| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08181722B2 |
Stabilizer assemblies with bearing pad locking structures and tools incorporating same
Stabilizer assemblies and tools incorporating same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a stabilizer assembly comprises a body having at least one bearing pad receptacle therein, and a bearing pad disposed in the receptacle. The bearing pad includes at least a portion of a bore extending therethrough, the bore being aligned with body bores in the body on opposite sides of the bearing pad receptacle. A lock rod extends through the bore and into the associated body bore. |
| US08181720B2 |
Sealing system and bi-directional thrust bearing arrangement for a downhole motor
A bearing assembly for a downhole motor comprises a housing having an upper end, a lower end, a radially inner surface, and a radially outer surface. In addition, the bearing assembly comprises a mandrel rotatably disposed within the housing. Further, the bearing assembly comprises an upper seal assembly, a lower seal assembly, and a thrust bearing assembly, each radially positioned between the housing and the mandrel. The bearing assembly also comprises a lubricating fluid radially disposed between the housing and the mandrel. The lower end of the housing comprises a first check valve radially positioned between the radially inner surface and the radially outer surface of the housing. The check valve is in fluid communication with the lubricating fluid and is adapted to allow at least a portion of the lubricant to exit the bearing assembly at a predetermined pressure differential. |
| US08181713B2 |
Preloaded drop hammer for driving piles
A drop hammer for driving a pile. The drop hammer of the present invention comprises a housing member, a ram member, a helmet member, and a lifting system. The housing member defines a housing chamber and a vent port defining a preload position. The ram member is supported for movement within the housing chamber. When the lifting system raises the ram member above the preload position, ambient air substantially freely flows into and out of the housing chamber through the vent port. When the ram member falls below the preload position, ambient air within a preload chamber portion of the housing chamber compresses to apply a preload force on the inner portion of the helmet member. When the ram member moves into the lower position, the ram member impacts the helmet member to force the helmet member from the rest position to the impact position, thereby driving the pile. |
| US08181711B1 |
Tiller
A tiller with a removable tine rotor is provided. The tiller comprises a cavity formed by a top deck and end plates. The end plates comprise rotating spindles rotatably attached to the end plates. A gearbox translates rotation from a tractor to one of the rotating spindles. A tine rotor extends between the spindles and rotates to till soil. The tine rotor is releasably connected to the spindles within the cavity, such that the tine rotor is removable from the tiller without disassembly of the end plates. |
| US08181695B2 |
Reinforcement for dish plate heat exchangers
A reinforcing element for a heat exchanger of the type having nested dish plates with inclined, peripheral, overlapping walls, where at least one of the nested dish plates is attached to a mounting plate, the mounting plate extending beyond the outer periphery of the walls of the nested dish plates. The reinforcing element has a base flange attached to the mounting plate extending beyond the outer periphery of the walls of the nested dish plates. The reinforcing element also has a peripheral flange located in parallel, overlapping engagement with the inclined peripheral wall of the at least one dish plate attached to the mounting plate. |
| US08181693B2 |
Self-cleaning heat exchanger using system for supplying solid particle and water
A self-cleaning, shell and tube type heat exchanger using a solid particle-water supply system. The heat exchanger includes solid particle supplying means for storing and supplying solid particles to be used in cleaning the heat exchanger tubes, and water supply means for fluidizing the solid particles stored in the solid particle supplying means so as to supply the solid particles into a mixed fluid discharging means, or for directly supplying water to the mixed fluid discharging means. The mixed fluid discharging means sucks the supplied solid particles and water, and sprays the supplied solid particles and water as a mixed fluid from above the vertical heat transfer tube arrangement such that inside surface of the heat transfer tubes can be cleaned. Separating means separates the mixed fluid used in cleaning the heat transfer tubes into solid particles and water, using a gravitational separation method. |
| US08181688B2 |
Apparatus for temporary wafer bonding and debonding
An improved apparatus for temporary wafer bonding includes a temporary bonder cluster and a debonder cluster. The temporary bonder cluster includes temporary bonder modules that perform electronic wafer bonding processes including adhesive layer bonding, combination of an adhesive layer with a release layer bonding and a combination of a UV-light curable adhesive layer with a laser absorbing release layer bonding. The debonder cluster includes a thermal slide debonder, a mechanical debonder and a radiation debonder. |
| US08181682B2 |
Pneumatic tire
In a tire, a phase difference L1 of transverse grooves 2 is within 25% of the length L of blocks 3, the projected portions 11 are alternately on both sidewalls 10, L2 of the portion 11 is 20% to 45% of L, and in the cross-section of the width direction of the main groove 1, the edge 15 of the portion 11 at the groove bottom is more of a sidewall 10 side than a center line 19 of the groove 1, the outline of the portion 11 is at least on a virtual surface 17 that connects the edge 13 of the groove 1 at the tread surface and the edge 15. The tire also has one or a plurality of sub-projected portions 21, 22 projected from the surface 17. |
| US08181681B2 |
Golf club head cover and method of use
A golf club head cover comprises a pair of complementary cover sections connected to pivot about a manually actuated spring-biased clip member normally biases the cover sections into a closed condition. The clip member includes a pair of handle elements to be gripped between the thumb and one or more fingers by a user and depressed towards each other to move the cover sections so they pivot and spread apart into an open condition. When the head of a golf club is between the spread apart cover sections in the open condition, or is withdrawn, the user releases the grip on the handle elements so the cover sections come together automatically into the closed condition. |
| US08181679B2 |
Apparatus for filling bags
An apparatus for filling open bags with bulk materials, comprising a filling means and a filling spout having an outlet opening for filling the bags, wherein a collecting device is provided which includes a movable and controllable collecting unit. Said collecting unit, when in a collecting position, collects any bulk material which may trickle out of the outlet opening of the filling spout and when in a discharging position, discharges the collected bulk material into a material discharge line of a material discharge device. |
| US08181672B2 |
Spiral-wound diaphragm bellows, and method of making such a diaphragm bellows
A diaphragm bellows includes a spiral-wound, pre-profiled metal strip having neighboring turns which are connected by a continuous welding seam in an area of an outer diameter or inner diameter of the metal strip. Neighboring flanks of the metal strip enter a region of the welding seam at an angle of less than 60°. |
| US08181667B2 |
GTank-C90 auxiliary fuel transfer system
The GTank-C90 Auxiliary Fuel Transfer System consists of an auxiliary fuel transfer cell 1 that connects to and becomes an integral part of the increased fuel capacity of the motorcycle extending its usable riding range. The GTank-C90 Auxiliary Fuel Transfer System enables fuel transfer from the auxiliary fuel transfer cell 1, to the stock fuel tank 17 by activation of the momentary toggle switch 21, activating the Fuel Transfer Pump Timed Electrical circuit, transferring fuel for a predetermined time to allow for complete transfer of fuel. This fuel transfer is designed for use during normal operation of the motorcycle without disruption of use or adversely affecting the operation. |
| US08181659B2 |
Washing machine having UV generator
A dishwasher having a UV generator that sterilizes dishes is provided. The dishwasher includes a tub that holds dishes to be washed, a sump that holds washing water, a spray nozzle that sprays the washing water into the dishwasher, and at least one UV generator that directs a UV beam into the dishwasher. |
| US08181658B2 |
Plastic hair clip
The present invention provides a plastic hairclip features in enabling to open and close by plastic resilience intrinsically. The plastic hairclip comprises a mount retainer, a lever retainer with a pair of releasing tabs, a hinged pivotal root and a pair of open-able jaws, which functions to accommodate, hold and release a hair bundle by intrinsic plastic resilience thereof. The plastic hairclip is made of a polymerized plastic mixture by 55% of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM), 30% of ethylene glycol (EG), 10% of phosphotungstic acid (PTA), 1% of optical brightener and 4% of polypropylene (PP) or butadiene-styrene copolymers sold under the trademark, K-Resin with 5% tolerance for each individual component respectively. Thereby, the plastic hairclip product features in good malleability, re-plasticization ability and tenacity as well as good artistic effect in shining brightness and eco-friendly effect. |
| US08181655B2 |
Therapeutic and protective dental device useful as an intra-oral delivery system
A dental device has a U-shaped carrier with at least one channel for embracing an arch of teeth. The carrier has recessed insets in the channel. Discrete inserts carrying a beneficial agent can fit into the insets and release the agent gradually. The device may be used in a therapeutic application and as an athletic mouthguard. Temporary blanks may be initially fitted in the insets while a portion of the mouthguard is softened before an arch of teeth is pressed into the channel to make a custom impression. The inserts possess different physical properties than the carrier and may be positioned and shaped to mechanically buffer teeth of the arch from mechanical shocks as well as release beneficial agents. The inserts may be replaced or refreshed to maintain the beneficial agent. A dental device having a core carrying a beneficial agent inside a liquid-permeable shell functions as an infant's teething device. |
| US08181654B2 |
Condom rolled on a rigid ring sheathed with a rotor
A ring structure for rolling a tubular region of a condom. A condom held and rolled on a ring includes a rigid ring, a lubricant layer, and a rotor. As an opening in the tubular region of the condom is expanded, the rigid ring is sheathed via the lubricant layer with the rubber tube. The rubber tube rotates in the ring and the ring is removable after placement of the condom. |
| US08181653B2 |
Intrauterine fallopian tube occlusion device
An intrauterine device for occluding orifices of fallopian tubes includes a resilient body having an elongated member with a first end and a second end. The elongated member further includes a first leg ending with the first end of the elongated member, a second leg ending with the second end of the elongated member and a connection member positioned therebetween. A first orifice plug is secured at the first end of the elongated member and a second orifice plug is secured at the second end of the elongated member. The first and second orifice plugs are shaped and dimensioned to seat at the orifices of the fallopian tubes or within the fallopian tubes as the elongated member spreads outwardly with the first end and second end moving apart. |
| US08181652B2 |
Infant positive pressure tracheal device
The invention relates to an infant tracheal device used with a source of air that provides transmission of continuous positive pressure into the lungs of an infant breathing spontaneously using a single tube inspiratory line. The invention serves as an interface with an open trachea. A one-way air valve placed within the tube will not allow pressure to return through the inspiratory line. The internal pressure within the line is measured with a monitor line which is connected to the source and the tracheal device as the pressure enters the infant lungs via a cuffless tracheal tube. A minimal amount of pressure will now be necessary to keep the lungs open. Voluntary exhalation occurs as the pressure of the exhaled air exiting the lungs goes around both the cuffless tracheal tube and out through the nose and mouth of the infant. A pressure release port located on the tracheal device facilitates monitoring and emergency pressure release as necessary. A dispenser port allows use of medication. |
| US08181651B2 |
Hand powered suction device with mucus trap and suction catheter for tracheostomy tubes
A device and method for suctioning mucus and secretions from a patient's tracheostomy tube is described. The device utilizes a reusable squeezable bulb with check valves to regulate air flow in and out of the squeezable bulb and a disposable mucus trap and suction catheter to suction a tracheostomy tube effectively and discretely without using an electrically powered suction machine. |
| US08181650B2 |
Multitask medical treatment respiratory apparatus
The multitask medical treatment respiratory apparatus may have a mask defining a chamber wherein the mask may have a first port, a second port and a venting valve. A reservoir bag having a first opening may be in communication with the first port or there may be a venturi device may be in communication with a second opening of the reservoir bag. One or more gas sources may be in communication with the venturi device. A medicant device may be mounted in the second port wherein the medicant device having a mouthpiece that may be inserted and retracted relative to the mask chamber and a patients mouth. The medicant device having a medicant chamber formed therein. |
| US08181646B2 |
Adapter for use in an aerosol delivery system
An aerosol inhalation system includes a first conduit member for delivering medication in the form of aerosol particles to a patient. The system also includes a first device in fluid communication with the first holding chamber for producing the aerosol particles and being sealingly yet releasably received within an adapter that forms an entrance into a first holding chamber. The adapter has a compressible material disposed thereon which is at least partially compressed by insertion of the first device to form the seal between the first device and the adapter, thereby creating a closed system that is therefore capable of delivering a fixed concentration of the medication to the patient due to a valve of the valve mechanism being closed when the patient inhales and the medication is delivered to the patient. |
| US08181644B2 |
Inhalation device
The present invention relates to a device for providing an aerosol flow, an air flow or both with at least a compressor for providing an air flow, a nebulization device for generating an aerosol flow and a mixing means for optionally mixing the aerosol flow with the air flow to provide a total flow, wherein the total flow is composed of the aerosol flow, the air flow or both. Further, the device comprises at least a first air channel between the compressor and the nebulization device, at least a second air channel between the compressor and the mixing means and an amplification means for increasing the air flow provided by the compressor. |
| US08181643B2 |
System and method for detection and repair of pulmonary air leaks
A method for repairing pulmonary air leaks in a lung residing in a chest cavity and having an intake air stream and an outer surface is disclosed. An exemplary method comprises: introducing a first component of a biphasic sealant component as a liquid into the intake air stream of the damaged lung; ensuring that there is a pressure differential between the intake air stream and the outer surface of the lung; and introducing a second component of a biphasic sealant component into the chest cavity. The first sealant component collects at the air leak site and forms a sealant in combination with the second sealant component. |
| US08181642B2 |
Light absorber device
The present invention relates to a light absorbing device which comprises an transparent outer material layer, a space through which air is circulated and heated by light radiation passing through the outer the material layer, a radiation absorbing material layer, and an element which is adapted to divide the space in at least a first subspace, which comprises a first opening, and a second subspace, which comprises a second opening. The air is adapted to flow along a path having an extension from the first opening to the second opening. The path comprises flow resistance reducing means in at least one portion of the space which is adapted to reduce the flow resistance for the gaseous medium when it is guided through said portion of the space. |
| US08181640B2 |
Portable cooking system
A portable cooking system comprising a base tray, a grill plate, a lid, and a reflector is provided. The base tray comprises a heating through hole and a basin provided at a bottom of the base tray. The grill plate comprises a central opening, a substantially annular surface, and a plurality of drain holes in the annular surface. The reflector of an upturned bowl shape comprises a reflecting bump, radial furrows, and radial ridges alternatively disposed between the radial furrows, and the reflector is attached to a ceiling of the lid. Some of the radial furrows and the radial ridges are disposed on an inner surface of the upturned bowl shape, such that the heating airflow that rise upward through the heating through hole and hit a center portion of the reflector are guided outwardly to reach evenly over to the grill plate. |
| US08181636B2 |
Bi-fuel engine using hydrogen
A method is disclosed for making a transition from fueling an engine with hydrogen to another fuel. That other fuel may be gasoline, a gasoline and alcohol mixture, or gaseous fuels, as examples. The other fuel has the capability of providing higher BMEP than the hydrogen because of better air utilization and because the other fuel occupies less volume of the combustion chamber. Because a desirable equivalence ratio to burn hydrogen is at 0.5 or less and a desirable equivalence ratio to burn other fuel is at 1.0, when a demand for BMEP that leads to a transition change from hydrogen fuel to the other fuel, the amount of air supplied to the engine is decreased to provide more torque and vice versa. During a transition in which liquid fuel supply is initiated, it may be desirable to continue to provide some hydrogen, not leaner than 0.1 hydrogen equivalence ratio. |
| US08181633B2 |
Intake manifold
An intake manifold includes: an EGR inlet for discharging exhaust recirculation gas toward a cylinder side; and a tumble control valve switchable between an open position and a close position, and has an indentation forming a gap between the tumble control valve and an inner wall of the intake line when the tumble control valve is in the close position. When the intake manifold is assembled to the internal combustion engine, in the open position and in the close position of the tumble control valve, any perpendicular line extending downward from the EGR inlet is out of intersection with the tumble control valve, and at the same time, in at least one of the open position and the close position of the tumble control valve, a perpendicular line extending downward from a most upstream portion of the EGR inlet in an intake direction intersects an area of the indentation. |
| US08181630B2 |
Induction regulator block
The invention provides a manifold block for improving the efficiency of an internal combustion engine. The manifold block is arranged to be located between an inlet manifold and a cylinder head of the engine, and comprises a block of material having at least one manifold channel there through. The manifold channel has an input end and an output end, wherein the input end is connected to the inlet manifold, and the output end is connected to the cylinder. The manifold channel includes at least one injector head channel located towards its input end and adapted to receive a fuel injector. The manifold block may also incorporate one or more induction regulators for improving the efficiency of fuel/air mixing in the manifold channels. |
| US08181629B2 |
Engine and exhaust heating for hybrid vehicle
A method for controlling a vehicle engine having a plurality of cylinders and an electric motor configured to rotate the engine is provided. The method includes, during engine idling, advancing spark timing of at least one cylinder to substantially before a peak torque timing. The method further includes adjusting motor torque output of the electric motor to maintain engine idle speed. |
| US08181627B2 |
Securing throttle area in a coordinated torque control system
An engine system includes a throttle actuator module and a torque control module. The throttle actuator module controls a throttle actuator based on a desired throttle area. The torque control module determines an actuator torque. The torque control module determines a rate limited torque, a maximum torque, and a minimum torque based on the actuator torque and a predetermined rate of change. The torque control module determines the desired throttle area based on the actuator torque when the rate limited torque is greater than the maximum torque. The torque control module determines the desired throttle area based on the actuator torque when the rate limited torque is less than the minimum torque. |
| US08181621B2 |
Internal combustion engine with dynamic balancing system
An internal combustion engine having a crankshaft and first and second balance shafts which are gear driven from one to the other, as a unilateral tensioning system applied to a flexible drive extending between the engine's crankshaft and a first one of the balance shafts, with the unilateral tensioning system being applied to the tension side alone of the flexible and inextensible drive element. |
| US08181617B2 |
Laser ignition for gas mixtures
An ignition device for the ignition of a gas mixture in a main combustion chamber (1), in particular of an internal combustion engine, is proposed, wherein the absorber body (5) is heated by means of a laser (8). A prechamber (10) is located upstream of the absorber body (5) on the combustion chamber inner side (6) in order to improve the ignition behavior. |
| US08181615B2 |
Lash adjuster for swing arm type valve gear
The object is to provide a lash adjuster that can be easily and repeatedly mounted on a swing arm type valve gear, having an adjusting screw that can be repeatedly held in a pushed-in state with a general-purpose turning tool such as a wrench.A serrated internal thread 24 is formed on the inner circumferential face of a cylindrical body 21 having closed bottom end, and a serrated external thread 26 formed on the outer circumferential face of an adjusting screw 25 engages with the internal thread 24. A return spring 27 is mounted in the body to bias the adjusting screw 27 in the protruding direction. A friction member 31 is provided between the bottom faces of the adjusting screw 25 and the body 21. A spherical pivot portion 32 is formed on the top of the adjusting screw 25, and an engaging hole 33 is formed in the top end of the pivot portion 32. The adjusting screw is rotated in the fastening direction by rotating operation of a turning tool T engaging with the engaging hole 33, and the bottom face of the adjusting screw 25 is pressed against the friction member 31, thereby holding the adjusting screw 25 in pushed-in state and making mounting of the lash adjuster to a swing arm type valve gear easy. |
| US08181611B2 |
Stratified scavenging two-cycle engine
Provided is a laminar-scavenging two-cycle engine, which can have a higher laminar-scavenging effect than that of the laminar-scavenging two-cycle engine of the prior art and which can expect drastically excellent effects on the stabilization of combustion and on the blow-by prevention. The laminar-scavenging two-cycle engine is characterized in that a scavenging passage (4) is constituted to include a portion (or a crankcase side portion (4a)) extending along a crankcase (9) and a portion (or a cylinder side portion (4b)) extending along a cylinder (10) and to have a length larger than the sum of the diameter and stroke of the cylinder (10), in that an ambient air introducing passage (11) for introducing the leading air into the scavenging passage (4) is connected to an intermediate portion of the scavenging passage (4), and in that a notch (8a) for opening a scavenging port (7) to the side of the crankcase (9) when a piston (8) is near the top dead center is formed in the piston (8). |
| US08181609B2 |
Protective collar for an animal
A protective animal collar having a collar body for forming a barrier for an area from the base of the neck to the head of the animal, a member having openings therein covering one end of the collar body. |
| US08181607B2 |
Animal training device and method of controlling the same
Disclosed herein is an animal training device and method of controlling the same. The animal training device includes a transmitter and at least one receiver. The transmitter transmits RF signals according to manipulation of function switches, and has emergency stimulation mode in which an RF control signal is transmitted by adding a predetermined level to a low-frequency stimulation level set for each individual animal, simultaneous stimulation mode in which an RF control signal is transmitted by adding a predetermined level to low-frequency stimulation levels set for animals, and constant stimulation alternation mode in which an RF control signal is transmitted by automatically varying a period of a low-frequency stimulation. The receiver sets low-frequency stimulation for a corresponding one of the plurality of animals in response to the RF signals, and selectively performs operations corresponding to the emergency stimulation mode, the simultaneous stimulation mode, and the constant stimulation alternation mode. |
| US08181603B2 |
Apparatus and method for changing laboratory animal cages or other operations
An apparatus and method for changing laboratory animal cages wherein the apparatus includes at least one seat, of which receives a cage having a lid. The seat is provided with a mechanical system configured to pick and lift the lid. |
| US08181602B2 |
Compressed straw material
Bedding material for livestock is produced by extruding straw through a conventional cubing system rather than a conventional pellet mill. The cubing process generates friction in turn changing the properties of the straw making the straw particles highly absorbent. The cubing process allows for greater particle size in the finished product as compared to pellets produce in a conventional pellet mill. The process involves the following: shredding the straw to proper size, cubing the straw into cubes and flakes, cooling, storing and packaging. The cubing process requires 40% less energy based on throughput of finished product, thus making the material more affordable to larger farming operations. Some other properties include a higher bulk density than large conventional bales or wood shavings, less dust when applying, a pasteurized product, easier to handle and spread compared to straw bales, wood shavings and sawdust. |
| US08181600B2 |
Bale feeder and transport device
A round bale sled that is a combination round bale feeder and transport device. In one embodiment, the bale sled includes a bale holding portion and a base. The bale holding portion is configured to hold a round bale. The base is coupled to the bale holding portion. The base is configured to allow the bale sled to be pulled in a select direction. Moreover, the base is further configured to allow for a pivot loading of the round bale in the bale holding portion. |
| US08181599B1 |
Lap pet bed
An improved pet bed for a pet such as a small dog or a cat includes a seat cushion for the pet to rest on, much like the owner's lap, and a connected back cushion much like the owner's torso. A pair of arm cushions extend from the back cushion, the arms moveable from a spread-apart open position, and a closed portion where the ends may be locked together. While in the open position the arms may receive a shirt of the pet owner, much like a mannequin. Then the arms may be moved to the closed position, and the small pet inside enjoys the feeling of being held by the pet bed and the scent of the owner's clothing. Advantageously, the shirt may be laundered, worn by the owner and replaced onto the pet bed. |
| US08181598B2 |
Method and arrangement for controlling the milking by a milking machine
A method and arrangement for controlling milking by a milking machine includes a teat cup having a flexible teat receiving liner arranged inside a teat cup shell. During milking, a vacuum is applied to a lower part of the interior of the teat receiving liner to draw milk from a teat therein while the flexible teat receiving liner is periodically opened and collapsed by application of a pulsating massage vacuum between the flexible teat receiving liner and the teat cup shell. A pressure sensor repeatedly measures a vacuum level in an upper part of the interior of the teat receiving line, and depending on the repeatedly measured vacuum level, the periodic opening and collapsing of the flexible teat receiving liner is interrupted by keeping the flexible teat receiving liner collapsed for a specific period of time. |
| US08181596B2 |
Cluster tool architecture for processing a substrate
An apparatus for processing substrates using a multi-chamber processing system (e.g., a cluster tool) that has an increased system throughput, increased system reliability, a smaller system footprint, and a more repeatable wafer history. Embodiments provide for a cluster tool comprising first and second processing racks, each having two or more vertically stacked substrate processing chambers, a first robot assembly able to access the first processing rack from a first side, a second robot assembly able to access the first processing rack from a second side and the second processing rack from a first side, a third robot assembly able to access the second processing rack from a second side, and a fourth robot assembly able to access the first and second processing racks and to load substrates in a cassette. |
| US08181594B2 |
Method and apparatus for fabricating or altering microstructures using local chemical alterations
A method and apparatus for fabricating or altering a microstructure use means for heating to facilitate a local chemical reaction that forms or alters the submicrostructure. |
| US08181593B2 |
Apparatus for applying a layer to a hydrophobic surface
An apparatus for applying a layer to a hydrophobic surface. The apparatus including: a chuck having a top surface and rotatable about a axis perpendicular to the top surface and passing through a center point of the top surface; and hollow first and second dispense nozzles having respective first and second bores, the first and second dispense nozzles mounted on a application head disposed above the top surface of the chuck, the application head moveable in a direction parallel to the top surface of the chuck, the first dispense nozzle alignable over the center point when the application head is in a first position and the second dispense nozzle alignable over the center point when the application head is in a second position, at least a portion of the bore of second dispense tube having a maximum cross-sectional dimension of between about 0.5 millimeters and about 2.0 millimeters. |
| US08181587B2 |
Method of producing reinforced, formed fabrics
The invention relates to a method of producing reinforced, formed fabrics, consisting in producing a continuous fabric alternated with a membrane (34) containing embedded reinforcing elements, which is prepared in overlapping portions on a conveyor belt (29) which passes over a preparation table (25). The membrane (34) and the reinforcing elements are then positioned under a press consisting of an upper air-filled chamber (1), the lower part thereof comprising a flexible element (4), and a lower water-filled chamber (14), the upper part thereof comprising a flexible element (17). According to the invention, a forming bar (10) is adjustably mounted in the upper chamber (1). When the aforementioned forming bar (10) is adjusted to adopt a particular shape, the different flexible elements can deform at the forming bar and the membrane and the reinforcing elements are hot pressed with a portion corresponding to the forming bar having a three dimensional shape, thereby defining the form of the fabric produced. |
| US08181586B1 |
Pontoon rest
The instant device is a device that when used in a plurality they will support a dry docked pontoon effectively and efficiently. The device has to be used in combination with at least three others to effectively support a dry docked pontoon. The device is manufactured with a grooved top surface allowing the v shaped groove of the bottom of a pontoon to rest within it and thereby preventing damage to the pontoon. |
| US08181584B2 |
On-line coal flow control mechanism for vertical spindle mills
An improved apparatus for on-line coal flow control in vertical spindle mills comprising a plurality of independently adjustable flow control elements and positioning rods that adjust the positioning of those flow control elements. Each flow control element is positioned within the discharge turret of the vertical spindle mill along the outer wall of the discharge turret proximate the entrance to its corresponding coal outlet pipe. The adjustable rods are seated on the side or top of the discharge turret of the coal pulverizer and are connected to the flow control element horizontally or vertically as the case may be. The flow control elements can be independently rotated by +/−90 degrees about the positioning rod axis, moved back and forth in the horizontal plane, and can also be moved up and down in the vertical plane. Therefore, each flow control element has three degrees-of-freedom: one rotational and two linear displacements. The apparatus improves boiler performance by making it possible to operate the boiler with reduced pollutant levels (e.g. NOx, CO) and increased combustion efficiency. Automated computer control of the control surfaces is contemplated. |
| US08181579B2 |
Plastic and wood composite tabletop
A tabletop with a plastic surface board, a fiberboard and a frame. The plastic surface board has a top portion covering the top of the fiberboard, and a side portion covering the sides of the fiberboard. The end of the side portion and an edge of the bottom of the fiberboard defines a seam. The frame is continuous and supports the bottom of the fiberboard. The frame surrounds the plurality of sides, covers and protects the seam. |
| US08181578B2 |
Method, system and devices for railroad track reconditioning and repair
A method, system and devices for reconditioning, repair and replacement of railroad track components including direct fixation fasteners includes the use of temporary direct fixation fasteners which serve as temporary rail support and fastening and as guides for installation of permanent anchor inserts for installation and anchoring of new permanent direct fixation fasteners. The method of use of the temporary direct fixation fasteners enables operational use of the railroad line at various stages throughout reconditioning, repair and replacement processes. |
| US08181577B2 |
Rail train
A rail train for supporting multiple sticks of ribbon rail comprises a plurality of rail support cars having a single, centrally positioned rail support stand wherein adjacent rail support cars are supported on shared trucks. End cars include a tunnel for supporting the rails near their ends and one or more rail support arms pivotal at a first end about two axis and supporting a rail guide assembly at a second end for supporting a rail as it is pulled of the rail train. A rail tie-down car utilizes spring-loaded, hydraulically actuated clamp assemblies to clamp individual rails to the tie-down car. Each clamp assembly incorporates at least two clamp members which act opposite one another to prevent the rail secured in place by the clamps from sliding in either longitudinal direction. |
| US08181576B1 |
Projectile for standoff destruction of explosive devices
A projectile for safe standoff destruction of explosive devices. The projectile's casing encloses a chamber containing combustible material located opposite a roughened surface on the chamber. The combustible material is mounted so upon the projectile impacting the explosive device, the combustible material flies onto the roughened surface, heating the material by shear forces and igniting the material. This creates pressure bursting the chamber, injecting combustion gases into the explosive fill within the device, thereby igniting the fill locally at the impact, and along cracks in the fill. This arrangement prevents a coherent detonation wavefront from forming within the fill, and a slower burn of the fill, whereby a rifleman has little chance of receiving a concussive shock, or shrapnel, from the device. |
| US08181575B2 |
Method of variable cutoff printing in a press having a common blanket cylinder
A variable cutoff web printing press is provided including a first plate cylinder for printing a first color of first and second images and a second plate cylinder for printing a second color of the first and the second images. The printing press also includes a common blanket cylinder. The first and second plate cylinders contact the common blanket cylinder and transfer the first and second images to the common blanket cylinder. The printing press also includes a first transfer body for receiving the first image from the common blanket cylinder and transferring the first image to a web and a second transfer body for receiving the second image from the common blanket cylinder and transferring the second image to the web. A method of variable cutoff web printing is also provided. |
| US08181566B2 |
Machine for making homemade ice-cream and similar
A machine for making homemade ice-cream and similar having an outer casing, a mixing bowl housed inside the machine and projecting outwards of the casing, and a movable lid hinged to the casing and movable to and from an operating position in which it closes the top end of the bowl completely; the movable lid having a supporting arm which is hinged to the casing and is provided with a through opening positioned over the top end of the bowl when the supporting arm is in a lowered position, and a cover fixed to the supporting arm so as to be positioned closing the top end of the bowl when the supporting arm is in the lowered position; the cover having a cup-shaped body fixed upside down to the supporting arm with the bottom of the cup-shaped body located at the through opening, a threaded tubular sleeve which engages a through hole formed in the bottom of the cup-shaped body so as to project from the supporting arm on back through the through opening, and a lock nut screwed to the end portion of the tubular sleeve to grip the supporting arm between the cup-shaped body and the lock nut. |
| US08181560B2 |
Food processing tool
A food processing tool particularly suited for processing garlic and the like generally includes a main body having a tray configured to allow garlic to be passed back and forth across the tray for processing as desired. The main body optionally includes a pair of opposing guides positioned on opposing lateral sides of the tray and a plurality of ribs provided along either a portion or the entirety of the tray to reduce friction and improve the sliding ability of the garlic along the ribs and therefore the tray. A main slicing blade and one or more pluralities of blades are provided to slice, mince, or julienne cut the garlic. A pusher and cap is configured to selectively allow or restrict rotational movement of the cap and garlic for different orientations when cutting. |
| US08181559B1 |
Rolling plate assembly attachment for portable power cutting tools including an improved structural design and manufactured out of improved materials, an improved wheel configuration, and an adjustable bevel gear and a cutting guide
The present invention is an attachable rolling plate assembly which can be attached as a single unit to a portable cutting tool to facilitate the safe rolling movement of the portable cutting tool on the workpiece. The invention comprises a frame assembly formed from a single piece of molded material such as fiber enriched plastic having a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinal sidewalls with stabilizer fins extending therefrom, and a flat base portion having a pair of parallel stabilizer tubes molded therein. The invention further includes an adjustable bevel gear assembly by which the angle of orientation of the cutting blade can be quickly changed. The invention also includes a cutting guide assembly to facilitate a straight cut, reduce torsional rotation of the saw blade and reduce kickback of the saw. |
| US08181557B2 |
Power saw with miter angle adjustment
This specification discloses a mechanism that alters the cutting angle of a motorized miter saw. The cutting angle is altered by a mechanism that deploys a member from underneath the cutting material resting surface to above the cutting material resting surface. When deployed above the cutting material resting surface, the angle between the blade and cutting material is altered. |
| US08181549B2 |
Steering apparatus
An electric power steering apparatus 10 has an electric motor 46 for supplying an auxiliary force to a steering force inputted from a steering wheel 16, and transmits the steering force including the auxiliary force to a steered road-wheel 14 at least partially via a rack-and-pinion mechanism 30, thereby performing steering of a vehicle 12. The rack-and-pinion mechanism 30 includes: a pinion 38 provided at a pinion shaft 28 connected to the steering wheel 16; a rack 40 that is provided over a predetermined width at a rack shaft 32 connected to the steered road-wheel 14, and that is engaged with the pinion 38; and a rack guide 70 for urging the rack shaft 32 toward the pinion 38. A pressure angle α1 of a tooth root of the rack 40 is set to be greater than a pressure angle α0 of a tooth tip of the rack 40. |
| US08181548B2 |
Power transmission apparatus
A power transmission apparatus includes a rotating electric device including a rotor and a stator; a speed reducer; and a case. The speed reducer includes a first drive gear provided on a first shaft connected to the rotating electric device; a first driven gear that engages with the first drive gear, and that is provided on a second shaft that is parallel to the first shaft; a second drive gear provided on the second shaft; and a second driven gear that engages with the second drive gear, and that rotates coaxially with the first shaft. The lower end of the stator, the lower end of the second driven gear, the lower end of the first driven gear, and the lower end of the rotor are disposed in a stated order in a direction from a lower position to an upper position, in the case. |
| US08181545B2 |
Actuator with integrated drive mechanism
An actuator assembly having a housing, at least one rotating gear member including a cam, and an actuator device operably connected to the rotating gear member, operably contained in the housing, for rotating the gear member. Also included is a bearing member operably associated with the cam such that when the actuator device is actuated for rotation of the gear member, the bearing member moves on the cam for providing relative motion between the bearing member and the rotating gear member. The actuator device is selected from a torque generating device or a device having linear movement. |
| US08181540B2 |
Measurement of sliding friction-induced vibrations for biomimetic tactile sensing
Tactile sensors are disclosed that mimic the human fingertip and its touch receptors. The mechanical components are similar to a fingertip, with a rigid core surrounded by a weakly conductive fluid contained within an elastomeric skin. The deformable properties of the finger pad can be used as part of a transduction process. Multiple electrodes can be mounted on the surface of the rigid core and connected to impedance measuring circuitry within the core. External forces deform the fluid path around the electrodes, resulting in a distributed pattern of impedance changes containing information about those forces and the objects that applied them. Strategies are described for extracting features related to the mechanical inputs and using this information for reflexive grip control. Controlling grip force in a prosthetic having sensory feedback information is described. Pressure transducers can provide sensory feedback by measuring micro-vibrations due to sliding friction. |
| US08181539B2 |
Pressure isolated strain gauge torque sensor
A fluid parameter measuring instrument relies upon a torque transmitting member comprising an integrally joined and substantially concentric shaft within a tube to transfer torsional stress across a pressure differential barrier without a penetration aperture seal. On one environmental side of the barrier, a pair of thin wall beams having strain gauges secured thereto are secured proximate of the beam mid-points to the torque transmitting member and the opposite ends to barrier structure. The strain gauges are connected in an electrical balance circuit to measure torque as a function of stress on the beams. |
| US08181537B2 |
Linearized torque flow sensor
A fluid flow meter is responsive to measured torque force imposed by fluid flow over a static impeller. Exponential torque relationships imposed upon a static torque shaft by fluid flow over a static impeller are linearized by a resilient torque shaft restraint and translated to flow rate values by torque measuring means. |
| US08181528B2 |
Method and system for ultrasonic inspection of gearbox ring gear
A method and system for ultrasonically inspecting a ring gear of a gearbox is provided. The method and system can be used for the detection, characterization and/or sizing of defects in the ring gear. The ring gear has a plurality of teeth, which extend radially inward with respect to an outer surface of the gearbox. The method includes the steps of selecting an ultrasonic transducer productive of a test signal, positioning the ultrasonic transducer at an outer surface of the ring gear, orienting the ultrasonic transducer so as to direct the test signal to propagate through the ring gear, and activating the ultrasonic transducer so as to test the ring gear for defects therein. |
| US08181525B2 |
Universal acoustic emission test sensor fixing device
A universal acoustic emission test sensor fixing device includes a radial positioning mechanism, supporting mechanisms, bases, acoustic emission test sensor mounting mechanisms, and parallelism adjusting members, in which the supporting mechanism includes a main supporting arm and an auxiliary supporting arm, with one end of the auxiliary supporting arm fixedly connected to or hinged with the main supporting arm and the other end being provided with a ball head, and a parallelism adjusting member mounting mechanism is provided at the joint of the main supporting arm and the auxiliary supporting arm, and the base is provided with a spherical hole. |
| US08181521B2 |
Yaw rate sensor using surface acoustic wave
A yaw rate sensor has two sets of exciting electrodes, perturbative weights and two sets of detecting electrodes on a surface of a piezoelectric substrate. The exciting electrodes excite first surface acoustic waves transmitted through the surface of the substrate in a propagation direction. The weights are oscillated by the waves and excite a second surface acoustic wave, transmitted through the surface of the substrate in a detection direction orthogonal to the propagation direction, in response to a yaw applied to the weights. The detecting electrodes measure an intensity of the second surface acoustic wave to detect the yaw rate. The sets of exciting electrodes are symmetrically placed with respect to a driving axis extending straight along the propagation direction. The group of weights is symmetric with respect to the driving axis. |
| US08181519B2 |
Resistance-based muscular force evaluation and training utilizing elasticity following angular change of first and second joints
In an apparatus for resistance-based muscular force evaluation and training, elasticity at the distal end of a robot arm is made to follow changes caused in the force exerted by the muscles of praxis as a result of changes in angle at the first and second joints. Even when the trainee changes his or her position, he or she may be indicated of and may positively comprehend the direction in which he or she is to exert the force. The robot arm have its distal end secured to the distal end of the link mechanism has elasticity variable with directions. The elasticity is varied to follow changes caused in the force exerted on the distal end of the link mechanism by a set of antagonistic mono-articular muscles and a set of antagonistic bi-articular muscles, as a result of changes in angle at the first and second joints. |
| US08181509B2 |
Apparatus for determining an abnormality of a control valve of an internal combustion engine
The present invention is applied to an internal combustion engine comprising a first supercharger 61, a second supercharger 62, a first control valve 66 for controlling a supply of an exhaust gas to the first supercharger, and a second control valve 64 for controlling a supply of an air to the first supercharger, and provides to an apparatus for determining an abnormality of a control valve which can determine abnormality of the first control valve and the second control valve. The apparatus for determining an abnormality of a control valve determines abnormality of a control valve when a supercharging pressure is smaller than a predetermined referential supercharging pressure by a predetermined value or more. The apparatus for determining an abnormality of a control valve determines that the first control valve is abnormal and the second control valve is normal if a pressure of an air at a downstream side of a compressor of the first supercharger is larger than a pressure of an air at an upstream side of the compressor by a predetermined value or more. In the meantime, the apparatus for determining an abnormality of a control valve determines that either one of the first control valve and the second control valve is abnormal if the pressure of the air at a downstream side of the compressor of the first supercharger is not larger than the pressure of the air at an upstream side of the compressor by a predetermined value or more. |
| US08181508B2 |
Diagnostic systems and methods for a two-step valve lift mechanism
A system includes a pressure signal adjustment module that generates a maximum pressure signal based on a fluid pressure signal from a pressure sensor of a camshaft phaser system of an engine. The pressure signal adjustment module detects a maximum peak value of the fluid pressure signal and maintains the maximum pressure signal at the maximum peak value for a peak and hold period. A diagnostic module detects a fault of the camshaft phaser system based on the maximum pressure signal during the peak and hold period. |
| US08181506B2 |
Tip indenting apparatus for testing a block of material
The invention relates to a tip indenting apparatus for testing a block of material, characterized in that it comprises: a holder for the tip and a holder for a block of a material to be punched or scratched, said tip holder and said block holder each comprising a solid body made of heat conducting material; securing means for removably securing the tip or the block in thermal-conducting contact to said solid body; an annular sheath having a shape corresponding to that of said solid body and in which said solid body is provided; heating means comprising at least one electric heater; and means for assembling the solid body and the heating means; wherein, during a test, the tip can be heated at a predetermined temperature, in particular a temperature essentially equal to that of the block of material to be tested. |
| US08181500B2 |
Die for extrusion molding of metal material
A die 10 has a die case 20 arranged with a pressure receiving surface 22 of a pressure receiving portion 21 facing rearward so as to oppose to an extrusion direction, a male die 30 and a female die 40 mounted in the die case 20. The pressure receiving portion 22 is formed into a rearwardly protruded convex shape. A plurality of metal material introducing portholes 24 are formed in an external periphery of the pressure receiving portion 21. It is configured such that the metal material pressed against the pressure receiving surface 22 is introduced into the die case 20 via the portholes 24 and passes through the extrusion hole 11. B/A is adjusted to 1.8 to 6.0 and D/B is adjusted to 0.15 to 0.4, where “A” is a product circumscribed circle diameter, “B” is a pressure receiving surface external diameter, “C” is a between-hole-wall inlet side minimum thickness size, “n” is the number of the between-hole-walls, and “D” is a between-hole-wall inlet side total thickness size obtained by “C”דn.” |
| US08181499B2 |
Roll-forming machine and method for roll-forming a hat-shaped profile
A beam with a hat-shaped profile with a cross-section that varies along its length is successively formed from a plane sheet metal strip using a roll-forming machine with a number of forming stations. The forming stations (11, 12) have a pair of clamping rollers (21, 22 and 23, 24) for each side flange (16, 17) and support rollers (25, 26) for the central flange. The pairs of clamping rollers in the forming stations can be displaced both horizontally and vertically during a forming operation, and the support rollers (25, 26) can be displaced vertically and they can be displaced individually in a sideways direction. All four corners (27-30) of the hat-shaped beam are formed at the same time, whereby the corners are folded on the peripheral edges of the clamping rollers and support rollers. Not only the axes of the pairs of clamping rollers but also of the support rollers can be turned in order to adapt to the corners that are being formed. |
| US08181498B2 |
Method and apparatus for shaping a rim of a three-dimensionally arched sheet metal
Method for shaping a rim of a three dimensionally arched sheet metal, wherein the sheet metal is placed on a female die provided with a chamfer which follows the contour of a peripheral edge of the rim, the rim spanning the chamfer, and a male roller die is rolled on the sheet metal following the course of the chamfer while being pressed against the rim, thereby plastically deforming the rim locally into the chamfer while advancing along the chamfer in rolling contact. |
| US08181497B2 |
Post straightening apparatus and method
An apparatus and method for straightening an article are disclosed. The apparatus and method disclosed provide for the conservation of metal, reduction waste worldwide, and the extension of the useful life for an article. The apparatus may comprise an actuator, an endpiece coupled to the actuator, the endpiece including two arms, the arms defining a space therebetween; and a support member including two rails, the rails defining a space therebetween. Upon activation of the actuator, the arms engage the article disposed on the rails. Also, the space between the arms is aligned with the space between the rails. Both spaces are adapted to receive article portions such that portions within the spaces are not engaged by the arms. |
| US08181496B2 |
U-lock cross brace
A cross brace for securing on a U-lock having a U-shaped shackle with the cross brace comprising first and second engaging members and a connecting member therebetween. The first engaging member defines a first through bore having a first opening and a first central axis. The second engaging member defines a second through bore having second opening and a second central axis. The connecting member extends between and connects the first and second members relative to one another such that an opening plane extending between the first and second openings and intersecting the first and second central axes is at an acute angle relative to the first and second central axes. |
| US08181495B2 |
Anti-theft device and method for fuel dispensers
An anti-theft device and method for securing and preventing access to components within an interior of a fuel dispenser cabinet having an access door located on one side of the cabinet. The device includes structure for securing the anti-theft device to the periphery of the cabinet, structure for preventing the anti-theft device from being laterally and vertically removed from the cabinet, and a releasable assembly for selectively allowing and preventing access to the interior of the cabinet through the door. |
| US08181493B2 |
Position sensing
A three-axis linear position sensor apparatus may include (a) a reference device adapted as a magnetic field generating element, (b) a receiver pad adapted to measure a magnetic field generated by the reference device, and (c) a signal-conditioning and signal-processing electronics adapted to determine a three-axis linear position of the reference device based on the magnetic field measured by the receiver pad. |
| US08181487B2 |
Optical fiber preform manufacturing method
An optical fiber preform manufacturing method includes: supporting a drilling jig in a radial direction of a preform that is cylinder-shaped; moving the drilling jig in a longitudinal direction of the preform; and forming a plurality of slits each extending in the longitudinal direction and each directed from an outer side of the preform toward a center the preform, and a plurality of holes each extending in the longitudinal direction and each connecting with an end of one of the plurality of slits in a depth direction of the one of the plurality of slits. |
| US08181483B2 |
Processes for preparing electrically-conductive glass-ceramics
Discloses are processes for preparing conductive glass-ceramics employ segregation or ion exchange. |
| US08181480B2 |
Refrigeration device
A refrigeration device includes a compression mechanism, a radiator, a first expansion mechanism, a second expansion mechanism, an evaporator, a first internal heat exchanger, a branch pipe a third expansion mechanism, and a second internal heat exchanger. The first internal heat exchanger causes heat to be exchanged between refrigerant that flows from the radiator to the inflow side of the first expansion mechanism, and refrigerant that flows from the evaporator to the compression mechanism. The branch pipe branches from a third refrigerant pipe for connecting the radiator and the second expansion mechanism, and merges with the second refrigerant pipe. A third expansion mechanism is provided to the branch pipe. The second internal heat exchanger causes heat to be exchanged between refrigerant that flows out from the first expansion mechanism, and refrigerant that flows out from the third expansion mechanism. |
| US08181476B2 |
Composite doors for transport refrigeration unit
The front cover of a transport refrigeration unit includes a plurality of hinged access doors, with each door being formed of a pair of spaced thermoplastic olefin sheets with their edges being bonded along the entire periphery of the door to form a hollow space between the sheets without a need for foam. The edges are bonded by a thermoforming process which provides strength and rigidity to the door. Additional thermoforming bonds are made at locations other than the periphery to provide further strength and rigidity. A ribbing structure is formed in one of the sheets and extends around the periphery thereof. Further ribbing may extend transversely across the sheet in non-peripheral positions. |
| US08181475B2 |
Automatic HVAC fan operation during warm-up stage
A system and method for automatically operating an HVAC fan for an automotive vehicle is provided where the vehicle includes an occupant detection system and an HVAC system including an HVAC computer. The user sets the heating/cooling temperature of the HVAC system to maximum and then sets the HVAC system to an automatic mode. The occupant detection system determines if there is at least one occupant inside the vehicle. The HVAC computer then automatically operates the HVAC fan based on a response from the occupant detection system. |
| US08181474B2 |
Solar-powered air conditioner using a mixture of glycerin, alcohol and water to store energy
A solar-powered air conditioning system including an energy-storage medium made of a mixture of 5%-20% glycerin, 2.5%-10% alcohol and water in a thermally insulated container is disclosed. While frozen, the said energy storage medium becomes slurry of thin sheets of ice dispersed in liquid, which will not damage the container and the heat-exchange pipes. The system uses a solar photovoltaic panel to directly drive a vapor-compression refrigeration unit to freeze the said energy storage medium. A ventilation system forces air through a heat-exchange coil in the said energy-storage medium, to generate chilled air to cool the space. In the absence of sunlight, the energy-storage medium can keep frozen for days. With or without sunlight, the flowing air chilled by the frozen energy-storage medium continues to cool the room or the entire building. |
| US08181473B2 |
Refrigeration cycle device, and air conditioner for vehicle
In a refrigeration cycle device in which a compressor is driven by power transmitted from an engine, a torque limiter is adapted to interrupt a transmission of the power from the engine to the compressor when a torque transmitted from the engine to the compressor becomes a predetermined value. A control unit is adapted to determine whether the transmission of the power from the engine to the compressor is interrupted by the torque limiter by determining whether a deviation of a refrigerant discharge pressure of the compressor is below a predetermined pressure when the control unit commands the compressor to change the refrigerant discharge flow amount of the compressor. Thus, the control unit can determine whether the torque limiter interrupts the transmission of power from the engine to the compressor without, using a compressor revolution sensor. |
| US08181471B2 |
Ice-making machine
An ice maker comprises a tray (1), which has at least one compartment (4) for molding a piece of ice, a frame (15), in which the tray is mounted to be pivotable about an axis (14), and a motor (22) for driving the pivot movement of the tray, which motor is mounted at the frame (15) to be adjacent to the tray (1) and transversely offset relative to the axis. |
| US08181469B2 |
Refrigerating method and refrigerating system utilizing gas hydrate
A refrigerating method and a refrigerating system utilizing a large decomposition heat absorbed at the time of decomposition of the gas hydrate and building up, by a pump, the pressure of liquid components generated due to the decomposition of gas hydrate and compressing only gas components by a compressor, the refrigerating method comprising the steps of generating the gas hydrate (H) by a hydrate generating reactor (11), decomposing the gas hydrate (H) into the liquid components (L) and the gas components (G) after depressurization to absorb heat, separating the decomposed liquid components (L) and gas components (G) from each other, building up the pressure of the liquid components (L) by the pump (16) and transferring to the hydrate generating reactor (11), and pressurizing and compressing only the gas components (G) by the compressor (17) and transferring to the hydrate generating reactor (11). |
| US08181468B2 |
Apparatus and method for dispensing discrete amounts of viscous material
Apparatus and methods for dispensing small amounts of a viscous material onto a workpiece. The narrow-profile dispensing apparatus includes a fluid chamber, a nozzle, and a valve seat disk representing individual components that are removable from a main body of the dispensing apparatus for cleaning and/or replacement. The nozzle is coupled with the fluid chamber by a heat transfer body that may be cooled by, for example, a cooling fluid routed through an air pathway defined in the heat transfer body. The main body of the dispensing apparatus may be cooled by air exhausted from an air cavity of a pneumatic actuator regulating the movement of a needle to control the flow of viscous material in the dispensing apparatus. |
| US08181467B2 |
Mid-turbine frame torque box having a concave surface
A single point load structure transfers a first load from a first bearing cone and a second load from a second bearing cone of a gas turbine engine to a plurality of struts. The single point load structure includes a stem, a branch connected to the stem and a torque box connected to the plurality of struts for absorbing the first and second loads from the stem and the branch. The stem has a concave surface that opens in a radially outward direction with respect to a rotational axis of the gas turbine engine. |
| US08181466B2 |
Mid-turbine frame
A mid-turbine frame connected to at least one mount of a gas turbine engine transfers a first load from a first bearing and a second load from a second bearing to the mount. The mid-turbine frame includes a single point load shell structure and a plurality of struts. The single point load shell structure combines the first load and the second load into a combined load. The plurality of struts is connected to the single point load structure and transfers the combined load from the single point load shell structure to the mount. |
| US08181463B2 |
Direct heating organic Rankine cycle
The present invention provides an organic Rankine cycle power system, which comprises means for superheating vaporized organic motive fluid, an organic turbine module coupled to a generator, and a first pipe through which superheated organic motive fluid is supplied to the turbine, wherein the superheating means is a set of coils through which the vaporized organic motive fluid flows and which is in direct heat exchanger relation with waste heat gases. |
| US08181456B2 |
Compressed air energy storage system utilizing two-phase flow to facilitate heat exchange
A compressed-air energy storage system according to embodiments of the present invention comprises a reversible mechanism to compress and expand air, one or more compressed air storage tanks, a control system, one or more heat exchangers, and, in certain embodiments of the invention, a motor-generator. The reversible air compressor-expander uses mechanical power to compress air (when it is acting as a compressor) and converts the energy stored in compressed air to mechanical power (when it is acting as an expander). In certain embodiments, the compressor-expander comprises one or more stages, each stage consisting of pressure vessel (the “pressure cell”) partially filled with water or other liquid. In some embodiments, the pressure vessel communicates with one or more cylinder devices to exchange air and liquid with the cylinder chamber(s) thereof. Suitable valving allows air to enter and leave the pressure cell and cylinder device, if present, under electronic control. |
| US08181454B2 |
Enhanced pressure balancing of an oil pump rotor for an automatic transmission
A transmission includes a torque converter and an oil pump for providing fluid. The transmission has a stator shaft and a torque converter hub mounted on the stator shaft, defining an annular chamber between the stator shaft and the torque converter hub. A pump rotor for the oil pump is mounted on the torque converter hub. The torque converter hub extends beyond the pump rotor to fluidly seal the pump rotor from the annular chamber between the torque converter hub and the stator shaft. |
| US08181452B2 |
Particulate filter regeneration during engine shutdown
Various systems and method are described for controlling an engine having an exhaust system which includes a particulate filter. One example method comprises, after shutting down the engine and spinning down the engine to rest, operating a vacuum pump to draw fresh air through the exhaust system to an intake system, and regenerating at least a portion of the particulate filter during the engine rest. |
| US08181447B2 |
Exhaust gas purification device
An ECU corrects a fuel addition interval, based on an amount of change between an exhaust gas temperature at present and a basic exhaust gas temperature obtained when a basic addition interval is set, to reduce the fuel addition interval with an increase in the amount of change in the exhaust gas temperature. With such correction of the addition interval, when the exhaust gas temperature is increased in a highland region or the like, the fuel addition interval is corrected to be reduced and an fuel addition amount is corrected to be increased according to the increase in the exhaust gas temperature. Thereby, an increase in a temperature at a tip portion of a fuel addition valve can be suppressed, and thus clogging of an ejection hole of the fuel addition valve with deposits can be avoided. |
| US08181441B2 |
Controlled fan stream flow bypass
A turbine engine component of a turbofan engine fitted with a bypass air valve includes at least one turbine engine component having a surface with at least one aperture, said turbine engine component located from between a bypass fan duct and a turbine exhaust nozzle of the turbofan engine; a bypass air valve includes a liner concentrically disposed about the turbine engine component and parallel to a centerline of the turbofan engine, the liner has a surface including at least one aperture and at least one impermeable region, and means for actuating the liner about the turbine engine component; and a flow transfer location comprising an area proximate to a turbine exhaust stream flow. |
| US08181438B2 |
Composite fishing line
Braided or twisted lines made from a) gel spun polyolefin yarns and b) at least one other yarn or monofilament are stretched to increase line tenacity. If desired, stretching conditions can also be chosen to significantly reduce the denier of the line. |
| US08181435B1 |
Pick-up tine dividers
A tine divider plate for use on a pick-up assembly for an agricultural harvester that is connected to the tine guard and pick-up assembly frame structure using a combination of hooks and slots to retain the divider plate in position once installed. An additional hat section may be provided adjacent to the one end of each tine divider plate to direct bent tines through spaces in the tine guard upon reverse tine reel rotation. |
| US08181433B2 |
Method of lap sealing a molten cheese product with non-wax film
A method of sealing a non-wax-coated film pouch contained within an enclosure includes forming an enclosure, positioning a piece of non-wax-coated film within the enclosure to form a floor and side walls of a pouch within the enclosure, dispensing a flowable dairy-based product into the pouch, overlapping portions of the film onto one another to produce a top wall over the dairy-based product, and heat sealing the overlapping portions of the top wall to each other. |
| US08181432B2 |
Web packaging system with ergonomic forming plug change
A web packaging system provides easy access and changing of forming plug tooling. |
| US08181429B2 |
Method of producing contents filed in a container
A method for producing contents filled in a container comprising steps of introducing a polyester container with a non-crystallized neck portion into a sterilized closed space having sterility and closed state on a commercial basis and comprising at least space in which a bottle sterilizing process is performed, space in which a filling process is performed and space in which a sealing process is performed, entire inner surface of said sterilized closed space and surface of an apparatus disposed in said sterilized closed space being sterilized by wet heating of the space using heated water and/or steam, at least the space in which the filling process is performed and the space in which the sealing process is performed being kept under a positive pressure by sterilized air; heating and sterilizing the container at least in its inner surface by wet heating using hot water and/or steam; and filling the contents in the sterilized container at a filling temperature within a temperature range from 40° C. to a temperature less than glass transition temperature which is determined by moisture content of the container and then sealing the container. |
| US08181422B2 |
Energy-absorbing structural composite element
A structural, energy absorbing composite element for aircraft structures includes a metallic or nonmetallic skin shell with a porous filler material insert positioned within the skin shell. The porous filler material is a material having ligaments that collapse resulting in a densification of the porous filler material in response to impact loading or a compression force sufficient to cause failure of the combined assembly. |
| US08181414B2 |
Web structure for insulating concrete block
An insulating concrete form block adapted to be interlocked with other insulating concrete blocks to form an insulating concrete form for casting concrete. The insulating concrete block including a first foam panel and a second foam panel supported in a spaced apart, parallel relationship to form a concrete receiving cavity. Each of the first panel and the second panel having a top end, a bottom end, a first end, and a second end. The top end and the bottom end of each of the first and second panels having an outside row of a plurality of projections and an inside row of a plurality of projections. The projections of the outside row being spaced apart to define a plurality of recesses and the projections of the inside row being spaced apart to define a plurality of recesses with the projections of the outside row being adjacent to the recesses of the inside row and the recesses of the outside row being adjacent projections of the inside row. At least some of the projections of the inner row are set back from an inner edge of the panel such that when one panel is interconnected with a like panel, a plurality of spaced apart recesses are formed along an inner face defined by the interconnected panels. |
| US08181413B2 |
Shingle with reinforced nail zone and method of manufacturing
A roofing shingle is provided. The roofing shingle includes an overlay sheet including a headlap portion and a tab portion and an underlay sheet secured to the overlay sheet such that a region of the underlay sheet overlaps a region of the headlap portion of the overlay sheet. Said underlay sheet has a substantially uniform thickness. A reinforcement member is secured to the headlap portion. The reinforcement member is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of paper, film, scrim, woven, and non-woven material. The reinforcement member and the portion of the headlap portion to which the reinforcement member is secured to improve nail pull-through. At least some of the reinforcement member does not overlap the overlapping regions of the headlap portion and the underlay sheet. Said reinforcement member provides said overlay sheet with a non-uniform thickness. |
| US08181411B2 |
Construction component and method for producing a construction component
A construction component is described. The construction component may include: a) a permanent formwork constituted by a pair of separate semi-forms, facing each other and defining a hollow space between them; b) a construction setting material arranged inside the hollow space; and c) auxiliary installations, such as piping, wiring, or cabling. In one example, each semi-form includes a metal plate fitted with protuberances projecting from one side of the metal plate towards the construction setting material, and with slots housing the auxiliary installations. In another example, each semi-form includes a plastic plate, wherein one of the plastic plates is fitted with protuberances and the other plastic plate is fitted with slots. The example method may include arranging of the auxiliary installations in the slots; and arrangement of two semi-forms and subsequent filling with the construction material until it sets; and optionally connecting the systems and/or installing of the coating components. |
| US08181409B1 |
Rotatable wedge spacer having a curved body
An improved rotatable wedge spacer to be removably positioned in a gap between opposing upper and lower surfaces (e.g., tiles) that are being bonded (e.g., by means of mortar) one above or adjacent the other to a flat surface (e.g., a wall or a floor). The spacer includes a curved (e.g., circular) body having a thin tip at one end and a thick tail at the opposite end. The height of the circular body between an upward sloping top surface thereof and a flat bottom surface increases from the thin tip to the thick tail. A series of flat load-supporting plateaus having predetermined increasing heights are regularly spaced from one another along the top surface so as to lie parallel with the flat bottom surface. With the flat bottom surface of the wedge spacer seated upon the lower tile, the curved body is rotated within the gap until one of the flat load-supporting plateaus along the top surface engages the upper tile. Accordingly, the curved body of the rotatable wedge spacer will fit flush and maintain the gap between the tiles as the mortar cures. |
| US08181408B1 |
Method to manufacture paneling or flooring strips from wooden barrel staves
Disclosed is a novel wooden wall or ceiling paneling or flooring manufactured from wine or whiskey cask staves having a desirable patina that emits a scent having a bouquet resembling the wine or whiskey that was aged in the cask, as well as a method to manufacture the wooden paneling or flooring that includes the steps of first straightening the curved cask staves, and then milling the non-stained surface layer of the straightened wine cask staves to a predetermined thickness and hand scrapping or shaving a portion of the stained surface layer of the wine cask stave to remove any splintering that may have occurred during the stave straightening process. The straightened, milled and hand scraped or shaved stave is affixed to a wall or predetermined sub flooring surface with the stained, hand scraped surface layer remaining exposed for viewing or foot traffic and to permit the release of the wine, whiskey or other spirit bouquet into the room. |
| US08181405B2 |
Partition mounting system and clamp assembly for mounting partition
A system for mounting a partition, the system including a shoe with a slot for receiving an edge of the partition and an isolator that fits within the slot between the partition and a portion of the slot. A clamp assembly fits within the slot opposite the first isolator. The clamp assembly includes upper and lower blocks and a center block. The clamp assembly and the isolator are configured to permit the angling of the partition within the slot to place the partition in a desired position. Surfaces of the blocks are angled with respect to each other so that drawing the upper and lower blocks toward each other will urge the center block in one direction so that the partition is held within the slot. |
| US08181401B2 |
Loading dock truck and trailer seals and associated systems and methods
Apparatuses for forming at least a partial seal between an open end of a truck, trailer, or other vehicle and an opening in a building are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus for forming at least a partial seal includes a first side pad configured to extend vertically adjacent to a first side portion of an opening, a second side pad configured to extend vertically adjacent to a second side portion of the opening, and a head pad assembly configured to extend horizontally adjacent to a top portion of the opening between the first and second side pads. The head pad assembly can include replaceable corner pads positioned on either end of a center pad. The corner pads can be independently attached to the wall of the building and separately removed if replacement is needed. |
| US08181400B2 |
Gas fill device for multiple pane windows
The gas fill device for multiple pane windows includes a tube installed through the peripheral spacer bar between two glass panes in an insulated glass assembly for a window, door glass, skylight, or the like. An elbow is pivotally attached to the external end of the tube. A supply of an inert, insulating gas may be attached to the elbow to refill the space between the two panes with the insulating gas, as needed. Two such tubes may be installed in each multiple pane window assembly, one to refill the space with insulating gas and the other to vent air from the space to the atmosphere as the space is refilled with the insulating gas. When the multiple pane window has more than two panes, the tube may be branched and supplied through a common elbow. |
| US08181398B2 |
Roofing system and method
A roof mounting system can include a roof substrate and flashing supportable on the substrate and including an outwardly extending projection having a concave interior side and an aperture extending through the projection between top and bottom surfaces of the flashing. A seal can extend through the aperture and contact at least a portion of the top surface and at least a portion of the bottom surface. The seal can be conformable with the concave interior side and can define a seal aperture substantially aligned with the flashing aperture. A mounting bracket can be supportable on the flashing and can define an aperture sized to receive at least a portion of each of the seal and the projection. A fastener can extend through the mounting bracket aperture, seal aperture, and flashing aperture to inhibit fluid flow through the flashing aperture. |
| US08181390B2 |
Growth substrates, their production and their use
The invention provides a method of growing plants in a mineral wool growth substrate, the method comprises providing at least one mineral wool growth substrate comprising binder and wetting agent, positioning one or more plants for growth in the growth substrate, characterized in that the height of the mineral wool growth substrate is at least 53 mm and the wetting agent comprises ionic surfactant. |
| US08181387B2 |
Plant growth device
Disclosed is a rack for growing plants, including mounting means and a plurality of shelve means spaced vertically. Each of the plurality of shelve means is configured to slide generally horizontally in and out of said mounting means and includes a carrier element; and at least substantially planar light emitting element disposed under the carrier element and formed by at least one OLED. Positions of each of the plurality of shelve means are interchangeable relative to the mounting means. |
| US08181386B1 |
Encasement devices and methods for planting mangroves
Cylindrical type encasement devices and method for planting mangrove propagules or seedlings along high-energy shorelines and in non-native environments. The devices can use interior (or exterior) longitudinal grooves or thinned channels or lines of holes that hinge the device along the longitudinal axis to facilitate increases in the displacement. This displacement results in acceleration of both plant development and the adaptation process, thereby improving long-term survivability and promoting reproductive maturity in order to establish self-sustaining mangrove trees and forests. The device facilitates forced adaptation, that is, induced changes in morphology and structure in order to habituate the developing mangrove tree to environments where natural recruitment cannot occur. A manufacturing process enables control of the structure, color and opacity, to facilitate optimization of the device for applications in habitat creation, restoration, shoreline stabilization, erosion control, and environmental remediation. Safe and easy removal of the device from the environment occurs at the completion of the adaptation process without harm and damage to the tree. |
| US08181385B2 |
Portable electronic lighted insect zapper
An insect destroying device is battery operated and shaped somewhat like a squash or tennis racquet in order to provide a wide opening to enable insects to make contact with one of two outer grids and an inner grid. Both a manual and static technique is provided for enabling contact with insects while destroying them. An uppermost portion of the housing includes an open area in which a narrow strip of central grid is exposed adjacent two ground grids to enable exposure to an insect discovered along the corner between the wall and the ceiling, or where the wall meets a wall at a 90 degree angle, or between the wall and the floor where it is very difficult to have the insect make contact with the center grid or ground grids through the main openings of the grid support area. |
| US08181382B2 |
Fishing lure
A fishing lure that has realistic motion when retrieved from a cast is presented. The lure has three sections: a head section, a tail section, and a mid-section. The head and tail sections are formed to resemble the head and tail areas of live bait. The mid-section has a series of segments that are joined by connectors that allow the segments to move back and forth when water impacts on the sidewalls of the segments. The overall shape of the fishing lure in one embodiment is a shad baitfish. Other embodiments include the overall shape of a lizard, a waterdog salamander, a blue gill fish, a goby fish, or a snake or worm. |
| US08181379B2 |
Composite gun scope cover
A composite gun scope full cover for a gun scope secured with a mounting base to a gun comprising a pair of interacting partial substantially identical scope covers; each partial cover including a body of flexible sheet material having a top surface and spaced apart depending walls of a length sufficient to cover about one-half of the length of the scope; an end lens cover at one end of the body to cover either the eye piece end or the distal end of the scope; a strap extending from the opposite end of the body; an opening between the body and the strap and resilient, stretchable material between the end cover and one end of the strap that engages the mounting base during use of the partial cover to cover an end of the scope, whereby one strap of one partial cover is inserted through the opening of the other partial cover so that the opening of the inserted partial cover will fit over an end of the scope to be pulled against the base mount and stretched over an end of the scope opposite to the end covered by the first partial cover. |
| US08181374B2 |
Safety sign for shooting houses
A safety sign for a shooting shed or building at a shotgun range is disclosed. The safety sign is mounted on the building and moveable between an exterior warning position wherein a warning sign is displayed and visible exterior of the building, warning shooters that it is not safe to shoot, and an interior warning position wherein the warning sign is visible inside the building and provides warning to occupants that it is not safe to exit the building. Preferably, the safety sign is mounted near the exit door of the building and partially obstructs the exit when in the interior warning position so as to provide further warning to occupants not to exit the building. |
| US08181373B2 |
Tensioned fabric trade show display
A “pop up” portable display apparatus includes a flexible frame and a tensioned fabric having a perimeter hem, such that the tensioned fabric is maintained by the flexible frame and integrated with the perimeter hem in order for the tensioned fabric to expand with the flexible frame to produce a display area and reduce with the flexible frame for ease of transport. |
| US08181368B2 |
Steam iron with tank including overpressure safety device
The invention relates to a steam iron that comprises a housing including a tank (5) above a heating body and a safety device that protects the tank (5) against overpressure, the heating body (3) comprising a vaporization chamber supplied with liquid from the tank (5) by a supply circuit, characterized in that said supply circuit includes a member (93) extending inside the tank (5) and having an opening (12) blocked by a valve (94A), said valve (94A) opening a passage through said opening (12) when the pressure inside the tank (5) reaches a predetermined value. |
| US08181367B1 |
Cleats and footwear for providing customized traction
A removable cleat includes a plurality of projections, dividing into sets, with each set of projections made of different materials. The cleat includes a coupling element, for attachment to a shoe, and a ground contacting element. The ground contacting element contains a plurality of projections, with the projections divided into at least two sets. The projections may be disposed about the perimeter of the ground contacting element, such that each set of projections does not extend more than half the perimeter. Additionally, some of the plurality of projections may be located interior to the perimeter. Further, each set of projections may be oriented in a particular direction with respect to a plane formed by the perimeter. Each interspersed set of projections may be made of a different material, or each projection may itself be made of a different material. Further, a directional cleat may include sets of projections interspersed on different parts of the cleat, with each set made of different materials. Such materials may also be of different colors, to help ensure correct installation of the directional cleat on a shoe. |
| US08181364B2 |
Article of footwear with heel cushioning system
An article of footwear with a heel cushioning system is disclosed. The heel cushioning system includes a sole, a curved plate and tread members. The tread members may lift a heel portion of a sole above a ground surface. The curved plate may deflect when a force is applied to the sole. |
| US08181362B2 |
Memory foam shoe insert
Improved shoe inserts (22, 56, 63) are provided which are designed for placement within the toe regions (37, 52, 64) of shoes (34, 50, 62) to provide enhanced comfort to the shoe wearers. The inserts (22, 56, 63) are preferably cut from initial pillow-shaped bodies (20) to give the custom-designed inserts (22, 56, 63). The inserts (22, 56, 63) are designed to substantially occupy the distal end of the shoe toe region and present a proximal toe-engaging face that substantially spans the cross-sectional dimension of the toe-region. The inserts (22, 56, 63) are preferably formed of heat-sensitive, viscoelastic, polyurethane foam material. |
| US08181360B2 |
Sole structure for a shoe
A sole structure 1 for a shoe comprises an upper plate 2 that is disposed on the upper side of the structure 1 and that has upraised portions 20 projecting upwardly form opposite side edge portions of the upper plate 2, a lower plate 3 disposed below the upper plate 2, and a plurality of longitudinally separated connecting portions 4, 5 and 6 that are disposed between the upper plate 2 and the lower plates 3 to form voids 10 therebetween and that elastically connect the upper plate 2 with the lower plate 3. The upper end of the connecting portion 5 extends upwardly to the side surface of the upraised portion 20 of the upper plate 2 and a projecting portion 5b that projects in the longitudinal direction is provided at the extension 5a. The extension 5a and the projecting portion 5b are fixedly attached to the side surface of the upraised portion 20. |
| US08181358B2 |
Energy management apparatus and method
An energy management apparatus manages energy consumption of a machine, which has a supply part (14) for supplying energy and a consume part (10) for consuming the energy supplied by the supply part, so that the energy consumed by the consume part is positively saved. An operating part operates the consume part by using the energy supplied by the supply part. An acquisition part acquires an energy conversion characteristic, as an energy efficiency, from an input energy (40), (42) supplied to the consume part into an output energy output (44), (46) from the consume part. A change part changes an operating condition of the consume part based on the acquired energy efficiency so as to improve an actual value of the energy efficiency. |
| US08181356B2 |
Substrate processing method
A substrate processing method is arranged to perform a heat process on a substrate with a coating film formed thereon to bake and cure the coating film. At first, the substrate, with the coating film formed thereon, is held at a preparatory temperature lower than a lower limit of temperature for baking and curing the coating film, to adjust distribution of a predetermined component in the coating film. Then, the substrate, with distribution of the predetermined component thus adjusted, is subjected to a heat process at a temperature not lower than the lower limit of temperature. |
| US08181353B2 |
Encoder
An encoder for detecting measured values dependent on the rotation angle of the shaft of a motor includes a rotor, which can be fixed on the shaft, and a stator housing, which can be fixed by a bearing surface on an attachment surface of the motor and has a scanning means for detecting the relative rotational position of rotor and stator. In the mounted state, the rotor is fixed on the shaft and the housing is fixed on the attachment surface in such a way that the rotor and the scanning means have a defined axial distance (h). Additionally for mounting purposes, the encoder is pushed onto the shaft until the housing is held in a mounting auxiliary position with its bearing surface at an axial distance from the attachment surface, the axial distance corresponding to the defined distance (h). |
| US08181342B2 |
Method for manufacturing a coreless packaging substrate
Disclosed are a coreless packaging substrate and a manufacturing method thereof. The substrate includes a built-up structure and a first wiring layer. The built-up structure has a first outside and an opposite second outside, and includes one or more second dielectric layers and second wiring layers, and a plurality of conductive vias. The second dielectric layers have first and second surfaces respectively facing the first and second outsides. The second wiring layers are disposed on the second surface. The conductive vias are disposed in the second dielectric layer. The outermost second wiring layer at the second outside has a plurality of second conductive pads. The first wiring layer is embedded into and exposed from the first surface of the outermost second dielectric layer at the first outside, and has a plurality of first conductive pads. The conductive vias electrically connect the first wiring layer and the second wiring layer. |
| US08181341B2 |
Method of forming a multilayer printed wiring board having a bulged via
A method of forming a circuit board which includes generating laser light with a carbon dioxide laser and making a hole through an insulating substrate by irradiating the insulating substrate with the laser light. The hole includes a top opening in a top surface of the insulating substrate, a bottom opening in a bottom surface of the insulating substrate, and an inner wall extending from the top opening to the bottom opening along a thickness direction of the insulating substrate, the inner wall including a bulge which extends in a direction generally orthogonal to the thickness direction. A via hole is formed in the insulating substrate by providing metal in the hole such that the metal extends from the top opening to the bottom opening along the inner wall, and completely closes each of the top and bottom openings. |
| US08181337B2 |
Electronic component mounting method
A method of mounting electronic components on a printed board includes providing a storage tape including a first portion and a second portion that are connected by a connection tape and containing electronic components stored therein, advancing the storage tape so that an electronic component is advanced to a component pickup position where electronic components are picked up by a suction nozzle, picking up the advanced electronic component at the component pickup position by the suction nozzle, and mounting the picked up electronic component on a printed board. The advancing of the storage tape, the picking up of the electronic component and the mounting of the electronic component are repeated, and the component pickup position is adjusted when the second portion of the storage tape is advanced to the component pickup position. |
| US08181335B2 |
Apparatus for assembling a core for receiving wound sheet material
Apparatus for assembling a core for wound sheet material, comprising a tube, a first end member, and a second end member; the apparatus comprising a base, a first chuck for insertion in the first end member, a second chuck for insertion in the second end member, a ram for applying axial pressure such that the first end member is forced into the first end of the tube and the second end member is forced into a second end of the tube, drill devices for drilling fixing apertures, and a monitor device for sensing ambient temperature and enabling the length of the core to be measured at the time of the assembly of the core in the ambient temperature so that the length of the core falls in temperature and length parameters set for subsequent winding of the sheet material on the core. |
| US08181333B2 |
Method of manufacturing squirrel-cage rotor
A method of manufacturing a squirrel-cage rotor includes: providing a laminated stack; attaching a plurality of rotor bars to the laminated stack, wherein the plurality of rotor bars each include opposite longitudinal ends; and die-casting a pair of end rings at the longitudinal ends of the plurality of rotor bars. |
| US08181332B2 |
Method of inserting an undulating winding into a stator
A method of inserting an undulating winding into an alternator stator. The method comprises the following steps consisting of shaping each phase winding into a succession of crenels comprising two lateral branches which are intended to be attached at a position for reception in a slot, positioning the windings on an insertion tool and inserting the turns into the slots of the stator in the reverse order to the winding order. The windings are wound around the insertion tool simultaneously, and the turns that succeed one another in a determined winding order belong alternatively to different windings. |
| US08181331B2 |
Method for producing hardened parts from sheet steel
The invention relates to a method for producing hardened structural parts from sheet steel. The method includes shaping at least one shaped part made of sheet steel provided with a cathodic corrosion protection coating, performing any required final trim of the shaped part and possibly any required punching, or the creation of a perforation pattern, subsequently heating the shaped part, at least over partial areas, under the admission of atmospheric oxygen to a temperature which permits austenizing of the steel material, and thereafter transferring the structural part to a mold-hardening tool and performing mold-hardening in the mold-hardening tool, wherein the structural part is cooled by the contact with and pressing by the mold-hardening tool and is hardened thereby. |
| US08181330B2 |
Method of manufacturing a member for a push button switch
A member for a push button switch that has a small thickness, high durability, and excellent click feeling and can be manufactured at low cost. The member for the push button switch includes one or more key tops, a metal sheet including at least holes that correspond to positions of the key tops, and an elastic sheet that is provided on the metal sheet so as to be positioned on the same side as or opposite side to the key tops. The elastic sheet is fitted into the holes and comes in contact with the key tops at positions of the holes. The elastic sheet includes a urethane film or polycarbonate, and a silicone rubber, which are laminated in a thickness direction of the metal sheet. |
| US08181328B2 |
Fixing method for fixing components together
There is provided a fixing method for fixing components together in which two components in the form of a first component and a second component are positioned such that they are mutually superimposed in predetermined relative positions, and are then fixed together, wherein the first component has at least two portions for engagement that are recessed in a contact surface thereof which is placed against the second component towards a surface thereof which is located on an opposite side from the contact surface, and the second component is formed from thermoplastic resin and has at least two protruding portions that protrude from positions that correspond to the portions for engagement of the first component on a surface of the second component which is located on the opposite side from a contact surface thereof which is placed against the first component, and wherein the fixing method for fixing components together includes: a first step in which the contact surfaces of both the first component and the second component are placed against each other, and the positions of the portions for engagement and the protruding portions are matched together; and a second step in which, by pressing a transmitting component that transmits ultrasonic waves against the protruding portions of the second component, the second component is softened by the ultrasonic waves and forms engaging portions that are protrude into the portions for engagement of the first component and become engaged with these portions for engagement. |
| US08181326B2 |
Method and apparatus for installing a seal
An apparatus and method are provided for installing a seal into a part. A main body of the apparatus has two wings, and a raised shoulder that extends along the main body and two wings. A bracket is attached to the main body, and has an internally threaded hole for engagement with a threaded knob. An installation member is attached to the main body, and includes an insertion wheel attached to a wheel carrier. The wheel carrier is configured to be slidably attached to the main body. The main body is mounted on a first portion of the part and the seal is at least partially installed in a second portion of the part, such that upon relative rotation between the first portion of the part and the second portion of the part the installation member installs the seal. |
| US08181318B2 |
Buckle assembly
A buckle assembly has a female buckle portion formed by a housing with a hollow interior and at least two openings, and at least two male buckle portions, each having at least one locking leg. There is an actuating device disposed within the housing and accessible through an aperture in the housing. The actuating device has latching mechanisms for cooperating with the locking legs for locking the male buckle portions within the female buckle portion when the locking legs of the male portions are inserted through the openings of the housing. Pulling the actuating device toward the aperture moves the latching mechanisms away from the male buckle portions and releases the male buckle portions from the housing. |
| US08181317B2 |
Clamping device, mould thereof, and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein is a clamping device which can resiliency clamp an item. The claming device comprises a W-shaped metallic member to impart resilience for clamping an item, and a casing member having the metallic member embedded therein. The casing member is formed of a polymeric material through injection-molding to prevent corrosion of the metallic member while enhancing an appearance of the clamping device. A mold for the clamping device, and a method for manufacturing the same are also disclosed. Since the metallic member for imparting resilience is embedded in the casing member, the clamping device can be easily manufactured as a single component, remarkably reducing manufacturing costs. Additionally, the metallic member is prevented from being corroded, whereby the clamping device has a remarkably enhanced endurance as well as a compact structure and a high quality. |
| US08181316B2 |
Fastening member comprising shaped tab
A fastening member used for, e.g., a disposable absorbent article is disclosed. The fastening member extends in a longitudinal direction and in a lateral direction and has a lateral centerline. The fastening member comprises a base panel and a shaped tab extending laterally from the base panel. The shaped tab has a longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline, a distal portion and a proximal portion. The shaped tab has a contour edge comprising a shaped upper edge and a shaped lower edge. The shaped upper edge and the shaped lower edge are symmetric with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the shaped tab when relatively shifted in the longitudinal direction and are asymmetric with respect to the lateral centerline of the fastening member. |
| US08181315B2 |
Flexible handle interbox connector
An interbox connector having a body with upper and lower cone portions and a flexible handle extending from the body for operating the cones. The flexible handle includes a continuous section of flexible wire and a plurality of sleeves which surround and are secured about the wire. |
| US08181311B2 |
Adjustable hinged door closer
The present invention provides an adjustable hinged door closer, including a seat with the first and second cylinders, and a first and a second elastic linkage unit. A double-threaded regulator is incorporated onto the first connecting rod of the first elastic linkage unit, so as to change the compression of the spring and regulate the closing/restoring force of the door body. The double-threaded column of the double-threaded regulator has a double-thread that shifts to two thread pitches by just making one rotation, thus facilitating the fine-tuning easily. The elastic linkage unit and the regulator are structurally configured to be assembled externally, and then mated with the connecting seat of the door closer. |
| US08181300B1 |
Fold out ramp
A ramp assembly includes a ramp portion coupled for rotational movement between a stowed position and a deployed position. A first panel is rotatably coupled about a first axis to the ramp portion. A second panel is movable between a lowered position and a raised position. A curbside end of the second panel rotatably associated with a roadside end of the first panel. An actuator drives the ramp assembly through a deployment motion having a first phase and a second phase. During the first phase, the actuator rotates the ramp portion about the first axis. During the second phase, the actuator moves the first axis from a raised position to a lowered position. |
| US08181296B2 |
Foam spring mattress with replaceable foam springs
An aspect of the present invention relates to a method and system of receiving information of a user's support facility comfort requirements; using a software application to determine a proper support facility firmness configuration to match the user's requirement; selecting foam springs with the proper user required firmness as determined by the software application; and configuring the selected foam springs within the support facility to match the user's firmness requirements. |
| US08181295B1 |
Adjustable air mattress device
An adjustable air mattress device comprising a main air mattress component having an inflatable inner cavity; a first torso elevation component disposed on a top surface of the main air mattress component at a front end having art inflatable inner cavity; a second torso elevation component disposed on a top surface of the first torso elevation component having an inflatable inner cavity; a first leg elevation component disposed on the top surface of the main air mattress component at a back end having an inflatable inner cavity; and a second leg elevation component disposed on a top surface of the first leg elevation component having an inflatable inner cavity; wherein the user can independently inflate the main air mattress component, the first torso elevation component, the second torso elevation component, the first leg elevation component, the second leg elevation component, or a combination thereof. |
| US08181293B2 |
Mattress with removable top
A mattress is constructed from a mattress body having an upper and a lower deck, which is preferably pervious to moisture and air. A removable panel, which includes a top layer of breathable fabric, a bottom layer of a fabric that forms a moisture barrier, and a batting layer, is placed on at least the upper deck of the mattress body. The removable panel is removably attached along the perimeter of the deck or decks by a fastener, such as a zipper. The panel can be removed from the deck for cleaning and folded and secured by the fastener in an inverted configuration, with the top layer facing outward. |
| US08181291B2 |
Pillow having a concealed modular base frame system
The invention generally pertains to a pillow convertible between an open position as a food and beverage holder and a closed position as a pillow. By way of example, the pillow has a first and second pillow portion that may be coupled and uncoupled to switch between a closed position and an open position. The pillow also has a food surface member with one or more beverage holders that is sized to fit within the interior of the pillow in the closed position. In another example, the food surface member is a two-piece construction with a slidable tray lock that moves between a first position when the pillow is closed and a second position that secures the two pieces together as a substantially coplanar surface when the pillow is open. In yet another example, the beverage holder is tapered so as to fit a variety of sizes of beverage containers. |
| US08181290B2 |
Climate controlled bed assembly
According to certain arrangements, a climate controlled bed includes an upper portion comprising a core with a top core surface and a bottom core surface. The core includes at least one passageway extending from the top core surface to the bottom core surface. The upper portion of the bed further includes at least one fluid distribution member positioned above the core, wherein the fluid distribution member is in fluid communication with at least one passageway of the core. The fluid distribution member is configured to at least partially distribute fluid within said fluid distribution member. The upper portion of the bed further comprises at least one comfort layer positioned adjacent to the fluid distribution member. The bed also includes a lower portion configured to support the upper portion and at least one fluid module configured to selectively transfer air to or from the fluid distribution member of the upper portion. In some arrangements, the fluid module includes a fluid transfer device and a thermoelectric device for selectively thermally conditioning fluids being transferred by the fluid transfer device. |
| US08181288B1 |
Waterproof base and methods of fabrication and installation thereof
A tile-ready shower basin, and methods of manufacturing and installing the same. A sloped structural core is provided having a topside and a bottom side. A first waterproof panel or coating is applied to the topside and a second waterproof panel or coating is applied to the bottom side. A thin fiberglass flange is provided about at least a portion of the perimeter of the core to create a lip. The basin further includes a first hole or recess formed into the basin, which does not extend through the basin, and a second hole, axially aligned with the first, which does extend through the basin, for directly receiving and coupling a drain therein. |
| US08181285B1 |
Shower/bath seat assembly
A seat assembly includes primary and secondary sections. Each section has a primary face and a secondary face. Each face has a peripheral side wall, interior and exterior edges, and front and rear edges. A hinge couples the side walls of the sections at the interior edges. In this manner movement between deployed and collapsed orientations is allowed. Four primary legs are pivotally secured to the primary face between its peripheral side wall. Two secondary legs are pivotally secured to the secondary face adjacent to its exterior edge between its peripheral side wall. The legs are pivotable between the collapsed and deployed orientations perpendicular to the primary and exterior faces. Holes are provided in the peripheral side walls adjacent to the exterior edges. A handle has legs reciprocally received within the holes. The handle has a grip. The grip couples the legs for carrying purposes. |
| US08181280B2 |
Disabled individual undergarment and outer garment
The present invention is an enhanced undergarment that enables easier dressing and undressing by disabled individuals by allowing the user to don the garment from the buttock area. The garment is configured with a unique back panel at the buttock area that it is divided into two separate panels, a right panel and a left panel. The left and right panels of the undergarment are not seamed but remain open; this opening is from the top of the elastic band to the crotch. Seams are placed to attach the sides of the two separates panels to the front panel, joining the right and left sides. The undergarments are configured with standard leg openings. A seam is also at the crotch. Before the seam is placed at the crotch area, the bottoms of the back panels are designed to overlap. The overlap facilitates better closure and provides space for extra fasteners if needed. The left and right panels include male and female fasteners which allow the user to manually open and close the back panels. |
| US08181278B2 |
Waist protection garment
The invention relates to a waist protection garment. The waist protection garment may include: a length corresponding to the waist circumference of a wearer and the length defining two longitudinal sides; a width in a direction perpendicular to the length and the width defining two lateral sides; an outer cover including a fluid impermeable material; a liner in superposed relation to the outer cover and the liner defining a bodyfacing surface and including a liquid permeable material; and a fastener for attaching one lateral side to the other lateral side. |
| US08181273B2 |
Disposable skirts and shorts diapers
The present embodiment of the subject inventive matter is a one piece disposable diaper clothing that generally comprises of at least one waistband, a diaper that is attached to the at least one waistband and at least one panel that is attached to the at least one waistband. The waistband includes a fastening means that secures the disposable diaper clothing in place on a child. The at least one panel includes a fabric. The diaper coupled with the at least one panel provides a garment like appearance when worn about the lower torso region of the child. As such, the diaper is placed about the lower torso region of the child thereby keeping the panel towards a front waist of the child. The waistband is extended throughout a rear waist towards the front waist of the child. Then the waistband attached with the panel is secured on a waist of the child by the fastening means. |
| US08181269B2 |
Night vision goggle mount with retractable stops
A helmet mount for night vision apparatus including a night vision goggle rotatable between operative and inoperative positions. Retractable stop means are included on the mount for obstructing the rotation of the goggle from its inoperative to operative position without obstructing the rotation of the goggle from its operative to its inoperative position. |
| US08185966B2 |
Electro-mechanical system for non-duplication of video files
An electromechanical system consists of a memory storage unit in which the licensed video files are stored. The function of this device is to recognize the requested data and thereby allow the video file contents from the memory storage unit according to the instructions set to this device. It is an effective means for protecting the video files in the device from non-duplication. |
| US08185958B2 |
Image processing apparatus, information processing apparatus, and methods thereof
Upon applying a DRM protection process to an image which is generated by an image processing apparatus, which doesn't have any communication means that allows direct communications with a PC, without any alteration, encryption of the image in the apparatus and that of the image in the PC as an internal process of the DRM are required, resulting in poor efficiency. The apparatus executes a part of the DRM protection process for the image, and outputs the encrypted image. The PC receives the image which has undergone the part of the DRM protection process, executes the remaining part of the DRM protection process, and outputs the image which has undergone the DRM protection process. In this case, the PC transmits use condition of the input image to a license server, receives signed use condition from the server, and combines the signed use condition with the input encrypted image. |
| US08185952B2 |
Static and dynamic firewalls
A system comprising control logic adapted to activate multiple security levels for the system. The system further comprises a storage coupled to the control logic and comprising a stack, the stack associated with one, but not all, of the multiple security levels. The system also comprises security logic coupled to the control logic and adapted to restrict usage of the system if the control logic attempts to fetch an instruction op-code from the stack. |
| US08185951B2 |
Method of handling user groups in desktop and web based applications in a heterogeneous authentication environment
An embodiment of the present invention is a method that effectuates the handling of user group membership information in a heterogeneous information technology environment having multiple authentication sources. The method including creating a plurality of first user groups in a security model used by an application, adding an attribute to each of said plurality of first user groups and setting the value of each of the attributes to a name corresponding to each of a plurality of second user groups in a plurality of heterogeneous authentication sources, granting a plurality of privileges to said plurality of first user groups as required by said application, causing said user to inherit a plurality of privileges for each of said plurality of second user groups identified in a plurality of user group names list based on said security module authentication and allowing a user to log into said application using said security module. |
| US08185948B2 |
Image forming apparatus capable of allowing easy operation of data while maintaining confidentiality
An image forming apparatus which requests authentication for login processing based on user information when a user requests specific processing includes a communication interface for receiving data, a print mechanism for performing printing processing on data, a registration mechanism for registering a plurality of user information, a storage mechanism for storing an access control list and an administration mechanism. The administration mechanism administers login processing of a plurality of users based on hierarchy information of the registered users and registered contents of the access control list, and to administer permission of the operation processing requested by the user. When the user instructs specific processing of data which is a guest job having no authentication information, the processing of the data is carried out. |
| US08185947B2 |
System, method and apparatus for securely exchanging security keys and monitoring links in a IP communications network
The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for securely exchanging security keys and monitoring links in an IP communications network. The apparatus is disposed between the local device and the remote device and receives a security key associated with the secure communication(s) for the local device. The apparatus then uses the security key to decode one or more messages transmitted between the local device and the remote device. The apparatus may initiate one or more security protocols whenever the decoded message(s) satisfy one or more criteria. Note that the present invention can be implemented as a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium wherein each step is performed by one or more code segments. |
| US08185946B2 |
Wireless firewall with tear down messaging
Methods of screening incoming packets are provided. A first firewall detects a tunnel formation. A second firewall maintains a list of open firewall sessions. Each tunnel has one or more associated firewall sessions. The first firewall detects variable situations, such as when the tunnel is torn down, and notifies the second firewall so that, for example, the second firewall can act to clear an associated firewall session from the firewall session list. Incoming packets that are associated with firewall sessions that have been cleared from the firewall session list may not be passed through the second firewall. |
| US08185945B1 |
Systems and methods for selectively requesting certificates during initiation of secure communication sessions
An exemplary method involves an SSL server receiving an SSL session request from an SSL client. It is determined whether the SSL client is going to use certificate-based authentication. This may involve identifying a port at which the SSL session request was received. Alternatively, this may involve identifying an IP address at which the SSL session request was received. Alternatively still, this may involve examining authentication information in the SSL session request. If the SSL client is going to use certificate-based authentication, a certificate is requested from the SSL client. If the SSL client is not going to use certificate-based authentication, the certificate is not requested from the SSL client. |
| US08185942B2 |
Client-server opaque token passing apparatus and method
In the computer client-server context, typically used in the Internet for communicating between a central server and user computers (clients), a method is provided for token passing which enhances security for client-server communications. The token passing is opaque, that is tokens as generated by the client and server are different and can be generated only by one or the other but can be verified by the other. This approach allows the server to remain stateless, since all state information is maintained at the client side. This operates to authenticate the client to the server and vice versa to defeat hacking attacks, that is, penetrations intended to obtain confidential information. The token as passed includes encrypted values including encrypted random numbers generated separately by the client and server, and authentication values based on the random numbers and other verification data generated using cryptographic techniques. |
| US08185930B2 |
Adjusting filter or classification control settings
Methods and systems for adjusting control settings associated with filtering or classifying communications to a computer or a network. The adjustment of the control settings can include adjustment of policy and/or security settings associated with the computer or network. Ranges associated with the control settings can also be provided in some implementations. |
| US08185928B2 |
System and method for adaptive backoff
A system and method for providing adaptive backoff including one or more transmitters configured to transmit a first data request to a media module at a scheduled time, poll the media module to determine accessibility of the media module, and transmit a second data request to the media module at a rescheduled time determined by the one or more processors. The system and method may also include one or more processors configured to determine that the media module is inaccessible and set the rescheduled time for the media box to transmit a second data request to the media module when the media module is accessible, wherein the rescheduled time is based at least in part on optimizing system capacity of the media module. The system and method may also include one or more receivers configured to receive one or more responses to the polling indicating accessibility of the media module and receive data from the media module based on the second data request. The system and method may also include an output configured to output the data to one or more output devices. |
| US08185926B1 |
System and method for providing media stream related applications
The invention provides a system and method for providing media streams, the method include the steps of: receiving live media streams at a first path; providing a live media stream from the first path to a client, in response to a request to provide the live media stream to the client; and retrieving media related information and providing a non-live media stream from a second path to a client, in response to a request to provide the live media stream to the client. |
| US08185921B2 |
Parental control of displayed content using closed captioning
According to one embodiment, a method for blocking scenes with objectionable content comprises receiving incoming content, namely a scene of a program. Thereafter, using closed captioning information, a determination is made if the scene of the program includes objectionable content, and if so, blocking the scene from being displayed. |
| US08185920B2 |
Ejecting mechanism capable of preventing accidental touch and disk drive using the same
An ejecting mechanism capable of preventing an accidental touch is disposed in a housing having a tray and used for ejecting the tray out of the housing. The ejecting mechanism includes a tray ejecting button and a front cover. The front cover is disposed at the housing and located at the ejecting direction of the tray. The front cover has a sliding key including a pressing body and a triggering body connected to one end of the pressing body. When the pressing body drives the triggering body to slide until the triggering body aligns to the tray ejecting button, the pressing body is capable of being forced to drive one end of the triggering body to trigger the tray ejecting button to eject the tray. |
| US08185919B2 |
Optical disk device with a precise ejection position of a disk tray
An optical disk device which highly precisely positions a disk tray in an ejection position is provided. A controller of an optical disk device drives the disk tray from a storage position toward an exposed position. When a position immediately before the ejection position is detected by a detecting switch, the velocity is reduced, to allow the disk tray to contact a mechanical stopper, for positioning. The controller measures a movement time to the position immediately before the ejection position, and adjusts the drive voltage to increase or decrease the drive voltage for contact with the mechanical stopper according to the measured time. |
| US08185911B2 |
System and method for simplification of data structure in wireless communications
System and method for data simplification in wireless communications are enabled by an application developer toolkit used to convert complex service messages to a simplified data structure for storing information associated with a remote service that utilizes complex data structures for conveying the information to devices that access the remote service. The application developer toolkit also outputs maps for converting the complex service messages to simplified wireless messages in a format of the simplified data structure, and maps simplified wireless messages to complex service messages. A proxy located in a communications path between the wireless device and the remote service uses the maps to convert complex service messages to simplified service messages, and vice versa. |
| US08185902B2 |
Method, system and computer program for distributing a plurality of jobs to a plurality of computers
Method and system for providing a mechanism for determining an optimal workload distribution, from a plurality of candidate workload distributions, each of which has been determined to optimize a particular aspect of a workload-scheduling problem. More particularly, the preferred embodiment determines a workload distribution based on resource selection policies. From this workload distribution, the preferred embodiment optionally determines a workload distribution based on job priorities. From either or both of the above parameters, the preferred embodiment determines a workload distribution based on a total prioritized weight parameter. The preferred embodiment also determines a workload distribution which attempts to match the previously determined candidate workload distributions to a goal distribution. Similarly, the preferred embodiment calculates a further workload distribution which attempts to maximize job throughput. |
| US08185900B2 |
Method for the real-time capability analysis of a system by selectively using approximated or actual system expenses for jobs
The invention relates to a method for the real-time analysis of a system, especially a technical system, which is to process tasks (τ). A job that is defined by processing of a task (τ) generates system expenses. In order to create a particularly quick and accurate method, an approximation of the method is cancelled when it is considered that an interval (I, Iτ, Iτnτ) cannot be processed in real time, the system expenses being taken into account instead of the approximate value for at least one job of a task (τ). |
| US08185899B2 |
Prediction based priority scheduling
Systems and methods are provided that schedule task requests within a computing system based upon the history of task requests. The history of task requests can be represented by a historical log that monitors the receipt of high priority task request submissions over time. This historical log in combination with other user defined scheduling rules is used to schedule the task requests. Task requests in the computer system are maintained in a list that can be divided into a hierarchy of queues differentiated by the level of priority associated with the task requests contained within that queue. The user-defined scheduling rules give scheduling priority to the higher priority task requests, and the historical log is used to predict subsequent submissions of high priority task requests so that lower priority task requests that would interfere with the higher priority task requests will be delayed or will not be scheduled for processing. |
| US08185898B2 |
Method of streaming remote procedure invocation for multi-core systems
A method of streaming remote procedure invocation for multi-core systems to execute a transmitting thread and an aggregating thread of a multi-core system comprises the steps of: temporarily storing data to be transmitted; activating the aggregating thread if the amount of the temporarily stored data is equal to or greater than a threshold and the aggregating thread is at pause status; pausing the transmitting thread if there is no space to temporarily store the data to be transmitted; retrieving data to be aggregated; activating the transmitting thread if the amount of the data to be aggregated is less than a threshold and the transmitting thread is at pause status; and pausing the aggregating thread if there is no data to be retrieved. |
| US08185894B1 |
Training a virtual machine placement controller
To train a virtual machine placement controller, the placement controller determines a new layout of virtual machines that is different from an existing layout of the virtual machines, according to criteria. The placement controller transmits the information relating to the new layout to a user interface. The placement controller receives feedback from the user interface, the received feedback indicating a user response to the new layout. The placement controller then modifies the criteria in response to the received feedback. |
| US08185886B2 |
Method and apparatus to enable dynamically activated firmware updates
Dynamic updating of firmware in a processing system without performing a system reset may be accomplished by allocating memory space for updated firmware in a dynamic random access memory of the processing system during the system initialization process for the processing system; receiving the updated firmware during runtime of the processing system; validating the updated firmware; storing the updated firmware into the allocated memory space when the updated firmware is validated; and setting a pointer variable indicating the start of a portion of the firmware to point to the start of the updated firmware stored in the allocated memory space. |
| US08185884B2 |
System and method for offline updation of software in virtual machine (VM) images
System and method for offline management of software in VM images are described. In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining updation-related information from the software application and an operating system in which the software application runs while the software application is in an online mode, writing the updation-related information to a first set of files of a virtual machine (VM) image while the software application is in the online mode, reading the updation-related information from the first set of files of the VM image while the software application is in an offline mode; using the read updation-related information to update the software application while the software application is in the offline mode; and writing post-updation files to a second set of files of the VM image using the updation-related information read from the first set of files while the software application is in the offline mode. |
| US08185877B1 |
System and method for testing applications
A system and method for testing at least one application is provided. The system comprises a test plan or script creation module for enabling a user to create at least one test plan or script for use in testing the at least one application. The system also comprises a test results module for initiating and determining test results associated with testing of the at least one application according to the at least one test plan or script. In some embodiments, the test results module determines: (1) baseline test results achieved by resolving the at least one test plan or script against the at least one application prior to the application being put to actual use, and (2) dynamic test results achieved by resolving the at least one test plan or script against the at least one application after the at least one application has been put to actual use. The system may also include a comparison module for comparing the dynamic test results with the baseline test results. |
| US08185870B2 |
Managing an application software partition
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing a software partition in logical partitioned data processing system. A virtual root process is created for the software partition, wherein the virtual root process functions as a root process for the software partition. The set of child processes is re-parented to the virtual root process in response to termination of a process having a set of child processes. |
| US08185865B2 |
Methods for gate-length biasing using annotation data
Methods for generating a biased layout for making an integrated circuit are disclosed. One such method includes obtaining a nominal layout defined by one or more cells, where each cell has one or more transistor gate features with a nominal gate length. Then, obtaining an annotated layout. The annotated layout contains information describing gate-length biasing of one or more of the transistor gate features in one or more cells of the nominal layout. A biased layout is produced by modifying the nominal layout using the information from the annotated layout. The biasing modifies a gate length of those transistor gate features identified by the information of the annotated layout. |
| US08185864B2 |
Circuit board analyzer and analysis method
A circuit board analyzer includes a storage unit for storing mesh position information on an analyzed mesh-division model and extracted circuit constants in relation to each other; a division-model configuration unit for dividing the layout of a circuit board into meshes to configure a new mesh-division model; an identical-mesh determination unit for making a comparison between mesh position information on the new mesh-division model and mesh position information on the analyzed mesh-division model to determine identical meshes that have identical mesh position information; and a circuit-constant extraction unit for performing analytical processing based on the new mesh-division model to extract new circuit constants and reusing, as a new circuit constant associated with the identical meshes, an extracted circuit constant that is related to the mesh position information on the identical meshes. |
| US08185860B2 |
Method for matching timing on high fanout signal paths using routing guides
A method, algorithm, software, architecture and/or system for routing signal paths or connections between circuit blocks in a circuit design is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of routing can include: (i) determining a signal path between at least three circuit blocks; (ii) placing a routing guide; and (iii) routing the signal path through the routing guide such that a timing of a signal along the signal path at two or more the circuit blocks is substantially matched. The circuit blocks can include standard cells configured to implement a logic or timing function, other components, and/or integrated circuits, for example. The routing guide can include a splitter configured to branch the signal path into at least two associated segments. Embodiments of the present invention can advantageously improve signal timing for high fanout signal paths between circuit blocks in an automated place-and-route flow. |
| US08185858B2 |
Apparatus, method, and program for predicting layout wiring congestion
A layout-wiring-congestion prediction apparatus. The layout-wiring-congestion prediction apparatus includes: a circuit-data providing section providing circuit data; a conversion processing section converting the provided circuit data into directed graph data; a node-placement-coordinate calculation processing section calculating individual node placement coordinates of the directed graph data produced by the conversion processing section; a node-placement-density calculation section calculating a node-placement density on the basis of the individual node placement coordinates calculated by the node-placement-coordinate calculation processing section; and a node-placement-density error determination processing section determining the node-placement density calculated by the node-placement-density calculation section to be an error if the node-placement density is higher than an error-determination threshold value. |
| US08185856B2 |
Manufacturing method, manufacturing program and manufacturing system for adjusting signal delay in a semiconductor device
The present of the invention provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, including the steps of: acquiring information on a graphic composing a physical layout of a semiconductor integrated circuit; carrying out calculation for a transferred image in the physical layout; carrying out calculation for a signal delay based on the physical layout, and obtaining a wiring not meeting a specification having the signal delay previously set therein; and setting a portion into which a repeater is to be inserted based on at least one result of results obtained from the information on the graphic and calculation for the transferred image, respectively, with respect to the wiring not meeting the specification. |
| US08185855B2 |
Capacitor-cell, integrated circuit, and designing and manufacturing methods
A capacitor-cell is in an integrated circuit that is configured by disposing a plurality of cells on a site that is on a chip and that is provided between a power line and a grounding line in a direction of the power line and grounding line. The capacitor cell is disposed in a remaining region on the site, after the plurality of cells are disposed on the site. The capacitor-cell includes a gate poly for accumulating capacitance extending up to at least one of positions of the power line and the grounding line in a planar quadrangular cell-frame that is set for disposing the plurality of cells on the site. |
| US08185853B2 |
Transforming variable domains for linear circuit analysis
Embodiments in the present disclosure pertain to domain translators. A domain translator converts a variable from one domain to a different domain. Domains include, but are not limited to, voltage, current, frequency, phase, delay, and duty-cycle. In particular, domain translators enable conversion between standard voltage and current domains commonly used by circuit simulators to other domains such as frequency, phase, delay, duty-cycle, etc., so that linear analysis can be performed on a wide range of circuits that exhibit linear behavior in domains other than voltage and current. |
| US08185840B2 |
Mixed signal analysis system and method of use
System and method implementing an integrated interface for multiple instruments for signal analysis, including two or more virtual instruments. The method includes a) receiving user input specifying an operation implementing at least a portion of a signal analysis function; b) performing the operation utilizing at least one of the instruments to perform the operation; c) displaying an icon comprising a graphical representation of the operation in response to the specifying; d) storing information specifying the operation; and repeating a)-d) multiple times to specify the function, thereby producing stored information representing the operations in the function, and after which multiple icons are displayed representing the operations and visually indicating the function. The operations in the function include 1) generating signals displayed in a graph, and/or 2) modifying one or more signals displayed in the graph. After each respective operation is specified, the operation is performed substantially continuously during said repeating. |
| US08185833B2 |
Graphical deployment of a program to a device which displays the program proximate to the device
A system and method for creating and using configuration diagrams for configuring distributed systems. The methods described herein may be used for various types of operations in configuring distributed systems, including creating programs, managing programs in the distributed system, deploying programs to various distributed devices, configuring remote execution or inter-operation of distributed programs, and executing distributed applications. Embodiments of the invention utilize graphical iconic-based techniques for performing the above operations. The configuration diagram may include device icons which represent devices and program icons which represent programs. Device icons and program icons may be associated with each other to accomplish various program creation and deployment operations. Device icons and program icons may also interact with graphical program nodes or icons. Context sensitive device connections and/or program connections are displayed. An asynchronous data flow node may be used to facilitate asynchronous data flow between two graphical programs. The distributed system may also support distributed graphical debugging. |
| US08185831B2 |
System and method for creating image screens on a mainframe computer
One embodiment of a system and method for creating a macro statement to create a display screen on a mainframe database system includes, in a mainframe computer, reading an image screen datafile including control cards, parsing each of the control cards, and generating macro statements that define content and attributes of data fields on the image screen defined by the control cards in the image screen datafile. |
| US08185830B2 |
Configuring a content document for users and user groups
A computer-implemented system and method to distribute a content document with security, customization, and scalability is provided. One or more servers provides a customizable content document associated with a first entity, enables a second entity to specify content to be included for users associated with the entity in the customizable content document, and delivers the customized content document incorporating the specified content in a secure manner to users associated with the second entity. |
| US08185829B2 |
Method and system for rating exchangeable gestures via communications in virtual world applications
A method, system and computer-readable medium are disclosed for rating exchangeable gestures in a virtual world application. The method includes making a gesture owned by a first user of the virtual world application available to a second user of the virtual world application; in response to the second user providing a rating of the gesture, storing the rating in a repository of the first user, determining a rating metric of the gesture using at least the rating received from the second user, and communicating the rating metric to a third user of the virtual world application. |
| US08185828B2 |
Efficiently sharing windows during online collaborative computing sessions
In one embodiment, a presenter device may determine displayed windows of applications, and may provide individual window sharing selectability (e.g., shared or unshared), as well as entire application sharing selectability (shared, unshared, or neither). In particular, the entire application sharing selectability takes priority over individual window sharing selections (i.e., all windows of shared applications are shared and all windows of unshared applications are unshared). Based on individual window sharing selections and entire application sharing selections, a set of presenter device windows that are to be shared with the attendee devices may be determined, as well as a set of unshared windows that are not to be shared with the attendee devices, and the presenter device may share the set of shared windows with the attendee devices, without sharing the set of unshared windows. |
| US08185826B2 |
Rendering document views with supplemental information content
Methods and computer-readable media are provided for rendering a document view with supplemental information. A view of a document is rendered such that the document fills a canvas. The client receives a request to view a supplemental information area associated with the document. In response to the request to view the supplemental information area, a view of the document is rendered at the client such that the document does not fill the canvas. The supplemental information area is then rendered in a portion of the canvas that is not occupied by the document. |
| US08185822B2 |
Image application performance optimization
Some embodiments provide a method that from a source external to a device, imports a first image and a lower resolution second image that corresponds to the first image into the device. The method assigns the second image as a temporary preview of the first image. The method generates a preview third image for the first image. In some embodiments, the method further selects the first image for display before generating the preview third image. The selecting causes the temporary preview image to be displayed as a preview of the first image. In some embodiments, the method further selects the first image for display after generating the preview third image. The selecting causes the preview third image to be displayed as a preview of the first image. |
| US08185820B1 |
System and/or method for document generation
Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, devices and systems associated with document generation are disclosed. For example, methods, apparatuses, devices, and systems associated with formatting content for display are disclosed. Including method apparatuses, devices, and systems to read a data file and a template file, create one or more sub-assemblies based at least in part on said template file and/or said data file; and execute one or more tags in said template file to populate said one or more sub-assemblies with data from said data file. |
| US08185819B2 |
Module specification for a module to be incorporated into a container document
A computer readable medium, an electronic document or a system that uses one of these that includes particular code that specifies a first module selectively designated for inclusion in a personalized container document and additional code that specifies a second module selectively designated for inclusion in the personalized container document. The container document designates a plurality of modules included in the container document. Each module in the plurality of modules is adapted for rendering module data for presenting in the container document. The first module is adapted to render module data based at least in part on the particular code, the particular code including a first content type element, a first content element, and one or more preference elements. The second module is adapted for rendering module data for presenting in the container document based at least in part on the additional code, the additional code including a second content type element, a second content element and one or more preference elements. The first content type element is different than the second content type element. |
| US08185815B1 |
Live preview
As digital media are being generated, a live preview of how that media would be presented—if encoded, stored, decoded, and presented from the decoded form—is presented to a user. The user can order changes to some or all of the encoding format or its parameters, with the effect of noting immediately what those changes would do to the nature of the output from that changed encoded form. The live preview is computed and presented by a computing device without any gaps or other jarring transitions between before and after the changes ordered by the user. |
| US08185813B2 |
2D graph displaying document locations of user-specified concept of interest
According to one embodiment of the present invention, methods and systems for displaying an interest profile for an electronically stored document are provided. Interest profiles provide features that can enhance the experience of reading or using the electronic document. In exemplary embodiments, methods and systems include one or more interest profile techniques, such as graphical presentations and the like, for browsing or searching documents are provided. The graphical presentation can provide information about content of a document. The invention can be embodied in computer systems that include user input devices, processors, displays, storage and the like. |
| US08185800B2 |
System for error control coding for memories of different types and associated methods
A system to improve error control coding. An example system includes memory chips of at least two different kinds. The system also includes error control encoder circuitry to substantially encode data for storage in any memory rank. The system further includes error control decoder circuitry to substantially decode encoded data received from any memory rank. The error decoder circuitry is comprised of a slow decoder and a fast decoder. |
| US08185796B2 |
Mitigation of fiber nonlinearities in multilevel coded-modulation schemes
A receiver and method are provided for mitigation of finer non-linearities in multilevel coded-modulation schemes. The receiver includes a multilevel Bahl-Cocke-Jelinek-Raviv (BCJR) equalizer configured to receive channel samples of an input signal, partially mitigate fiber non-linearities, and provide symbol reliabilities. The receiver further includes a bit probabilities module coupled to the BCJR equalizer configured to calculate soft bit reliabilities from the symbol reliabilities. The receiver also includes one or more low-density parity-check (LDPC) decoders coupled to the bit probabilities module and the BCJR equalizer, configured to receive the soft bit reliabilities and output code words. The one or more LDPC decoders iteratively provide extrinsic soft information feedback to the BCJR equalizer to compensate for the fiber non-linearities. |
| US08185795B1 |
Side channel for forward error correction used with long-haul IP links
A system for error correction processing includes methods, software and/or devices for generating and using correction packets that may provide for the rebuilding of a lost data packet or other information packet. A correction packet may be generated at a transmitting device that corresponds to a plurality of packets transmitted to a destination device. The correction packet may be transmitted to the destination device separately from the transmitting of the plurality of packets. The correction packet may be received at the destination device, and a determination may be made as to whether at least one of the plurality of packets transmitted to the destination device is a lost packet that has not been received at the destination device. If the lost packet of the plurality of packets is determined, the lost packet may be rebuilt using the correction packet. |
| US08185794B2 |
Media container file management
The invention teaches a media container file comprising media data organized into media source blocks. The media source blocks are partitioned into source symbols that can be processed by a forward error correction (FEC) algorithm for generation of FEC redundancy data. Information of this source block partitioning is included in the file in addition to the source blocks. The container file also comprises meta data providing an association between the media source blocks and the partitioning information. The container file can be employed by a media server in a media session for compiling media data packets to be transmitted to requesting clients without the need of extensive data processing before calculating FEC data. |
| US08185791B2 |
Providing tuning limits for operational parameters in data processing apparatus
Tuning limits are set for operational parameters in a processing stage within a data processing apparatus for processing a signal and outputting it at an output time. If a signal output between the output time and a predetermined time later does not have a stable value, the predetermined time later being before a next output time, an error is signaled. A tuning circuit adjusts an operational parameter of the processing stage in accordance with a tuning limit. A signal passing along a critical path of the processing stage tuned to the tuning limit is expected to reach the output of the processing stage at a preset time later than the output time, the preset time being less than the predetermined time. |
| US08185790B2 |
Resynchronization memory in series/parallel with control/output data scan cells
An integrated circuit or circuit board includes functional circuitry and a scan path. The scan path includes a test data input lead, a test data output lead, a multiplexer, and scan cells. A dedicated scan cell has a functional data output separate from a test data output. Shared scan cells each have a combined output for functional data and test data. The shared scan cells are coupled in series. The test data input of the first shared scan cell is connected to the test data output of the dedicated scan cell. The combined output of one shared scan cell is coupled to the test data input lead of another shared scan cell. The multiplexer has an input coupled to the test data output, an input connected to the combined output lead of the last shared scan cell in the series, and an output connected in the scan path. |
| US08185785B2 |
Broadcasting of digital video to mobile terminals
A method for communication includes encoding data using at least one Error Correction Code (ECC) to generate first and second output data streams. The first output data stream is processed to generate a first output signal, which has a first acquisition time. The second output data stream is processed to generate a second output signal, which has a second acquisition time that is smaller than the first acquisition time. The first and second output signals are transmitted simultaneously over a communication channel. |
| US08185783B2 |
Split user-mode/kernel-mode device driver architecture
A device driver includes a kernel stub and a user-mode module. The device driver may access device registers while operating in user-mode to promote system stability while providing a low-latency software response from the system upon interrupts. Upon receipt of an interrupt, the kernel stub may run an interrupt service routine and write information to shared memory. Control is passed to the user-mode module by a reflector. The user-mode module may then read the information from the shared memory to continue servicing the interrupt. |
| US08185781B2 |
Invariants-based learning method and system for failure diagnosis in large scale computing systems
A method system for diagnosing a detected failure in a computer system, compares a failure signature of the detected failure to an archived failure signature contained in a database to determine if the archived failure signature matches the failure signature of the detected failure. If the archived failure signature matches the failure signature of the detected failure, an archived solution is applied to the computer system that resolves the detected failure, the archived solution corresponding to a solution used to resolve a previously detected computer system failure corresponding to the archived failure signature in the database that matches the detected failure. |
| US08185780B2 |
Visually marking failed components
Methods, apparatus, and products for visually marking computing components within a computing system are disclosed that include: detecting that a particular computing component has failed, wherein the particular computing component has a physical surface that may be altered with the application of some physical stimulus; and applying a requisite physical stimulus to the physical surface such that the appearance of the physical service is altered, thereby visually identifying that the component has failed. |
| US08185779B2 |
Controlling computer storage systems
Goal-based availability and change management are handled over groups of heterogeneous storage controllers. Probabilistic and deterministic methods are employed to determine the allocation and placement of storage volumes to storage controllers, as well as the degree of data redundancy necessary to achieve data availability goals The probabilistic methods can take into account past observations of controller availability, and operator beliefs, as well as the state of storage controller configuration, in coming up with a probabilistic estimate of future availability. |
| US08185775B2 |
Virtual computer system and control method thereof
When a failure occurs in an LPAR on a physical computer under an SAN environment, a destination LPAR is set in another physical computer to enable migrating of the LPAR and setting change of a security function on the RAID apparatus side is not necessary. When a failure occurs in an LPAR generated on a physical computer under an SAN environment, configuration information including a unique ID (WWN) of the LPAR where the failure occurs is read, a destination LPAR is generated on another physical computer, and the read configuration information of the LPAR is set to the destination LPAR, thereby enabling migrating of the LPAR when the failure occurs, under the control of a management server. |
| US08185773B2 |
Processor system employing a signal acquisition managing device and signal acquisition managing device
A processor system having a processor core configured to control an external apparatus in accordance with a control algorithm; a signal acquisition managing device configured to receive state signals provided by the apparatus, perform corresponding actions, and generate corresponding synchronized command signals; and a peripheral module structured to receive the synchronized command signals and generate output signals to be processed by the processor core in accordance with the control algorithm. |
| US08185771B2 |
Clock generation for memory access without a local oscillator
A method of accessing electronic memory is provided in electronic circuits where it is desired to lower power consumption and hence there is no active oscillator at the time when access to data within the electronic memory is required. The invention provides a method therefore for accessing the electronic memory from a controller, which generates its own clock signals from a data, communications bus electrically coupled to the controller. Advantageously the method allows for memory access to be continued in integrated circuits where a subset of circuits are powered down to reduce power consumption, and one of the subset of circuits is an oscillator. |
| US08185770B2 |
Method for processing time values in a computer or programmable machine
Modern computers (10, 20) come with different timers having different attributes like time resolution, supported time range and time reference. Some are local timers, representing relative time values like the TSC counter (11, 21) counting CPU cycles from the power on or reset of the computer. Some are global timers, representing an absolute or real time. Having different classes of timers in the computer (10, 20), a number of computations need to be performed to tie the different timers to each other.It is the idea of the invention to define a single high resolution timer structure wherein the time value is represented with a digital number and a flag clarifies whether the timer is a global timer or local timer. The invention enables a much faster processing of the time values. The global time, tied to a high-resolution timer can be tracked much faster. This means better precision of scheduling of time critical jobs, like packet scheduling for data transport. |
| US08185767B2 |
Automatic management of a power state of a device with network connections
Embodiments provide a process and system for automatic management of networked devices based on the state of the network connection. The process automatically manages the power state of a networked computerized device according to a trigger event that corresponds to the state of an attached network connection. The network connection of an attached networked device is monitored for a pre-defined trigger event. Once a trigger event has been observed, the power state of the attached network device is managed to correspond to the trigger event. |
| US08185766B2 |
Hierarchical power management with hot mode
Methods, systems, apparatuses and program products are disclosed for providing power/energy control.HPM (Hierarchical Power Management) systems provide for and improve on the power management support beyond what is available in current PC notebooks and desktops. |
| US08185762B1 |
Low power display
A low power display device capable of receiving display information on a wireless network and powered by environmental power, without requiring a battery or a wired power connection, is described. |
| US08185759B1 |
Methods and systems for interfacing bus powered devices with host devices providing limited power levels
Various techniques are provided for interfacing external devices with host computer systems. In one example, hard drive parameters may be retrieved from a nonvolatile memory of an external hard drive enclosure device in order to register the external device with a host device while the host device provides a low power level to the external device. Following registration of the external device, the host device may provide a high power level to the external device to operate the registered external device. The hard drive parameters may be stored in the nonvolatile memory by a provider of the external device. In another example, the hard drive parameters may be loaded into the nonvolatile memory by appropriate software running on the host device. In yet another example, the external device may read the hard drive parameters from the hard drive while emulating another external device. |
| US08185758B2 |
Method and system for determining an energy-efficient operating point of a platform
A method and system for determining an energy-efficient operating point of the platform or system. The platform has logic to dynamically manage setting(s) of the processing cores and/or platform components in the platform to achieve maximum system energy efficiency. By using the characteristics of the workload and/or platform to determine the optimum settings of the platform, the logic of the platform facilitates performance guarantees of the platform while minimizing the energy consumption of the processor core and/or platform. The logic of the platform identifies opportunities to run the processing cores at higher performance levels which decreases the execution time of the workload and transitions the platform to a low-power system idle state after the completion of the execution of the workload. Since the execution time of the workload is reduced, the platform spends more time in the low-power system idle state and therefore the overall system energy consumption is reduced. |
| US08185756B2 |
System and method for transmitting a power control signal to an external device based on the presence of linkage information
An electronic device capable of controlling a power state of an external device from a first power state (ex. “Standby”) to a second power state (ex. “ON”) includes a determination unit operable to determine whether information indicating linkage is stored in a storage unit when it is detected that communication between the electronic device and the external device is enabled, and a transmitting unit operable to transmit a control signal for controlling power state of the external device. When the information indicating linkage is not stored in the storage unit, the transmitting unit stores the information indicating linkage and transmits the control signal for controlling power state of the external device to the second power state to the external device. When the information indicating linkage is stored in the storage unit, the transmitting unit refrains from transmitting the control signal to the external device. |
| US08185754B2 |
Time-based storage access and method of power savings and improved utilization thereof
The invention provides a method and system for time-based storage access, the method includes associating a plurality of storage volumes with specific periods of time during which they can be accessed, adjusting user fees based on access time periods of storage volumes, packing the plurality of storage volumes in available storage bins in the system based on periods of access for the plurality of storage volumes, wherein volumes with overlapping or similar periods of access are packed into a same storage bin if possible, and switching a storage bin to off or a reduced power state during periods when the storage volumes placed in the storage bin are not required, to reduce power consumption. |
| US08185750B2 |
Method for extending the CRTM in a trusted platform
A method, system and computer program product for enhancing the functionality of the existing core root of trust measurement (CRTM). The CRTM is extended to allow platform manufacturer controlled and certified code to be incorporated into the function of the CRTM, wherein the manufacturer may define the policy for accepting a new function into the CRTM. When a firmware or software module image is compiled, the build process generates a hash value of the compiled firmware or software image, wherein the hash value reflects a fingerprint (or short hand) representation of the compiled image. A determination is made as to whether the hash value of the firmware or software image is to be a CRTM extension. If so, a digital signature of the module is created using the CRTM extension private key. This signature value is added to the firmware or software module. |
| US08185745B2 |
Detection of frequent and dispersed invariants
A scalable method and apparatus that detects frequent and dispersed invariants is disclosed. More particularly, the application discloses a system that can simultaneously track frequency rates and dispersion criteria of unknown invariants. In other words, the application discloses an invariant detection system implemented in hardware (and/or software) that allows detection of invariants (e.g., byte sequences) that are highly prevalent (e.g., repeating with a high frequency) and dispersed (e.g., originating from many sources and destined to many destinations). |
| US08185742B2 |
Device and method for providing video stream having integrity
Provided are a device and method for providing a video stream, in which a hash value of a frame is included in the header of a video stream, and authentication information about the header is inserted into the video stream, thus ensuring integrity against the forgery of the video stream. The device includes a base frame encoding unit which encodes a base frame, an enhancement frame encoding unit which encodes an enhancement frame, a frame encryption unit which encrypts the encoded base frame and the encoded enhancement frame, a hash processing unit which calculates hash values for the encrypted base frame and the encrypted enhancement frame and hash values included in headers of previous and subsequent video streams, a header management unit which includes information about the encoded base frame and the encoded enhancement frame and the calculated hash values, in a header, and manages the header, and an authentication information creation unit which creates authentication information about the header. |
| US08185741B1 |
Converting transport level transactional security into a persistent document signature
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a transport level transactional security may be converted into a persistent document signature. In one embodiment, a digital signature of an electronic mail message may be saved in a file attached to the electronic mail message. The file with the added digital signature may be saved, transmitted, received, and/or otherwise utilized independent of the original electronic mail message. A receiving node may verify the identity of an originating node based at least in part on the digital signature contained in the file. In alternative embodiment, the signature for the file may be generated at least in part on a message to be transmitted according to a secure transmission and/or file download protocol from a server to a client. |
| US08185734B2 |
System and method for execution of a secured environment initialization instruction
A method and apparatus for initiating secure operations in a microprocessor system is described. In one embodiment, one initiating logical processor initiates the process by halting the execution of the other logical processors, and then loading initialization and secure virtual machine monitor software into memory. The initiating processor then loads the initialization software into secure memory for authentication and execution. The initialization software then authenticates and registers the secure virtual machine monitor software prior to secure system operations. |
| US08185733B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatically publishing content based identifiers
A method and apparatus for automatically publishing content based identifiers are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises accessing an electronic communication to obtain a content based identifier (CBI) contained in the electronic communication. In one embodiment, the method may also comprise using the CBI to validate integrity of a hash chained log. |
| US08185732B2 |
Selecting and executing a content code corresponding to an information processing apparatus based on apparatus check information at the time of processing using the content code
An information processing apparatus includes: a data processing unit that acquires content codes including a data processing program recorded in an information recording medium and executes data processing according to the content codes; and a memory that stores an apparatus certificate including an apparatus identifier of the information processing apparatus. The data processing unit is configured to execute an apparatus checking process applying the apparatus certificate stored in the memory on the basis of a code for apparatus checking process included in the content codes, acquire the apparatus identifier recorded in the apparatus certificate after the apparatus checking process, and execute data processing applying content codes corresponding to the acquired apparatus identifier. |
| US08185729B2 |
Method of converting personal computers into thin client computers
A system repurposes a personal computer operating with a conventional personal computer operating system, such as Windows® operating system, into a thin client computer system without requiring that the hard drive of the personal computer be re-formatted to remove the previous operating system. The personal computer has its boot loader configuration file edited to include a call to a thin client boot loader file to execute the thin client operating system stored on the personal computer hard drive instead of the previous operating system of the personal computer. The repurposed personal computer can be returned to the previous operating system by electing to bypass the thin client operating system. As a thin client computer, the repurposed personal computer is managed from a central server and can access applications and data on remote servers instead of using the application programs on the hard drive or the capability of storing data on the personal computer hard drive. |
| US08185726B2 |
Sleep optimization based on system information block scheduling
Methods and apparatuses are presented for sleep optimization based on system information block SIB scheduling. A method for invoking sleep states within user equipment (UE) is presented. The method includes decoding a broadcast control channel with a cell, determining a System Information Block (SIB) schedule associated with the cell, determining a sleep time interval based upon the SIB schedule, and placing the UE in a sleep state using the sleep time intervals. An apparatus for invoking sleep states within UE is presented. The apparatus includes logic configured to decode a broadcast control channel with a cell, logic configured to determine a SIB schedule associated with the cell, logic configured to determine a sleep time interval based upon the SIB schedule, and logic configured to place the UE in a sleep state using the sleep time intervals. |
| US08185725B2 |
Selective powering of a BHT in a processor having variable length instructions
In a processor executing instructions in at least a first instruction set execution mode having a first minimum instruction length and a second instruction set execution mode having a smaller, second minimum instruction length, line and counter index addresses are formed that access every counter in a branch history table (BHT), and reduce the number of index address bits that are multiplexed based on the current instruction set execution mode. In one embodiment, counters within a BHT line are arranged and indexed in such a manner that half of the BHT can be powered down for each access in one instruction set execution mode. |
| US08185722B2 |
Processor instruction set for controlling threads to respond to events
The invention provides a processor comprising an execution unit and a thread scheduler configured to schedule a plurality of threads for execution by the execution unit in dependence on a respective status for each thread. The execution unit is configured to execute thread scheduling instructions which manage said statuses, the thread scheduling instructions including at least: a thread event enable instruction which sets a status to event-enabled to allow a thread to accept events, a wait instruction which sets the status to suspended pending at least one event upon which continued execution of the thread depends, and a thread event disable instruction which sets the status to event-disabled to stop the thread from accepting events. The continued execution comprises retrieval of a continuation point vector for the thread. |
| US08185720B1 |
Processor block ASIC core for embedding in an integrated circuit
A hardwired core is embedded in an integrated circuit having programmable circuitry. The hardwired core has a microprocessor; a crossbar interconnect coupled to processor local buses of the microprocessor; and a memory controller interface coupled to the crossbar interconnect. The crossbar interconnect provides pipelines for coupling the hardwired core to the programmable circuitry. The microprocessor, the crossbar interconnect, and the memory controller interface are all capable of operating at a first frequency of operation, and the memory controller interface is further capable of being set to operate at a second frequency of operation having an integer ratio with respect to the first frequency of operation. The crossbar interconnect is configured to direct transactions initiated by the microprocessor to the memory controller interface for accessing one or more memory devices coupled to the memory controller interface via a memory controller. Additional or other interfaces may be coupled to the crossbar interconnect. |
| US08185718B2 |
Code memory capable of code provision for a plurality of physical channels
The invention provides a code memory capable of code provision for a plurality of physical channels. In one embodiment, the code memory comprises a selecting multiplexer, a core memory module, and a code buffer. The selecting multiplexer repeatedly latches on to a plurality of addresses generated by the physical channels according to a sequence of the physical channels to generate a code memory address signal. The core memory module stores code data, and retrieves the code data according to the code memory address signal to generate a code memory data signal. The code buffer respectively retrieves a plurality of code segments requested by the physical channels from the code memory data signal according to the sequence of the physical channels, and stores the code segments. |
| US08185716B2 |
Memory system and method for using a memory system with virtual address translation capabilities
A memory system comprises a first memory having associated therewith a first local memory access controller configured to access the first local memory using physical memory addresses and a second memory having associated therewith a second local memory access controller configured to access the second local memory using physical memory addresses. A global controller coupled to the first and second local controllers is configured to communicate virtual memory addresses to the first and second local memory controllers. |
| US08185711B2 |
Memory module, a memory system including a memory controller and a memory module and methods thereof
A memory module, a memory system including a memory controller and a memory module and methods thereof. The example memory module may include a plurality of memory units each having an interface and at least one memory device. An example write operation method may include receiving a packet command at a given one of a plurality of memory units, each of the plurality of memory units including an interface and at least one memory device, extracting a command signal, an address and write data from the received packet command if the received packet command corresponds to a write operation, transferring the extracted write data to at least one memory device via write/read data lines internal to the given one memory unit and writing the transferred write data at the at least one memory device. An example read operation may include receiving a packet command at a given one of a plurality of memory units, each of the plurality of memory units including an interface and at least one memory device, extracting a command signal and an address from the received packet command if the received packet command corresponds to a read operation, transferring the extracted command signal and address to at least one memory device, receiving read data corresponding to the extracted command signal and address from the at least one memory device via write/read data lines internal to the given one memory unit and transmitting the received read data from the interface via read data lines external to the given one memory unit. |
| US08185709B2 |
Security system for external data storage apparatus and control method thereof
A security system for an external data storage apparatus and a control method thereof, in which a data storage is driven by reading an identification (ID), which is input through a key input unit for the purpose of security of the external data storage apparatus, and then checking whether or not the read ID is equal to a previously registered ID, thereby preventing data from leaking out and being damaged in advance by another person, and safely protecting the data of a user. The security system comprises a data storage, in which data is stored; a high-speed serial bus, which connects the data storage with a data terminal, which read and write the data stored in the data storage; a key input unit, which converts an ID, which is input by operation of a user, to an electrical signal and outputs the converted signal; a memory, which stores and sets the ID input by the key input unit; and a control circuit, which, when the ID input by the key input unit is applied, compares the input ID with the preset ID stored in the memory, drives the data storage based on the compared result, and re-arranges storage sectors of the data storage to prevent the data from leaking out of the data storage when an unauthorized data terminal provides access. |
| US08185708B2 |
Host implementation of triangular asynchronous replication
Storing recovery data includes a host processor writing data to a local storage device, the host processor causing the local storage device to accumulate chunks of data corresponding to writes by the host processor, where each chunk of data represents data written before a first time and after a second time and where the second time for one of the particular chunks of data corresponds to a first time for a subsequent one of the particular chunks of data, transmitting the chunks of data from the local storage device to a remote destination, providing synchronous data from the local storage device to a local destination; and, the host processor causing an indicator to be provided to the local destination in connection with creation of a new chunk of data for storage at the remote destination. The local destination may maintain a plurality of maps, where each of the maps associates synchronous data being provided thereto with a specific chunk of data. In response to receiving an indicator in connection with creation of a new chunk of data, the local destination may point to a new map. There may be two maps or more than two maps. |
| US08185699B2 |
Cache memory controller and cache memory controlling method
In a separating device that separates a processor configured to perform process by using data recorded in a cache memory connected to the processor, a stopping unit, upon receiving a processor separation request, stops the processor from performing a new process; and a separation executing unit, upon completion of process being performed by the processor, separates the processor after invalidating the data recorded in the cache memory. |
| US08185687B2 |
Semiconductor storage device and method of controlling semiconductor storage device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor storage device includes a queuing buffer, a read module, a separating module, a write command issuing module, and a write module. The write command issuing module is configured to add a write address indicated by write pointer information to the management data obtained by the separating module in order to issue a write command, and to automatically queue the write command into the queuing buffer. The write module is configured to supply the write command issued by the write command issuing module to the nonvolatile memory in order to write data into the nonvolatile memory. |
| US08185677B2 |
Data reproducing apparatus, content management method, program, and storage medium
A data reproducing apparatus comprises: a reproducing unit adapted to read out data from a plurality of recording media; a list generating unit adapted to generate a content list which describes storage location information in association with contents stored in the plurality of recording media; and a communication unit adapted to communicate with an external device and sending the content list to the external device, wherein the list generating unit checks if the contents stored in the plurality of recording media include identical contents, and if the identical contents are detected, the list generating unit generates the content list including information indicating that the storage location information of the identical contents are integrated. |
| US08185676B2 |
Transitions between ordered and ad hoc I/O request queueing
Disclosed is a computer implemented method and apparatus for queuing I/O requests to a pending queue. The I/O device driver sets a maximum ordered queue length for an I/O device driver coupled to a storage device then receives an I/O request from an application. The I/O device driver determines whether the pending queue is sorted and responds to a determination that the pending queue is sorted, determining if queued I/O requests exceed the maximum ordered queue length. Responding to a determination that the pending queue exceeds the maximum ordered queue length, the I/O device driver adds the I/O request based on a high pointer, and points the high pointer to the I/O request. |
| US08185671B2 |
Technique for increasing control and status signal density in a fixed register address space
A plurality of registers may function as both the control and status registers. Each bit location of the registers is writable to set a value on a control signal and readable to read a current value on a status signal. A multiplexer provides readability of the current value of each of the registers. |
| US08185670B2 |
Audio/visual (AV) device control method using personal information and AV device using the same
An AV device control method and an AV device using the same. After receiving personal information gathered by an external device, an AV device is automatically controlled according to a user's personal information. Accordingly, the AV device can be customized to operate for an individual user. |
| US08185667B2 |
Storage system comprising power saving function
A storage system constituted such that power saving to an administrator-desired storage device can be performed from a management device. That is, the storage system comprises a power-saving indication receiving section for receiving from a management console a power-saving indication specifying at least one storage device of a plurality of RAID groups, a plurality of logical units, and a plurality of physical storage devices; and a power-saving controller for saving on power to one or more physical storage devices corresponding to the storage device specified in this power-saving indication. |
| US08185666B2 |
Compare instruction
A processor executes an instruction that causes a comparison to be performed between contents of a first register and contents of a second register and between the contents of the first register and a predetermined value. The instruction is particularly useful for determining whether an attempted access (either a load or write) to an array improperly targets a location outside the boundary of the array. In some embodiments, a system (e.g., a communication device such as cellular telephone) includes a processor capable of executing the instruction as described above. |
| US08185665B2 |
Distributed computing system architecture
A computing system architecture is based upon a peer-to-peer, asynchronous model. The architecture specifies a set of infrastructure facilities that comprise an inter-prise operating system. The inter-prise operating system provides all the facilities that make application coding as easy in the peer-to-peer asynchronous model as it is in a hierarchical, synchronous model. Services, which reside in containers, are linked asynchronously by an inter-prise bus and use data from a virtual data store. |
| US08185664B1 |
System and method to restore maximum payload size in a network adapter
Method and system for managing a maximum payload size (MPS) between a host system and an adapter is provided. The method includes storing a host maximum payload size (MPS) value of the host system as an adapter MPS value for the adapter operationally coupled to the host system; storing a host identifier at the adapter for identifying the host system; setting an adapter MPS value to the host MPS value; resetting the adapter MPS value to a default value after an event; and restoring the adapter MPS value to the host MPS value when the host identifier stored at the adapter matches with a host identifier value stored by the host system. |
| US08185662B2 |
Using end-to-end credit flow control to reduce number of virtual lanes implemented at link and switch layers
A method and circuit for implementing enhanced transport layer flow control, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. The transport layer provides multiple virtual lanes to application layers, and provides buffering and credit control for the multiple virtual lanes. A source transport layer sends a credit request message to a destination transport layer for an outstanding packets transmission. The packets are sent only responsive to the credit request being granted by the destination transport layer. Respective switch and link layer are constructed to support only a single virtual lane, regardless of how many virtual lanes are supported at the application and transport layers. As a result, the routing, buffering, and flow control at the respective switch and link layer are simplified. |
| US08185661B2 |
Method and apparatus for header compression
A packet compressor 12 operates under a reliable mode or an optimistic mode. A mode determination unit 31 counts the number of ACK packets or NACK packets received by a unit time X by an ACK/NACK packet receiver 14. When the counted number of NACK packets is larger than a predetermined value Y, the mode determination unit 31 switches the operation mode of the packet compressor 12 to the reliable mode. When the counted number of ACK packets is larger than a predetermined value Z, the mode determination unit 31 switches the operation mode of the packet compressor 12 to the optimistic mode. |
| US08185659B2 |
Handheld computer system that attempts to establish an alternative network link upon failing to establish a requested network link
A computer system that attempts to establish an alternative network link upon failing to establish a requested network link is described. The computer system may encounter conditions where access to numerous networks, in particular wireless networks, is not available. Rather than only providing an error message to the user upon a failed attempt to establish the requested network link, the computer system determines whether the user has designated an alternative network link in case the requested network link cannot be established, whereas the alternative network link is selected from the plurality of network links that the computer system is configured to support. If an alternative network link has been designated, the computer system attempts to establish the alternative network link. Hence, the user experience is made smooth and uneventful when the requested network link cannot be established. |
| US08185654B2 |
Systems and methods for content-aware load balancing
Improved load balancing techniques are disclosed. For example, in one illustrative aspect of the invention, a method of satisfying requests in a system comprised of a plurality of servers comprises the following steps. At least one load balancer is provided for routing requests to the plurality of servers. At the at least one load balancer, a request sent from a client is obtained. At the at least one load balancer, the request is examined. Costs of satisfying the request by at least two of the plurality of servers are estimated. The estimation is based on at least one of a number and a cost of at least one remote access for satisfying the request. The request is routed to a server of the plurality of servers with a low estimated cost of satisfying the request. |
| US08185653B2 |
Method and apparatus for ad hoc mesh routing
Packets are routed in a wireless mesh network by assigning a probability of packet retransmission based on certain factors which may include the number of hops the packet has made, whether the destination is within a certain number of known hops of the receiving node, the number of nearby nodes, whether the receiving node is a member of a past known route to the destination and/or whether a nearby neighbor of the receiving node is a member of a past known route to the destination. Once a probability is assigned, a random number generator may be used to make a decision between retransmitting the packet and dropping the packet. Signal quality may also be used as a factor in the probability of retransmission. In a preferred embodiment, Bloom filters are used to store information in the header of a data packet containing the identifiers of forwarding nodes and the identifiers of nodes on a previously-successful route from the source to the destination. |
| US08185652B2 |
Data switch and method of operating the data switch
A data switch (4) is proposed which can be operated such that it generates a MA table of MAC addresses of devices associated with some of its ports (9, 13, 15, 17, 19), but not the MAC addresses associated with one of the ports (11). Packets received by the switch, other than from the port (11), are assumed to be destined for the port (11) and are transmitted via the port (11). If the port (11) is connected to a network, and all the other ports are connected to a relatively small number of devices, such as one device per port, then the memory requirement to store the MA table is dramatically reduced. |
| US08185650B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer program products for transmitting and/or receiving media streams
A method includes receiving encoded media content, transforming the encoded media content into web page content by dividing the encoded media content into a plurality of web page files formatted as a static web page, and transmitting the web page content over the network in response to a request. |
| US08185645B2 |
Content delivery system using wireless portable terminal and delivery method therefor
To reduce time to point a directional wireless portable terminal (WPT) to an access point (AP) when data is downloaded from the AP to the WPT, a user points the WPT to the AP, performs a first operation and transmits a request of authentication and download to the AP. The AP requests a server to perform the authentication and the download. The server transmits information on a current situation to the AP. The AP calculates time required until the download can be started based on content capacity and the like and transmits information on the calculated time to the WPT. The WPT displays countdown until the download can be started. During that time, the server performs the authentication and, if successful, delivers content to the AP. When the download can begin, the user performs a second operation and transmits a request of re-authentication and download to the AP. |
| US08185643B2 |
System and method for providing security in a communities framework
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing security for a communities framework in a collaborative computing environment. A community can be provided for maintaining user membership during collaboration. The community can contain various collaboration resources, community services and members having access to the resources and services. A first layer of security can be implemented via membership and functional capabilities. Members can be assigned to various membership capabilities and these membership capabilities can be mapped to functional capabilities in order to control access to the resources by the various members. A second layer of security can be implemented via entitlements and security policies applied to the content repository. Entitlements can be applied at a node level of a content repository. Each node can be evaluated when operations are requested for it. |
| US08185638B2 |
Degrees of separation for handling communications
A sender's degrees of separation from a recipient may be used to aid in spam filtering or to otherwise handle a communication. The “degrees of separation” represent a metric used to quantify whether/how the recipient is linked to the sender through intermediary people or other entities. For example, a recipient may know a first user (first degree of separation) and the first user may know a second user (second degree of separation) who knows the sender of an e-mail. In this case, the sender is separated from the recipient by two degrees of separation (by two other contacts). A level of “trust” or “legitimacy” about a sender's communication can be inferred by looking at whether the sender is linked to an intended recipient. Typically, user contact lists (e.g., address book, buddy list, and/or white list) are evaluated to determine the number of degrees (or hops) are required to link or relate two users. |
| US08185634B2 |
Managing resource consolidation configurations
Systems and methods for monitoring the performance associated with fulfilling resource requests and determining optimizations for improving such performance are provided. A processing device obtains and processes performance information associated with processing a first and second resource request. The processing device uses the processed performance information to determine a consolidation configuration to be associated with a subsequent request for the content corresponding to the first request. In making such a determination, the processing device identifies common embedded resources corresponding to the first and second resource requests and dynamically identifies one or more sets of embedded resources corresponding to the first resource request, each identified set to be consolidated into a single embedded resource for use in responding to the subsequent request. Each of the identified one or more sets of embedded resources includes embedded resources identified in common between the first and second resource requests. |
| US08185632B2 |
Discovery of a generic device in a non-linear discovery framework
In one embodiment, a method includes discovering a resource using a first discovery module, the first discovery module being for identifying resources having identifying information known to the first discovery module. The method also includes discovering the resource using a second discovery module, the second discovery module being for identifying resources having identifying information not known to the first discovery module. An object associated with the resource is created by the first discovery module if the resource has identifying information known to the first discovery module. In addition, an object associated with the resource is created by the second discovery module if the resource has identifying information not known to the first discovery module. |
| US08185626B2 |
Methods for transmitting multimedia files and advertisements
The invention is directed to a method of transmitting a file having an advertising portion and a requested portion different from the advertising portion. The method includes receiving a request to transmit the file, via a streaming protocol allowing non-sequential access, transmitting the advertising portion of the file, receiving a request to transmit a portion of the requested portion of the file prior to completing transmitting the advertising portion of the file, completing the transmission of the advertising portion of the file, and transmitting the requested portion of the file. |
| US08185625B2 |
Methods for transmitting multimedia files and advertisements
The invention is directed to a method of transmitting a file having an advertising portion and a requested portion different from the advertising portion. The method includes receiving a request to transmit the file, via a streaming protocol allowing non-sequential access, transmitting the advertising portion of the file, receiving a request to transmit a portion of the requested portion of the file prior to completing transmitting the advertising portion of the file, completing the transmission of the advertising portion of the file, and transmitting the requested portion of the file. |
| US08185622B2 |
Condition dependent data maintenance system for a plurality of functional entities
The present invention is directed to a server system for supplying differing amounts of data into a database, wherein the system comprises the database and a data tracker device, wherein the data tracker receives data sent by a plurality of functional entities, preferably office machines and in particular devices with a printer, wherein the data tracker device is prepared to transmit data asynchronously to an intermediate buffer storage device with a queue structure, the intermediate buffer storage device storing the data sequentially and transmitting the data sequentially to the database to be stored. |
| US08185621B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring webpages
Webpages at a universal resource locator (URL) address are compared at two different times. A request is received from a web browser for a first webpage at the URL. The first webpage is requested and received from the URL at a first time. A selectable webpage is created by editing the first webpage to make it selectable and the selectable web page is sent to the web browser. A selection is received from the web browser that includes a portion of the selectable web page and a frequency. An application is created that retrieves a webpage from the universal resource locator address of the website periodically at the frequency. A second webpage is received from the application that was retrieved from the universal resource locator address at a second time by the application. A portion of the second webpage is compared to the portion of the selectable webpage. |
| US08185620B1 |
Scalable systems management abstraction framework
A system and method for scalable systems management where a plurality of devices in a system is managed with a systems management infrastructure. An abstraction layer software application is implemented overlaying the systems management infrastructure for managing task distribution and status gathering for the plurality of devices in the system. A web interface is provided by the software application, the web interface being useable by a user to manage the task distribution and the status gathering. The task distribution may include gateway load balancing, distributing software updates, distributing new software for installation, or distributing software fixes. The status gathering may include performing a hardware inventory scan of a device, performing a software inventory scan of a device, identifying what software is installed on a device, or identifying types of hardware components in a device. |
| US08185618B2 |
Dynamically responding to non-network events at a network device in a computer network
A technique dynamically responds to non-network events at a network device in a computer network. According to the novel technique, one or more sensors automatically detect (sense) one or more non-network events, and notifications of the non-network events are then transmitted over the network. One or more network devices (e.g., data centers, servers, routers, etc.) detect the notifications of the network events, and dynamically respond to the non-network events based on one or more associated policies. For example, one or more network-based policies may be defined that modify one or more network configuration parameters in response to the non-network events. Alternatively or in addition, one or more physical-based policies may be defined that instruct one or more network-attached physical control devices to modify one or more physical parameters. |
| US08185609B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing commands in an aircraft network
A method, apparatus, and program code for processing commands in a network. A process creates a set of commands for an aircraft. The commands are in queues in a library in the network. Responsive to an event, the stored set of commands is sent to a proxy server application executing on the network data processing system. A connection is established between the proxy server application and an onboard electronic distribution system on an aircraft data processing system on the aircraft. The commands are requested by the onboard electronic distribution system. The distributed commands are received from the proxy server application by the onboard electronic distribution system. The received commands are processed by the onboard electronic distribution system and a set of aircraft software parts is forwarded to a set of target data processing systems on the aircraft using the processed set of commands if the commands are uplink commands. |
| US08185608B1 |
Continuous usability trial for a website
A continuous website trial allows ongoing observation of user interactions with website for an indefinite period of time that is not ascertainable at initiation of the trial. Users are randomly assigned to either a control group or one or more test groups. The control and test groups are served different sets of web pages, even though they access the same website. During the trial, the web pages for the control group are held constant over time, while the web pages for the test group(s) undergo multiple modifications at separate occasions over time. As the web pages for the test group(s) are modified, statistical data collection continues to learn how user behavior changes as a result of the modifications. The statistical data obtained from the users of the various groups may be compared and contrasted and used to gain a better understanding of customer experience with the website. |
| US08185603B2 |
Method for accessing a function of a real-world object
A method to provide access to Aspects of Aspect Objects from a standard web browser. A web browser sends a request of access to a certain Aspect of an Aspect Object. The request includes a URL address. The URL address specifies the Aspect, the Aspect Object. The method enables the use of thin clients to access Aspects of Aspect Objects representing functions of real world objects connected to a control system. |
| US08185602B2 |
Transaction processing using multiple protocol engines in systems having multiple multi-processor clusters
A multi-processor computer system is described in which transaction processing in each cluster of processors is distributed among multiple protocol engines. Each cluster includes a plurality of local nodes and an interconnection controller interconnected by a local point-to-point architecture. The interconnection controller in each cluster comprises a plurality of protocol engines for processing transactions. Transactions are distributed among the protocol engines using destination information associated with the transactions. |
| US08185599B2 |
Programming techniques for distributed multi-party networks
Architecture for programming in a distributed computing environment where different components of a system are owned or controlled by different entities and heterogeneous in terms of resource availability and a willingness to share. Multiple devices can be programmed when a task requires human intervention. Method are described for using a tolerance level provided by the application developer to control the execution of the application instructions at multiple devices with varying resources, and for using an involvement level provided by the sensor or computing device owner for the purpose of automatically adapting the execution of application code at multiple devices to suit the individual owner's willingness to share resources, and the capabilities of resources available with that owner. Code distribution allows an application developed by one entity to be distributed to multiple devices owned by multiple entities, where each of the entities has varying connectivity, resource availability, and sharing willingness. |
| US08185594B2 |
Real-time messaging system for an image display device
A real-time messaging system for an image display device is provided. One disclosed embodiment includes an image display device including a light source and an image-generation device configured to receive light from the light source, and in response, generate an image. The image display device may further include a projection lens configured to display the image on a viewing surface. The image display device may also include memory and a processor operatively coupled with the memory to receive a command message sent to a select group of image display devices in real-time via a network, and upon recognizing the command message, display an alert image. |
| US08185587B2 |
Capturing, processing, managing, and reporting events of interest in virtual collaboration spaces
A method of monitoring a collaboration space receives an identification of a computerized collaboration space that a user desires to monitor. The method receives, from the user, an identification of events of interest with respect to the collaboration space. The items within the collaboration space as well as the collaborator interaction with the collaboration space are monitored to identify occurrences of the events of interest, and the method records such occurrences of the events of interest. The method can simply output reports that summarize the occurrences of the events of interest. In addition, the method can receive, from a user, one or more queries regarding the occurrences of the events. In response to any such query, the method searches the stored occurrences of the events to produce a response to the query, and outputs the response to the query. |
| US08185586B2 |
Method for output handling of messages stored in mailboxes of a message storage system
In one aspect a method based on a system, according to which a first connection is established between a terminal of a mailbox owner and a message storage system and a second connection can be established by the terminal of the mailbox owner to a terminal of the subscriber, if a message has been stored by the subscriber for the mailbox owner. The second connection is established by the set up of a three-way conference connection between the message storage system, the terminal of the mailbox owner and the terminal of the subscriber. |
| US08185581B2 |
Providing a local device with computing services from a remote host
Systems and methods for providing a local device with computing services are disclosed. One embodiment includes, identifying one or more file types of files stored on the local device which is not associated with a local application that is installed on the local device and detecting a request to access a file stored on the local device having one of the one or more file types. The remote host can generate an offer to provide access to a remote application which is able to open the file for a fee such that the file is accessible via the local device. A selected service model can determine the fee and whether the remote application is provided for use by the local device when offline. |
| US08185575B2 |
Apparatus and method for posting a web logging message via a dispatch communication
A system for posting web logging (blog) messages, retrieving blog messages, and being notified of the posting of blog messages by way of dispatch communications. The system includes a wireless communication system capable of setting up dispatch communications links between subscriber units and a dispatch server. The dispatch server interfaces with a blog server. Using dispatch communications, subscriber units may send messages to the blog server for posting by way of the dispatch server, may receive notification of the posting of messages from the blog server by way of the dispatch server, and may retrieve messages from the blog server by way of the dispatch server. |
| US08185573B2 |
System and method for posting a web logging message via a dispatch communication
A system for posting web logging (blog) messages, retrieving blog messages, and being notified of the posting of blog messages by way of dispatch communications. The system includes a wireless communication system capable of setting up dispatch communications links between subscriber units and a dispatch server. The dispatch server interfaces with a blog server. Using dispatch communications, subscriber units may send messages to the blog server for posting by way of the dispatch server, may receive notification of the posting of messages from the blog server by way of the dispatch server, and may retrieve messages from the blog server by way of the dispatch server. |
| US08185571B2 |
Processor for performing multiply-add operations on packed data
A method and apparatus for including in a processor instructions for performing multiply-add operations on packed data. In one embodiment, a processor is coupled to a memory. The memory has stored therein a first packed data and a second packed data. The processor performs operations on data elements in said first packed data and said second packed data to generate a third packed data in response to receiving an instruction. At least two of the data elements in this third packed data storing the result of performing multiply-add operations on data elements in the first and second packed data. |
| US08185565B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus for combining a plurality of structured documents, including an acquiring unit, for each of the plurality of structured documents, correspondence information showing a correspondence between vocabulary information and token information, and encoded information in which the vocabulary information included in the structured document has been replaced with corresponding token information, a replacing unit for, if the vocabulary information included in a first correspondence information is common with the vocabulary information included in a second correspondence information, replace the common vocabulary information with a reference to the common vocabulary information included in the second correspondence information, and a combining unit to generate combined information by combining the correspondence information and the encoded information, of each of the plurality of structured documents. |
| US08185564B1 |
Redirection of embedded content
A method for extracting content from a data store includes creating a file identifier mapped to an item. The method includes receiving a request that seeks cached access to the item and that is not directed to the item. In response to the request, contents of the item are provided using the file identifier without caching the contents. A system for extracting content from a data store includes an indexer. The system includes a data store containing at least an item. The system includes a redirector containing a file identifier mapped to the item. When the redirector receives a request originated by the indexer that seeks cached access to the item and that is not directed to the item in the data store the redirector provides contents of the item using the file identifier without caching the contents in the system. |
| US08185558B1 |
Automatically generating nodes and edges in an integrated social graph
In one embodiment, a method includes maintaining a data store of nodes and edges and for each of one or more users: scanning items of content associated with the corresponding user node; identifying a candidate item of content; searching for matches between the candidate item of content and existing nodes; determining whether or not a match between the candidate item of content and an existing node exists; and when it is determined that at least one match exists, generating an edge from the user node to the existing node for which the best match is determined; and when it is determined that no match exists, generating a new node based on the candidate item of content, and generating an edge from the user node to the new node. |
| US08185555B2 |
Model extension framework
Techniques for implicitly extending an object model, even those that do not provide an extension mechanism, in a manner that is transparent, independent, and non-disruptive to the model itself. An “extension” is preferably created for each object to be extended, and comprises a reference to the object and contains an “extension object” that specifies the particular extensions. |
| US08185554B1 |
Storage of data with composite hashes in backup systems
Seek operations required to perform backup and/or restore processes at an HFS server are reduced by localizing storage of data referenced by hash values included in a recipe near the recipe. In a typical embodiment, an HFS server receives a recipe and new underlying data for entry into a hash file system. The HFS server identifies a first storage node for the recipe, contiguously stores the new data in the first storage node, and indexes hash values and storage addresses of the new data in storage nodes selected based on the hash values of the new data. Storage addresses for the new data (and other data referenced by the recipe) are appended to the recipe. Later during a restore process, retrieval of the recipe also retrieves the storage addresses. Data pieces stored contiguously can then be collectively retrieved in one seek rather than in separate individual seeks. |
| US08185552B1 |
User-defined classifieds
A system and method for creating and classifying listings within user-defined marketplaces. An information database in communication with an information application comprises a plurality of marketplaces and a plurality of listings respectively classified within the plurality of marketplaces. The marketplaces stored in the information database may be either pre-defined or user-defined. User-defined marketplaces are created based at least in part on information supplied by an access device in communication with the information database. |
| US08185550B1 |
Systems and methods for event-based provisioning of elevated system privileges
Methods and systems for providing elevated system access to users based on an alert from a monitoring tool or a request for change (RFC). Using the alert or RFC information, a provisioning server may reference the name of an impacted system against a database of privileges needed to allow elevated access to that system. The provisioning server may then initiate a task to provision a user's existing ID or a new ID with the necessary elevated privileges. Once the person closes the alert or RFC, the provisioning server may then remove access for that person, thus providing indirect and temporary access to a company's IT infrastructure and business applications without the use of a group ID or other mechanism to affect repairs on the impacted system(s). |
| US08185544B2 |
Generating improved document classification data using historical search results
A server system accesses, respectively, historical query information for queries that have search results corresponding to first information items and second information items and classification data of the first information items. Initially, the first information items are classified and the second information items are unclassified. Based on the classification data of the first information items and the historical query information, the server system generates classification data for the second information items and stores the generated classification data therein. In response to requests for service from client devices, the server system provides customized services to the client devices using the second information items and the corresponding classification data generated for the second information items. |
| US08185541B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, information processing program, reproduction device, and information processing system that identifies content using a similarity calculation
An information processing apparatus includes a communication unit configured to receive, from a reproduction device that reproduces content recorded on a loaded recording medium, content forming information regarding the structure of the content; a degree-of-similarity calculation unit configured to compare the content forming information received by the communication unit with content forming information registered in advance for each package of an information recording medium in a predetermined database and calculate a degree of similarity between the content forming information received by the communication unit and the content forming information registered in advance in the database; and a package determination unit configured to determine the package of the information recording medium loaded into the reproduction device by using the degree of similarity calculated by the degree-of-similarity calculation unit. |
| US08185540B2 |
Visual structuring of multivariable data
Providing visual structuring of multivariable data sets in records includes: defining a key field for sorting the records; sorting the records by the key field to find patterns; grouping equivalent field values of the key field in an equivalent field value group; forming corresponding blocks for each equivalent field value group, displaying only one field value for each block, and masking all other field values of the block. |
| US08185536B2 |
Rank-order service providers based on desired service properties
Candidate service providers for a desired service are ranked. Terms describing service requirements for a desired service are determined. Service capability documents describing the services of the candidate service providers are determined using the terms describing the service requirements. Using singular value decomposition (SVD) and a metric, similarities between the terms describing the service requirements and the service capability documents are determined. The candidate service providers are ranked based on the similarities. |
| US08185528B2 |
Assigning human-understandable labels to web pages
Methods and systems that label a web page by collecting a set of inbound labels for the web page, estimating a language model for the web page, computing the likelihood of generating each inbound label given the language model and assigning a score to each inbound label based on this likelihood, and assigning a label to the web page based on the score assigned to each of the set of inbound labels. Inbound labels are preferably collected from the set of web documents linking to the web page. Labels assigned are useful in providing labeled links to web pages from top hosts in search results pages. |
| US08185526B2 |
Dynamic keyword suggestion and image-search re-ranking
A content-based re-ranking (CBR) process may be performed on query results based on a selected keyword that is extracted from previous query results, and thereby increase a relevancy of search results. A search engine may perform the CBR process using a target image that is selected from a plurality of image search results, the CBR to identify re-ranked image search results. Keywords may be extracted from the re-ranked image search results. A portion of the keywords may be outputted as suggested keywords and made selectable by a user. Finally, a refined CBR process may be performed based on the target image and a received selection a suggested keyword, the refined CBR to output the refined image search results. |
| US08185521B2 |
System and method for presentation of local and remote message search results
There is disclosed a system and method for presenting message search results at a wireless handheld device. In an embodiment, the method comprises conducting a search of local messages stored in the wireless handheld device using at least one search term to obtain a local search result; retrieving a search of remote messages stored in a message server using the at least one search term to obtain a remote search result; comparing the local and remote search results to identify any duplicate messages; and if the size of the local message is greater than or equal to the size of the remote message, then selecting the local message for presentation; else selecting the remote message for presentation. |
| US08185516B2 |
Method for filtering file clusters
A method for filtering file clusters is presented. In the method, a plurality of advanced filter actions with different filter conditions and independent from each other is performed on an obtained main result file. Thereby, a history record of each advanced filter is kept, and the history record of each advanced filter and respective search results are presented on a target interface in a presentation mode of opening a new page or updating an index list. |
| US08185515B2 |
Method and system for managing message boards
Information regarding the structure of information in a content database is maintained in a structure database. The structure database is used to correlate the data structure of a query to the structure of the content database, in order to determine that information in the content database which needs to be provided to a searcher in response to the query. In one embodiment, this search method is used in an online forum, and the forum maintains a reputation score for users with respect to given subject matter. The reputation score is dependent upon the quality of a user's participation in the forum. A user's reputation score depends upon the evaluation by others of information he posts and. upon the user evaluating information posted by others. |
| US08185510B2 |
Distributed security provisioning
Systems, methods and apparatus for a distributed security that provides security processing external to a network edge. The system can include many distributed processing nodes and one or more authority nodes that provide security policy data, threat data, and other security data to the processing nodes. The processing nodes detect and stop the distribution of malware, spyware and other undesirable content before such content reaches the destination network and computing systems. |
| US08185508B2 |
Adaptive filter index for determining queries affected by a DML operation
Techniques are disclosed for creating and using a filter index in order to identify registered queries whose result sets are likely to have been changed by changes made to tables. The filter index entries are based on filter conditions. The filter conditions are created based on predicates contained in the registered queries. The filter conditions may include exclusive predicates and join predicates. Join predicates that join a table T1 with a table T2 may be instantiated by replacing references to table T2 with values extracted from table T2. Various techniques are described for recognizing situations in which a query can be included in, or excluded from, the set of likely-changed queries, without fully evaluating the filter conditions that correspond to the queries. |
| US08185507B1 |
System and method for identifying substantially similar files
Surrogate hashing is described, including a database configured to store data associated with a first file and a second file, and a processor configured to run a first hashing algorithm against a first portion of a first file to generate a first hash value, and running a second hashing algorithm against the first portion of the first file to generate a second hash value, to determine whether the first hash value and the second hash value are substantially similar to one or more stored hash values associated with a second portion of a second file, wherein the second portion is identified by one or more attributes that are substantially similar to one or more corresponding attributes associated with the first portion, and to identify a location of the second file if the first hash value and the second hash value are substantially similar to the one or more stored hash values associated with the second portion of the second file. |
| US08185506B2 |
Unified management method of various types of messages of a personal information terminal
A mobile terminal includes a display and a controller. The display outputs a first input window configured to receive a first message. When input data is received into at least one message field of the first input window, the controller determines whether or not the input data conforms to a format of the first input window corresponding to the first message. The controller also outputs a notification after the input is determined not to conform to the format corresponding to the first input window corresponding to the first message. The display outputs a second input window to receive a second message. The second input window has at least one message field different from the message fields in the first input window. |
| US08185503B2 |
Document archival system
An archival computer system for receiving digital documents from document source computers, archiving such digital documents, and providing the digital documents to client computer systems. The archival computer system is provided with a document database, a supplemental digital media database, a document input device, an archival computer, and a server. The document input device receives digital documents from the document source computers. The digital documents include non-pixalated, non-rastered digital documents, and supplemental media. The archival computer receives the digital documents, and archives data from the non-pixalated, non-rastered digital documents in the document database, and data from the supplemental media in the supplemental digital media database. The server, upon request, outputs a composite document including data stored in the document database and the supplemental digital media database. |
| US08185502B2 |
Backup method for storage system
The present invention provides a backup method that makes it possible to specify the recovery-enabled time of an application even in a case where a backup has been performed without staticizing the application. In response to a first instruction from a management computer, a storage system backs up a first volume to a second volume at a first time while a first host computer continues to process an application. In response to a second instruction from the management computer, a second host computer reads out the data of the second volume and acquires a second time that is the time at which the application is recovery-enabled. The management computer stores the relationship between the backup and the second time in backup catalog information. |
| US08185501B1 |
Conditional fractional data store replication
A computer implemented method for providing enhanced customer support is provided. The method comprises a replication server selecting a plurality of first entries in a source lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) data store based on at least one attribute of the selected entries matching a predefined criteria, wherein a structure of the first entries is defined by a first schema. The method also comprises the replication server copying a plurality of attributes of each of the selected entries into a target lightweight directory access protocol data store, wherein the target lightweight directory access protocol data store contains a plurality of second entries, wherein a structure of the second entries is defined by a second schema, wherein the first schema is different from the second schema, and wherein the plurality of attributes copied do not include all of the attributes defined by the first schema. |
| US08185500B2 |
Information processing apparatus, and operation method of storage system
A server apparatus performs data I/O processing on a P-VOL in response to a request from a client apparatus and includes a file system which receives data write and read requests in units of files from the client apparatus. The server apparatus stores, into a D-VOL, differential data generated by updating the P-VOL, and manages a snapshot management table wherein a block address of the D-VOL storing the acquired differential data is registered. When a remaining capacity of a storage area of the D-VOL becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, the server apparatus enables a block of the D-VOL which had stored therein the differential data on a certain predetermined file, to be used as a storage area for newly acquired differential data. |
| US08185499B2 |
System and method for transactional session management
A system and method of transactional session management. Information sufficient to permit creation of a deep copy of a session object is saved concurrently for all aspects of the transaction. For example, the saving may save state information provided by different hierarchical levels of the session as well as possible different hardware or software entities participating in the session. In the event of a rollback condition, the deep copy is supplied to one or more applications. Those applications may then continue the session from the point of the deep copy. |
| US08185495B2 |
Representation of qualitative object changes in a knowledge based framework for a multi-master synchronization environment
The subject disclosure relates to synchronizing among network nodes in a multi-master synchronization environment that extend a knowledge based synchronization framework to include notions of object quality. In one embodiment, additional dimension(s) are placed on a knowledge vector for a given version of an object that represent quality information for the object, which is accounted for during the synchronization process to allow nodes to decide what types of qualities of objects should be conveyed to them as part of the synchronization process. Other embodiments include tombstoning objects to avoid future synchronization with respect to same objects maintained by other nodes in the multi-master synchronization environment. Advantageously, according to the synchronization framework, endpoints can synchronize data in a way that allows a definition and consideration of quality of one or more objects of the synchronized data for purposes of a knowledge exchange. |
| US08185493B2 |
Solution method of in-doubt state in two-phase commit protocol of distributed transaction
A solution method of an in-doubt state in two-phase commit protocol of a distributed transaction system includes assigning a unique identifier to each log group, and registers information about a database management device having the management right of each log group in a first table, and rewriting the first table in such a way that another database management device may have a management right of a global representative log group when a management right of the global representative log group to the other database management device during an in-doubt state period of two-phase commit, and rewriting the first table in such a way that another database management device may have a management right of the global representative log group when a management right of a log group other than the global representative log group to another database management device during the in-doubt state period of two-phase commit. |
| US08185491B2 |
Method of organizing software design decision instances
A method of organizing received decision instances based on reference architecture, including determining a respective particular project phase attribute for each of the decision instances, classifying the decision instances, determining a respective scope attribute for each of the decision instances, categorizing the decision instances in accordance with each of the respective scope attributes thereof, for all decision instances with the same categorization and with the same classification, ordering the corresponding decision instances by model elements, modeling directed links between apparently dependent decision instances, analyzing the dependent decision instances to confirm that the decision instances satisfy the apparent dependencies represented by the directed links and producing an error message if a result of the analysis is negative, and generating a real-time updateable and/or modifiable to-do list interface. |
| US08185489B2 |
Devices, methods, and computer-readable media for providing calendar-based communication system services
Devices, methods and computer-readable media for providing calendar-based communication system services. Data for providing calendar-based communication system services is stored. The data is classified. Policy rules are applied to identify candidate actions. the identified candidate actions are checked for feasibility. The identified candidate actions verified as being feasible are implemented. The candidate actions may include suggestions for the user, marketing material tailored to the user, and network actions selected for the user. |
| US08185486B2 |
Segmented predictive model system
A computer program product, method and system for transforming data into predictive models. The transformation of data into predictive models comprises a multi stage learning process that uses a plurality of algorithms at each stage to select output for use in the next stage. The final predictive model is a linear or nonlinear predictive model. Analyses of the model and the variables associated with it can be used to produce graphs and other management reports. |
| US08185483B2 |
System for design and use of decision models
The invention relates to a system for the design and use of decision models. More specifically, the invention relates to an automatic method for decision making by a virtual or physical agent on the basis of external variables derived from an environment described by a digital model or physical sensors and variables internal to the agent described by digital parameters, and to decision-making means which control the actions of the agent. The invention is characterized in that the decision-making means determines the parameters of at least one action of the agent on the basis of at least one part of the internal or external variables. According to the invention, the operation consisting in determining the parameters of an action is performed by several decision sub-processes which are each a function of at least part of the external and internal variables. Moreover, said operation processes a limited part of the general decision problematic, the parameters determined by each of the aforementioned sub-processes being processed in order to construct the set of action parameters which control the agent. |
| US08185480B2 |
System and method for optimizing pattern recognition of non-gaussian parameters
A method of optimizing a function of a parameter includes associating, with an objective function for initial value of parameters, an auxiliary function of parameters that could be optimized computationally more efficiently than an original objective function, obtaining parameters that are optimum for the auxiliary function, obtaining updated parameters by taking a weighted sum of the optimum of the auxiliary function and initial model parameters. |
| US08185475B2 |
System and method for obtaining and sharing media content
A device initialization method includes generating a license request for a personal media device. A timeout indicator may be obtained for a subscription associated with the personal media device. The license request and the timeout indicator may be combined to form a device license for the personal media device. The device license may be digitally-signed to form a signed device license. |
| US08185471B1 |
Integrated payment receiving and processing system
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for integrating a mail receiving process with a payment processing system. Embodiments of the invention include a capture device configured to: (1) receive a plurality of payment-related mail items comprising a plurality of envelopes containing one or more items; (2) scan the plurality of envelopes and the items to obtain data about each of the plurality of payment-related mail items; (3) identify one or more exception situations regarding one or more payment-related mail items; (4) associate an exception indicator with the data obtained about the one or more payment-related mail items, wherein the exception indicator provides an indication as to an exception type selected from a plurality of exception types; and (5) communicate the data and the one or more exception indicators to a payment processing system. The payment processing system is configured to recognize the exception indicators and process the associated data based on the exception indicators. |
| US08185464B1 |
Method of making distributions from an investment fund
A method of making distributions from an investment fund. The method includes the steps of creating shares for sale, providing a managed distribution schedule identifying a number of payments to be provided during each of consecutive periods, providing an investment strategy for investing in assets to provide funds sufficient to meet the managed distribution schedule, issuing a share to an investor in exchange for funds received from the investor, investing the received funds according to the investment strategy, calculating the value of each of the payments to be provided according to the managed distribution schedule in a period to the investor, and providing each of the payments to the investor during the period. Each payment during the period is sourced from one or more of net income of the assets, accumulated undistributed net profits resulting from a sale of any asset excluding long-term capital gains, and return of capital. |
| US08185459B2 |
System, method and computing device for detecting duplicate financial documents
A method and system are disclosed for identifying in real time duplicate financial documents processed by a financial institution or check clearinghouse. A collection of hash values representative of previously processed financial documents are maintained in a memory, such as a GPU memory. When a new financial document enters the financial institution or check clearinghouse for processing, one or more features of the financial document are captured. A hash value is generated from the one or more features of the financial document. A search is performed in the collection of hash values for a matching hash value. If a match is found, a potential fraudulent event or operational error may be indicated. If a match is not found, the hash value representative of the new financial document is added to the collection of hash values. |
| US08185457B1 |
Transaction risk analyzer
Methods and systems are disclosed for automatically identifying and managing potentially fraudulent transactions without adversely impacting legitimate customers. In one implementation, the methods and systems provide a transaction risk analyzer for analyzing a risk associated with a financial transaction. The transaction risk analyzer quickly and automatically evaluates a number of factors in connection with each transaction to determine the risk associated with the transaction. The factors may include, for example, the relationship of the customer to the financial services company, the identity of the customer, and the behavior pattern of the customer. A set of business rules may then be applied to these factors to help distinguish between potentially fraudulent transactions and legitimate transactions. Based on the business rules, the transaction risk analyzer may recommend certain actions to mitigate loss potentially resulting from the transaction. Such an arrangement helps lower the risk of fraudulent activity without penalizing legitimate customers. |
| US08185450B2 |
Method and system for self-service manufacture and sale of customized virtual goods
A computer program product is provided. The computer program product includes a computer useable medium having a computer readable program. The computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to receive first customization request data and second customization request data for a virtual object to be purchased by a user in a virtual world computing environment. Further, the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to encode the first customization request data and the second customization request data into a value. In addition, the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to invoke an instantiation of the virtual object such that the virtual object has a customizable component. |
| US08185447B2 |
Method for extending payment system architectures and/or legacy order processing systems to mobile commerce applications via text messaging
A text message order processing system includes: means for receiving text messages from consumers purchasing products from one or more merchants, each of the text messages being addressed to an address selected by the consumer and including an identification of the product being purchased and an identification of a device from which the text message was sent; means for parsing each text messages to extract the identification of the product and the identification of the device from the text massage; means for selecting based upon each received text message a payment instrument to be used to pay for the purchase; means for establishing payment information related to the selected payment instrument and delivery information indicating where the purchased product is to be delivered; means for generating for each received text message an order including the established payment information, delivery information and identification of the product being purchased; and, means for submitting the generated order to an order management system of the merchant. |
| US08185446B1 |
Generating parts bundles
Disclosed are various embodiments for generating automobile parts bundles associated with maintenance events. A maintenance schedule is retrieved and various maintenance events are identified. Various maintenance tasks associated with maintenance events are also identified. Parts associated with these maintenance tasks are placed into parts bundles associated with the maintenance event and a unique identifier within a parts catalog. |
| US08185442B2 |
Extensible attributes model for business applications
In a method for extension of an item attribute in a business application data model, a selection is received of an item of the business application data model to which an item attribute is being added. The item attribute is received, including receipt of relationship information which defines a location of the item attribute within a hierarchy of the business application data model. The item attribute is associated with the business application data model such that the item attribute is contextually included within a searchable ontology of the hierarchy in accordance with the relationship information. |
| US08185441B2 |
Method of auctioning license plates to generate revenue
The method of auctioning license plates provides for the public auctioning of state-issued, motor vehicle license plates. The method includes the step of first establishing a market value data set for a plurality of license plates. Next, the market value data set is stored in a market value database, which is recorded in computer readable memory associated with an auction server. An online auction is then established for at least one license plate to be sold. Once up for auction, bidders bid on the at least one license plate. Once bidding has closed, the at least one license plate is sold to the highest bidder, and funds are transferred from buyer to seller. Following the sale, transfer of ownership of the at least one license plate is recorded in a motor vehicle administration database, and both sales and property taxes associated with the sale of the license plate are assessed. |
| US08185438B2 |
System for separating mobile search traffic from web search traffic using keyword separation
A system is described for separating mobile search traffic from web search traffic. The system may include a processor, a memory and an interface. The memory may store a keyword, mobile data related to the keyword, web data related to the keyword, and a search request. The interface may communicate with a user. The processor may be operatively connected to the interface and the memory and may store the mobile data and web data in the memory. The processor may receive a search request from a user via the interface and may determine if the search request is mobile traffic or web traffic. The processor may then retrieve and serve the mobile data to the user if the search request is mobile traffic, or may retrieve and serve the web data to the user if the search request is web traffic. |
| US08185433B2 |
Peer-to-peer affinity-group commerce method and system
A P2P (peer-to-peer) business and commerce-enhancing method including the steps of (a) identifying an active P2P network which is characterized with peers having a defined affinity interest in the exchange of at least category-A information, such as digital music song files, and (b) employing that at-least category-A information-exchange affinity interest as a carrier vehicle and growth engine for the promotion, within that network, of collateral income-generating transactions between a peer and a party who may be inside or outside the network. Of central importance to such commerce enhancement, or growth, as promoted by practice of the invention is that such growth is driven by network-internal, peer-group enthusiasm, linked with imaginative peer entrepreneurship in the engaging of peer-to-peer file-sharing behavior. |
| US08185431B2 |
System and method for forecasting and pairing advertising with popular web-based media
A system and method for identifying whether certain web-based media or web-based videos are likely to become popular is provided. Videos that are identified as having a strong likelihood of becoming popular with a particular demographic group are paired to advertisements or other media appropriate for the particular demographic group. Videos that are likely to be popular are identified by measuring early input rates such as request rates, replay rates, comment rates, forwarding rates and reply rates. Input rate patterns including pattern segments correlated to inputs from a particular demographic group are identified. |
| US08185428B1 |
Method and apparatus for predicting project cost performance
A computer implemented method and model to perform project scenario simulations to facilitate understanding the risks associated with various factors such as, for example, project schedules and volatility in the design requirements/specifications. In one example, the model includes a statistical definition of a relationship between the cost performance index for the model and project parameters, such as requirements volatility and lifecycle overlap. |
| US08185426B1 |
Method and system for providing real time appointment rescheduling
A system and method for providing real-time appointment rescheduling by providing access to one or more computer-based appointment scheduling systems and a virtual open appointment wait-list associated with one or more appointment slots in the scheduling systems. One or more service consumers request to be placed on the wait-list. When an appointment becomes available, wait-list data is searched to find the first consumer that is next on the wait-list and whose wait-list data is consistent with the newly available appointment. The first consumer is then contacted with a designated period of time to respond and accept the appointment. After the designated period of time has passed with no response from the first consumer, the wait-list data is searched again to find the second service consumer that is next on the wait-list. The process is repeated automatically until the newly available appointment is accepted. |
| US08185423B2 |
Just-in time workflow
Disclosed are arrangements, referred to as just-in-time workflow (JITW) arrangements, which provide a decentralised process (900) for performing a sequence of tasks, in which individual network services successively identify (961), assemble (960) and execute (962) a chain of subsequent network services on the basis of their suitability to communicate over a network and to perform their associated tasks. |
| US08185422B2 |
Work allocation model
A system and method for allocating processes to a plurality of resources analyses an available resource capacity for a plurality of resources, generates resource assignment sets and corresponding schedule parameters, and generates a control parameter for each resource assignment set. The control parameter is based on corresponding weighting parameters and corresponding schedule parameters. One of the resource assignment sets is selected and used to allocate tasks to the resources based on a selection criterion for the control parameter. |
| US08185421B2 |
Multi-objective optimization within a constraint management system
Multi-Objective Optimization (MOO) is integrated with a Constraint Management System (CMS) so as to rapidly and flexibly search large design spaces and focus on “interesting” designs as determined by user-specified criteria. A method embeds a trade space and its trade-off envelope within the same CMS network used to calculate the values of the points in the trade space itself. The method supports automatic variation of the resulting trade-off analyses in response to variations in upstream parameters, assumptions, and/or requirements. When feasible, the CMS can back-solve for values of upstream parameters so that selected attributes of the trade-off envelope achieve user-specified values. The coupled use of a CMS with multi-objective optimization avoids having to generate a large set of permutations of inputs and factors and then restricting the analysis to those having desired outputs or of having to manually “reformulate” the equation set so that it solves in the desired direction. |
| US08185415B2 |
Methods and systems for comparing employee insurance plans among peer groups
The present invention is directed towards methods and systems for a benchmark based comparison of an employee insurance plan of an organization to employee insurance plans from other organizations in a peer group. The present invention enables a user to enter details about an employee insurance plan of a first organization and allows the user to compare the insurance plan to a benchmark computed from data collected from a plurality of organizations in a peer group of the first organization. The comparison report does not identify the organizations from which data is collected. |
| US08185413B2 |
System and method for benefit plan cost estimation
A computer-based method and system to enable a benefit plan sponsor to design a plurality of benefit plans to be offered to a given participant population and for determining the cost of sponsoring the plans for the participant population by predicting utilization for each of the plans based upon historical utilization data for the population, projected plan selections based upon presumed participant objectives, and/or survey or historical data from a sample of the given population or from preexisting statistical samples exhibiting analogous demographic characteristics to the given participant population relating to expected benefit utilization and plan preference criteria. |
| US08185412B1 |
Method and apparatus for chronic care treatment control with custom named-type factors and user estimation error correction
A method and apparatus to record and track patient's estimation of arbitrary factor types, to analyze response errors utilizing discrete measurements, to isolate errors in various factor types and their response correlations, to enable patient in refining factor mix to reduce estimated outcome variations, and to improve patient estimation with corrections using a continuous feedback system. The input factors for the treatment in case of a Diabetic patient may be food intake, medication, activity, stress level etc, while the treatment outcome or response may be blood glucose level that the patient needs to keep within specific limits. Present invention enables a chronic care patient, such as a Diabetic patient, to make better and informed decisions about their treatment, reduce input factor estimation errors, reduce outcome parameter variations, and improve the patient well being by better treatment control. |
| US08185409B2 |
Method and apparatus for operative event documentation and related data management
In one embodiment, method and apparatus are disclosed which provide that a plurality of physicians each enter operative event data into an operative event database, wherein the operative event data documents planned or completed operative events and the physicians enter the operative event data use a wide area network through a user interface assisting the physicians in coding operative events in a consistent manner. The physicians access the operative event database to obtain information concerning upcoming or previously performed operative events, with a service provider maintaining an on-line system including one or more servers to support the entering of operative event data into the database through the Internet and the user interface. Further, the physicians subscribe to the on-line system wherein the physicians are allowed access and use the on-line system, and wherein the physicians retain control over the use and disposition of the operative event data entered by the physician. |
| US08185407B2 |
Referral request system
A method for electronically managing patient referrals includes, in a network of interconnected computers, submitting a referral request by a first provider, accepting the referral request by a second provider, obtaining an insurance approval of the referral request, importing a medical record for a patient from a external system, exporting the imported medical record to the external system, updating the medical record with diagnostic information, and updating a status of the referral request. |
| US08185394B2 |
Method for accessing data via voice
A method for providing access to data via a voice interface. In one embodiment, the system includes a voice recognition unit and a speech processing server that work together to enable users to interact with the system using voice commands guided by navigation context sensitive voice prompts, and provide user-requested data in a verbalized format back to the users. Digitized voice waveform data are processed to determine the voice commands of the user. The system also uses a “grammar” that enables users to retrieve data using intuitive natural language speech queries. In response to such a query, a corresponding data query is generated by the system to retrieve one or more data sets corresponding to the query. The user is then enabled to browse the data that are returned through voice command navigation, wherein the system “reads” the data back to the user using text-to-speech (TTS) conversion and system prompts. |
| US08185392B1 |
Adapting enhanced acoustic models
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for enhancing speech recognition accuracy. In one aspect, a method includes receiving voice queries, obtaining, for one or more of the voice queries, feedback information that references an action taken by a user that submitted the voice query after reviewing a result of the voice query, generating, for the one or more voice queries, a posterior recognition confidence measure that reflects a probability that the voice query was correctly recognized, wherein the posterior recognition confidence measure is generated based at least on the feedback information for the voice query, selecting a subset of the one or more voice queries based on the posterior recognition confidence measures, and adapting an acoustic model using the subset of the voice queries. |
| US08185391B2 |
Speaker recognition via voice sample based on multiple nearest neighbor classifiers
A speaker recognition system generates a codebook store with codebooks representing voice samples of speaker, referred to as trainers. The speaker recognition system may use multiple classifiers and generate a codebook store for each classifier. Each classifier uses a different set of features of a voice sample as its features. A classifier inputs a voice sample of an person and tries to authenticate or identify the person. A classifier generates a sequence of feature vectors for the input voice sample and then a code vector for that sequence. The classifier uses its codebook store to recognize the person. The speaker recognition system then combines the scores of the classifiers to generate an overall score. If the score satisfies a recognition criterion, then the speaker recognition system indicates that the voice sample is from that speaker. |
| US08185387B1 |
Automatic gain control
In general, the techniques are described for adjusting audio gain levels for multi-talker audio. In one example, an audio system monitors an audio stream for the presence of a new talker. Upon identifying a new talker, the system determines whether the new talker is a first-time talker. For a first-time talker, the system executes a fast-attack/decay automatic gain control (AGC) algorithm to quickly determine a gain value for the first-time talker. The system additionally executes standard AGC techniques to refine the gain for the first-time talker while the first-time talker continues speaking. When a steady state within a decibel threshold is attained using standard AGC for the first-time talker, the system stores the steady state gain for the first-time talker to storage. Upon identifying a previously-identified talker, the system retrieves from storage the steady state gain for the talker and applies the steady state gain to the audio stream. |
| US08185385B2 |
Method for searching fixed codebook based upon global pulse replacement
The present research can decrease the amount of computation and enhance speech quality by using a global pulse replacement method in a fixed codebook search. The fixed codebook search method in a speech encoder based upon global pulse replacement, includes the steps of: (a) computing absolute values of the pulse-position likelihood-estimator vectors; (b) temporarily obtaining a codebook vector; (c) computing a mathematical equation by replacing a pulse; (d) determining whether a value computed based upon the mathematical equation is increased after pulse replacement; (e) obtaining a new codebook vector by replacing the pulse; and (f) maintaining a previous codebook vector. |
| US08185383B2 |
Methods and apparatus for adapting speech coders to improve cochlear implant performance
Cochlear implant performance is improved by extracting pitch information and encoding such pitch information into the processor of a cochlear implant. One embodiment of the invention is to explicitly extract the pitch and deliver it to the cochlear implant by co-varying the stimulated site and rate. Another embodiment of the invention is to implicitly encode the pitch information via a code book that serves as the carrier of stimulation in the cochlear implant. |
| US08185381B2 |
Unified filter bank for performing signal conversions
A unified filter bank for performing signal conversions may include an interface that receives signal conversion commands in relation to multiple types of compressed audio bitstreams. The unified filter bank may also include a reconfigurable transform component that performs a transform as part of signal conversion for the multiple types of compressed audio bitstreams. The unified filter bank may also include complementary modules that perform complementary processing as part of the signal conversion for the multiple types of compressed audio bitstreams. The unified filter bank may also include an interface command controller that controls the configuration of the reconfigurable transform component and the complementary modules. |
| US08185378B2 |
Method and system for determining text coherence
A method and system for determining text coherence in an essay is disclosed. A method of evaluating the coherence of an essay includes receiving an essay having one or more discourse elements and text segments. The one or more discourse elements are annotated either manually or automatically. A text segment vector is generated for each text segment in a discourse element using sparse random indexing vectors. The method or system then identifies one or more essay dimensions and measures the semantic similarity of each text segment based on the essay dimensions. Finally, a coherence level is assigned to the essay based on the measured semantic similarities. |
| US08185376B2 |
Identifying language origin of words
The language of origin of a word is determined by analyzing non-uniform letter sequence portions of the word. |
| US08185370B2 |
Discrete event simulation tool combining process-driven and event-driven models
The embodiments described herein generally relate to a discrete event simulation (DES) tool which combines the process-driven model and the event-driven model. This integrated process (which uses entities) and event simulation framework according to the various embodiments provides a platform that is appropriate for all combinations of simulation model requirements and at the same time provides higher level of model abstraction. The DES tool instantiates a new paradigm that permits flow of entities at the event-driven model layer that is analogous to their treatment at the process-driven model layer. |
| US08185369B2 |
Method and apparatus for characterizing properties of electronic devices depending on device parameters
A system and method for obtaining information about an electronic device includes the steps of providing a criterion for a property of the electronic device depending on at least one device parameter, and determining a relationship between variations of the at least one device parameter and variations of the property. |
| US08185366B2 |
Methods for modeling, displaying, designing, and optimizing fixed cutter bits
In one aspect, the invention provides a method for modeling the performance of a fixed cutter bit drilling an earth formation. In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a drill bit and an earth formation to be represented as drilled, simulating the bit drilling the earth formation, displaying the simulating, and adjusting at least one parameter affecting the performance. The method of design is used to make a fixed cutter drill bit. In another embodiment the method includes numerically rotating the bit, calculating bit interaction with the earth formation during the rotating, and determining the forces on the cutters during the rotation based on the calculated interaction with earth formation and empirical data. |
| US08185364B2 |
Process and device for simulating a product printed by a press
A process and device for simulating a product printed by a virtual press. The process implemented by the device includes creation of a three-dimensional object page, selection of at least one fold among a set of predetermined folds, with the selected folds corresponding to the folds produced on the product to be simulated, for each fold produced and selected, a modification of the three-dimensional object page by the addition of at least one fold line at a given position on the three-dimensional object page, construction of the simulated product starting from the modified three-dimensional object page, and a display of the simulated product constructed in this manner. |
| US08185361B2 |
Unmoldable portion detection system, computer readable medium, and unmoldable portion detection method
An unmoldable portion detection system includes: a normal line arithmetic unit; a backward component determination unit; and an unmoldable portion determination unit, wherein the system further includes one of the following (A) units and (B) units: (A) a concave connection determination unit; and an adjacent unmoldable portion determination unit, and (B) a projection line reach determination unit; and a projection unmoldable portion determination unit. |
| US08185359B2 |
System and method for transforming data between the time domain and the combustion pulse domain
A method for transforming machine sensor data between a time domain and a combustion pulse domain is disclosed. The method may include determining a number of pulse events per rotation of a shaft and determining a sampling rate per pulse event. The method may also include sampling one or more sensors at the sampling rate per pulse event. The method also may include transforming the samples into the combustion pulse domain. |
| US08185351B2 |
Methods and systems for testing ability to conduct a research operation
Methods and systems for testing an ability of a Portable User Appliance (PUA) and/or a research data gathering system coupled therewith are disclosed. A method for testing an ability of a PUA to carry out a research operation, comprises communicating a testing message to the PUA and/or research data gathering system coupled therewith, the testing message comprising one of a test command to test its ability to carry out a research operation, and test data to establish, enable or provide a capability thereof to test its ability to carry out a research operation. |
| US08185350B2 |
Systems and methods for operational verification of a missile approach warning system
A coupler that generates and emits a simulated missile signature for assessing the operational capability of a missile approach warning system. The coupler may be directly attached to the system by an adapter. Couplers may be used in multiplicity, simultaneously or sequentially. The simulated signature may be digitally stored, as may be the results of the assessment. Simulated signatures may also be generated from freeform. The coupler also performs sensitivity testing. |
| US08185349B2 |
Plasma sensors and related methods
Plasma sensors, systems and related methods are described. An example method for predicting an event includes providing a carrier signal across two electrodes and forming a plasma between the two electrodes. The example method also includes measuring a modulated signal from the plasma, manipulating the modulated signal to produce a value and comparing the value to a threshold. Finally, the example method includes determining the likelihood of the event based on the comparison. |
| US08185343B1 |
Base station and method for detecting emplacement of improvised explosive devices
An explosive device detection system includes sensors and base station that detect and report on suspected improvised explosive device (IED) emplacement activity within the area. When disposed within a geographic area, each sensor forms part of a wireless communications network which allows communication among neighboring sensors. As a sensor detects activity in its proximity, such as activity that indicates emplacement of an IED, the sensor transmits a reporting signal through the network to the base station. The base station is operable to detect if the signals received from the sensors are indicative of IED emplacement activity or some other activity that is not typically associated with IED emplacement activity. In the event that the base station detects activity that is indicative of IED emplacement activity, the base station can direct mobile response units to take immediate responsive action to prevent detonation of the IEDs or apprehend the perpetrators in the act. |
| US08185338B2 |
Low pin interface testing module
A low pin interface module is provided for testing an integrated circuit. The interface module includes an input-output module, a controlling module, a processing module and a storage module specific to the integrated circuit to be tested. The interface module reduces the required number of hardware pins in the integrated circuit for a standalone testing without limiting the integrated circuit testing features. A methodology and a control mechanism achieved with the interface module can be used for the standalone testing of any integrated circuit without using a Joint European Test Action Group test logic interface JTAG implemented following the IEEE Standard 1149.1-1990. The interface module is not limited by a particular debugging platform and allows access to all test features in the integrated circuit with a reduced number of hardware pins and thereby leading to enhanced testing speeds on a tester in parallel and a shorter time-to-a market cycle and a lower development cost. |
| US08185332B2 |
Apparatus and method for estimating resistance characteristics of battery based on open circuit voltage estimated by battery voltage variation pattern
An apparatus for estimating resistance characteristics of a battery includes a data storing manager for obtaining and storing battery voltage, current and temperature data of a battery, whenever estimating a battery resistance characteristic; an open circuit voltage calculator for calculating battery open circuit voltage from a battery voltage variation pattern measured at the present and in the past; a weighted mean resistance calculator for calculating a battery resistance parameter from a battery current and a difference between the battery open circuit voltage and a battery voltage, and calculating a weighted mean resistance from battery resistance parameters calculated at the present and in the past; a weighted mean resistance convergence calculator for calculating a weighed mean resistance convergence value by repeatedly calculating a weighted mean sequence using the weighted mean resistance as an initial condition; and a resistance characteristic estimator for estimating a battery resistance from the weighted mean resistance convergence value. |
| US08185331B2 |
Systems, methods and apparatus for indexing and predicting wind power output from virtual wind farms
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for predicting electrical power output from wind farms using statistical methods and measured wind speeds near boundaries of control volumes that encompass the wind turbines of interest. These systems, methods, and apparatus can provide electrical power output predictions of up to 6, 12, 24, or 48 hours in advance of actual power reaching the grid. |
| US08185327B2 |
Monitoring of composite materials
In a particular system for monitoring of a composite workpiece, at least one ultrasonic testing transducer is mounted to a surface of the composite workpiece and configured to transmit and receive ultrasonic energy to and from the composite workpiece during mechanical loading of the composite workpiece. An ultrasonic pulser/receiver is operatively coupled to the at least one ultrasonic testing transducer. A computing system is operatively coupled to the ultrasonic pulser/receiver. The computing system includes a data acquisition component configured to acquire data from the ultrasonic puller/receiver and a data analysis component configured to analyze the acquired data. The data analysis component may be further configured to analyze the acquired data for initiation of failure of the composite workpiece and/or growth of failure of the composite workpiece. Further, failure of the composite workpiece may include cracking and/or delaminating and/or disbonding. |
| US08185326B2 |
Corrosion detection and monitoring system
A method and apparatus comprises a number of sensors and a computer. The number of sensors is capable of being associated with a location of an object having quantum dots. The number of sensors is capable of sending energy into the location, and the energy is capable of causing a response from the quantum dots. The number of sensors is capable of detecting the response. The computer is coupled to the number of sensors and capable of determining whether corrosion is present in the location using the response detected by the number of sensors. |
| US08185324B2 |
Method of determining initial concentration of nucleic acid in sample using real-time amplification data
Disclosed is a method of determining an initial concentration of a target nucleic acid within a sample using real-time nucleic acid amplification data. Amplification efficiencies of the target nucleic acid with respect to amplification time are obtained from signals of amplified products, and an amplification efficiency function with respect to amplification time is formulated employing the amplification efficiencies. |
| US08185323B1 |
Method of identifying exons and introns and diagnostic uses thereof
Novel introns and exons are detected by selecting for a specific group of known correlating splice junctions, then searching for unknown introns and exons within that group. Also, diseases are detected by selecting for introns and exons associated with diseases or mutations. Detections are achieved using comparative genomics, gel electrophoresis or protein chip technologies. |
| US08185322B2 |
User interface improvements for medical devices
A method and system is disclosed for operating a medical device with or without a cassette in place. A method is disclosed for adding additional VTBI to an ongoing infusion without stopping the infusion and with maintaining the infusion parameters. A method and system is disclosed for changing the CCA without having to interrupt or completely stop an ongoing infusion. Quick titration buttons are provided to allow improved navigation between various delivery display screens. |
| US08185319B2 |
Method of compensation of dose-response curve of an assay for sensitivity to perturbing variables
Assays and methods of compensating for changes in a dose-response curve of an assay due to variations in a perturbing variable by firstly measuring the dose-response curve, the individual assay parameters, at different values of the perturbing variable. Next, unknown samples are assayed simultaneously with a known standard at a chosen analyte concentration with a value of the perturbing variable being unknown and the dose-response curve unknown. The different dose-response curves from the first step are used to determine a mathematical relationship between assay parameters and the assay signal of the known standard. The assay parameters that are valid for the unknown value of the perturbing variable can be obtained by substituting the value of the assay signal from the known standard into the mathematical relationship and solving for the assay parameters. |
| US08185317B2 |
Method and system of determining the stain quality of slides using scatter plot distribution
Methods, systems, and computer software for determining the stain quality of a plurality of biological specimens. A number of objects of interest are identified in a biological specimen. A first feature of each object of interest (e.g., nuclear area) and a second feature of each object of interest (e.g., nuclear integrated optical density) are measured, and a scatter plot of the first and second features is generated. The stain quality of the specimens are determined based on the distribution of points within the scatter plot. |
| US08185315B2 |
Determination of irreducible water cut-off using two dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance data
A method for estimating a distribution of pore sizes of a fluid filled rock formation penetrated by a borehole, the method includes: processing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data to determine a distribution of diffusion coefficients and a distribution of relaxation time constants for at least one depth in the borehole; plotting the distribution of diffusion coefficients and the distribution of relaxation time constants as a cross-plot for the at least one depth; identifying a water line on the cross-plot, each point on the water line having substantially the same value for the diffusion coefficient; and estimating the distribution of pore sizes from the distribution of relaxation time constants plotted along the water line. |
| US08185312B2 |
Downhole surveying utilizing multiple measurements
Systems and methods for controlling a drill string are provided. A method comprises receiving one or more first signals from a first sensor package mounted in a first portion of the drill string at a first position within a wellbore. The first signals may be indicative of an orientation of the first portion of the drill string. The method also includes receiving one or more second signals from a second sensor package mounted in a second portion of the drill string at a second position within the wellbore. In certain embodiments, the second signals indicative of an orientation of the second portion of the drill string. The drill string may be adapted to bend between the first portion and the second portion and certain embodiments include calculating a first amount of bend between the first portion and the second portion in response to the first signals and the second signals. |
| US08185311B2 |
Multiuser oilfield domain analysis and data management
A method of oilfield data management including collecting oilfield data from an oilfield, executing instructions on a processor to perform a domain analysis of the oilfield data by a first analysis team to generate a first analysis, the first analysis team comprising a plurality of users who analyze a portion of the oilfield data relating to one or more oilfield functions, selectively providing access to the first analysis and the portion of the oilfield data for the plurality of users based on a continued analysis of the oilfield, executing instructions on the processor to perform the domain analysis of the oilfield data by a second analysis team to generate a second analysis, the second analysis team analyzing the portion of the oilfield data relating to the one or more oilfield functions, and selectively synchronizing the first analysis and the second analysis to generate a synchronized result. |
| US08185308B2 |
Angular velocity correcting device, angular velocity correcting method, and navigation device
Angular velocity correcting devices, angular velocity correcting methods, and navigation devices are disclosed. In some implementations, a first sensor sensitivity correcting method for considering variation of sensor sensitivity due to an oblique angle of an angular velocity detecting sensor with respect to a horizontal plane and a sensitivity error of the angular velocity detecting sensor and correcting the sensor sensitivity is enabled. A second sensor sensitivity correcting method for considering the variation of the sensor sensitivity due to the oblique angle of the angular velocity detecting sensor with respect to the horizontal plane without considering the sensitivity error and correcting the sensor sensitivity is enabled. The sensitivity error is calculated on the basis of a ratio of the sensor sensitivity obtained by the first sensor sensitivity correcting method to the sensor sensitivity obtained by the second sensor sensitivity correcting method. The angular velocity from the angular velocity detecting sensor using the sensitivity error is corrected. |
| US08185303B1 |
Center pivot irrigation system position sensing system
A system and method for determining a position of a center pivot irrigation system includes positioning a tower unit on the rotatable arm of the irrigation system, determining a distance between the arm's rotation center and the tower unit, calculating coordinates of the tower unit along a path of the tower unit as the arm rotates, and associating an action of the irrigation system with coordinates of the tower unit location that correspond to the position of the arm where the action is to occur. Optionally, the action of the irrigation system and the coordinates of the location of the tower unit are downloaded to a remote unit located adjacent to the irrigation system. Optionally, current location coordinates of the tower unit are determined using a GPS receiver at the tower unit. Optionally, the current location coordinates are transmitted from the tower unit to the remote unit. Optionally, the current location coordinates are compared to the coordinates of the location of the action. If a substantial match of the current location coordinates with the location coordinates associated with an action is detected, the action may be initiated by the remote unit through controls of the irrigation system. |
| US08185302B2 |
Conservational vehicle routing
A route-determination method includes gathering road-related data in a vehicle navigation system (VNS) for a plurality of routes between two locations. This may include weighting two or more of the possible routes in the VNS based at least on the road-related data. Also, this may include adjusting the weighting in the VNS for each weighted route based on projected fuel consumption and determining an optimal fuel usage route in the VNS based on the adjusted weighting. Further, this may include outputting at least one optimal fuel usage route. |
| US08185301B1 |
Aircraft traffic awareness system and methods
The invention provides, in some aspects, aviation navigational systems and methods for cockpit display of traffic information that generate intuitive three-dimensional graphical representations of air traffic (and/or other potential conflicts) in the vicinity of an aircraft in flight, as well as during take-off and landing. These systems and methods provide improved awareness of potential conflicts, offering in the cockpit an immediate understanding of the significance of potential conflicts, e.g., vis-à-vis their nature, direction, and time to visual contact. Thus, according to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an aviation navigational system that generates a 3D representation of the airspace in the vicinity of an aircraft and, relative to that representation, a representation of air traffic in that airspace. In related aspects of the invention, the 3D representation of the airspace is relative to the aircraft position in that airspace, the representation of the air traffic in that airspace is relative to a viewer on that aircraft. |
| US08185300B2 |
Safe driving evaluation system, method, and program
Systems, methods, and programs input a current drive condition of a vehicle at a predetermined location before a predetermined temporary stop position, determine whether there is a possibility that the vehicle will not be able to safely stop at the temporary stop position based on the input current drive condition, and execute a wake-up call to a driver if it is determined that there is a possibility that the vehicle will not be able to stop safely at the temporary stop position. The systems, methods, and programs calculate a wake-up call ratio as a ratio of the total number of wake-up calls executed to the total number of temporary stop positions passed, and then acquire evaluation information based on the calculated wake-up call ratio. |
| US08185298B2 |
Hybrid heuristic national airspace flight path optimization
Hybrid-heuristic optimization of competing portfolios of flight paths for flights through one or more sectors of an airspace represented by an air traffic system. In one embodiment, a hybrid-heuristic optimization process (100) includes one or more heuristic based processes (110), a genetic optimization process (120), an evaluation process involving an approximation model (130), an optimal portfolio selection process (140) and a validation process involving simulation (150) of the air traffic system. |
| US08185297B2 |
Personalized traffic reports
A method and system are disclosed for providing personalized traffic reports. A personalized traffic report is a relatively short, audio-visual presentation that includes an audio narrative by an announcer describing the traffic conditions along a user's selected route, synchronized with a video presentation that includes maps with animations showing the traffic conditions and a visual representation of the announcer. A traffic data services provider determines traffic conditions that pertain to a user's identified particular route, i.e. from an origin to a destination. Then, the traffic data services provider forms an audio-video file that includes an audio narrative in the voice of an announcer that describes the traffic conditions along the user's route, along with a visual map representation of the user's route, a graphical indication of the traffic conditions along the route, and a visual representation of the announcer. The traffic data services provider transmits the audio-video file of the personalized traffic report to the user, who then plays it back on a computing device. |
| US08185295B2 |
Multi-cylinder engine
A multi-cylinder engine is configured to be able to perform a selected cylinder operation in which combustion is stopped in some cylinders. The multi-cylinder engine includes an ignition-timing adjustment section. This ignition-timing adjustment section retards ignition timing of each operating cylinder when the number of operating cylinders is small or when the engine operates in a selected cylinder operation mode in which explosion occurs at irregular intervals. In such a case, the peak of cylinder internal pressure is lowered by ignition timing retard. Thus, vibration and noise can be suppressed effectively. |
| US08185293B2 |
Fuel composition recognition and adaptation system
A method of operating an internal combustion engine. The method including monitoring a pressure in a combustion chamber of the engine during a compression stroke, determining whether a fuel composition has changed from a first composition to a second composition based at least in part on the monitored pressure, and triggering a fuel composition adaptation in response to a determination that the fuel composition has changed. |
| US08185292B2 |
Method for estimation of at least one engine parameter
A system comprising determination of tuning parameters enabling optimal estimation of unmeasured engine outputs, e.g., thrust. The level of degradation of engine performance is generally described by unmeasurable health parameters related to each major engine component. Accurate thrust reconstruction depends upon knowledge of these health parameters, but there are usually too few sensors to estimate their values. A set of tuning parameters is determined which accounts for degradation by representing the overall effect of the larger set of health parameters as closely as possible in a least squares sense. The method utilizes the singular value decomposition of a matrix to generate a tuning parameter vector of low enough dimension that it can be estimated by a Kalman filter. Generation of a tuning vector specifically takes into account the variables of interest. The tuning parameters facilitate matching of both measured and unmeasured engine outputs, as well as state variables. |
| US08185283B2 |
Output torque calculating apparatus and calculating method
First target torque of an engine is set based on a driver's operation, a vehicle behavior, and a request for shifting gears of an automatic transmission. The engine is controlled such that the difference between the first target torque and the actual output torque of the engine is reduced. Detection torque is calculated from an operation state of the engine. In consideration of dead time in control of the engine, calculation torque is calculated from the first target torque. In addition, first lookahead torque with the dead time in the engine being removed is calculated by feedback-correcting the first target torque according to an error e between the detection torque and the calculation torque. |
| US08185280B2 |
Method and apparatus for shifting gears in transmissions
A method of changing from a first gear position to a second gear position of a transmission arrangement is disclosed. The arrangement includes a rotatable transmission member, a hydrostatic continuously variable transmission coupled to the transmission member and operable to rotate the transmission member at a first speed, a controller configured to control operation of the hydrostatic continuously variable transmission, and a gear apparatus coupled to the transmission member and configured to be shiftable between at least the first gear position and the second gear position. The method includes controlling the hydrostatic continuously variable transmission, using the controller, to rotate the transmission member at the first speed, and shifting the gear apparatus from the first gear position to the second gear position while the transmission member is rotating at, or converging with, the first speed. |
| US08185279B2 |
Control system for traction transmission and hydraulic motor used therein
A control system (100) for traction transmission has at least two multi capacity motors (M1, M2), which are adapted to rotate a vehicle's wheels (J1, J2) and which multi capacity motor (M1) is arranged to rotate a traction wheel (J2), and the multi capacity motor (M2) is arranged to rotate another traction wheel (J1), whereby motor parts (M1a and M2a) of partial rotational volumes of the multi capacity motors (M1, M2) can be connected in series, whereby the anti-slip is on. |
| US08185278B2 |
Methods and systems for controlling the engine speed of agricultural vehicles
An engine speed control system for an agricultural vehicle includes a variable throttle controller, a mode selector, and a control device. The variable throttle control permits an operator to select a variably adjustable engine speed and the mode selector permits the operator to select between a plurality of pre-set engine speeds. The control device receives output signals from the throttle controller, generates engine speed commands, and delivers the commands to an engine controller for controlling the speed of the agricultural vehicle's engine. The control device is operable to generate a first engine speed command associated with one of the pre-set engine speeds when an operator activates the mode selector and to temporarily or permanently override the first engine speed command with a second engine speed command associated with the throttle controller when the operator activates the throttle controller. |
| US08185277B2 |
Waste removing and hauling vehicle
A vehicle for removing and hauling waste has a waste bin located above a baseline. The waste bin has a chamber and an emptying site for receiving waste into the chamber. A waste receptacle transfer means is driven from a first position associated with the baseline to a second position associated with the emptying site of the waste bin and back to the first position. A waste receptacle is temporarily retainable to the waste receptacle transfer means and transferrable by the waste receptacle transfer means from the first position to the second position to spill contents of the waste receptacle into the waste bin at the emptying site and back to the first position. A first receiver is associated with the first position for receiving a signal generated by the waste receptacle at a first moment in time when the waste receptacle transfer means is in the first position and at a second moment in time when the waste receptacle transfer means has returned to the first position from second position. |
| US08185274B2 |
Environment customization with extensible environment-settings data
Environment customization includes downloading extensible environment-settings data from a data-storage device and adjusting one or more environmental parameters defined by the extensible environment-settings data. The extensible environment-settings data is amended to include previously undefined settings, and the amended extensible environment-settings data is uploaded to the data-storage device. |
| US08185272B2 |
Method and device for activating a personal protection arrangement in the event of a rollover
A method and a device for activating a personal protection arrangement in the event of a rollover are provided, according to which, initially, at least one first driving dynamic variable is ascertained and then, based on this first driving dynamic variable, a second driving dynamic variable is determined, in order to activate the personal protection arrangement as a function of these two driving dynamic variables. |
| US08185270B2 |
Vehicle steering device
A vehicle steering device (1) has a steering actuator (14) for steerable wheels (5) to be steered according to operation of a steering member (2), a transmission mechanism (18) including cables (22, 23), a connection mechanism (19) for allowing and interrupting mechanical connection between the steering member (2) and the wheels (5), and control unit (9). When the steering actuator (14) is normal, the control unit (9) causes the connection mechanism (19) to release mechanical connection between the steering member (2) and the wheels (5) and drives and controls the steering actuator (14) according to operation of the steering member (2). The control unit (9) includes a fail detecting section (29) for detecting, when the steering actuator (14) is normal, a fail of the transmission mechanism (18) based on a load on the steering actuator (14). |
| US08185269B2 |
Active suspension system for a vehicle and method of operating the same
An active suspension system and method for controlling the height of a vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, the active suspension system receives information from one or more input sources, including both internal and external vehicle inputs, and uses that information to actively control the vehicle height. By doing so, the active suspension system can reduce aerodynamic drag on the vehicle and improve the vehicle's fuel economy, ride comfort, handling, and other aspects of operation. Some examples of external vehicle inputs that may be used include: short-range road and vehicle information, as well as long-range traffic, road and route information. |
| US08185268B2 |
User interface for a vehicle installed communication device
A radio communication device (100) for use in a public safety vehicle is provided with a user interface that combines tactile landmarks in the form of global tactile landmarks and local tactile landmarks along with affordances to orient a user's hand and fingers in conjunction with a sequential task flow interface) for mission critical tasks. Communication device (100) comprises a housing (102) having mission critical controls (116) comprising a pursuit dial (122) mounted on a circular platform (206) with siren controls (124) and light controls (126) grouped on either side of the platform. The mission critical controls (116) are laid out in a manner that provides a sequential user flow across escalating urgency. Ridges (208, 210), chamfered edges (402, 404) and edge reliefs (502) provide further affordances so that a user can intuitively position hand and fingers to locate various controls without having to visually focus on the communication device, thus allowing the user to focus on the current mission. |
| US08185265B2 |
Path planning device, path planning method, and computer program
A path planning device includes: an initial position and posture path acquiring unit which acquires an initial position and posture path including a plurality of nodes connecting present position and posture of a control target to target position and posture and which configures a rigid body corresponding to the control target in each node in the position and posture path; an interference detector which detects interference with the control target by an obstruction; an external force calculator which calculates an external force for each rigid body; and a multi rigid body system dynamics simulation unit which performs a multi rigid body system dynamics simulation on a plurality of equations of rigid body motion and which acquires positions and postures of the control target at times corresponding to the nodes in the position and posture path. |
| US08185264B2 |
Component vehicle
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for determining whether first and second components of a vehicle are physically coupled together, the method comprising: transmitting a first signal from the first component of the vehicle; receiving a second signal from the second component of the vehicle; processing the second signal to determine whether the first and second components of the vehicle are coupled. |
| US08185258B2 |
Automatic strategic offset function
A system may generate a modified flight plan for an aircraft based on an original flight plan. The system may provide an automatic strategic offset function that includes an autoflight system; a sensor system including at least one of a global positioning system, an inertial reference unit, or an air data computer; and a flight management computer. The flight management computer may be operably coupled with the autoflight system and/or the sensor system. The flight management computer may process a flight plan of the vehicle and generate a non-uniform offset value in the vertical and/or lateral orientation between the flight plan and a boundary. The offset value may be used to create an offset flight plan for navigating an aircraft. |
| US08185257B2 |
Automated system with deterministic response times
The invention relates to an automated system, for example an aircraft flight management system (FMS). If proposes harmonizing the response times of the FMS system between the various scenarios of one and the same family, as and when the product, and its usage context, changes.The system according to the invention comprises several subsystems, the external instruction processing time of which is variable, its response time to one and the same command being independent of the volume of internal and external data manipulated and of the future functional changes, and it is characterized in that it comprises, in each of its subsystems that have variable processing times and/or are likely to change (FPLN, NavDB, TRAJ/PRED, etc.), an explicit resource consuming subsystem (SPARE) simulating a processing time, the duration of which is at least equal to the difference between the maximum processing duration predictable at the end of life of the subsystem that incorporates it and the current processing duration, and a timer subsystem (TIMER) triggered by a processing instruction for which the timer duration is at least equal to the current processing time of said instruction plus the time determined by the explicit resource consuming subsystem. |
| US08185256B2 |
Threat prioritization using engagement timeline
A method for prioritizing threats to an aircraft is disclosed. The method can include providing threat attribute information including a threat engagement timeline and a threat lethality metric and obtaining a threat track indication that indicates a threat is tracking the aircraft. The method can also include determining a historical position estimate of the aircraft at which the threat track began, a time estimate at which the threat track began and determining a period of time during which the threat track has been possible. The method can also include determining a time to engagement based on the threat attribute information and the time period and calculating a priority value for the threat based on the time to engagement and the threat lethality metric. The method can include outputting a prioritized threat list including the priority value calculated for the threat. |
| US08185254B2 |
Method and system for updating navigation information
A method and system for updating navigation information are disclosed. The method includes the steps of connecting to a navigation information update system, determining if at least one navigation information update is available from the navigation information update system, if the at least one navigation information update is available from the navigation information update system, determining if an intended recipient of the at least one navigation information update is available or unavailable for an update. If the intended recipient of the at least one navigation information update is determined to be unavailable for an update, the method downloads the at least one navigation information update to a navigation information cache onboard the intended recipient or a processing unit not onboard the intended recipient, and if the intended recipient of the at least one navigation information update is determined to be available for the update, the method downloads the at least one navigation information update to the navigation information cache onboard the intended recipient, and installs the at least one navigation information update in a navigation information system onboard the intended recipient. |
| US08185251B2 |
Start/stop operation for a container generator set
A generator set including a prime mover, a generator coupled to the prime mover, and a controller that is associated with a temperature controlled space and operates the generator set in one of a start/stop mode and a continuous mode depending on a demand defined at least in part by contents within the temperature controlled space. |
| US08185248B2 |
Wireless extension to an irrigation control system and related methods
Several embodiments provide wireless extensions to an irrigation controller system and related methods of use, as well as other improvements to irrigation control equipment. In one implementation, an irrigation control system includes a transmitter unit including a controller and having a connector to be coupled to an irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors. The controller is configured to receive an indication that the irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station, and is also configured to cause the transmitter unit to transmit a wireless activation signal responsive to the indication. A receiver unit is coupled to an actuator coupled to an actuatable device, such as an irrigation valve, the actuator configured to actuate the irrigation valve to control the flow of water therethrough. The receiver unit receives the wireless activation signal and in response, causes the actuator to actuate the actuatable device. |
| US08185246B2 |
Air-conditioning control algorithm employing air and fluid inputs
Sensing, actuation of apparatus, and a control algorithm for use in automatically controlling an air-conditioning system by sensing multiple conditions and responding by actuating the mechanical components of the air-conditioning system to optimize the temperature of the coolant fluid, provide improved zone temperature control, provide status of system components, and provide an alert if there is overheating of a supply side system mechanical component. |
| US08185245B2 |
HVAC control with utility time of day pricing support
The present disclosure provides a method for operating a utility-powered HVAC system for conditioning inside air of a building. In an illustrative but non-limiting example, a nominal schedule is maintained by a local HVAC controller, where the nominal schedule has a number of days and one or more time periods for each of at least some of the days. The nominal schedule also has at least one setpoint associated with each of the time periods. The local HVAC controller is configured to accept manual input from a user via a user interface. The manual input may include accepting entry of a utility pricing schedule that corresponds to scheduled price changes of a utility. The utility pricing schedule may include at least one enhanced pricing time period. Entry of at least one utility price level setpoint offset may also be accepted to correspond to each of the enhanced pricing time periods. The nominal schedule may then be modified or overridden to include the utility pricing schedule, resulting in a utility pricing operating schedule. One or more HVAC units may then be controlled by the local HVAC controller in accordance with the utility pricing operating schedule. |
| US08185243B2 |
Robot, control device for robot arm and control program for robot arm
A robot arm, which is driven by an elastic body actuator and has a plurality of joints, is provided with an arm-end supporting member that supports the robot arm when made in contact with a supporting surface that is placed on an arm-end portion of the robot arm and a control unit that controls a force by which the arm-end supporting member and the supporting surface are made in contact with each other, and further controls a position and orientation of the arm-end portion of the robot arm. |
| US08185242B2 |
Dynamic alignment of wafers using compensation values obtained through a series of wafer movements
Methods and systems to optimize wafer placement repeatability in semiconductor manufacturing equipment using a controlled series of wafer movements are provided. In one embodiment, a preliminary station calibration is performed to teach a robot position for each station interfaced to facets of a vacuum transfer module used in semiconductor manufacturing. The method also calibrates the system to obtain compensation parameters that take into account the station where the wafer is to be placed, position of sensors in each facet, and offsets derived from performing extend and retract operations of a robot arm. In another embodiment where the robot includes two arms, the method calibrates the system to compensate for differences derived from using one arm or the other. During manufacturing, the wafers are placed in the different stations using the compensation parameters. |
| US08185240B2 |
Automated apparatus for constructing assemblies of building components
A device for constructing an assembly of building components includes an articulating arm unit and a gripper/nailer mounted on an end of the articulating arm unit. The gripper/nailer includes a gripping unit for grasping building components and positioning them in a predetermined arrangement and a nailing unit for inserting a fastener to secure the building components together. |
| US08185239B2 |
Moving route planning method and navigation method for avoiding dynamic hindrances for mobile robot device
The present invention disclosed a moving route planning method for mobile robot device, which provides the moving route on a physical site for the mobile robot device. The method includes a first and a second steps; in which, the first step is to generate a relative mesh grid diagram based on a physical site, and the mesh grid map comprises a plurality of map grids containing hindrance parameter values, wherein the hindrance parameter values for each map grid are determined by the locations of hindrances within the physical site at relative locations; and, the second step is to continuously expand the map grid from the start point and the target point toward the neighbored map grids until the expanded map grids meet with each other, and to define each map grid in the expansion traces for meeting with each other as the moving route. |
| US08185238B2 |
System for carrying out automatic drilling / riveting process in aeronautical assembly pieces
A system of automatic drilling/riveting of pieces for aeronautical assembly, includes a robot governed by a numerical control device containing drilling/riveting information. A module allows for introduction of data by the operator. A piece checking module detects a piece starting from the data input by the operator. A converter module receives from the numerical control device the information input by the operator and information on the detected piece along with the drilling/riveting to be done and converts that information into information that can be read by a governing and graphic representation module, which transforms the information into geometric information to permit graphic representation on a screen. |
| US08185233B2 |
Numerical controller having multi-path control function
Programs of a plurality of paths are displayed in parallel on a display screen. If a cursor of an editing target program is moved, cursors of the other programs are interlocked and moved so as to be aligned on a same row. If a sequence number that is set to any of blocks at a cursor position is a synchronization target sequence number, the movement of the cursor is stopped. If a cursor is operated further, a program of a path which does not have a block having the synchronization target sequence number at a cursor position is scrolled until a block having the synchronization target sequence number reaches a cursor position, then stops. As a result, synchronization target blocks in each path are positioned on a same row. |
| US08185232B2 |
Learning method of rolling load prediction for hot rolling
The present invention provides a learning method of rolling load prediction which uses a prediction error of a rolling load at an actual pass of a stock in hot rolling to correct a predicted value of rolling load at a subsequent rolling pass. The method comprises changing a gain for multiplying with the prediction error of the rolling load at the actual pass in accordance with a thickness of the stock to thereby set the learning coefficient of the rolling load prediction and improve the precision of the prediction. |
| US08185231B2 |
Reconfigurable garment definition and production method
Computer-aided design and manufacture software and hardware automate garment and fashion definition and production. Configurable garment includes ornamental element, pattern display, and personal identifier and wireless sensor electronics. |
| US08185230B2 |
Method and apparatus for predicting device electrical parameters during fabrication
A method includes providing a set of initial characteristic values associated with the semiconductor device. A first fabrication process is performed on the semiconductor device. Fabrication data associated with the first fabrication process is collected. At least one of the initial characteristic values is replaced with the fabrication data collected for the first fabrication process to generate a first modified set of characteristic values. A first value for at least one electrical characteristic of the semiconductor device is predicted based on the modified set of characteristic values. A system includes a first process tool, a first data collection unit, and a prediction unit. The first process tool is configured to perform a first fabrication process on the semiconductor device. The first data collection unit is configured to collect fabrication data associated with the first fabrication process. The prediction unit is configured to provide a set of initial characteristic values associated with the semiconductor device, replace at least one of the initial characteristic values with the fabrication data collected for the first fabrication process to generate a first modified set of characteristic values, and predict a first value for at least one electrical characteristic of the semiconductor device based on the modified set of characteristic values. |
| US08185229B2 |
Apparatus and methods for handling materials in a 3-D printer
A method of controlling the flow of unbound powder in a build chamber. A build surface for receiving the powder is provided, with the build surface including a first plate defining holes and a second plate defining a plurality of openings spaced apart and offset from the plurality of holes in the first plate. The second plate is disposed below and spaced from the first plate. A vacuum source is provided below the build surface. |
| US08185225B2 |
Program creation apparatus, numerical control apparatus, program creation method
An NC programming assisting apparatus that creates an NC machining program reflecting dimensional tolerance data on shape data of a machining subject includes a machining target dimension calculation unit that calculates machining target dimensions of the machining subject based on the shape data and the dimensional tolerance data; a shape data deform processing unit that sets post-movement positions of graphic elements based on positional movement information about how to move the graphic elements, the machining target dimension, and the shape data so that a dimension between graphic elements included in the shape data conforms to the corresponding machining target dimension; and an NC machining program generation processing unit that creates an NC machining program by using the shape data and the post-movement position of each graphic element. |
| US08185213B2 |
Delivery of cardiac stimulation devices
Some embodiments of an electrical stimulation system employ wireless electrode assemblies to provide pacing therapy, defibrillation therapy, or other stimulation therapy. In certain embodiments, the wireless electrode assemblies may include a guide wire channel so that each electrode assembly can be advanced over a guide wire instrument through the endocardium. For example, a distal tip portion of a guide wire instrument can penetrate through the endocardium and into the myocardial wall of a heart chamber, and the electrode assembly may then be advanced over the guide wire and into the heart chamber wall. In such circumstances, the guide wire instrument (and other portions of the delivery system) can be retracted from the heart chamber wall, thereby leaving the electrode assembly embedded in the heart tissue. |
| US08185212B2 |
Chair pad charging and communication system for a battery-powered microstimulator
A system and method are provided for both recharging and communicating with a stimulator having a rechargeable battery, which stimulator is implanted deeply in the body, in particular where the stimulator is a microstimulator, the system includes a base station and an external device, for instance a chair pad. The chair pad may contain an antenna/charging coil and a booster coil. The antenna/charging coil can be used for charging the rechargeable battery and also for communicating with the stimulator using frequency shift keying and on-off keying. The booster coil can be used to recharge a battery depleted to zero volts. The base station connected to the chair pad may be used to power the antenna/charging coil and the booster coil. |
| US08185209B2 |
Methods to extend vision to infrared wavelengths
In a method for visualizing an object under conditions of low ambient light, the object to be visualized is exposed to incident electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength greater than what can normally be seen by the naked eye. Light reflected from the object is then perceived with an enhanced eye. The enhanced eye contains an up-conversion material optically coupled to the photoreceptors. Up-conversion materials absorb in the infrared and luminesce in the visible. Particles containing such materials are delivered to the eye where they are optically coupled to the retina or photoreceptor cells and nearby tissues. There they provide in-situ up-conversion of infrared frequencies (from about 700 to about 11,000 nm) to the otherwise unaided eye. |
| US08185206B2 |
Electrical stimulation therapy to promote gastric distention for obesity management
The disclosure is directed to techniques for delivering electrical stimulation therapy to support obesity management. The electrical stimulation therapy is configured to cause at least partial gastric distention. Gastric distention tends to induce a sensation of fullness and thereby discourages excessive food intake by the patient. The electrical stimulation therapy may be delivered to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient by electrodes deployed by one or more implantable leads coupled to an electrical stimulator. The electrical stimulator delivers stimulation pulses having a pulse width in a range found to be effective in causing gastric distention. |
| US08185203B2 |
Vector configuration detection and corrective response systems and methods
In one aspect a system includes an external communication device configured to interrogate a pulse generator, an external programmer device communicatively coupled to the external communication device; the external programmer device configured to receive a listing of valid electrode pairs from the pulse generator through the external communication device, the external programmer device configured to prevent a pacing, sensing, or shocking vector from being programmed by the user if a pair of electrodes needed for the vector are not included within the listing of valid electrode pairs. In another aspect a system includes an implantable medical device configured to detect the presence or absence of electrodes on an implanted stimulation lead coupled to the implantable medical device and to generate a valid electrode pair listing, the implantable medical device configured to compare the programmed electrode pairs with the valid electrode pair listing and to execute a corrective action procedure if one or more of the programmed electrode pairs are not included within the valid electrode pair listing. Other embodiments are also included herein. |
| US08185199B2 |
Monitoring physiological signals during external electrical stimulation
Electrodes and circuitry for monitoring and stimulating the exterior of the human body, comprising delivering stimulation pulses to stimulation electrodes applied to the exterior of the body, detecting an electrical potential at monitoring electrodes applied to the exterior of the body, positioning at least a first and second monitoring electrode at locations at which an electrical artifact caused by the electrical stimulation pulses is substantially cancelled in a signal formed from the electrical potentials detected at the first and second monitoring electrodes. |
| US08185192B2 |
Correcting for distortion in a tracking system
A volume of a patient can be mapped with a system operable to identify a plurality of locations and save a plurality of locations of a mapping instrument. The mapping instrument can include one or more electrodes that can sense a voltage that can be correlated to a three dimensional location of the electrode at the time of the sensing or measurement. Therefore, a map of a volume can be determined based upon the sensing of the plurality of points without the use of other imaging devices. An implantable medical device can then be navigated relative to the mapping data. |
| US08185181B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting false hypoglycemic conditions
Embodiments of the present disclosure include detecting a concurrent occurrence of a decrease in monitored analyte level and a corresponding decrease in monitored on-skin temperature, confirming a presence of an impending hypoglycemic condition, and asserting a notification corresponding to the confirmed impending hypoglycemic condition. Devices, methods, systems and kits incorporating the same are also provided. |
| US08185180B2 |
Method and apparatus for demodulating signals in a pulse oximetry system
A method and an apparatus measure blood oxygenation in a subject. A light source is activated to cause a first emission at a first wavelength and a second emission at a second wavelength. A detector detects a composite signal indicative of an attenuation of the first and second wavelengths by tissue of a patient. The composite signal is demodulated into a first intensity signal and a second intensity signal. Blood oxygenation in the subject is determined from the first and second intensity signals. In one embodiment, demodulation is based at least in part on a period when at least one of the wavelengths is not activated. In one embodiment, a modulation of the first and second wavelengths is determined in order to avoid frequencies of ambient noise. In one embodiment, the composite signal's sampling rate is reduced before and/or after demodulation. |
| US08185176B2 |
Method and apparatus for vasculature visualization with applications in neurosurgery and neurology
The invention provides methods and systems for neurovascular imaging (150). |
| US08185173B2 |
Sliding type mobile terminal
A mobile terminal having a first body, a second body slidably attached to the first body, and means for connecting the first body to the second body and allowing the second body to be moved between a closed position and an open position such that an overall thickness of the mobile terminal in the open position is thinner than an overall thickness of the mobile terminal in the closed position. The means includes a slide mechanism having at least one rail mechanism attached to the first body; and at least one slider mechanism attached to the second body and slidably engaged with the at least one rail mechanism. |
| US08185171B2 |
Swing type cover opening and closing device for mobile phone
A swing-type cover opening and closing device for a mobile phone according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes: i) a main body case that is disposed in a main body of the mobile phone and has a through-hole formed at one side thereof; ii) a cover case that is disposed in a cover of the mobile phone, has a hollow shaft penetrating the through-hole integrally projecting thereon, and is pivotably mounted on the main body case; and iii) an elastic unit of which both ends are pivotably joined to the main body case and the cover case, respectively, to provide elastic force to the cover case by rotation of the cover case, wherein the elastic unit includes a housing that is pivotably connected to the main body case through a first hinge pin, a slide member that is joined to the inside of the housing to be slidable and lockable, and is connected to the cover case through a second hinge pin, and a plurality of spring members that are installed in the housing and apply elastic force to the slide member. |
| US08185169B2 |
Rotarily configurable handheld communication device
Handheld electronic communication device rotarily transitionable between compact and expanded configurations. The device includes an elongate display panel positioned adjacent and in parallel orientation with an elongate keyboard panel in the compact configuration. The display panel and keyboard panel are coupled together by a rotary connection that interconnects with the keyboard panel in an upper quadrant area of a front face thereof at a distance from a vertical centerline of the keyboard panel. The interconnection enables relative rotation between the panels and maintains the panels parallel to one another through out rotational transition between the compact and expanded configurations. The elongate display panel includes a display screen having a greater length than width and a lengthwise oriented centerline, the lengthwise oriented centerline being horizontally oriented when the device is configured in the expanded configuration. |
| US08185167B2 |
Boss reinforcing apparatus in portable communication device
Disclosed is a boss reinforcing apparatus of a portable communication device including a press member, the boss reinforcing apparatus including at least one reinforcing part assembled with a boss that is formed on a case of the portable communication device when the case is insert-injection-molded onto the press member, to reinforce the boss and prevent a screw assembling part formed on the boss from separating from the boss. |
| US08185160B1 |
Techniques for providing efficient transmit diversity and bandwidth segmentation in a wireless communication system
Wireless communication techniques for cellular deployment of wireless communication systems with transmitters in each cell to have partially overlapped transmission patterns between two adjacent transmitters. Implementations of the described techniques can provide transmit diversity with intentional partial beam pattern overlays to improve cell sectorization or frequency re-use factor, at the same time, reduce intra-cell and inter-cell interference. Various modulations may be used in the described systems, including FDMA, TDMA, and OFDMA modulation schemes. |
| US08185156B2 |
Method of and apparatus for interfacing and connecting a wireless device and a wireless network using a subscriber identity module having plural IMSI associates with different network operators
A wireless device includes a single SIM, plus an application module adapted to enable the device to operate as though it included two or more different SIMs. The module, referred to as a ‘proprietary applications module’ (PAM) is connected to, or built into, a wireless device (WD). The PAM is capable of switching all incoming traffic by associating the WD to one specific subscriber identity sub-module, referred to as “Local SIM” (LS). It can also switch or re-route all outgoing traffic by associating the same WD with a different subscriber identity sub-module, typically a “Roaming SIM” (RS). In a preferred embodiment, the PAM, RS and LS are built-into a single SIM for use in a WD; alternatively the PAM is built-into a WD and the RS and LS are built-into the single SIM. |
| US08185155B2 |
Smart interface system for mobile communications devices
A universal smart interface and peripheral management system for portable devices such as mobile phones. The smart system includes a connector interface that connects peripherals to a phone and/or personal digital assistant (PDA), through the smart system. The smart system includes a cradle for receiving a cell phone and interfacing the phone to external systems such as peripherals, networks and other systems through a USB hub and other suitable connector interfaces. The peripheral devices to which the smart system can interface include, but are not limited to, large displays (e.g., television), external monitors, input devices such as mice and keyboards, external storage devices, and networks (wired and/or wireless). The smart system also facilitates connectivity to large display systems such as TVs, computer displays and monitors. |
| US08185153B1 |
Apparatus and method for a web programmable telephone
A web programmable telephone and a method for operating a web programmable telephone are disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, a voice module of a wireless household telephone is controlled by an internal web module that can retrieve and execute data operations from a remote portal or server thus adding data functionality to the conventional functions of a telephone. The programmable web module controls all functionality of the web programmable telephone so that every function of the telephone can be programmed and customized by a user. |
| US08185142B2 |
Dispatch application utilizing short message service
A dispatch communication and management system method is provided, allowing a dispatcher and remote service technicians to exchange messages over a network in a prescribed format to notify the technicians of new dispatch orders, and to update status information for dispatch orders in corresponding customer service records in a database. |
| US08185140B2 |
Methods and apparatus for supporting short burst messages over wireless communication networks
In accordance with a method for supporting short burst messages over a wireless communication network, mobile-originated short burst messages may be sent using at least one of a message-based approach and a service flow-based approach. Also, mobile-terminated short burst messages may be received using at least one of the message-based approach and the service flow-based approach. |
| US08185139B1 |
Presenting mobile-device message information on a television
A system and associated methods and media are disclosed for delivering to a user of a display device a notification of an incoming message and a series of interactive options such that the user can provide message-handling instructions to a wireless communications network for the incoming message. The notification and interactive options are transferred to a display device across at least a partially wired network. The message can be text-based or voice-based and can be inserted into a video stream that is communicated from the video-providing component to a media-receiving device that is in communication with the display device. The video-providing component receives message-handling instructions from the media-receiving device, as selected by the user, regarding the incoming message and then transmits the message-handling instructions to the wireless communications network. |
| US08185136B2 |
Mobile communication device capable of functioning in transmitter disabling state
A mobile communication device, such as a cellular phone, for example, is capable of functioning in a transmitter disabling mode and is set to the transmitter disabling mode in automatic response to a power-on operation and then automatically changed to a transmitter enabling mode provided that a predetermined condition is confirmed. The communication device is instantly set to the transmitter disabling mode in automatic response to the initiation of use of an earphone or camera function and kept in the transmitter disabling mode even if the earphone or camera function enters an out of use condition. Surrounding people are informed of the transmitter disabling mode without fail by a standardized appearance of the earphone or a standardized blinking of a flash unit of the camera function. |
| US08185133B2 |
Mobile location and map acquisition
Providing a map and/or directions to a visitor to a facility may include and/or involve a wireless communication device signaling its presence at a location in a facility, and communicating to the wireless communication device a map of the facility indicating the location. This may include and/or involve communicating to the wireless device directions to and/or from the location to a destination within the facility. |
| US08185129B2 |
System and method of passive and active scanning of WLAN-enabled access points to estimate position of a WLAN positioning device
Systems and methods of passive and active scanning of WLAN-enabled access points to estimate position of a WLAN positioning device. A device estimates the position of itself. The device includes a WLAN radio module for receiving WLAN signals, extraction logic for extracting information from said received WLAN signals to identify the WLAN APs, and logic to cooperate with a WLAN-based positioning system. The WLAN radio module includes a phase for active scanning of WLAN APs in range of said device and a phase of passive scanning of WLAN APs in range of said device, and the passive scanning phase scans only a pre-determined and selected subset of WLAN channels. Under certain embodiments, the WLAN radio module includes a passive scanning phase that simultaneously scans multiple WLAN channels. |
| US08185122B2 |
Method for creating a cellular telephone infrastructure
The Demographic Index (DI) was created for wireless communication network design, however has relevance in other marketing based applications. The DI combines a series of demographic census records into a single weighted index value that can be used to evaluate geographic importance in designing a wireless network. |
| US08185119B2 |
Method and system for extended network access notification via a broadband access gateway
A system and method supporting extended network access notification via a broadband access gateway is disclosed. A representative embodiment of the present invention may comprise a wireless interface and may be capable of exchanging multimedia communication between the wireless interface and a broadband network. The gateway may support multimedia communication via access devices that may seamlessly hand off from a wireless wide area network to a personal area network supported by the wireless interface. The hand off may be coordinated by the gateway and the wireless wide area network via the broadband network. A user of an access device may be notified when such a hand off has been automatically initiated, and a user may configure aspects of such hand offs. |
| US08185116B2 |
Methods and system for handling proximity indication and detection in a wireless communication system
A method and system to configure proximity detection and reporting in a wireless device during a transition of the wireless device from one cell state to another cell state in a third generation (3G) wireless communication system. In a first cell state, the wireless device is configured for proximity indication. The wireless device is transitioned from using the first cell state to using a second cell state. Upon the transition from the first cell state, the wireless device receives information from a base transceiver to reconfigure the proximity indication configuration based on the second cell state. The reconfiguration allows the mobile device to retain the existing proximity indication configuration, remove the proximity indication configuration, or stop reporting proximity indication. Additionally, the base transceiver also adjusts proximity configuration stored at the base station based on the second cell state. |
| US08185114B2 |
System and method for optimizing handover in mobile communication system
Disclosed are a system and a method for optimizing a handover process in a mobile broadband wireless access system. The method performs handover in a mobile communication system including a mobile subscriber station, a serving base station currently providing service to the mobile subscriber station, and at least one neighbor base stations adjacent to the serving base station. The method includes the steps of receiving a handover request from the mobile subscriber station by the serving base station; instructing the mobile subscriber station to perform handover by the serving base station in response to the handover request from the mobile subscriber station and performing by the mobile subscriber station a network reentry process for fast handover in accordance with information included in a handover instruction from the serving base station. |
| US08185113B2 |
Handover apparatus and handover method in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for performing handover of a terminal in a wireless communication system, the method including obtaining information on neighboring networks from a media independent handover (MIH) server by using a MIH layer if a state of a link connected to a serving network is changed; transmitting a handover initiation request message to the MIH layer of the serving network through the MIH layer; checking handover support information and tunnel state information of the neighboring networks which are received from the MIH layer of the serving network; determining a target network to which handover is performed and performing layer-2 (L2) handover with the target network, by using the handover support information; and performing layer-3 (L3) handover with the target network by using the tunnel state information. |
| US08185108B2 |
Multi-mode communication system and method thereof
The present invention relates to a multi-mode communication system and a method thereof. The multi-mode communication system uses a first mode among a plurality communication modes for accessing a first mobility control entity (MCE) among a plurality of MCEs, and communicates data with the first MCE. The multi-mode communication system receives a paging request that has been transmitted from a multi-mode control entity (MMCE) for accessing a second MCE from the first MCE and analyzes the paging request, and puts the first mode into a sleep mode and a second mode for accessing the second MCE into an awake mode based on the analysis. Subsequently, multi-mode UE accesses the second MCE by using the second mode in the awake mode. According to the present invention, an MMCE for multi-mode control is provided to integrate and manage an idle state for each access mode of multi-mode user equipment, thereby minimizing power consumption due to access of the multi-mode UE to a radio access system. In addition, a change of the access of the multi-mode UE to the radio access system due to a paging request can be efficiently performed. |
| US08185107B2 |
IP address allocation in evolved wireless networks
A networking system includes a first wireless network module that transmits a request to attach to a network and a second wireless network module. The second wireless network module receives the request, determines whether the first wireless network module requires an IP address based on the request, and selectively allocates an IP address to the first wireless network module based on the determination. |
| US08185106B2 |
Method of accessing base station by subscriber station under the condition of multiple base stations
A method of accessing base station (BS) by subscriber station (SS) includes: after scanning signals of certain BS, SS starts ranging procedure and sends ranging request to the BS; the BS checks whether the SS belongs to the BS, if not belonging to the BS, then sends terminating ranging response to the SS; the SS interrupts the ranging procedure with the BS after receiving the terminating ranging response, and re-selects a new channel for ranging until accessing a proper BS. The above method overcomes the fault that SS may be not access a network and also may be not exit from other network under the condition of requiring SS to access fixed BS in the prior art, and solves access problem when SS is located in the area overlapping among more than two base stations. |
| US08185105B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for using IMS communication service identifier
A method, system and apparatus for using an IMS communication service identifier is provided. The method includes getting, by an HSS, arrival of information related to a user subscribed IMS communication service identifier, and sending information of a user subscribed IMS communication service identifier to a SID-requiring network entity according to the information related to the user subscribed IMS communication service. |
| US08185093B2 |
Methods for handling an apparatus terminated communication request and communication apparatuses utilizing the same
A communication apparatus is provided. A first subscriber identity card is with a first address and camps on a first cell. A second subscriber identity card is with a second address and camps on a second cell. A processor determines whether a first communication status of the first subscriber identity card reaches a first limitation, determines whether a second communication status of the second subscriber identity card reaches a second limitation, and determines whether to activate a service instructing the first wireless network to transfer a first apparatus terminated communication request of the first subscriber identity card to the second subscriber identity card according to determination results for the first communication status and the second communication status, wherein the first apparatus terminated communication request is initiated from a peer communication entity to request for establishing wireless communication with the first subscriber identity card. |
| US08185091B2 |
Network access authentication and authorization method and an authorization key updating method
A network access authentication and authorization method includes the steps of: constructing an access and authorization request packet; constructing a certificate authentication request packet, constructing a certificate authentication response packet; constructing an access and authorization response packet; constructing an access and authorization acknowledgement packet. And an authorization key updating method includes the steps of: constructing an access and authorization request packet; constructing an access and authorization response packet; constructing an access and authorization acknowledgement packet. The invention resolves the security problem that a mobile terminal accesses a base station in the wideband wireless multimedia network, and realizes both bi-directional identity authentication of a mobile terminal and a base station and unidirectional identity authentication from a base station to a mobile terminal. The authorization key negotiation calculation is simple, and the key management is simply realized by using message acknowledgement manner. The invention is applied to the wired network and the wireless network, such as the wireless local area network, the wireless metropolitan area network, and the broadband wireless multimedia network etc. |
| US08185089B2 |
Communication system, storage medium having communication program stored thereon, and communication terminal
A WEP key is generated from predetermined binary data and stored in an access point. The binary data is converted into an SSID using a predetermined conversion algorithm. The access point transmits the SSID in a beacon. A mobile game apparatus receives the SSID and recovers the binary data from the SSID using the predetermined conversion algorithm. Using the same algorithm as used for generating the WEP key, a WEP key is generated from the recovered binary data. Encrypted communication is performed between the access point and the mobile game apparatus using the WEP key. |
| US08185088B2 |
Mobile device leasing with customized operational features
System(s), device(s), and method(s) are provided to supply a device that accesses and utilizes resources in a wireless network under a lease agreement. A system generates service unit bank(s) that enable service utilization and provides a customized operational profile that enables custom configuration of service in the device. The device can receive lessee-specific operational profile(s) and lease agreement term(s), and can regulate a lease agreement. If the lease agreement expires, the device can lock at least a portion of the functionality of the device and provide an environment to renew the lease agreement. If the device is not returned, the system pursues various asset protection mechanism(s), such as assessment of recovery fees and tracking location of the device. Returned device is commissioned for a new lease. Synchronization of lessee-specific operational profiles amongst device and the system, or network external thereto, can be accomplished through a femtocell network or a macrocell network. |
| US08185086B2 |
Method and emergency system for handling emergency calls from a communication terminal
After an emergency call from a communication terminal has been received by an emergency call center, the position of the communication terminal is determined by querying a database. An area around the position of the communication terminal is defined as danger area and other communication terminals located in the danger area are identified. Communication terminals of rescue workers in the danger area who are to be informed are then selected. Finally, emergency information is generated, which can, for example, contain information about escape routes for potentially imperiled persons or access route information for rescue workers. This emergency information is then communicated to each of the selected communication terminals of potentially imperiled persons and/or rescue workers. |
| US08185079B2 |
Frequency estimation immune to FM clicks
An apparatus for reducing audio clicks in frequency modulated radio system includes a receiver for receiving a frequency modulated (FM) signal, and a processor for demodulating the received signal and estimating a frequency error, wherein the processor is configured to determine phase variations of the received FM signal by comparing a phase of a first signal sample to a phase of a second signal sample, wherein the first signal sample and the second signal sample are separated in time by more than one sample. |
| US08185072B2 |
Method and apparatus for power reduction for interconnect links
A power reduction proposal for a receiver circuit that adheres to a plurality of defined states and masking logic to mask the output of the squelch receiver. Furthermore, the proposal utilizes and counters to count the various timeout conditions. Consequently, the squelch receiver consumes less power and can be either powered down or periodically enabled to allow for polling. |
| US08185070B2 |
Broadcast system and channel setting method using center and searching frequencies
A broadcast system and a channel setting method therein are provided. The broadcast system includes a channel searching unit for setting a center frequency for at least one broadcasting channel, and a searching frequency of n-th and (n+1)-th channels according to each center frequency, and storing channel information obtained from broadcast information received through the n-th or (n+1)-th channel when a broadcast signal is detected at the searching frequency. |
| US08185067B2 |
Modulation method and apparatus
A modulation circuit for use in a radiofrequency transmitter includes a local oscillator circuit configured to generate one or more local oscillator signals at a desired frequency and with a duty cycle at or about twenty-five percent, and a modulator configured to generate one or more modulated signals responsive to the one or more local oscillator signals and one or more baseband information signals. In at least one embodiment, the modulation circuit includes a modulator comprising a combined mixing and transconductance circuit that includes a transistor circuit for each baseband information signal serving as a modulation input to the modulator. Each transistor circuit comprises a first transistor driven by the baseband information signal and coupling a modulator output node to a corresponding transconductance element, and a second transistor driven by one of the one or more local oscillator signals and coupling the corresponding transconductance element to a signal ground node. |
| US08185064B2 |
Adaptive modulation control system and wireless communication apparatus
ObjectTo reduce deterioration of transmission quality under circumstances where the moving speed is high.Overcoming MeansAn adaptive modulation control apparatus for adaptively selecting a modulation parameter from among a plurality of modulation parameters determined based on a plurality of modulation schemes, coding rates of error correction or a combination thereof corresponding to a propagation path state is provided with a reception state measuring section (2) that measures a reception state of a signal received from a communicating apparatus, a correcting section (3) that makes a correction to change propagation path information indicative of a measurement result of the propagation path state based on the measured reception state, and a modulation parameter selecting section (4) that selects a modulation parameter corresponding to the corrected propagation path information. |
| US08185060B2 |
Serving base station selection using backhaul quality information
Techniques for selecting a serving base station for a terminal by taking into consideration the backhaul quality of candidate base stations are described. In one design, a base station may determine backhaul quality information indicative of its current backhaul quality. The base station may send the backhaul quality information, e.g., in an overhead message sent over the air to terminals or in a backhaul message sent to neighbor base stations or a network controller. A server selection entity may receive backhaul quality information for at least one candidate base station for the terminal. The server selection entity may also determine at least one metric for each candidate base station. The server selection entity may then select the serving base station for the terminal based on the backhaul quality information and the at least one metric for the at least one candidate base station. |
| US08185052B2 |
Communication system with microradios
A microradio is provided with a hysteretic switch to permit an optimum range increasing charging cycle, with the charging cycle being long relative to the transmit cycle. Secondly, an ensemble of microradios permits an n2 power enhancement to increase range with coherent operation. Various multi-frequency techniques are used both for parasitic powering and to isolate powering and transmit cycles. Applications for microradios and specifically for ensembles of microradios include authentication, tracking, fluid flow sensing, identification, terrain surveillance including crop health sensing and detection of improvised explosive devices, biohazard and containment breach detection, and biomedical applications including the use of microradios attached to molecular tags to destroy tagged cells when the microradios are activated. Microradio deployment includes the use of paints or other coatings containing microradios, greases and aerosols. Moreover, specialized antennas, including microcoils, mini dipoles, and staircase coiled structures are disclosed, with the use of nano-devices further reducing the size of the microradios. |
| US08185051B2 |
Ping feature for electronic devices
A pinging electronic device, a pingable electronic device and a network for the devices are disclosed. The ping electronic devices comprising a ping function and a transmitter wherein the ping function is adapted to generate and the transmitter is adapted to transmit over an ad hoc wireless network at least one associated ping control message to at least one pingable electronic device paired to the pinging electronic device for actuation of at least one indicator element of the at least one pingable electronic device. |
| US08185050B2 |
Coexistance device communication between a Bluetooth device and a wireless local area network device
The present invention provides a system and a method for transferring data between a Bluetooth device (BTD) and a wireless local area network (WLAN) device which uses packet traffic arbitration (PTA). The method of the present invention includes encoding data using a plurality of control lines between the BTD and WLAN, transmitting the data and acknowledging the data reception using the existing control lines. The method according to the present invention allows BTD and WLAN device to transmit additional scheduling information, schedule the medium access, and reduce the number of collisions between the two devices. |
| US08185045B2 |
Use of satellites by terminals with small antennas
Methods to improve the efficiency of satellite transmission by coordinating the use of corresponding channels on adjacent satellites. Improvements over the current state of the art range from 130% to 1000%, yielding in the best case full utilization of potential bandwidth. |
| US08185041B2 |
Method and system for mobile vehicle content management
A method and system for mobile vehicle content management. Content may be received wireless from a plurality of access technologies within a mobile vehicle. The content may be balanced from the plurality of access technologies to select the content from at least one access technology for decryption. The selected content may be provided to a receiver device for presentation. |
| US08185039B2 |
Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus
A sheet processing apparatus includes a stack tray, a stapler, a stapler moving device, and an aligning member. When a stapling process is performed at least two staple positions of the sheet bundle stacked on the stack tray using the stapler, the stapler is moved to the next staple position by relative movement in which the stapler and the sheet bundle are moved in the opposite directions by the stapler moving device and the aligning member respectively. When the number of sheets in the sheet bundle or a weight of the sheet bundle is lower than a predetermined value, a moving speed of the sheet bundle is set faster than a moving speed of the sheet bundle at which the number of sheets in the sheet bundle is not lower than the predetermined value or the weight of the sheet bundle is not lower than the predetermined value. |
| US08185037B2 |
Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus including the same
A sheet feeding device including a sheet feed cassette. The sheet feed cassette includes a tray extendable and contractible in a direction of sheet feed; a guide member having a long groove provided on a bottom plate of the sheet feed cassette in the direction of sheet feed; a pressing member having a shaft in a lower portion thereof loosely inserted into the guide member, the pressing member movable along the guide member and contacting a rear edge of a sheet stored in the sheet feed cassette; a link cam plate having a long guide groove into which the shaft of the pressing member is movably inserted, the link cam plate being swingably provided on the bottom plate of the sheet feed cassette; and a sheet size detector including a convex portion and a size detector to detect a size of the sheet stored in the sheet feed cassette. |
| US08185036B2 |
Medium transport apparatus, image forming apparatus and medium transport method
The medium transport apparatus is provided with: a transport unit that transports a recording medium continuing in a direction, in the direction where the recording medium continues; a detection unit that detects a mark formed on the recording medium transported by the transport unit, by using a detection effective range smaller than a dimension of the mark in a direction crossing a transport direction of the recording medium; a positional relationship identification unit that identifies a relative positional relationship between the detection unit and the mark in the direction crossing the transport direction, from a detection result obtained by the detection unit; and a move unit that moves the detection unit in the direction crossing the transport direction, on the basis of the relative positional relationship identified by the positional relationship identification unit. |
| US08185035B2 |
Image forming system
An image forming system which realizes reliable output of an original of a finished book, while maintaining security. A sheet-unique information-reading unit reads sheet-unique information unique to a sheet used for making a finished book based on image data. A memory section stores the sheet-unique information read by the sheet-unique information-reading unit in association with the image data based on which a finished book is made. In outputting an original of the finished book, a CPU causes an image forming device to perform image output based on the information stored in the memory section. |
| US08185033B2 |
Photosensitive body unit and image forming apparatus having the same
An image forming apparatus having an improved photosensitive body unit capable of efficiently utilizing an inner space of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive body unit having a photosensitive body housing and a photosensitive body mounted in the photosensitive body housing. The photosensitive body housing includes a first developer storage part to store a developer collected from the photosensitive body, a second developer storage part to store a developer conveyed from the first developer storage part, and a light window provided so that light can be scanned to the photosensitive body. The light window is positioned between the first developer storage part and the second developer storage part. Developer paths are provided on outer side portions of the light window to connect the first developer storage part and the second developer storage part. |
| US08185030B2 |
Fixer, image forming apparatus including same, and fixing method
A fixer includes a fixing member with a rotary heat generator, a pressure member, an excitation coil disposed facing a heat generation layer of the rotary heat generator to generate magnetic flux that inductively heats the heat generation layer, a loop-shaped demagnetization coil unit disposed facing the heat generation layer to generate magnetic flux that partly counteracts the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil, a first magnetic core disposed in a first area that is enclosed by both the excitation coil and the demagnetization coil unit, and a second magnetic core disposed in a second area that is outside a loop of the demagnetization coil unit and enclosed by the excitation coil. The first magnetic core and the second magnetic core are magnetically continuous in a rotary axial direction of the rotary heat generator. A fixing method fixes an image on the sheet used in a fixer. |
| US08185028B2 |
Image forming apparatus and auto color registration method thereof
An image forming apparatus and an auto color registration method thereof, the auto color registration (ACR) method including: transferring test patterns respectively corresponding to a plurality of colors; detecting the transferred test patterns; cleaning the transferred test patterns; transferring patterns respectively corresponding to the plurality of colors by reducing a width of a pattern corresponding to a color, from among the plurality of colors, according to the detected test patterns; and performing ACR on the basis of the transferred pattern. Accordingly, at least one pattern width is reduced in consideration of deviation in a detected pattern width between a plurality of colors, and ACR is performed on the basis of the reduced pattern width, thereby decreasing an error and increasing reliability in the ACR. |
| US08185027B2 |
Image forming apparatus, method of allowing driven member to be mounted on apparatus body in image forming apparatus and method of allowing drive force to be transmitted to belt unit in image forming apparatus
The image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body including a drive source; a driven member detachably attachable to the apparatus body; a first transmission member in the apparatus body, including a base rotatable around a rotation axis, and transmitting drive force from the drive source to the driven member; and a second transmission member in the driven member, including a base rotatable around the rotation axis, and transmitting drive force from the first transmission member to the driven member. Any of the first and second transmission members includes a projection, and the other includes a receiving port. The receiving port receives the projection when a rotation angle between the first and second transmission members is an angle set in advance while not receiving the projection when the rotation angle is out of the angle, at the time of mounting the driven member on the apparatus body. |
| US08185025B2 |
Device for developing an electrostatic latent image, and process cartridge and image forming apparatus including the same
A developing device develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier with toner. The developing device includes a developer carrier, a developer supplying unit that supplies a developer on the developer carrier, a layer shaping member that shapes the developer supplied on the developer carrier into a thin layer, and an electric-field control member that is arranged downstream of a shaping nip formed between the developer carrier and the layer shaping member and that controls an intensity of an electric field generated between the developer carrier and the layer shaping member. |
| US08185021B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus
A developing device includes a developing unit, a developer agitating unit, a developer conveying unit, and a toner supplementing unit. The developing unit develops an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier with a developer containing toner and carrier. The developer agitating unit agitates the developer. The developer conveying unit connects the developing unit and the developer agitating unit, and conveys the developer from the developing unit to the developer agitating unit. The toner supplementing unit is connected to the developer conveying unit, and supplements toner to the developer conveyed from the developing unit to the developer agitating unit. |
| US08185015B2 |
Image forming apparatus and process cartridge
An image forming apparatus includes: a main body; a process frame that is removably installed into the main body; and a process cartridge that is detachably installed in the process frame; the process cartridge including: a photosensitive member; and a shutter member that is configured to be movable between a closed position where the photosensitive member is covered and an open position where the photosensitive member is exposed, wherein the shutter member moves from the closed position to the open position as the process frame is operated to be installed into the main body. |
| US08185012B2 |
Developer storage container and image forming apparatus provided therewith
To a lower part of a housing 20 of a development unit 3a, a cover 21 is detachably fitted by using snap fittings 40. To a fitting surface 41a of the housing 20 and a fitting surface 41b of the cover 21, sponges 43a and 43b, respectively, are attached and fixed all around them. In a state in which the snap fittings 40 are engaged and thereby the housing 20 and the cover 21 are fixed to each other, the sponges 43a and 43b are in contact with each other and compressed, whereby air-tightness of a fitting part 45 is secured. |
| US08185011B2 |
Cleaning device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A first roll brush is formed from material having the positive triboelectric charge polarity against toner. A positive bias is applied to the first roll brush through a first collection roller by a first bias application device. A second roll brush is formed from material having the negative triboelectric charge polarity against toner. A negative bias is applied to the second roll brush through a second collection roller by a second bias application device. Thus, the first and second roll brushes are applied by each of biases having polarity identical to the triboelectric charge polarity of material of the roll brush against toner. This enhances cleaning performance of both the roll brushes and prevents degradation of the cleaning performance. |
| US08185004B2 |
Method and arrangement for setting the dot size of printed images generated with the aid of an electrographic printing or copying system
In a method or system to set a dot size of toner images, at least one latent raster image is generated that is not to be inked with toner particles in at least one region to form a first toner image. At least one additional latent raster image is generated that is to be inked with toner particles over its entire surface, the additional latent raster image being inked with toner particles to form an additional toner image. With a sensor unit a first toner particle quantity is determined which is used to ink at least one toner image and a second toner particle quantity is determined which is used to ink the at least one additional toner image. A ratio of the first toner particle quantity and the second toner particle quantity is determined. The determined ratio is used as a measure representing a real value for an areal coverage of the first toner image and the real value is compared with a desired value. An electrical field is set, depending on a result of the comparison, to transfer toner particles to regions of the at least one latent raster image that are to be inked. |
| US08184999B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method thereof
An image forming apparatus and a control method thereof, the control method including applying a minimum current to a light emitting element, and applying one or more higher currents, up to a maximum current, to the light emitting element, if a light receiving element fails to detect light emitted by the light emitting element. |
| US08184996B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body including an image forming engine for performing image forming operation, at least one RFID tag storing attribute information, a fit-in member detachably mounted in the apparatus body, the fit-in member being fitted with the RFID tag, an RFID tag interface through which the attribute information is read out from the RFID tag, a controller for controlling the image forming engine according to the attribute information read out through the RFID tag interface, and a mode switcher for switching the image forming apparatus from image forming mode which enables execution of the image forming operation to maintenance mode which enables execution of maintenance operation. The mode switcher enables a transfer from the image forming mode to the maintenance mode if maintenance mode startup information is detected from the attribute information read out through the RFID tag interface. |
| US08184994B2 |
Optical receiving circuit
An optical receiving circuit receives and demodulates an optical signal subjected to phase modulation and wavelength division multiplexing. The optical receiving circuit includes an interfering unit that causes a reference signal to interfere with the optical signal to output resulting signals as positive-phase signals and negative-phase signals; and a wavelength separator having input ports receiving the positive-phase signals and the negative-phase signals, the positive-phase and negative-phase signals being adjacent to each other. The wavelength separator separates according to wavelength, the positive-phase signals and the negative-phase signals, and from output ports, outputs for each wavelength, a separated positive-phase signal and negative-phase signal in a state of being adjacent to each other. The optical receiving circuit further includes balanced receivers respectively provided for each wavelength, where a given balanced receiver for a given wavelength performs balanced reception and demodulation of the separated positive-phase signal and negative phase signal of the given wavelength. |
| US08184987B2 |
Method, system and device for realizing data transmission extension in passive optical network
A method, a device, and a system for realizing data transmission extension in a passive optical network (PON) are provided. Between a burst-mode clock and data recovery (BCDR) module and an electrical-optical (E/O) amplification module, the device includes a delimiter matching module and a preamble buffering and compensating module. The delimiter matching module is adapted to receive a data frame sent by the BCDR module and determine a location of a delimiter in the data frame. An optical-electrical (O/E) amplification module performs O/E conversion, amplification, and shaping on the data frame. The BCDR module then performs clock and data recovery processing on the data frame. The preamble buffering and compensating module is adapted to receive and buffer the data frame output from the delimiter matching module, insert a compensation preamble in the data frame according to the location of the delimiter in the data frame determined by the delimiter matching module, and send the data frame to the E/O amplification module according to a retiming clock of a downstream direction. Therefore, the data transmission extension is realized in an optical-electrical-optical (OEO) manner. |
| US08184983B1 |
Wireless directional identification and subsequent communication between wearable electronic devices
Disclosed are methods, devices, and systems for exchanging information between a first wearable electronic device and one of a second wearable electronic device and an account at a remote computing device associated with a user of the second wearable electronic device. The first wearable electronic device intermittently emits directed electromagnetic radiation comprising a beacon signal, and receives, via a receiver coupled to the first wearable electronic device, a signal from the second wearable electronic device identifying one of the second wearable electronic device and the account at the remote computing device. An input may then be detected at the first wearable electronic device, and in response to receiving the signal and detecting the input, the first wearable device may transmit additional data to one of the second wearable electronic device and the remote computing device associated with the second user. |
| US08184982B2 |
Data reporting systems and methods
Systems and methods for data reporting in electronics devices are disclosed. An exemplary system may include a processor configured to encode a bit stream representing information from at least one subsystem in the electronics device. The system may also include an output device in the electronics device. The output device outputs the bit stream for decoding with a receiving device while being ordinarily visually imperceptible to an end-user without the receiving device. |
| US08184979B2 |
Optical OFDMA network with dynamic sub-carrier allocation
A system and method for dynamically allocating sub-carriers between the nodes of an optical OFDMA ring network or an OFDMA passive optical network. A carrier allocation system assigns sub-carriers according to a utility function based on real-time measurements of arrival data rates and queue length variance. |
| US08184977B2 |
Optical line terminal capable of active bandwidth allocation for passive optical network system
In a GPON system conforming to ITU-T Recommendations G.984.3, an optical line terminal is provided which has an active bandwidth allocation function that preferentially puts small bandwidth signals in a particular segment of a frame, e.g., at a head of the frame, to prevent fragmentations that may occur particularly when allocating small bandwidths of about 100 kbits/s. |
| US08184976B2 |
Passive optical network system and operating method thereof
The passive optical network includes a master station and slave stations connected via an optical fiber network including an optical splitter and a plurality of optical fibers. The master station includes a bandwidth control unit which decides a volume of a transmission signal to be granted to each slave station in every first period and in accordance with a request from the slave station, and a transmission timing control unit which decides, in one of a plurality of second periods and in accordance with the decided volume of the signal, transmission timing in which the slave station should transmit a signal. When the signal is to be transmitted by division over the plurality of second periods, the bandwidth control unit or the transmission timing control unit is controlled based on a volume of a signal to be attached by division processing, so that the granted signal can be transmitted in the first period. |
| US08184973B2 |
Direct detection for receiving polarization multiplexing signals
There is provided a method for detecting optical signals comprising employing a photo diode to both directly detect a received optical signal and convert it into an electrical signal for recovery of data bit stream information in the received optical signal, the received optical signal being derived from a separation of two polarization multiplexed optical signals that were combined before being received. |
| US08184970B2 |
Optical transceiver with LED link information indicator
Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to an analyzer device configured to interface with an optical transceiver module having a diagnostic communications port, wherein the port is configured to access diagnostic and other data contained within the transceiver controller via a backdoor interface. Controller data, including operational parameter values and module setup values, is accessible while the transceiver operates in conjunction with an external host and may be retrieved, and sometimes modified, in real time without interrupting normal transceiver operation or suspending the transmission of data over optical fibers. The analyzer device accesses the data via the diagnostic communications port on the outside of the transceiver module. |
| US08184969B2 |
Method and apparatus for power management in an electronic device
An electronic device and method for power management in an electronic device is provided. In an embodiment, the electronic device includes the functionality of a personal digital assistant, wireless email paging and a camera with a flash that is operated via self-contained power supply in the form of a battery. The device also includes a supervisor circuit which causes the device to enter sleep mode, or disables the device or certain features of the device, if the battery level falls below a certain threshold. A method in accordance with an embodiment performs, in response to a request to fire the flash, a pre-flash test which is selected so as to not trip the supervisor circuit. The battery level is examined after the pre-flash test. If the battery level meets certain criteria, the full flash is permitted to proceed, else the full flash is not permitted to proceed. |
| US08184967B2 |
Lens barrel assembly for a camera
A lens barrel assembly for a camera is disclosed. The lens barrel assembly comprises a lens barrel, at least one optical element disposed within the lens barrel, and an actuator configured to move the optical element. The actuator can be disposed entirely or partially within the lens barrel. The actuator can be a MEMS actuator, such as a MEMS actuator that is formed at least partially of silicon. The optical element can be a lens. |
| US08184966B2 |
Image blur correction device, lens barrel and imaging apparatus
There is provided an image blur correction device including: a correction optical element; a first movable frame; a second movable frame; a fixed frame; a first main guide shaft and a first auxiliary guide shaft; a second main guide shaft and a second auxiliary guide shaft; a first driving part; and a second driving part. The first auxiliary guide shaft is shorter than the first main guide shaft and the second driving part is placed between the first auxiliary guide shaft and the correction optical element. The second auxiliary guide shaft is shorter than the second main guide shaft and the first driving part is placed between the second auxiliary guide shaft and the correction optical element. |
| US08184965B2 |
Imaging device
An imaging device includes an optical system, an imaging unit, a movable member, a drive unit, a second detection unit, and a selection unit. The optical system is configured to form an optical image of a subject. The imaging unit is configured to receive an image signal of the optical image. The first detection unit is configured to detect vibration of the imaging device. The movable member includes at least one of a portion of the optical system and a portion of the imaging unit. The drive unit is configured to move the movable member based on the detected vibration. The second detection unit is configured to detect movement of the movable member. The selection unit is configured to select a first image area based on the detected vibration and the detected movement, and the first image area is used to determine a characteristic value based on the image signal. |
| US08184964B2 |
Tank for storing a reducing agent
The invention relates to a tank for storing a reducing agent, in particular a liquid reducing agent. The reducing agent reduces the nitrogen oxides from the waste gases of the internal combustion engine to nitrogen and water. The tank includes an external container in which an internal container is accommodated. A heating element is provided in the internal container and the liquid reducing agent can be removed by a removal device. The internal container is connected to the external container in such a way that the liquid reducing agent can flow out from the internal container into the external container. |
| US08184960B2 |
Method and system for performing reverse play of SD MPEG video
One or more methods and systems to efficiently process MPEG video in order to perform a reverse play or slow rewind function are presented. The method reduces system bandwidth required to implement the reverse play function when SD MPEG video is received by the MPEG decoder. Furthermore, the method maximizes the use of memory resources when one or more video frame buffers are implemented. The system comprises a first subsystem feeding one or more sequences of frames (e.g., feeding sessions) to a second subsystem. The first subsystem defines a set of parameters that is used to determine the one or more feeding sessions provided to the second subsystem. The second subsystem subsequently decodes the one or more feeding sessions using the set of parameters such that the video may be displayed. |
| US08184956B2 |
Method and apparatus for storing appreciation data, method and apparatus for generating order information, method and apparatus for processing appreciation data, and programs therefor
A large amount of appreciation data such as image data exceeding capacity of a recording medium is easily managed. Image data are recorded in a recording medium by a digital camera. When a user requests storage of the image data from a DPE store, the image data are read from the recording medium and stored in a storage system. The image data are deleted from the recording medium and thumbnail image data are generated. The thumbnail image data are recorded in the recording medium and provided to the user. In this manner, free space in the recording medium can be saved. By referring to the thumbnail image data, the image data that have been stored at the DPE store can be easily confirmed, which leads to easy management of the image data. |
| US08184952B2 |
Segment boundary obfuscation
A method and system for obfuscating segment boundary markers, such as but not limited to obfuscating boundary markers used to identify beginning and/or ending boundaries of a sequence of segments forming a programming event. The obfuscation may be achieved by embedding decoy and offset boundary markers within the sequence of segments. |
| US08184944B2 |
Recording medium, recording device, recording method, and playback device
A recording medium having recorded thereon one or more pieces of playlist information each of which includes a stream table including multiple stream entries. Each audio stream has been encoded in one of a mandatory format that is an encoding format decodable by a playback apparatus with any version number, and an optional format that is an encoding format decodable by a playback apparatus with a predetermined or higher version number. In a first-type stream table, a stream entry corresponding to an audio stream encoded in the optional format is immediately subsequent, in the order of the stream entries, to a stream entry corresponding to an audio stream encoded in the mandatory format, the audio stream encoded in the optional format and the audio stream encoded in the mandatory format having been encoded from a same audio source and having a same language code and a same number of channels. |
| US08184940B2 |
Telecommunications cabinet with connector storage
A housing including a plurality of openings for receiving fiber optic connectors and protecting the polished end face of the connectors from damage while the connectors are stored within a telecommunications connection cabinet. A module with a plurality of optical fiber cables connected to a first optical fiber cable and terminated by a fiber optic connector. Each of the connectors are inserted within openings in a connector holder for storage and protection until the cables need to be connected to a customer equipment cable. |
| US08184937B2 |
Optical cable
The present invention relates to an optical cable with a structure for improving a durability performance. The optical cable comprises, as a basic structure: a coated optical fiber, and a cable jacket covering an outer periphery of the coated optical fiber. The coated optical fiber is constituted by a glass fiber and a coating layer of an ultraviolet curing resin. To realize excellent impact resistance as durability performance, the coating layer of the coated optical fiber includes a first coating with a Young's modulus of 200 MPa or more. Meanwhile, the cable jacket is comprised of a thermoplastic resin that does not contain any halogens. The cable jacket has a thickness of 0.7 mm or more, a flame retardancy of V2 or more according to UL Standards, and a Young's modulus equal to or greater than that of the first coating. |
| US08184932B2 |
Method of fabricating an optical switch
A method fabricates an optical switch comprising a microsphere coated with silicon nanocrystals. The method includes providing a silica optical fiber. The method further includes melting at least a portion of the fiber to form at least one silica microsphere. The method further includes coating the microsphere with a silica layer. The method further includes precipitating silicon nanocrystals within the silica layer by annealing the microsphere. The method further includes passivating the nanocrystals by annealing the microsphere in a hydrogen-containing atmosphere. |
| US08184929B2 |
Method of tuning optical components integrated in a monolithic photonic integrated circuit (PIC)
An optical transmitter comprises a monolithic transmitter photonic integrated circuit (TxPIC) chip that includes an array of modulated sources formed on the PIC chip and having different operating wavelengths approximating a standardized wavelength grid and providing signal outputs of different wavelengths. A wavelength selective combiner is formed on the PIC chip having a wavelength grid passband response approximating the wavelength grid of the standardized wavelength grid. The signal outputs of the modulated sources optically coupled to inputs of the wavelength selective combiner to produce a combined signal output from the combiner. A first wavelength tuning element coupled to each of the modulated sources and a second wavelength tuning element coupled to the wavelength selective combiner. A wavelength monitoring unit is coupled to the wavelength selective combiner to sample the combined signal output. A wavelength control system coupled to the first and second wavelength tuning elements and to said wavelength monitoring unit to receive the sampled combined signal output. The wavelength control system adjusts the respective wavelengths of operation of the modulated sources to approximate or to be chirped to the standardized wavelength grid and for adjusting the optical combiner wavelength grid passband response to approximate the standardized wavelength grid. |
| US08184928B2 |
Combining seam carving an image resizing
A method for resizing an input digital image to form an output digital image with an output aspect ratio, comprising: determining a number of rows or columns that need to be reduced from the input digital image; determining an image energy map for the input digital image; repeatedly determining a seam path responsive to the image energy map and removing pixels along the determined seam path to determine the output digital image, wherein the determined seam path satisfies a constraint that a directional image gradient is less than a gradient threshold for each pixel in the seam path, until either the determined number of rows or columns has been reduced or no valid seam path can be found; and cropping or scaling the output digital image to the output aspect ratio if the determined number of rows or columns was not reduced. |
| US08184927B2 |
System and method for reduction of speckle noise in an image
The present invention includes methods for the reduction of speckle noise in an image and methods for segmenting an image. Each of the methods disclosed herein includes steps for analyzing the uniformity of a pixel within a plurality of pixels forming a portion of the image and, based on the uniformity of the intensity of the plurality of pixels, adjusting and/or replacing the pixel in order to produce a speckle-noise reduced image, a segmented image, or a segmented and speckle-noise reduced image. The methods of the present invention can employ for example conditional probability density functions, nonlinear estimator functions, convex energy functions and simulated annealing algorithms in the performance of their respective steps. |
| US08184924B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing program
An image processing apparatus including: an information amount calculation unit which reduces an image signal obtained by a CCD, and which performs a plurality of tone conversion processes of different characteristics on the reduced image signal to calculate an information amount of the image signal and an information amount of noise; a setting unit which formulizes the relationship of the information amount of the image signal and the information amount of the noise with respect to a tone conversion characteristic on the basis of the information amounts calculated by the information amount calculation unit, and which sets a tone conversion curve maximizing an effective information amount as a tone conversion curve used in the tone conversion processing; and a tone conversion unit which performs the tone conversion processing on the image signal on the basis of the tone conversion curve set by the setting unit. |
| US08184921B2 |
Matching pursuits basis selection
A method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for basis selection is described. A plurality of sub-bands of digital data is generated and a basis function for the digital data in one of the plurality of sub-bands is determined at a rate that provides a substantially peak signal-to-noise ratio for the digital data. The basis function is added to a codebook and the digital data is compressed using the codebook. |
| US08184920B2 |
Microscope system
A microscope system is constructed by a light guiding optical system 20 having an objective lens 21 and beam splitters 27a and 27b for splitting an optical image of a sample S, a photodetector 31 for acquiring an image of the sample S, and two CCD cameras 33 and 34 for focus control disposed on optical paths split by the beam splitters 27a and 27b. The cameras 33 and 34 are disposed being inclined with respect to the optical path so that the optical paths thereof in the light guiding optical system 20 vary along a z-axis direction in opposite directions to each other. Images acquired by these cameras 33 and 34 are analyzed in a focus controller 37, and the image pickup focal point to the sample S is controlled on the basis of the analysis result, whereby the focus control when an image of the sample is acquired can be suitably performed. |
| US08184919B2 |
Representing and reconstructing high dynamic range images
A high dynamic range image can be recovered from a full-resolution lower-dynamic-range image and a reduced-resolution higher-dynamic-range image. Information regarding higher spatial frequencies may be obtained by extracting high spatial frequencies from the lower-dynamic-range image. In some embodiments an approximate impulse-response function is determined by comparing the higher- and lower-dynamic range images. A scaling image obtained by applying the impulse-response function to a high-frequency band of the lower-dynamic range image is combined with an upsampled higher-dynamic range image to yield a reconstructed image. |
| US08184918B2 |
Header-based processing of images compressed using multi-scale transforms
A method and apparatus is described for segmenting an image, for adaptively scaling an image, and for automatically scaling and cropping an image based on codestream headers data. In one embodiment, a file that can provide a header that contains multi-scale entropy distribution information on blocks of an image is received. For each block, the block is assigned to a scale from a set of scales that maximizes a cost function. The cost function is a product of a total likelihood and a prior. The total likelihood is a product of likelihoods of the blocks. The image is segmented by grouping together blocks that have been assigned equivalent scales. In one embodiment, the file represents an image in JPEG 2000 format. |
| US08184917B2 |
Image processor
The image processor processes each pixel of a halftone image by sequentially setting each pixel as a target pixel. A converting unit converts a pixel density of the target pixel into a first output value. An error data calculation unit calculates error data of the target pixel. The error data corresponds to a difference between the first output value and the pixel density. A compression unit irreversibly compresses the error data of the target pixel. Partial data of the pixel density is lost from the error data when irreversibly compressing the error data. An error buffer stores the compressed error data of the target pixel and a plurality of sets of compressed error data for a plurality of processed pixels. A decompression unit reads and decompresses a plurality of sets of compressed error data for a plurality of peripheral pixels with respect to a next target pixel from the error buffer. A density correction unit corrects a pixel density of the next target pixel based on the decompressed error data sets for the plurality of peripheral pixels. The converting unit converts the corrected pixel density of the next target pixel into a second output value. A data compensating unit compensates the partial data. |
| US08184916B2 |
Method for creating and using affective information in a digital imaging system
An image file for storing a still digital image and metadata related to the still digital image, the image file including digital image data representing the still digital image, and metadata that categorizes the still digital image as an important digital image, wherein the categorization uses a range of levels and the range of levels includes at least three different integer values. |
| US08184915B2 |
Device and method for fast computation of region based image features
A device and method for efficient computation of statistical information, such as a mean, co-variance, or histogram of the image pixels, over discrete image regions. The computation employs integral computations to determine the statistical information over image regions of arbitrary shape, including irregular polygonal shaped regions. The integral computations are simplified by categorizing corner points of boundaries of image regions. The computation can be applied to calculate descriptors or signatures of persons or objects within an image. The computation also has a low computational cost enabling fast calculation of image statistics. |