one of first and second pressure differentials applied across the corresponding valve device via the interior longitudinal flow passage. Fluid communication in any direction through the opening may be permitted in response to application of the first pressure differential to the first valve device. Fluid communication through the opening may be prevented in response to application of the second pressure differential to the second valve device. |
| US08096362B2 |
Phase-controlled well flow control and associated methods
Phase-controlled well flow control. A well system includes a flow control device which regulates flow of a fluid in the well system, the flow control device being responsive to both pressure and temperature in the well system to regulate flow of the fluid. A flow control device includes a flow regulator for regulating flow of a fluid through the flow control device, and an actuator which is operative to actuate the flow regulator in response to a predetermined relationship between a phase of the fluid and both pressure and temperature exposed to the actuator. A method of controlling a phase change of a fluid in a well system includes the steps of: flowing the fluid through a flow control device in the well system; and adjusting the flow control device in response to both pressure and temperature in the well system. |
| US08096359B2 |
Method of cementing using polymeric retarder
Set retarders of copolymers of at least one polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer and at least one alkoxylated sulfate, phosphate or ketonic salt are capable of delaying the hardening of a cementitious slurry when introduced into a subterranean formation until a downhole temperature greater than or equal to 500° F. is obtained, even in the absence of an intensifier. The ethylenically unsaturated monomer is preferably a carboxylic acid, amido carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid ester, amido carboxylic acid ester, hydroxylated alkyl ester of a carboxylic acid or a hydroxylated amido carboxylic acid ester, sulfonic acid, phosphonic acid or amide as well as mixtures thereof and the alkoxylated sulfate, phosphate or ketonic salt is of the formula: wherein unit R1 is H or a C1-C4 alkyl; R2 is —(CH2CH2—O—)n or (—CH2CHCH3—O—)n or a mixture thereof; n ranges from about 1 to about 100; X is an anionic radical selected from —SO3, —PO3 or —COO or a water soluble cationic moiety which counterbalances the valence of the anionic radical X. |
| US08096353B2 |
Oilfield nanocomposites
An oilfield apparatus includes an oilfield element made of a composite that includes a matrix material; and a plurality of functionalized graphene sheets dispersed in the matrix material. A method of oilfield operation includes selecting an oilfield apparatus having an oilfield element, wherein at least a portion of the oilfield element is made of a composite comprising a plurality of functionalized graphene sheets dispersed in a matrix material; and using the oilfield apparatus in an oilfield operation, thereby exposing the oilfield element to an oilfield environment. A method for modifying a functionalized graphene sheet includes obtaining the functionalized graphene sheet; and subjecting the functionalized graphene sheet to atom transfer radical polymerization to attach polymers on surfaces of the functionalized graphene sheet. The polymers attached to the surfaces of the functional graphene sheet may comprise co-polymers or magnetic particles. |
| US08096347B2 |
Pivotable heat exchanger mounting
A cooler block for an agricultural tractor comprising a cooler assembly mounted on a radiator and coupled to the radiator by upper and lower linkages. The cooler assembly can be moved between a first position in which the cooler assembly lies parallel to the radiator and a second position in which the cooler assembly is inclined relative to the radiator. The cooler assembly is pivotable about a pivot in the upper linkage that is itself movable relative to the radiator. The lower linkage allows the entire cooler assembly to rise and the pivot of the upper linkage to move away from the radiator as the cooler assembly is pivoted from the first to the second position. A detent is incorporated into one of the two linkages to retain the cooler assembly in the second position. |
| US08096339B2 |
Ultrasonic welding tool with fluid drive
An ultrasonic welding tool with fluid drive, wherein the ultrasonic welding tool (2) is connected by way of a piston rod (3) to a working piston (5) which is guided in a housing (4) of the drive, wherein the working piston (5) sub-divides the drive housing (4) into a primary chamber (6) and a secondary chamber (7), wherein each of the chambers is able to communicate by way of a valve (16) with a fluidized pressure source, wherein at least one sensor (18, 19) is provided for detecting a physical property of the fluid drive which sensor emits an actual signal which is in relationship with the physical property detected and which via a control circuit controls the two valves in such a way that the physical property detected follows a reference value profile. |
| US08096328B2 |
Modular tire inflator
A tire inflation apparatus for inflating a tire mounted on a rim comprises an inflation head mounted to a moveable inflation shaft of a head position cylinder and an assist cylinder mounted to a frame member, with the frame member and assist cylinder positioned above the inflation location. The assist cylinder includes a moveable assist shaft operatively connected to the inflation shaft by a moveable cross member whereby the head position cylinder and assist cylinder cooperatively operate to selectively position the inflation head. The inflation head is positioned in a retracted position by vertical upward extension of the assist shaft and positioned in a tire engaging position by vertical downward retraction of the assist shaft. A fluid passage in the inflation shaft may deliver pressurized gas into a tire inflation cavity of the inflation head for inflating a tire when the inflation head is sealed against the tire. |
| US08096322B2 |
Microfluidic device with variable volume material
The invention relates to a microfluidic device comprising a first plate forming the substrate and including at least one perforation and, on either side of said first plate, at several locations, a material for defining passage portions consisting, in at least one of said locations, of an activatable material varying in volume on activation, said material being disposed at said locations in an arrangement that, during a first phase and upon activation of at least one location consisting of said activatable material, transforms it from a first configuration to a second configuration, modifying a three-dimensional network corresponding, in the second configuration and depending on the selected location(s) that are activated in said first phase, to different liquid paths including passage portions in offset planes parallel to the plane of the first plate, at least on either side of said first plate, and between which at least one of said perforations is located. |
| US08096321B2 |
Redundant electrohydraulic valve system
An electrohydraulic valve assembly having an inflow channel, a working channel and an outflow channel, including first and second valves each having a magnetic regulating device for applying a regulated activation force to the respective valve. The valves are arranged in parallel so that either can provide the hydraulic connection between the inflow, working and outflow channels. In the case of error detection, the active valve is deactivated and the until then passive valve is activated and vice-versa. The deactivating of a valve device moves the valve piston to a hydraulic neutral position by means of a second stage. |
| US08096320B2 |
Compact beverage pressure regulator
A pressure regulator includes a body member for regulating pressure of a fluid flowing therein. The body member has one end for receiving the fluid and another end for providing pressure regulated fluid. The pressure regulator has two quick-disconnect devices, each arranged on a respective end of the body member, including a male quick-disconnect device for coupling to a corresponding female quick-disconnect device forming part of a hose or dispenser for providing the fluid or a pump for receiving the pressure regulated fluid; or a female quick-disconnect device for coupling to a corresponding male quick-disconnect device forming part of a hose or dispenser for providing the fluid or a pump for receiving the pressure regulated fluid. |
| US08096319B2 |
Check valve
Check valve includes a housing, a bore, and a movable valve body, which is spring-loaded and rests with a sealing action on a valve seat, where the bore is designed as a stepped bore, where the bore with the smaller diameter has the valve seat, and where the bore with the larger diameter holds the movable valve element. The valve body is designed as a ball, which is guided in the bore by at least two guide ribs, and a retaining element in the terminal area of the bore captures the ball and simultaneously spring-loads it. |
| US08096318B2 |
Valve flap for a plumbing valve
A valve flap for a plumbing valve, includes a body having a first face, a second face, a top and a bottom. A pivotal mounting is provided in the vicinity of the top. A curved lower snake deflecting contact face is provided in the vicinity of the bottom, adapted to facilitate sliding contact with a plumbing snake. This valve flap enables a plumbing snake to be inserted into and withdrawn from the plumbing valve. |
| US08096315B2 |
Double-walled contained shear valve, particularly for fueling environments
A double-walled contained shear valve comprises of an inner housing forming a fuel flow path, and a containment housing surrounding the inner housing, either partially or wholly, to provide a secondary containment. An interstitial space is formed between the inner housing and the containment housing as a result, and may be placed under a vacuum or pressure level to monitor for leaks. A vacuum actuator coupled to the interstitial space automatically opens and closes the fuel flow path of the shear valve in response to the vacuum level in the interstitial space to prevent leaks to the environment. The shear valve may contain a flange for connection to internal fuel dispenser piping that either does or does not includes interstitial space orifices to couple the shear valve interstitial space to the fuel dispenser piping interstitial space to monitor the vacuum or pressure level in these interstitial spaces as one contiguous space. |
| US08096312B2 |
Erectable shelter with three way awning
The erectable shelter includes an awning assembly for a shelter that is removably mounted to two or more adjacent legs of the shelter. The awning assembly is mounted so that it can be moved between a downwardly directed vertical position and an upwardly directed vertical position, and to an intermediate horizontal position between the downwardly directed vertical position and an upwardly directed vertical position, allowing the awning to provide shade and to serve as a holder for signage. |
| US08096311B2 |
Self-erecting tent
A self-erecting tent, provided with at least three resilient frame elements (1, 2, 3) formed into endless loops which stretch a tent covering, with the tent in erected position, while at least two of the frame elements (1, 2) cross adjacent an underside of the tent, at least, with the tent in erected position. |
| US08096310B2 |
Umbrella assembly structured for use in high wind conditions
An umbrella frame structured for use in a strong wind conditions such as those conditions frequently encountered on a boat traveling at relatively high speeds. An umbrella frame assembly includes a reinforcing assembly connected thereto in a supportive, operative orientation thereby providing a stable support for an umbrella canopy which can remain open even during travel of the boat. The frame assembly can be modified to support canopies of varying shapes and sizes and the frame assembly can be easily removed, for storage purposes, from a supporting base which may be mounted on or connected to a boat. |
| US08096306B2 |
Molded plastic mascara brush
A molded plastic mascara brush having an elongated flexible core with multiple bristles projecting radially therefrom, and a shape-sustaining wire extending longitudinally through the core. The wire may be bendable, enabling a desired curvature to be imparted to the brush. Additionally or alternatively, with the core and bristles molded integrally and at least some bristles disposed in rows extending lengthwise of the core, bristles may be spaced around the core at unequal angular distances, and/or bristles of at least one row may decrease progressively in length, and/or bristles may be disposed in tandem zones that differ from each other in bristle density, and/or some bristles may be disposed in rows and others of smaller diameter disposed in clusters. |
| US08096304B2 |
Head positioning aid
A head-positioning aid for treating or preventing plagiocephaly and torticollis is formed of a soft, compliant beanie-style cap. A soft and pliable deflector is attached to the beanie cap and extends downward from near the apex to near the lower edge of the cap. The cap is applied on an infant's head in an orientation to place the deflector at any required position about the circumference of the head. The cap and deflector are united by themed indicia designed to bring family acceptance of the cap to promote acceptance and thereby support long term usage, as may be required. |
| US08096301B2 |
Patient interfaces
The present invention relates to a device for delivering a supply of gases to a patient. The device includes a patient interface and connecting member. The connecting member is preferably a L-shaped swivelled connector that is capable of being fixed into one of two positions, a first position where the connector is freely rotatable within the patient interface, and a second position where an interference between the interface and connector prevents the free rotation of the connector within the patient interface. The present invention further relates to a connector that has outlet means, which includes at least one outlet vent and a funnel, which in use directs and passes a substantial portion gases expired from the patient through the outlet vent or vents. |
| US08096299B2 |
Medical tube including an inflatable cuff having a notched collar
A medical device may include a tubular body configured to communicate gas and an inflatable cuff coupled to the tubular body at least by a collar. The tubular body may include an opening. The collar may include a notch positioned relative to the opening in the tubular body such that a passageway extends through at least a portion of the notch and at least a portion of the opening. |
| US08096295B1 |
Solar panel having polycarbonate sheet covering
A solar panel includes an inlet manifold, an outlet manifold spaced apart from the inlet manifold, and a plurality of pipes having a first end in open fluid communication with the inlet manifold and a second end in open fluid communication with the outlet manifold. A box-shaped cover formed of a polycarbonate material is disposed in ensleeving relation to the plurality of pipes. The box-shaped cover has a length at least slightly less than the distance between the inlet and outlet manifolds so that opposite ends of pipes in the plurality of pipes are exposed to ambient. The cover substantially prevents ventilation of the plurality of pipes and thus allows water temperatures in the panel to rise higher than possible in the absence of such cover. The exposure of the opposite ends of the pipes to ambient prevents water temperatures in the panel from exceeding a predetermined temperature. |
| US08096291B2 |
Supercharged tube of a vehicle air intake structure
A supercharged tube of the vehicle air intake structure includes a body including first and second channels radially provided on two side walls thereof respectively. The first and second channels communicate with each other, with the first and second channels serving to communicate with an air pipe system of a brake booster and an intake manifold individually. The body is axially provided with a third channel communicating with an exterior. The third channel receives a tubular member with two ends, with one end including a first filter and another end including a second filter. The first and second filters include first and second mesh layers formed on outer end surfaces thereof individually. The first and second mesh layers are axially mounted in plural first and second passages individually, with inner diameters of the first and second passages being gradually reduced from outside to inside of the first and second mesh layers. |
| US08096289B2 |
Apparatus and method for separating air compressor supply port from the EGR gas
Separation of an air compression supply port from exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in internal combustion engines. In one aspect, an air intake connector includes an entry port for an EGR gas, and an air intake elbow is connected to the air intake connector, the elbow receiving air. The elbow includes a first passage for routing a first portion of the air to the air intake connector to be mixed with the EGR gas, and a second passage for routing a second portion of the air to the air intake connector and out an exit port to an air compressor. The second passage is attached to the elbow and extends through a bend in the elbow. |
| US08096288B2 |
High efficiency supercharger outlet
A supercharger is provided that includes a housing having a first end and a second end. The housing may at least partially define a chamber and may include at least one rotor disposed within the chamber. The supercharger includes an inlet port proximate the first end of the housing and an outlet port proximate the second end of the housing. The supercharger further includes a relief chamber in fluid communication with the chamber. In an embodiment, the relief chamber may extend in the axial direction and may have a depth in the axial direction that is equal to at least about 10% of the axial length of the rotor. |
| US08096287B2 |
Fuel cooler
A liquid fuel cooling system includes an intake line, a heat exchanger, an exhaust fine, a fuel pump, and an amount of frozen carbon dioxide. The intake line connects the heat exchanger to a fuel source, and the exhaust line connects the heat exchanger to a fuel destination. The fuel pump moves fuel from the fuel source, through the intake line, through the heat exchanger, through the exhaust line, and to the fuel destination. The frozen carbon dioxide is disposed against at least a portion of the heat exchanger to draw heat away from the fuel. Optionally, a system can include dual heat exchanger connected via a bridge line, with the frozen carbon dioxide being disposed there between. |
| US08096284B2 |
Method for determining a rail pressure setpoint value
In a method for determining a rail pressure setpoint value for a high-pressure rail of an internal combustion engine, the rail pressure setpoint value is modified to a maximum degree using a maximum gradient for changing the rail pressure setpoint value, and the maximum gradient is read from a characteristics map as a function of operating parameters of the internal combustion engine. The operating parameters include an engaged gear of a gear-change transmission. |
| US08096283B2 |
Method and system for controlling fuel usage
Methods and systems are provided for improving fluid usage while addressing knock by adjusting the use of spark retard and direct injection of a fluid based on engine operating conditions and the composition of the injected fluid. One or more engine parameters, such as EGR, VCT, boost, throttle position, are coordinated with the direct injection to reduce torque and EGR transients. |
| US08096281B2 |
Diesel engine having a system for variable control of the intake valves and internal exhaust-gas recirculation
A supercharged diesel engine is equipped with an electronically controlled hydraulic system for variable actuation of the intake valves of the engine. The cam that controls each intake valve has an additional lobe for causing an additional opening of the intake valve, during the exhaust stroke, so as to provide an exhaust-gas recirculation directly inside the engine. Said additional lobe is shaped in such a way as to give rise to a profile of the additional lift of the valve as the crank angle varies with a boot conformation, including an initial stretch with a gentler slope extending from a point of zero lift corresponding to the expansion stroke in the engine cylinder. The engine is moreover equipped with a duct for exhaust-gas recirculation of the long-route type, which picks up the gases from a point of the exhaust duct set downstream of the catalytic converter and of the particulate trap. |
| US08096280B2 |
Fuel injection system and fuel injector with improved spray generation
The present invention relates to a fuel injection system for a combustion engine. The system comprises a source of fuel, an injector and a means for delivering pressurized fuel strokes to said injector, said injector being arranged for generating at least two fuel jets with different jet parameters at closely adjacent locations and having directions such that the jets interact with each other along a surface interface therebetween so as to generate a fine spray. The jet breakup time is shortened and the droplet size is substantially reduced. |
| US08096278B2 |
Compensation shaft of an internal combustion engine
A compensation shaft for a multi-cylinder engine comprising at least three bearing pegs (1a, 1b, 2b) and unbalanced masses (3a, 3b, 3c) arranged respectively in a region of each bearing peg (1a, 1b, 2), wherein at least one of the bearing pegs (1a; 1b; 2) as mounting element possesses an enhanced mounting lash “s”, so that this bearing peg participates in the mounting of the compensation shaft only after a pre-defined flexion of the compensation shaft has taken place. |
| US08096277B2 |
Intake manifold for an internal combustion engine provided with metallic reinforcement brackets for fastening the fuel common rail
An intake manifold for an internal combustion engine comprising an engine head in which there are obtained a number of cylinders; the intake manifold comprises a central body, wherein there are obtained an intake chamber which receives the intake air and a number of conduits each of which connects the chamber to a corresponding cylinder of the internal combustion engine; first passage through holes obtained in the central body for fastening the intake manifold to the engine head by means of first fastening screws screwed into the engine head; a common rail which receives the pressurized fuel and is connected to a number of injectors, each of which injects the fuel into a corresponding cylinder; second blank threaded fastening holes obtained in the central body for fastening the common rail to the central body itself by means of the second fastening screws screwed into the central body and, for each second fastening hole, a metallic reinforcement bracket, which presents a first assembly through hole arranged over and coaxially to a corresponding first fastening hole in order to be locked onto the central body by the corresponding first fastening screw and a second assembly through hole arranged over and coaxially to a corresponding second fastening hole in order to be locked onto the central body of the corresponding second fastening screw. |
| US08096276B2 |
Plasma ignition device
A plasma power supply circuit includes a DC/DC converter connected to a DC power supply and outputting a DC voltage, a voltage limit circuit limiting an output voltage from the DC/DC converter to a predetermined value, a PJ capacitor connected to an output end of the DC/DC converter and charged with electric energy used to generate a plasma in a discharge space of the spark plug, and a high-voltage switch connected between the PJ capacitor and the DC/DC converter and controlled to switch ON and OFF so that a charge period of the PJ capacitor is controlled according to running conditions of the internal combustion engine. Hence, the plasma ignition device can prevent damage on an electronic component incorporated therein even at the occurrence of a short and lessen damage on the internal combustion engine caused by an erroneous plasma jet ejection, wearing of the spark plug, and power consumption. |
| US08096273B2 |
Electromagnet mounting and control system for a variable camshaft phaser containing magneto-rheological fluid
A magneto-rheological fluid controlled camshaft phaser is provided having a stator with inwardly directed projections which define working spaces therebetween. The stator is adapted to be connected to the crankshaft via a timing gear and chain. A rotor is located radially inside the stator and is connected to the camshaft. Rotor lugs extend radially outwardly from the rotor into the working spaces, dividing them into first and second chambers on each side of the rotor lugs. A magneto-rheological fluid is located in the chambers, and the chambers on each side of each rotor lug are connected via a clearance space between the radially outer surface of the lugs and the inner surface of the stator located between the projections. The rotor is connected to the camshaft. An electromagnetic assembly is mounted adjacent to the stator and includes at least one electromagnet along with at least one ferrous focusing piece. In one embodiment, a plurality of the electromagnets are axially spaced apart from the working chambers holding the magneto-rheological fluid. In another embodiment the electromagnetic is formed by a coil which is radially spaced apart from the working chambers holding the magneto-rheological fluid. In each case, the magnetic field is passed from the electromagnet(s) and the ferrous focusing piece(s) into the phaser via a small air gap spacing between the electromagnet assembly and the moving camshaft phaser. |
| US08096272B2 |
Variable valve device for engine
A variable valve device, which is capable of automatically canceling a deviation in the relationship between the rotation angle of a control shaft and the lift degree generated because of the disassembling and assembling of an engine, includes a target lift degree calculator that calculates a target lift degree, a motor driver that drives a brushless DC motor that rotates the control shaft until the lift degree reaches the target lift degree, and an automatic deviation canceller that automatically cancels the deviation. More specifically, the magnetic pole pulse pattern of the motor before the engine starts is obtained and it is determined whether the pattern match magnetic pole pulse pattern stored before the engine stops. If they do not match, an idle lift degree is set, the idle lift degree is changed so that the engine speed is within the tolerance range of an idle engine speed, the rotation angle for the idle portion is subtracted from the obtained angle of the control shaft and a reference angle is updated by the difference. |
| US08096268B2 |
Municipal solid waste fuel steam generator with waterwall furnace platens
A steam generator includes a furnace configured and adapted to generate a stream of furnace exit gases from the combustion of municipal solid waste fuel. At least one superheater is disposed within an upper portion of the furnace or backpass. The superheater is configured and adapted to superheat fluids within the superheater by facilitating heat transfer between fluids within the superheater and furnace exit gases outside the superheater. At least one waterwall furnace platen is disposed within the furnace upstream from the superheater, the waterwall furnace platen is configured and adapted to lower furnace exit gas temperature at the superheater by facilitating heat transfer between fluids within the waterwall furnace platen and furnace exit gases outside the waterwall furnace platen. |
| US08096257B2 |
Emergency encapsulated lift system
A buoyancy lift system having an inflatable bladder with a tether stowed inside a canister secured to a vessel. A sealing member is slidably received within canister and secures to the inflatable bladder. Pressurized gas forces the sealing member and bladder outwardly of the canister. A stop prevents the sealing member from escaping the canister such that the sealing member creates a seal between itself and the canister at an outboard end of the canister. Pressurized gas is forced through a channel in the sealing member into the bladder to increase the displacement of a vessel. |
| US08096252B2 |
Ship hull structure and a method of operating the ship
A ship hull structure includes a main hull and a movable rearbody having an engine and a propeller. The movable rearbody is located at a lower side of a stern of the main hull, connected with an aft of the main hull to form an integral unit by a hinge linking device allowing the rearbody to pivot up and down. By a block, a crane or a winch and through a chain or a hanging wire, a pivoting angle of the movable rearbody with respect to the main hull can be adjusted and controlled. A bottom of the hull can be provided with at least one, usually plural, air cushion recess, which is filled with pressurized air to reduce a viscous force between a bottom of the ship and water. |
| US08096249B2 |
Rotary hook drive device and multi-head sewing machine
Rotary hook drive device for a sewing machine includes: a rotary hook rotatably provided on a rotary hook support; a cylindrical grooved cam provided on a drive shaft drivable to rotate in one direction; a cam follower engaged in a cam groove of the cylindrical grooved cam and capable of making reciprocative movement about a support shaft in response to rotation of the cylindrical grooved cam; and a transmission mechanism that transmits the reciprocative movement of the cam follower to the rotary hook to cause the rotary hook to make reciprocative pivoting movement. Such arrangements can prevent deviation in driving timing of the rotary hook and simplify the construction of the rotary hook drive device. |
| US08096246B2 |
Modular folding table
The modular folding table includes a collapsible truss framework that supports a folding table top and a folding utility shelf, and includes legs that can be connected horizontally or vertically to the legs of one or more similar modular folding tables, to provide desired table and shelf space with a structure that is foldable, strong and stable. |
| US08096244B1 |
Modular conference table
A modular table and method of assembly comprises a first table having a first table top and a pair of first support legs at opposite end regions of the first table top and a second table having a second table top and a pair of second support legs. The second support legs are adjustably mounted at the second table top and are adjustable relative to the second table top between a support orientation, in which the second support legs support the second table top in a free-standing manner, and a non-support orientation, in which the second support legs do not substantially support the second table top in a free-standing manner. The second table is configured to be secured to the first table when the tables are adjacent to one another. The second support legs are adjustable to the second orientation when the second table is secured to the first table. |
| US08096240B2 |
Method for handling printing plates
Exposed printing plates are bent in the area of a bending device to form a leading end and a trailing end. Each exposed and bent printing plate is grasped in the area of the bending device at the leading end or at the trailing end of the printing plate by means of a gripping bar and transferred together with the gripping bar to a transporting device. The transporting device transports the printing plate together with the gripping bar toward a printing press, where the printing plate is removed together with the gripping bar from the transporting device in the area of the printing press. While grasped by the gripping bar, the plate is transferred to a form cylinder of a printing mechanism of the printing press. |
| US08096239B2 |
Registering printing sleeve segments
A printing sleeve (10) has a first printing sleeve portion (10A) with a first and a second end. At least one of the ends of the first printing sleeve portion has a plurality of projections (16) and notches (18). A second printing sleeve portion (10B) has a first and second end, and least one of the ends has a plurality of projections and notches. The plurality of projections and notches of the first printing sleeve portion interlocks with the plurality of projections and notches of the second printing sleeve portion. |
| US08096235B2 |
Solar-powered waste compactor, method of powering a waste compactor, and hydraulic unit therefor
A hydraulic power device usable to power a compactor ram of a waste compactor is provided. The hydraulic power device includes a pump assembly having first and second pumps for providing pressurized hydraulic fluid to at least one hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly associated with the compactor ram. A battery is provided for storing energy and for providing energy to the pump assembly. A solar panel converts solar energy and charges the battery. A pump control unit simultaneously operates the pumps when an operating pressure of the pump assembly is less than a predetermined threshold and operates only the first pump when the operating pressure of the pump assembly is greater than the predetermined threshold. |
| US08096234B2 |
Apparatus and method for wood mulch bales
The present subject matter provides methods and apparatus for packaging wood mulch. Examples include a wood mulch bale produced using a method comprising compressing wood mulch at a pressure of between 12,000 pounds and 60,000 pounds to form a volume of compressed wood mulch and disposing a band about the compressed volume of wood mulch, wherein the compressed volume of wood mulch is between about 3000 cubic inches and about 5400 cubic inches. Other variations are provided herein. |
| US08096233B2 |
Servo press line operation method and servo press line operation control device
A servo press line operation control device includes a normal press operation control section, a normal transfer operation control section, an upward movement step delay determination section, a downstream-side transfer step delay correction control section, an upstream-side transfer step delay determination section, a slide downward movement step delay correction control section, and the like. The servo press line operation control device performs a normal press operation that adjusts a slide position to a target slide position based on slide motion information, performs a normal transfer operation that adjusts a transfer position to a target transfer position based on transfer motion information, performs a correction that delays a transfer step of a downstream-side servo transfer device as compared with the normal transfer operation when a slide upward movement step is in a delayed state, and performs a correction that delays a slide downward movement step of a servo press as compared with the normal press operation when an upstream-side transfer step is in the delayed state. |
| US08096225B1 |
Armored cab for vehicles
An armored cab having at least an upper wall, two side walls, a front wall, a back wall, and a bottom wall. The armored cab and its respective walls include a longitudinal axis extending from the back wall to the front wall. The bottom wall includes at least one concave surface. The at least one concave surface faces downwardly and away from the armored cab, and is disposed in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the armored cab. |
| US08096224B2 |
Composite armor including geometric elements for attenuating shock waves
The present invention's stratified composite material system of armor, as typically embodied, comprises a strike stratum and a backing stratum. The strike stratum includes elastomeric matrix material and inventive ceramic-inclusive elements embedded therein and arranged (e.g., in one or more rows and one or more columns) along a geometric plane corresponding to the front (initial strike) surface of the strike stratum. More rigid than the strike stratum, the backing stratum is constituted by, e.g., metallic (metal or metal alloy) material or fiber-reinforced polymeric matrix material. Some inventive embodiments also comprise a spall-containment stratum fronting the strike stratum. The inventive ceramic-inclusive elements geometrically describe any of various inventive modes, including: first mode, having a flat front face and a textured back face; second mode, having a pyramidal front section and a prismatoidal (especially, prismoidal, e.g., truncated pyramidal or prismatic) body section; hybrid mode, combining features of first and second modes. |
| US08096222B2 |
Asymmetric firearm silencer with coaxial elements
The present invention relates to a silencer for reducing muzzle blast and noise of firearms or similar devices. The present silencer has a hollow cylindrical or other shape casing comprising front and rear end caps and an opening aligned along a longitudinal axis defining a passage for a projectile and propellant gases to emerge from the muzzle opening. A plurality of serially placed baffles of symmetrical or slanted orientation and intervening coaxial spacers are positioned within the casing and define a multitude of chambers among the baffles, spacers, and outer housing. The baffles shear propellant gases away from the projectile path and through openings or ports into additional chambers formed between the spacers and outer housing. The arrangement of baffles and spacers provides flow-impeding paths, dispersion, and controlled expansion of gases and lowers gas temperature to reduce audible noise and observable signature of the muzzle blast. |
| US08096220B2 |
Modular table saw guarding system upper guard barrier
Embodiments are directed to a modular saw guard system for a power saw having a top and a vertically adjustable blade, the system comprises a riving knife mechanism, a blade guard mechanism that is releasably mounted to the riving knife mechanism when the riving knife mechanism is at least in its extended position, the blade guard mechanism generally covering the blade and being adjustable to enable a work piece to be moved into cutting position by the blade and a kickback prevention mechanism that is releasably mounted to the riving knife mechanism when the riving knife mechanism is at least in its extended position, the kickback prevention mechanism being configured to engage a work piece as it is being cut by the blade and apply resistance to prevent the work piece from being expelled in the reverse direction. |
| US08096219B2 |
Apparatus for conveying a workpiece to make a straight-line cut
This invention is a work carriage used with a cutting tool's table surface to make straight-line cuts. The device responds to the need for cutting a wide range of angles and positions on workpieces of different sizes and shapes more accurately, consistently, and safely. The invention consists of a main support which rides on a slide attached to the table surface's guide slot using a wedging action to fill the width of the guide slot. Clamps hold the workpiece to the main support along a t-shaped channel. Once set up, the main support moves precisely along the slide parallel to the guide slot and cutting plane. The main support also has threaded holes to attach workpiece stops and a fence, as needed, for making consistent cuts. A secondary support is used to provide the necessary support with a larger workpiece that has a center of mass beyond the main support. |
| US08096218B2 |
Device for mincing food
A device for cutting food includes a slide operable to receive a food product that is slid across the slide so as to perform a cutting procedure. A cutting blade including a cutting edge is included. A switch is included operable to switch the device from a neutral position in which the cutting edge is at least one of covered and recessed, to a cutting position in which the cutting edge is neither covered nor recessed. |
| US08096214B2 |
Ratcheting head with internal self-locking adapter related applications
A ratcheting assembly for a tool comprising a housing, a gear supported by a hollow shaft located in the housing and a pawl to engage the gear. A ring in contact with the housing allows adjustment of the ratcheting assembly. The assembly can the releasably lock the tool within the ratcheting assembly by way of a locking mechanism located within the shaft. The assembly further has a compressible collar that will be used to release the tool from the ratcheting assembly. |
| US08096212B2 |
Two-section tool joint
A two-section tool joint comprises a first rod, an engaging element, a second rod and a limiting element. The two-section tool joint utilizes an elastic engaging structure to obtain an engaging effect during a multi-angle screwing/unscrewing operation, meanwhile, the tool joint can be fixed stably, avoiding the retraction of the tool joint and reducing the difficulty and inconvenience of the screwing/unscrewing operation. |
| US08096200B2 |
Tractor
In a tractor which detachably mounts a PTO portion on a transmission portion, a PTO clutch mechanism is arranged in the inside of the PTO portion. Accordingly, a specification which includes the PTO clutch mechanism or a specification which includes no PTO clutch mechanism is selectable depending on whether the PTO clutch mechanism is preliminarily assembled in the PTO portion or not, in a stage at which the PTO portion is assembled. It is also later possible to easily complete assembly by merely mounting the PTO portion on the transmission portion. Further, by reversing the assembly steps, it is possible to easily perform maintenance of the PTO clutch mechanism or other related components. |
| US08096197B2 |
Air displacement liquid delivery system and related method
An air displacement liquid delivery system including a liquid delivery device, one or more sensors, a control unit, and a preprogrammable computing device, and a method for using the air displacement liquid delivery system. The one or more sensors are capable of obtaining information regarding conditions within and external to the liquid delivery device and sending this information to the control unit and/or the computing device. In turn, the control unit and/or computing device are capable of using this information to calculate one or more properties of gas contained within, and the air external to, the liquid delivery device, and one or more properties of a liquid that is to be aspirated or dispensed by the liquid delivery device. The system may optimally control the performance of the liquid delivery device based upon any one or more of these calculated properties. |
| US08096195B2 |
Method of determining tension in a rod
A method of determining the tension in an elongated rod is described. The method includes impacting the rod and measuring the vibration response of the rod. Further, the method entails generating a theoretical vibration response of the rod based in part at least on the structural properties of the rod. Thereafter, the method entails adjusting the theoretical vibration response to cause the theoretical vibration response to conform with at least a portion of the measured vibration response. Based on the adjusted theoretical vibration response, the tension of the rod is determined. |
| US08096194B2 |
Transducer for measuring preload and torque of a screw and apparatus therewith
A measuring apparatus (10) comprises a transducer (11) for measuring preload and torque of a screw. The transducer in turn comprises a first and second sensor element formed by two axially spaced annular zones (16, 17) of a hollow body (15) which are provided with respective load-cell sensors (18, 19). The two zones are separated by an annular zone (20) of the hollow body with a wall with a greater thickness and in which internally there is provided a non-rotating coupling seat (21) with the threaded-hole element (22) in a part of which the screw is tightened. |
| US08096193B2 |
Turbine flow meter having easily removable meter cartridge
A turbine flow meter comprises a flow pipe which includes an axial through bore and a meter cartridge which is positioned in the through bore. The meter cartridge includes a tubular cartridge housing through which a fluid to be measured is directed and a rotor which is rotatably supported in the cartridge housing. The cartridge housing is slidably received in a first portion of the through bore and comprises an outer diameter which is less than the diameter of that portion of the through bore. The meter cartridge is retained in the through bore by a retainer, which in turn is retained in the through bore by a ring seal. |
| US08096192B2 |
Flowmeter
A flowmeter of Coriolis type includes a supporting base that supports a pair of fluid pipes in a manner capable of being vibrated, and a frame fixed to the supporting base. The frame is integrally formed with a mounting portion disposed between the fluid pipes and having a thickness that does not interfere with the fluid pipes, a reinforcing portion disposed at the outer circumference of the mounting portion and enhancing the rigidity of the mounting portion, and a fixing portion for being fixed to the supporting base. The reinforcing portion has an outer wall portion that protrudes at least to one side of the thickness direction of the mounting portion, and substantially continuously surrounds the outer circumference of the fluid pipes. Penetrating portions for disposing the coils corresponding to respective magnetic substances mounted on the fluid pipe are formed in the mounting portion. |
| US08096191B2 |
Mechanical test fixture with submicron tolerance
The mechanical test apparatus is a fixture utilizing capacitive gauge sensors, located in close proximity to a test specimen, to measure strain in miniature specimens. The upper collar is connected to the upper bolt which is connected to the cross head of the mechanical test machine and the lower collar is attached to the lower bolt which is attached to the load cell. The collars contain conductive target plates and capacitive gauge sensors oriented to form the two plate electrodes of a capacitor. These plates are precisely positioned and move as a mechanical test is performed. The measured voltage is proportional to the distance between the plates, thus allowing the strain to be calculated. The system can be configured to perform tensile, compression, and bending tests at submicron tolerances. |
| US08096189B2 |
Physical quantity sensor and method for manufacturing the same
A physical quantity sensor includes two substrates and a movable electrode that is disposed between the two substrates and is bonded to the two substrates. In the physical quantity sensor, the movable electrode has an elastically deformable diaphragm and one of the two substrates is an electrode substrate having a detection electrode on a detection surface opposite to the diaphragm to detect capacitance between the diaphragm and the detection electrode. In the physical quantity sensor, in a range between a room temperature and a bonding temperature when the two substrates and the movable electrode are bonded, coefficients of thermal expansion of the two substrates are smaller than that of the movable electrode and in a temperature range where the physical quantity sensor is used, a coefficient of thermal expansion of the movable electrode is between a first and second substrates. |
| US08096184B2 |
Turbine blade for monitoring blade vibration
The claimed invention provides a blade vibration measuring system comprising a blade, a transmitter, a target with non parallel edges located on the blade shroud and a receiver. The present invention also provides a blade adapted for measuring blade vibration. Furthermore, the claimed invention provides a method for monitoring blade vibration. |
| US08096183B2 |
Method and ultrasonic sensor for determining the height of objects disposed on a conveying device
The present invention relates to a method for determining the height of objects disposed on a conveying device, in which an ultrasonic sensor positioned in a specific relationship to the conveying device repetitively transmits ultrasonic pulses directed toward the conveying device and any objects disposed thereon to be detected, wherein the ultrasonic pulses are then reflected from a surface of the conveying device or from surfaces of the objects to be detected and are detected by the ultrasonic sensor, wherein from the moments of transmission and moments of detection of the ultrasonic pulses, delay times of the ultrasonic pulses are determined and the height of an object surface relative to the surface of the conveying device is determined from the delay times of the ultrasonic pulses reflected from a surface of an object. The method is characterized in that the delay time of the ultrasonic pulses reflected from the surface of the conveying device is stored as a reference value, that when there is an increase in the measured delay time from a lower to a higher value, the higher value is stored and used as a new reference value, that when there is a decrease in the measured delay time from a higher to a lower value, the lower value is interpreted as the delay time value of ultrasonic pulses reflected from an object surface, and that the height of the object surface relative to the surface of the conveying device is determined from a difference between the most recently stored reference value and a delay time value relevant to an object surface. The invention also relates to an ultrasonic sensor. |
| US08096177B2 |
Fuel inventory monitoring system
An ultrasonic-based apparatus and method for fuel inventory measurements and for the detection and characterization of materials in a fuel tank, including sludge, water, microorganisms and materials of different viscosities and densities that are present in the tank, presented in an easy-to-interpret picture display that can be remotely located from the tank. |
| US08096171B2 |
Diagnostic method for an internal combustion engine exhaust gas system that includes a particle filter
In a method for the diagnostics of an internal combustion engine exhaust gas system that includes a particle filter, first and second sets of value vectors are determined, each including associated values for absolute pressure upstream and downstream of the particle filter, a differential pressure determined from the values of the absolute pressure, an exhaust gas volume flow through the particle filter, and a temperature of the exhaust gas volume flow. After a temperature-standardization of the pressure values, characteristics for dependence of the pressure values are generated from temperature-standardized values of the first set of value vectors and possibly stored as reference characteristics. By comparing temperature-standardized values for the absolute pressure on the inlet and outlet sides of the particle filter and the differential pressure of the second set of value vectors with reference characteristics, flow anomalies can be determined in the exhaust gas system. |
| US08096164B2 |
Apparatus and methods for management of fluid condition
A method is provided for invoking condition monitoring and predicting parametric equipment and lube condition among a plurality of machines; relying on individual or multiple machine and or lube combinations; comprising establishing a based routine accepting information from multiple sources to simultaneously calculate and compare measured and projected conditions relative to parameters selected to be critical; including multiple condition monitoring techniques like: lube analysis, vibration analysis, thermography, ultrasound and equipment lube monitoring techniques whereas parameters monitored are variables and a specific parametric value represents condition or a group of variables together represents a condition; said variables are not to be confused with attribute data indicating pass/fail without identifying a specific parametric value. The process outputs the specific parameter and days to exceed specified condemning limit for each combination of equipment and lube selected. |
| US08096163B2 |
Verifying the calibration status of an optical tracking system
The invention relates to a method for verifying the calibration status of an optical tracking system (1), wherein: a calibration apparatus (20, 40), which comprises a tracking marker configuration (27, 28; 41, 42), is moved to within the detection range of the tracking system (1); the tracking markers (27, 28; 41, 42) of the calibration apparatus (20, 40) are detected by the tracking system; the arrangement of the tracking markers (27, 28; 41, 42) is changed and/or moved into a state such that the tracking system (1) experiences a detection problem; the arrangement of the tracking markers (27, 28; 41, 42) which causes the detection problem is gauged and/or a range of arrangements for the tracking markers (27, 28; 41, 42) which causes the detection problem is gauged; and the tracking system (1) is determined to have a calibration error when the gauged arrangement and/or range of arrangements does not have a predetermined value or is not within a predetermined range of values. It also relates to a device for verifying the calibration status of an optical tracking system (1). |
| US08096162B2 |
Hydraulic processing pincers
The invention relates to a novel design of hydraulic processing pincers for processing workpieces, with a tool which, in a first tool part, has an axially displaceable tool plunger which, with a first end or with a tool provided there and an opposite work rest, forms a working region or a working gap and can be moved with the first end towards and away from the work rest, and made up of a hydraulic actuating device for applying a force to the tool plunger via a movable pressure-transmitting element, said force moving said tool plunger in the direction of the work rest. The piston and/or the piston rod are/is designed with a cavity in which the tool plunger is accommodated in its initial position at least over part of its length. |
| US08096159B2 |
Apparatus and method for supplying lubricant in endless hot rolling equipment
A lubricant supply apparatus for endless hot rolling equipment includes a width-detecting sensor for detecting widths of steel sheets continuously supplied toward a roller, a controller connected to the width-detecting sensor, a lubricant pump connected to and controlled by the controller to supply a lubricant to a lubricant line, solenoid valves disposed on sub lines formed by dividing the lubricant line and controlled by the controller to supply or cut off the lubricant, a water pump connected to and controlled by the controller to supply water to a water line, mixers for mixing the lubricant and the water supplied to the water line for each of the sub lines, and nozzles connected respectively to the mixers and disposed according to a width of the roller so as to spray a mixture onto the roller according to the widths of the steel sheets. |
| US08096158B2 |
Sampling apparatus and method
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for cropping the ends of or for separating test pieces from rolled strip wound into bundles. An apparatus is disclosed which, by means of an outwardly pivotable bottom roller (2) and guide devices (5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14) for guiding the strip end to the shears, also makes it possible to process strips which are thicker or of greater firmness and are wound into bundles (10). Furthermore, a method is specified, which allows a reliable sampling and, if appropriate, inspection of the sample from strips wound into bundles, a closed bundle being obtained again after sampling. |
| US08096156B2 |
Forming of metal container bodies
Apparatus and method for forming (e.g. die necking) open ends of open-ended metal container bodies. An exemplary embodiment provides a number of movable holders for container bodies that move the container bodies along a path extending through the apparatus. A motor advances the holders and container bodies along the path in steps with pauses between each step. Each step advances one or more container bodies (and preferably two or more). One or more groups of work stations positioned adjacent to the path provides tool sets for carrying out a forming operation on one (and preferably two or more) container bodies simultaneously. Individual container bodies, or more preferably groups of two or more, are subjected to one or more forming operations during passage along the path (preferably the periphery of one or more star wheels). |
| US08096150B2 |
Padlocks for holding and securing zipper pulls
By providing two separate and independent locking system formed in a single padlock construction which is employed for securely holding and locking zipper pull tabs, an effective, easily produced, padlock is achieved which is responsive to both a combination controlled locking system and a key controlled locking system for independently enabling the zipper pull tabs to be released and/or lockingly engaged in response to the activation of either locking system. In the present invention, an easily assembled, compact, highly efficient dual mode, zipper pull locking system is achieved by employing a pair of spring biased locking latch members which are constructed for being inserted in the apertures formed in each of the conventional zipper pulls/tabs employed on luggage, briefcases, and the like. |
| US08096147B2 |
Methods to fabricate a photoactive substrate suitable for shaped glass structures
This invention provides an inexpensive and rapid method for fabricating a high-anisotropic-etch ratio, shaped glass structures using a novel photosensitive glass composition. Structures of the photosensitive glass may include micro-channels, micro-optics, microposts, or arrays of hollow micro-needles. Furthermore, such shaped glass structures can be used to form a negative mold for casting the shape in other materials. |
| US08096145B2 |
Precious stone ring
A jewelry element, in particular a precious stone ring, including a magnetic device to cause the jewelry element to float with respect to the jewelry element base. |
| US08096142B2 |
Water spillage management for in the door ice maker
A refrigerator freezer having an ice maker positioned on a refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment door. The ice maker is arranged to prevent or manage spills from the ice maker in the event the door on which the ice maker is mounted is opened or closed when unfrozen water is present in the ice maker. Spill management embodiments for a number of fixed and movable tray ice makers are disclosed. |
| US08096140B2 |
Adaptive real-time optimization control
A system for regulating the amount of outdoor air that is introduced into a building determines characteristics of the outdoor air using sensor inputs. The system uses extremum seeking control logic to vary the flow of outdoor air provided into the building in response to the cooling load determinations. |
| US08096139B2 |
Refrigerant system with variable speed drive
A refrigerant system (10, 100, 200) is provided with a power control system (30, 130, 230). The power control system adjusts the speed of the motors driving the refrigerant system components such as a compressor, a fan or a pump via a variable speed device (75, 175, 275) or bypasses the variable speed device (75, 175, 275) for normal operating speeds. A single power control system may be provided for the entire refrigerant system or each component may be independently controlled. |
| US08096133B2 |
Method and apparatus for cooling and dilution tuning a gas turbine combustor liner and transition piece interface
A combustor liner includes a forward end and an aft end, the aft end having a reduced diameter portion and a cooling and dilution sleeve overlying the reduced diameter portion thereby establishing a cooling plenum therebetween. A plurality of cooling and dilution air entry holes are formed in the cooling and dilution sleeve and a plurality of cooling and dilution air exit holes formed adjacent an aft edge of the liner such that, in use, cooling and dilution air flows through the cooling and dilution air entry holes, and through the plenum, exiting the cooling and dilution air exit holes, thereby cooling and dilution tuning the aft end of the combustor liner without having to remove the transition piece. |
| US08096132B2 |
Air-cooled swirlerhead
A combustor for a gas turbine engine is disclosed which is able to operate with high combustion efficiency, and low nitrous oxide emissions during gas turbine operations. The combustor consists of a can-type configuration which combusts fuel premixed with air and delivers the hot gases to a turbine. Fuel is premixed with air through a swirler and is delivered to the combustor with a high degree of swirl motion about a central axis. This swirling mixture of reactants is conveyed downstream through a flow path that expands; the mixture reacts, and establishes an upstream central recirculation flow along the central axis. A cooling assembly is located on the swirler co-linear with the central axis in which cooler air is conveyed into the prechamber between the recirculation flow and the swirler surface. |
| US08096128B2 |
Heat engine and heat to electricity systems and methods
A waste heat recovery system, method and device executes a thermodynamic cycle using a working fluid in a working fluid circuit which has a high pressure side and a low pressure side. Components of the system in the working fluid circuit include a waste heat exchanger in thermal communication with a waste heat source also connected to the working fluid circuit, whereby thermal energy is transferred from the waste heat source to the working fluid in the working fluid circuit, an expander located between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit, the expander operative to convert a pressure/enthalpy drop in the working fluid to mechanical energy, a recuperator in the working fluid circuit operative to transfer thermal energy between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit, a cooler in thermal communication with the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit operative to control temperature of the working fluid in the low side of the working fluid circuit, a pump in the working fluid circuit and connected to the low pressure side and to the high pressure side of the working fluid circuit and operative to move the working fluid through the working fluid circuit, and a mass management system connected to the working fluid circuit, the mass management system, method and device having a working fluid vessel connected to the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit and configured to passively control an amount of working fluid mass in the working fluid circuit. |
| US08096124B2 |
Exhaust system having parallel asymmetric turbochargers and EGR
An exhaust system for a use with a combustion engine is provided. The exhaust system may have a first exhaust manifold configured to receive exhaust from the engine, and at least one turbocharger driven by exhaust from the first exhaust manifold. The exhaust system may also have a second exhaust manifold configured to receive exhaust from the engine in parallel with the first exhaust manifold, and at least two turbochargers driven by exhaust from the second exhaust manifold. The exhaust manifold may further have an exhaust gas recirculation circuit in fluid communication with only the first exhaust manifold. A number of turbochargers that receives exhaust from the first exhaust manifold may be less than a number of turbochargers that receives exhaust from the second exhaust manifold. |
| US08096118B2 |
Engine for utilizing thermal energy to generate electricity
Disclosed are systems and methods for generating power. The system includes a sealed chamber, a displacer located inside the chamber, a magnetic mechanism to actuate the displacer, and a linear alternator. The chamber includes a first side, a first top surface, and a first bottom surface, the first side located adjacent to a heat source and the second side adjacent to a heat sink. The displacer includes a pivot surface, a rocker, or a slide, and may include a regenerator. |
| US08096116B2 |
Mooring of multiple arrays of buoy-like WECs
For reducing the number of anchors required for mooring a plurality of WECs in a body of water, the WECs are arrayed in two patterns enabling the sharing of anchors among the WECs. One pattern comprises pluralities of WECs disposed in polygonal shaped cells with an anchor disposed beneath each cell connected to all the WECs in the cell. A second pattern comprises a tessellated pattern of contiguous cells with WECs at the interface between contiguous pairs of cells being common to both cells of the pairs. |
| US08096114B2 |
Catalyst arrangement construction of motorcycle
An engine has a crankcase, and a cylinder which extends from an upper portion of the crankcase toward a front side. In a space which is formed at an upper side of a horizontal plane which substantially horizontally extends from a bottom surface of the crankcase, a catalyst storage chamber is arranged in such a manner that an axis of the catalyst converter is in a direction of a crankshaft. The space is arranged just below a front surface of the cylinder and forward of a front surface of the crankcase. |
| US08096103B1 |
External combustion engine with a general wheel rotation power motor
General Wheel Rotation Power Motor(GWRPPM) systems, apparatus, devices and methods of using a pressure generation, storage and control element: a pressure conversion to rotational force unit with reverse and neutral capability and components to transfer said rotational force to a power accumulator/multiplier whereby useful rotational force can be applied to varied applications. Pressure can be generated from an internal combustion engine(ICE), a pressurized air source, and the like. |
| US08096102B2 |
Offset pickup tines to improve feeding pick up
An pickup comprising offset pickup tines for the feeding of balers or harvesters. The tines are mounted to a rotating tine bar and arranged such that a plurality of elongate tines are connected to the trailing edge of the tine bar at the end portions and a plurality of elongate spaced-apart rotor tines are connected to the leading edge of the tine bar at the central portion. |
| US08096100B2 |
Systems and methods for packaging solid pharmaceutical and/or nutraceutical products and automatically arranging the solid pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products in a linear transmission system
A variety of systems and methods are described which quickly and conveniently provide for the selective transmission of individual solid pharmaceutical products from a common location into individual blister package product cavities. In accordance with the preferred exemplary embodiments, an automated alignment mechanism alters the orientation of solid pharmaceutical products that are initially arranged randomly in a two-dimensional array into one or more linear transmission systems. Each linear transmission system is essentially a one-dimensional stack of solid pharmaceutical products, vitamins or other elements. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, after the solid pharmaceutical products have been arranged in one or more of the linear transmission systems or vertical stacks, the solid pharmaceutical products are selectively transmitted into individual product package blister cavities or into product package templates having locations corresponding to the blister package cavities. |
| US08096090B1 |
Snap-in wire tie
A seismic construction system for a cavity wall is disclosed. The system is shown in three exemplary applications—a masonry backup wall with ladder—or truss-type reinforcement cooperating with a snap-in wire tie; a masonry backup wall with ladder—or truss-type reinforcement with a high-span wall anchor cooperating with a low-profile, snap-in wire tie; and a drywall backup wall with internal insulation, a sheetmetal wall anchor, and snap-in wire ties. The snap-in wire ties accommodate a continuous reinforcing wire for the outer wythe, which reinforcing wire snaps into the wire housings therefor with a predetermined force. With the interconnected wall and veneer anchors and the respective reinforcing elements a seismic construct is formed. |
| US08096085B2 |
Connection node for a three-dimensional framework, in particular for a geodesic structure
The invention relates to a connecting node (10, 20) for constructing a three-dimensional framework (100), in particular a geodetic structure, wherein the connecting node (10, 20) has at least one connecting arrangement for connection by way of a definable number of (n) of basic structural elements (3) attached to the respective connecting node (10, 20) with other identical connecting nodes (10, 20). It is provided that the connecting node (10, 20) is formed as a disk (4, 6) having a predefinable number (n) of keyholes (1n), with each of the keyholes (1n) being penetrated by a connecting means (5) and engaging with a receiving element (3A) attached on the basic structural elements (3n), so that each basic structural element (3n) is rotatably supported in the formed first connecting arrangement (5, 3A) and can be pre-adjusted and subsequently attached at arbitrary predefinable angles. The invention is also directed to a three-dimensional framework (100), in particular a geodetic structure, with a plurality of configurable basic structural element (3n), which are secured between the connecting nodes (10, 20) so as to form the three-dimensional framework. |
| US08096083B2 |
Health booth
A health booth includes a telescopic and pivotal board including two telescopic units having one ends pivotably attached to a board; a seat assembly including two parallel columns mounted on the other side wall, a horizontal bar slidably put on the columns, a telescopic support post mounted between the horizontal bar and a bottom, and a collapsible seat secured to the horizontal bar, and a pivot assembly including a channel mounted onto one side wall, two torsion springs in the channel, two outer cylindrical members each together with one inner cylindrical member to dispose the other ends of the telescopic units therein, and two groups of a plurality of fasteners wherein each group of the fasteners are driven through the outer cylindrical member into the inner cylindrical member to fasten the other ends of the telescopic units. |
| US08096082B2 |
Portable changing room that is inflatable
A portable changing room that is inflatable. The portable changing room includes an inflatable skeleton, a valve, and a removable cover. A pump is used to inflate the inflatable skeleton. The changing room is used for privacy in outdoor environments. |
| US08096080B2 |
Adjustable window regulator lifter plate assembly for a vehicle window
In an embodiment an adjustable window regulator lifter plate assembly is provided. The adjustable window regulator lifter plate assembly includes a base, a window holder and a cross-car orientation adjustment mechanism. The base is configured for movement along a path. The base has an inboard side and an outboard side. The window holder is configured to receive and hold a vehicle window. The window holder is movably connected to the base. The cross-car orientation adjustment mechanism is operable by a cross-car orientation adjustment tool and is operatively connected to the window holder to control the cross-car orientation of the window holder. The cross-car orientation adjustment mechanism includes a cross-car orientation adjustment mechanism tool-receiving member configured to receive the cross-car orientation adjustment tool. The cross-car orientation adjustment mechanism tool-receiving member is accessible from the inboard side of the base. |
| US08096079B2 |
Revolver trigger mechanism
A revolver with trigger mechanism for cocking a rotatable hammer. The revolver includes a frame, a barrel supported by the frame and defining a bore, at least one chamber aligned with the bore of barrel for holding a cartridge, a hammer pivotally mounted to the frame and moveable between a forward uncocked position and a rearward cocked position, and a trigger pivotally mounted to the frame. In one embodiment, the trigger includes a contoured camming surface configured and arranged to engage a protrusion extending outwards from the hammer for cocking the hammer in response to pulling the trigger. The protrusion may be a hammer dog pivotally coupled to the hammer in some embodiments. In another embodiment, the hammer may include a sear having a contoured camming surface for engaging the trigger. |
| US08096077B1 |
Rifle recoil absorbing strap assembly
A rifle recoil absorbing strap assembly for absorbing rifle recoil from a rifle, the strap assembly preventing the bruising of a shoulder when firing the rifle and without having to permanently mount the strap assembly on a target shooting bench, a table or a horizontal support member. The strap assembly includes an elongated, flexible, horizontal first strap member with adjustable and releasable fastener. The adjustable and releasable fastener is used for securing together a first end and a second end of the first strap member. Also, the strap assembly includes a flexible, vertical second strap member with a first end and an opposite second end. The first and second end of the second strap member are adapted for receipt around a front portion of the rifle and secured thereto for preventing upward movement of the rifle when firing. Further, the strap assembly includes a rifle butt cradle adapted for receiving and securing a rifle butt of the rifle therein. Whereby, when the strap assembly is secured to a rifle securing object and the rifle is held thereon, the strap assembly greatly reduces rifle recoil during the firing of the rifle. |
| US08096070B2 |
Truck and wall banner holding frame
A frame for attachment to a truck panel or a wall for holding a banner having a top base plate, a left side base plate, a right side base plate, and a bottom base plate. After the top of the banner is aligned and duct taped to the top base plate, the banner can be accurately cut to size by simply inserting a blade through the banner and into cutting groove on the base plates which becomes guides for the blade. No math is required. At least one yieldable member having a high coefficient of friction is coupled to each base plate and a cap plate is located on top of each base plate to lock the edges of a banner to each base plate by pressing on the yieldable members on each base plate when the banner is located on top of the yieldable members. |
| US08096064B2 |
Method for drying lumber, method of impregnating lumber with chemicals, and drying apparatus
A method for drying lumber in a short time with less use of energy. The method of drying lumber includes: enclosing lumber in a batch container having a pressure release valve; filling fluid into the batch container under pressure; maintaining a temperature and a pressure at or above a critical point of the fluid for a certain period of time; and then opening the pressure release valve of the batch container to reduce the internal pressure to atmospheric pressure. |
| US08096063B2 |
Apparatus and method for thermally removing coatings and/or impurities
An apparatus for thermally de-coating and/or drying coated and/or contaminated materials comprises a support and an oven pivotally mounted to the support. The oven has charging portion for receiving material to be treated and a changeover portion. Incorporated within the changeover portion is a heat treatment chamber through which a stream of hot gases can be passed. The oven is pivotally moveable between a first position in which the changeover portion is higher than the charging portion and a second position in which the charging portion is higher than the changeover portion. The arrangement is such that the oven can be repeatedly moved between the first and second positions so that material within the oven falls from one portion to the other portion, passing through the stream of hot gasses in the heat treatment chamber. A method of using the apparatus is also disclosed. |
| US08096062B1 |
Towel drying system
A towel drying system includes a housing that has a bottom wall, a top wall, a back wall, a front wall, a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall. The front wall has a primary air inlet extending therethrough and a primary air outlet extending therethrough. A blower is mounted in the housing and pulls air into the housing through primary air inlet and directs it outwardly through the primary air outlet. A towel support member is positioned in the housing. The front wall has at least one access door to access an interior of the housing and the towel support member. One or more towels may be placed on the towel support member. A dwelling return duct is fluidly coupled to the primary air outlet. |
| US08096061B2 |
Instrument for measuring dimensions and height gauge
Instrument for measuring dimensions, including: a mobile carriage capable of moving parallel to a guide, the guide defining a measuring axis; a driving device connected to the carriage by a transmission, so as to determine the linear displacement of the mobile carriage; a feeler attached to the mobile carriage and designed to come into contact with a part to be measured; a position transducer, arranged so as to supply a measurement of the feeler's position relative to the measuring axis; a piezoresistive force sensor for converting directly a contact force between the feeler and the part to be measured into an electric signal. |
| US08096060B1 |
Assembly for leveling new concrete and sub-grade
The assembly for leveling new concrete includes a driver that has a guide that is placed in a mounting structure so that the driver may be used to drive the mounting structure into the ground. The driver has both a removable rebar marker and conduit marker so that depending on whether an individual wants to use a screed pipe conduit or rebar as a support structure in their concrete the support structures are properly aligned. |
| US08096056B1 |
Trim installation square device
A trim installation square device is provided for facilitating measurement, cutting and installation of trim around a door or window opening. The device includes a base member, and extension member extendably coupled to the base member, and a locking assembly for holding the base member and extension member in place. The base member and the extension member are positioned relative to each other such that a base member first edge is parallel to an extension member first edge and a base member second edge is parallel to an extension member second edge forming two spaced right angles. A ruler is coupled to one of the base member and the extension member. The ruler is positioned for measuring a transverse distance between the base member first edge and the extension member first edge. |
| US08096052B2 |
Method of making a vehicle cab
A cab for a vehicle, such as an all terrain vehicle, a tractor, or small construction vehicle, is constructed of twin-sheet thermo-plastic panels that can be easily assembled, preferably with snap-together interlocking features. One of the panels can be a door panel having a door hinged to a door frame to control passage through a doorway. Both the door and the door frame have spaced apart hinge knuckles that interleave along a hinge axis to allow the door to pivot about a hinge pin. The door and door frame can be molded in a single twin-sheet panel. The two walls of the panel are fused together along the outer periphery of the panel door portion and the inner periphery of the panel door frame portion. The door is separated from the door frame by cutting the each of the walls along a door perimeter between the door and door frame portions of the molded panel. Preferably, the walls are not fused along the non-hinge sides of the door perimeter so that the walls can be cut in a manner to provide an overlap at the door/door frame interface. |
| US08096050B2 |
Double ballize camshaft assembly process
A method may include locating a first lobe member of a camshaft on a first shaft having an annular wall defining a first bore and a first outer radial surface. The first lobe member may include a second bore receiving the first shaft. The method may further include forcing first and second deforming members through the first bore. The first deforming member may have a first outer diameter that is greater than an initial inner diameter of the first shaft and may displace the annular wall in an outward radial direction to provide a first engagement between the first outer radial surface and the second bore. The second deforming member may have a second outer diameter that is greater than the first outer diameter and may displace the annular wall in the outward radial direction to provide a second engagement between the first outer radial surface and the second bore. |
| US08096046B2 |
Apparatus for loading stator windings into a stator core
An apparatus for loading stator windings into a stator core. The apparatus includes an arbor member including a body having an outer diametric portion including a plurality of slots. The apparatus also includes a first guide track having a first end that is positioned adjacent the outer diametric portion. A second guide track includes a first end is positioned adjacent the outer diametric portion and spaced from the first end of the first guide track. The apparatus further includes a third guide track including a first end is positioned adjacent the outer diametric portion and spaced from the first end of the first guide track and the first end of the second guide track. At least one of the first, second, and third guide tracks and the arbor member is positionable to guide slot segment portions of corresponding first, second, and third stator windings into predetermined ones of the slots. |
| US08096039B2 |
Golf club head with alignment system
A golf club head is disclosed. The golf club head includes a first body member and a second body member. The first body member includes a strike face and a top portion. The second body member is coupled to the first body member and extends away from the first body member in a direction opposite the strike face. At least a top portion of the second body member is camouflaged. A preferred method of camouflage is color differentiation, wherein the second body member is darker than the first body member. Specific color values and club head geometries are also disclosed and claimed. The club head may include a body member and a weight member such as a bar that extends rearward from the body member. A cover may be included to camouflage the weight member. A separate core member and high visibility sight lines may also be provided. |
| US08096031B2 |
Hand tool for engaging a push-lock fitting
A hand tool that can be used to physically engage a release feature on a push-lock fitting so that a tube, hose, or other conduit can be easily inserted into and/or removed from the fitting. This can be particularly useful with industrial machines that have a number of pneumatic fittings installed close together in a tight proximity. According to one embodiment, the hand tool includes an elongated body portion, engagement portions located at opposing ends of the body portion, and transition portions located therebetween. Each engagement portion includes an open pocket for fitting around the tube, and a contact surface for engaging the release feature. |
| US08096030B2 |
Mobile repair apparatus for repairing a stationary rotor seal of a turbo machine
A method and an apparatus for mobile repair of a stationary rotor seals of a turbo machine is provided. The method includes the following steps, 3D-scanning of the stationary seal, generation of 3D-model of the stationary seal, removing of the damaged spots of the seal using laser cutting, and generating a new seal at the repair spot by use of a second process head, which generates the seal by laser powder cladding. The apparatus includes a 3D-scanner, a cutting tool, and a first process head and a second process head. |
| US08096029B2 |
Device for maintaining the crimping of textile fibers or filaments during subsequent setting
A device for maintaining the crimping of textile fibers or filaments during subsequent setting treatment, located in a line for treating filaments by crimping and setting having a crimping machine (1), whereby this device is connected to the outlet of the crimping machine (1) and consists of two perforated conveyor belts (2), between which is fed the plug of textile fibers or filaments (3) coming from the crimping machine (1) and which pass through a setting oven or other setting machine to arrive at a filament uptake area. The device is provided with a member (6) for maintaining the continuity of the pressure on the plug of textile fibers or filaments (3) at the outlet of the crimping machine (1) and during the entire setting operation, whereby this member cooperates with the perforated conveyor belts (2). |
| US08096019B2 |
Hinge device
A hinge device includes a first connecting member, a second connecting member, and a locking member. The first connecting member defines a connecting portion hole therein. A positioning arm with an angled surface is located on the first connecting member. The second connecting member defines a connecting body hole therein. A connecting body post is located on the second connecting member. The locking member engages in the connecting portion hole and the connecting body hole so that the first connecting member is rotatable relative to the second connecting member. The connecting body post abuts on the angled surface and the first connecting member is rotated between a first position where a first friction is generated between the connecting body post and the angled surface, and a second position where a second friction is generated between the connecting body post and the angled surface and greater than the first friction. |
| US08096017B2 |
Grommet for metal stud
A grommet for a hole in a metal stud includes a plastic sleeve having a radial flange, and a vibration isolating body having a substantially cylindrical portion having on one of its ends a radial flange and on the other end one or more flange sections, such flange section being adapted to be passed through the hole in the stud when the flange of the vibration isolating body is brought in engagement with the stud, and the sleeve being adapted to be inserted into the substantially cylindrical portion of the vibration isolating body beyond the flange section until the radial flange of the plastic sleeve engages the isolating ring, whereby the radial flange sections are locked in an outward position and the edge of the hole in the stud is at least partially locked between the two flanges, thus fixing the grommet in the hole. |
| US08096014B2 |
Central vacuum cleaner control, unit and system with contaminant sensor
A central vacuum cleaning system 3 has a central vacuum unit 17 with a motor 10, a motor compartment 19, and a vacuum chamber 25. The system 3 also has a control circuit 1 for controlling power to the motor 10, and one or more airborne contaminant sensors 15 for sensing contaminants within the system 3. The sensors 15 may be located in pipes 31 motor compartment 19, vacuum chamber 25 and hose handle 34. Vacuum air may be drawn through aperture 37 in wall valve 38. |
| US08096012B2 |
Outsole grid cleaner
An outsole grid cleaner for removing dirt and debris from the sole of shoes includes a base and a plurality of scraper prongs which remove dirt and debris from the shoe's sole. The outsole grid cleaner has one continuous sidewall extending peripherally around the device. A plurality of scraper prongs extend outwardly from the sidewall. The plurality of scraper prongs have a free end. The plurality of scraper prongs are manipulated through a shoe's outsole pattern of projections to forcibly remove debris and dirt from the lowermost surface of the shoe's outsole pattern. The scraper prongs also remove dirt and debris when in contact with the channel on the top surface of the shoe sole's projections. The scraper prongs further remove the dirt and debris when in contact with the top surface of the shoe sole's projections. |
| US08096010B2 |
Bridge span and bridge span transportation vehicle
A system for transporting a span on a road vehicle capable of being transformed into an amphibious vehicle, enabling crossing of a dry or water-filled gap by any road vehicle. The vehicle for transporting the span is amphibious to allow any vehicle to cross a gap filled with water by transferring and transporting the vehicle on the span supported on the amphibious vehicle operating as a floating ferry. The invention is particularly applicable in the field of civil or military engineering. |
| US08096009B2 |
Encapsulated mattress with integrated pillow
A method of integrating a pillow, including stuffing, within an encapsulated mattress having a core and covering surrounding the core is disclosed. A mattress for use in institutions, such as correctional facilities, detention centers, rehabilitation centers, hospitals and the like, includes a core formed of a padding material, a pillow adjoining the core, the pillow containing stuffing, and a covering surrounding the core and the pillow. Also disclosed is a mattress including a core formed of a padding material, a pillow adjoining the core using a sleeve, the pillow containing stuffing, the sleeve retaining the pillow to the core, and a covering surrounding the core and the pillow. |
| US08096001B2 |
Pumped drainage apparatus
A pumped drainage apparatus for a shower includes a waste water unit, a waste water inlet for accepting waste water runoff from a shower, a waste water outlet in fluid communication with the waste water inlet, a pump in fluid communication with the waste water unit, a sensing circuit including one or more sensors for sensing waste water, and a control circuit for controlling and varying a flow rate of the pump based on an output of the sensing circuit. The sensors may be isolated to prevent contact with waste water while the apparatus is in use. A variable flow control device for the pumped drainage apparatus is also provided. |
| US08095994B2 |
Garment-integrated proprioceptive feedback system
An apparatus, system, and method treat a neurological disorder by applying proprioceptive feedback to a wearer of a garment. Specifically, the garment includes one or more pressurizable reservoirs that, when pressurized, apply distributed pressure to the wearer. A system including the garment also includes a mechanism for pressurizing the reservoir and, optionally, a controller operable to control the pressurizing mechanism. |
| US08099792B1 |
Methods and apparatus for spatially resolved photocurrent mapping of operating photovoltaic devices using atomic force photovoltaic microscopy
Atomic force photovoltaic microscopy apparatus and related methodologies, as can be used to quantitatively measure spatial performance variations in functioning photovoltaic devices. |
| US08099788B2 |
Declarative data security for a rapid application development tool component
A security privilege view object instance. The security privilege view object instance provides security at the view object instance level, permitting multiple application modules to utilize a single entity object with different data privileges. In an embodiment, a view object implementation method is overridden to add selected security filters at instantiation of a view object instance. |
| US08099786B2 |
Embedded mechanism for platform vulnerability assessment
Embodiments of the present invention provide an embedded mechanism for platform vulnerability assessment. In various embodiments, a management component of a managed platform may scan at least one host component of the managed platform for vulnerability of the at least one host component with respect to security policies of a management console of a network. The management component may address potential vulnerability of the at least one host component. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08099778B2 |
Method for access control to conditional access data
A method is disclosed for access control to conditional access data in a multimedia unit comprising at least one security module. This process includes:reception by the multimedia unit of a control message ECM containing at least one control word cw; transmission of this message ECM to said security module, this control message being associated to a message decryption right; determination of a validity date of the ECM control message decryption rights associated to said security module; determination of the present date; comparison of the present date with the expiration date of the decryption rights and determination of whether the present date is prior to the expiration date. In the affirmative case, decryption of the control message ECM and sending of the control word cw to the multimedia unit occurs In the negative case, reading of a value contained in a counter of the security module and comparison of this value occurs, to determine whether this value is comprised within a range authorizing decryption. Further, in the affirmative case, modification of the value of the counter according to a pre-established rule, and decryption of the control message ECM and sending of the control word cw to the multimedia unit also occurs. Finally, in the negative case, access to the conditional access data is blocked. |
| US08099775B2 |
Virtual firewall system based on commons security policy and method of controlling the same
A virtual firewall system based on a common security policy and a method of controlling the same. The virtual firewall system includes one or more virtual security policy modules, each of which includes a local security policy database; a security policy determiner, which determines, from the one or more virtual security policy modules, a virtual security policy module corresponding to a packet received from outside; and a common security policy database, which stores security policies. Each of the one or more virtual security policy modules determines whether or not to apply a security policy of the common security policy database to the received packet, and when the security policy of the common security policy database is applied, does not apply the security policy of a local security policy database. An operator can easily and conveniently set and restore the system. |
| US08099773B2 |
Network scan system passing through firewall and method of organizing the same
A network scan system includes a network scanner accessible by a computer and capable of communicating with the computer through a firewall. A method of operating the network scan system includes installing a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) server module into the computer, transmitting a uniform resource locator (URL) of the computer to the network scanner using the HTTP server module, and transmitting scanned data to the computer from the network scanner using the transmitted URL. Accordingly, it is possible to exchange data between the network scanner and the computer using the HTTP server module installed into the computer even if a firewall is installed. |
| US08099772B2 |
Information terminal apparatus, information processing apparatus and information communication system
When transmitting position/time information calculated by means of a GPS function to a server apparatus, authentication is carried out with the server apparatus. The position/time information may be certified as legitimate measured by a portable apparatus with a GPS reception function employed by a user. When transmitting information related to the position and the time acquired from a portable phone terminal having the GPS function and a network function by means of the GPS function to the server apparatus, authentication is carried out between the portable phone terminal and the server apparatus. The position/time information is transmitted to the server apparatus, only if the server apparatus is authenticated as a legitimate counterpart for connection. A secret key holding section is provided for holding different secret keys for different apparatuses. The position/time information measured based on an electromagnetic wave received from a positioning satellite is digitally signed by means of the secret key. The identification information and the position/time information having the digital signature are then transmitted to a counterpart. |
| US08099769B2 |
System and method for trusted communication
A method of establishing a trusted path of data and a method of verifying the integrity of data presented for signing to a user of the personalized device in a public-key cryptographic scheme. The method comprises establishing a trusted path between the user and secure module residing on the personalized device. The secure module holds the user's private key, displays information about the data message directly to the user, and generates the signature only when instructed to do so. The decision whether or not to sign the data message is determined by the user. |
| US08099767B2 |
Secure agent-less enterprise infrastructure discovery
Mechanisms for securing dynamic discovery of an enterprise computing infrastructure is provided. One implementation involves maintaining enterprise credential information in a secured trust store, receiving an access request through a secure connection for access to a remote infrastructure component, determining the type of the access request, for a root-level type access request, responding to the request via the secure connection with enterprise root credentials from the trust store, and for an unprivileged type access request, responding to the request via the secure connection with unprivileged access enterprise credentials from the trust store. |
| US08099766B1 |
Credential caching for clustered storage systems
A technique efficiently transmits credentials between network elements and disk elements in a clustered storage system. According to the novel technique, in response to a user request to access data served by a data element, a network element inserts (adds) a credential associated with the user to a network element credential cache and creates a corresponding credential handle that indexes the credential in that cache. The network element relays the credential and credential handle to the disk element, which adds the credential to a corresponding disk element credential cache at a location indexed by the corresponding credential handle. Requests may then be sent between the elements using the credential handle. In addition, the network element may further send a series of chained requests to the disk element for the same credential/credential handle with an indication that the requests are for the same credential without sending the credential or credential handle. |
| US08099761B2 |
Protocol for device to station association
A technique that enables a portable device to be automatically associated with a plurality of computers. Information that a computer can use to authenticate a portable device and establish a trusted relationship prior to creating an association with the portable device is created and stored in a data store that is accessible by a plurality of computers and is associated with a user of the portable device. When a computer discovers such a portable device with which it is not yet associated, the computer can identify a user logged into the computer and use information identifying the user to retrieve authentication information that is device independent and is expected to be presented by the portable device to authenticate it and allow automatic association. |
| US08099760B2 |
System and method for risk detection and analysis in a computer network
The present invention provides systems and methods for risk detection and analysis in a computer network. Computerized, automated systems and methods can be provided. Raw vulnerability information and network information can be utilized in determining actual vulnerability information associated with network nodes. Methods are provided in which computer networks are modeled, and the models utilized in performing attack simulations and determining risks associated with vulnerabilities. Risks can be evaluated and prioritized, and fix information can be provided. |
| US08099758B2 |
Policy based composite file system and method
A policy configurable file system includes a computer system upon which the policy configurable file system operates, a policy source for providing the configuration policies, and one or more file servers. The computer system includes software for enforcing one or more configuration policies. The policy source is typically either a policy server such that the policy is derived from the policy server, or a policy configurable file system, such that the policy is embedded in the policy configurable file system. The one or more file servers each uses a protocol, wherein the protocols of the one or more file servers are not all the same. In one case, the one or more of the configurable policies are separable from the policy configurable file system. In another case, the one or more configurable policies are downloadable to the computer system. |
| US08099756B2 |
Channel changes between services with differing bandwidth in a switched digital video system
Channel changes between services with differing bandwidth in a switched digital video system. A services map published by the headend and distributed to all of the edge devices, allows a bandwidth requirement to be correlated with each request from a device in the home. The bandwidth requirement is passed upstream along with the request for service and is subject to a system resource management validation. |
| US08099752B2 |
Non-real time services
In certain embodiments, a digital television receiver that receives non-real time (NRT) content has an IP demultiplex or a radio frequency tuner that receives a transport stream. The output transport stream contains an IP packet stream containing NRT content, a FLUTE file description table (FDT) and NRT metadata. An electronic storage medium is provided and a demultiplexer demultiplexes the IP stream of packets to produce: NRT content that is stored in the electronic storage medium, the FLUTE FDT, and NRT metadata. An FDT parser parses the FDT to produce NRT file metadata from the FLUTE FDT. An NRT metadata parser produces NRT service metadata, NRT content description text and NRT content metadata. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US08099742B2 |
Optical disk loading final position detection device
An optical disk loading final position detection device includes an optical disk guiding device, a delivery roll, a pair of detection bars provided with detection parts capable of freely rotating around respective rotary pivots, a support part, the middle of the support part being provided with an assorted part interacting with the detection bar, and a trigger bar. One end of the trigger bar is provided with a contact part for contacting the periphery of an optical disk, and the other end being connected to a control part. When the detection bars are rotating, the support part makes the trigger bar move towards the direction directly facing the central line, so, the trigger bar will not extrude out of the maximum outer diameter of the optical disk along the optical disk transport direction, so as to implement miniaturizing the optical disk playing device. |
| US08099739B1 |
Java applet management method
A method for managing Java applets in HTML pages, the HTML pages being rendered by a web browser, includes: browsing a page having an applet, the applet being loaded into the page and creating a connection to a server; leaving the page, the applet providing an idle message to the server and being stored in a cache of applet objects, each object having a connection ID; and returning to the page, the applet being retrieved from the cache based on the connection ID, the applet reloading and providing an activate message to the server to reuse the connection. |
| US08099738B2 |
Message display device which changes a manner of displaying a message over time, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a message display program changes a manner of displaying a message over time
A message display device provided with a display section includes: an event acquisition section for acquiring an event that triggers display of a message on the display section and is associated with the message; a data acquisition section for acquiring a type of an application program and a display mode of an image to be displayed on the display section during execution of the application program; a data storage section for storing the type of the application program, the image display mode thereof, and a message display mode of displaying a message on the display section associated with one another; and a message display control section for, in response to acquisition of the event by the event acquisition section, displays the message associated with the event on the display section in the message display mode recognized from the data storage section. |
| US08099736B2 |
Systems and methods providing intelligent routing of data between software systems
Disclosed are systems and methods which provide an interface for software applications which provides intelligent routing of data between the software applications. Embodiments provide an interface between software applications using multiple adapters, wherein at least one adapter is associated with each end of a software application information communication link. Information communicated between software applications is routed based upon analysis of the information and/or associated transactions to provide dynamic interfacing between software applications. Information may be routed based upon content, transaction type, historical information, etcetera. Routing of information of embodiments establishes an itinerary for scheduling communication of information between a plurality of software applications. |
| US08099734B2 |
Portable system and method for soft reset of computer devices
The subject application is directed to a portable system and method for soft reset of computer devices. Upon detection of a portable data device via an associated media interface, data communication is commenced between a computer device and the detected portable data device via the media interface. A system cycle instruction is then isolated according to the data communication between the computer device and the detected data device. A system cycle is then commenced with respect to the computer device, in accordance with the isolated system cycle instruction. |
| US08099733B2 |
Parallel data processing architecture
A tree-structured index to multidimensional data is created using naturally occurring patterns and clusters within the data which permit efficient search and retrieval strategies in a database of DNA profiles. A search engine utilizes hierarchical decomposition of the database by identifying clusters of similar DNA profiles and maps to parallel computer architecture, allowing scale up past to previously feasible limits. Key benefits of the new method are logarithmic scale up and parallelization. These benefits are achieved by identification and utilization of naturally occurring patterns and clusters within stored data. The patterns and clusters enable the stored data to be partitioned into subsets of roughly equal size. The method can be applied recursively, resulting in a database tree that is balanced, meaning that all paths or branches through the tree have roughly the same length. The method achieves high performance by exploiting the natural structure of the data in a manner that maintains balanced trees. Implementation of the method maps naturally to parallel computer architectures, allowing scale up to very large databases. |
| US08099731B2 |
System having minimum latency using timed mailbox to issue signal in advance to notify processor of the availability of the shared resources
The present invention provides an apparatus and method that increases the utilization by processors on shared resources. It provides the minimum latency in a multiprocessor system during usage right exchange between multi-processors on a shared resource. The apparatus provides a timed mailbox including a timer. The timed mailbox is at least associated with a first processor and a second processor. The second processor starts to utilize a shared resource to perform a task. According to a predetermined clock cycle number, the timed mailbox issues a signal in advance to notify the first processor of the availability of the shared resource to be utilized by the first processor. |
| US08099723B2 |
Referencing a constant pool in a java virtual machine
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for referencing a constant pool. A determination is made as to whether a bytecode references the constant pool. A relative offset to the constant pool is identified for the bytecode, in response to the bytecode referencing the constant pool. The bytecode is then replaced with a new bytecode containing the relative offset. The relative offset is used to reference the constant pool. |
| US08099722B2 |
Method for analyzing data and performing lexical analysis
A system and method provide the ability to construct lexical analyzers on the fly in an efficient and pervasive manner. The system and method split the table describing the automata into two distinct tables and splits the lexical analyzer into two phases, one for each table. The two phases consist of a single transition algorithm and a range transition algorithm, both of which are table driven and permit the dynamic modification of those tables during operation. A third ‘entry point’ table may also be used to speed up the process of finding the first table element from state 0 for any given input character. |
| US08099721B2 |
Parsing of declarations in all branches of preprocessor conditionals
Declarations from an input source code or tokenized source code are serialized into a stream of tokens produced by following each branch of a preprocessor conditional directive statement that interrupts a declaration. Tokens are labeled with a parsing path indicator corresponding to a parsing path induced by branches of a preprocessor conditional directive. The declarations that are formed along the different parsing paths are serialized by fetching the tokens that belong to the first parsing path in a first pass, and passing the tokens on to a next phase of a compiler. The pointer that marks the next token is repositioned to return to the start of the declaration. The declaration may be serialized again through the second parsing path in a second pass. The operation may be repeated until each of the parsing paths induced by the presence of branches of the preprocessor conditional directives in the source code is exhausted. |
| US08099720B2 |
Translating declarative models
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for translating declarative models. Embodiments of the present invention facilitate processing declarative models to perform various operations on applications, such as, for example, application deployment, application updates, application control such as start and stop, application monitoring by instrumenting the applications to emit events, and so on. Declarative models of applications are processed and realized onto a target environment, after which they can be executed, controlled, and monitored. |
| US08099717B2 |
Tracking method for embedded system
A tracking method for embedded systems is disclosed. A stacking way is used for viewing and tracing. In the beginning, a program counter (PC) and a stack segment of a function are found out. Then an instruction of the function is learned according to the stack segment and further stack size of the function is calculated. In accordance with the stack size, a stack frame is viewed to find out a recursive program counter of a previous function. Next according to the recursive program counter, an entry point of the previous function is calculated. Therefore, the system knows the memory block is required by which function and further finds out what causes computer shut-down or program errors. Moreover, stack status before the error occurred in the stack frame is got so as to get a returning path that enables the processor going back to status before the error occurred. |
| US08099710B2 |
UI behaviors
Implementing desired business logic functionality. The desired business logic functionality may include a number of individual functions. A number of computer implemented modules are selected. Each module is configured to perform at least a portion of one of the individual functions. Additionally, each module includes a computer implemented interface for connecting to other modules. The implemented modules are connected to create a composite module. The composite module includes functionality for implementing the individual functions. The composite module includes computer implemented interfaces for connecting to other modules, including a UI module. As such, the composite module is reusable in implementing more complex functionality by being selected as a computer implemented module and being connected to other computer implemented modules. The composite module is agnostic to how a UI module exposes functionality to a user. |
| US08099702B2 |
Method and apparatus for proximate placement of sequential cells
Various methods and apparatuses (such as computer readable media implementing the method) are described that relate to proximate placement of sequential cells of an integrated circuit netlist. For example, the preliminary placement is received; and based on the preliminary placement, a group of sequential cells is identified as being subject to improved power and/or timing upon subsequent placement. In another example, identification is received of a group of sequential cells subject to improved power and/or timing upon subsequent placement; and proximate placement is performed of the identified group of sequential cells. In yet another example, a proximate arrangement of a group of sequential cells is received; and if proximate placement fails, then the group of sequential cells is disbanded and placement is performed of the sequential cells of the disbanded group. |
| US08099701B2 |
Efficient chip routing method and apparatus for integrated circuit blocks with multiple connections
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for improving the speed of chip routing for integrated circuit blocks with multiple connections. In some embodiments, the method may include creating a layout abstract for a first block and a second block of the integrated circuit, where the first and second blocks are coupled together via a plurality of connections. The method may further include determining whether the number of connections in the plurality exceeds a threshold, and in the event that the number of connections exceeds the predetermined threshold, representing a first subset of the plurality as a first logical connection. |
| US08099700B1 |
Automatic integrated circuit routing using spines
A method and technique of routing interconnects of an integrated circuit providing improved routing quality. In an embodiment of the invention, the technique provides linear spine interconnect routing. In memory array blocks, such as in DRAM and SRAM memory designs, connected pins are generally separated by large distances in a first direction and small distances in a second direction, or a spine or channel region. A route area is defined within the spine region. In one embodiment, obstacles in the route area are identified and corresponding forbidden areas are demarcated. The linear spine interconnect is routed in the first direction within the route area while avoiding the forbidden areas. Pins are connected to the spine interconnect by stitching interconnects. Stitching interconnects are generally routed in the second direction. |
| US08099695B1 |
Automated debugging method and system for over-constrained circuit verification environment
An automated debugging method and system for over-constrained circuit verification environment are described. Useful information related to circuit evaluation and/or over-constrained event is collected and provided. The information may include: clock cycles at which an over-constrained event occurs; identification of a minimum subset of constraints that will cause an over-constrained event to occur; signal ports having an associated signal that can not switch between different signal states; whether a triggering signal event has occurred during the evaluation; indicating whether constraints in the evaluation are realizable, etc. Novel approaches for detecting and obtaining the useful information also are described. |
| US08099691B1 |
Disabling unused/inactive resources in an integrated circuit for static power reduction
A method of operating an integrated circuit (“IC”) is disclosed. The method includes identifying one or more unused or inactive resources of the IC which will not be used in a circuit design or which are inactive during operation of the IC. The method also includes enabling resources of the IC which will be used in the circuit design, and also disabling one or more unused or inactive resources of the IC from one or more power supply terminals in response to configuration values which are stored in memory cells. |
| US08099687B2 |
Interchangeable connection arrays for double-sided DIMM placement
A memory module has an array of connections. The array of connections is arranged in rows and columns such that there are first and second outer columns. Connections in the first and second outer columns can be interchanged to optimize double-side module placement on a substrate. |
| US08099685B2 |
Model based microdevice design layout correction
Shapes neighboring a potential manufacturing fault within a microdevice design layout are identified. Models are employed to determine the affect of the shapes upon the potential manufacturing fault. Possible adjustments to the shapes are modeled. The possible adjustments facilitating resolution of the potential manufacturing fault. |
| US08099684B2 |
Methodology of placing printing assist feature for random mask layout
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of placing printing assist features in a mask layout. The method includes providing a design layout having one or more designed features; generating a set of parameters, the set of parameters being associated with one or more printing assist features (PrAFs); adding the one or more PrAFs of the set of parameters to the design layout to produce a modified design layout; performing simulation of the one or more PrAFs and the one or more designed features on the modified design layout; verifying whether the one or more PrAFs are removable based on results of the simulation; and creating a set of PrAF placement rules based on the set of parameters, if the one or more PrAFs are verified as removable. The set of PrAF placement rules may be used in creating a final set of PrAF features to be used for creating the mask layout. |
| US08099682B1 |
Proxies for viewing hierarchical data
A display area displays a subset of a set of items. Items may be the ancestor or descendant of one or more other items. As an ancestor item having one or more visible descendant items becomes not visible, for example by scrolling outside the display area, a proxy in the display area is automatically created. The proxy corresponds with the ancestor item not visible in the display area. Multiple proxies may be displayed in the display area to present a complete view of the hierarchy containing at least some of the items visible in the display area. Items that do not have descendant items visible in the display area will not generate corresponding proxies when they become not visible. Proxies may be active user interface elements. Conversely, if an ancestor item becomes visible in the display area, any corresponding proxies are automatically removed. |
| US08099679B2 |
Method and system for traversing digital records with multiple dimensional attributes
A system facilitates traversing digital records with dimensional attributes. The system stores a number of digital records. The system further associates a respective digital record with a number of attributes, wherein a respective attribute can be specified in a number of levels of abstraction. The system allows a user to control a presentation of the stored digital records based on their attributes. The user can set one or more criteria for the attributes of the digital records to be presented by: specifying the value of at least one fixed attribute of the digital records to be presented, changing at least one non-fixed attribute of the digital records to be presented, and/or specifying a level of abstraction for the fixed and/or non-fixed attribute of the digital records to be presented. The system then presents a set of digital records to the user based on the attribute criteria set by the user. |
| US08099673B2 |
User interface annotations
Some embodiments of user interface annotations have been presented. In one embodiment, comments are retrieved from a database coupled to a client machine executing an application program, wherein subjects of the comments comprise at least one of a graphical user interface (GUI) of the application program and one or more user interface (UI) elements in the GUI. Then annotations of the comments are presented on the GUI. |
| US08099669B2 |
Enhanced unified messaging system with a quick view facility
This invention provides an enhancement to messaging systems by providing a message notification feature which allows a user to manage only new messages for which a notification has not yet been cleared without having to access or download the entire set of messages. This management may be performed in single window that operates in conjunction with an application associated with the messaging system. The notification management permits manipulation of the message notifications without influencing the status of the messages themselves, while providing access to the data contained in these messages. This addresses the needs of those users who frequently check their incoming communications queues and need to determine very quickly which items need urgent attention and which ones can be deferred. The present invention further provides specific functionalities for handling a particular message when it does need urgent attention. |
| US08099667B1 |
User definable on-line co-user lists
A real time notification system that tracks, for each user, the logon status of selected co-users of an on-line or network system and displays that information in real time to the tracking user in a unique graphical interface. The invention provides user definable on-line co-user lists, or “buddy lists”, that track specific co-users in real-time automatically. A user can create many separate buddy lists of co-users, either with intersecting or disjoint lists of users, and label these buddy lists according to the user's preference. The user can update a buddy list or create new buddy lists whenever necessary. When a user logs on to a system, the user's set of buddy lists is presented to the buddy list system. The buddy list system attempts to match co-users currently logged into the system with the entries on the user's buddy list. Any matches are displayed to the user. As co-users logon and logoff, a user's buddy list is updated to reflect these changes. An indication can also be added to show that a co-user just logged on or just left the system. |
| US08099666B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing user interface for multistreaming audio control
Provided is a method and apparatus for providing a user interface for multistreaming audio control. The method includes determining whether a multistreaming mode of an audio device is activated upon receiving from a user a command to execute a popup menu for content, providing play menu items of audio panels to the popup menu for the content if the multistreaming mode is activated, and playing the content through an audio panel selected by the user. |
| US08099665B2 |
Organizing and sorting media menu items
A method of organizing episodic content includes identifying a list of items associated with episodic content and sorting the list of items based on at least episode order upon a prompt. |
| US08099664B2 |
Dynamic help user interface control with secured customization
A method and system is disclosed for generating a help interface to present static help content and customized help content for an application. Help content data is accessed to define the static help content and a control command to support incorporation of the customized help content. The control command is implemented to determine a configuration of the application, and a user context is determined based on a user characteristic and the application configuration. The customized help content is then resolved based on the control command and the user context. In some cases, a help system may include a help viewer module or program in communication with a computer-readable memory storing the help content data. The help viewer may then render the help interface based on the static help content and customized help content resolved from the control command, the application configuration, and other aspects of the user context in which it is presented. |
| US08099657B2 |
Error correcting Viterbi decoder
Methods and corresponding systems in a Viterbi decoder include selecting an input symbol in an input block, wherein the input block has a plurality of input symbols, wherein each input symbol has a Boolean value, a quality value, and an associated stage, and wherein the selected symbol is selected based upon the quality value of the selected symbol relative to a quality value of other input symbols in the input block. Thereafter, the Boolean value of the selected symbol is complemented to produce a complemented symbol. The complemented symbol is substituted for the selected symbol to produce an alternate input block. A Viterbi algorithm is executed using the alternate input block to produce an alternate decoded bit sequence, which is then checked for errors using an error check. The alternate decoded bit sequence is output in response to the alternate decoded bit sequence passing the error check. |
| US08099652B1 |
Non-volatile memory and methods with reading soft bits in non uniform schemes
A non-volatile memory has its cells' thresholds programmed within any one of a first set of voltage bands partitioned by a first set of reference thresholds across a threshold window. The cells are read at a higher resolution relative to a second set of reference thresholds so as to provide additional soft bits for error correction. The reference thresholds of the second set are set up to be non-uniformly distributed on the threshold window so as to provide higher resolution at designated regions. At the same time they are conducive to be read in groups for soft bits to be read bit-by-bit systematically with a simple algorithm and read circuit and using a minimum of data latches. This is accomplished by relaxing the requirement that the first set of reference threshold is a subset of the second set and that the resulting soft bits are symmetrically distributed about the hard bits. |
| US08099648B2 |
Error detection in physical interfaces for point-to-point communications between integrated circuits
An apparatus, system and method for detecting errors in a physical interface during the transmission or receipt of data communications between integrated circuits (“ICs”) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a physical interface formed as a first IC on a first substrate portion to detect transmission errors in data exchanged with a second IC formed on a second substrate portion, the physical interface including multiple input ports and output ports, including a first subset of input ports configured to receive in-bound encoded data bits and a first subset of output ports configured to transmit in-bound decoded data bits to the second IC; and one or more error recovery modules coupled between the plurality of input ports and output ports, where a first error recovery module of the one or more error recovery modules is coupled between at least one of the first subset of input ports and at least one of the first subset of output ports. |
| US08099646B2 |
Low density parity check (LDPC) code
Low density parity check code (LDPC) base parity check matrices and the method for use thereof in communication systems. The method of expanding the base check parity matrix is described. Examples of expanded LDPC codes with different code lengths and expansion factors are also shown. |
| US08099645B2 |
LDPC codes and stochastic decoding for optical transmission
A method for error correction and a decoder using low density parity check (LDPC) codes includes initializing extrinsic probability information between variable nodes and check nodes in a bipartite graph including generating a Bernoulli sequence according to a probability of a bit having a value one. Parity checking is performed in accordance with a parity check equation. If the parity check equation is not satisfied, then extrinsic information is updated in check nodes from variable nodes using a parity node update logic circuit in a first half iteration, extrinsic information is updated in variable nodes from check nodes using a variable node update logic circuit in a second half iteration, and the variable nodes are updated with a probability based upon the extrinsic information passed between check nodes and variable nodes wherein the probability represents a likelihood that an ith bit is a one. Information bits are passed when the parity check equation is satisfied or a predetermined number of iterations has been reached. |
| US08099644B2 |
Encoders and methods for encoding digital data with low-density parity check matrix
A method for encoding digital data with a low-density parity check (LDPC) matrix includes: indirectly storing a non-regular portion of the LDPC matrix by storing a plurality of indices corresponding to a plurality of non-zero sub-matrices of the non-regular portion, and by storing a plurality of distance/location parameters respectively corresponding to numbers of zero sub-matrices between adjacent non-zero sub-matrices of the non-regular portion or respectively corresponding to distances between adjacent non-zero sub-matrices of the non-regular portion; generating at least one address according to at least one distance/location parameter; accessing information bits corresponding to the address; and recovering at least one element of the LDPC matrix according to at least one index and the information bits to encode the digital data according to the LDPC matrix. |
| US08099643B2 |
Minimizing slot wastage using overlapping HARQ regions in OFDMA WiMAX system
A method and system for minimizing slot wastage by overlapping HARQ regions in a communication system. A control region allocation (CRA) utility defines a group of HARQ regions for transmission of control data. A HARQ region definition includes a starting symbol and a starting sub-channel number for the HARQ region, a number of symbols and a number of sub-channels to define the dimensions of the region and the slot duration for each sub-burst in a sequence of allocated sub-bursts. The CRA utility overlaps one HARQ region with the other to minimize slot wastage. The slots that carry data in one HARQ region overlap un-used slots in another HARQ region or are overlapped with a dummy allocation in the other HARQ region. Since mobile stations do not carry data for the slots with a dummy allocation, the overlap of HARQ regions avoids conflict with the HARQ operation. |
| US08099642B2 |
Formatter selectively outputting scan stimulus data from scan response data
The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for allowing response data output from the scan outputs of a circuit under test to be formatted and applied as stimulus data input to the scan inputs of the circuit under test. Also the disclosure described a novel method and apparatus for allowing the response data output from the scan outputs of a circuit under test to be formatted and used as expected data to compare against the response data output from the circuit under test. Additional embodiments are also provided and described in the disclosure. |
| US08099641B2 |
Multiplexer selecting STP clock signal with tap control outputs
Connection circuitry couples scan test port (STP) circuitry to test access port (TAP) circuitry. The connection circuitry has inputs connected to scan circuitry control output leads from the TAP circuitry, a select input lead, and a clock input lead. The connection circuitry has outputs connected to a scan enable (SE) input lead, a capture select (CS) input lead, and the scan clock (CK) input lead of the STP circuitry. The connection circuitry includes a multiplexer having a control input connected with a clock select lead from the TAP circuitry, an input connected with a functional clock lead, an input connected with the clock input lead, an input connected with a Clock-DR lead from the TAP circuitry, an OFF lead, and an output connected with the scan clock input lead. |
| US08099632B2 |
Urgency and time window manipulation to accommodate unpredictable memory operations
The variable latency associated with flash memory due to background data integrity operations is managed in order to allow the flash memory to be used in isochronous systems. A system processor is notified regularly of the nature and urgency of requests for time to ensure data integrity. Minimal interruptions of system processing are achieved and operation is ensured in the event of a power interruption. |
| US08099629B2 |
System-on-a-chip (SoC) test interface security
Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer programs comprise: a processor; a test interface that is in communication with the processor only when the test interface is enabled; a first memory to store firmware for the processor; and a second memory to store boot code for the processor, wherein when the processor is booted, the boot code causes the processor to read a portion of the firmware from a predetermined location in the first memory; wherein the test interface is enabled only when the portion of the firmware has a predetermined value. |
| US08099628B2 |
Software problem identification tool
A method for identifying a problem in a software application is presented. The method may include enabling a user to define at least one usage scenario for a software application. The software application may be executed on a reference computer system according to the usage scenario and data reflecting a status of the reference computer system and the software application during execution may be acquired. The software application may be further executed in a subject computer system according to the usage scenario. Data reflecting a status of the subject computer system and the software application during execution may likewise be acquired. Finally, the data from the reference computer system may be compared with the data from the subject computer system to identify at least one difference therebetween. |
| US08099622B2 |
Failover method of remotely-mirrored clustered file servers
By incorporating a referral mechanism, a failover method and system for remotely mirrored clustered file servers enables a client computer to transparently access a remotely mirrored file system during a failover of a first NAS (network attached storage) storing the file system. The first NAS is clustered with a second NAS that takes over the IP address of the first NAS on failover. A mirroring relationship is established between the first NAS and a third NAS whereby a copy of the file system is replicated to the third NAS. A referral is created on the second NAS, such that an access attempt from the client computer for accessing the first file system that is directed to the second NAS following IP address takeover from the first NAS after failover is referred to the third NAS by the referral to enable the client computer to access the copy of the file system. |
| US08099621B2 |
Data reception apparatus and microcomputer having the same
A data reception apparatus includes: an oscillation circuit that multiplies or divides an oscillation signal from a CR oscillator based on a cycle setting value, and outputs a clock signal corresponding to the multiplied or divided oscillation signal; a temperature detector; a memory; a clock cycle setting element that reads the cycle setting value corresponding to the temperature from the memory, and inputs the cycle setting value into the oscillation circuit; a receiver that receives a data signal defined by the clock signal; a measurement element that measures a unit bit length of the data signal by counting the clock signal; and a correction element that corrects the cycle setting value based on a count value of the clock signal and a reference count value of a reference cycle corresponding to the unit bit length, and rewrites the cycle setting value with the corrected cycle setting value. |
| US08099620B2 |
Domain crossing circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus
A domain crossing circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus, the domain crossing circuit comprising first and second count signals generated at substantially a same clock period, and representing predetermined clock differences with reference to an internal clock signal with respect to same bit combination data, and a data processing unit configured to provide output data corresponding to input data based on the second count signal in response to the input data synchronized to an external clock signal. |
| US08099613B2 |
Method and apparatus for reduced power consumption in an image forming device
An image forming apparatus of the invention can operate in a first mode for performing an image forming process and a second mode having low power consumption at a time of stop of the image forming process, and includes a detection unit to detect the presence and absence of an error of the image forming apparatus, an operation panel having a display unit capable of displaying a detection result of the detection unit, a main control unit to control a mode to switch to the second mode when the error is detected in the first mode and to control a mode to return to the first mode when the error is removed in the second mode, a power source unit to supply power necessary for an operation of each of the modes, and a display control unit to turn the display unit on at any time in the first mode, to turn the display unit off in the second mode, and to turn the display unit on when an operation unit is operated in the second mode. |
| US08099611B2 |
Powered communications interface with pre-operating mode using low voltages and currents for information signaling
A powered device can provide information to another device (such as a power sourcing equipment) via a powered communications interface when operating power is not being provided to the powered device via the powered communications interface, enabling a variety of functions and applications. Relatively low voltages and currents of the type used for detection and classification of the powered device are used in an extended way to achieve the communications. The power sourcing equipment performs additional detections and/or classifications, and the powered device responds by presenting corresponding signatures or identity networks that convey additional information beyond the presence and power requirements of the powered device. As an example, a powered device can present a sequence of signatures signifying that power should be applied to the powered device notwithstanding an active policy of withholding power in furtherance of a power conservation scheme. Many other kinds of information can be signaled for a variety of system-level purposes and using a variety of signal forms using the relatively low signaling voltages and currents. |
| US08099599B2 |
Controlling access to data streams
Access to one or more data streams can be controlled by encrypting a description of how segments of the data streams can be assembled, for example, to produce an audio or video program. Access to the one or more data streams can also be provided by obfuscating names of at least some of the segments in order to make it more difficult to determine the proper order for assembling the segments. In at least some embodiments, the data contained in at least some of the segments themselves is not encrypted. |
| US08099595B2 |
Synchronizing certificates between a device and server
Systems and methods for processing messages within a wireless communications system are disclosed. A server within the wireless communications system maintains a list of certificates contained in devices that use the server. The server synchronizes or updates the list of certificates based on information contained in message to and from the device. By providing a server with certificates associated with devices that use the server, and providing a system and method for synchronizing the certificates between the device and server, the server can implement powerful features that will improve the efficiency, speed and user satisfaction of the devices. The exemplary embodiments also enable advantageous bandwidth savings by preventing transmission of certificates unnecessarily. |
| US08099592B2 |
System and method for controlling data communications between a server and a client device
A system and method for controlling data communications between a server and a client device, such as a mobile device. Embodiments relate generally to a technique where stop data is provided to the client device. This stop data can be transmitted (e.g. by the client device) to the server. When processed by the server, the stop data indicates to the server that at least some of the encrypted data received by the client device from the server was not decrypted using the second key (e.g. as may be the case when the second key has been deleted). Upon receiving the stop data, the server may, for example, withhold the transmission of data encrypted with the first key to the client device until the second key is restored on the client device. In one embodiment, the stop data is provided to the client device in an encoded (e.g. encrypted) form. |
| US08099589B2 |
System and method for rapid boot of secondary operating system
The primary operating system of a computer such as a notebook computer is stored on disk in a hard disk drive and a smaller, secondary operating system such as an email operating system, wireless phone operating system, DVD player operating system, etc. is stored on disk and is transferred to flash memory within the HDD upon power-down of the primary operating system. In this way, should the user subsequently elect to power up the computer only for a limited secondary purpose, the user can elect to boot the associated secondary operating system from flash memory of the HDD without having to spin up the disks, saving energy and reducing boot time. |
| US08099588B2 |
Method, system and computer program for configuring firewalls
A solution is proposed for distributing a software product to a set of data processing entities (such as endpoints) in a data processing system; the system includes a set of security applications (such as firewalls), which are adapted to control communications of the entities. A corresponding method starts with the step of determining a target configuration of the security applications for allowing execution of the software product on the entities. A software package (or more), being adapted to enforce the software product and the target configuration, is then built. The method continues by distributing the software package in the system, so as to cause the application of the software package for enforcing the software product on each entity and the target configuration of each security application. |
| US08099585B2 |
Predicated execution using operand predicates
Full predication of instruction execution is provided by operand predicates, where each operand has an associated predicate bit intuitively indicating the validity of the operand value. In a programmable processor supporting operand predication, an instruction will execute only if the predicate bit of every register containing a source operand is true. The predicate bit, if any, of the destination register is set to the logical AND of the source registers' predicates. Similarly, in a non-programmable processor synthesized with predicated operand support, an operator will perform the associated function depending on the state of inputs' predicates. The output predicate is evaluated as the logical AND of the inputs' predicates. An additional bit for each data register, a change in the semantics of the instructions to include predication, and a few additional instructions to save and restore register predicate bits and to specifically set or reset a register's predicate bit are required. |
| US08099584B2 |
Methods for scalably exploiting parallelism in a parallel processing system
Parallelism in a parallel processing subsystem is exploited in a scalable manner. A problem to be solved can be hierarchically decomposed into at least two levels of sub-problems. Individual threads of program execution are defined to solve the lowest-level sub-problems. The threads are grouped into one or more thread arrays, each of which solves a higher-level sub-problem. The thread arrays are executable by processing cores, each of which can execute at least one thread array at a time. Thread arrays can be grouped into grids of independent thread arrays, which solve still higher-level sub-problems or an entire problem. Thread arrays within a grid, or entire grids, can be distributed across all of the available processing cores as available in a particular system implementation. |
| US08099582B2 |
Tracking deallocated load instructions using a dependence matrix
A mechanism is provided for tracking deallocated load instructions. A processor detects whether a load instruction in a set of instructions in an issue queue has missed. Responsive to a miss of the load instruction, an instruction scheduler allocates the load instruction to a load miss queue and deallocates the load instruction from the issue queue. The instruction scheduler determines whether there is a dependence entry for the load instruction in an issue queue portion of a dependence matrix. Responsive to the existence of the dependence entry for the load instruction in the issue queue portion of the dependence matrix, the instruction scheduler reads data from the dependence entry of the issue queue portion of the dependence matrix that specifies a set of dependent instructions that are dependent on the load instruction and writes the data into a new entry in a load miss queue portion of the dependence matrix. |
| US08099577B2 |
Managing memory in a system that includes a shared memory area and a private memory area
A method and apparatus for auto-tuning memory is provided. Memory on a computer system comprises at least one shared memory area and at least one private memory area. Addresses in the shared memory area are accessible to multiple processes. Addresses in the private memory area are dedicated to individual processes. Initially, a division in the amount of memory is established between the shared and private memory areas. Subsequently, a new division is determined. Consequently, memory from one memory area is “given” to the other memory area. In one approach, such sharing is achieved by causing the shared and private memory areas to be physically separate from each other both before and after a change in the division. The division of the amount of memory may be changed to a new division by deallocating memory from one of the memory areas and allocating that memory to the other of the memory areas. |
| US08099571B1 |
Logical block replication with deduplication
Bandwidth consumption between a data replication source and destination and storage consumption at the destination are reduced, when logical block mirroring is used with source deduplication, by eliminating repeated transmission of data blocks from source to destination. A reference is created for each data block at the source, the reference being unique within a storage aggregate of the source. During a mirror update, the source initially sends only the references of modified data blocks to the destination. The destination compares those references against a data structure to determine whether the destination already has any of those data blocks stored. If the destination determines that it already has a data block stored, it does not request or receive that data block again from the source. Only if the destination determines that it has not yet received the referenced data block does it request and receive that data block from the source. |
| US08099569B2 |
Storage system and data migration method
Proposed are a storage system and a data migration method capable of effectively performing data migration between storage apparatuses. This storage system includes a host apparatus equipped with a function for copying data stored in a first volume of a first storage apparatus in file units to a corresponding second volume of a second storage apparatus, and a controller equipped with a function for controlling the first and second storage apparatuses to copy data stored in the first volume to the second volume in volume units. Necessary control processing is executed to decide whether to migrate data stored in the first volume in volume units or file units according to the status of data stored in the first volume to be subject to data migration. |
| US08099565B2 |
Methods and devices for determining quality of services of storage systems
Methods and systems for allowing access to computer storage systems. Multiple requests from multiple applications can be received and processed efficiently to allow traffic from multiple customers to access the storage system concurrently. |
| US08099564B1 |
Programmable memory controller
A memory controller implemented within a programmable integrated circuit can include a user interface having a command register and a plurality of data First-In-First-Out (FIFO) memories, wherein the command register can receive an address of a data FIFO memory of the plurality of data FIFO memories. A core controller coupled to the user interface can, responsive to an instruction from the user interface, generate control signals that initiate an operation within a memory device coupled to the core controller. A physical layer coupling with the core controller, the user interface, and the memory device can, responsive to a read operation of the memory device, store data received from the memory device within the selected data FIFO memory according to the address received in the command register. |
| US08099563B2 |
Storage device and access instruction sending method
A storage device for storing data sent from a host apparatus comprises a plurality of processors sending to a cache memory controller an access instruction relating to transmission of the data, based on an access request relating to the transmission of the data, the access request being sent from the host apparatus; and an access instruction sending unit exclusively sending to the cache memory the access instruction sent from the plurality of processors, wherein the access instruction sending unit includes a plurality of storage units for storing an access instruction which requires a response, and wherein when the access instruction which requires a response is stored in all of the storage units, the access instruction sending unit sends only an access instruction which requires a response to the cache memory controller. |
| US08099559B2 |
System and method for generating fast instruction and data interrupts for processor design verification and validation
A system and method for intentionally invaliding translation entry valid bits in order to provoke storage interrupts when executing a test case is presented. Prior to executing the test case, an interrupt handler pseudo-randomly invalidates a number of translation entries included in a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) by changing particular valid bits in order to provoke initial storage interrupts, such as an instruction storage interrupt (ISI) or a data storage interrupt (DSI). Once the processor executes the test case that, in turn, triggers a storage interrupt, the interrupt handler uses an index counter to validate particular valid bits and invalidate other valid bits, thus provoking subsequent storage interrupts. In one embodiment, the interrupt handler also changes valid bits in a page table when the processor executes in a mode that accesses the page table in addition to the TLB. |
| US08099558B2 |
Fairness mechanism for starvation prevention in directory-based cache coherence protocols
Methods and apparatus relating to a fairness mechanism for starvation prevention in directory-based cache coherence protocols are described. In one embodiment, negatively-acknowledged (nack'ed) requests from a home agent may be tracked (e.g., using distributed linked-lists). In turn, the tracked requests may be served in a fair order. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08099557B2 |
Push for sharing instruction
In one embodiment, a system comprises a first processor, a main memory system, and a cache hierarchy coupled between the first processor and the main memory system. The cache hierarchy comprises at least a first cache. The first processor is configured to execute a first instruction, including forming an address responsive to one or more operands of the first instruction. The system is configured to push a first cache block that is hit by the first address in the first cache to a target location within the cache hierarchy or the main memory system, wherein the target location is unspecified in a definition of the first instruction within an instruction set architecture implemented by the first processor, and wherein the target location is implementation-dependent. |
| US08099547B2 |
Load sharing method and system for computer system
The invention is directed to a load sharing method in a computer system including a first storage subsystem, a host computer, and a management computer. In the computer system, the first storage subsystem creates a plurality of first logical units from a storage area of a disk drive group, and the host computer creates a logical storage area configured by a plurality of virtual logical units respectively corresponding to the first logical units. A communications path is set between the host computer and each of the first logical units configuring the logical storage area. The load sharing method includes the steps of: monitoring, by the first storage subsystem, a load of its own; and changing, by the first storage subsystem, the communications paths between the host computer and the first logical units based on the monitoring result of the load. With such a configuration, provided is a computer system high in extensibility not deteriorating the performance at the limit of the system after load sharing among the storage subsystems. |
| US08099545B2 |
Wear leveling in storage devices based on flash memories and related circuit, system, and method
A wear leveling solution is proposed for use in a storage device based on a flash memory. The flash memory includes a plurality of physical blocks, which are adapted to be erased individually. A corresponding method starts with the step for erasing one of the physical blocks. One of the physical blocks being allocated for storing data is selected; this operation is performed in response to the reaching of a threshold by an indication of a difference between a number of erasures of the erased physical block and a number of erasures of the selected physical block. At least the data of the selected physical block being valid is copied into the erased physical block. The selected physical block is then erased. |
| US08099543B2 |
Methods of operarting memory devices within a communication protocol standard timeout requirement
The present disclosure includes methods and devices for logical memory blocks. One method for operating a memory device includes receiving a command to operate X pages of the memory device, X being greater than Y, and executing the command by executing multiple subcommands, each subcommand operating on a logical memory block portion of the X pages, each logical memory block including at most Y pages. T is a timeout limit, N is a number of pages comprising a block of memory, and Y is number of pages that can be operated within time T. |
| US08099542B2 |
Method for recording data using non-volatile memory
A method for recording data using a non-volatile memory and an electronic apparatus thereof are provided. In the present method, a set of input data is provided. Then, a data structure of the input data is transformed into a bitmapping data structure. Afterwards, the input data is written sequentially into the non-volatile memory using at least one bit as a basic unit of modification. A total number of bits being modified is then calculated, so as to obtain information needed by the system. Therefore, a minimal memory space is used to record most information, so as to reduce the times for erasing the non-volatile memory and increase the life time of the non-volatile memory. |
| US08099538B2 |
Increasing functionality of a reader-writer lock
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for accessing a shared memory associated with a reader-writer lock according to a first concurrency mode, dynamically changing from the first concurrency mode to a second concurrency mode, and accessing the shared memory according to the second concurrency mode. In this way, concurrency modes can be adaptively changed based on system conditions. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08099536B2 |
Communication between an accessory and a media player with general and accessory lingoes
An interface and protocol allow a media player to communicate with external accessories over a transport link. The protocol includes a core protocol functionality and a number of accessory lingoes. Examples of accessory lingoes include a microphone lingo, a simple remote lingo, a display remote lingo, an RF transmitter lingo, and an extended interface lingo. |
| US08099532B2 |
Intelligent dynamic multi-zone single expander connecting dual ported drives
A single fibre channel switch or serial attached SCSI expander applies zoning on the initiator ports to each of the two ports of one or more drives. The fibre channel switch or serial attached SCSI expander uses zoning to connect both ports of each drive to a single expander and set the zones in the expander such that each zone includes at least one initiator port and one drive port. |
| US08099529B1 |
Software based native command queuing utilizing direct memory access transfer context information
Systems and methods for performing native command queuing according to the protocol specified by Serial ATA II for transferring data between a disk and system memory are described. Native command queuing context for queued commands is maintained by a host controller device driver and is provided to the host controller as needed to process the queued commands. The host controller is simplified since it only stores the context of the one command being processed. The host controller generates a backoff interrupt when a command cannot be queued. The host controller generates a DMA transfer context request interrupt to request programming of the registers that store the context for the one command being processed. |
| US08099528B2 |
Data filtering using central DMA mechanism
A method and system is disclosed for passing data processed by a DMA controller through a transmission filter. The method includes the DMA controller accessing data for transfer between an origination location in the system and a destination location in the system. The accessed data is passed through the DMA controller before being sent to the destination location. While the data is being passed through the DMA controller, it is passed through a transmission filter for processing. This processing may include the addition or removal of transmission protocol headers and footers, and determination of the destination of the data. This processing may also include hash-based packet classification and checksum generation and checking. Upon completion of the processing, the data is sent directly to a prescribed destination location, typically either a memory circuit or an I/O device. |
| US08099527B2 |
Operation management apparatus, display method, and record medium
An operation management device manages the operations of managed devices, and includes: an information collection unit for acquiring communication data between the managed devices; and a calculation unit for calculating coordinates when the managed devices are arranged on a two-dimensional plane. |
| US08099526B2 |
Method and apparatus for enabling and disabling a lock mode by squeezing or pinching the sides of a portable electronic device towards one another
A portable electronic device including a processor provided in a housing, the processor for switching the portable electronic device from a normal operating mode to a device lock mode and a first input device and a second input device provided in the housing. Actuation of the first input device within a maximum delay of actuation of the second input device enables the device lock mode. |
| US08099523B2 |
PCI express enhancements and extensions including transactions having prefetch parameters
A method and apparatus for enhancing/extending a serial point-to-point interconnect architecture, such as Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) is herein described. Temporal and locality caching hints and prefetching hints are provided to improve system wide caching and prefetching. Message codes for atomic operations to arbitrate ownership between system devices/resources are included to allow efficient access/ownership of shared data. Loose transaction ordering provided for while maintaining corresponding transaction priority to memory locations to ensure data integrity and efficient memory access. Active power sub-states and setting thereof is included to allow for more efficient power management. And, caching of device local memory in a host address space, as well as caching of system memory in a device local memory address space is provided for to improve bandwidth and latency for memory accesses. |
| US08099521B2 |
Network interface card for use in parallel computing systems
A network device comprises a controller that manages data flow through a network interconnecting a plurality of processors. The processors of the processor plurality comprise a local memory divided into a private local memory and a public local memory, a local cache, and working registers. The network device further comprises a plurality of cache mirror registers coupled to the controller that receive data to be forwarded to the processor plurality. The controller is responsive to a request to receive data by transferring requested data directly to public memory without interrupting the processor, and by transferring requested data via at least one cache mirror register for a transfer to processor local cache, and to processor working registers. |
| US08099520B2 |
System and method for storing and accessing data
This disclosure generally may disclose a web-based online network drive that may be utilized by many users. Furthermore, this disclosure may provide for an efficient, web-based file system, which may be available as a network drive on a local computer. |
| US08099519B2 |
Content providing device, data processing method, and computer program
A content providing device serving as a server for executing content providing processing as to a client, includes: a data processing unit for executing content providing processing in response to a content request from the client; wherein the data processing unit receives a disc recorded identifier for identifying a disc or content recorded in the mounted disc of the client, and the identification information of at least either the device identifier of a device on the client side, or the user identifier of a user on the client side, from the client, accumulates the history information of the disc recorded identifier received from the client in a management database in increments of devices or users, and analyzes the user's preference on the client side to provide a content adapted to the user's preference. Thus, content which interests a user or commercial content can be selectively provided to the user. |
| US08099518B2 |
Method and system for providing asynchronous portal pages
The present invention provides a method and system for implementing asynchronous portal pages, comprising a portlet monitor resident on a web browser and implemented with a script. When a user interacts with a portlet, the portlet monitor sends a XMLHTTP request to the portal server. The portal server obtains the corresponding web contents from the corresponding portlet based on the request. Then, the web contents are modified and the HTTP requests therein are redirected to XMLHTTP requests. The portlet monitor uses the modified web contents to refresh the web contents of the corresponding portlet in the portal page without reloading the whole portal page. Besides, after the user submits a request for a portlet, during waiting for the portlet being refreshed, the user may continue to interact with other portlets. Thus, the present invention has the abilities of partially refreshing and asynchronous communication. |
| US08099517B2 |
Assigning priority to network traffic at customer premises
A device may receive a message from a client device and determine whether the message includes particular data. The device may identify an address within a particular address group when the message includes the particular data. The traffic associated with addresses within the particular address group are assigned priority over traffic associated with addresses outside the particular address group. The device may provide the identified address to the client device so that traffic associated with the client device receives priority over other traffic. |
| US08099514B2 |
Network file system
A method in one embodiment is performed at least in part at a server in a network file system that includes said server and a plurality of clients connected by a network, the method comprising: receiving a data write request from one client; selecting a client as a write object of said data from the other clients according to a condition of said one client stored in advance and/or conditions of said other clients; and transmitting said data write request to the client selected as a write object. Additional systems, methods and computer program products are also presented. |
| US08099513B2 |
Streaming content from one or more production nodes or media player systems
Systems and methods are disclosed for streaming content from one or more production nodes or media player systems. In one embodiment, a method is provided for using software stored on a processing unit of a media player system for requesting and receiving streaming content from one or more production nodes or other media player systems. The method includes autonomously identifying one or more other media player systems, the one or more other media player systems being initially unknown to the media player system. The method further includes requesting content from at least one of the one or more identified other media player systems or from one or more production nodes. The method may also include making incoming streaming content received as a result of the receiving routine ready for play-back, wherein the step of autonomously identifying is executed by the data processing unit while receiving streaming content. |
| US08099512B2 |
Method and system for real-time synchronization across a distributed services communication network
A method for progressively synchronizing stored copies of indexed media transmitted between nodes on a network. The method includes progressively transmitting available indexed media from a sending node to a receiving node with a packet size and packetization interval sufficient to enable the near real-time rendering of the indexed media, wherein the near real-time rendering of the indexed media provides a recipient with an experience of reviewing the transmitted media live. At the receiving node, the transmitted indexed media is progressively receive and any indexed media that is not already locally stored at the receiving node is noted. The receiving node further continually generates and transmits to the sending node requests as needed for the noted indexed media. In response, the sending node transmits the noted indexed media to the receiving node. Both the sending node and the receiving node store the indexed media. As a result, both the sending node and the receiving node each have synchronized copies of the indexed media. |
| US08099509B2 |
Access control unit
[Means for Solution] Access-control-rule application means (310), upon receiving an access request, refers to an access control rule DB (350) and resource information DB (360), to judge whether the attribute of a rule matched with the request is permitted, denied, or manual approval. The access-control-rule application means (310) requests manual-access-control application means (320) to input a result of approval, if the attribute is manual approval. The manual-access-control application means (320) inputs the result of approval input from a resource administrator's terminal (104) into access-control-rule application means (310), which outputs the result of approval. |
| US08099504B2 |
Preserving sessions in a wireless network
A radio network controller and methods for reestablishing sessions in a wireless network are described. At least a portion of session information associated with a first session is saved; and in response to detecting an unexpected degradation of the first session, reestablishment of the first session is triggered using the portion of the session information. |
| US08099503B2 |
Methods and systems for providing secure access to a hosted service via a client application
The present invention discloses methods and systems for providing secure user access to services offered by a service provider to a client application over a network. One embodiment includes receiving an application cookie from the client application and populating a service cookie based on information in the application cookie. Information in the service cookie is utilized as a basis for regulating a provision of services to the client application. |
| US08099501B1 |
Adapter architecture
An apparatus for and method of processing service requests having a number of formats within a single generic gateway. The service requests are received by the server and routed to the appropriate one of a number of adapters. Each of the adapters convert service requests to a standardized format for input to the single generic gateway. The output of the single generic gateway is coupled through a corresponding one of a number of connectors to the end service provider for honoring. |
| US08099499B2 |
Storage and service provisioning for virtualized and geographically dispersed data centers
Geographically dispersed data centers each include servers and storage systems and are in communication with each other. An application is installed on a guest operating system on a virtual machine set up on a server at a first data center. The application accesses a logical unit on a storage system at the first data center. When migration of the application is initiated, the process determines whether any of the data centers has server resources and storage resources required to receive migration of the application. A destination data center is selected from candidate data centers meeting requirements for migration of the application. The application and guest operating system are migrated from the first data center to a second virtual machine set up on a second server at the destination data center. If a replica of the LU is not already present at the destination data center, the LU is also replicated. |
| US08099497B2 |
Utilizing removable virtual volumes for sharing data on a storage area network
The present disclosure provides data sharing through virtual removable volumes. A virtual volume of a SAN (storage area network) is presented to clients as a virtual removable volume. A controlling application controls access of clients connected to the SAN to the virtual removable volume. The controlling application allows only one client at a time to access the virtual removable volume. The controlling application allows a first client to mount the virtual removable volume as a removable volume. The controlling application then causes the first client to unmount the virtual removable volume and allows a second client to mount the virtual removable volume as a removable volume. In this way, the first client and second client are able to share data via the virtual removable volume without causing corruption of data and without requiring a shared file system or physical transfer of removable media. |
| US08099496B2 |
Systems and methods for clickstream analysis to modify an off-line business process involving matching a distribution list
Methods and systems are provided herein for the analysis of clickstream data of online users. The analysis methods and systems allow for the creation of new offline business methods based on online consumer behavior. In embodiments, the output file enables the third party to match a distribution list for a product or service catalog to a region. |
| US08099494B2 |
Tuning and optimizing distributed systems with declarative models
A system for automatically adjusting operation of a distributed application program includes analytics means having a monitoring component. The monitoring component receives one or more event streams of data corresponding to execution of one or more modules of the distributed application program. The monitoring component joins the received event streams with one or more declarative models to create operational data. A forensics component of the analytics means queries, such as by using data from a declarative model store, the operational data to identify trends or behavior information for the various modules or components of the distributed application program. A planner component then reviews data created by the forensics component to identify any needed changes to the declarative models. The planner component passes any modified declarative models back to the system, so that the distributed application program can operate more efficiently using the changes to the declarative models, as needed. |
| US08099492B2 |
Method and system for background replication of data objects
In an embodiment, a system and method may manage network resources to provide a near zero-cost background replication of data. Such a system may be inhibited from causing interference with foreground data flows. Such a system may also utilize a large fraction of spare network bandwidth. A system configured to implement such a method may include one or more servers and at least one client in communication via a network. Additionally the system may include a hint server, a monitor and/or a front-end application between a demand server and the network. |
| US08099490B2 |
Server for determining and storing mobile device capability data
A handset capability proxy server (1) automatically determines data concerning capabilities of mobile devices and links to users as the devices are used. Event handlers/filters (25, 26) listen to signalling and messaging traffic at different locations in a network. The filter (25, 26) filters out data not relevant to device capability. The handler accesses a RAM cache (37) to dynamically determine if there has been a capability change for a mobile device identifier. It transmits changes to a kernel (10) via a message bus (12). The kernel (10) manages a persistent database (41, 44) of consumer data and device capability data, and automatically notifies subscribed applications in real time. |
| US08099489B2 |
Network monitoring method and system
A method of monitoring a network, in particular a data or telecommunication network, where the network includes a number of units to be monitored, and where relevant states of these units are controlled with respect to functionality, efficiency and/or security by means of provided information elements called managed objects at the monitored units, that reflect states and/or parameters to be monitored, and that are read and/or written by a network management system using network management protocols, is characterized in that at the managed units an additional management object—the health check object—is being implemented, such that almost all relevant states of the respective monitored unit are aggregated into a single value, that can be read by the network management system. |
| US08099485B2 |
Method of analyzing non-preemptive DRAM transactions in real-time unified memory architectures
Systems and methods are disclosed for non-preemptive DRAM transactions. More specifically, the present invention relates to improvements in non-preemptive DRAM transactions in real-time unified memory architectures. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for determining access to non-preemptive DRAM devices. This method comprises determining real time need for access to the device and prioritizing access using a rate monotonic scheduling. |
| US08099484B2 |
Using mobile agents to perform operations of an information life-cycle management system
Facilitating performance of an operation in an information life-cycle management system comprising management elements organized levels includes generating a mobile agent operable to perform the operation. The mobile agent is embodied in executable code and is operable to move through at least a portion of the information life-cycle management system. The operation is performed using the mobile agent. |
| US08099481B2 |
System and method for resolving hubs and like devices in network topology
The present system and method for resolving hubs and other forms of relay devices in a subnet preferably comprises the steps of acquiring the adjacency table of each of the plurality of nodes, searching the adjacency table data for indications that a port is indirectly coupled to a plurality of other nodes through a hub, introducing an icon for each of the hubs in addition to icons for each of the plurality of nodes enabled with an adjacency-detection protocol, and logically coupling each hub to the associated nodes. Illustrations of the network topology generated using the preferred embodiment are therefore highly representative of the actual physical topology. |
| US08099480B1 |
Scalable workflow design for automated service management
A system may include a node repository that is configured and arranged to store one or more nodes, where each of the nodes represents an encapsulated workflow and each of the nodes includes a set of interfaces that are configured to enable interactions between the nodes, a configuration repository that is configured and arranged to store one or more configuration files, where each of the configuration files specifies a configuration for execution of one or more of the nodes and an execution engine that is arranged and configured to construct a dependency graph of nodes as specified in at least one of the configuration files and to execute the dependency graph. |
| US08099478B2 |
Program, method, and apparatus for managing applications
A program for managing applications that can replace application resources deployed over a multi-layered system with a single action. Upon receipt of a request for establishing an environment for a service, a target platform determining means consults group management data to identify server computers belonging to server groups corresponding to a plurality of functions necessary to provide the requested service. The identified server computers are chosen as target platforms on which necessary applications will be deployed to implement the functions. An application deploying means successively selects deployment data of applications required to implement the functions for the requested service and deploys each selected deployment data to the server computers chosen as the target platforms. |
| US08099469B2 |
Master nodes and slave nodes for a communication network, and methods thereof
Illustrative methods, apparatuses and software are described for searching for an ID of a slave node within a communication network, such as a single-wire communication network. Also, illustrative embodiments of a master node and a slave node are described. |
| US08099467B2 |
System, method, and user interface for searching for messages with attachments on a mobile device
Embodiments of a system, method, and user interface for searching for messages with attachments on mobile devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a messaging application is programmed such that, in operation, a user is presented with a search screen in which the user may define search parameters for a search. A search parameter associated with an option to search for messages of a specified type is provided, and more specifically, an option to search for messages (e.g. electronic mail messages) having one or more attachments is made available to the user. |
| US08099465B2 |
Method and system for preparing and replying to multi-party e-mails
A method for preparing and replying to multi-party e-mails is provided. The method includes opening an e-mail composition window in an e-mail application for generating an e-mail, specifying one or more recipients from a plurality of recipient groups for the e-mail, creating one or more response sections, identifying at least one recipient for each of the response sections, and sending the e-mail. The creating step further includes creating a general section in the e-mail. The method further includes selecting a delivery option from a plurality of delivery options for the e-mail prior to sending the e-mail and receiving one or more return receipts based on the delivery option selected in the e-mail sent. The method further includes selecting a response section in a received e-mail, and generating a reply to the response section in a reply e-mail composition window containing the response section. |
| US08099462B2 |
Method of displaying interactive effects in web camera communication
To allow for greater interactivity in video chat environments, displaying multiple effects from a sender of a first electronic device to a chat client of a second electronic device on a video chat region starts with the sender selecting an effect. If the selected effect has a predetermined mapping interactive effect, the interactive effect is displayed on the chat client. Then, the sender applies the effect or the interactive effect to an application region of the video chat region of the chat client. The application region is a partial or an entire region of the video chat region. |
| US08099452B2 |
Event stream conditioning
A distributed event processing system that can organize (e.g., order) input streams regardless of actual time of receipt is provided. This order may simply be arrival order or given explicitly on a specific event attribute, such as a timestamp or sequence number. Traditional standing event queries, such as a temporal correlation of events across multiple streams, often block if an input stream is slow or may produce an incorrect answer if events fail to arrive within the fixed time interval. In response to this situation, the subject innovation employs punctuation and heartbeats in connection with a robust and scalable event processing system. The innovation discloses mechanisms by which heartbeats and timestamps can be regularly generated by low-level nodes (e.g., sources) and propagated through the network, to unblock standing event pattern queries and align events from multiple distributed streams. |
| US08099450B2 |
Multiplication circuitry
Combining circuitry for combining a plurality of multi-bit partial product terms in a multiplier circuit includes a plurality of compression columns, each column receiving a plurality of partial product term bits. At least one compression column includes: a first circuit arranged to receive a first set of the plurality of partial product term bits for the at least one compression column, the first circuit further arranged to combine the first set of term bits to produce a first combined term bit set; and a second circuit arranged to receive a second set of the plurality of term bits for the at least one compression column and all of the first combined term bit set. |
| US08099442B2 |
Robust generative features
Disclosed are systems and methods for developing robust features for representing data. In embodiments, a linear generative model is computed using data. In embodiments, based upon a robustness measure, a set of features is selected. In embodiments, the set of features may be evaluated to gauge the capacity of the set of features to represent the data. Responsive to the set of features not satisfying an evaluation criterion or criteria, the set of features may be refined until the selected set of features complies with the evaluation criterion or criteria. |
| US08099440B2 |
Method for laying out fields in a database in a hybrid of row-wise and column-wise ordering
A method, system, and article are provided for employment of a hybrid layout of representation of data objects in computer memory. Columns of the database are separated based upon a classification of the columns. A vertical partition in the form of a bank is provided to receive an assignment of one or more data objects identified in the columns. Each bank is sized to be a divisor of a size of an associated hardware register. Assignment of data objects to banks organizes the data in a manner that support efficient query processing that mitigates the quantity of banks required to respond to the query. |
| US08099438B2 |
Systems and methods for processing XML document as a stream of events using a schema
A system can process an XML document associated with a schema. The system includes a matching component that is capable of receive a discrete piece from a stream of discrete pieces of the XML document. The matching component is capable of further analyzing the schema associated with the XML document and grabbing one or more discrete pieces of the XML document that are related to the discrete piece based on the schema and keeping in memory only the discrete piece of the XML document and said one or more related discrete pieces of the XML document. Then, the matching component can perform a match on said discrete piece and the one or more related discrete pieces of the XML document, and pass the discrete piece and the one or more related discrete pieces of the XML document to a user object for handling when a match is reached. |
| US08099432B2 |
Efficient paging of search query results
Methods and computer-readable media provide for efficient paging of search results in accordance with the access rights of a user. According to various implementations, a request for a search query results in a calculated number of search results being retrieved and analyzed for user access rights. As documents having user access rights are located, session state information corresponding to the number of located documents having user access rights and to the number of analyzed documents required to locate the number of documents having user access rights is maintained. This information is used to dynamically alter the number of subsequent documents that are retrieved in order to fill a page of results. This minimizes redundant determinations of user access rights and minimizes the number of documents required to be retrieved and analyzed in order to fulfill a search query request. |
| US08099427B2 |
Search article estimation apparatus and method and server for search article estimation apparatus
A search article estimation apparatus is provided that is capable of estimating an article that a user is trying to search for, even when the user cannot accurately provide information on the article that the user wants to search for. The state of access to a storage equipment by the user and a change in articles in the storage equipment during the access are checked by a sensing apparatus. If there is no change in articles, then a search state detection means determines that the user has performed an article search but has been unable to find the article. Furthermore, a search article estimation means refers to a storage location database and estimates an article that should originally be stored in the storage equipment, to be the article that the user is searching for. |
| US08099424B2 |
Treatment determination and impact analysis
A method, software, database and system for determining an optimal treatment for an illness in an individual and for determining the impact (e.g., side effects and intended benefits) of the treatment in the individual are presented in which an attribute profile of the individual containing genetic and non-genetic attributes is compared against a database containing combinations of genetic and non-genetic attributes that are statistically associated with successful treatment of the illness in other individuals. |
| US08099417B2 |
Semi-supervised part-of-speech tagging
Relevant search results for a given query may be determined using click data for the query and the number of times the query is issued to a search engine. The number of clicks that a result receives for the given query may provide a feedback mechanism to the search engine on how relevant the result is for the given query. The frequency of a query along with the associated clicks provides the search engine with the effectiveness of the query in producing relevant results. Edges in a graph of queries versus results may be weighted in accordance with the click data and the efficiency to rank the search results provided to a user. |
| US08099416B2 |
Generalized language independent index storage system and searching method
The invention may be embodied as a system having and/or a method utilizing a searchable database of index information. Each index in the database may have (a) at least one descriptor, which matches an entry that a user might provide in order to identify an item, (b) a first pointer which identifies a location of the item, and (c) a second pointer which identifies a location of information that may be helpful to the user in deciding whether to request retrieval of the item. The first pointers of one index may be the same as first pointers in a different index. The second pointer may identify a general class to which an item belongs. |
| US08099413B2 |
Relative document presenting system, relative document presenting method, and computer readable medium
A relative document presenting system includes: a first storage; a relevancy degree calculating unit; a receiving unit; a specifying unit; a totaling unit; and a presenting unit. |
| US08099409B2 |
System, method, and computer-readable medium for duplication optimization for parallel join operations on similarly large skewed tables
A system, method, and computer-readable medium for optimizing join operations in a parallel processing system are provided. A respective set of rows of a first table and a second table involved in a join operation are distributed to each of a plurality of processing modules. The join operation comprises a join on a first column of the first table and a second column of the second table. Each of the plurality of processing modules redistributes at least a portion of the rows of the first table distributed thereto substantially equally among the other processing modules and duplicates at least a portion of the rows of the second table distributed thereto among the plurality of processing modules. The disclosed optimization mechanisms provide for reduced spool space requirements for execution of the parallel join operation. |
| US08099408B2 |
Web forum crawling using skeletal links
A method and system for identifying informative links of a web site for use in crawling the web site is provided. A forum crawler analyzes sample web pages of a web forum to identify informative links and then crawls the web forum by following links determined to be informative and not following other links. The forum crawler system determines whether links are informative based on whether they are part of the overall structure of the web site or are used to select sequential information that has been split onto multiple web pages. |
| US08099407B2 |
Methods and systems for processing media files
Systems and methods for processing media files are described. In one embodiment, one or more events are captured having associated event data and associated with a client device, wherein each event is associated with an article and at least one of the articles is a media file, wherein at least one of the events is captured in real time upon the occurrence of the event, at least some of the event data and articles associated with the events are indexed and stored, a search query is received, and the at least one media file is determined as relevant to the search query. |
| US08099405B2 |
Search engine social proxy
A technique for enhancing the results of an existing online search engine involves re-ordering the results of a search according to the feedback provided by a user community to previous similar searches. In an embodiment, the technique is fully backward-compatible with existing online search engines. In an embodiment, feedback is collected by an intermediary that sits in-between a client and a server. The intermediary intercepts requests and, for some, modifies the results. In this way, the technique can enhance the results of searches addressed to online search engines such as google.com, while being non-intrusive to an online search engine and a client browser. |
| US08099402B2 |
Distributed data storage and access systems
A distributed system for content storage and access includes a storage platform having at least a first storage component, and an access platform having one or multiple access components. Each access component is associated with at least one access service. The access service may be an administrative service for receiving a service request initiated by a first user, the service request being associated with a first item of content, and for identifying a characteristic of the service request, a content management service for determining, based at least in part on the characteristic of the service request, a specification of a data transfer operation to be executed in association with the first storage component, and a directory service for maintaining information associated with the first item of content. |
| US08099394B2 |
Persistent data storage for data files of application data
A system for efficiently storing application data which allows a practically infinite number of physically separate storage devices to be used as archival storage means by one or more application programs. Application data is organized among the devices such that files with a similar expiry date (that is the date beyond which the files are no longer required to be archived) are grouped together on the same physical device, such that after the expiry date the device used for such files may be erased and re-used. Optionally, files with particular content-types may be grouped on the same physical device, or among physical devices of the same type. |
| US08099392B2 |
Electronic backup of applications
Systems and methods are provided for storing and restoring digital data. In some implementations, a method is provided. The method includes receiving, while a current view of an application is displayed in a user interface, a first user input requesting that a history view associated with the current view of the application be displayed, retrieve data associated with the history view, determining a presentation format for the data, and displaying the history view in response to the first user input in accordance with the presentation format, the history view including data associated with at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the current view of the application. |
| US08099388B2 |
Efficient handling of mostly read data in a computer server
An apparatus and method is described for improving access to mostly read data on network servers. The preferred embodiments more efficiently utilize replicated data servers to minimize server response time for improved performance of data access to network servers by workload managing client requests across the primary server and all replicated servers when it is possible to do so. In preferred embodiments, a load balancer supplies the most current data for mostly read data transactions while maximizing server usage by workload managing client requests across the primary server and all replicated servers. Client requests are managed by a load balancer in the workload manager. Client requests are sent by the load balancer to replicated servers when a routing table (stale data marker list) indicates that the data is in a safe period. Clients are directed exclusively to the primary server only during data update times. |
| US08099385B2 |
System and article of manufacture for maintaining data in a distributed computing environment for processing transaction requests
Provided are a system and article of manufacture for maintaining data in a distributed computing environment. Data is stored at a primary storage site. A data structure is processed indicating an association of data sets in the stored data, secondary storage sites, and update frequencies. In response to processing the data structure, a determination is made of one of a plurality of secondary storage sites and a determination is made of at least one data set to transmit to the determined secondary storage site at an update frequency. The determined data set is transmitted to the determined secondary storage site according to the update frequency. |
| US08099381B2 |
Processing high-dimensional data via EM-style iterative algorithm
Systems and methods are disclosed for factorizing high-dimensional data by simultaneously capturing factors for all data dimensions and their correlations in a factor model, wherein the factor model provides a parsimonious description of the data; and generating a corresponding loss function to evaluate the factor model. |
| US08099380B1 |
Blind evaluation of nearest neighbor queries wherein locations of users are transformed into a transformed space using a plurality of keys
Systems and techniques are described for blind evaluation of nearest neighbor queries. Locations of multiple users in an original space are received. The locations in the original space are encoded into encoded locations in a transformed space. A relative proximity of the encoded locations in the transformed space is maintained after the encoding. Multiple keys corresponding to the multiple users are generated. Each key enables a reverse transformation of an encoded user location in the transformed space to an original user location in the original space. The multiple keys are provided to the corresponding multiple users, and the encoded locations in the transformed space are provided to a device. An order of computations required to reverse transform the encoded locations in the transformed space to the locations in the original space in the absence of a key is greater than a computational threshold. |
| US08099379B2 |
Performance evaluating apparatus, performance evaluating method, and program
A performance evaluating apparatus for a rule is provided, which is capable of evaluating a business value of a rule applied to the operation and management of an information system through autonomous control. The performance evaluating apparatus for a rule collects, respectively before activation processing that is prescribed by a rule and after completion of the execution of the processing, a rule execution history and a system state information indicating a state of a monitored information system that is necessary for calculation of the business value. The business value is calculated from the collected system state information and rule execution history by a given calculation formula. |
| US08099376B2 |
Rule-based management of adaptive models and agents
A computer-implemented method described for making a recommendation with respect to a plurality of items using a plurality of adaptive models or agents. The described method includes receiving one or more business rules; receiving a request for a recommendation; receiving attributes relating to the request; activating one or more adaptive agents such that each activated adaptive agent generates one or more recommendations with respect to the items based at least in part on an evaluation of prior outcomes relating to the items; selecting from among the one or more recommendations at least one final recommendation; and displaying the at least one final recommendation to a user. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. |
| US08099372B2 |
Method of modeling composite emotion in multidimensional vector space
A method of modeling a composite emotion in a multidimensional vector space, is provided with creating an emotion vector space by defining dimensions of a vector space in consideration of stimuli affecting emotions, and dividing a defined multidimensional vector space into emotion regions. Further, the method of modeling a composite emotion in a multidimensional vector space includes creating a composite emotion by calculating a fuzzy partitioned matrix between a current state vector and respective representative vectors in the created emotion vector space. |
| US08099363B1 |
Methods and systems for processing card-not-present financial transactions as card-present financial transactions
Methods and systems for processing and facilitating the processing of payment card transactions between remote merchants and purchaser/card holders as authenticated card-present transactions, and for reducing processing fees charged to merchants. Purchaser/card holders are provided with payment card readers, and optionally, with biometric readers and/or personal identification number (“PIN”) key pads. When a payment card transaction is to be conducted between a merchant and a purchaser/card holder, the purchaser/card holder is connected or redirected to a remote face-to-face (“RF2F”) program/system. The RF2F program/system is configured to receive personal identification information from the purchaser/card holder, and optionally from the biometric reader and/or PIN key pad, and to authenticate the purchaser/card holder. The RF2F program/systemRF2F program/system/system is further configured to receive payment card information from the payment card reader, and to authenticate the payment card. The RF2F program/systemRF2F program/system/system is thus able to authenticate the payment card transaction as a card-present transaction. Accordingly, card processors and/or financial institutions, in cooperation with participating merchants and consumers, can reduce the number of fraudulent transactions occurring in the marketplace. RF2F payment card processing will reduce the cost of payment card related fraud as well as the processing fees charged to merchants. Methods and systems for rewarding merchants and purchaser/card holders are disclosed herein. |
| US08099362B2 |
Construction payment management system and method with budget reconciliation features
A computer-implemented method of reconciling a primary budget for a construction project. One embodiment of the invention includes generating a primary budget for the construction project and assigning a first primary budget line item from the primary budget to a participant. A secondary budget is then generated for the primary budget line item. Invoice amounts corresponding to secondary budget line items are stored. Before administering a draw that includes a new payment to the second participant, the system ensures that the total sum of a current invoiced amount and all previously invoiced amounts corresponding to secondary budget line items is less than or equal to the budget amount of the primary budget line item. |
| US08099361B1 |
Transaction processing system that applies user-specified rules to divide payment amounts among multiple payment instruments
A network-based transaction processing system allows online users to flexibly and efficiently make payments using a combination of different payment instruments. The system includes a user interface through which each user can define one or more personal payment plans. Each such payment plan specifies a plurality of payment instruments, and includes rules that specify how the monetary amount associated with a transaction is to be divided among these payment instruments. These rules may be non-transaction-specific, such that a user can re-use a payment plan over time to complete multiple transactions. In one embodiment, a user can specify an order in which the payment instruments are to be applied, and can specify per-transaction maximum monetary amounts to be charged to specific instruments. |
| US08099360B2 |
Method and apparatus for issuing and managing gift certificates
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for issuing and redeeming a gift certificate drawn on a credit card or other financial account. In some aspects, issuing a gift certificate may comprise receiving a request for a gift certificate, determining a gift certificate identifier and generating a gift certificate. |
| US08099355B2 |
System and method for determining implied market information
Implied prices and their quantities are computed. Markets are characterized by exhaustively computing one or more combinations of other related markets. Each combination when summed in a particular way results in the market under consideration. In a described embodiment, the number of market combinations found is an exhaustive list of market combinations such that the market under consideration can be fully and completely characterized, such that each combination provides implied market information about the market under consideration. Implied market information can include implied prices and their quantities, which are computed for each combination and used accordingly in displays or used by automated or semi-automated trading tools. |
| US08099351B2 |
Methods, systems, and device readable media for proposition evaluation
A method, system, and device readable medium for running a predictive wiki optimization application is disclosed. The optimization application provides an improved decision-making or valuation method for formalizing and systematizing the decision-making or valuation process. The application leverages collective knowledge about a field of endeavor in order to yield better decisions or more accurate valuations. In some embodiments, the application represents an application of predictive markets within a wiki-style wrapper. |
| US08099342B1 |
Methods and apparatus for centralized global tax computation, management, and compliance reporting
Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture for tax computation, management, and compliance reporting via a centralized transactional tax platform capable of incorporating transaction data and/or tax information from multiple locations and/or multiple business applications via a network architecture are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a central server may be configured to execute an application to generate a user interface to enable configuration of tax compliance data via a network link, to receive transaction data from one or more client systems via the network, to calculate transaction taxes corresponding to the transaction data, and to store tax information, including outputs and computational logic generated by tax calculation engines executed by the server. In another embodiment, the tax calculations may be executed client-side, while administration of tax compliance data and reporting are facilitated by the central server. |
| US08099341B2 |
System and method for recreating tax documents
Systems and methods for recreating a copy of a previously filed tax document of a user is provide. In exemplary embodiments, an order processing engine receives a user's order request for a copy of a previously filed tax document. The order request is processed with an agency, such as the IRS. A tax transcript is downloaded from the agency. Subsequently, values from the tax transcript are mapped into one or more templates to recreate the filed tax document. The recreated tax document is then delivered to the user. |
| US08099339B1 |
Systems and methods for pharmacy inventory management
Systems and methods for tracking prescription drug inventory of a pharmacy at a switch. Embodiments of the invention include receiving, at a switch, a prescription claim transaction from a pharmacy system, where the prescription claim transaction indicates an amount of a drug, and transmitting the prescription claim transaction to a payer system for adjudication. An adjudicated response for the prescription claim is then received from the payer system, and an inventory amount associated with the drug maintained by the switch is updated by the switch. When a determination is made that the inventory amount has met a threshold value, a message is transmitting indicating that the inventory amount has met the threshold value. In some embodiments of the invention the message is sent to the pharmacy or directly to a supplier as part of an order for additional inventory of the drug. |
| US08099337B2 |
Replenishment planning management
A computer-implemented method of managing stock levels includes obtaining target-location-dependent information pertaining to a location product in an order management system using order proposals for management of the stock levels. The location product may not be included in an active order proposal. A computer-readable medium and/or system may also be provided. |
| US08099334B1 |
Method for music management in a multi-user music system
The Invention is a network-based system for the playing, enjoyment, and management of music and other electronic media which is easy to use by means of simple remote control devices assigned to each user.Each user votes for/against each track as it is played, and those preferences are stored to shape future playlists, while identifying each user's favorites.Because the remote control associated with a player has a unique address, it can connect to any music player. The system identifies the user and downloads his favorite tracks, adding them to the mix of music played.When multiple users are present the invention plays music selected from the media of all of them. They may buy copies of tracks from each other, yet firm control of the distribution of tracks is maintained ensuring protection of artist copyrights and enabling timely, accurate payment to distributors and copyright owners. |
| US08099331B2 |
Method of facilitating value-based bartering over the internet
A method, apparatus, and system of facilitating value-based bartering over the internet are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system of e-commerce includes a computer network, a server to host a market place website, a listing module to enable an entity to assign a specified value to a good and to list the good for trade on the market place website such that the listing of the good will expire after being posted for a specified period of time, a trade module to enable an entity to trade the good for an other good of an other entity on the market place website, a search module to enable the entity to search a list of goods on the market place website. |
| US08099323B2 |
System and method for providing a futures/forward tradable market and bidded price negotiation for internet advertising
A system of advertising on the Internet, including: an on-line system for sellers of future advertising space to create advertising contracts; an on-line system for presenting the advertising contracts to purchasers of advertising space; an on-line system for the purchasers of future advertising space to select the sellers' advertising contracts; a system to integrate purchased advertising contracts to a delivery mechanism that displays purchasers' advertising in the sellers advertising space; and a system for transferring funds from the purchasers to the sellers after completion and audit of the advertising contracts. |
| US08099321B2 |
System and method of user access service levels in a distributed network communication system
A system and method uses a plurality of access points coupled to a network, wherein at least one of the plurality of access points is operable to communicate with a computing device, and a network provider server communicatively coupled to a network. The network provider server is operable to perform initiating communication between a computing device and a network, wherein the computing device is coupled to the network through an access point of the plurality of access points at a geographic location, determining different levels of services apply at the venue, presenting one or more of the different levels of services for selection by a user of the computing device, and delivering a level of service selected by the user, among the different levels of services, over the network to the computing device. |
| US08099318B2 |
Mobile device marketing and advertising platforms, methods, and systems
A mobile marketing campaign platform and method including: a planning module including: a definition module for setting budget and objectives; and a design module for designing the campaign utilizing a plurality of templates; an execution module including: design tools for designing an executable campaign from the campaign design made from the templates; and operating tools for causing the executable campaign to execute over multiple mobile services; and a reporting module including: tracking means for tracking at least one of a campaign activity, the campaign performance objectives; and the brand performance objectives. |
| US08099317B2 |
Mobile device marketing and advertising platforms, methods, and systems
A mobile marketing campaign platform and method including: a planning module including: a definition module for setting budget and objectives; and a design module for designing the campaign utilizing a plurality of templates; an execution module including: design tools for designing an executable campaign from the campaign design made from the templates; and operating tools for causing the executable campaign to execute over multiple mobile services; and a reporting module including: tracking means for tracking at least one of a campaign activity, the campaign performance objectives; and the brand performance objectives. |
| US08099316B2 |
Mobile device marketing and advertising platforms, methods, and systems
A mobile marketing campaign platform and method including: a planning module including: a definition module for setting budget and objectives; and a design module for designing the campaign utilizing a plurality of templates; an execution module including: design tools for designing an executable campaign from the campaign design made from the templates; and operating tools for causing the executable campaign to execute over multiple mobile services; and a reporting module including: tracking means for tracking at least one of a campaign activity, the campaign performance objectives; and the brand performance objectives. |
| US08099314B2 |
Commodity control system and medium containing commodity control data
The object of the present invention is to carry out commodity quality control among a plurality of enterprises, and control a proper commodity manufacturing process and distribution process. In order to achieve the objective, the present invention comprises information storage means (12), communication means (8) for communicating with an external device, and information processing means (14) for controlling the operation of each of the means. The storage means (12) stores for each of commodities identification information for identifying the commodity as well as client information of a client who has acquired the commodity. The processing means (14) comprises the steps of correlating the identification information for identifying the commodity with the client information of the client who has acquired the commodity to receive the correlated information from a client terminal through the communication means (8), collating the received identification information with the identification information stored in the storage means (12), specifying, when the received identification information has been matched with the identification information stored in the storage means (12) as a result of the collation, the commodity identified by the received identification information, and adding the received client information to the storage means (12) for each of the specified commodities. |
| US08099312B2 |
Project management system and method
A program management structure that includes a plurality of projects, where each project is staffed with a project manager and wherein each project includes a plurality of tasks which can have multiple interdependencies and at least one position reporting up to the project manager. A plurality of organizations is also included, where each organization is provided with a plurality of departments, each of which has a department manager and at least one staffer reporting up to the department manager and filling at least part of the at least one position. Additionally, project exceptions are reported to the project manager and functional exceptions are reported to the functional manager. |
| US08099311B2 |
System and method for routing tasks to a user in a workforce
A routing system and method efficiently routes tasks to users who are members of a large and geographically diverse workforce. Generally, limited information is known about each user's skills and behavioral factors. Based on a profile containing the known information about a user, task is efficiently allocated and routed to a user by matching attributes of the task to the profile using a neural network and a stochastic model. Feedback is collected by the routing system based on the user's handling of the task and on whether a solution provided by the user was accepted. Over time, as more feedback is collected, the profile and/or the neural network are refined which allows for more efficient routing of future tasks. |
| US08099310B2 |
Maintenance scheduling system, maintenance scheduling method, and image forming apparatus
A maintenance scheduling system that lays out a maintenance schedule for an image forming apparatus includes an actual-use-result acquiring unit that acquires actual use result information of consumables, a failure-probability-distribution estimating unit that estimates failure probability distributions of the consumables, a cost-related-constant acquiring unit that acquires cost related constants of the consumables, a first cost calculating unit that calculates, for each of plural visit interval values, cost per unit time required for the image forming apparatus, a visit-interval calculating unit that calculates the visit interval value giving minimum cost, a second cost calculating unit that calculates, for each of plural replacement interval values, cost per unit time required for the image forming apparatus, a replacement-interval calculating unit that calculates a calculated replacement interval value, and a maintenance-schedule presenting unit that presents the next visit time and at least one of the consumables to be replaced in the visit. |
| US08099309B1 |
Financial policy change advisor
The invention relates to a computer implemented method of estimating a first financial outcome. The computer implemented method involves obtaining financial data associated with an entity, selecting a first proposed financial policy impacting the entity, applying the first proposed financial policy to the financial data to estimate the first financial outcome, and presenting the first financial outcome to the entity. |
| US08099307B2 |
Methods, systems, and devices for managing medical files
The disclosure herein provides methods, systems, and devices for managing, transferring, modifying, converting and/or tracking medical files and/or medical system messages. In certain embodiments, the foregoing may generally be based on requesting medical files at a first medical facility, identifying the requested medical files at a second medical facility, initiating a secure network connection between the first and second medical facility, modifying a header portion of the medical files based on patient identification information created by the first medical facility, and other processing steps. |
| US08099302B2 |
Method of increasing efficiency in a medical claim transaction, and computer program capable of executing same
A method of adjudicating a medical claim includes providing a requirements for a first claim and a second claim, receiving a medical claim for a medical procedure, setting a first score for the first claim and a second score for the second claim to an initial value, comparing components of the medical claim to the requirements of the first and second claims, changing the first and second scores for each one of the components that match one of the requirements and for each one of the requirements that is missing from the components, and selecting the first or second claim based upon predetermined criteria applied to their respective scores to determine either a monetary value of the medical procedure for a medical service provider associated with the medical procedure or a monetary value of medical coverage for a patient associated with the medical procedure. |
| US08099300B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing pharmaceutical orders to determine whether a buyer of pharmaceuticals qualifies for an “own use” discount
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for processing pharmaceutical orders to determine whether a buyer of pharmaceuticals qualifies for an “own use” discount. “Own use” discounts on pharmaceuticals are available for a limited class of buyers under 35 U.S.C. §13c. Under one method, an auditor receives an order for a quantity of pharmaceuticals, receives a report associated with the order containing sufficient information therein to perform an audit on the order, and compares the information found in the order with the information found in the associated report to make a status determination as to whether a buyer qualifies for an “own use” discount. Preferably a second report containing additional audit information is received as well. The auditor can also audit the order by comparing the order to this additional information. If these comparisons result in a determination that the buyer does in fact qualify for an “own use” discount, the auditor can then place the order with a pharmaceutical seller for a discounted price. Also disclosed is a pharmaceutical order auditing system that uses a computer to perform the above-described audit. |
| US08099298B2 |
Genetic data analysis and database tools
A computerized tool and method for delivery of pharmacogenetic and pharmacological information, comprising a core system having algorithms and databases for storing, collating, accessing, cross-referencing, and interpreting genetic and pharmacologic data, with a graphical user interface for a client network of providers of laboratory genetic testing services to access the core services under contract. The system includes “paypoints” in support of improved business models. Included are mechanisms for ‘pass through’ third party and insurance reimbursement for interpretive reports, insurance reimbursement for on-line access to pharmacogenetic information at the point of care, tools for market segmentation, and a conversion tool for capturing new subscribers. Also disclosed are tools and predictive algorithms for preventing drug-drug and drug-gene adverse drug reactions. |
| US08099296B2 |
System and method for rules-based context management in a medical environment
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for improved diagnostic reading and workflow in a healthcare environment using rules-based context management. In an embodiment, the system includes a plurality of information sources, wherein each of the plurality of information sources includes information. The system also includes a rules engine including at least one rule governing at least one of availability and presentation of information. In addition, the system includes a context manager for obtaining information from the plurality of information sources based on a query and filtering the information based on the at least one rule. In an embodiment, the information sources include an information system and/or an imaging system, for example. |
| US08099295B2 |
Prescription creation and adjudication method
The invention provides a computer-implemented method for creating a prescription for treatment of an injury or illness covered by a workers' compensation system, which facilitates on-line adjudication of a workers' compensation claim. The patient name, employer name and type and quantity of medication prescribed are input. Routing data including a processor identification number is retrieved from an employer database. The program outputs prescription data comprising the name of the patient, the type and quantity of medication prescribed, and the routing data. The prescription data is preferably NCPDP compliant and used by a pharmacy to route a workers' compensation claim and fill the prescription. |
| US08099286B1 |
System and method for providing situational awareness enhancement for low bit rate vocoders
Situational awareness enhancement is promoted in a radio communication transceiver receiving non-verbal content and verbal content from a remote source. A vocoder communicatively coupled with the transceiver receives the verbal content packets, and a situational awareness encoder/decoder communicatively coupled with the transceiver receives the non-verbal content packets. The encoder/decoder links and synchronizes the verbal content packets with the corresponding non-verbal content packets, and provides the verbal content packets to the vocoder in parallel with the provision of the non-verbal content packets to the encoder/decoder. The non-verbal and verbal content is extracted from the respective packets and are synchronously output for display and playback, respectively. |
| US08099285B2 |
Temporally accurate watermarking system and method of operation
A system for identifying audio data is provided. The system includes a transform system receiving left channel audio data and right channel audio data and generating a plurality of frequency bins of left channel magnitude data, left channel phase data, right channel magnitude data and right channel phase data. A watermarking system receives watermarking data and modifies predetermined frequency bins of the left channel phase data and the right channel phase data to encode the watermarking data. A magnitude system receives the left channel magnitude data and the right channel magnitude data and increases the left channel magnitude data and the right channel magnitude data for one or more of the predetermined frequency bins to a threshold level if the left channel magnitude data and the right channel magnitude data for the corresponding frequency bin is less than the threshold level. |
| US08099284B2 |
System and method for speech recognition system
A digital speech enabled middleware module is disclosed that facilitates interaction between a large number of client devices and network-based automatic speech recognition (ASR) resources. The module buffers feature vectors associated with speech received from the client devices when the number of client devices is greater than the available ASR resources. When an ASR decoder becomes available, the module transmits the feature vectors to the ASR decoder and a recognition result is returned. |
| US08099281B2 |
System and method for word-sense disambiguation by recursive partitioning
A device and related methods for word-sense disambiguation during a text-to-speech conversion are provided. The device, for use with a computer-based system capable of converting text data to synthesized speech, includes an identification module for identifying a homograph contained in the text data. The device also includes an assignment module for assigning a pronunciation to the homograph using a statistical test constructed from a recursive partitioning of training samples, each training sample being a word string containing the homograph. The recursive partitioning is based on determining for each training sample an order and a distance of each word indicator relative to the homograph in the training sample. An absence of one of the word indicators in a training sample is treated as equivalent to the absent word indicator being more than a predefined distance from the homograph. |
| US08099277B2 |
Speech-duration detector and computer program product therefor
A speech-duration detector includes a starting-end detecting unit that detects a starting end of a first duration where the characteristic exceeds a threshold value as a starting end of a speech-duration, when the first duration continues for a first time length; a trailing-end-candidate detecting unit that detects a starting end of a second duration where the characteristic is lower than the threshold value as a candidate point for a trailing end of speech, when the second duration continues for a second time length; and a trailing-end-candidate determining unit that determines the candidate point as a trailing end of the speech-duration, when the second duration where the characteristic exceeds the threshold value does not continue for the first time length while a third time length elapses from measurement at the candidate point. |
| US08099275B2 |
Sound encoder and sound encoding method for generating a second layer decoded signal based on a degree of variation in a first layer decoded signal
A sound encoder having an improved quantization performance while suppressing an increase of the bit rate to a lowest level. In a second layer encoder, a standard deviation calculator calculates a standard deviation σc of a first layer decoding spectrum after decoding a scale factor ratio multiplication and outputs the standard deviation σc to a selector. The selector selects a linear transform function as a function for a nonlinear transform of a residual spectrum according to the standard deviation σc A nonlinear transform function selects one of prepared nonlinear transform functions #1 to #N according to a result of the selection by the selector, and outputs the selected one to an inverse transformer. The inverse transformer subjects an inverse transform (expansion) to a residual spectrum candidate that is stored in a residual spectrum code book using the nonlinear transform function outputted from the nonlinear transform function and outputs the result to an adder. |
| US08099273B2 |
Compression of emulation trace data
A system and method for compressing trace data from an emulation system. Scan chains may receive trace data from configurable logic blocks inside one or more emulation chips, and the data received from the scan chains may be compressed. Where delta compression is used, the scan chains may also perform a delta detection function. Alternatively, delta detection may be performed using the outputs of the scan chains. In addition, event detectors may be implemented within or outside of the scan chains. Compression of the trace data may include receiving a plurality of data sets and performing compression along cross-sections of the combined data sets. |
| US08099267B2 |
Input deck migrator for simulators
An example method for performing an operation includes obtaining an input deck of a first simulator, the input deck being prepared based on field data for performing a simulation of the operation using the first simulator. The method further includes migrating the input deck from the first simulator to generate input for a second simulator, the second simulator being configured to simulate the operation based on the input to generate a simulation result. The method further includes storing the simulation result in a repository. |
| US08099265B2 |
Fast characterization of fluid dynamics
Methods and apparatus for fast computation of fluid velocity fields in the presence of objects causing flow discontinuity are disclosed. Rigorous evaluation of perturbed velocity fields, each resulting from placing an object in a bounded space sustaining a reference velocity field, are determined for different orientations of the object with respect to a reference velocity field and different values of the magnitude of the velocity field. A velocity field is determined at selected sampling points within an enclosure surrounding the object. Pre-computed perturbed velocity fields determined for each object of a set of reference objects are stored in a computer memory. Fast real-time computation of velocity-field perturbations caused by presence of objects at arbitrary positions in a space sustaining velocity fields of different magnitudes and directions are realized using the stored pre-computed data. |
| US08099248B2 |
Flow rate measuring device, and gas supply system employing it, method for specifying gas appliance
A flow rate measuring device has a flow rate measurement unit, an appliance registering unit, a calculating unit, a determining unit, a first appliance identifying unit, and a second appliance identifying unit. The appliance registering unit stores at least first gas flow rate variation profiles on activation of respective gas appliances coupled to a flow channel, and second gas flow rate variation profiles based on the control specific to the respective gas appliances. The first appliance identifying unit identifies which gas appliance is activated based on the first gas flow rate variation profiles on activation. When a determining unit detects a stop of any of gas appliances, the second appliance identifying unit identifies a gas appliance in continuous use by using the second gas flow rate variation profiles based on the control specific to the respective gas appliances. |
| US08099247B2 |
Back lit mirror with media display device
A combination mirror and media display device assembly is provided. The combination mirror and media display device includes a mirror platform having a media display device viewing area and a media display device coupled to the mirror platform. The media display device is positioned to display images through the media display device viewing area. |
| US08099244B2 |
Method, a computer program and a computer system for determination whether a subject has an increased risk for acquiring a disease
A method, a computer program and a computer system are described for determining whether a subject has an increased risk for acquiring a disease, said method comprising selecting at least one disease, for example using a user interface wherein in a field 23a suitable plurality of diseases is provided. In field 23b, an interactive window for the user is provided for posing questions and for acquiring answers. The questions are preferably generated by a question generation engine and are projected in the field 26. Answers, provided by the user are acquired using the same interactive field 26 after which they are processed together with deterministically established partial risk factors linked to said answers leading to a computation of a total risk factor of the user for the selected disease. In field 23c a number of tests which may be recommended for a suitable screening procedure is presented. |
| US08099229B2 |
Method and apparatus for limiting wheel slip
An engine control system comprises an engine speed control module and an idle limiting module. The engine speed control module selectively controls an engine based on an idle speed request. The idle limiting module selectively reduces the idle speed request by an amount that is based on a wheel slip value. |
| US08099227B2 |
Control of gas turbine engine
Systems, devices, and methods for controlling a fuel supply for a turbine or other engine using direct and/or indirect indications of power output and optionally one or more secondary control parameters. |
| US08099226B2 |
Throttle compensation for second gear starts in manual transmission vehicles
A system and method for throttle control during a second gear start in a vehicle with a manual transmission. A powertrain control module (PCM) is coupled to a throttle and is configured to control movement of the throttle according to a winter mode e-throttle map that is stored in the PCM. The PCM is configured to control the throttle based upon the winter mode e-throttle map upon detection of a second gear start condition. |
| US08099223B2 |
Control system of internal combustion engine and control method of the control system
When a catalyst warm-up request for promoting warm-up of a catalyst is issued and no negative-pressure increase request for increasing a negative pressure downstream of a throttle valve is issued, a control system of an internal combustion engine controls the ignition timing to the timing (ϑ0+Δ ϑ1) obtained by correcting the normal ignition timing (ϑ0) to be retarded by a correction amount &Delta,−ϑ1, and controls the degree of opening of the throttle valve to a throttle opening (TAO+ΔTA1) that is larger than the normal throttle opening TAO by a correction amount ΔTA1. When the negative intake pressure must be increased for brake boosting when ignition is on the retard side, the throttle spending is reduced and the ignition is advanced gradually after some delay to avoid torque shock. |
| US08099222B2 |
Method for automatically controlling the charge air temperature of an internal combustion engine
A method for automatically controlling the charge air temperature of an internal combustion engine, in which a coolant flow upstream of a recooler is distributed as a function of the position of a characteristic diagram-type thermostat valve between a recooler coolant flow and a bypass coolant flow. The temperature of the charge air cooler coolant flow is determined downstream of the recooler by the reunited coolant flows, i.e., the recooler coolant flow and the bypass coolant flow. The charge air temperature is determined by the temperature of the charge air cooler coolant flow. A control deviation of a nominal charge air temperature from an actual charge air temperature is computed, a nominal bypass coolant flow is computed as a correcting variable from the control deviation by means of a charge air temperature controller, a control signal (PWM) for actuating the characteristic diagram-type thermostat valve is determined from the nominal bypass coolant flow by a computing unit, and the position of the characteristic diagram-type thermostat valve (6) is determined by the control signal (PWM). |
| US08099217B2 |
Performance-based haulage management system
A method for managing haul routes in work environments comprises collecting performance data associated with a machine operating in a work environment. The method also includes determining a drive axle torque of the machine and estimating a total effective grade associated with the machine based on the drive axle torque. The estimated total effective grade is compared with a threshold level and, if the estimated total effective grade exceeds the threshold level, a design performance of the machine may be simulated based on the calculated total effective grade. Design performance data is compared with the collected performance data, and a payload limit of the machine is adjusted if the design performance is inconsistent with collected performance data. |
| US08099211B2 |
Electric power steering apparatus
A microcomputer is provided with an extracting section capable of extracting a specific frequency component from an input signal. The extracting section extracts, from a pinion angle corresponding to a signal indicating a state of the steering system, a frequency component corresponding to a vibration of a steering system caused by stress applied to steerable wheels. The extracting section outputs an effective value of the extracted frequency component as a power spectrum to a second computing section. In the case that the power spectrum output from the extracting section is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value, the microcomputer enhances a torque inertia compensation control so as to suppress vibration of the steering system caused by the stress. In other words, the microcomputer increases a torque inertia compensation amount corresponding to a compensation component based on a steering torque differential value. |
| US08099198B2 |
Hybrid power generation and energy storage system
An integrated and hybrid energy provider and storage device system for enhancing the energy efficiency and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions particularly for systems that utilize energy in a discrete and discontinuous manner, such as plug-in hybrid vehicles is provided. The system provides automated means to generate power, distribute the preferably locally generated power to a multiplex array of energy storage devices in a dynamic manner. The system, when utilizing dynamic algorithms, preferably meets the complex demands of often conflicting energy storage device requirements and real-time demand loads in-conjunction with dynamic switching between energy storage devices to enhance the performance and effectiveness that is beneficial to both the aggregate energy efficiency and the individual owner demands of each energy storage device. |
| US08099197B2 |
Method and system for distributed energy generator message aggregation
A method and system for aggregating messages. The method comprises obtaining, at a controller, a first plurality of messages related to operation of a distributed energy generator; generating, at the controller, a second plurality of messages from the first plurality, wherein each message in the second plurality has a start-time within a first time window; and generating, at the controller, a third plurality of messages from the second plurality, wherein each message in the third plurality has an end-time within a second time window and is associated with an indicia of a message group. |
| US08099196B2 |
Control method and controller for a mechanohydraulic system
The invention relates to a control method for a mechanical-hydraulic system having a degree of freedom per hydraulic actuator which is embodied as a control path, and a measuring sensor which is used to measure the pressure ph of a hydraulic cylinder and a measuring sensor which is used to measure the position xh of the piston of the hydraulic cylinder. A control unit which can receive input variables of hydraulic pressure ph, and hydraulic actuator position xh, is provided. An observer, which determines the desired pressure of the hydraulic system and the speed vh of the hydraulic actuator, is implemented in the system. The desired pressure in the control element is taken into account in the set of rules of the control element and the speed vh of the hydraulic actuator can be over-ridden for attenuating the control element. |
| US08099194B2 |
Demand control
Included are embodiments for demand control. At least one embodiment of a method includes sending a first control signal, the first control signal configured to indicate a first supply for an environment, the first supply based on a first environmental factor and a control setting and determining a change in a second environmental factor. Some embodiments include calculating a second supply for the environment, based on the determined change and sending a second control signal, the second control signal configured to indicate the second supply for the environment. |
| US08099192B2 |
Method and apparatus for teaching a workpiece transfer robot
A method is provided for teaching a transfer robot used in conjunction with a workpiece processing system including a pedestal assembly, a light sensor having an optical input fixedly coupled to the pedestal assembly, a transfer robot having an end effector, and a processing chamber containing the pedestal assembly and light sensor. The method includes the steps of producing light within the processing chamber, moving the end effector over the optical input such that amount of light reaching the light sensor varies in relation to the position of the end effector, and recording the signal gain as the end effector is moved over the optical input. The method also includes the step of establishing from the recorded signal gain a desired position of the end effector relative to the pedestal assembly. |
| US08099190B2 |
Apparatus and method for transferring two or more wafers whereby the positions of the wafers can be measured
A method and an apparatus for transferring a substantially flat and substantially circular objects, such as wafers, from a pick-up position to a delivery position, the apparatus comprising, a manipulator, at least one source for emitting a source signal, at least one sensor for sensing said source signal and for providing a sensor signal, a computing device arranged for processing at least one sensor signal to obtain data on the position of said object, the manipulator being arranged for simultaneously transferring a first and a second object along a path in a substantially parallel orientation, spaced apart from each other, and substantially co-axially whereby the central axis of each object may be displaced radially, a said source and a said sensor are connected by a virtual line, whereby the virtual line includes an angle with the central axes of the first and second objects. |
| US08099188B2 |
Parallel kinematic robot and method for controlling this robot
An industrial robot for moving an object in space. A platform is arranged for carrying the object. A first arm is arranged for influencing the platform in a first movement. The first arm includes a first actuator and three links. Each link includes an outer joint connected to the platform and an inner joint connected to the first actuator. A second arm is arranged for influencing the platform in a second movement. The second arm includes a second actuator and two links. Each link includes an outer joint connected to the platform and an inner joint connected to the second actuator. A third arm is arranged for influencing the platform in a third movement. The third arm includes one link including an outer joint connected to the platform. At least one of the links is arranged with an adjustable length and includes a linear actuator for controlling the length of the link. |
| US08099187B2 |
Securely processing and tracking consumable supplies and consumable material
A credential production system and methods for securely processing a credential substrate and tracking quantities of consumable material using a credentials production system and secured consumable supplies. The system includes a consumable supply and a memory that contains a state identifier that defines a state of the supply. A supply manager is configured to access the memory and set the state identifier to one of a production disabled state and a production enabled state. The system also includes a credential production device that is configured to receive the state of the supply. The credential production device is authorized to process a credential substrate using the consumable supply when the state identifier is set to the production enabled state, and the credential production device is prevented form processing the credential substrate using the supply when the state identifier is set to the production disabled state. |
| US08099184B2 |
Load compensation for robotic applications
Disclosed is a method and system for compensating for the load a part places on a part positioner system that positions the part for work operations by a robot. The part positioner system rotates a part holding assembly about the axis of rotation of a shoulder drive. The part holding assembly may have a column that extends perpendicular to the shoulder center line. A counter weight system is incorporated into the column that includes a counter weight pack that is moved along the length of the column. The shoulder drive drives the part and part holding assembly load in order to measure a torque applied to the shoulder drive. A load offset may be calculated based on the applied torque. The counter weight pack may then be moved to a position on the column calculated to balance the load of the part and part holding assembly. Alternatively, the counter weight may be moved empirically in a feedback loop in response to repeated torque measurements of the shoulder drive until an optimum torque is achieved at the shoulder drive. |
| US08099183B2 |
System, medium, and method of encoding/decoding multi-channel audio signals
An system, method, and method of encoding/decoding a multi-channel audio signal, including a decoding level generation unit producing decoding-level information that helps a bitstream including a number of audio channel signals and space information to be decoded into a number of audio channel signals, wherein the space information includes information about magnitude differences and/or similarities between channels, and an audio decoder decoding the bitstream according to the decoding-level information. Accordingly, even a single input bitstream can be decoded into a suitable number of channels depending on the type of a speaker configuration used. Scalable channel decoding can be achieved by partially decoding an input bitstream. In the scalable channel decoding, a decoder may set decoding levels and outputs audio channel signals according to the decoding levels, thereby reducing decoding complexity. |
| US08099182B1 |
System and method for facilitating analysis of game simulation of spectator sports leagues
Embodiments described herein facilitate an analysis of a game simulation of a series of sporting events that occur over a duration of time. A plurality of parameters may be associated with individual players in a series of sporting events. An input may be detected from a user of the game simulation. The input may indicate a preference of the user for how one or more of the plurality of parameters are to be valued in relation to one another. An overall value for one or more participants in the game simulation may be indicated, where the overall value corresponds to a value of the plurality of parameters and to the input. |
| US08099180B2 |
State and parameter estimator having integral and differential components for electrical energy accumulators
A device is described for ascertaining state variables and/or parameters of a mathematical energy accumulator model, in particular a battery model, that describes the electrical properties of the energy accumulator on the basis of various state variables and parameters, the mathematical energy accumulator model having correction equations by which the state variables and/or the parameters are corrected and adjusted to the actual operating performance of the energy accumulator. A particularly rapid and accurate compensation of the energy accumulator model may be achieved if the error between a measured battery performance quantity and the battery performance quantity calculated by the energy accumulator model, a differentiated component of the error and an integrated component of the error are calculated, the individual components are each weighted using a weighting factor and the weighted error components are taken into account in correction of a state variable and/or a parameter. |
| US08099177B2 |
Implantable medical lead and method for the manufacture thereof
A medically implantable lead configured for insertion into a human or animal body to be attached in the body with its distal end to tissue inside the body, as a rotatable helix at a distal end thereof that can be screwed into the tissue. The helix serves as an attachment of the lead to the tissue as well as a conductor for conducting electrical signals to the tissue through electrically conducting surfaces on the helix. The surfaces of the helix are partly insulated so as to restrict the conducting of signals between the helix and the tissue to desirable regions. The surfaces of the helix facing inwardly, toward an inner bore of the helix, are electrically insulated. In a method for manufacturing such a lead, the wire forming the helix has protrusions in desired areas and the wire including the protrusions is coated with an electrically insulating layer. The protrusions are uncovered from the insulating layer in desired regions. |
| US08099174B1 |
Left heart implantable cardiac stimulation system with clot prevention electrode body coating and method
An implantable cardiac stimulation device provides stimulation therapy from within the left ventricle of a heart. The device includes a pulse generator adapted to be coupled to an implantable cardiac stimulation electrode and a power supply that provides the stimulation electrode with a positive voltage. The positive voltage promotes coating of the electrode through a body coating process. The coating serves to repel formation of clots on the electrode. |
| US08099173B2 |
Implantable medical lead circuitry and methods for reducing heating and/or induced current
An implantable medical lead for coupling to an implantable pulse generator may be configured for improved safety. The lead may include: a first electrode; a second electrode in electrical communication with the first electrode; and an active circuit element in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode. The active circuit element may be configured to change an impedance of the lead. The active circuit element may be configured to change the impedance of the lead in response to a pacing signal or a signal having opposite polarity to a pacing signal. A method of using an implantable medical lead for improved safety may include changing an impedance of an implantable medical lead from a relatively high impedance to a relatively low impedance and/or changing an impedance of an implantable medical lead from a relatively low impedance to a relatively high impedance. |
| US08099162B2 |
Ocular iontophoresis device
The invention relates to a device of ocular iontophoresis for delivering active substances, comprising a reservoir having an outer wall and a hollow body at least partly delimited by the outer wall, wherein the hollow body is capable of receiving an electrical conductive medium and active substances contained in the medium and has an outlet defining a surface, so-called “application surface”, intended to receive a determine part of an eyeball surface, the application surface being at least partly limited by an outer line concave towards the optical axis of the eyeball, wherein the outer wall extends from the outer line with a global outwardly with respect to the said optical axis. |
| US08099157B2 |
Medical scanning system and related method of scanning
The present invention is directed to a scanning system that uses uniform rotary motion of an optical reflector to create reciprocal linear scanning. The system converts uniform rotation into uniform longitudinal scanning. The system thereby creates mechanical reciprocal linear scanning free of reciprocally moving mechanical parts common in conventional scanning systems. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the scanning system is incorporated within an imaging catheter for medical scanning. The optical reflector is rotatable and includes a spiral reflecting portion. The spiral reflecting portion may be a single uniform reflecting surface or may include several reflection surfaces arranged in a spiral configuration. |
| US08099156B1 |
Cochlear optical analysis system and approach therefor
A micro-optical probe approach facilitates imaging, testing and/or analysis of cochlear tissue. According to an example embodiment, a probe is implanted into cochlear tissue of a live being and used to obtain an image of cochlear tissue and the image is used to characterize a condition of auditory function of the cochlear tissue as represented, for example, by fluid flow in the tissue. Certain embodiments are directed to the use of a fluorescent dye to label cochlear tissue. A fluorescent response of the dye to stimulation is detected and used to characterize the cochlear tissue. In some applications, the probe is used to guide the implant of a cochlear prosthesis. |
| US08099154B1 |
Apparatus for generating focused acoustical pressure waves
An apparatus for generating focused acoustical pressure waves for therapeutical applications and, in particular, for destroying concrements, corporeal stone, etc., comprises a sound generating unit, which generates pressure waves in a coupling medium, a reflector which focuses the waves and having, if necessary, a locating unit for locating the concrements, corporeal stones, etc., to be destroyed. The sound generating unit is a corpus or body which is axially symmetrical to an axis running through the focal point and whose casing extends in the direction of the axis and is the emission area for the waves. The sound generating unit generates axially symmetrical pressure waves, the propagation direction of which is essentially perpendicular to the axis. |
| US08099151B2 |
System and method for magnetic-resonance-guided electrophysiologic and ablation procedures
A system and method for using magnetic resonance imaging to increase the accuracy of electrophysiologic procedures includes an invasive combined electrophysiology and imaging antenna catheter which includes an RF antenna for receiving magnetic resonance signals and diagnostic electrodes for receiving electrical potentials. The combined electrophysiology and imaging antenna catheter is used in combination with a magnetic resonance imaging scanner to guide and provide visualization during electrophysiologic diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, such as ablation of cardiac arrhythmias. The combined electrophysiology and imaging antenna catheter may further include an ablation tip, and be used as an intracardiac device to deliver energy to selected areas of tissue and visualize the resulting ablation lesions. The antenna utilized in the combined electrophysiology and imaging catheter for receiving MR signals is preferably of the coaxial or “loopless” type. High-resolution images from the antenna may be combined with low-resolution images from surface coils of the MR scanner to produce a composite image. A system for eliminating the pickup of RF energy in which intracardiac wires are detuned by filtering so that they become very inefficient antennas. An RF filtering system is provided for suppressing the MR imaging signal while not attenuating the RF ablative current. Steering means may be provided for steering the invasive catheter under MR guidance. Other ablative methods can be used such as laser, ultrasound, and low temperatures. |
| US08099150B2 |
MRI-compatible head fixation frame with cooperating head coil apparatus
A head support assembly includes a base configured to be removably secured to an MRI scanner gantry, a head support frame attached to the base, and a longitudinally extending head coil apparatus adjustably secured to the head support frame. The head support frame includes a pair of elongated arms that extend outwardly in adjacent, spaced-apart, substantially co-planar relationship to form an area for receiving the head of a patient. Each arm includes a respective free end, and a head engagement rod is adjustably associated with each respective arm free end. The head engagement rods are configured to engage a patients head within the head support frame. One or more additional head engagement rods may extend outwardly from the head support frame between the pair of arms. |
| US08099149B2 |
MRI method for quantification of cerebral perfusion
A method for calculating quantitative perfusion measurements using an MRI system includes a pulse sequence that acquires perfusion weighted images and additionally measures T1 values before and after the administration of a contrast agent. T1 values are measured by rapidly sampling a longitudinal relaxation curve and employed to determine the blood volume in tissue. A correction factor for the effect of water diffusion between blood vessels and the extravascular space is determined. |
| US08099147B2 |
Intraoperative monitoring of temperature-induced tissue changes with a high-resolution digital X-ray system during thermotherapy
A method of thermally inducing and monitoring changes to localized regions of tissue illuminating a volume of tissue with a first beam of X-rays, detecting the portions of the first beam of X-rays that passed through the volume of tissue, generating a first X-ray image signal from the portions of X10 rays of the first beam detected, applying heat to at least a localized region of tissue within the volume of tissue after the illuminating and after the detecting, illuminating the volume of tissue with a second beam of X-rays, detecting portions of the second beam of X-rays that passed through the volume of tissue during the illuminating with the second beam of X-rays, generating a second X-ray image signal from the portions of X-rays of the second beam detected, and generating a difference image signal based upon a comparison of the first and second X-ray image signals. The difference image signal provides information of changes in X-ray attenuation by localized regions of tissue within the volume of tissue due to the application of heat. |
| US08099143B2 |
Cellular phone capable of being biaxial pivotal
An information processing apparatus includes an opening/closing mechanism in which a first casing and a second casing are hinge-connected via a hinge unit and the first casing and the second casing perform opening and closing operations via the hinge unit and a rotation mechanism in which the second casing is rotated about a twisting central axis which protrudes and contacts the hinge unit and rotatably supports the second casing, in which in a closed state where one face of the first: casing and one face of the second casing are overlapped one another, a clearance between the casings is set to have a first distance, and in another closed state where the other face of the first casing and the other face of the second casing are overlapped one another, the clearance between the casings is set to have a second distance different from the first distance. |
| US08099142B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device having improved RF immunity of audio transducers to electromagnetic interference (EMI)
A mobile wireless communications device includes a housing and circuit board carried by the housing and having radio frequency (RF) circuitry and a processor operative with each other. Audio circuitry is carried by the circuit board and an audio transducer assembly, such as a speaker, has electrical contacts that electrically engage the audio circuitry for carrying audio signals between the audio circuitry and audio transducer assembly. A filter is mounted at the audio transducer assembly and reduces radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic interference to the audio transducer assembly during device operation. |
| US08099141B2 |
Wireless headset system for the automobile
A wireless headset system (and method) for connection to a gateway such as a mobile cellular phone that includes a dock assembly and a wireless headset. The dock assembly includes a presence sensor, a first docking connector, and a circuit for sending a connection signal to the first docking connector in response to a triggering of the presence sensor. The headset includes a second docking connector for releasably connecting with the first docking connector, and connection circuitry for initiating a wireless connection with the gateway (e.g. mobile cellular phone) in response to receiving the connection signal via the first and second docking connectors. The dock assembly further includes a power connector for receiving electrical power (e.g. from a car cigarette lighter connector) and for supplying the electrical power through the first and second docking connectors and to a battery in the wireless headset. |
| US08099138B2 |
Holding apparatus for accommodating a mobile telephone provided with a specific cable comprising a device for controlling charging
The invention relates to a holding device comprising a receiving system for receiving a mobile telephone (30, 30′) provided with a device fort the wireless transmission of data and voice signals. Said holding device comprises a housing (1), an interface for a handsfree device, and a device for controlling the charging of a battery of the mobile telephone (30, 30′). The aim of the invention is to provide a holding device which enables different mobile telephones (30, 30′) to be held and operated. To this end, the receiving system can be adjusted in such a way as to receive different-sized mobile telephones (30, 30′), the holding device has an electrical output with an electrical power that can be used for charging the battery, and the device for controlling the charging is arranged in a cable (9) which is used specifically for the mobile telephone (30, 30′) and can be connected to the output on one end thereof and to the mobile telephone (30, 30′) on the other end thereof. |
| US08099135B2 |
Systems and methods for managing dynamic clock operations during wireless transmissions
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system is provided. The information handling system may include a processor; a display coupled to the processor, the display comprising a pixel clock source configured to generate a pixel clock frequency; a memory device coupled to the processor, the memory device having a lookup table stored thereon; and a controller coupled to the processor and configured for: receiving frequency information associated with wireless transmissions of the information handling system; and dynamically adjusting the pixel clock frequency by selecting a frequency from the lookup table in response to a determination that the received frequency information is approximately equal to the pixel clock frequency. |
| US08099134B2 |
Visual manipulation of audio
A mobile communication device displays, via a display, an audio waveform associated with a voicemail received by the mobile communication device, and receives selection and sustained contact with the audio waveform from a user associated with the mobile communication device. The device also enlarges a portion of the audio waveform based on the sustained contact with the audio waveform, and displays, via the display, the enlarged portion of the audio waveform. The device further enables the user to manipulate, via the display, the enlarged portion of the audio waveform, and provides, via a speaker, audible feedback associated with the manipulated enlarged portion of the audio waveform. |
| US08099132B2 |
Antenna switching and uplink sounding channel measurement
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate employing downlink precoding based on uplink sounding channel measurement and channel reciprocity in time division duplex or time division multiplex systems. In particular, mechanism are provided that enable downlink precoding in situations where user equipment antenna configuration includes an unequal number of transmit chains and receive chains. A mobile device transmits modulated sounding reference signals on each antenna during a calibration stage. The mobile device then transmits non-modulated sounding reference signals during a normal mode. A base station utilizes the modulated and non-modulated sounding reference signals to restore a downlink channel estimate employed in downlink precoding. |
| US08099131B2 |
Method and system for antenna architecture for multi-antenna OFD based systems
Certain aspects of a method and system for an antenna architecture for multi-antenna orthogonal frequency division (OFD) based systems are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include communicating data in a radio frequency (RF) system comprising a plurality of antennas, via at least one polarized antenna that is orthogonally polarized with respect to adjacent polarized antennas. The plurality of coherently polarized antennas may be placed at a particular distance from each other. |
| US08099129B2 |
Contact-centric user-interface features for computing devices
Embodiments described herein provide a system, method and technique for operating a communication device. According to an embodiment, information contained in a contact record is displayed, where the information includes a plurality of entries. Each entry is associated with one of a plurality of communication types and includes an identifier for use with an application of the associated communication type. An input is detected corresponding to a user's selection of one of the plurality of entries. In response to the user's selection, the application of the communication type associated with the selected entry is automatically executed by initiating a communication using the identifier included in the selected entry. |
| US08099121B2 |
System and method for granting transmit capability in a push to communicate system
One illustrative technique is performed in a requesting terminal of a plurality of terminals of a communication group for a communication session delivered via a network. Each terminal has communication capabilities within the communication group, such that a currently-transmitting terminal in the communication group is given a transmit capability using a talk channel while all other terminals of the communication group have a receive capability. The requesting terminal, which is not the currently-transmitting terminal, receives a user input for selecting a responding terminal of the communication group for responding in the communication session. The requesting terminal then transmits, while the transmit capability is given to the currently-transmitting terminal, a request for the network to grant the responding terminal the transmit capability. The request includes an identification of the responding terminal. |
| US08099119B2 |
Hybrid, multiple channel, and two-step channel quality indicator (CQI) feedback schemes
A method providing channel quality indicator (CQI) feedback from subscriber stations (SSs) to a base station (BS) may include a combination of a thresholding scheme and a best-M scheme. Another method providing CQI feedback may include providing multiple feedback channels, with SSs randomly allocating CQI values among the multiple feedback channels. The BS may choose a prevailing CQI message when channel contention occurs. Another method of providing CQI feedback may include SSs transmitting to the BS numbers of their CQI values that exceed a CQI threshold. Based on these numbers, the BS may determine how many CQI values each SS may send, and on which channels. The SSs may send these CQI values according to instructions from the BS. |
| US08099115B2 |
TCP over SMS
A system, method, and computer program product for forming and transmitting a TCP/SMS message are presented. Steps for forming a TCP message, encoding the TCP message, and wrapping the TCP message in an SMS message are disclosed. |
| US08099113B2 |
Passive traffic alert and communication system
A passive traffic alerting method includes: identifying traffic events from analyzing traffic information; selecting an identified traffic event based on a location of a mobile communicator; and alerting the mobile communicator with a passive message regarding the selected traffic event with or without prompting the mobile communicator to launch an application on a mobile communication device. In some cases a user-zone and an event zone is selected and the user gets alerted when his user-zone overlaps with the event-zone. The alert can contain hierarchical messages. The method may include: determining an alert zone by rating a traffic incident and overlaying maps of the incident, the cell-phone towers, and the corresponding road network; acquiring user identification of cell phone users from data from cell-phone towers in the alert-zone; identifying subscribers from acquired cell-phone tower data; matching subscribers with alerts in appropriate formats; and sending the appropriate alert messages to cell phones of identified subscribers. |
| US08099110B2 |
Apparatus and method for efficient determination of mobile station location in a wireless network
An apparatus and method for efficient determination of mobile station location in a wireless network. A location register database is used by base station controllers to track the locations of mobile stations. |
| US08099106B2 |
Method and apparatus for classifying user morphology for efficient use of cell phone system resources
A system and method for classifying the user's morphology, and using that classification to control the UE in order to provide more efficient operation of the UE. The classification may be used to assist the user in determining its location more efficiently, without needless interruption or unnecessary use of system resources. The morphology classifier may classify the user's morphology into at least one of the following classifications: indoor, outdoor, local coverage, no local coverage, proximate to a base station, stationary, moving, urban, suburban, rural, deep indoor, mid indoor, and indoor near window. The classification may be used by the UE or by a remote server that utilizes the classification to develop assistance data that is sent to the UE. |
| US08099105B2 |
Device based trigger for location push event
A software LBS trigger is initiated by a wireless device to request a set of proximate location information points relating to, e.g., points of interest, location tagged blogs, etc., based on the user's current location. The LBS trigger may be initiated when the user moves, and may include speed of the user to define a proximate area within which the user's device will be presented with relevant location information upon reaching. The size of the proximate area may be based on available memory in the wireless device, and/or on network bandwidth limitations. If walking, a smaller proximate area is defined, or if moving fast, the area of close proximity is larger. The location-based information points are stored locally on the user's device, and presentation to the user when the user gets closely proximate to the relevant information point. |
| US08099103B2 |
Method for locating mobile terminals
A method for locating mobile terminals is provided. First, information of a home Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) of a target mobile terminal, the location of which is to be determined, is checked in response to a location service request from a client. Then, information of a visited PLMN, where the target mobile terminal is currently located, is checked based on the checked information of the home PLMN. The home PLMN calculates location assistance information of the visited PLMN using specific location information of the visited PLMN. The location assistance information is transferred to the target mobile terminal. This allows location information of a mobile terminal to be obtained irrespective of the area or communication network where the mobile terminal is located. It is thus possible to locate a mobile terminal in an area where no location assistance information is provided. |
| US08099101B2 |
Method and system for the automated management of communication services on board a ship
A method for the automated management of services envisaged by a predetermined communications plan of a telecommunication system on-board a ship includes radiocommunication resources. The method defines static constraints or criteria, indicates the nominal characteristics of the resources forming part of the on-board system, and dynamic constraints or criteria, and indicates the state of use and the current operating conditions of the resources. The method also includes searching for a resource adapted to perform a service required, on the basis of the static constraints; checking for availability of the resource on the basis of the dynamic constraints; assigning the resource to the service required, if it is available, or otherwise assigning a different resource available, selected on the basis of the static and dynamic constraints or criteria. |
| US08099097B2 |
Method for handover in wireless communication, mobile electronic device, and wireless communication handover system
A wireless LAN device determines whether there is a necessity to search for a base station based on base station information as to a currently associated first base station, and selects all or a part of base station search conditions stored in advance to search for the base station when there is the necessity for searching the base station. When detecting at least one base station, the wireless LAN device determines whether there is a necessity to execute a handover based on base station information of each of the detected base station and the first base station. If the handover is necessary, the wireless LAN device determines the second base station from the base stations and associates the wireless LAN device with the second base station. |
| US08099096B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing a set of communications connection related information
Methods and apparatus related to management of active connections between an access terminal and access points are described. An access terminal maintains and manages active set information. The active set information identifies a set of access points with which the access terminal has an active connection. In some embodiments, the active set information includes allocated resources assigned to the access terminal corresponding to the different access points in the active set. Layer 2 Transport Tunneling is used, in various embodiments, to communicate connection request and/or connection response information, between access points. In some embodiments, the access terminal optionally assists in coordinating MAC resources allocated to the access terminal by different access points. |
| US08099094B2 |
Neighbor scanning in wireless local area networks
A method for neighbor scanning in a wireless local area network having a station, a first access point (AP) to which the station is associated, and a second AP begins by generating timing information regarding a beacon signal sent by the second AP. The timing information is reported from the first AP to the station. The station schedules a time, based on the timing information, to listen for the beacon signal transmitted by the second AP. |
| US08099091B2 |
Method to control configuration change times in a wireless device
A method to control configuration change times is performed at a mobile wireless communication device when the mobile wireless communication device is connected to a wireless network. The mobile wireless device is connected in a first configuration mode. The mobile wireless communication device receives a control message from a radio network subsystem in the wireless network at a local receive time. The received control message includes a time indication for when to start a configuration mode change of the mobile wireless communication device, which the device extracts from the control message. The mobile wireless communication device reconfigures to a second configuration mode, different from the first configuration mode, based on the extracted time indication and the local receive time. |
| US08099084B2 |
Method, system, and computer program product for creating smart services
A method, system, and computer program product are described for creating smart services. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for creating smart services includes defining a service based on a situation of a service subscriber and an event for interacting with the subscriber on behalf of the service. Access is provided to subscriber context information based on private subscriber information. The subscriber context information is used in determining a current situation of the subscriber. The method allows the service to use the subscriber context information to generate a response to the event on behalf of the subscriber without the service having direct access to the private subscriber information. |
| US08099083B2 |
Distributed fault-tolerant voice message system for independent mobile telephony networks
A communications network and method for providing a voice message to a user of a mobile station (MS) in a network having a plurality of independent mobile systems, each independent mobile system including a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), Short Message Service Center (SMS-C) and Voice Message System (VMS), wherein each VMS is identified by a unique identifier code. A received voice message is stored in a VMS, and an SMS notification message is sent to the MS. Because each VMS is identified by a unique identifier code, the MS can retrieve a voice message by dialing the code contained in an SMS notification message, regardless of which independent mobile system is serving the MS at the time the voice message retrieval is requested. |
| US08099080B1 |
Wireless communications control in a controlled environment facility
Systems and methods which facilitate wireless communications within a controlled environment in a controlled manner are shown. Embodiments operate to recognize wireless communications, whether voice, text, video, or data, terminating within a controlled environment facility and control one or more aspects of the communication using a call processing platform or other communication control system. In addition to providing a higher percentage of calls completed calls, embodiments of the invention provide improved investigatory tools for the controlled environment facility through controlling, monitoring, redirecting, and/or interrupting wireless communications. Embodiments deploy one or more wireless communication nodes in communication with a call processing platform operating in association with the controlled environment facility, such that wireless communications passing through the wireless communication nodes are subject to call processing by the call processing platform. |
| US08099079B2 |
Method and system for distributing data to mobile devices
A method and system for distributing mobile applications includes receiving, processing and displaying advertisements on mobile terminals. Data is visualized on a display area of a mobile terminal that receives process data including an executable process. The mobile terminal receives a visualization request from the process; selects data in accordance with the visualization request; and displays the selected data the display area. Execution of at least part of the executable process is paused until the visualization process has completed. Thus mobile terminals process an executable process which makes calls for data to be displayed to a user. The displayed data may be advertisement data selected based on user preferences. The executable process may be a game which is paused at a particular level to display the data. The executable process might also be a news relaying application to retrieve and display news stories. |
| US08099076B2 |
Method and device in a telecommunications system for setting up and billing a roaming communications connection
The invention relates to a method and a device for setting up and billing a roaming communications connection between a first calling subscriber of a first communications network and a second called subscriber of the first and or another communications network who is checked into a roaming communications network. Billing data records concerning the accrued costs of the roaming connection are generated by the communications networks, are exchanged between billing systems of the communications networks, and the subscribers arc charged the costs of the roaming connection on the basis of the billing data records. According to the invention, the costs for a connection, which originates from the first, calling subscriber and which is incoming to the second, called subscriber are charged exclusively to the first subscriber under conditions individually agreed upon beforehand. |
| US08099071B2 |
Direct conversion pre-ADC frequency mixer
A system for single path processing identical, substantially identical, close or interfering frequencies with a single analog-to-digital converter. The system receives a plurality of input signals at various frequencies and front end circuits filter out first and second frequencies. A mixer and a front end oscillator are in communication with one of the front end circuits for mixing a front end frequency with one of the first and second frequencies prior to the analog-to-digital converter. A summer combines the output of the mixer with the output of one of the front end circuits. An analog-to-digital converter is connected to the summer for converting the analog input signal to a digital output signal. The first and second frequencies may be separately processed after they have been combined, even if they were identical frequencies. |
| US08099070B2 |
Passive mixer and four phase clocking method and apparatus
According to one embodiment, a radio frequency receiver includes a quadrature mixer for converting radio frequency signals to baseband signals or intermediate frequency signals. The quadrature mixer includes an in-phase passive mixer and a quadrature-phase passive mixer. Each passive mixer includes a mixer core having a plurality of mixer input switch transistors and a plurality of output switch transistors connected to the mixer input switch transistors. Clock circuitry generates a first set of clock signals and a second set of clock signals. The first set of clock signals has a frequency twice that of the second set of clock signals. The first set of clock signals is arranged to drive the mixer input switch transistors and the second set of clock signals is arranged to drive the output switch transistors. |
| US08099069B2 |
Broadcast receiver for use in mobile communication terminal
A broadcast receiver for use in a mobile communication terminal includes a receiving antenna and an antenna tuning circuit connected to the receiving antenna. The receiving antenna receives broadcast signals tuned to the resonant frequency of the antenna tuning circuit by changing the resonant frequency. The antenna tuning circuit includes an unwanted voltage suppression circuit that suppresses an unwanted voltage generated due to the rectification effect of a varactor when the receiving antenna receives transmission signals output from the transmission antenna of the mobile communication terminal. |
| US08099059B2 |
Method and circuit arrangement for operating multi-channel transmit/recieve antenna devices
A multi-channel transmit/receive antenna device or arrangement for use in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a power monitoring unit. To ensure that a specific absorption rate of a patient is not exceeded, transmitted power levels and reflected power levels on channels for a plurality of coils and/or coil segments are monitored. Each coil/coil segment is supplied with RF transmit signals with different amplitudes and/or phases and/or waveforms and/or power levels. |
| US08099055B2 |
Method and device for managing signal measurements in a wireless network
A wireless network comprises at least one station (102) adapted to perform measurements of at least one given type in the network, and a Centralised Measurement Manager (CMM) unit (101) for handling measurements of said type. CMM unit sends a measurement request message (201) requesting that this station (102) perform a measurement of the given type, this request message comprising a triggering information (304, 501, 601-602). Upon reception of the measurement request message (201), the station performs (202) a measurement and obtains (203) corresponding measurement result. Then, it is decided (204) whether at least part of the measurement results is to be sent to the CMM unit based on the triggering information. If yes, the station sends the corresponding part of the measurement result to the CMM unit. |
| US08099052B2 |
Method and apparatus for effective multi-cell interference control service
There are provided a method and apparatus for an effective multi-cell interference control service, to make it possible for users located at a cell boundary to dynamically select a suitable interference control technique by monitoring interference information collected by user terminals and network conditions of a serving base station and adjacent base stations to solve co-channel interference by adjacent cell users. |
| US08099043B2 |
Transmit channel in wideband high frequency wireless system using multiple transmit antenna, and method thereof
Disclosed are a transmitting device and receiving device for selecting a transmit channel in a wideband high frequency wireless system using a plurality of transmit antennas, and a method thereof. According to the method of selecting a transmit channel, data is transmitted to the receiving device via a predetermined first antenna, and a first channel probing response message including first channel status information of the first antenna is received, in response to the transmission of the data. A channel probing request message that request channel status information of a second antenna, is transmitted to the receiving device via the second antenna, and a second channel probing response message including the second channel status information of the second antenna is received in response to the channel probing request message. |
| US08099041B1 |
System and method for extension of wireless footprint
A system and method for communicating through a host repeater. Data is received from a remote repeater communicating with a wireless device. The host repeater registers as the wireless device on a wireless network. The data is reformatted for transmission between the wireless devices and the wireless network. |
| US08099038B2 |
Image forming apparatus, method for controlling image forming apparatus, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus for processing a print job includes an acquiring unit configured to acquire information about a set of printed sheets to be post-processed by a post-processing apparatus, the post-processing apparatus not being connected to the image forming apparatus via a conveying path of the print sheets output from the image forming apparatus, an analyzing unit configured to analyze the print job, and an output control unit configured to output printed sheets on the basis of the print job in which offset stacking is applied to each set of printed sheets to be post-processed as defined by the post-processing apparatus in accordance with a result of analysis performed by the analyzing unit and information regarding the set of printed sheets to be post-processed acquired by the acquiring unit. |
| US08099037B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section which forms an image on a sheet; a conveyance section which conveys the sheet to the image forming section, having a registration roller, a plurality of loop forming rollers which cause the sheet to form a loop, provided upstream of the registration roller in a sheet conveyance direction and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction, a skew detection sensor which detects a skew of the sheet, and a conveyance roller provided upstream of the loop forming roller; and a control section which controls a driving of the conveyance section. The control section controls independently each of the plurality of loop forming rollers based on the detected result of the skew detection sensor. |
| US08099036B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer program
A disclosed image processing apparatus is capable of shifting an illegal copy preventing pattern so that an image reading device can recognize the pattern printed at the edge end of the printing range on a paper even when the printing range on the paper is changed by, for example, trimming and user settings. The apparatus includes an image output unit outputting an image to a prescribed region; an output position setting unit acquiring output region information, comparing the output region information with the illegal copy preventing pattern; and determining an output position of the illegal copy preventing pattern based on the comparison result, and a combining unit combining the illegal copy preventing pattern and image data based on the output position determined by the output position setting unit. The image output unit outputs the image combined by the combining unit. |