| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08192176B2 |
Hydraulic fluid supply system having active regulator
A hydraulic fluid supply system includes an active pressure regulator or feed limit valve with a flow cut-off which may be used with dual clutch transmission hydraulic control systems. The supply system includes a pump, a filter, pressure relief and filter bypass valves, an accumulator, a system pressure sensor and the active feed limit valve. The active feed limit and flow cut-off valve includes an on-off solenoid valve and a spool or logic valve having an inlet port, an outlet port, a control port, a feedback port and an exhaust port. The inlet port is supplied with pressurized hydraulic fluid and the control port is supplied with hydraulic fluid from the solenoid control valve when it is energized. A valve spool having a pair of spaced-apart lands is biased toward the control port. One side of a check valve is in fluid communication with the feedback port. The outlet port provides controlled pressure and flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic control system and is in fluid communication with the other side of the check valve. |
| US08192171B2 |
Compressor system
A compressor system includes a lead compressor operable to produce a flow of compressed fluid at a first output and a lag compressor operable to produce a flow of compressed fluid at a second output. The sum of the first output and the second output defines a system output. A lead variable speed motor is operable to drive the lead compressor at a first compressor speed to vary the first output and a lag variable speed motor is operable to drive the lag compressor at a second compressor speed to vary the second output. A sensor is operable to measure a system load, and a lead motor drive is operable to control the speed of the lead variable speed motor and to set a desired operating state of the lag variable speed motor in response to a comparison of the system load and the system output. |
| US08192168B2 |
Airfoil shape for a compressor blade
An article of manufacture having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in TABLE A. X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches. The profile sections at the Z distances can be joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape. |
| US08192164B2 |
Turbine runner with reduced leakage of servo-oil
Due to increasing environmental requirements, oil must be prevented from leaking from a turbine rotor disk and reaching the medium circulating around the turbine. In Kaplan turbines comprising a hydraulic mechanism (6) for actuating the rotor disk blades (3), hydraulic liquid leaks from the servomotor (5) and is collected in the inner chamber of the rotor disk hub (2). The invention relates to a rotor disk (1) by which means said leakage liquid can be reliably and easily collected and guided out of the rotor disk (1). A collecting basin (8) is arranged-around the free end of the piston rod (7). The actuating movement of the servomotor (5) reduces and enlarges the pump volume (17), and hydraulic liquid is thus guided from the collecting basin (8) into the delivery pipe (11). |
| US08192161B2 |
Wind turbine with deployable air deflectors
An apparatus and system for compensating for various load situations in a turbine includes the use of one or more deployable devices configured to extend an air deflector outwardly from a surface of a rotor blade. The air deflector may subsequently be retracted into the rotor blade once the load falls below a certain threshold. Mechanisms for extending and retracting the air deflector may include pneumatic, hydraulic and/or electromechanical devices. Air deflectors are generally configured to modify the air flow around the rotor blade to increase or decrease power generation, or reduce loads so that the risk of potential damage to components of the wind turbine is minimized. Deflectors may be positioned at various chordwise stations including leading-edge, mid-chord, and trailing-edge locations on the upper and lower surfaces at spanwise positions. Accordingly, a plurality of devices can be actuated to aerodynamically control rotor performance and loads based on wind conditions. |
| US08192160B2 |
Wind turbine having variable height and method for operating the same
A wind turbine includes a rotor having a hub and at least one rotor blade, wherein the operating height of the hub is adjustable. Further, a method for operating a wind turbine is provided, which includes varying the height of the wind turbine. |
| US08192159B2 |
Rigid rotor assembly for folding helicopter blades
Described herein is a rigid rotor assembly configured to allow rotation of helicopter rotor blades attached to the rigid rotor assembly from a deployed position to a stowed position. The rigid rotor assembly includes a base including a shaft extending therethrough, a first spindle configured to engage the shaft, and a second spindle configured for placement onto the shaft. The second spindle is operable to maintain a first position with respect to the first spindle via an attachment mechanism therebetween, the second spindle further operable to maintain a second position with respect to the first spindle via the attachment mechanism. |
| US08192158B1 |
Apparatus and method to increase total-to-static pressure ratio across a turbine
A method for increasing the total-to-static pressure ratio across a Ram Air Turbine (RAT) has designed and experimentally tested. The invention develops a localized accelerated flow of free-stream air near the discharge of the turbine rotor exhaust. This localized accelerated flow decreases the static pressure at the exit of the turbine and allows for additional power generation for a given free-stream flight condition. Full-scale wind tunnel experimenting testing shows that creating this low static pressure region behind the turbine resulted in significant increases in turbine output power when compared to a turbine that is not subjected to this invention. The invention showed the ability to increase the total-to-static pressure ratio across the turbine. |
| US08192157B2 |
Fan frame structure
A fan frame structure includes a plastic casing and a metal fixing frame. The plastic casing and the metal fixing frame are provided for an axial flow fan or a blower fan. The plastic casing includes a bottom having a plurality of first fixing portions. The metal fixing frame includes a base with a shaft tube seat in a center thereof. The base includes a plurality of second portions each engaged with one of the first fixing portions. Since the plastic casing is made of inexpensive plastic material, the manufacturing costs are cut. The metal fixing frame provides sufficient structural strength and desired heat dissipating effect. |
| US08192149B2 |
Turbine or compressor stage for a turbojet
A turbojet turbine or compressor stage is disclosed. The stage includes at least one rotor disk mounted inside a sectorized ring supported by a casing and including a circumferential flange radially clamped on an annular rail of the casing by a substantially C-shaped cross-section annular locking device which is axially engaged on the casing rail and on the flange of the ring. A substantially cylindrical heat shielding foil is interposed between the ring and the device. The foil or the device includes at least one extra thickness which respectively bears on the device, or the foil, to radially immobilize this foil. |
| US08192146B2 |
Turbine blade dual channel cooling system
A turbine blade having an internal cooling system with dual serpentine cooling channels in communication with tip cooling channels is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the cooling system may include first and second tip cooling channels in communication with the first and second serpentine cooling channels, respectively. The first tip cooling channel may extend from the leading edge to the trailing edge and be formed from a first suction side tip cooling channel and a first pressure side tip cooling channel. The second tip cooling channel may extend from a midchord region toward the trailing edge and may be positioned between the pressure and suction sides such that the second tip cooling channel is positioned generally between the first suction side and pressure side tip cooling channels. The first and second tip cooling channels may exhaust cooling fluids through the trailing edge. |
| US08192145B2 |
Turbine nozzle sector
A turbine nozzle sector that includes an outer platform segment and an inner platform segment between which there extends one or more hollow vanes is disclosed. Each vane presents a trailing edge cavity for feeding with cooling air and communicating with a plurality of vents distributed along the trailing edge of the vane, these vents serving to exhaust a fraction of the cooling air. The cavity communicates with an air outlet hole situated level with the outer platform and enabling a fraction of the cooling air to be exhausted. |
| US08192144B2 |
Compressor and heat pump system
A centrifugal turbocompressor including an open-type impeller and a casing compresses a gaseous body that condenses into a liquid. The compressor suppresses erosion due to accumulation of a liquid on a casing surface in the compressor. Such accumulation is possible during the starting time of the compressor, if the gaseous body that has come into contact with the casing condenses on the surface of the casing and changes into liquid droplets, centrifugal force may cause the droplets to accumulate on the surface of the casing positioned outside an impeller, and thus to grow into coarser and larger droplets or a liquid film. If the blade tips of the impeller rotating at high speed scrape the droplets or the film upward, erosion of the blade tips is liable to result. |
| US08192141B1 |
Dual compression rotor
The present invention provides a gas turbine rotor having a first axial compression stage for compressing air in a first direction and a second axial compression stage for compressing the air in a second direction, the second direction being generally opposite the first direction. |
| US08192139B2 |
Dual inlet regenerative air pump
The present invention relates to a pump arrangement (10) having a housing (12) and cover (14). The housing (12) and cover (14) form part of a pump mechanism (16). A first inlet or a housing inlet (26) is formed in the housing (12) and is connected to the pump mechanism (16). A second inlet or a cover inlet (28) is formed in the cover and is connected to the pump mechanism. The cover (14) also has a cover outlet (34) formed in the cover (14) that is connected to the pump mechanism (16) and is where fluid medium such as air flows out of the housing (12) arrangement. The use of two inlets increases the flow efficiency. |
| US08192135B2 |
Side puller accessory frame for a car carrier and for a tow truck
A side puller accessory frame for a tow truck having a cab and a truck frame mounts to the truck frame behind the cab. The accessory frame preferably includes two stiff legs, a wire rope winch mounted transverse to the longitudinal axis of the truck that provides pulling force via a removable pivotable center sheave that directs the pulling force to sides or the rear of the truck as desired. The accessory frame may include a removable pivotable side sheave that may mount in a side sheave mounting tube. The side puller accessory frame makes a conventional car carrier with a roll back bed a recovery truck. |
| US08192125B2 |
Fastener and fastening system
The present invention utilises impact-driven fastener (1) having a twisted body having: a common axial core (2) a protruding helix (3) and a trailing elongate lost-end driving shank: (4) of reduced radial diameter. The fastener incorporates two or three loosely wound loosely wound thread-cutting blade-like helical projections (5) extending radially from a solid axial core (2). These blade-like projections (5) are inclined upon a sweeping helical angle (8) of less than 42° to the longitudinal axis (9) of the core (2). The elongate shank (4), which carries no swept angle thread-cutting blades, has a reduced cross sectional diameter that is approximately one half or less of a cross-sectional circumscribed diameter (7) of a protruding helix (3), from which it extends coaxially, such as to fit into and cooperate with a driving adapter (21) having a hollow leading end (24), said leading end of a driving adapter having an external diameter that is less than a cross-sectional circumscribed diameter (7) of the fastener (1). |
| US08192122B2 |
Anchor bolt
An anchor bolt for use in a hole in a base material is provided and includes a stud, a sleeve disposed about the stud and a retainer nut, disposed in operable communication with the stud and having a dimension measured from a central axis of the hole that is at least as large as a corresponding dimension of the hole. |
| US08192120B1 |
Self-sealing inflatable dunnage bag
A plurality of self-sealing inflatable dunnage bags are formed on a continuous strip. The continuous strip includes a first bag layer, a second bag layer and an air channel layer. A bag perimeter sealing line is formed between the first and second bag layers for each bag cavity. At least one air flow sealing line extends inward into the bag cavity. An air flow channel is formed between the second and third bag layers. An air pocket is located in the air channel layer for each bag cavity. An air bag opening is formed through the second bag layer in the air pocket. Air flows through the air flow channel into the air pocket and through the air bag opening to inflate each bag cavity. |
| US08192119B1 |
Trailer cargo strap rolling device
A trailer cargo strap rolling device for conestoga-style and flatbed trailers including a base that fits into a trailer stake pocket, an adjustable post member secured into a selected height with a lock pin, and a winder assembly operated either manually or with a wireless drill with two prongs around which a trailer strap can be wound. |
| US08192117B1 |
Method and apparatus for transporting wind turbine blades
A rail system for transporting wind turbine blades includes both pivoting and pivoting-sliding support structures carried by a plurality of railcars. Each support structure includes a platform system having a bolster for supporting the wind turbine blade and a support plate for supporting the bolster. The pivoting and pivoting-sliding support structures allow for selective rotational and longitudinal movement of the blades relative to the railcars as the rail system negotiates straight and curved sections of railway. |
| US08192116B2 |
Lathe-mounted tool-holder
An adaptive device for use as a tool holder for manual and computer numerical controlled lathes is provided to retain and use tools of various sizes, including those intended for use on CNC lathes and on mills. The device includes a sleeve, which includes an inner-tapered surface, a neck and an opening, and a threaded member sized to fit through the neck in the opening. The adaptive device may further include one or more shoulders and/or grooves on the exterior of the sleeve, and/or a retaining member fitted to the threaded section, and may include an embodiment where the sleeve is integrated into a tool holder and/or where the threaded member is constructed to permit fluid flow into the tool holder. |
| US08192114B2 |
Combination of center drill and drill holding tool
A drill holding tool includes a shaft and a drill-holding portion which has a recess defined axially in an outer periphery thereof so as to receive a flat center drill therein which has one end protrudes out from the distal end of the drill-holding portion. The recess is defined by two sidewalls and a bottom surface, and a threaded hole is defined through the bottom surface. Two semi-circular reception holes are defined in two insides of the two sidewalls and two positioning pieces are received in the reception holes. The center drill includes a positioning hole corresponding to the threaded hole in the recess and two semi-circular positioning notches in which the two positioning pieces are partially received. The center drill is a flat piece which saves material required and the positioning notches allow the center drill to be quickly and precisely positioned. |
| US08192113B2 |
Indexable insert drill and a center insert therefore
A drill includes a center insert which is indexable, mounted in a center pocket, and has an elongate basic shape. One of two opposite longitudinal side contact surfaces of the cutting insert which run parallel to each other are urged against the side support surface of the center pocket. The side support surface of the center pocket is inclined in relation to the center axis of the drill body at an acute angle within the range of 3-8 degrees. An intermediate surface is formed between the side contact surface and an end surface. The intermediate surface is shorter than the side contact surface and forms an obtuse angle with the side contact surface. |
| US08192112B2 |
Universal rotary cutter head with back clamping system and constant cutting dimensions and constant weight regridable inserts
A rotary cutting tool has a cutting insert clamped from behind by a backing clamp against a frontal abutment defined in the body of the rotary cutter head. The clamp backs the cutting insert against the cutting pressure during operation and provides for the use of a same rotary cutter with different profiles of cutting inserts. Plugs of predetermined weight can be inserted in pre-formed holes in the cutting insert to permit recalibration of the insert after a sharpening operation. |
| US08192106B2 |
Lightweight heavy duty bushing with easy assembly
A lightweight heavy duty bushing assembly for use in a vehicle suspension system and being low cost and having a high assembly tolerance is disclosed. A metal bar pin is press fit into a bushing formed from a metal sleeve bonded to an elastomeric housing. The metal sleeve is deformable such that exact tolerances of the metal sleeve and the bar pin are not required. The metal bar pin has extended ends with a hole in each end for attachment of the metal bar pin to vehicle suspension components, mounting brackets, or to the vehicle frame. |
| US08192103B2 |
Easily assembled swivel mount device
An easily assembled swivel mount device includes a housing having a peripheral shoulder abutment and a peripheral ramp which extends toward the shoulder abutment and which terminates at a peripheral blocking protrusion, a swivel member swivelably mounted on the housing by means of a shaft, and a sleeve member having a leading abutment edge which is brought to abut against the shoulder abutment, and an inner peripheral guideway which extends away from the leading abutment edge and which terminates at a peripheral blocked ledge such that the blocked ledge can be retained behind the blocking protrusion after slipping over the peripheral ramp. |
| US08192090B2 |
Card-based mounting assembly and maintenance system
A backplane and card assembly comprises: a backplane having optical and electrical connectors; a plurality of cards each comprising an optical receiver and electrical connectors, for fitting into the backplane to obtain operational optical and electrical connections via the backplane; and an automatic maintenance unit comprising a gripping arm configured to remove and replace cards from the backplane. Having both the optical and electrical connectors together on the backplane allows a relatively simple movement of the gripping arm to remove and replace the card. |
| US08192086B1 |
Air bearing
An air bearing with a rotor and a static land forming a clearance gap, the rotor including a compressible fluid supply channel to supply fluid to the bearing, and the rotor including a bearing inner race rotatably secured to the rotor, the inner race having an outer surface with a plurality of pockets opening outward and connected to a high pressure reservoir on the inner surface of the inner race through a plurality of radial extending supply channels that function as centrifugal pumps when the inner race is rotating to increase the bearing fluid pressure within the air bearing and increase the bearing stiffness. The inner race pockets extend around the full annular surface. |
| US08192083B2 |
Shopping bag and method of using same
A container which includes a container shell defining an interior therein and having an opening for accessing the interior. A first grommet and a second grommet each are located on the container shell and each include a perimeter that defines an aperture through the grommet. The second grommet including a magnetic or a ferromagnetic material. A first magnet is within the first grommet. The first grommet and the second grommet are positioned on the container shell to assist in closing the opening by magnetic attraction between the first magnet and the magnetic or ferromagnetic material, when the opening is closed the grommets are held in a position wherein the apertures are in general alignment. |
| US08192082B2 |
Thermal data output circuit and multi chip package using the same
A temperature data output circuit is provided which is capable of outputting a temperature signal which is enabled when an internal temperature of at least one of the semiconductor memory chips mounted on a multi chip package exceeds a predetermined temperature. |
| US08192081B2 |
Temperature sensor
A temperature sensor including: a temperature sensing element (102) having a temperature sensing unit (103) and a pair of device electrode wires (104); a sheath member (106) having a sheath wire (108) connected at a junction (110) to at least one of the device electrode wires and a sheath outer pipe (107) retaining the sheath wire in an insulating material (114); an inner tube (112) which has a bottomed cylindrical shape; and a cylindrical outer tube (120) having an open end, covering the inner tube such that the open end is located at a front end side of the junction and in a region to the rear end side of or aligned with the front end of the inner tube, and being spaced from the inner tube at the front end side of the junction. |
| US08192074B2 |
Method and apparatus for correcting the output signal of a radiation sensor and for measuring radiation
A method for correcting the output signal of a radiation sensor 20 includes obtaining two or more temperature signals from a corresponding number of measurements of quantities at different times and/or different locations relating to the temperature of the sensor, and correcting the output signal with reference to said temperature signals. |
| US08192072B2 |
Particle interactions in a fluid flow
Interaction between two different species of particles in a fluid stream is promoted by generating turbulent eddies in the fluid stream. The turbulent eddies are designed to be of such size and/or intensity that the two species of particles are entrained into the eddies to significantly different extents. Consequently, the different species of particles follow different trajectories, and the likelihood of collisions or interactions between the particles is increased. Optimum collision rates will occur for a system which maintains a Stokes Number (St) much less than 1 for one species, and or order 1 or greater for the other species. The invention has particular application in air pollution control, by promoting agglomeration of fine pollutant particles in air streams into larger particles to thereby facilitate their subsequent removal from the air streams. |
| US08192070B2 |
Straight through cement mixer
A cement mixing method for mixing cement used in cementing oil wells casing and the mixer used in that method. The mixer employs a straight bulk cement inlet, five annular recirculation jets and five annular water jet orifices located downstream of the recirculation jets so that all of the jets discharge at an angle towards the mixing chamber and the discharge from the water jet orifices intersects with the flow from the recirculation jets. This five jet, intersecting flow design allows for more thorough wetting of the cement powder with a smaller, lighter, less expensive and more durable mixer that is less inclined to foul and easier to clean. |
| US08192061B2 |
Annular lighting fixture and method for illumination
An annular lighting fixture having a housing, a channel, and a plurality of lights disposed in the channel. The fixture can be attached about a tubular portion of a motorcycle. In one embodiment, the plurality of lights are light emitting diodes surface mounted on a flexible printed circuit board disposed in the channel. In another embodiment a collimator is associated with each LED unit to redirect light in a desired direction. In another embodiment reflective portions are arranged on respective sides of the channel so as to redirect light in a desired direction. A method is also provided herein for the illumination of a vehicle. |
| US08192060B2 |
Aircraft navigation light
An aircraft navigation light comprises a base and circuit board in thermal contact with the base. White and colored LEDs mount on the circuit board. A reflector-shade placed adjacent the LEDs reflects light from the LEDs in desired directions and shades other directions from view of selected LEDs. A light transmissive cover sealed to the base, encloses the circuit board, LEDs and reflector-shade. Temperature responsive circuitry on the circuit board regulates the current through the LEDs and reduces the LED current under high temperature conditions. |
| US08192054B2 |
Apparatus and method for thermal dissipation in a light
A device is disclosed for producing light that may include one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs), an electronics package may be disposed about a first surface of one or more of the PCBs and a housing. A plurality of PCB's may be set apart and connected by pins to dissipate heat from one PCB to another, and/or to convey electrical connectivity. Pins may be configured to pass through or into one or both the PCBs including the cores to conduct heat generated by the electronics package away for dispersion. In some embodiments, the pins may pass into the backplane. The PCBs may include LEDs, lights, computer devices, memories, telecommunications devices, or combinations of these. The device may also include a housing to contain the plurality of PCBs such that air flow may enter the housing and pass by the pins for cooling of the PCBs and electronics thereof. |
| US08192051B2 |
Bidirectional LED light sheet
A bidirectional light sheet including at least a first and second array of bare LED chips with top and bottom electrodes, where the arrays of LEDs are sandwiched between at least two transparent substrates having conductors bonded to the electrodes without wires to form the light sheet. The LEDs of the array are arranged within the light sheets to emit light from opposite surfaces of the light sheet to create a bidirectional light sheet. The bidirectional light sheet is suspended from a ceiling to be non-parallel to the ceiling. |
| US08192049B2 |
LED lighting apparatus including reflector and heat radiating body
The lighting apparatus includes a first light emitting diode (LED) module, a second LED module and a reflector. The first LED module includes a first plurality of LEDs disposed on one side of a first substrate. The second LED module includes a second plurality of LEDs disposed on one side of a second substrate. The reflector is disposed between the first LED module and the second LED module and may reflect in a light emission direction light emitted from the plurality of the LEDs. Additionally, when the light emitted from the plurality of the LEDs is reflected by a reflective surface of the reflector, and is projected to a plane, images of outermost light sources are distributed on the plane to substantially have a circular shape. |
| US08192046B2 |
Light source apparatus with color combining element
A light source apparatus includes at least one light source and a light source transforming apparatus. The light source transforming apparatus includes at least one light guiding medium and color-combining medium. The light source transforming apparatus is configured to receive incident light of the at least one light source and then transform the incident light into emergent light emitted from the color-combining medium and into a light integrator, wherein a divergent angle of the incident light is larger than a divergent angle of the emergent light, and a incident area of the light source is smaller than an emergent area of the color-combining medium. |
| US08192033B2 |
Fixed-focus lens and apparatus integrating optical projection and image detection
A fixed-focus lens disposed between an object side and an image side is provided. The fixed-focus lens includes a reflector, a curved reflector, a first lens group, and a second lens group disposed in sequence from the object side to the image side. The first lens group includes two aspheric lenses. The second lens group includes a spherical lens and an aspheric lens, wherein the aspheric lens of the second lens group is closest to the image side in the second lens group. Besides, an effective focal length (EFL) of the fixed-focus lens is f, an EFL of the second lens group is f2, and a clear aperture of the aspheric lens of the second lens group is D. The fixed-focus lens satisfies one of following conditions: 0.04 |
| US08192031B2 |
Projection type display apparatus for displaying an image
The present invention provides a projection type display apparatus for displaying an image by which reduction of contrast is suppressed, including: a light source; a first lens array and a second lens array having a plurality of lens cell areas; a collecting lens; a display element; a projection lens; and a light shielding unit which light-shields the light fluxes from the first lens array to the second lens array, wherein the light shielding unit light-shields at least parts of all the lens cell areas except for the lens cell area in contact with an optical axis among a plurality of rectangular lens cell areas of the second lens array, and a light shielding area in the lens cell area in contact with the optical axis is smaller than that in any of the lens cell areas except for the lens cell area in contact with the optical axis. |
| US08192030B2 |
Laser illuminating device and image display device
A laser illuminating device and an image display device are provided to enable a removal of speckle noises in a diffraction field and an image field, to uniformly illuminate an illumination plane, and to realize miniaturization. The laser illuminating device 100 includes a laser light source 3 and a first lens 1 including a plurality of microlenses 10, each having a predetermined numerical aperture in an in-plane direction, and each of the microlenses 10 being adapted to expand laser light emitted from the laser light source 3 to thereby superimpose the laser light transmitted through each of the microlenses 10. The laser illuminating device 100 also includes a second lens 2 having an effective diameter larger than an effective diameter of the first lens 1, and compensating for a divergence angle of the laser light expanded by each of the plurality of the microlenses 10. |
| US08192024B2 |
Optical image measurement device and program for controlling the same
A fundus oculi observation device 1 divides a low-coherence light L0 into a signal light LS and a reference light LR, superimposes the signal light LS propagated through a a fundus oculi Ef and the reference light LR propagated through a reference mirror 174 to generate and detect an interference light LC, and forms an OCT image of the fundus oculi Ef based on the result of the detection. The fundus oculi observation device 1 scans with the signal light LS while changing a scan interval when performing a series of scans with the signal light LS. Thus, it is possible to acquire a highly accurate image at small scan intervals from an attention site, and it is possible to reduce a scanning time by scanning at large intervals in other sites. Accordingly, it is possible to rapidly acquire a highly accurate image of an attention site. |
| US08192023B2 |
Method and apparatus for universal improvement of vision
“Universal improvement” of vision is achieved by effectively changing the shape of the anterior refracting surface of the cornea to an ideal “turtleback” shape, on which is imposed the necessary curvature adjustment to achieve correction of distance vision. In accordance with one embodiment, the cornea is actually formed to the turtleback shape through corneal surgery, preferably laser ablation surgery. In accordance with a second embodiment, a contact lens with the desired distance corrected ideal turtleback shape on its anterior surface is positioned over the cornea. |
| US08192017B2 |
Hinge for the temples and the lens frame of glasses
A hinge for the temples and the lens frame of glasses comprises engaging rods and bushings that are respectively formed at two sides of the lens frame and fronts ends of the temples. A spiral guiding slot and a guiding block are separately formed at an external surface of the engaging rod and at the inner surface of the bushing. The spiral guiding slots at the two sides of the lens frame have the same spiral orientation. The temples at the two sides of the lens frame are respectively slid upward and downward to be staggered in time of folding due to the cooperation of the spiral guiding slot and the guiding block. As a result, the dimension of the glasses is reduced, which conduces to convenient storage for users. |
| US08192016B2 |
Spectacles
A pair of rimless spectacles includes two lenses, a frame including two temple units and a bridge, and a connection mechanism. The connection mechanism includes a plurality of first connectors spacedly provided at the lenses at a predetermined location and a plurality of second connectors provided at a predetermined location of each of the temple units and the bridge respectively, wherein the second connectors are coupled with the first connectors respectively to couple the temple units at two outer sides of the lenses respectively and to couple the bridge between two inner sides of the lenses respectively in a tool-less manner. |
| US08192012B2 |
Process and apparatus for ink jet ultraviolet transfuse
In a tonerless imaging process, an inked image layer jetted on an image receptor is simultaneously transferred and fused to a recording medium. A radiation-curable material is incorporated in the image layer such that irradiation of the image layer cures the radiation-curable material therein. An ink jet printing apparatus for performing the above process is also disclosed. |
| US08192010B2 |
Metallic ink jet printing system for graphics applications
A multi-phase system for creating a metallic effect on a substrate, comprising applying to the substrate a first ink jet ink comprising a dispersion of reflective metallic particles in a suitable carrier system, to form a reflective coating layer; and applying a second ink jet ink over the reflective coating layer to form a protective coating layer. Optionally, an undercoat layer is printed on the substrate prior to applying the first ink jet ink. The second ink jet comprises at least one crosslinkable polymer or is otherwise energy curable. The second ink jet ink optionally imparts a color to the metallic image. |
| US08192008B2 |
Inkjet printing system and ink
An inkjet printing system includes an inkjet printer responsive to digital signals and containing an ink composition having: (a) water, (b) dispersed pigment particles, (c) a humectant, and (d) a polyurethane additive having at least a first soft segment having siloxane groups, the additive having a weight average molecular weight of at least 10,000 daltons and a sufficient number of acid groups to provide an acid number greater than 60. An improved combination of scratch resistance and jetability is obtained. |
| US08192007B2 |
Liquid jet head
A liquid jet apparatus is provided. The liquid jet apparatus includes a first damper chamber and a second damper chamber, a release path operatively associated with both the first damper chamber and the second damper chamber, and a control path connecting the first damper chamber, the second damper chamber, and the release path to each other. |
| US08192003B2 |
Liquid container and liquid consuming apparatus
A small-capacity liquid container capable of preventing a trouble due to a pressurized deformation of a large-capacity liquid container even when plural liquid containers having different capacity are densely arranged. A liquid container is an improvement of a small-capacity liquid container of a plurality of liquid containers selected from a container lineup at least including a large-capacity liquid container and a small-capacity liquid container having an entire length smaller than that of the large-capacity liquid container, the plurality of liquid containers each having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, being mounted on a container holder of a liquid consuming apparatus in a state where pairs of largest faces thereof are adjacent to each other, and supplying a liquid with an introduction of a pressurizing fluid from the liquid consuming apparatus. The small-sized liquid container includes a liquid containing section containing the liquid, a container body accommodating the liquid containing section in a pressurizing space into which the pressurizing fluid is introduced, and an extension section formed by allowing the container body to extend toward the rear end in a mounting direction in which the liquid container is mounted on the container holder. |
| US08192000B2 |
Fluid height backpressure system for supplying fluid to a printhead and backpressure device used therein
A fluid height backpressure system includes a printhead, a fluid supply tank, a backpressure device, and an air removal device. The backpressure device responsible for supplying system backpressure includes a tower disposed in an upright position and having a plurality of walls defining first and second chambers for respectively communicating with the ink supply tank and a fluid supply reservoir of the printhead. The air removal device provides additional backpressure in the second chamber, allows backpressure in the system to be maintained even with an empty fluid supply tank, and also supply of ink to the fluid supply reservoir of the printhead substantially without air bubbles being introduced therein. Also, ink sensors are utilized for sensing out-of-ink/ink-low conditions and also to help establish and continue the operation of the backpressure device. |
| US08191999B2 |
Inkjet printer
In an inkjet printer of a station-supply type, when ink is supplied from a main tank of an ink cartridge to a sub tank storing ink to be supplied to a recording head, the ink cartridge and the sub tank are connected to each other. The inkjet printer includes: a piston pump including (a) a cylinder which communicates with the main tank and (b) a piston which is slidable in the cylinder in a lengthwise direction thereof and cooperates with the cylinder to form a pressure chamber; a power transmission device which transmits a power to the piston in a state in which the ink cartridge is attached to a frame of the inkjet printer; and a piston-position initializing device which moves the piston to a predetermined initial position. |
| US08191991B2 |
Liquid ejecting head unit and liquid ejecting apparatus
A liquid ejecting head unit includes a base plate that holds a liquid ejecting head. A position determining pin is fitted into a position determining pin inserting hole in one of the liquid ejecting head and the base plate and is positioned on the other. A guide plate has a pin support hole inserted into the position determining pin. The guide plate is configured by a lowermost layer that is bonded to the other in which the position determining pin is positioned, a middle layer, and an uppermost layer. The pin support hole is configured by a first opening portion in the uppermost layer, a second opening portion in the lowermost layer, and a communication opening portion in the middle layer and allows the first and second opening portions to communicate with each other. The position determining pin is supported by the first and second opening portions. |
| US08191990B2 |
Inkjet recording apparatus
An inkjet recording apparatus has an inkjet head with an ejection surface. The ejection surface has a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. The ejection surface also has a first and second control portion, and a contact portion located between the first control portion and the second control portion. Additionally, a number of ejection ports are formed through the ejection surface. The inkjet recording apparatus also includes a wiper and a wiper moving mechanism. The wiper moving mechanism moves the wiper between the first end and the second end. When the wiper is located over the contact portion, the wiper contacts the ejection surface, and when the wiper is located over the first or second control portions, the wiper is located away from the ink ejection surface. |
| US08191989B2 |
Printing apparatus and recovering method therefor
A printing apparatus comprises: a temperature sensor configured to detect an environmental temperature of the printing apparatus; a suction unit configured to suck ink from a printhead according to a target suction amount indicating amount of ink that the suction unit should suck per unit time at a predetermined environmental temperature; and a controller configured to cause the suction unit to suck ink such that the target suction amount in a case where the environmental temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature is greater than the target suction amount in a case where the environmental temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature. |
| US08191984B2 |
Recording medium detection method and label printer
A recording medium detection method uses transmission and reflection photosensors to correctly detect if a recording medium having labels affixed to a liner is in the transportation path. The label printer has a reflection photosensor and a transmission photosensor disposed to the transportation path at positions separated the distance between the labels. Labels on the recording medium can always be detected by either or both the reflection photosensor and the transmission photosensor. Because the reflection photosensor is downstream from the transmission photosensor, a situation in which a black mark is at the detection position of the reflection photosensor and reflection is not detected and only the liner is at the detection position of the transmission photosensor and transmission of the detection beam is detected is avoided. Detecting transmission without detecting reflection of the detection beam therefore only occurs when the recording medium is not in the transportation path. |
| US08191981B2 |
Ink jet head driving apparatus
Provided is an ink jet head driving apparatus which can highly accurately control jetting timing separately for each of a plurality of nozzles of a head without increasing the number of signal lines and can change the jetting timing for each jetting cycle. |
| US08191978B2 |
Inkjet image former
A controller works with a measure of temperature of ink at a temperature sensor within a first temperature range to have an inkjet head propel out droplets of ink at a first discharge speed for formation of images, and with a measure of temperature of ink at the temperature sensor within a second temperature range lower than the first temperature range to have the inkjet head propel out droplets of ink at a second discharge speed greater than the first discharge speed for formation of images, and the controller determines that end regions of a frame of images to be formed in regions at transfer-longitudinal ends of a sheet to be transferred in a sheet transfer system have a print ratio within a prescribed range, to execute formation of images. |
| US08191977B2 |
Ejection device with slipping clutch
An ejection device for a furniture part mounted movably in or on a furniture body includes an ejector, a drive unit, and a friction clutch. The friction clutch is designed in such a manner that it decouples the drive unit and the ejector from each other when a predetermined torque is exceeded. The friction clutch includes two parts which are rotatable in relation to each other with respect to two directions of rotation. A spring is provided which interacts with the two parts in such a manner that the torque at which the decoupling takes place differs for the two directions of rotation of the two parts. |
| US08191973B2 |
Method for the creation of a pole wheel/wheel hub connection and arrangement thereof
A method of forming a pole wheel connected to a wheel hub of a motor vehicle and a corresponding apparatus are described. A magnetically permeable, prefabricated pole wheel is placed in a mold for forming the wheel hub, and the mold is filled with a melt composed of a magnetically impermeable material in the solidified state. The melt fills the apertures formed between adjacent teeth of the pole wheel, while a shape of the pole wheel is substantially maintained. |
| US08191972B2 |
Hydrodemolition machine for inclined surfaces
In accordance with the invention, there is provided a concrete removing apparatus for removing concrete from an inclined wall of concrete having a frame with a front region. The frame may be supported on either a platform or from the wall with the front region adjacent to the wall. A carriage assembly is coupled to the frame assembly proximate a front region thereof, the carriage assembly extending from one side of the frame to another. A nozzle assembly is mounted on the carriage assembly and operative to move laterally of the frame assembly in response to activation of the carriage assembly. A nozzle on the nozzle assembly is operative to emit a jet of fluid against the wall of sufficient velocity to remove concrete from the wall. A transporting assembly is coupled to and operative to raise and lower the carriage assembly. |
| US08191971B2 |
Seat trim assembly
A seat trim assembly including a cushion and a retention clip. The retention clip includes first and second retention portions and a flexible arm. The first and second retention portions are adapted to engage a trim cover assembly. The flexible arm connects the first and second retention portions and has a serpentine configuration that facilitates flexing of the retention clip. |
| US08191967B2 |
Adjustable back cushion structure
An adjustable back cushion structure comprises an adjusting device, which has three portions, a positioning portion, an adjusting portion and a joining portion, the positioning portion is disposed a block portion thereon, a plurality of fixing portions are disposed between the positioning portion and the adjusting portion, a joining surface is on the top end of the joining portion; and a cushion, which is a member covered by a loop surface, filler is filled into the cushion, any of the surface of the cushion is able to to join the joining surface of the adjusting device. |
| US08191963B2 |
Stackable chair
In a stackable chair system, a plurality of chairs are provided, each chair having a back, a seat, and first and second armrests all integral with one another in an injection-molded thermal plastic construction. Each first armrest has an integral molded round cup-holder positioned in a region of an outer end of the first armrest. Each second armrest has an integral molded plate-holder in a region of an outer end of the second armrest. Each seat portion is contoured downwardly forming a seat depression. Each chair is dimensioned so that the chairs can be stacked on top of one another in nested fashion. |
| US08191961B2 |
Rear vehicle-body structure of vehicle
In a rear vehicle-body structure of a vehicle in which a damper support portion supporting an upper end portion of a suspension damper is provided at a rear wheel house, on a vehicle-inside wall face of the rear wheel house are provided a first brace member which interconnects a front portion of the damper support portion and a rear side frame and a second brace member which interconnects a rear portion of the damper support portion and the rear side frame. Accordingly, the rigidity of the damper support portion provided at the rear wheel house can be improved easily and effectively, and this structure can have superiority in its applicability. |
| US08191958B2 |
Vehicle front structure
A vehicle front structure 1 includes a front panel 10, a center reinforcing member 20, side reinforcing members 30, protective members 40, and pipes 50. The front panel 10 is mounted on a front surface of a vehicle body 2. The pipes 50 cross, along a rear surface of the front panel 10, a peripheral portion of the front panel 10 at a rear surface side of the front panel 10. The protective members 40 are fixed to the front panel 10. Each protective member 40 includes a plate-like cover portion 41 and at least two plate-like impact absorbing portions 46. The cover portion 41 protrudes toward the front of a vehicle, has a substantially U-shape in a cross-sectional view, and covers the pipes 50 from the front side of the vehicle. The impact absorbing portions 46 are disposed outside the cover portion 41 at both sides of the pipes 50, protrude toward the back of the vehicle, and each have a substantially U-shape in a cross-sectional view. |
| US08191957B2 |
Flatbed trailer having an extendable configuration and an alternate configuration
A flatbed trailer includes first, second and third flatbed sections whereby the first and second sections are joinable in an extendable configuration and the first and third sections are joinable in an alternate and typically standard configuration. The trailer can be switched between the extendable and alternate configuration within a fairly short time. The invention thus eliminates the need for both a standard extendable trailer and a separate non-extendable trailer, and provides the ability to use the alternate configuration when the extendable configuration is not necessary in order to substantially reduce the weight which would otherwise be involved with the use of the extendable configuration. |
| US08191956B1 |
Vehicle with aerodynamic system
A semi-trailer has an elongate bed with skirts depending there from adjacent to either side of the bed. The skirts are laterally flexible and can also flex vertically to overcome obstacles and objects. Elongate plates are mounted at one end to the underside of the bed adjacent one or the other of the depending skirts. The elongate plates extend inwardly beneath the bed and then diagonally downwardly to the adjacent skirt displaced below the attachment to the bed. Leaf springs are superimposed on the underside of the inward extensions of the elongate plates to preload the plates toward the bed of the semi-trailer. The skirts extend from landing leg assemblies on the semi-trailer to longitudinally adjacent the forward outboard tires of the wheel assemblies. |
| US08191952B2 |
Device capable of modulation by expansion or compaction for forming a protection and transport structure at the back and at the height of the roof of the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle
A device that can be modulated by being extended or retracted: to form a structure for protective and transport purposes at the rear of a motor vehicle and at the height of its cab roof; or to fold partially vertically and partially horizontally behind the front seats. |
| US08191948B2 |
Gripper for containers
A gripper for manipulating containers includes a support on which a cam mechanism is pivotally mounted. The gripper has a first jaw operated by the cam mechanism and a second jaw controlled by the first jaw. The first jaw has an actuator which interacts with a receiving mechanism on the second jaw for opening or closing the gripper. The actuator is pivotally associated with the first jaw so that, when force is applied by the receiving mechanism due to rotation of the second jaw relative to the first jaw, the actuator can rotate relative to the first jaw to allow the gripper to open. |
| US08191946B1 |
Golf utility devices
Golf utility devices are provided. In one embodiment, a golf utility device includes a rod having a first end and a second end, and a grasping portion coupled to the first end of the rod. The grasping portion includes a first grasping arm including a first enlarged tip, and a second grasping arm including a second enlarged tip. The second grasping arm is pivotably coupled to the first grasping arm. The first and second grasping arms are movable into a closed position and an open position. The golf utility device also includes a handle portion coupled to the second end of the rod. The handle portion includes a handle and a trigger movable into a plurality of positions including a released position and an activated position. The first and second grasping arms are adapted to move into the closed position when the trigger is moved into the activated position. |
| US08191943B2 |
Crash box for a vehicle
A crash box for a vehicle is made from a sheet blank (10) which is bent in a U to form the front plate (11), a top side (12) and a bottom side (13), and the top side and bottom side are bent to form overlapping flaps (16-19) which are joined together at the overlapping, and to form rear fastening plates (14,15). |
| US08191940B2 |
Latching motion transfer mechanism
Latching motion transfer arrangements may be used to raise an object up and out of engagement with the ground or other support surface and to lower the object back onto the ground or other support surface. In one exemplary embodiment, the mechanism is caused to lift and latch by applying force in a first direction, a first time, and is caused to release and lower by applying force in the first direction, a second time. |
| US08191939B2 |
Fire bolt assembly for door
A fire bolt assembly (10) includes a receiving tube (20) mounted in a door (106). A mounting member (32) is mounted to the receiving tube (20) and includes two coupling faces (56). A positioning bolt (90) is received in the receiving tube (20) and includes a front end (92). A spring (100) is mounted in the receiving tube (20) for biasing the front end (92) of the positioning bolt (90) out of the receiving tube (20). A stop member (58) includes two legs (66) respectively engaged with the coupling faces (56) of the mounting member (32) to hold the positioning bolt (90) in the receiving tube (20). The front end (92) of the positioning bolt (90) is moved out of the receiving tube (20) to engage with a coupling hole (116) in another door (112) or a door frame when the stop member (58) melts due to the heat of the fire, locking the door (106) in place during the fire. |
| US08191938B2 |
Push-pull type door latch with motion transfer belt
A push-pull type door latch opens a door by applying direct mechanical force on the pull side, and by remote action on the push side through conveying a force through a motion transfer belt that connects the two handles. The latch involves no access holes in the door so each handle may be situated at offset positions with respect to each other. |
| US08191936B2 |
Gaming machine door latch
A gaming machine door latch comprises a slide having one or more associated catches, and lock or latch strikes. The slide may be mounted to the gaming machine housing for vertical movement. The catches are mounted to the slide and may be configured to pivot. The strikes are mounted to the door. When the gaming machine door is closed, the catches automatically engage the strikes, thus latching the door. The door may be opened by raising the slide, causing the catches to move out of engagement with the strikes. The latch may include a lock which locks and unlocks the slide. |
| US08191935B2 |
Glove box assembly for a dashboard of a motor vehicle
A glove box assembly for a dashboard of a motor vehicle has two glove box compartments adjacent to one another and associated with respective doors movable between an open position and a closed position; the glove box assembly has two retaining devices each associated with a relative door and releasable by manually operating respective control elements, which are both borne on one of the two doors; to open the other door, a transmission transmits the release command when the first door is in the closed position. |
| US08191927B2 |
Liquid cooled inflator
An inflator including a housing with a first chamber that contains a quantity of gas generant. An initiator is operatively associated with the first chamber and in reaction initiating communication with at least a portion of the quantity of gas generant. The initiator, upon actuation, acts to ignite at least a portion of the quantity of gas generant to form gas. The housing further has a second chamber adjacently disposed to the first chamber. The second chamber contains a sealed storage reservoir and a piston assembly. The sealed storage reservoir includes a liner and a lid and contains a quantity of liquid. The piston assembly includes a piston. During deployment, the piston moves to unseal the storage reservoir to release at least a portion of the quantity of liquid such that the released liquid contacts and cools gas formed by the ignition of the gas generant. A discharge opening permits gas to exit the housing. |
| US08191923B2 |
Electrical earth connection and method of producing contact areas for the electrical earth connection
A holder for a controller housing of a central airbag unit is arranged on a central tunnel of the vehicle and fixed using fastening bolts by union nuts. A blank paint-free contact area is created around the fastening bolts by the union nuts being mounted on the fastening screws before a painting process. After a painting process, the union nuts are removed from the screws and the controller housing is mounted on the contact areas and secured by the union nuts. |
| US08191922B2 |
Drop-bed trailer
An improved drop-bed trailer provides a trailer without ramps that lowers to the ground, enabling one person to load/offload motorcycles, etc. A trailer frame with independently pivotal elongated members on each side of the frame, a wheel on each elongated member. A rubber spring or steel coil spring suspension system on the end of each elongated member. A winch and cable pulley system connected to each end of the elongated members via cable connector fitting through the two snap-in bushings. Cable retrieval upon the winch causes the elongated members to be drawn parallel to the frame in raised locked position. A cable tension device keeps the primary cable uniformly coiled upon the winch while providing slack to the secondary cable for complete compression of the suspension system. A safety restrictor device is mounted to the trailer frame to limit the pivotal movement of the elongated members in the event of a cable mechanism failure. |
| US08191917B2 |
Snowboard binding
The present invention provides a snowboard binding, including a mount, rear plate, top plate assembly base, rotary top pressboard, trigger support and coupling plate. The coupling plate, the mating frame of the rotary top pressboard, the mating ends of the trigger support and the top plate assembly base are coupled together to form a four-bar mechanism. The pressing state of the rotary top pressboard can be positioned directly by the perpendicular trigger support, and the rotary top pressboard can realize an expanded opening state over 90°. Thus, the snowboard boot can be slipped directly into the snowboard binding, enabling more convenient locating and release of the snowboard binding with better efficiency and applicability. |
| US08191913B1 |
Center footrest for a wheelchair
A center footrest apparatus for use on an existing wheelchair comprises a foot resting plate arranged in a sling-like manner and attached to each side of the chair frame. The apparatus is further provided in a second embodiment comprising a rigidly mounted and height adjustable center footrest portion supported by a T-bar that attaches to the chair frame. The center footrest allows a person to be moved around in tight quarters without interference caused by conventional folding dual footrests. |
| US08191911B1 |
Multiple torsion bar cartridge suspension systems applications
An active torsion cartridge may be installed in numerous vehicle applications. An active torque tube subassembly begins with a drawbar bearing securely pressed into a torque insert bore. A torque insert is intimately installed into mating active torque tube. The active torque tube exhibits a finished circular section at the inside end and an outer machined configuration matching the torque insert on the outer end to maintain material wall thickness and load carrying capacity. When the two surfaces meet, multi-point shoulders are created for future use. A retaining ring is installed into mating groove in torque tube inside end. An active torque tube bearing is securely pressed into a bearing housing bore and protruding as desired for thrust loading. An opposite end of a protruding thrust bearing is carefully aligned with active torque tube machined configuration and torque tube bearing slides fully onto its diameter and abuts retaining ring. |
| US08191903B2 |
Gas spring system having multi chamber gas springs
A gas spring system of a vehicle includes a multi-chamber gas spring associated with each vehicle wheel. Each multi-chamber gas spring comprises a main chamber and at least one auxiliary chamber connectable to the main chamber, such that the spring rigidity of the multi-chamber gas springs can be changed. A control device determines a target axle rigidity as a function of a guide lateral acceleration and adjusts the target rigidity. The spring rigidity of the multi-chamber gas spring located on an inner side of the vehicle (relative to a curve traversed by the vehicle) is first changed. The spring rigidities of the multi-chamber gas springs of a vehicle axle are changed in stages in an alternating fashion. |
| US08191900B2 |
Oil seal
An oil seal (1A) has an outer member (2) fitted to a crankcase (100), an inner member (3) integrally rotatably fitted to a crankshaft (101), and a first movable lip (4) disposed in the gap (G1) formed by the outer member (2) and the inner member (3). The first movable lip (4) is disposed such that it is not in contact with the outer member (2) when rotation of the crankshaft (101) is stopped and that it is displaced in the direction to approach the outer member (2), coming into contact with the outer member (2) to close the gap (G1). |
| US08191899B2 |
Apparatus for rotationally fixing a seal ring of a mechanical seal assembly axially movably retained at a mounting component
The present invention refers to an apparatus for rotationally fixing a seal ring (4) of a mechanical seal assembly retained at a mounting component (1) to be axially movable, comprising a force transmitting ring (10) retained at the mounting component to be axially movable and a rotation prevention device comprising at least one first engaging member (17) configured to engage with the mounting component and the force transmitting ring in a form-fit manner and at least one second engaging member (18) configured to engage with the force transmitting ring and the seal ring in a form-fit manner, the first engaging member being arranged circumferentially offset with respect to the second engaging member, characterized in that the engaging members (17, 18) protrude axially from the force transmitting ring (10) or the seal ring (4) toward the respectively other component (seal ring or force transmitting ring) and are configured to be received in axial recesses (19, 20) provided in the respectively other component with a play. |
| US08191894B2 |
Card feed mechanisms for card-handling apparatuses and related methods
Apparatuses and methods for moving playing cards from a first group of cards into plural hands of cards, wherein each of the hands contains a random arrangement of cards. The apparatus may comprise a card receiver for receiving the first group of cards, a single stack of card-receiving compartments generally adjacent to the card receiver, the stack generally vertically movable, an elevator for moving the stack, a card-moving mechanism between the card receiver and the stack, and a microprocessor that controls the card-moving mechanism and the elevator so that an individual card is moved into an identified compartment. The number of compartments receiving cards and the number of cards moved to each compartment may be selected. Apparatuses for feeding cards may comprise a surface for supporting a stack of cards, a feed roller with a frictional outer surface, a drive mechanism for causing rotation of the feed roller, a pair of speed-up rollers to advance the cards out of the feed roller, and a clutch mechanism for disengaging the feed roller from the drive mechanism as the card comes into contact with the speed-up rollers. |
| US08191892B2 |
Feed device and image forming apparatus
A feed device includes a paper tray on which sheets are stacked and a side fence that guides a side edges of a sheet stacked on the paper tray in a sheet feed direction. The feed device feeds an uppermost sheet from the sheets stacked on the paper tray to an image forming apparatus. A plurality of concavities and convexities integrally formed with an identical material to the side fence is formed on a surface of the side fence that is in contact with an edge face of a fed sheet. |
| US08191888B2 |
Image forming apparatus and computer readable medium
An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of paper supplying trays; an image forming unit; and a cover. The image forming apparatus further includes a cover opening/closing detecting unit that detects an operation for opening/closing the cover; a paper supplying tray opening/closing detecting unit that detects an operation for opening/closing the paper supplying tray; a paper jam detecting unit that detects a paper jam in at least one place in a paper transporting path; a paper jam release deciding unit that decides whether the paper jam in the detecting place is released or not after the confirmation of a detection; and a completion control unit that controls to complete a paper jam processing based on the decision that the paper jam in all of the places in the paper transporting path is released through the paper jam release deciding unit. |
| US08191886B2 |
Dividing print jobs in output tray
A method for dividing print jobs in an output tray of a printing machine includes outputting print job sheets of a print job onto an inclined support of the output tray, so that the print job sheets slide against an abutment to form a stack. A dividing sheet is produced, and a hook-shaped deformation is imparted in the dividing sheet. The dividing sheet is outputted onto the stack formed by the print job sheets on the output tray so that the dividing sheet slides in the direction of the abutment and the deformation becomes propped up against the stack. |
| US08191883B2 |
Pocket management system
A system uses a plurality of sensors to detect and manage conditions within a moving pocket, such as a pocket carrying a flat product from one location to another. The system is particularly useful in connection with a newspaper insert machine. One sensor detects whether the product has been opened properly at a particular time; another sensor detects whether the product has been properly gripped by a gripper at a particular time; another sensor detects whether the pocket is empty at a particular time and another sensor detects whether the pocket is open or closed at a particular time. In the event an error condition is detected, the error condition is corrected by a control system. |
| US08191880B2 |
Sheet metal ground conductor clamp
A ground conductor clamp has a sheet metal clamp body with overlapped portions. The clamp body may be stamped from sheet metal. The overlapped portions have aligned circular holes in them for receiving a threaded insert nut inserted into them. The insert nut is spin riveted to attach it to the overlapped portions of the clamp body. A flange of the insert nut has a flat face that engages the clamp body to prevent rotation of the insert nut. The overlapped portion includes an inner bent tab that strengthens the sheet metal clamp body. The clamp also includes a threaded fastener, such as a bolt, that is threaded into the insert nut to engage a conductive lead and a ground conductor, such as a ground rod or ground electrode. |
| US08191878B2 |
Mounting device
Mounting device for mounting or demounting a wind turbine blade (14) to or from a hub which is located on a nacelle at the top of a wind turbine tower (12). The mounting device comprises a sledge which comprises a support structure and a gripping structure. The support structure is adapted to releasably grip the wind turbine tower and adapted to guide the sledge along an outer surface of the wind turbine tower between a bottom end position and a top end position of the tower. The gripping structure is adapted to provide a releasable fixation of the wind turbine blade in a fixed orientation relative to the gripping structure. The sledge is adapted to be moved along the tower by a combination of the support structure and a cable connection to the top end. A tilt device (17) is arranged between the support structure and the gripping structure to facilitate tilting of the gripping structure relative to the support structure. |
| US08191877B2 |
Torsion spring and lamp having the same
A lamp includes a shell with an assembling portion, a main body disposed in the shell, and a torsion spring. The torsion spring includes a spring body, a first supporting part, and a second supporting part. The spring body is assembled to the assembling portion. The first supporting part includes a first arm connected to an end of the spring body, a second arm near another end of the spring body and a first bending part connected between the first supporting part and the second supporting part. A structure of the second supporting part is similar to that the first supporting part and is connected to the spring body. The first supporting part and the second supporting part are suitable for tightly clamping the assembling portion and a fixing end respectively by the force of the spring body. |
| US08191876B2 |
Fluid filled type vibration damping device
A fluid-filled type vibration damping device wherein a second mounting member is secured to a vehicle body; an opening of the second mounting member is closed off to define a pressure-receiving chamber a flexible film is arranged covering an outside of a main rubber elastic body to define an equilibrium chamber; a low-frequency orifice passage and a high-frequency orifice passage connect the pressure-receiving chamber and the equilibrium chamber a first moveable member is disposed on a fluid channel through the high-frequency orifice passage; the first moveable member being supported by a first support member that is linked to the second mounting member via the main rubber elastic body; and a fluid channel through the low-frequency orifice passage is situated away from the placement location of the first moveable member. |
| US08191875B2 |
Hydraulic engine mount
A hydraulic engine mount assembly includes a support bracket defining a passageway that communicates between a pair of fluid chambers formed in an elastomeric body. According to one embodiment, the mount includes first and second connection devices for respectively connecting the engine mount to first and second connection surfaces. |
| US08191873B2 |
Device for limiting rotation of an axle in a leaf spring eye and suspension featuring same
A suspension system suitable for a trailer incorporates a device for limiting rotation of an axle received in an eye of a leaf spring. The leaf spring has a wrapped end defining the eye extending transverse to the leaf spring with a gap left between the leaf spring and the wrapped end thereof. The rotation limiting device is fixed to the axle and features a sleeve having a peripheral wall extending circumferentially about the axle inside the eye of the leaf spring and a tab projecting outward from the peripheral wall of the sleeve and extending in a direction parallel to the axis. The tab projects into the gap left between the leaf spring and the wrapped end thereof to block rotation of the axle and sleeve relative to the wrapped end of the leaf spring. Friction fit, adhesive, welding or multi-piece hardware fixing of the spring is avoided. |
| US08191870B2 |
Cross-flow tray and method employing same
A cross-flow tray is provided with a tray deck and groupings of cans separated by weirs. The cans have walls that surround vapor openings in the tray deck. Openings are provided in the walls to allow liquid to enter the cans from the tray deck. Additional openings are provided in the walls to allow liquid to exit the cans. Swirlers positioned within the cans induce a centrifugal swirling motion to the vapor and liquid to facilitate mass transfer and/or heat exchange between the vapor and liquid within the cans. |
| US08191868B2 |
Floating oxygenation circulator platform (OCP) with sub-vortex induction means
A floating oxygenation circulator platform (OCP) is disclosed employing sub-vortex induction to initiate numerous, gentle yet complex, tumbling, swirling, rolling, roiling or rotating sub-vortices spreading outward on the liquid surface. The circulator platform itself sets in motion a non-turbulent, high efficiency, bottom to top, primary toroidal vortex flow. Varied sub-vortex induction mechanisms mounted on, made part of, attached to, extending out from or placed around the body of the circulator platform, induce sub-vortices to increase the surface exposure of the liquid and its contents to atmospheric oxygen and UV sunlight. The OCP and its sub-vortex induction mechanisms taken together act in the manner of a Rotating Inverse Biological Contactor (RIBC), labeled “inverse” because the liquid itself rotates and tumbles its contents into direct contact with the atmosphere and with sunlight, in contrast to RBC devices where solid disks rotate in and out of a liquid. |
| US08191866B2 |
System for accumulating hysteresis movements
With certain technical applications actuation has to be carried out at positions where the required energy supply is costly or difficult to provide. The invention offers a solution to this problem with a mechanical process, which functions without energy, for those cases where operation-related variable force or torque occurs, or where such force or torque fluctuations can be artificially produced. The invention concerns, on the one hand, the storage of rope segment that, multiplied by existing force, represents stored work, whereby the force contact point moves against the direction of force. On the other hand, it concerns the subsequent utilization of this stored rope segment for actuation, with actuation being gained from the stored rope segment through force prevailing at this time, whereby the force contact point moves in the direction of force. |
| US08191862B2 |
Portable spring-damper compressor
The present invention relates to a spring compression apparatus for compressing a coil spring and a related method of making this apparatus. A top plate is provided that engages and supports a first end of a coil spring. A middle plate engages and supports a second end of the coil spring, so that the coil spring is supported between these two plates. A base plate is disposed on an opposite side of the middle plate from the top plate. A frame is formed that fixedly supports the top plate and the base plate. The frame also slidably supports the middle plate. A jack, which is positioned between the base plate and the middle plate. The jack urges the middle plate toward the top plate, so as to compress the coil spring. |
| US08191859B2 |
Water flow control valve
The present invention provides a water flow control valve, which has an improved structure, thus reducing manufacturing costs and increasing the reliability of products. To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the water flow control valve includes synchronous motors (20), which generate drive forces in directions opposite each other, an eccentric cam (30), which is provided between the synchronous motors (20) and converts a direction in which the drive force is transmitted, a power transmission unit (50), which is in rolling contact with the eccentric cam and adjusts the amount of fluid that flows through a housing using operation of the eccentric cam, and ratchet gears (40), which are provided between the synchronous motors and the eccentric cam and transmit the drive force of one of the synchronous motors while preventing the drive force of the remaining synchronous motor from being transmitted in a no-load operation manner. |
| US08191857B2 |
Linear motor valve
A valve having a valve body having spaced inlet and outlet ports separated by an intermediate valve seat in open communication with the inlet and outlet ports includes a piston and a valve member being adapted to sealingly mate with the valve seat. A biasing member is positioned to bias the valve member toward the valve seat. A linear motor assembly attached to the valve body, the linear motor having a plurality of stator discs, a plurality of stator coils, a plurality of teeth defining a cylindrical opening, and a slider positioned within the cylindrical opening. The slider has a plurality of teeth defining a generally cylindrical outer periphery of the slider and is movable in response to magnetic flux generated by electrical current passing through one or more of the stator coils. |
| US08191846B2 |
Magnetic support for aquarium fittings
A magnetic support (10) for aquariums includes a first and a second support element (20a, 20b), each of them having a magnet (26a, 26b) so that by coupling the first and second support elements (20a, 20b) by interposing an aquarium wall (50) between them, the attracting magnetic force operating between the two magnets (26a, 26b) locks the two support elements (20a, 20b). Each support element (20a, 20b) comprises a flat element (40a, 40b) made up of flexible material having a peripheral projecting lip (46a, 46b), so that when the two support elements (20a, 20b) are coupled together by interposing the wall (50), the peripheral projecting lips (46a, 46b) are flattened against the wall (50), thus creating a suction effect. |
| US08191843B2 |
Mudguard mounting structure
There is provided a mudguard mounting structure, superior in versatility and capable of reducing the number of steps for mounting. The present invention is a structure for mounting a mudguard on a rear bumper of a vehicle, in which a mounting member is used to mount the mudguard on the rear bumper, said mounting member comprising a clamping portion on one side thereof for clamping an end portion of the rear bumper, and a mounting portion on which the mudguard is mounted on an other side. The mounting member can be mounted on the rear bumper by allowing the clamping portion to clamp the aforementioned end portion, thereby reducing the number of parts and steps for mounting, and costs. Since the mounting member excels in versatility, costs can be further reduced. An engagement portion for engaging the rear bumper is provided on an inner surface of the clamping portion. |
| US08191838B2 |
Collapsible and adjustable electronics support systems
A collapsible and adjustable electronics support with a releasably lockable rotatable base having a link with adjustable drag hinges connecting the releasably lockable rotatable base to a receiver for a polygonal support adapter. One or two tools for adjusting the drag hinges are included with first and second releasably snap-fit covers for respective first and second link sides of the link. The covers also cover the adjustable device in the drag hinge ends. The releasably lockable rotatable base is a four-part base with an adhesive part, a flexible and resilient panel supporting an axle, a first rigid panel rotationally fixed relative to the flexible and resilient panel, and a second rigid panel that rotates relative to the first rigid panel. The low profile in a collapsed configuration avoids rubbing the environmental surface to which it is attached. Wire management guides are provided on the receiver. |
| US08191837B2 |
Back frame module
A back frame module includes a base plate, two locking plate members, a cable organizing plate, and a stowage plate. The base plate is adapted to be provided on a rear face of a display. The locking plate members, the cable organizing plate, and the stowage plate are selectively connected to the base plate. The locking plate members are adapted for mounting of a computer device therebetween. The cable organizing plate is adapted to stow a cable of the display or of the computer device. The stowage plate is adapted to stow an adapter of the display or other accessories. The locking plate members, the cable organizing plate, and the stowage plate can be selectively substituted by a support plate. The back frame module thus has various states of use to satisfy different user requirements. |
| US08191836B2 |
Snap-in cable hanger clip
A clip for a snap-in cable hanger with a top from which at least two clip arm(s) extend and at least one of the clip arm(s) formed with a clip tab projecting proximate a distal end. The top having a length greater than a diameter of the mounting hole and a width dimensioned to fit within a spring space when the snap-in cable hanger is seated upon the mounting hole. The clip arm(s) spaced apart proximate the diameter of the mounting hole, having a length longer than a depth of the mounting hole. |
| US08191835B2 |
Wing of an aircraft
A wing of an aircraft has a mainplane, which has an upper face, a lower face and an aerodynamically shaped area. The wing has an additional airfoil which is articulated on the mainplane and can be extended from a retracted state with a slot area being opened between the mainplane and the additional airfoil. The wing also has a variable-position slot-varying apparatus which is arranged on the lower face, forms a part of the aerodynamic profile of the additional airfoil or mainplane when the additional airfoil is extended, and at least partially covers the slot area between the mainplane and the additional airfoil on the lower face when the additional airfoil is in the retracted state. The slot-varying apparatus can be varied between a curved configuration, in which it forms a part of an aerodynamic profile, and an extended configuration, in which it at least partially covers the slot area. |
| US08191832B2 |
Method and device for an aircraft buffet reduction
A method and device of dynamically reducing the buffeting of an airplane. The method is carried out by detecting a risk of buffeting of the airplane in flight by a monitor. At least one control surface is turned by an actuator arranged at a trailing edge of each wing of the airplane. The control surface is turned, at a predetermined respective rate of turn, into a predetermined respective position to modify lift profile of the wing along a wingspan length to reduce lift in at least one buffeting-generating region of each wing. |
| US08191831B2 |
Parachute release device for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
The disclosure provides a parachute release device which may include a connecting element capable of connecting to an aircraft and to a parachute and a locking mechanism capable of releasing the connecting element from the aircraft upon being actuated by an actuator, wherein the parachute may be connected to the connecting element by a multiplicity of points, wherein the locking mechanism is adapted to inhibit a force from being applied to the actuator and wherein the device may be suitable for use in small weights aircrafts due to its small size and weight. The disclosure further provides a method for releasing a parachute from an aircraft, the method may include activating an actuator capable of releasing a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism is adapted to release a connecting element from an aircraft upon being actuated, wherein the connecting element is adapted to connect a parachute and wherein the locking mechanism is adapted to inhibit a force from being applied to the actuator. |
| US08191824B2 |
Integrated load sensing system
An integrated load sensing system includes a housing including a coupling pin portion thereof. A bridge circuit includes a set of strain gauges bonded to the coupling pin portion. A bridge circuit excitation, error correction, and amplification (BCEECA) subsystem is operatively connected to the bridge circuit for receiving indications of shear load from the strain gauges, correcting signal error, and amplifying the indications of shear load. The BCEECA subsystem provides amplified output signals. A power conditioning module is operatively connected to the BCEECA subsystem for receiving power from an external power supply and conditioning power to an appropriate state for driving the bridge circuit as well as an appropriate state for error correction and amplification circuitry within the BCEECA subsystem. A logic module compares the amplified output signals to a predetermined signal threshold and provides latching of enunciation in accordance with a selected delay after the threshold is surpassed. An enunciation element providing enunciation of the output signals surpassing the signal threshold in accordance with the logic module. The bridge circuit, the BCEECA subsystem, the power conditioning module, the logic module, and the enunciation element are contained and sealed within the housing. The invention includes a method for in situ testing of a shear load sensing system for a mechanical system. |
| US08191822B2 |
Device for an aircraft power unit
Device (3) for providing a warning signal when the fan cowl doors (8, 9) of an aircraft are not properly latched by primary locks (6), wherein the device comprises a panel (4) the panel (4) being rotatably mounted on one of the two fan cowl doors (8 or 9), the panel (4) being closed on that one fan cowl doors (8 or 9) by rotation thereby covering at least partially the primary locks (6), such that all the primary locks (6) have to be properly latched for the panel (4) to be closed, and at least one of the panel (4) primary locks (6) not being properly latched prevents proper closing of the panel (4). |
| US08191819B2 |
Floating bearing structure with static buoyancy
A suspended load-bearing structure that is formed by pneumatic structural load-bearing elements comprising an elongate hollow body, compression bars, and traction elements. The hollow body is impinged upon by gases that are lighter than air. In a first embodiment, an individual suspended structural load-bearing element is used as a ridge beam of a large tent hall whose interior has no pillars. The roof is formed by a waterproof cover, the sides of which are stretched on pillars. The cover and the structural load-bearing element are anchored to the ground by means of anchoring ropes. |
| US08191818B2 |
Method for recovering a relatively slower moving vehicle
A method whereby a relatively faster-moving vessel recovers a relatively-slower moving vehicle includes, in some embodiments, causing a first faster-moving vehicle to move along a first circular path, deploying a cable radially inward from the first circular path such that a free end of the cable circumscribes a second circular path having a radius smaller than that of the first circular path, attracting a second slower-moving vehicle to the free end of the cable, and coupling the second vehicle to the cable. |
| US08191817B2 |
Pressure roll or continuous pressure belt
A feature of a pressure roll or a continuous pressure belt for the formation of a reeling nip using a parent roll in a reel-up for the reeling up of a material web, in particular paper web or paperboard web, is that the roll surface or, respectively, belt surface adjacent to the reeling nip has helical, an at least single-start groove, the depth of which is in the range from about 0.4 mm to about 1.5 mm, and the maximum width of which is in the range from about 35 to 60 mm. |
| US08191815B2 |
Auto-reversible reel
An auto-reversible reel includes a wheel-shaped housing, a rotor rotatably mounted in the housing, a pull rope fastened to and winding round the rotor, a control member fastened to one end of the pull rope outside the housing and operable to pull the pull rope out of the housing, and a power spring adapted for reversing the rotor to take up the pull rope. The rotor has a retaining block located on the inside wall thereof and a stop plate extending over the retaining block. The power spring has a retaining hole located on the outer end thereof and fastened to the retaining block of the rotor in such a manner that the stop plate prohibits disconnection of the outer end of the power spring from the retaining block. |
| US08191814B2 |
Pretensioner and pretensioner manufacturing method
A pretensioner is provided, of which the cylinder, including a restriction portion, can be inexpensively formed, the cylinder having the restriction portion for positioning a gas generation unit to be mounted to a cylinder, and a pretensioner manufacturing method for manufacturing such a pretensioner is provided. In the pretensioner, since the cylinder is molded by forging, an inexpensive material compared with a stainless pipe member can be used for the molding. In addition, since the positioning portion can be molded during forging-molding for molding the entire cylinder, cost can be reduced even in this regard. |
| US08191811B2 |
Pulverizing screw, pulverizing casing and pulverizer for food waste treatment apparatus having the same
The present invention provides a pulverizing screw, a pulverizing casing and a pulverizer having the same. The pulverizing screw includes a rotating shaft and a drive blade which extends from the rotating shaft in a spiral shape. The drive blade rotates in the pulverizing casing in such a manner as to maintain a predetermined distance between the drive blade and the inner surface of the pulverizing casing to prevent the drive blade from being impeded by the inner surface of the pulverizing casing. The drive blade extends from a first end of the rotating shaft in a spiral shape surrounding the rotating shaft in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction and is connected to a second end of the rotating shaft. The pulverizing casing comprises a spherical body having a space therein. The pulverizing screw is installed in the spherical body so as to be rotatable. |
| US08191806B2 |
Methods for enhanced processing of biomass using flash desiccation and/or mechanical hydrodynamic cavitation
Methods are disclosed for conditioning biomass. The methods generally include flash dessicating the biomass to reduce a particle size of the biomass; mixing the biomass with a liquid carrier; and exposing the biomass and the liquid carrier to a mechanical hydrodynamic cavitation process. The methods can be employed during ethanol production from grain based feedstock. |
| US08191804B1 |
Fertilizer dispenser
A motorized fertilizer dispenser includes a frustoconical housing having an open upper end in communication with a hollow interior. At a lower end is a dispersal opening. A rotatable sifting blade is positioned within the housing interior and adjacent the dispersal opening. A rotary disc having a plurality of radial blades positioned thereon is situated immediately beneath the dispersal opening. A motor operates both the sifting blade and dispersal disc whereby a desired amount of fertilizer is dropped onto the disc and projected outwardly to a target area. |
| US08191802B2 |
Aerosol
A spray head for attachment to an aerosol container containing pressurized product is provided, the spray head comprising conduit means, more than one separate spray outlet and a splitting chamber for diverting the flow to the spray outlets, wherein the conduit means comprise inlet means for attachment to a valve stem of the aerosol spray unit and conduit outlet means which are in direct fluid communication with the splitting chamber, wherein the splitting chamber is in fluid communication with the spray outlets and wherein, for each spray outlet, the ratio, L1/L2, of the distance (L1) between the conduit outlet means and the spray outlet to the distance (L2) between the inlet means and the spray outlet is in the range 0.01 to 0.6. |
| US08191799B2 |
Shower head having a larger flushing angle
A shower head includes a nozzle, a connector mounted on the nozzle, a fastening member secured on the nozzle and abutting the connector, a bushing mounted in the connector, and a locking screw member locked onto the connector. Thus, when the water flows through the shower head, the ambient air is introduced through the air conducting holes of the connector and the air conducting apertures of the bushing into the flow conduit of the bushing to break the vacuum state in the shower head and to perturb the water flow in the shower head so as to produce a turbulent flow in the shower head so that the water flow injected from the nozzle is divided into multiple straight water beams and multiple irregular water bubbles so as to increase the flushing angle and area of the shower head. |
| US08191794B2 |
Flow channel switching device
A flow channel switching device provided in an oil circuit to switch the oil flow channel in accordance with the temperature of the oil. The flow channel switching device includes: a thermo-valve case that includes a plurality of flow passages that are communicated outside of the case; and a cylinder that is formed to move in the thermo-valve case and switches the oil flow channel in accordance with the temperature of the oil. The cylinder moves to a predetermined position and is fixed by means of an external member when the fluid at a low temperature is fed into the fluid circuit. |
| US08191793B2 |
Method and system of advanced fan speed control
According to some embodiments, a method, system, and apparatus to provide thermal management control. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving, by a control mechanism, a plurality of temperature representative signals from a plurality of temperature sensors, receiving a command signal from the control mechanism by an output weighting matrix mechanism, and controlling at least one thermal cooling device with at least one weighted output signal from the output weighting matrix mechanism. |
| US08191792B2 |
Temperature sensor, temperature control device, temperature controller and temperature-control method
A temperature sensor (10) includes: a temperature-sensing portion for measuring a temperature of an object (50) by contacting the object; and a supporting portion for supporting the temperature-sensing portion from a side opposite to a contact surface, the supporting portion having a space at a portion partially corresponding to the temperature-sensing portion. A temperature controller includes: a temperature control device; the temperature sensor (10) for measuring the temperature by contacting the object (50); and a controller for controlling the temperature control device. The controller includes: a mounting-state judging means for judging a mounting-state of the object (50); a switching means for switching a control gain and a target temperature of the temperature control device based on the judging result; and a control-command generating means for generating a control command based on the control gain, the target temperature and a measurement value of the temperature sensor (10). |
| US08191791B2 |
Wireless IC device and electronic apparatus
A wireless IC device that is miniaturized, allows simple and low-cost mounting of a wireless IC, and eliminates the possibility of damage occurring to the wireless IC due to static electricity, and an electronic apparatus equipped with the wireless IC device, includes a wireless IC chip that processes transmission and reception signals, and a feeder circuit substrate that includes a resonant circuit having an inductance element. Feeder electrodes are provided on a surface of the feeder circuit substrate and are electromagnetically coupled to the resonant circuit. The feeder electrodes and are electromagnetically coupled to radiation plates and provided for a printed wiring board. The wireless IC chip is activated by a signal received by the radiation plates and a response signal from the wireless IC chip is radiated outward from the radiation plates. |
| US08191790B2 |
Apparatus and method for initializing an IC card
An apparatus for storing initialization data in an IC Card, including a non-volatile memory, whereto the initialization data is addressed, and a plurality of pins including pins for connecting the apparatus and at least one I/O pin for receiving the initialization data, the apparatus includes an initialization card. The initialization Card includes a respective non-volatile memory unit, wherein the initialization data is stored, and the plurality of pins including the I/O pin and the pins for connecting the apparatus. The I/O pin of the initialization Card is connected to a respective I/O pin of the apparatus for receiving an initialization signal. A connection from at least a predetermined pin of the initialization Card to the at least one pin of the IC Card is provided for transmitting the initialization data from the initialization Card to the IC Card, upon reception of the initialization signal. |
| US08191789B2 |
Flex token with embossed key protection
The present invention relates to the field of pocket-size electronic devices, including credit card sized devices such as authentication tokens. It consists of an improvement of the well-known “raised ridge” to protect individual buttons from false key presses, obtained by applying embossing. A known problem with applying embossing to cards containing electronic components, is the fact that the embossing process may damage the components or the wiring inside the card. In the process according to the invention, an embossed ridge of a judiciously designed shape is used to avoid such damage. |
| US08191788B2 |
Transaction card
The present invention relates to a process for producing an opaque, transparent or translucent transaction card having multiple features, such as a holographic foil, integrated circuit chip, silver magnetic stripe with text on the magnetic stripe, opacity gradient, an invisible optically recognizable compound, a translucent signature field such that the signature on back of the card is visible from the front of the card and an active thru date on the front of the card. The invisible optically recognizable compound is preferably an infrared ink comprising an infrared phthalocyanine dye, an infrared phosphor, and a quantum dot energy transfer compound. The infrared ink can be detected by a sensor found in an ATM or card assembly line. |
| US08191787B2 |
Image capturing apparatus, method for capturing an image shown in a display and arrangement of an image capturing unit and of a display as well as use of the image capturing apparatus and use of the arrangement
An image capturing apparatus having an image capturing unit and an image filtering surface in which the optical axis of the image capturing unit is disposed at an angle α to a normal of the image fitting surface. |
| US08191786B2 |
Immovable price checker with an angle-adjustable scanner
An immovable price checker (1) with an angle-adjustable scanner is installed on a wall for scanning barcodes of an article and includes a base (10), a scanner (20), a processor (30), a displayer (40) and a pivoting means (50). The base (10) is fixed to the wall. The scanner (20) is connected to the base (10) for scanning the barcodes of the article. The processor (30) is electrically connected to the scanner (20). The displayer (40) is fixed to the base (10) and electrically connected to the processor (30). The displayer (40) is configured to display data processed by the processor (30). The pivoting means (50) is connected between the base (10) and the scanner (20). The scanner (20) is rotatable with respect to the base (10) by using the pivoting means (50) as a center of rotation to thereby adjust the angle of the scanner (20). Thus, the convenience and practicability of the present invention are improved greatly. |
| US08191785B2 |
Encoded information reading terminal operating in infrastructure mode and ad-hoc mode
An encoded information reading (EIR) terminal can comprise a central processing unit (CPU), a memory communicatively coupled to the CPU, an EIR device, and a wireless communication interface communicatively coupled to the CPU. The EIR device can be selected from the group consisting of a bar code reading device, an RFID reading device, and a card reading device. The EIR device can be configured to perform one of: outputting raw message data containing an encoded message, outputting decoded message data corresponding to an encoded message. The wireless communication interface can comprise a first logical communication interface operating on a first frequency channel and a second logical communication interface operating on a second frequency channel. The wireless communication interface can be configured to transmit infrastructure mode beacons. The infrastructure mode beacons can include a service set identifier. The wireless communication interface can be further configured to transmit ad-hoc mode beacons on the second frequency channel. The ad-hoc mode beacons can include an identifier of a mesh path selection protocol. The EIR terminal can be further configured to route MAC frames between the first logical communication interface and the second logical communication interface. |
| US08191780B2 |
Self checkout kiosk and retail security system
A self-checkout kiosk enables a patron to purchase product carrying a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID} tag. The kiosk includes a frame defining a portal through which the patron must exit from a vending area in which product is stored and available for purchase. A card reader, bill acceptor and a computer monitor adjacent the portal enables the patron to complete a purchase transaction prior to exiting the vending area through the portal. The frame carries RFID reading antennas for detecting product being transferred through the portal. A security system responds to transfer of product through the portal without completion of a purchase transaction. |
| US08191776B2 |
System and method for funding via a prepaid card a financial product intended or targeted by the purchaser at the time of purchase
System and method for funding via a prepaid card a financial product intended at a time of purchase by a purchaser for a customer. A customer cash account is created and funds allocated to the prepaid card are redeemed solely as cash funds in the customer's cash account. The customer may either withdraw at least some of the cash funds in the customer's cash account or apply at least some of the cash funds in the customer's cash account to a financial product. In response to receiving the customer's instructions to apply at least some of the cash funds from the customer's cash account to a financial product selected by the customer as well as their acknowledgement of disclosures or consent to an agreement related to the selected financial product, the cash funds are applied to an associated financial product account. |
| US08191775B2 |
Gift card account system and methods of a merchant processing a gift card
A gift card account system is provided for a merchant to process gift cards. The system comprises a merchant terminal for enabling a merchant to access a gift card account to (i) associate a key number with an account number of a gift card when payment is received from a gift card purchaser for purchase of the gift card, and (ii) associate payment instrument information with the key number and the account number when the purchased gift card and the payment instrument information are received from a gift card recipient so as to allow the gift card recipient to apply the gift card towards a future purchase of goods or services from the merchant without having to present the gift card again to the merchant. |
| US08191773B1 |
Data-encoded lottery ticket scraper and method of use
A data-encoded scraper for cleaning an opaque coating off a scratchcard or lottery ticket is provided. The data-encoded scratchcard scraper includes a scraper body with an integrally formed, or attached, machine-readable encoded data associable with unique end-user-specific data. The machine-readable encoded data preferably comprises barcode symbols.The scraper body is preferably a flattened, somewhat elongated curvilinear object having a rounded larger end, a rounded smaller end, and a narrow sidewall. The larger end is configured with a thumb-size indentation. The smaller end is configured with a small hole for a key ring. The sidewall is configured with multiple grooves suitable for efficiently scraping the opaque coating from the scratchcard.The machine-readable encoded data facilitates purchasing, re-loading of funds, collection of end-user-specific data, and presentation of end-user-specific offers, prizes, rewards, directed advertising, and the like. |
| US08191770B2 |
Method of authorizing automated banking machine use responsive to user data read from data bearing records
An automated banking machine operates to carry out financial transactions for authorized machine users responsive to user data read from data bearing records. The machine includes an input devices including a card reader which operates to read card data that is usable to identify a user or a user account. The machine also includes a cash dispenser that is selectively operative to dispense currency notes to authorized machine users. A computer causes financial accounts read by the card reader to be assessed a value for cash dispensed. The computer causes operation of the cash dispenser in response to receiving cash dispense instructions. The computer includes software that prevents cash dispenser operation in response to cash dispense instructions being received in communications from at least one remote address. |
| US08191767B1 |
Automated banking machine with noncontact reading of card data
An automated banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records. The data corresponds to card data which corresponds to at least one financial account. The record data is read by a reader and compared to stored data to authorize use of the machine. A financial transfer corresponding to the account may be carried out once use is authorized based on correspondence of the record data. A printed record of transactions is printed by the machine. Record data may alternatively be received by a reading device of the machine from a mobile device of a user, such as a cell phone. |
| US08191759B2 |
Wire bonding apparatus and wire bonding method
Provided is a wire bonding apparatus including: a wire cutting unit configured to cut a wire by bonding the wire using a capillary and then moving the capillary and a first clamper upward while the first clamper remains closed; and a wire extending unit configured to extend a tail wire from a tip end of the capillary by moving the capillary upward and then moving the capillary and the first clamper upward in a state in which the first clamper is opened and a second clamper is closed. The wire bonding apparatus having such a structure effectively prevents the wire from falling out and bending. |
| US08191756B2 |
Hermetically sealing using a cold welded tongue and groove structure
Compression cold welding methods, joint structures, and hermetically sealed containment devices are provided. The method includes providing a first substrate having at least one first joint structure which comprises a first joining surface, which surface comprises a first metal; providing a second substrate having at least one second joint structure which comprises a second joining surface, which surface comprises a second metal; and compressing together the at least one first joint structure and the at least one second joint structure to locally deform and shear the joining surfaces at one or more interfaces in an amount effective to form a metal-to-metal bond between the first metal and second metal of the joining surfaces. Overlaps at the joining surfaces are effective to displace surface contaminants and facilitate intimate contact between the joining surfaces without heat input. Hermetically sealed devices can contain drug formulations, biosensors, or MEMS devices. |
| US08191745B2 |
Secured children's book and toy holder
The Secured Children's Book and Toy Holder that attaches to a child's car seat, stroller, or other children's transport device utilizing the Secured Children's Book and Toy Holder's seat belt harness connector loop and pads of mating hook and loop fastener material attachment ribbons that securely hold children's books and toys in a child's lap, preventing them from being dropped or thrown. The Secured Children's Book and Toy Holder is made of fabrics with strategically located reinforced button holes and a covered zippered back access panel to allow secure attachment of three books and/or multiple toys through the use of pads of mating hook and loop fastener material attachment ribbons. |
| US08191744B2 |
Load carrier arrangement for a truck bed
Method and arrangement for providing a load carrier mountable on a carrying vehicle. The arrangement includes an elevating structure arranged between a base portion and a load supporting portion. The elevating structure is adapted to expand and contract between raised and lowered configurations. The elevating structure includes two substantially upright members, each of which is slidably moveable relative to the other for establishing the raised and lowered configurations. A fixing device is provided for releasably fixing the two sliding members one to the other. The fixing device includes a blocking member that is insertible in aligned receivers, one each of the aligned receivers being formed in each of the two sliding members for preventing expansion and contraction of the elevating structure. The fixing device further includes a take-up arrangement that is configured to press one of the two upright members against the other thereby forming a releasable friction fit therebetween. |
| US08191741B2 |
Water dispenser faucet actuators
Bottled water dispensers that include a cabinet having an exterior portion, which includes side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall. The water dispensers include at least one water dispensing actuator, which includes a cap portion having an exterior top surface that is flush with the top wall of the bottled water dispenser. The cap portion also includes a button that is substantially parallel with a side wall of the dispenser. The exterior top surface of the cap portion must be pressed downwards, and the button must be pushed inwards, in order to release water from the dispenser. |
| US08191740B2 |
Modular constructed regulated fluid dispensing device
A device and method are provided for dispensing a beverage from a pressurized container. The dispensing device includes an integral source of compressed gas for maintaining the beverage within the container at a desired pressurized state. The dispensing device also includes a regulator for controlling the flow of gas from the compressed gas source to the interior of the container, as well as a pressure relief mechanism that accounts for potential over pressurization of the container. The beverage is selectively dispensed by actuation of a tap handle. Delivery is achieved through the device by a resilient delivery tube, and the delivery tube is either pinched closed or allowed to decompress by the actuation of the tap handle. In another embodiment, a check valve is used to control flow of the beverage in which the tap handle activates a transfer rod to seat and unseat a check element. The device can be manufactured in either a unitary construction or a modular construction. Modular construction provides greater flexibility in testing and replacement of defective components. |
| US08191729B2 |
Device and method for mixing bone cement
Device and method for mixing bone cement, for injection into vertebra in particular, comprising a mixing beaker (1), manual stirring rod (6) and a cover (2), which fits in said mixing beaker (1) with a perfect fit, and the lowermost point of which features an extraction hollow cone (3) in which an extraction syringe for extraction by suction of bone cement mixed in said mixing beaker (1) is provided. |
| US08191727B2 |
Drink containers
Drink containers with mouthpiece assemblies having a dispensing configuration and a stowed configuration. A mouthpiece assembly defines a liquid passage through which drink liquid may be dispensed when the mouthpiece assembly is in the dispensing configuration and includes means for selectively restricting the flow of drink liquid through the liquid passage when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration. In some examples, the means for selectively restricting the flow of drink liquid include a tube that at least partially defines the liquid passage and which includes a crimping region. The crimping region may be constructed of a resiliently and reversibly deformable material that is adapted to restrict the flow of drink liquid through the liquid passage when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration. In some embodiments, the mouthpiece assembly includes a means for automatically releasing the mouthpiece assembly from its stowed configuration to a dispensing configuration. |
| US08191726B2 |
Can end having curved end panel surfaces
A method of making an easy open end for a container includes steps of providing a can end blank having an end panel and forming the can end blank in a series of forming operations that are performed with specialized and unique tooling. The can end is preferably shaped during the forming operations so that a major portion of the end panel is curved. Specifically, the curvature is preferably such that a top surface of the major portion is generally concave and a bottom surface of the major portion is generally convex. The end panel is also preferably shaped and constructed so that the curved major portion will invert in shape upon the application of a sufficient predetermined pressure differential between the top and bottom surfaces. A method of testing a fill level of a sealed container is performed in reliance on this “cricketing” or “oil canning” effect. |
| US08191723B2 |
Apparatus for storing a flowable product
There is disclosed an apparatus for storing flowable product. The apparatus has a receptacle formed of a fabric that is impermeable to the flowable product, and further has a base, at least one upstanding side wall and a brim. One or more lateral bracing members are disposed between the base and the brim of the receptacle and abutting the at least one side wall of the receptacle. |
| US08191716B2 |
Horizontal-tube sedimentation-separation apparatus
A horizontal-tube segmentation-separation apparatus has multiple parallel inclined plates, which are arranged in pairs having an upper inclined plate and a lower inclined plate. Between the inclined plate pairs are isolated plates which are parallel thereto. One or more baffles are set under the isolated plates transverse to the flow of water to block the flow of water under the isolated plates. Between the isolated plate and the upper inclined plate is a flat supporting plate which separates the water flowing region into several water channels that have a parallelogram-shaped cross-section. |
| US08191705B2 |
Conveyor belt for transporting hot material
A conveyor belt has a reinforcement insert and is provided to transport hot materials at higher temperatures. The core of the conveyor belt is protected against the high temperatures by an additional textile layer made of basalt fibers arranged above the reinforcement insert in the rubber cover layer defining the load-carrying side of the conveyor belt. |
| US08191704B2 |
Conveying apparatus
A conveyance device uses a simple structure to cause a travel body on which food and drink are placed to travel stably. The conveyance device (10) causes the travel body (11) to travel and convey the food and drink that can be placed on the travel body (11). The conveyance device (10) has a conveyance drive section (13) provided along a travel path (12) on which the travel body (11) travels and also has a travel body connection section (14) connected to the travel body (11) and moving in the direction of travel of the travel body (11) by being driven by the conveyance drive section (13). The conveyance drive section (13) is placed on a side of the travel path (12). |
| US08191703B2 |
Conveyor system monitoring and maintenance
Methods for initiating one or more maintenance procedures on a conveyer system employ a load cell assembly that is supported by a link of a conveyor chain of the system in order to collect tension measurements. According to preferred methods, one or more threshold values for a rate of change in tension along particular portions of a circuit, around which the chain is driven, and/or for a variation in tension profile, from one cycle to another around the circuit, are established for comparison with tension measurements that are collected and/or processed by the load cell assembly, in order to detect operating issues and initiate the appropriate maintenance procedure(s). According to some methods, plots of the rate of change of tension versus time are generated and displayed for an operator to view. |
| US08191701B2 |
Belt cleaning system for laser cutting device
A belt cleaning system to clean the carrier surface of a conveyor belt. The system includes a roller assembly and a liquid supply subsystem. The roller assembly includes a cleaning web composed of a hydroscopic material and a roller to bias the cleaning web into rotating contact with the conveyor belt carrier surface. The liquid supply subsystem provides a cleaning liquid to the cleaning web. |
| US08191696B2 |
Torque transmission apparatus
A torque transmission apparatus includes first and second torque transmission members 3, 5, a frictional clutch 7 for transmitting a torque between the torque transmission members 3, 5, a stationary housing 11 accommodating a coupling 9, a spatial part for enclosing oil in the stationary housing 11 and an opening 15 formed in a part of the coupling 9 so that the oil in the stationary housing 11 is introduced into the coupling 9. |
| US08191695B2 |
Actuating mechanism for engaging and disengaging a separating clutch, with rotatable cam segment
The invention relates to an actuating mechanism for engaging and disengaging a separating clutch of a single-clutch or multiple-clutch transmission, which has a housing, for a motor vehicle, having: an actuating drive; a cam segment which has a curved recess and which is rotatable about a first bearing, said first bearing being fixed with respect to the housing, and which can be rotated by the actuating drive in an engagement rotational direction or a disengagement rotational direction; and an engagement fork which is rotatable about a second bearing, said second bearing being fixed with respect to the housing, and which is coupled at one side of the fork to the cam segment by means of a cam follower and which can be coupled on an opposite side of the fork to the separating clutch in such a way that the separating clutch is closed in the event of a rotation of the cam segment in the engagement rotational direction and the separating clutch is opened in the event of a rotation of the cam segment in the disengagement rotational direction. The cam follower engages into the curved recess and being guided by a contour of the curved recess in the event of a rotation of the cam segment; with the contour being shaped such that the cam follower is offset in a radial direction of the cam segment in the event of an actuation of the actuating drive (FIG. 1). |
| US08191693B2 |
Vibration damper
A vibration damper has a working cylinder and a working piston axially displaceable therein. A compensation cylinder has a compensation piston axially displaceable therein. The compensation cylinder is situated at the longitudinal end of the working cylinder and diagonally thereto. |
| US08191692B2 |
Cylinder apparatus
In a cylinder apparatus in the form of a shock absorber, a spring seat is mounted within a cylinder, and clearance-fitted to a piston rod with a first lateral clearance for moving along the piston rod longitudinally of the cylinder. The spring seat includes a longitudinal extension at one longitudinal end for defining a space between the longitudinal extension and the piston rod. A rebound spring is mounted around the piston rod within the cylinder. The rebound spring has one longitudinal end fixed to another longitudinal end of the spring seat. An elastic member is retained in the defined space by the longitudinal extension of the spring seat, and clearance-fitted to the piston rod with a second lateral clearance for moving along the piston rod longitudinally of the cylinder, wherein the second lateral clearance is smaller than the first lateral clearance. |
| US08191691B2 |
Disc brake debris collection system
A disc brake assembly includes a rotor, a caliper, brake pads and an optional filter. The optional filter can be disposed within a shroud which covers at least about 70% of the distal side periphery on at least one of the two sides of the rotor. The disc brake also includes an impeller or other means for providing air flow to the disc brake assembly. The impeller can be provided by the rotor itself or it can be provided by a separate component which is powered either directly or indirectly by the rotor. |
| US08191690B2 |
Shim structure for brake squeal attenuation
A shim structure is provided for damping vibration and attenuating noise in a brake system. The brake system includes a forcing member operable to urge a friction member against a rotating member to slow or stop the same. The shim structure includes a shim body that is adapted to be interposed within the brake system. The shim body includes one or more tabs that are configured to oscillate out-of-phase with vibrations generated by the brake system during urging of the friction member against the rotating member to thereby dissipate vibrational energy generated by the brake system. The dimensions, orientation, and/or location of each tab are selected or engineered to provide predetermined levels of vibration and noise attenuation. A mass may be attached to each tab. The geometry, location, and/or size of each mass may be selectively modified to provide predetermined levels of vibration and noise attenuation. |
| US08191689B2 |
Elevator safety rescue system
The elevator safety rescue system is an electro-hydraulic system particularly suited for use in rack and pinion drive elevators installed with tall towers, mines, smoke stacks, and other structures having relatively large elevations or depths. The system includes a positive displacement hydraulic pump driven by the output shaft of an electric elevator drive motor. An electro-hydraulic valve is electrically powered to maintain an open condition to allow unrestricted hydraulic flow through the pump during normal operation. In the event of an elevator malfunction, electrical power is terminated to the valve, causing the valve to close and thus requiring all hydraulic fluid to pass through a restrictor. The restrictor limits the flow of hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic pump, thus limiting its rotational speed and the rotational speed of the elevator drive motor to which it is attached, thereby allowing the elevator to descend at a safe speed. |
| US08191684B1 |
Ladder mounted brush apparatus
The ladder mounted brush apparatus provides for ladder safety with a removably mounted device that affixes to the lower rung of a ladder, adjacent to the ladder rail. Upon beginning to climb the ladder, a user steps downwardly on the brush bristles and base to position the base and bristles atop the rung, moving the base and bristles and attachment plate from parallel to the ladder rail to a position atop the rung, perpendicular to the rail. The user then weights alternates feet to scrub footwear soles, thereby cleaning the footwear to ensure against slipping on the ladder rungs. Upon cessation of use, the attachment plate with attached brush base with bristles automatically returns to a position immediately adjacent to the ladder rail, thereby out of the way of ladder ascension and dissention. |
| US08191681B2 |
A-frame ladder with a tambour gate/barrier
An A-frame ladder has a first ladder and a second ladder. The first ladder has two rails interconnected by a plurality of steps and a first set of grooves that receive a tambour device that inhibits a person from using the first ladder's steps. The second ladder has two rails interconnected by a plurality of steps and a second set of grooves, interconnected to the first set of grooves, that receive the tambour device so the first ladder and the second ladder can be used and inhibits a person from entering the area between the first ladder and the second ladder through the second ladder's steps. |
| US08191679B2 |
Safety strap assembly for tree climbers
A safety strap assembly is used by a climber for ascending, remaining secured at height and descending from a tree or pole. The safety strap assembly includes a tubular strap; an elastic strap; a stiffening member; a string; a coupling; and a finger-pull. Optionally, an oval chain-link is included. The tubular strap fits around a tree. One end of the tubular strap is connected to an elastic strap. The other end is attachable to the climber. The stiffening member fits within the tubular member. A string extending from two holes in the tubular strap permit the stiffening member to be shifted. The coupling at the free end of the elastic strap connects to the tubular strap in a removable slidable engagement. The finger-pull at that connection breaks away if the climber falls enabling the tubular strap to engage the tree and prevent a fall to the ground. |
| US08191678B2 |
Apparatus for absorbing acoustical energy and use thereof
An apparatus comprising a combination of a microphone and a composite acoustic panel. The composite acoustic panel comprises materials having different spectra of acoustic absorption. The materials may be integrated in a single layer or in a plurality of different layers. |
| US08191674B2 |
Acoustic loading device for loudspeakers
A loudspeaker horn includes a pair of opposed flared sides defining a passage diverging to a mouth, and a vane positioned in the passage for steering sound waves through the passage. The vane may have a straight configuration and be either centrally located between the flared sides or laterally offset in the diverging passage. The vane may be fixed in position or, more preferably, be pivotable so as to be adjustable before each new use according to conditions at that use. The horn may be part of a horn unit that includes a funnel for feeding sound to the horn, and the horn or horn unit may be part of a horn loudspeaker. |
| US08191673B1 |
Collapsible megaphone device
A collapsible megaphone device having a body portion capable of lying flat in a first state and capable of assuming the shape of a megaphone in a second state where in the first state, the collapsible megaphone device is substantially two dimensional and planar having a first edge, second edge and boundary edges joining the first and second edges. The collapsible megaphone device is convertible from the first state to the second state by exerting pressure against its boundary edges and is returnable to the first state by removing pressure from its boundary edges. |
| US08191661B2 |
Throttle-free transmissionless hybrid vehicle
In a high speed mode of operating and electric-gas hybrid car, the combustion engine is directly engaged to the wheels without a transmission and that vehicle speed is controlled without a throttle by electric generator loading of the engine. |
| US08191659B2 |
Walking-type working machine
A walking-type working machine in which a gas-container housing section (cassette-type gas container) and a carry handle are mounted to a handle post. The walking-type working machine (10) is provided with a cassette-type gas container (21) mounted to a handle post (16), which rises upward and rearward from a rear section (11a) of a working machine body (11), so as to be oriented in the longitudinal direction of the handle post. A gas engine (12) is driven by fuel in the cassette-type gas container (21). The walking-type working machine is provided with a carry handle (22) for carrying the machine. The carry handle (22) is mounted to the handle post and is formed so as to surround the cassette-type gas container. The carry handle has a grip (45). |
| US08191657B2 |
Rotary drag bits for cutting casing and drilling subterranean formations
A drill bit for cutting casing employing a plurality of discrete, abrasive particulate-impregnated cutting structures having cutting structures therein extending upwardly from abrasive particulate-impregnated blades, which define a plurality of fluid passages therebetween on the bit face. Additional cutting elements may be placed in the inverted cone of the bit surrounding the centerline thereof. |
| US08191654B2 |
Methods of drilling using differing types of cutting elements
A drill bit includes a bit body having a face on which two different types of cutting elements are disposed, the first type being cutting elements suitable for drilling at least one subterranean formation and the second type being cutting elements suitable for drilling through a casing bit disposed at an end of a casing or liner string and cementing equipment or other components, if such are disposed within the casing or liner string, as well as cement inside as well as exterior to the casing or liner string. The second type of cutting elements exhibits a relatively greater exposure than the first type of cutting elements, so as to engage the interior of the casing bit and, if present, cementing equipment components and cement to drill therethrough, after which the second type of cutting elements quickly wears upon engagement with the subterranean formation material exterior to the casing bit, and the first type of cutting elements continues to drill the subterranean formation. The first type of cutting elements may comprise superabrasive cutting elements and the second type of cutting elements may comprise abrasive or superabrasive cutting elements comprising a plurality of configurations. |
| US08191652B2 |
Directional control drilling system
A drilling system, comprising a non-rotating conveyance system; a tool connected to the non-rotating conveyance system and including anchors by which the tool can be anchored in position when located in a borehole; a drill bit connected to the tool; a motor for rotating the drill bit; and a directional control system interposed between the tool and the drill bit; wherein, in use, whit the drilling system located in a borehole, the directional control system can be operates so as to displace the drill bit away from the axis of the borehole. |
| US08191650B1 |
Hydrating drive shoe
A drive shoe assembly used in helping penetrate earthen formations. |
| US08191647B2 |
Dry sprinkler installation and sealing device
A dry sprinkler installation and sealing device for a cold environment is disclosed. The dry sprinkler installation includes a supply conduit having a first end adapted to communicate with a fire retardant fluid source and a second end supporting a sprinkler head. The supply conduit is dimensioned to extend through an opening in a wall of a cold environment, e.g., a freezer ceiling. A flexible sealing device is positioned about the supply conduit adjacent an exterior surface of the cold environment. A first end of the sealing device is secured about the supply conduit and a second end of the sealing device is secured to an exterior surface of the cold environment. The flexible sealing device allows for radial and axial adjustments to the supply conduit and sprinkler head without comprising the integrity of the sealing device. |
| US08191645B2 |
Subterranean well tool including a locking seal healing system
A well tool with multi-stage remedial system improves the durability of a subterranean well tool having an expanded elastomeric member, such as a packer, for use inside a tubular member. The well tool with multi-stage remedial system has a plurality of mandrel members shiftable within the tubular member for anchoring and for setting the seal system. A floating tandem mounted annularly around the lower mandrel members has one end (upon shifting) proximate an end of the seal system, and the floating tandem has an opening to ambient bottom-hole-pressure of the subterranean well. A locking tandem is interposed with the floating tandem and at least one of the lower mandrel members. The floating tandem and the locking tandem together assist in abating elastomeric member extrusion under high temperature, high pressure environments as well as other conditions lending to failure within the well. |
| US08191641B2 |
Control line running system
A control line running system includes a control line storage unit and a guiding system having a guiding device and a guide rail for guiding a control line from the control line storage unit toward a well center. The system may also include a control line manipulator assembly for moving the control line toward a tubular and a control line clamp for attaching the control line to the tubular. |
| US08191639B2 |
Downhole swivel sub
The present invention provides a swivel sub for connection in a work string between a workstring and a downhole apparatus. The swivel sub includes a first substantially cylindrical body, including a sleeve portion having one or more teeth and a second substantially cylindrical body being partially located within the sleeve portion. The bodies are arranged to rotate relative to each other. The swivel sub also includes a sliding sleeve, having one or more teeth arranged mutually engage with the first teeth is axially moveable between disengaged and engaged positions, in one embodiment by a pressure differential being created in the sub. Further, the present invention provides methods for of running the tool, with particular application to setting and hanging of liners and screens. |
| US08191633B2 |
Degradable downhole check valve
Composite downhole tools for hydrocarbon production and methods for using same. The downhole tool can include an annular body having a valve assembly disposed therein. The valve assembly can include a first member preventing flow in a first direction through the annular body; a second member preventing flow in a second direction through the annular body; and a shoulder disposed on an inner diameter of the body between the first and second members. The shoulder can have a first end contoured to sealingly engage an outer contour of the first member and a second end contoured to sealingly engage an outer contour of the second member. |
| US08191631B2 |
Method of fracturing and gravel packing with multi movement wash pipe valve
A fracturing and gravel packing tool has features that prevent well swabbing when the tool is picked up with respect to a set isolation packer. An upper or jet valve allows switching between the squeeze and circulation positions without risk of closing the wash pipe valve. The wash pipe valve can only be closed with multiple movements in opposed direction that occur after a predetermined force is held for a finite time to allow movement that arms the wash pipe valve. The jet valve can prevent fluid loss to the formation when being set down whether the crossover tool is supported on the packer or on the smart collet. |
| US08191630B2 |
Creating fluid injectivity in tar sands formations
Methods for treating a tar sands formation are described herein. Methods for treating a tar sands may include heating a portion of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from one or more heaters located in the portion. The heat may be controlled to increase the permeability of at least part of the portion to create an injection zone in the portion with an average permeability sufficient to allow injection of a fluid through the injection zone. A drive fluid and/or an oxidizing fluid may be provided into the injection zone. At least some hydrocarbons including mobilized hydrocarbons are produced from the portion. |
| US08191627B2 |
Tubular embedded nozzle assembly for controlling the flow rate of fluids downhole
An apparatus (100) for controlling the flow rate of a fluid during downhole operations. The apparatus (100) includes a tubular member (134) having a flow path (136) between inner and outer portions of the tubular member (134). The flow path (136) includes an inlet (138) in an inner sidewall (140) and an outlet (142) in an outer sidewall (144) of the tubular member (134). The inlet (138) and the outlet (142) are laterally offset from each other. A fluidic device (146) is positioned in the flow path (136) between the inlet (138) and the outlet (142). The fluidic device (146) is embedded within the tubular member (134) between the inner sidewall (140) and the outer sidewall (144). The fluidic device (146) includes a nozzle (154) having a throat portion (156) and a diffuser portion (158) such that fluid will flow through the nozzle (154) at a critical flow rate. |
| US08191626B2 |
Downhole jarring tool
A tool having a first lower sub end, a second upper sub end, and an extensible joint connecting the first and second sub ends. The joint has a first inner latch piece connected to the lower sub end, and a second outer latch piece connected to the upper sub end, and a stationary restraining collar. The joint, in a latched position, has the outer latch piece latched to the inner latch piece and the inner and outer latch pieces restrained from unlatching by the restraining collar. The joint, under tensile force, unlatches into an unlatched position by the inner latch piece pulling the outer latch piece through the restraining collar into a position where the inner and outer latch pieces are free to separate. An impact force is generated from the tensile force when the joint unlatches and reaches a maximum extension. |
| US08191623B2 |
Slickline conveyed shifting tool system
A shifting tool is run on slickline and has an on board power supply. Rotary motion of the motor is converted to linear motion of the shifting tool using a ball screw device. The grip is obtained with longitudinal motion of a grip linkage and an on board jar then can do the shifting. Alternatively a linear motor can be used to extend and retract the grip assembly and shift using the jar tool. Optionally the tool can be anchored and linear motion from the on board power source operating a motor can do the shifting. |
| US08191622B2 |
Varying access points for tubing and casing monitoring and casing annulus remediation systems
An adapter for connecting a casing annulus remediation system to a well having a wellhead with standard lateral ports. The adapter has a body with first and second ends. The first end of the adapter body has a substantially planar surface adapted to cover the lateral ports and be in abutting contact with the wellhead when the two are connected to one another. The second end of the adapter body has a planar surface positioned at an angle greater than 0 degrees and up to 90 degrees to the planar surface of the first end. The second end of the adapter is adapted to be connected to a casing annulus remediation system. |
| US08191617B2 |
Syngas cooler and cooling tube for use in a syngas cooler
A method of assembling a syngas cooler is provided. The method includes coupling at least one cooling tube within the syngas cooler, wherein the at least one cooling tube includes an inner surface that defines a flow passage therethrough, an opposite outer surface, and at least one cooling fin extending outward from the outer surface, and orienting the at least one cooling tube such that the at least one cooling fin is in flow communication within a syngas flow passage defined in the syngas cooler, wherein the cooling fin facilitates enhancing heat transfer between fluid flowing in the at least one cooling tube and a syngas flow. |
| US08191612B2 |
Cooler module without base panel
A light, compact, non-bottom panel type cooler module includes a plurality of radiation fins arranged in a stack, and a plurality of U-shaped heat pipes fastened to the radiation fins to hold the radiation fins in parallel, each U-shaped heat pipe having one or two opposite end pipe sections thereof press-fitted into respective through holes on the radiation fins and a flat bottom surface portion exposed to the outside of the radiation fins for bonding to a semiconductor device for enabling the heat pipes to transport heat from the semiconductor device to the radiation fins for dissipation. |
| US08191609B2 |
Method for manufacturing clad material and equipment for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing a clad material composed of a core material and one or more skin materials which are superposed on either one or both faces of the core material, includes a clad material preparation process where an ingot for core material is manufactured by dissolving and casting a metal, and an ingot for skin material is manufactured by dissolving and casting a different metal for skin material, without hot rolling. The ingot for skin material is superposed as a skin material at a predetermined position of either one or both faces of the ingot for core material and the superposed material is hot-rolled to manufacture a clad material. |
| US08191607B2 |
Continuous casting machine using molten mold flux
A continuous casting machine injecting molten mold flux into a mold includes: melt-surface covers covering the upper side of the mold; gas aspirators provided below the melt-surface covers for inhaling the gas in an upper space of the mold; and purge gas injectors provided below the melt-surface covers for injecting purge gas into the upper space of the mold. |
| US08191604B2 |
Fabric gate
A fabric gate has a ratchet assembly, a delaying assembly and a driving device. The ratchet assembly has a ratchet, a positioning ring and a driven pad. The ratchet has a wheel provide with multiple upper ratchet teeth and multiple lower ratchet teeth. The upper ratchet teeth extend toward a direction opposite to that of the lower ratchet teeth extending. The positioning ring is expandable and has engaging teeth engaging respectively with the ratchet teeth on the ratchet. The driven pad is attached to the top of the positioning ring to expand the positioning ring when the driven pad is rotated by the driving device. The delaying assembly is mounted in the top cap and connected to the ratchet assembly to reduce to the rotating speed of the driven pad. |
| US08191600B2 |
System and method for mounting a tire and a wheel
A system for mounting a tire and a wheel is disclosed. The system includes a robotic arm pivotably-connected to an end effector. The system also includes a tire-supporting portion including a support surface and a pair of wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portions disposed upon the support surface. The pair of wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portions includes a first wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portion fixedly-disposed relative the support surface and a second wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portion movably-disposed relative the support surface. |
| US08191598B2 |
Heat sealing jaw apparatus
A heat sealing jaw for use in cooperation with an opposing backing jaw for sealing layers of film together is described. The heat sealing jaw may be suitable for forming an easy-open feature on a packaging pouch used to contain flowable material. In certain embodiments the heat sealing jaw comprises a jaw body, a heat sealing element secured to the jaw body, a support surface for clamping the layers of film together against the opposing backing jaw, and, a heat sink coupled to the heat sealing element for inducing a temperature gradient along a sealing face of the heat sealing element. The sealing face may have a protrusion for forming a notch within the layers of film. Related apparatuses and methods are also described. |
| US08191593B2 |
Non-slipping wheel
Non-slipping wheel (1) comprising an elastomer layer (3) which covers at least the radially outer part of the wheel, characterized in that the elastomer layer has been provided with bubbles which are continuously torn open during use of the wheel thereby generating a suction effect. The bubbles can be provided by foaming the elastomer. The elastomer can be polyurethane, and the wheel can further comprise an inner core layer (2) of a different material which is elastic, e.g., rubber. The wheel is particularly useful for floor cleaning machines: due to their use on ground which is covered by a cleaning solution, the wheels face traction problems—on the other hand, the wheels should not leave additional residues or markings on the floor. |
| US08191592B2 |
Two-piece tire
A two-piece tire assembly 10 with a removable tread belt 12 for installing about the circumference of a tire carcass 14 is provided. The two-piece tire assembly 10 includes a tread belt 12 has a belt structure 90 having two or more belt layers 100, 110, 120, 130 each layer having one or more belts. The tread belt 12 has a radially inner surface 70 having one or more protruding circumferential ribs 72 or grooves 74 that fit into complementary grooves 18 or ribs 19 on an outer crown surface of the tire carcass 14. The tread belt 12 has a maximum axial belt width W at a radially inner surface. The carcass 14 has a maximum section width SW and ply line 20 having a maximum width P wherein W≦0.95P, BW≦5 0.85P and P |
| US08191588B2 |
Fuel tank opening-closing device
A fuel tank opening-closing device includes a shutter mechanism situated inside a tank neck defining member and adapted to open a shutter body in response to insertion of a fuel nozzle. The shutter mechanism includes a push mechanism having a push member situated in an insertion passage; an interconnection mechanism having springs adapted to accumulate force of displacement of the push member as mechanical energy; and a nozzle sensing mechanism. The nozzle sensing mechanism has introduction pressure members adapted to receive displacement force of the fuel nozzle in the insertion direction, and lock portions that allow the shutter to move to the opening position. |
| US08191578B2 |
Rotary disc valve
A multi-port rotary disc valve adapted to allow fluid flow from at least one fluid source to a plurality of destinations, comprises a stator with fluid flow ports including a plurality of individual ports and at least one common port. Each of the individual ports is adapted for fluid communication with at least one of the destinations, and the one common port is adapted for fluid communication with the source. The individual ports are arranged in spaced apart relationship within an individual ports' stator sector having a stator sector angular length. The valve further comprises a rotor having at least a first, a second and a third rotor sector with channels arranged therein, being opened to the atmosphere or adapted to connect the fluid flow ports of the stator between them in a plurality of predetermined combinations. The first, second and third rotor sectors have a first, second and third rotor sector angular length, respectively, wherein the first and the second rotor sectors are spaced from each other and their angular length is at least equal to said stator sector angular length. The third rotor sector is located at least partially between the first and second rotor sectors. |
| US08191576B2 |
Quick disconnect utilizing guillotine valves
A quick disconnect valve including a first connector with a first shutoff gate and a second connector with a second shutoff gate. A fluid flow passage is located in the first connector and the second connector. The first shutoff gate and the second shutoff gate include an aperture and are movable between a fully open first position to allow fluid flow through the fluid passage and a fully closed second position to prevent fluid flow through the fluid passage. |
| US08191569B2 |
Kettle valve assembly with retained O ring
A valve assembly uses an O ring contained within a void such that the outer edges of the valve assembly reach the outer mid section of the O ring. A kettle for brewing beer or heating other fluid is drilled so as to accommodate the disclosed valve. The O ring is pressed and held against the outside surface of the kettle wall. A retaining nut placed within the kettle further secures the valve to the kettle. As the surface of the kettle heats during use, the contained O ring retains sufficient contact with the valve and kettle so as to prevent leakage. |
| US08191565B2 |
Wire tray and tent frame incorporating same
A wire tray and tent frame structural members are provided. The structural members include a utility channel or C-shaped channels to which wire trays can be mounted. More particularly, mounting structures of the wire tray insert into or otherwise engage the utility channel or engage the C-shaped channels and secure the wire tray to the structural members. The utility channel or C-shaped channels can include at least one undercut to prevent removal or disengagement of the mounting structure of the wire tray from the structural member. Similarly, methods of using the wire tray including resiliently biasing mounting structure of the wire tray to attach it to the structural member are provided. |
| US08191563B2 |
Stepless collapsing mechanism for umbrellas
A collapsing mechanism for umbrellas includes a transmission member and a movable member which is engaged with the transmission member to stop the mechanism from being stopped during the action and the umbrella does not opened suddenly to hurt people. During the collapsing action, the action can be stopped as desired and the umbrella is maintained at that status and does not open. By the mechanism, the user does not need to complete the collapsing action at one time. |
| US08191560B2 |
Adjustable upper dishwasher rack
An upper rack vertical adjustment system for a dishwasher, including an upper rack first portion, and an upper rack second portion rotatably attached to the first portion to selectively create an opening in the bottom of the rack to provide clearance for items placed in the lower rack. For adjusting the height of the upper rack, a slidable member has two elongated arms extending therefrom each having a wheel attached at an end of the arms is provided on each side of the rack. For each slidable member, a plate is mounted to a portion of the upper rack and the said slidable member is pivotally mounted to the plate. A locking mechanism locks the slidable member in one of several predetermined positions. |
| US08191558B2 |
Applicator for applying a composition to keratinous materials and including a source of vibration
The present invention relates to an applicator for applying a cosmetic composition to human keratinous materials or for adding finishing touches to makeup, the applicator comprising: a vibration source including a vibration generator that vibrates at a frequency lying in the range 1 Hz to 500 Hz, a handle, a stem carried by the handle and an applicator or finishing member for coming into contact with keratinous materials. |
| US08191556B2 |
Hair-supplementing and styling hairpiece
A hairpiece (35) for supplementing the natural hair of a wearer person (42). The hairpiece comprises a support net (10) formed by interconnected strands (11). The net is shaped to conform with the scalp of the wearer person. A plurality of bands of hair (36) are permanently secured spaced-apart, to the strands (11) of the support net (10). The bands of hair are disposed in a predetermined pattern to conceal the net while maintaining flexibility thereof. Independent attachment spring clips (20) are permanently secured in an upper portion of the support net (10) to removably secure the net in the wearer person's natural hair (43) wherein the net (10) and the attachment spring clips (20) are substantially non-visible in the natural hair to supplement and provide styling to the natural hair. |
| US08191555B2 |
Inhalation unit
The invention relates to a heating device (9), for a mobile inhalation unit for the inhalation of active agents, comprising a heating wire (15), with two connector ends (23, 31) for the introduction of electrical energy and a thermal reservoir (13, 17) for heating air flowing along the thermal reservoir, whereby the thermal reservoir may be heated by means of the heating wire. The heating wire has a temperature coefficient of at least 0.001 K−1. The invention further relates to an inhalation unit with such a heating device and a method for heating a thermal reservoir on such a heating device. |
| US08191544B2 |
Peepsight for archery
A unitary, bow string-supported, peepsight for archery comprises a solid block having a central sighting opening. The bow string, which is aligned with the center of the sight opening extends through a slot in the block, the slot comprising first and second slot portions in a first face of the block, and a third slot portion in an opposite face of the block, the third slot portion being between the first and second slot portions with reference to the length of the slot. Tension in the string causes the string to tighten against the slot walls, thereby firmly securing the block to the string. |
| US08191543B2 |
Compressed gas-powered projectile accelerator
A pneumatic assembly for a paintball gun is provided. The pneumatic assembly includes a valve stem, and a bolt slidably mounted on the valve stem. The bolt includes at least one bolt port arranged through a sidewall of the bolt. A sealing member is provided on the valve stem in communication with an inner surface of the bolt. The bolt slides from a rearward position to a forward position along the valve stem. Compressed gas flows through the bolt port and through the bolt aperture to fire a projectile when the bolt is in the forward position. A paintball gun incorporating the pneumatic assembly is also provided. |
| US08191540B2 |
Ignition system
An ignition system (10) comprises a spark plug (12) having a first end (14) defining a spark gap (16) between a first electrode (18) and a second electrode (20). A transformer (46) comprising a primary winding 44 and a secondary winding (50) also forms part of the system. The secondary winding is connected in a secondary circuit to the first electrode 18 and the secondary winding has a resistance of less than 1 kΩ and an inductance of less than 0.25 H. A drive circuit (26) is connected to the primary winding. |
| US08191539B2 |
Wound hydrocarbon trap
An air induction system hydrocarbon trap is provided. In one example, the hydrocarbon trap includes an adsorber roll including an adsorbing material and a corrugate support, where the corrugate support is rolled with the adsorbing material to form a wound adsorber roll. A housing is further provided to retain the adsorber roll. A housing cap may be coupled to the housing. |
| US08191534B2 |
High viscosity fuel injection pressure reduction system and method
An improved high viscosity fuel injection pressure reduction system and method is disclosed for use in an internal combustion engine. The system may include a first fuel line and a second fuel line. The first fuel line may be configured to be coupled upstream of a combustion chamber of the engine when the engine is operated with the first fuel and to provide a first pressurized volume when installed. Likewise, the second fuel line may be configured to be coupled upstream of the combustion chamber of the engine when the engine is operated with the second fuel and to provide a second pressurized volume when installed. The first and second volumes of the fuel lines may provide peak injection pressures lower than a desired pressure when the engine is operated with the first and second fuels, respectively. |
| US08191532B2 |
Method and system for detecting and reducing engine auto-ignition
A method and a control module for performing the same include a filter module filtering in-cylinder pressure signals using a filter to form filtered in-cylinder pressure signals. The control module further includes a heat release rate determination module generating heat release rate signals based on the in-cylinder pressure signals and a maximum heat rate determination module determining a maximum heat release rate from the heat release rate signals. The system also includes a correction module correcting auto-ignition for the engine based on the maximum heat release rate. |
| US08191531B2 |
Method for controlling an engine valve of an internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine system is equipped with a controllable engine valve actuation system. Controlling lift of an engine valve includes periodically monitoring engine valve lift and engine crank angle. A preferred engine valve lift profile is determined in a crank angle-domain. A preferred engine valve position is determined in the crank angle-domain. The preferred engine valve position is interpolated to determine a preferred engine valve position in the time-domain. The control circuit is actuated to control the engine valve in the time-domain. |
| US08191530B2 |
Device for igniting a fuel/air mixture
The invention relates to a device for igniting a fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The device includes an electrode which is connected to a voltage source and extends into a precombustion chamber, and the precombustion chamber is separated at least in some regions from the combustion chamber by a wall. A control device or a regulating device is provided which controls the voltage supply to the electrode such that a corona discharge is carried out in the precombustion chamber. The wall has at least one opening for exchanging fluids between the combustion chamber and precombustion chamber, and a fluid inlet opens into the precombustion chamber. |
| US08191529B2 |
Method of manufacturing an engine block
A method for manufacturing an engine block, such as for an internal combustion engine, includes a step of removing material from a top deck of the engine block surrounding a cylinder bore to create a first removal area. Material is also removed from the top deck of the engine block surrounding at least one fluid passage to create a second removal area. An insert is positioned within a recessed area defined by the first removal area and the second removal area. |
| US08191528B2 |
Internal combustion engine
Disclosed is an internal combustion engine (A), which has a valve overlap period (T) during which an intake valve (1) and an exhaust valve (2) are opened, and a geometric compression ratio of 13.0 or greater. The engine (A) is designed to satisfy, at a center timing (Tc) of the valve overlap period (T), a conditional expression: S1≧S2, where S1 is a cross-sectional area of a combustion chamber (4) taken along any selected one of a plurality of mutually parallel hypothetical cutting-planes (IP) each of which extends parallel to a linear reciprocating direction (d1 or d2) of at least one of the intake and exhaust valves (1, 2) and passes through a valve head (1a or 2a) of the at least one of the valves (1, 2), and S2 is an effective opening area defined between the valve head (1a or 2a) and a corresponding valve seat (11a or 12a) in a region on an outward side of the combustion chamber (4) relative to the selected hypothetical cutting-plane (IP). The present invention can reliably improve combusted-gas scavenging efficiency and intake-air charging efficiency. |
| US08191526B2 |
Assembly and method for controlling an air intake runner
A method of modifying an air intake manifold to control air intake runners. The method includes the steps of providing a cartridge including a plurality of compartments, each spaced apart to define a groove therebetween, snap-fitting a bushing carrier having a rotatable bushing into each of the grooves, positioning a flap having a slot over each of the compartments, inserting a shaft through each slot and each bushing thereby rotatably retaining each of the flaps within one of the plurality of compartments, positioning the cartridge over the air intake manifold so that each of the plurality of compartments is substantially axially aligned with one of the air intake runners, and removably connecting the cartridge with the air intake manifold. |
| US08191524B2 |
Valve-train assembly of an internal combustion engine
A valve-train assembly of an internal combustion engine is provided with a camshaft (1) that includes a carrier shaft (2), as well as a cam element (3) that can move on the carrier shaft between two axial positions and that has at least one cam group of directly adjacent cams (5, 6) with different cam lobes and an axial connecting link (8) constructed with a groove with outer guide walls (12, 13, 14, 15) for defining two intersecting connecting link pathways (9, 10), and with an activation pin (11) that can couple in the axial connecting link for moving the cam element in the direction of both connecting link pathways. In this way, the groove base of one connecting link pathway and the groove base of the other connecting link pathway should extend radially offset in height relative to each other, so that the connecting link pathway (9) with the radially lower groove base is also defined by inner guide walls (19, 20) that are formed by the offset in height. |
| US08191521B2 |
Camshaft phase adjuster for concentric camshafts
The camshaft phaser is affixed to one end of a concentric camshaft. The phaser is a vane-type camshaft phaser where the stator and the sprocket are fixed to the outer camshaft and the trigger wheel and rotor are fixed to the inner camshaft. The torsion spring is mounted on an outer wall of the stator, between the stator and the trigger wheel. The phaser is a compact unit with a high degree of reliability. |
| US08191520B2 |
Variable valve operating apparatus for internal combustion engine
Provided is a variable valve operating apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which can favorably improve the mounting environment of an actuator in the aspect of achieving the improvement of coolability and the reduction of stress. The apparatus includes a guide rail which is provided in the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical part respectively fixed to a camshaft; a projection part which is disposed so as to be engageable and disengageable with the guide rail; and an actuator which is disposed so as to oppose the cylindrical part and can protrude the projection part toward the guide rail. At least a part of the actuator is disposed so as to fit in a oval-shaped region which is virtually obtained by linking a base circle of a main cam and a base circle of a main cam seen from the axial direction of the camshaft in a state in which the projection part is not protruded toward the guide rail. |
| US08191512B2 |
Structure of heat exchange apparatus for gas boiler
A heat exchange apparatus of a high-load bottom-up-type condensing gas boiler is disclosed. In the gas boiler system having a ventilator attached to a lower part of a combustion chamber, the heat exchange apparatus structured in such a manner that a Venturi path for achieving a high-pressure and high-velocity flow of exhaust gas is mounted in an exhaust duct formed between a sensible heat exchanger in which first heat exchange is performed and a latent heat exchanger to which firstly heat-exchanged exhaust gas is flown, so that the sensible heat exchanger and the latent heat exchanger are perfectly independent from the exhaust gas after combustion. In addition, a curve-type exhaust guide and a V-guide are mounted to an upper part of the latent heat exchanger to guide a flow of the exhaust gas being firstly heat-exchanged and discharged from the sensible heat exchanger, such that condensed water generated during second heat exchange in the latent heat exchanger can be smoothly discharged and the thermal efficiency is enhanced. |
| US08191511B2 |
Small animal exercise devices
An animal exercise wheel is illuminated by LEDs connected to a battery via a reed switch. A magnet actuates the reed switch when an animal begins to rotate the wheel. The LEDs flash with the frequency of rotation of the animal wheel or continuously. As long as the wheel rotates, the magnet continues to actuate the reed switch, which resets a counter. When the wheel stops and the reed switch is no longer actuated, the counter counts a predetermined time, and terminates the illumination of the LEDs. |
| US08191508B2 |
Wild bird feeder
A wild bird feeder comprising a container and a base. A cable extends through the container and the base and is provided with a hanging loop at one end and a bottom cover at the other end for retaining the components of the bird feeder between them and suspending the bird feeder in a hanging position when hung from a tree or otherwise. The container comprises and is formed by a cover, a dome, a collar, and a hopper. The cover is provided with a star shaped opening that frictionally engages with the hanging cable for enabling the separation of the cover from the dome to fill the bird feeder when the bird feeder is in the hanging position. The collar comprises a plurality of divider walls for creating a plurality of sections to direct the bird feed when filling the bird feeder. The hopper comprises a vertical column having a plurality of ports. The base comprises a tray having a conical shaped cone that is centrally located within the vertical column for directing the bird seed out the plurality of ports. The hopper is releaseably attached or fastened to the base for enabling cleaning of the bird feeder in either the hanging or non-hanging position. A perch ring is provided on the base to support the birds when feeding. |
| US08191504B2 |
Coating apparatus and methods
A coating end effector may be carried by a robot. A plasma spray head is mounted by a joint to the end effector. A plurality of actuators couple the end effector and plasma spray head to provide articulation of the joint. The apparatus may be used to coat an airfoil cluster of a gas turbine engine. The coating may include passing the head between the airfoils. |
| US08191503B2 |
Liquid application apparatus and method, and image forming apparatus
A liquid application apparatus includes: an application roller having an application surface for applying a liquid to a medium, at least the application surface of the application roller being constituted by an elastic body; a liquid holding unit including an abutting part which abuts against a circumferential surface of the application roller so as to form a liquid holding space, the abutting part including a measuring roller which has a projection-recess surface capable of holding a specific amount of the liquid; and a drive control device which rotates the application roller and the measuring roller in such a manner that the liquid is transferred from the application surface to the medium while the liquid is supplied to the application surface from the liquid holding unit, and which halts rotation of the measuring roller while rotating the application roller after an end of application of the liquid to the medium. |
| US08191501B2 |
Apparatus for selectively coating a medical article
A mask for masking a stent during a coating procedure may include a mask body that has a negative pattern or an approximate negative pattern of a stent pattern being masked by the mask body. An apparatus for selectively coating a predetermined portion of a medical article may include a dispenser of a coating composition, a mask, a device for creating a relative movement between the mask and the medical article. |
| US08191499B2 |
Liquid application apparatus, image forming apparatus and liquid application method
The liquid application apparatus applies liquid to media of a plurality of types having different widths in a widthwise direction that is perpendicular to a direction of conveyance of the media. The liquid application apparatus includes: a liquid application member which has an application surface applying the liquid to the media; and a liquid holding member which has a plurality of recesses arranged in the widthwise direction, a plurality of liquid supply ports arranged respectively in the recesses, and a plurality of liquid discharge ports arranged respectively in the recesses, the liquid holding member forming a plurality of liquid chambers with the recesses by abutting against the application surface of the liquid application member. The liquid is supplied through the liquid supply ports and discharged through the liquid discharge ports, respectively and independently for the liquid chambers as selected in accordance with one of the widths of the media so that the liquid is applied only to a region that is inside a range of the one of the widths of the media, of the application surface of the liquid application member. |
| US08191498B2 |
Filing assembly
Filling assembly for filling holes formed in a plate, such as a printed circuit board, with a filing material, comprising a support device for supporting the plate, a filling device having a filling material source and a feeding channel connected to the filling material source for feeding filling material from the filling material source to the plate supported by the support device, wherein the feeding channel leads to an output opening held adjoining the plate for filling the filling material into the respective hole of the supported plate, and a vibration device connected to a side wall of the feeding channel, by which the side wall can be vibrated at a particular frequency transverse to the feeding channel, such that the feeding channel is correspondingly diminished at least adjacent to its output opening periodically. |
| US08191497B2 |
Banner support system
A system for supporting a banner includes a body defining an elongate passage (260, 260A) and a secure halyard passage (271, 271A), the elongate passage configured to receive at least one travelling weight (256, 256A) and having a longitudinal slot (261, 261A) extending substantially along the length of the elongate passage wherein, in use, the banner is attached through the slot to the at least one travelling weight. A housing (12) is positioned at an upper end of the halyard passage, the housing having a recess configured to receive a banner arm (14) wherein, in use, the banner is attached to the banner arm and retraction of a halyard (228) through the secure halyard passage causes the banner arm to be retracted into the recess and to be positioned in a predetermined laterally-extending orientation. The body may be a conduit (210) configured for attachment to a support surface. In another arrangement the body is a multi-function street pole (200A). |
| US08191493B2 |
Boat drive-supported wake generating device
An apparatus which selectively increases the size of the wake of a boat with an outboard or sterndrive motor system. The apparatus has one or more plates attached to the boat hull which, when rotated below the bottom of the hull, extend into the flow of water when underway, increasing the size of the wake due to the dynamic displacement of water. A support bar mechanism transmits propulsive force from the motor drive unit to the plates to overcome resistive hydraulic loads. Linkages may be used to locate the support bar mechanism. In one embodiment, the support bar mechanism is comprised of a plurality of members and pivots such that the support bar mechanism can be stowed substantially out of the flow of water until larger wakes are desired. In other embodiments, mechanical cable, fluidic, or electrical control systems are used to control the configuration of the support bar mechanism. |
| US08191489B1 |
Collapsible transport, storage and display table
A collapsible transport, storage and display table includes a plurality of rectangular plastic shelves supported at their midsections by respective plastic support posts. Each shelf includes an interior framework and a peripheral lip formed unitarily with the framework. A gap is formed in the lip at the midsection of each side edge for receiving a respective support post such that the support post securely, yet releasably interengages a respective shelf. The peripheral lip forms a receptacle in the shelf for accommodating four support posts in a collapsed condition. |
| US08191487B2 |
Wall-mounted accessory holder
Accessory holders useful for facilitating the support and positional adjustment of secured accessories. More particularly, a positionally adjustable accessory holder for use with one or more accessories, preferably input or output devices, such as video displays, monitors, keyboards, keypads, laptops and the like. The accessory holder further allows for easy three-dimensional adjustment of two such devices to place the devices in relative positions more ergonomically desirable for a variety of users and workspaces, and features a counter-balance mechanism for balancing the weight of the secured accessories. |
| US08191485B1 |
Television support and mounting kit
A universal TV support and mounting kit allows the consumer to employ any of the three modes of support, namely stand mount, console mount and wall mount. The console mount incorporates a vertical spine and a cantilever arm to support the television over the console. A mounting frame is provided that can be attached to the cantilever arm or to a wall. Pivoting and tilting is accommodated by the cantilever arm. |
| US08191483B2 |
Pillow block bearing for shaft driven conveyor system with self aligning feature
A rotating shaft drive system is configured to propel a load along a conveying path of an overhead conveyor system. A stationary frame extends along the conveying path and supports the rotating shaft drive system. A movable carriage is suspended from the stationary frame and engages with a rotating shaft of the shaft drive system to propel the carriage and the load. The rotating shaft comprises a plurality of shaft segments supported pillow blocks at each end of the rotating shaft segments, and the pillow blocks create a gap between adjacent shaft segments. The movable carriage has at least one canted driven roller configured to engage with adjacent rotating shaft segments and to create a helical loci of tractional engagement that provides sufficient drive force to propel the carriage and the load along the conveying path. The drive system is further configured to provide continuous propulsion as the canted driven roller moves across the gap between adjacent shaft segments. |
| US08191481B2 |
Friction drive material handling system including composite beam and method of operating same
A material handling system includes a composite beam including an upper rail and a lower track connected through a plurality of spaced apart transverse members. A trolley includes an upper set of wheels and a lower set of wheels. The lower set of wheels is received within two parallel channels defined by the lower track. A drive tube is positioned between the upper rail and the lower track such that the upper set of wheels are in frictional engagement with the drive tube. A drive system is configured to rotate the drive tube. |
| US08191480B2 |
Method and apparatus for propelling a pellet or BB using a shock-sensitive explosive cap
A method and apparatus for expelling a projection from an air gun by striking a primer cap filled with a shock-sensitive explosive compound, causing the cap to explode, which in turn rapidly compresses a volume of air located between the projectile and the cap, causing the projectile to exit from the barrel of the air gun at a high rate of speed. |
| US08191470B2 |
Screw shaft surface
Screw press, preferably for removing liquid from a material to be conveyed, comprising a screw shaft (1) complete with a helical conveying flight (2) mounted on the screw shaft (1) and a housing shell (3) surrounding it, where a transport channel (4) is formed for the material to be conveyed between the screw shaft (1), the conveying flight (2), and the housing shell (3). In order to prevent conveyed material components from adhering to the screw shaft (1), and thus uneven filling of the transport channel (4), the invention provides for the screw shaft (1) to have a surface profile (5), at least in one section of the transport channel (4). |
| US08191466B2 |
Rotary screw blancher with fluid passage and fluid agitation
A food processing apparatus including a tank having an inlet end for receiving food product and an outlet end for discharging food product, the tank having an inner wall defining a compartment and including a solid, imperforate wall portion, fluid being contained in the compartment, and a rotatable auger mounted in the compartment, the auger for advancing food product within the compartment from the inlet end toward the outlet end, the auger including flights having a flight wall with a radial edge, a clearance space being defined between the radial edge of the flights and the solid, imperforate wall portion of the inner wall. Flow of fluid through the clearance space may be inhibited. One of the inner wall and the flight wall may include a perforated wall portion. Flow of fluid between the first auger section and the second auger section may be provided through the perforated wall portion. |
| US08191463B2 |
Coffee machine with losing filter or capsule
An espresso machine using an innovative, semi-automatic, mechanical system to load and discard the disposable coffee filter or capsule, comprising a novel system of sealing and applying pressure on the disposable filter or capsule to avoid spurts of coffee or hot water while the coffee is brewed, consisting of a completely mechanical clamping system of sealing between the capsule and the infusion piston by manually adjusting the distance between the capsule and the piston and the use of an electro-mechanical control system to verify that the capsule is properly lodged and to verify the lodging pressure of the brewing piston. |
| US08191453B2 |
Specimen slicing guide, specimen slicing apparatus and method of using the same
A specimen slicing guide for use in slicing a biopsy specimen taken from a human patient or an animal patient includes a base extending in a longitudinal direction. A plurality of needles extends substantially perpendicularly to the base and the needles are spaced along the longitudinal direction of the base. Two specimen slicing guides are coupled via at least one link, which is adapted to allow an adjustable spacing of the two specimen slicing guides in a parallel relationship. A method of cutting a biopsy specimen includes fixing the biopsy specimen relative to a support surface using the needles of two, parallel-arranged specimen slicing guides, inserting a cutting tool between corresponding needle gap pairs and then downwardly moving the cutting tool under guidance of adjacent needles. |
| US08191451B2 |
Web-slitter with electronic motor control
An electronically controlled web-slitter includes dual electric motors whose functions may be controlled by an electronic controller accessed either on the chassis of the web-slitter or by way of a computer coupled to the electronic controller. Vertical and side-shift blade set-up and functions are accurately controlled. The device includes a dovetail fitting for providing structural connection of parts, and a follower engaged with said first motor for translating rotational movement into vertical motion, and multiple sensors for sensing and controlling motor positions within the device. |
| US08191450B2 |
Power equipment with detection and reaction systems
Woodworking machines and safety methods for use with those machines are disclosed. The machines include a detection system adapted to detect one or more dangerous conditions and a reaction system associated with the detection system. The reaction system can include an explosive to trigger the system, and also can be configured to retract a cutting tool at least partially away from a cutting region upon detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system. |
| US08191449B2 |
Position adjustable support for a cutting device
The present invention is directed toward a repositioning device for a tool such as miter saw. The device includes a tool platform rotationally coupled to a base platform via a reorientation mechanism. The tool platform supports the miter saw. The base platform connects directly to a workbench, or connects to a support assembly that supports the cutting tool on a supporting surface. |
| US08191447B2 |
Method and device for machining a workpiece that rotates about a central axis
The invention pertains to a method and device for machining a workpiece (2), which rotates about a central axis (1) by means of a tool (3), which contains at least one planar cutting plate (17) arranged in an inclined plane (E) relative to the central axis (1) of the workpiece (2) and is provided with a curved cutting edge (21) directed toward the workpiece (2), wherein the tool (3) is non-rotatably held during the machining, and wherein the workpiece (2) and the tool (3) are displaced relative to one another along two mutually perpendicular axes (X-axis, Y-axis) within a plane (X-Y plane) that lies perpendicular to the central axis (1) of the workpiece (2) such that the point of action between the cutting plate (17) and the workpiece (2) travels along the cutting edge (21). |
| US08191444B2 |
Mechanical control device especially for controlling a high-voltage or medium-voltage disconnector
A control device, including a transmission shaft adapted to be coupled to an apparatus to be controlled, a driving disk mounted on said transmission shaft to rotate thereon and driven in rotation by a motor unit, a driven disk constrained to rotate with said transmission shaft, and a rotary member carrying at least one indexing means which, due to rotation of said rotary member, can be simultaneously engaged into two respective slots of said two disks for said transmission shaft to be driven in rotation, and can be disengaged from one of said slots for said transmission shaft to be locked against rotation. |
| US08191443B2 |
Reverse inhibitor mechanism for regulating automatic transmission gear shifting, and method of assembling same
A reverse inhibitor mechanism for a transmission of an all terrain vehicle, in which a shift drum is jounalled to a side wall opposite the transmission case so as to be rotatably supported thereon, and a reverse inhibitor arm is detachably engaged with the reverse inhibitor groove formed in the outer circumferential surface of the shift drum to regulate a reverse setting. A reverse inhibitor shaft having the reverse inhibitor arm supported at one end thereof is positioned within the transmission case. The other end of the reverse inhibitor shaft is rotatably journaled to one of the opposite side walls of the transmission case from the inside of the transmission case. A distal end of the reverse inhibitor arm which swings by the rotation of the reverse inhibitor shaft is brought into engagement with the reverse inhibitor groove during assembly of the reverse inhibitor mechanism. |
| US08191436B2 |
Apparatus for collecting marine deposits
Provided is an apparatus for collecting marine deposits. The apparatus includes: a piston corer for collecting a deep part of marine deposits; a corer for collecting a surface part of marine deposits; and a trigger body connecting the corer for collecting a surface part of marine deposits and the piston corer for collecting a deep part of marine deposits to each other while being maintained at a laterally set interval. The apparatus for collecting marine deposits can greatly save costs consumed to collect marine deposits and increase accuracy of collecting the marine deposits. |
| US08191434B2 |
Device and method for temperature compensation testing of digital load cells
A device and method for effectuating the temperature compensation testing of digital load cells. The device uses conductive heat transfer to establish and maintain the temperature of the load cell(s) during testing. The device may include a vessel into which one or more load cells to be tested are placed. Temperature control of the load cells may be accomplished by circulating a temperature controlled fluid through the vessel. The vessel containing the one or more load cells may then be placed in a load application device that applies a load(s) to the one or more load cells during testing. Readings from the one or more load cells are used to establish a temperature compensation factor for each load cell tested. In other embodiments, temperature control of the load cells may be accomplished by placing the load cells in contact with a solid heat transfer element(s). |
| US08191430B2 |
Method and apparatus for pipe testing
A method of testing pipes for use in making subsea pipelines comprises cutting a ring from one or more pipes of the type used to make the pipeline; forming flat, substantially parallel surfaces on the ends of the ring; providing means for measuring strain and deformation of the ring; mounting the ring in a pressure chamber such that the ends of the ring form seals with opposing walls of the chamber to isolate the inside of the ring from the outside; increasing the pressure outside the ring and measuring the strain and deformation on the ring as the pressure increases; and using the deformation and strain measurements to determine a wall thickness for pipes to be used for the pipeline. An apparatus for testing rings cut from pipes for use in making subsea pipelines, comprises first and second test chamber sections which, when placed together define a test chamber for receiving the ring to be tested; one or more sensors for measuring strain and deformation of the ring; sealing means located in the chamber for forming a seal against the ring when received in the chamber; means for clamping the first and second sections together to form the chamber and engage the sealing means against the ring when received in the chamber to form a pressure resistant seal between the inside and outside of the ring; and a fluid inlet port in one of the chamber sections to allow a pressurised fluid to be admitted to the chamber outside the ring when received in the chamber. |
| US08191429B2 |
Composite fibre and related detection system
A composite fibre including at least a first component and a second component, wherein at least one of the components is an optical fiber, and the components are intertwined. The first component may be wound around the second component, and optionally the second component is wound around the first component. Associated fibrous assemblies, composite materials, fabrics, detection systems, items of clothing and methods of detecting a physical variable are also disclosed. |
| US08191428B2 |
Thermal effect and off-center load compensation of a sensor
A method and system of thermal effect and off-center load compensation of a sensor are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sensor includes a first conductive surface and a second conductive surface substantially parallel to the first conductive surface, a processing and communication zone of the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface having circuitry to enable communication with an external system (e.g., using a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface) and a sensing area having partially a ceramic substrate surrounding a sensor surface and a reference surface of the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface. The sensor may include a set of electrical leads that enable the sensing area to communicate with the processing and communication zone and with external devices, and a guard ring surrounding the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface to minimize an effect of stray capacitance. |
| US08191427B2 |
Pressure sensitive sensor and manufacturing method thereof
A molten dielectric resin material is filled in a section of an inside of a hollow dielectric body, in which electrode wires are installed. The molten dielectric resin material is solidified to form filler resin, so that the hollow dielectric body has a sensor portion, in which the filler resin is not filled in the inside of the hollow dielectric body, and a non-sensor portion, in which the filler resin is filled in the inside of the hollow dielectric body. A power supply connector is installed to one end part of the hollow dielectric body located at the non-sensor portion side and includes a plurality of electrically conductive terminals that are electrically connected to the plurality of electrode wires. |
| US08191426B2 |
Low TCR nanocomposite strain gages
A high temperature thin film strain gage sensor capable of functioning at temperatures above 1400° C. The sensor contains a substrate, a nanocomposite film comprised of an indium tin oxide alloy, zinc oxide doped with alumina or other oxide semiconductor and a refractory metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Rh, Ni, W, Ir, NiCrAlY and NiCoCrAlY deposited onto the substrate to form an active strain element. The strain element being responsive to an applied force. |
| US08191425B1 |
Gage pressure transducer and method for making the same
A gage pressure transducer comprising a first pressure sensing assembly exposed to a main pressure and a second pressure sensing assembly exposed to a reference pressure. The pressure sensing assemblies comprise half-bridge sensors and means for using an alignment glass plate with each sensor which reduces the amount of oil required for operation, which consequently reduces the back pressures caused by large volumes of oil. The pressure sensor assemblies are hermetically sealed using glass frits, therefore enabling the gage pressure transducer to robustly and accurately measure pressure in harsh environments. |
| US08191422B2 |
Copying apparatus
There is provided a copying apparatus that copies a workpiece, including a shoe that comes into contact with a portion of the workpiece to be copied, and a first swiveling unit that swivels with the shoe in an arc pattern around a point, as a swiveling center, on a plane where the shoe comes into contact with the portion of the workpiece to be copied. |
| US08191418B2 |
Method and measuring system for determining and/or monitoring an aggregate state change of a measured medium on a thermal, flow measuring device
A method for determining and/or monitoring aggregate state changes on a thermal, flow measuring device of at least a first part of a measured medium, wherein, as a result of the temperature of the medium being measured, as a result means of the chemical composition of the medium being measured and as a result of the partial pressure of the at least first part of the medium being measured and/or as a result of the total pressure of the medium being measured, at least one phase boundary line of the at least first part of the medium being measured is ascertained. At least a first measurement signal is provided from a temperature difference between a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor of the thermal, flow measuring device and/or from a heating power supplied the medium being measured, wherein, in the case of a state of the at least first part of the medium being measured in the region of the phase boundary line of the first part of the medium being measured, disturbances of predetermined type in the measurement signal are detected as aggregate state changes on the thermal flow device of the at least first part of the medium being measured. |
| US08191415B2 |
Test bed for elevation simulation
The invention relates to a test bed (1) for elevation simulation for a test specimen (11), in particular, for an internal combustion engine (11) with a supply chamber (20) in which a supply system (21) is arranged, a testing chamber (10) structurally separate from the supply chamber (20) for holding the test specimen (11), wherein the testing chamber (10) is in fluid connection with the supply chamber (20) and thus conditioning of the settings for the test specimen (11) to be tested can be achieved. |
| US08191413B2 |
Method for determining the nitrogen dioxide concentration in exhaust gases
In a method for determining an NO2 concentration and/or a concentration ratio of NO2 and NO in an exhaust tract of a combustion device, such as an internal combustion engine, an NOx sensor that is sensitive with respect to NO2 and NO is utilized, which provides a NOx output signal correlating with an NOx concentration representing the sum of the concentrations of NO2 and NO. In order to determine the NO2 concentration and/or the concentration ratio of NO2 and NO, the NOx output signal of a first NOx sensor, which is arranged upstream of an exhaust gas treatment element arranged in the exhaust tract and having the capability of converting NO to NO2 and/or converting NO2 to NO, is compared to the NOx output signal of a second NOx sensor, which is disposed downstream of the exhaust gas treatment element. |
| US08191410B2 |
Mechanical drive train for testing full scale compressor rigs and gas turbines
A mechanical drive train for testing a full scale compressor rig is disclosed. The drive train can include an electric motor, a gear box, and a gas turbine. The compressor rig is coupled to the drive train between the gear box and gas turbine. The drive train can further include a torque converter for transferring torque from the electric motor to the compressor rig. The drive train is configured to test a full scale compressor rig over the entire speed and load operating range, allowing for full compressor mapping from choke to stall at full load, part load (power turn down) and partial speed conditions. The drive train can also be used to test a compressor rig or gas turbine over the full range of operability for the compressor rig or gas turbine without having to connect the gas turbine to the power grid at the power generation site. |
| US08191406B2 |
Method and device for pretreating a fuel rod cladding tube for material tests, test body and method for testing corrosion characteristics
A method for treating or preparing a fuel rod cladding tube in such a way that an influence of iron oxide deposits on its surface can be studied and assessed precisely under virtually operational conditions with as little risk as possible, includes at least partially coating the fuel rod cladding tube with an iron oxide layer by immersing it in an aqueous electrolyte medium which contains iron oxide particles. The iron oxide particles are produced by anodic oxidation of an iron-containing working electrode. A test body and a device for pretreating a fuel rod cladding tube with an electrochemical three-electrode configuration, are also provided. |
| US08191401B2 |
Method and system for formation of highly nonlinear pulses
A method and system supporting the formation and propagation of tunable highly nonlinear pulses using granular chains composed of non-spherical granular systems. Such a method and system may be used to support the creation of tunable acoustic band gaps in granular crystals formed of particles with different geometries (spherical or not) in which the tunability is achieved by varying the static precompression, type of excitation and/or pulse amplitude in the system. |
| US08191398B1 |
Vapor generator safety release device
A vapor generator safety relief device for use in a surety system includes a conical flask, manifold, bubbler, and relief valve. The manifold includes a first chamber for inlet gas and a second chamber for outlet gas. The first chamber comprises an inlet port, an inlet tube, and a relief valve housing. The second chamber comprises an outlet tube and an outlet port. The bubbler is confluent with the inlet tube and disposed within the flask. |
| US08191396B2 |
Test-sensor packaging
A test-sensor cartridge is disclosed. The test-sensor cartridge comprises a plurality of test sensors adapted to assist in determining an analyte concentration of a fluid sample. The test-sensor cartridge further comprises a plurality of walls forming at least one cavity therein, the at least one cavity being adapted to contain the plurality of test sensors. The test-sensor cartridge further comprises at least one opening formed on a surface of the cartridge. The at least one opening is adapted to receive each of at least one projection of a first sensor-dispensing instrument with which the cartridge is compatible. The at least one opening is adapted to receive at least one but less than all of at least one projection of a second sensor-dispensing instrument with which the cartridge is incompatible. |
| US08191394B2 |
Step flashing bending device
A step flashing bending device comprises a supporting a lower press block and an upper press block thereon for movement relative to one another for bending blank metal sheets into step flashing therebetween. The press blocks have working surfaces which are elongate in a longitudinal direction extending at a downward inclination from a top end to a bottom end thereof. The frame and the press blocks are open at the bottom end such that the working surfaces are arranged to automatically release the step flashing from the frame between the bottom ends of the upper and lower press blocks under force of gravity when the press blocks are separated into an open position. |
| US08191380B2 |
Portable active cryo container
A portable active cryo container for maintaining product at refrigerated and/or cryogenic temperatures. Said container comprising a control system to monitor and control the flow of cooling air from a bunker section to at least one material storage section wherein temperature sensitive product is contained. |
| US08191379B2 |
Refrigerator having improved ice access feature
The present invention provides a refrigeration apparatus having improved access to ice comprising a freezer compartment, a slidable support occupying a portion of the freezer compartment and configured to open to an extended position, an ice bin moveable with the slidable support and occupying at least a portion of the slidable support, and a stationary ice maker attached to the freezer compartment and located above the portion of the slidable support, wherein when the slidable support is pulled opened to the extended position, access to the ice bin is unobstructed by the ice maker. |
| US08191377B2 |
Heat source apparatus and method of starting the apparatus
After a chiller unit is started, an opening command of 10 pulses is output to an electronic expansion valve, and after a predetermined period of time (at the time of starting with unload) elapses, an opening command of 100 to 150 pulses is output to open the electronic expansion valve up to a predetermined opening degree. Thereafter, a discharge side refrigerant super-heat TdSH is monitored and a closing command of 1 pulse/sec is output to the electronic expansion valve to drive the same in a closing direction in a short time until TdSH becomes 20 K. After TdSH has reached 20 K, a closing command of 1 pulse/3 sec is output to the electronic expansion valve, until TdSH becomes 25 K, to drive the electronic expansion valve 3 at a smaller speed in the closing direction than that speed in the closing direction until TdSH becomes 20 K. After TdSH reaches 25 K, it is judged that an operation has shifted to a stable operation, and the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve is controlled while a suction side refrigerant super-heat TsSH is monitored. |
| US08191375B2 |
Device for generating cold and heat by a magneto-calorific effect
A device (10) for continuously generating cold and heat by a magnetic effect. The device includes a magnetic field generator (13), which is arranged in at least one crown segment and defines an annular space crossed by a circular coaxial part (11) provided with radial transverse cavities (31) and contains at least one type of magneto-calorific material. The inventive device also includes a circulating pump (27) for axially supplying a heat carrier to the cavities (31). A first collector (33) picks up the heat carrier, which passes through the radial cavities (31) in the area containing the magnetic field generator (13), and a second collector (34) picks up the heat carrier which passes through the radial cavities (31) in an area located outside of the magnetic field generator (13). |
| US08191370B2 |
Engine with supercharger
In an engine equipped with a supercharger consisting of a compressor having a plurality of blades on a turbine shaft and a turbine, at least one index means provided on the turbine shaft or the plurality of blades, and a turbo angular velocity sensor, which detects a rotation of the index means and a rotation of the plurality of blades respectively and connected to an ECU. In the engine, also, a turbo angular velocity computing means, which calculates an angular velocity by obtaining a plurality of pulses per one rotation of the turbine shaft, is provided. |
| US08191368B2 |
Variable geometry turbine with wastegate
A variable geometry turbine comprises a turbine wheel (5) supported in a housing for rotation about a turbine axis with an annular inlet passageway (9) defined between a radial face of a nozzle ring (11) and a facing wall of the housing (10). The nozzle ring is movable along the turbine axis to vary the width of the inlet passageway and has a circumferential array of vanes (20) that are received in corresponding slots (24) in the facing wall. A wastegate valve (15) is provided in a chamber behind the facing wall and gas bypasses the turbine through the chamber to the wastegate port (14) at high flow rates. |
| US08191367B2 |
Sliding piston cartridge and turbocharger incorporating same
A sliding piston cartridge (50) for a turbocharger (20) that is insertable into a bore (44) in the turbine housing (38) as a unit and that includes all of the components of a sliding piston type variable nozzle. The sliding piston cartridge comprises a carrier (52) having a tubular portion that interfaces with the bore of the turbine housing. A sliding piston (62) is disposed within the carrier and makes sliding contact therewith. Vanes (58) are mounted on or formed as a part of the carrier at its upstream end, the vanes extending across a turbine nozzle. The piston slides between a closed position and an open position relative to the carrier. The tubular portion of the carrier can include openings (66) that are progressively uncovered by the piston as it moves toward the open position, to allow additional flow to enter the turbine wheel without passing through the vanes. |
| US08191366B2 |
Charge air cooler condensate separation and dispersion system
A system for separating and dispersing condensate formed in a charge air cooler of a turbocharged engine system. The system includes a drain tube on the charge air cooler lower surface that is plumbed to a reservoir, with a charge air recirculation tube plumbed from the reservoir to the turbocharger compressor inlet duct. The pressure difference between the charge air cooler and the compressor inlet draws any condensate formed in the charge air cooler back into the reservoir. A valve at the bottom of the condensate reservoir will open under predetermined vehicle operating conditions to drain the stored condensate out from the reservoir. The condensate could be simply drained to the ground, or a spray bar could be connected to the reservoir outlet to spay the condensate on to the outside surface of the charge air cooler, providing additional performance for brief periods of high engine load operation. |
| US08191363B2 |
Hydraulic actuator control system for refuse collection vehicle
A system for controlling motion of a hydraulic actuator on a refuse collection vehicle. The system includes an operator input device configured to produce a proportional electrical signal that is proportional to the degree of motion of the operator input device. The system further includes a proportional pneumatic control valve that is configured to produce a pressurized air control signal in proportion to the proportional electrical signal, and a hydraulic control valve that is configured to selectively control flow of hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic actuator in response to the pressurized air control signal. |
| US08191358B2 |
Regeneration method for a storage catalytic converter
A regeneration method for a storage catalytic converter in an exhaust-gas purification system of an internal combustion engine, has the following steps: (a) switching of the internal combustion engine from a standard operating mode with a lean exhaust gas to a regeneration mode with a rich exhaust gas, (b) measurement of a nitrogen oxide concentration in the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine after the switchover to the regeneration mode, (c) determination of a characteristic variable of a desorption peak of the measured nitrogen oxide concentration after the switchover to the regeneration mode, and (d) minimization of the characteristic variable of the desorption peak through controlling of the internal combustion engine as a function of the measured characteristic variable of the desorption peak. |
| US08191353B2 |
Device and method for controlling internal combustion engine
A device for controlling an internal combustion engine comprises a device for trapping particulate matter (PM) in exhaust gas in an exhaust passage, means for supplying ozone to the particulate matter trapping device from the upstream thereof to oxidize and remove PM deposited in the device, and means for interrupting the fuel injection of the internal combustion engine upon the execution of ozone supply by the ozone supply means. It is possible to prevent components consuming ozone, such as NOx, from being contained in the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine, whereby ozone is effectively usable. |
| US08191346B2 |
Mobile machinery having a dust suppression system
A mobile harvesting unit which utilizes a high volume fan to separate crops from foreign matter, has a dust suppression system which substantially reduces particulates which are discharged with the fan exhaust. The dust suppression system has two stages. The first stage separates larger particles of foreign matter by deploying an air stream cleaning chain upstream of the fan. The second stage is contained within a air stream discharge duct. Within the air stream discharge duct, a liquid, such as water, is sprayed into the dust entrained air stream. The moistened air stream flows through a plurality of collection members which extend radially from a brush drum, where the moistened dust particles are accumulated on the collection members, such that the volume of dust particles contained within the air discharged from the harvesting unit is substantially reduced. |
| US08191336B2 |
Fascia board support device for roofing
A fascia board support device features a rafter bracket having a side member for placement against one vertical side of the rafter, and a movable member pivotally coupled to the side member for movement into and out of a deployed position in which at least a portion of the movable member depends downward on an opposing side of the roof rafter. A clamping mechanism forces the depending portion against this opposing side of the roof rafter to clamp the device thereon, at which point a fascia board support projecting from the front end of the rafter bracket can seat a fascia board. After fastening of the fascia board to the rafter, the device is easily removed by releasing the clamp, flipping the movable member over to same side of the rafter as the side member and lowering the device to withdraw the support from beneath the fastened fascia board. |
| US08191335B2 |
Framing guide
A multi-sided framing guide includes a stud side with stud pockets, a nail side with nailing windows, and an intermediate side adjoining the stud and nail sides. |
| US08191330B1 |
Firestop drain assembly
A firestop drain assembly for mounting in a partition to prevent fire on one side of the partition from moving through the firestop drain assembly to the other side of the partition. The firestop drain assembly can achieve an F-rating and a T-rating of at least one (1) hour. |
| US08191329B2 |
Apparatus for connecting panels
Disclosed herein are connectors for panels. In one embodiment a panel connector comprises, a connector comprising a rib-hinging geometry, wherein the rib-hinging geometry comprises living hinges, and wherein the rib-hinging geometry is capable of expanding in area. In another embodiment, a panel assembly is disclosed. The panel assembly comprises, a connector comprising a rib-hinging geometry, wherein the rib-hinging geometry comprises living hinges, a socket comprising an internal geometry, wherein the connector can be assembled to the internal geometry, and wherein the rib-hinging geometry is capable of expanding in area. |
| US08191328B1 |
Hardwood flooring with sliding locking mechanism
A hardwood floor with a flexible locking mechanism is disclosed. The floor board has a male locking apparatus on one end and a female locking apparatus on the opposite end. Two adjacent floor boards are engaged by sliding the male locking apparatus of one floor board into the female locking apparatus of an adjacent floor board. The female locking apparatus includes a flexible lower lip that moves downward when the male locking apparatus engages the female locking apparatus. |
| US08191327B2 |
Wall panel system with hook-on clip
A wall panel system includes at least one wall panel, each edge of the panel having a flange. At least one flange, and preferably two opposing flanges, have at least one slot therein. Each slot is mated with a clip having a unique shape that allows the clip to be inserted into the slot and secured therein without the use of fasteners and strictly due to its shape. The clip may then be attached to a building surface or intermediary mounting apparatus by a fastener to secure the wall panel thereto. |
| US08191325B2 |
Curtain wall system and method of installing the system
A curtain wall system is assembled by a plurality of panels supported by a curtain-wall supporting mullion. The panels comprise one or more functional types of panels: transition panels and adjacent panels that can be joined at the top or/and bottom side of the transition panels because each of the panels has a male frame member is used to engage with the adjacent panels each having a female frame member. In each transition panel, a frame is assembled by a jamb frame member connecting with the upper frame member and the lower frame member. As a result, the curtain wall system can be easily erected in a bottom-up procedure, a top-down procedure, or the combination of the two. |
| US08191324B2 |
Modular pre-cast composite flooring panel and floor system
A multilayer flooring panel for flooring and the like has a cementitious top surface, a lower density intermediate layer preferably incorporating expanded polymeric beads mixed with cement, and a lower layer reinforced by tension-bearing fibers embedded therein. The interface between the top and middle layers may be upwardly domed to reduce the tendency for cracks to form in the bottom surface of the top layer. Channels formed along the edges of such tiles allow insertion of heat transfer tubing to provide a hydronic floor surface. A flooring panel may have cementitious top and bottom surfaces with an intermediate lower density layer there between. Such intermediate layer may be divided into two portions by a water impervious layer that serves as a binder and vapor barrier. Flooring panels provided with shiplap joints along the edges are laid-out on a prepared surface on mortar pads positioned along edges and corners of the tiles to provide flooring, leaving a continuous under air space which may be ventilated to remove moisture; soil gases and radon gas. |
| US08191319B2 |
Roof edge cable raceway and method of forming same
A raceway extends along an edge of roof of a structure and is adapted to house a cable, such as an industry standard ice and snow melt heating cable designed, listed and approved for the purpose. An open side of the raceway exposes the cable and allows for the insertion, replacement and inspection of the cable per industry practice. A side of the raceway may have a radiused edge providing added resiliency to springably retain and/or removably secure the cable in raceway. In the case of a heating cable, heat is transferred to the surrounding structure, and may be concentrated at the drip edge to maximize ice melt efficiency. Methods of installation of the raceway are applicable to new construction and retro-fitting existing structures, including drainage systems, bridge structures and other outdoor enclosures, and may be used with many types of roofing materials including asphalt, wood and metal. |
| US08191315B1 |
Eavestrough cover
A combination of an eavestrough and a cover therefore, the eavestrough having a bottom wall, a rear wall and a front wall, the front wall terminating in a segment extending outwardly and downwardly from a distal end of the front wall. The cover overlies the eavestrough and has a side structure adjacent the front wall which forms a recess to receive the segment of the front eavestrough wall which extends downwardly and outwardly from a distal end thereof. |
| US08191314B2 |
Door or window with watertight sealing mechanism
A door including a main frame, a wing and a sealing apparatus which is interposed between main frame and wing when the door is in the closed condition. The sealing apparatus including a gasket extending along the main frame and a movable sealing member supported by the main frame, and exerting a compressive force on the gasket against the wing when the door is in the closed condition. An operating device moves the movable sealing member between an activated position, in which the movable member exerts the compressive force on the gasket, and a disabled condition, in which the movable member removes the compressive force from the gasket. The movable sealing member comprises a sealing counter-frame which extends along the whole perimeter of the main frame and is movable with respect to the wing when the door is in the closed condition, in a direction perpendicular to the door. |
| US08191313B2 |
Sash windows
A sash window includes a support device disposed on a lower end portion of each sash and including a pivot shaft for pivotally supporting the sash relative to a window frame, and a latch device disposed on an upper end portion of the sash for interlocking engagement with each jamb member to lock the sash in position against pivotal movement relative to the window frame. The window frame has a holder member for holding the pivot shaft in position against movement in inward and outward directions of the sash window when the sash is in a fully closed position. A first reinforcement member is mounted in at least one sash rail, and a second reinforcement member is mounted in a portion of each jamb member adapted for engagement with the latch device in the fully closed state of the sash, so as to indirectly reinforce the jamb member portion from inside the jamb member. |
| US08191312B2 |
Automatic revolving door having foldable rotary wings
An automatic revolving door having a plurality of foldable revolving wings, in which each revolving wing is disposed at a lower side of a horizontal plate which is driven by a driving motor, and an upper outer side of each revolving wing is coupled with hinge to the horizontal plate, and an upper inner side of each revolving wing is slidably coupled to a cross bar attached to the horizontal plate, and each revolving wing is pivotally moveable toward outer wall members of the door to provide a wide opening between the outer wall members. |
| US08191309B2 |
Plant package and methods of forming same using a thermoplastic flower pot
A flower pot in combination with a retaining medium for holding and retaining a floral grouping is disclosed. The flower pot includes a base portion defining a receiving space for receiving at least a portion of the retaining medium so as to hold and retain the retaining medium. The base portion is constructed of a thermoformed plastic material, and has an upper end, a lower end, and a sidewall extending between the upper end and the lower end. The sidewall is substantially devoid of overlapping folds and has decorative ornamentation associated with at least a portion of the sidewall. |
| US08191305B2 |
Netting arrangement
A netting arrangement for use in trawling is described. The arrangement includes a grid portion 120 which is desirably collapsible and is formed from a plurality of loops. Each of the loops are provided with four sides, two sides having a substantially rigid nature and being separated from one another by flexible interconnectors. A netting and ramp arrangement is also described wherein the ramp assists in the selective expulsion of juvenile and small fish from the net. |
| US08191304B2 |
Turkey decoy
A decoy, fashioned to represent a male turkey, having a substructure constructed of tubular material, including a turkey head supported upright, an integrally extending lengthy support for holding the turkey body, and a downwardly depending tube, for impaling within the ground; and expandable turkey body made of flexible, nylon material printed to the image of a real life make turkey, expands into an open position around the body supporting portion of the tubular structure, to hold the body of the turkey in place. |
| US08191302B1 |
Folding front sight with laser aiming device
A folding front sight for a firearm includes a laser aiming device within the folding sight frame. The folding front sight includes a base, and a sight frame having a front sight post. The sight frame is movable between an upright deployed position, and a stowed position. A laser aiming module is mounted within the sight frame and is movable with the forward sight frame such that when the forward sight frame is in an upright deployed position, the laser aiming module is in a stowed position, and further such that when the forward sight frame is in a stowed position, the laser aiming module is in a deployed position. The device further includes a power source and a switch for selectively energizing said laser aiming module to output an aiming beam. |
| US08191299B2 |
Firearm stock
A firearm stock having a buffer tube holder, the buffer tube holder including a bore for receiving a buffer tube, and at least one flexible support member defined in the bore for engaging and firmly holding the buffer tube. Preferably, the flexible support member includes a U-shaped slot defining a flexible flap. |
| US08191292B2 |
Recognition award, personnel identification holder and/or personnel unit for attachment to hardhats, protective helmets or the likes
A device for displaying a recognition award includes a hard hat having a pocket, a detachable connected holder to be placed in the pocket and a personnel unit adapted to display the recognition award and adapted to be positioned in the detachedly connected holder. The device is used as a recognition award or personnel identification unit to be retained within a detachedly connected holder. |
| US08191291B2 |
Wear member for excavating equipment
A wear member for attachment along the digging edge of excavating equipment that includes ridges formed along its front working end. As the front end wears away, the tips of the ridges along the front of the wear member project forward to define a serrated penetrating edge. A serrated front edge is able to more easily cut into and through the ground. The ridges may be arranged in a generally axial direction along the front working end to present a reduced surface area to contact the ground for easier penetration. The ridges provide the front working end with sufficient rigidity and strength without unduly enlarging the surface area of the penetrating edge that initiates contact with the ground. |
| US08191289B2 |
Skid for a snow blower and a snow blower incorporating the same
A skid for use on a snow blower, where the snow blower includes an auger housing through which snow removed from an area is channeled. The skid includes a body that is secured to a vertical side wall of the auger housing. The body includes a sliding surface which assists the auger housing in sliding over snow-covered regions of the area being cleared; and a rolling surface which assists the auger housing to travel over snow-free regions of the area. A slot is provided in the sliding surface of the skid and a portion of the rolling surface projects for a distance below the sliding surface. An adapter plate may be positioned between the body and the side wall of the auger housing. The adapter plate enables the body to be secured to different makes of auger housing. |
| US08191288B2 |
Reversible snow pusher and coupler
Disclosed herein are various aspects of an improved snow or material pushers for use with loaders, backhoes, agricultural and larger home and garden tractors and the like for moving snow or other materials on generally flat areas such as parking lots, driveways, feed lots, runways, and loading areas. The improvements include, among others, a reversible design, extended side plates and/or wear shoes as well as improved scraping edge configurations so as to provide added functionality and versatility to pushers. As described the various features may be employed alone or in combination to provide the capability for snow and ice removal while minimizing the potential for damage to surfaces and objects thereon. |
| US08191287B2 |
Elastomeric plow edge
A plow edge having improved durability and performance is provided which can comprise an elastomeric material, for example, a styrene elastomeric material. The present disclosure provides a plow blade edge system for mounting to a mold board of a plow comprising an adapter blade including a bottom edge having a carbide insert along a portion of the bottom edge; an elastomeric blade selectively reversible to present first and second edges; a clamp bar wherein the clamp bar is mounted to the adapter blade with the elastomeric blade secured therebetween; and, the elastomeric blade secured selectively in a first position or a second position. |
| US08191286B2 |
Traction cleat system for an athletic shoe
A traction cleat system for an athletic shoe is disclosed. The system includes an elongated receptacle that receives a cleat strip. The elongated receptacle may be a channel or notch formed into the sole of the shoe. In one embodiment, the cleat strip includes an elongated, flexible hub, a cleat connector, and traction elements depending from the hub. The cleat strip is removable from the receptacle, permitting easy replacement of the cleat assembly when the traction elements become worn. |
| US08191285B2 |
Soccer shoe component or insert made of one material and/or a composite and/or laminate of one or more materials for enhancing the performance of the soccer shoe
A soccer shoe absorbs and stores energy from the foot at foot-strike and return some of this energy to the object being struck. The shoe may also cushion the foot, leg and body; provide foot stability and motion control; reduce fatigue; extend the float time of a runner and increase the jump height of the wearer. The shoe is intended to absorb, store and return energy to the object struck, which would otherwise be lost using the existing shoe components and inserts. The shoe has a vertical component that extends around the periphery of the front of the shoe and another component (horizontal) that extends longitudinally from the front of the shoe towards the back of the shoe, at least to about the middle of the shoe, and preferably proximate the heel of the shoe. |
| US08191282B2 |
Device and method for obtaining energy carriers from moist biomass
A device for obtaining energy carriers from moist biomass includes a dehydration device for mechanically pre-dehydrating the biomass, and a drying step for post-dehydrating the pre-dehydrated biomass via the addition of heat. The dehydration device includes a first dehydration step and a second dehydration step, which is combined with the drying step to form a single assembly. |
| US08191280B2 |
System and method for spray drying a liquid
Described herein are devices and techniques for spray drying a fluid to produce a dried powder. Assemblies include a spray drying head attachable to a gas supplier and a liquid sample, such as a standard unit of blood product. The spray drying head can be adapted to provide an aerosolized flow of liquid sample exposed to a drying gas. The assembly also includes a drying chamber adapted to separate the aerosolized flow of liquid sample into a dried powder and humid air. The assembly can be disposable, provided in a sterilized kit and having simplified attachments allowing quick connect and disconnect from the gas and liquid sample. Separation of the powder from the humid air exiting the drying chamber occurs within a filtered collection bag. In some embodiments, one or more of the drying chamber and collection bag are formed form a thin-walled, collapsible material. |
| US08191279B2 |
Tape checking apparatus
A tape checking apparatus has a driving roller (42) interposed in a running path (L) of an endless tape (T) and a thickness-measuring device (44) disposed near the driving roller (42). The thickness-measuring device (44) measures the thickness of the endless tape (T) that is pinched between the driving roller (42) and a pinch roller (45). |
| US08191277B2 |
Tape measure anchoring accessory
The present invention relates to a measuring tool having a substantially puck-shaped body having a top surface and a bottom surface. The tool also includes an elongated slot formed in the top surface and a fastener adjacent the bottom surface. The elongated slot is adapted to receive a portion of a tape measure. The fastener is operable to secure the measuring tool to the underlying work piece. Optionally, the fastener is a magnet. |
| US08191276B1 |
Golf ball liner
The golf ball liner includes a fixing member having a predetermined shape to house a golf ball, and including fixing pads disposed at both ends of the fixing member to hold the golf ball not to move, a rotating member having a shape identical to that of the fixing member and a diameter smaller than that of the fixing member, and including both ends rotatably supported by the respective ends of the fixing member, and at least one pen disposed at an inner side of the rotating member to contact the golf ball for drawing a line on a surface of the golf ball along a circumference of the golf ball when the rotating member rotates around the golf ball. |
| US08191272B1 |
Protractor apparatus
An improved protractor with an adjustable narrow arm comprising, in combination a flat, generally planar body having protractor shape, including an angle indicating scale with protruding scale elements in a curved row, the marker arm pivotally carried by the body to be swung successively over the scale elements, the scale elements spaced apart sufficiently to frictionally maintain the marker in selected angle indicating positions relative to said body. |
| US08191269B1 |
Line gauge device for auto body repairs
A line gauge device for constructing lines and contours on auto body components featuring a first pivot arm and a second pivot arm pivotally connected via a pivot component. The pivot arms can pivot toward and away from each other. The pivot component is biased to pivot the pivot arms away from each other. A threaded adjustment rod with a thumb wheel disposed in both the first and second pivot arms functions to secure the pivot arms in a particular position. A utensil holding component is disposed on the second end of the first pivot arm. A surface guide base with surface guide rollers is disposed on the second end of the second pivot arm. |
| US08191267B2 |
Tool with replaceable blade
A tool handle for use with a removable blade having a latch opening, the tool handle having a housing defining a blade chamber in the housing, a latch disposed in the housing, configured for moving between a latched position and a released position. In the latched position, the latch is configured to extend through the latch opening. Also included is an actuator at least partially enclosed within the housing, configured for moving between a rest position and a depressed position, wherein movement of the actuator to the depressed position causes the latch to move to the released position. |
| US08191266B2 |
Shielded conduit cutting device for small BX electrical cables
A cutting device for relatively small cable including, among others, fiber optic cable and BX electrical cable is configured with removably coupleable adapter inserted between the top and bottom portions of the device which pivot relative to one another so as to displace a cutter to a cutting position. The adapter is configured to reduce a cable receiving space formed in the bottom portion of the device so as to center a small cable relative to the cutter which is operative to split the shield of the cable without damaging electrical conductors of the cable. |
| US08191263B2 |
Separable lubrication
A shaving implement which includes a handle. The shaving cartridge includes a frame and a separable lubrication. The separable lubrication includes a shaving aid. The shaving cartridge is pivotable relative to the handle between a neutral position (see e.g., FIG. 1) and a rearward position (see e.g, FIG. 2), and the separable lubrication is pivotable relative to the frame between a forward position (see e.g., FIGS. 1 and 2) and a locked position. During normal shaving, the separable lubrication is rotated toward the forward position and can pivot relative to the handle with the frame. When the separable lubrication is in the locked position, the separable lubrication is located in a position away from the skin during normal shaving and the pivoting of the frame relative to the handle is generally limited, or altogether eliminated. |
| US08191262B2 |
Disposable, sterile surgical clipper
A disposable, sterilized surgical clipper includes a body having a top portion and a bottom portion and a clipper head attached to the top portion of the body. The clipper head includes a housing and a blade assembly. A power source is housed within the body for operating the clipper. The clipper head and the body may be a single, integrated unit or the clipper head may be removable from the body. In either embodiment, the body, clipper head and power source are sterilized as a single unit so as to be used in a sterile setting. |
| US08191261B2 |
Aluminum sleeve for magnetic development roller
An aluminum sleeve for magnetic development rollers includes an aluminum sleeve and a shaft fixed at the ends of the aluminum sleeve for engaging with a gear, wherein an etching absorption layer is arranged on the surface of the aluminum sleeve, and a nickel plating protect layer is arranged onto the etching absorption layer. A manufacture method thereof involves forming an etching absorption layer on the surface of the aluminum sleeve via a chemical texture etching process, then forming a nickel plating protect layer onto the etching absorption layer via a nickel chemical plating process. The etching absorption layer has fine and uniform particles, and the nickel protect layer prevents the etching absorption layer from being oxidized and improves the wear resistance of the aluminum sleeve. |
| US08191260B2 |
Liquid ejection head and manufacturing method thereof
A manufacturing method of a liquid ejection head includes forming on a substrate a first flow passage wall forming member contacting a solid layer of equal height, exposing a first layer of a negative photosensitive resin material to form an ejection outlet forming member; exposing a second layer, on the first layer, of a negative photosensitive resin material to form a second flow passage wall forming member for forming another part of the wall of the flow passage; placing the exposed first and second layers on the solid layer and the first flow passage wall forming member so that a non-exposed portion of the second layer contacts the solid layer; forming parts of the flow passage and the ejection outlet by removing non-exposed portions of the first and second layers above the substrate; and forming the flow passage by removing the solid layer. |
| US08191256B2 |
Method for producing a heat exchanger having a corrosion protection layer
Method for producing a heat exchanger with the following steps: a) hot dip refining a steel sheet to form a corrosion-protection layer (3), wherein the corrosion-protection layer (3) contains zinc and between 0.5% and 60% aluminum; b) removal of the corrosion-protection layer (3) from one side of the steel sheet; c) production of a heat exchanger tube (2) from this steel sheet, wherein the corrosion-protection layer (3) is arranged on the outside; d) provision of ribs (6) of aluminum or an aluminum alloy; e) provision of a flux; f) provision of a filler material (8) containing aluminum and silicon in the connecting region between the ribs (6) and the outside of the heat exchanger tube (2); g) connection of the heat exchanger tube (2) to the ribs (6) in a brazing operation. |
| US08191254B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving fan case containment and heat resistance in a gas turbine jet engine
A method and apparatus for improving fan case containment in a gas turbine jet engine employs a containment ring and a heat resistance ring which are shrink interference fit on the inside diameter of the fan case, the containment ring where the large fan blades turn, and the heat resistance ring where heated air from backfiring heats up the fan case. The containment ring is made of a super alloy to provide added strength to the fan case should a fan blade break, containing the fan blade within the fan case. The heat resistance ring is made of titanium or other suitable material. Additionally, one or more stiffener rings are shrink interference fit on the outside diameter of the fan case. The containment ring and stiffener rings can reduce the flight weight of the fan case and lower the material costs, while increasing the containment strength of the fan case. |
| US08191253B2 |
Method for fitting the rotor of a wind generator
Method of mounting the rotor of a wind turbine (11) comprising the following steps: lifting and mounting the rotor hub (15) on the nacelle (21); lifting and mounting the rotor blades (25, 27, 29) on the rotor hub (15) using a lifting device (17) cooperating with a winch (19) on ground, the mounting of each blade being made after rotating the rotor hub (15) for having the connecting part (25′, 27′, 29′) with each blade (25, 27, 29) in front of it when it is lifted, the lifting device (17) being installed in a fixed position in the rotor hub (15) and comprising, in a preferred embodiment, a bracket (31) mounted on the rotor hub front (16) and a hook block (33) mounted on said bracket (31) with a cable (35) connected to said winch (19). The invention also refers to a method of dismounting a rotor blade. |
| US08191251B2 |
Method for forming rustproof film on a PC strand
A PC strand is untwisted to separate surrounding wires from a core wire, a synthetic resin powdered coating material is uniformly adhered by being applied and heated over the outer periphery of the core wire and surrounding wires in this untwisted state, the product is cooled to form a resin film, and then the surrounding wires are twisted back to the original state with respect to the core wire. Pre-heating is performed before the coating step and post-heating is performed after the coating step, the pre-heating temperature is set 30 to 130° C. higher than the post-heating temperature, a synthetic resin powdered coating material having an average grain size of 40 to 50 μm is used, and the process line speed is 5 to 10 m/min. |
| US08191247B2 |
Electronic board, method of manufacturing the same, and electronic device
An electronic board includes a substrate on which is formed an electronic circuit having a connection terminal; a stress-relaxation layer formed on the substrate; a rearrangement wiring for the connection terminal disposed at a top side of the stress-relaxation layer; and a capacitor. The capacitor has a first electrode that is disposed between the substrate and the stress-relaxation layer, a second electrode that is disposed at the top side of the stress-relaxation layer, and a dielectric material that is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode and/or the second electrode has a corrugated surface facing the dielectric material. |
| US08191246B1 |
Method of manufacturing a plurality of miniaturized spring contacts
A method of manufacturing an array of miniaturized spring contacts is disclosed. The invention teaches a symmetric design of the spring contact with two anchoring traces at each side of the spring contact, and teaches a method of forming the spring contact with a continuous, zero-stress core member throughout the entire body of the spring contact; besides these, the invention enables easy manufacturing of integrated fine pitch spring contact arrays, allows fabrication of such spring contact arrays with extremely uniform spring height and good electrical and mechanical properties. |
| US08191240B2 |
Method for winding lead wire on multilayer coil electronic components
A method for winding a lead wire on a multi-winding electronic component is provided. The method can prevent winding slack of the lead wire, a break of the lead wire, and/or a terminal disconnection failure. A lead wire is wound around a winding core by a certain number of turns to form at least one first layer. Next, the lead wire is folded back toward an electrode, is pulled toward the electrode at an end-of-winding side so as to be across the second layer. Then, the lead wire is caught at a bottom part of the collar to form a final terminal part for boding to the electrode. |
| US08191234B2 |
Method of manufacturing a magnetic head with reinforcing islands
A method for protecting a thin film structure including fabricating a plurality of island structures in a recording gap of a magnetic recording head, exposing a substantial portion of the plurality of island structures by removing at least a portion of the surrounding recording gap material via at least one etching process, including ion milling, coating the magnetic recording head containing the plurality of island structures with a coating material, including silicon nitride or aluminum oxide, and removing at least a portion of the coating material via a removal process, including chemical-mechanical polishing or lapping, to expose an uppermost region of at least a portion of said plurality of island structures. |
| US08191233B2 |
Head stack assembly incorporating device, magnetic disk device manufacturing device, and method of manufacturing magnetic disk device
According to one embodiment, a head stack assembly incorporating device connects a head stack assembly to the base of a magnetic disk device by screwing a connector on the bottom surface of the rotational shaft of the head stack assembly and a connector on the base of the magnetic device together. The head stack assembly incorporating device includes a chuck and a driving-force transmitter. The chuck pinches the rotational shaft of the head stack assembly from the upper surface of the head stack assembly to be fixed to the rotational shaft. The chuck is rotatable around the central axis of the rotational shaft. The driving-force transmitter transmits a rotational force to the chuck. |
| US08191222B2 |
Apparatus and method for attaching a drive system and a stand to a ring in a medicine gantry
A mounting assembly for attaching the drive system and stand to a ring in a medicine gantry is disclosed. The mounting assembly includes at least one mounting bar (e.g., two mounting bars), at least one mounting plate and at least one adjuster (e.g., a screw). The mounting bar is securable to a portion of the ring. The mounting bar includes a base and at least one transverse face. At least a portion of the base is substantially parallel to a surface of a portion of the ring and at least a portion of the transverse face is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the portion of the ring. The mounting plate is secured to the drive system and is securable to the transverse face of the mounting bar. Movement of the adjuster moves the drive assembly relative to the mounting bar when the mounting plate is adjacent the transverse face of the mounting bar. |
| US08191218B2 |
Deck seam with reduced selvage
A method is provided for forming a welt in a single sheet of coverstock by folding and sewing. A second method is provided for forming a welt adjacent a seam formed by sewing two sheets of coverstock together, the method requiring less selvage from one of the sheets. |
| US08191217B2 |
Complimentary metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors and method of manufacture
A high density capacitor and low density capacitor simultaneously formed on a single wafer and a method of manufacture is provided. The method includes depositing a bottom plate on a dielectric material; depositing a low-k dielectric on the bottom plate; depositing a high-k dielectric on the low-k dielectric and the bottom plate; depositing a top plate on the high-k dielectric; and etching a portion of the bottom plate and the high-k dielectric to form a first metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor having a dielectric stack with a first thickness and a second MIM capacitor having a dielectric stack with a second thickness different than the first thickness. |
| US08191215B2 |
Spreading device for spreading out fiber filament bundles and spreading method carried out using the same
A spreading device (20) for spreading a fiber filament bundle (32) to form a flat fiber band (14) has at least one convexly bent spreading edge (80) that is movable. The convexly bent spreading edge has at least one direction component perpendicular to a longitudinal extension of the fiber filament bundle (32) to be spread relative to the convexly bent spreading edge. The fiber filament bundle is configured to be placed under tension onto the convexly bent spreading edge (80) and thereafter is configured to be moved again with the at least one direction component perpendicular to the fiber filament bundle (32) away from the fiber filament bundle to release the fiber filament bundle from the convexly bent spreading edge (80). |
| US08191213B2 |
Quick release buckle assembly
A quick release buckle assembly has a male portion and a female portion. The female portion has a hollow body and at least one locking slot. The male portion has a base with at least one locking leg, such that inserting the male portion into the female portion causes the locking leg to engage the locking slot to lock the male portion to the female portion. The male portion has a lever pivotably connected to the male portion, and a free end with a tongue extending into an interior of the male portion. The male portion has an engaging element connected to a free end of the locking legs and contacting the tongue, so that lifting the free end of the lever causes the tongue to push the engaging element toward the base of the male portion and move the locking legs inward to release the male portion from the female portion. |
| US08191211B2 |
Expandable clamp
An expandable clamp includes a band and a worm gear mechanism. The band makes an imaginary circumference and has a number of slots spaced apart from one another along the imaginary circumference. The worm gear mechanism is connected to the band and operates to radially expand and contract the imaginary circumference of the band. The worm gear mechanism includes a worm gear that has a threaded shank that engages the slots when the worm gear is rotated which causes the radial expansion and contraction of the imaginary circumference. |
| US08191210B2 |
Device holding structure
A holding structure including a first band and a second band used with a prior art device such as a watch casing. The first band includes a first end with connecting elements of the casing, and a buckle and a bar. The first band defines an angle such that when the device is placed upon the top of the wearer's hand the first band downwardly extends below the individual's fifth or smallest finger immediately above the wearer's wrist. The second band attaches to the casing and first and second band members. The buckle is attached to one of a plurality of holes in the second band member such that the first band and second band member encircle the wearer's hand below the base of the wearer's thumb. The first band member passes between the wearer's thumb and index finger such that a clasp extends around the thumb and attaches to a connecting element of the second band member below the wearer's thumb on the palm-side of the wearer's hand. |
| US08191209B2 |
Clasp for a wristband
A clasp (3) for a wristband (1) including a flap (4) attachable to the wristband (1) or formed integrally with the wristband, which flap is wrappable around a fastening element of a counterpart and exhibits an end region (6) which is attachable to an initial region (5) of the flap (4) via a snap connection or latch connection, respectively, for clasping the fastening element, with a loop being formed. The snap connection or latch connection, respectively, is designed so as to be detachable and the end region (6) of the flap (4) and/or the initial region (5) of the flap (4)—which can be contacted with the end region (6)—is/are provided with an adhesive (15) on its or their inside(s) which is covered with a detachable film (16), wherein, however, interlocking parts (11, 12) of the snap connection or latch connection, respectively, are free from adhesive. |
| US08191208B2 |
Load securing ratchet with anchor attachment system
An anchor attachment system is provided for use with tensioning device for tensioning lines, particularly belts or webs. The anchor attachment system releasably secures an anchoring line to one end of the tensioning device. Embodiments of the anchor attachment system employ a pin, a cross-pin, a spring element, and a locking cam working in cooperation to secure the pin to first and/or second ends of the tensioning device. |
| US08191202B2 |
Mobile vacuum apparatus for collection of liquid or semi-liquid materials
The apparatus comprises a vacuum tank with a front-mounted collection means thereunder The collection means is a V-shaped scraper with a height adjustable suction inlet at the apex thereof. The collection means has a pair of laterally adjustable pivoting wings for varying its width to correspond to that of an alley or gutter. The suction inlet may be equipped with a snorkel to introduce a small quantity of air as an aid in entraining thick-consistency materials. A blower vac is used to both draw air into and blow air through the vacuum tank. A valve means comprising a pair of oppositely oriented check valves is used to alternate flow paths between a lowered rearward exhaust during collection and an elevated intake during tank discharge. |
| US08191200B2 |
Wiper blade
Disclosed herein is a wiper blade coupled to or configured to be coupled to a wiper arm of a vehicle to wipe a glass surface of a windshield. The wiper blade includes a wiper strip configured to contact the glass surface, a frame coupled to the wiper strip, a bracket disposed at a center of the frame and joined to the wiper arm, and a joint disposed between the frame and the bracket to secure the bracket to the frame. |
| US08191199B2 |
Windshield wiper assembly
Disclosed is a windshield wiper assembly capable of being mounted on an oscillating wiper mechanism of a vehicle. The windshield wiper assembly comprises a cleaning unit and a rotating mechanism. The cleaning unit comprises a wiper shaft and a plurality of cleaning implements detachably coupled to a peripheral surface of the wiper shaft. The rotating mechanism is coupled to the cleaning unit. The rotating mechanism is capable of rotating the cleaning unit in a manner such that a cleaning implement from the plurality of cleaning implements is selectively brought into contact with a windshield of the vehicle and configured to clean the windshield upon oscillating the cleaning unit over the windshield. |
| US08191193B2 |
Extension section for ramp platform
An extension section for a ramp platform generally includes a first sloping portion including a lip releasably that is receivable by a lip receiving channel, wherein the first sloping portion includes a stepped surface configured to interface with a transition plate, and a second sloping portion oriented with respect to the first sloping section such that the first and second sloping portions converge to form an obtuse angle at their juncture. |
| US08191192B1 |
Modular tools
A modular tool having a cutting end and a writing end. The cutting end comprises a retractable utility knife. The marking end comprises marker (an ink pen, a highlighter, a marker, or a wax pencil), a pocket clip, and a cap. The cutting end and the writing end are removably rigidly connected, and either end can be modularly replaced. The system includes a kit comprising the tool with replacement blades and multiple markers, and a method of using the modular tool. |
| US08191188B2 |
Swaddle blanket
A swaddle blanket and mattress attachment device. The swaddle blanket includes a top end and a bottom end with a pocket disposed at the bottom end and configured to enclose an infants legs. A first side of the blanket is configured to wrap over the infant in one direction and a second side of the blanket is configured to wrap over the infant and the first side in the other direction. A fastener is disposed on the second side of the blanket and is configured to secure the second side in place over the first side. At least one attachment strap is secured to the swaddle blanket. When the blanket is in an attachment position the attachment strap extends away from the swaddle blanket. The attachment strap including a first mating pair fastener. The mattress attachment device is configured to be secured to a sleeping surface. The mattress attachment device includes at least one second mating pair fastener that is securable to the first mating pair fastener. |
| US08191181B2 |
Detection system for toilet unit for use in a supine position
A detection system for a toilet unit for use in a supine position is provided, in which a treating body formed in a substantially T-shape by a urination and defecation container serving as a lateral casing and a washing nozzle retainer serving as a vertical casing is formed in a boat shape, the washing nozzle retainer is held in the crotch of patient's legs to enable the patient to urinate and defecate within the urination and defecation container, an injection nozzle provided at a head section of the urination and defecation container is provided to be capable of crushing and conveying the stools, and a nozzle provided on the washing nozzle retainer is adapted to wash the private parts of the patient, wherein a water level sensor installed at a side edge section of the urination and defecation container on the upstream side detects water rising due to wash water and water from the injection nozzle and controls to forcibly discharge the urination and defecation out of the urination and defecation container when the water reaches a certain level. |
| US08191178B2 |
Helmet-mounted mouth guard holder
Disclosed is a mouth guard or mouth piece holder having a pair of mounts each mount having a generally concave back surface and a flat front surface and configured to be fixed to an exterior surface of a helmet with the back surface conforming to and abutting the exterior surface of the helmet. A face plate is attached to the mounts to define a pocket. A support base is medially located within the pocket formed integral to the bottom edge of the face plate to partially fill the pocket. Thus, the pocket with the base is adapted to accommodate the mouth guard such that the mouth guard can be maintained proximate to the exterior surface of the helmet above the facemask during temporary periods of non-use. |
| US08191176B2 |
Lower-body garment with combined stretchably-retained, fastenably-slit waist
Lower-body garment with a combined stretchably-retained, fastenably-split waist. The waistband is sleevelike and split by overlapping ends having circumferentially opposing mouths. A stretchable band is encapsulated in, and unfixed entirely throughout, the waistband. The stretchable band has opposing ends passing out of the opposing mouths in the waistband and coupled into an endless loop by a coupling device for adjusting the length of the stretchable band. An unfastenable locking mechanism is provided on the overlapping ends of the waistband. Opening/closing portions are formed by at least one split in a predetermined location in the garment body, extending to a common terminal position and continuous with the split in the waistband. |
| US08191171B2 |
Wetsuit
A wetsuit includes an outer layer and an inner layer. The inner layer is attached to the outer layer and includes a plurality of fibers having wool and being configured in a plurality of clusters. The inner layer also includes a plurality of interconnected channels. At least a portion of each channel is defined by a space between adjacent clusters. The wetsuit also includes an opening that is disposed on a rear side of the wetsuit. The wetsuit additionally includes at least one fastener that is connected to the opening to open and close the opening. |
| US08191169B2 |
Anti-microbial compounds used in garments for water based activities
The invention includes compounds used to manufacture garments for use in water based activities that have a rubber, synthetic rubber, or neoprene compound. The compound is primarily polychloroprene or other suitable polymers and at least one metal of nanoparticle size. The compound composition includes a metal concentration that is sufficient to provide anti-bacterial properties that retard or eliminate bacterial growth on any surface of the composition used to produce the garment. The composition may include a sub-micron metal composition including sub-micron sized silver, zinc oxide, aluminum oxide and boron nitride particles as well as a polyol ester, wherein the thermal conductance of the aforementioned submicron composition is >350,000 W/m2° C. for a 0.001 inch layer of the aforementioned metal composition, the thermal resistance is <0.0045° C.-in2/Watt for a 0.001 inch layer of the aforementioned metal composition, and the average particle size is <0.49 microns for a <0.000020 inch layer of the aforementioned metal composition. |
| US08196217B2 |
Tip-enhanced resonant apertures
Transmission efficiency and/or spatial resolution provided by resonant apertures can be enhanced by disposing a tip on part of the screen that extends laterally into the aperture. For example, a tip disposed on the ridge of a C-shaped aperture can dramatically improve performance. A spatial resolution of λ/50 has been experimentally demonstrated with this approach. The combination of high spatial resolution and high transmission efficiency provided by this approach enables many applications, such as near field optical probes for near field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM). Another application is high resolution electron sources, where an photoelectron emitter can be disposed at or near a tip+aperture structure such that the high resolution optical near-field provides a correspondingly high resolution electron source. |
| US08196213B2 |
Verification of un-trusted code for consumption on an insecure device
Disclosed is a code verification service that detects malformed data in an automated process and rejects submission and distribution if any malicious code is found. Once the submission is verified it may be packaged in container. The container may then be deployed to a mobile device, and the public key may be used to verify that the container authentic. The device can load trusted managed libraries needed to execute the application and a manager can ensure that only trusted libraries access native resources of the device. |
| US08196212B2 |
Personal information management device
A personal information management apparatus acquires associated information that is associated with target information for which transmission has been requested, and if the acquired associated information includes personal information, transmits the target information after modifying the associated portions of the target information. This structure enables improving protection of personal information by protecting not only personal information but also information that cannot be used independently to identify a person but can be easily correlated with other information and used to identify a specific individual with reference to the other information. |
| US08196211B2 |
Authorized authorization set in RBAC model
The Authorized Authorization Set System comprising a modified operating system, a command table containing authorized authorization sets, and a modified RBAC security system, eliminates the need for inherited privileges that must be passed to subcommands in order for the command to run. The modified operating system accesses a table containing authorized authorization sets which identify the privileges for all subcommands within a command. When a user is assigned an accessauth for a command, and a sub-command is a privileged sub-command, the privileged sub-command is only run when the accessauth of the sub-command is included in the authorized authorization set of the command. |
| US08196210B2 |
Software license compliance
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to software license compliance. In aspects, a configuration manager receives an indication of an intent of an software-related action and determines that a license may affect the action. The configuration manager consults with a license needs calculation engine that determines whether additional licenses are needed to perform the action. If additional licenses are needed, the configuration manager consults with a rules engine to determine whether the action is to be allowed. The rules engine applies one or more business rules to the licenses needed data and indicates a response to the intent. In either case, the configuration manager may provide information to an administrator and others regarding the action and may allow or disallow the action as indicated by the rules. If the administrator determines to take the action, the configuration manager may create an audit record. |
| US08196206B1 |
Network browser system, method, and computer program product for scanning data for unwanted content and associated unwanted sites
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for scanning data for unwanted content and unwanted sites in response to a user request. In use, a user request is received via a network to scan data prior to downloading the data utilizing a network browser. In addition, the data is scanned for unwanted content and associated unwanted sites in response to the user request. Further, a response is sent to the user via the network. |
| US08196204B2 |
Active computer system defense technology
Active computer system defense techniques can include sending disruptive communications to attackers, where the disruptive communications include random data elements which could potentially interfere with the operation of an attacking system. Such computer system defense techniques can also be augmented to automatically optimize the disruptive communications sent to the attackers. |
| US08196200B1 |
Piggybacking malicious code blocker
A method includes determining whether a transaction request has occurred during a transaction session. Upon a determination that a transaction request has occurred, the method includes parsing critical values from the transaction request and determining whether the critical values are legitimate. If the critical values are found to be suspicious instead of legitimate, the method further includes seeking approval of the transaction request from the user of the host computer system. Upon approval of the transaction request, the transaction request is allowed. Conversely, upon denial of the transaction request, the transaction request is determined to be malicious, and protective action is taken including terminating the transaction request. |
| US08196198B1 |
Access using images
A computer-implemented method may include presenting to a user multiple images, multiple identifiers and a challenge to select one of the identifiers for each of the images, receiving the selected identifiers from the user, and providing access to a computing service based on a comparison of the selected identifiers to an answer to the challenge. |
| US08196196B2 |
Provisional administrator privileges
A system grants “provisional privileges” to a user request for the purpose of provisionally performing a requested transaction. If the provisionally-performed transaction does not put the system in a degraded state, the transaction is authorized despite the user request having inadequate privileges originally. |
| US08196195B2 |
Role-based privilege management
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for role-based privilege management is provided. A transformation request is received from a requester to form a received request, and a target environment of the received request is identified. A determination is made whether the target environment matches a predefined environment in a set of role-based privileges and, responsive to a determination that the target environment matches a predefined environment in the set of role-based privileges, the parameterized privileges from the set of role-based privileges are mapped to the target environment and the request is performed. |
| US08196192B2 |
Setting a preliminary time on a network appliance using a digital certificate
A method and system for setting a time on a network appliance. The method may include attempting to establish a secure connection with a server using a certificate issued for a network appliance, and determining that an attempt to establish a secure connection has failed. The method may further include determining that a possible cause of the failure to establish a secure connection is incorrect time data provided by the network appliance, and updating the time on the network appliance using time data contained in the certificate. |
| US08196184B2 |
Efficient data structures for multi-dimensional security
Efficient data structures are generated to enforce permissions on a multi-dimensional representation in a performance management application. A model site is generated having at least one model with at least one dimension. User permissions and group permissions are set for the model. The user permission and the group permissions are deployed to a relational database. A collective user permission table is generated based on the user permissions and the group permissions. Thus, an end user may receive permissions associated with a model and permissions associated with particular dimensions of a model without an inefficient consumption of resources. |
| US08196181B2 |
Private network system and method
A method for forming a secure virtual private network (VPN) is described comprising: providing a lookup device, causing at least one pre-designated contact entity on the VPN to periodically poll the lookup device for received joining requests, receiving at the lookup device a request from a joining entity to connect to the VPN, in response to a poll for joining requests the lookup device notifying the polling contact entity of at least the address of each joining entity, and the contact entity supplying at least its address to the lookup device which passes this to the joining entity to establish a link with the contact entity. |
| US08196180B2 |
Authorization and authentication of user access to a distributed network communication system with roaming feature
A system and method for providing roaming access on a network are disclosed. The network includes a plurality of wireless and/or wired access points. A user may access the network by using client software on a client computer (e.g., a portable computing device) to initiate an access procedure. In response, a network management device operated by a network provider may return an activation response message to the client. The client may send the user's username and password to the network provider. The network provider may rely on a roaming partner, another network provider with whom the user subscribes for internet access, for authentication of the user. Industry-standard methods such as RADIUS, CHAP, or EAP may be used for authentication. The providers may exchange pricing and service information and account information for the authentication session. A customer may select a pricing and service option from a list of available options. |
| US08196177B2 |
Digital rights management (DRM)-enabled policy management for a service provider in a federated environment
A method operative at a service provider enforces a digital rights management (DRM) scheme associated with a piece of content. The service provider typically is a content provider. The service provider is an entity that participates in a “federation” with one or more other entities including, for example, an identity provider, a DRM privileges provider, and a DRM policy provider. In one embodiment, the method begins upon receipt at the service provider of a single sip on (SSO) message generated by the identity provider entity that includes a reference to a set of DRM privileges associated with an end user requesting access to the piece of content. In response to receiving the message, the service provider as necessary obtains the DRM privileges and at least one applicable DRM policy. It then evaluates the DRM privileges associated with the end user against the DRM policy, and provides the end user a response. |
| US08196171B2 |
System and method for provisioning a single physical broadband drop to accommodate multiple specific devices
A method and system for provisioning a specific device to receive video and/or data services from a plurality of service providers at a physical drop in a digital broadband network serviced by a telecommunication services provider utilizes a broadcast manager for transmitting an electronic message in a modified format determined by the telecommunication services provider, wherein the electronic message contains information identifying the physical drop associated with the specific device. A broadband digital terminal, in communication with the broadcast manager and the physical port, receives the electronic message, stores the information, and upon receiving a sign-on request from a requesting device that is requesting access to one of the video and/or data services, determines whether the requesting device is authorized to access the requested video and/or data service based on the stored information. |
| US08196169B1 |
Coordinate-based set top box policy enforcement system, method and computer program product
A system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, a plurality of coordinates of a set top box is identified. In addition, a policy associated with usage of the set top box is enforced utilizing the coordinates. |
| US08196166B2 |
Content hosting and advertising systems and methods
In an exemplary system, a data store includes at least a subset of media content, media content attribute data associated with the media content, user profile data associated with at least one consumer having access to the media content, advertising content, and content matching data associated with the advertising content. An access module is communicatively coupled to an access device and configured to receive a request sent by the access device, the request being for access to a media content instance included in the media content. A matching module is configured to match at least one advertising content instance included in the advertising content to the media content instance based on the media content attribute data, user profile data, and content matching data. The access module is configured to provide the matched advertising content instance to the access device for user presentation. |
| US08196164B1 |
Detecting advertisements using subtitle repetition
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying advertisements in television broadcasts. In an aspect, a method includes identifying caption data that has been received at least a threshold number of times and received over at least a threshold number of channels as repeated caption data, selecting video frames indexed at times and channels that that correspond times and channels of the repeated caption data, providing the selected video frames to a video processing system that identifies advertising objects in the video frame data and receiving from the video processing system the advertising objects, and for each advertising object, associating the advertising object with the repeated caption data having times and channel indices that match the time and channel index of the video frame from which the advertising object was identified. |
| US08196163B2 |
Controlled delivery of event information to IPTV users
A method and a gateway are provided for controlling delivery of event information to users sharing a user device. The gateway is informed of activity states of each user sharing a same user device. Events related to services used by the users are detected by the gateway. Because some users of a same device may be active while others are inactive, the gateway verifies the activity state of each user for whom an event is detected. Active users are informed of events that are of interest for them. |
| US08196160B2 |
Television receiver, server, operational system of the television receiver and operational program of the television receiver for detecting and correcting unintended connection
Provided are a television receiver, server, operational system of the television receiver and operational program of the television receiver capable of detecting and correcting unintended connection in case that the connection is established, and facilitating the operation of the television receiver from the outside. A television receiver 110 is operable via a network, and has a notifying section 115 that notifies a user of key information for specifying an operational request of the television receiver 110, and a receiver-side transmitting/receiving section 114 that receives connection confirmation information specific to temporary connection when an external terminal 150 and the television receiver 110 are temporarily connected based on the key information, where the notifying section 115 notifies the user of the received connection confirmation information so as to enable the external terminal 150 to operate the television receiver 110 when the connection confirmation information is confirmed between the user and an operator. |
| US08196156B2 |
Optical disc reproducing apparatus having protruding and rotating disc drive
An optical disc reproducing apparatus includes a body installed at a wall or other mounting apparatus, and an optical disc drive protruding from the body such that an optical disc is inserted into the optical disc drive. The optical disc drive is rotatably installed to the body to protrude forward from the body, so that the optical disc reproducing apparatus is installed regardless of positions of a wall-mount television installed above the optical disc reproducing apparatus. |
| US08196154B2 |
Copying workload files to a virtual disk
The present invention is directed to a system and method for transferring workload files on a host to a Virtual Machine (VM) destination disk without the need for the VM to be running. This accomplished by creating a VM disk device interface to move data from the workload files to the VM destination disk. The VM disk device interface comprises a device driver to interact with the VM destination disk and destination access software utilizing standard operating system procedures to access the VM destination disk. |
| US08196153B1 |
Method and apparatus for associating device drivers via a device tree
Techniques for associating device drivers via a device tree are described herein. In one embodiment, a device tree having a hierarchical structure is maintained by a kernel of an operating system. The device tree includes device nodes corresponding to devices installed in a computer, including a first node and a second node. An auxiliary driver identifier is encoded within the first node for identifying a second device driver associated with the second node. The auxiliary driver identifier is used by a first device driver associated with the first node to invoke the second device driver to perform a predetermined operation on a device associated with the first node. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. |
| US08196148B2 |
Notification of changed parameters in a printing system
A print controller, methods, and software are disclosed. A print controller of the invention includes applications, a parameter manager, and a notification system. The applications register with parameter manager those parameters for which they want to be notified when a change occurs. As part of the registration, the applications designate a callback identifier (CID) for each of the parameters, where an individual CID may be associated with a single parameter or a plurality of related parameters. Responsive to receiving an indication of changes to one or more of the parameters, the notification system identifies the applications registered to be notified of changes to the parameters, and identifies the CIDs associated with the parameters that have changed. The notification system then transmits one or more notification messages, including the identified CIDs for the changed parameters, to each application that is registered. |
| US08196147B1 |
Multiple-processor core optimization for producer-consumer communication
A novel technique for improving throughput in a multi-core system (and in a virtual machine environment) in which data is processed according to a producer-consumer relationship by eliminating latencies caused by compulsory cache misses. A producer process is executed on one processor core and two or more instances of a consumer process are executed on different cores so that while the first instance of a consumer process is executed in a “consuming” mode to process a first subset of data elements produced by the producer process, a second instance of the consumer process pre-fetches, to its cache memory, a second subset of data items produced by the producer process. As a result, the second subset of data items is already cached at the core where the second instance is running even before the consumer process starts processing the second subset of data items. |
| US08196144B2 |
System and method for accelerating input/output access operation on a virtual machine
A system and method for accelerating input/output (IO) access operation on a virtual machine, The method comprises providing a smart IO device that includes an unrestricted command queue (CQ) and a plurality of restricted CQs and allowing a guest domain to directly configure and control IO resources through a respective restricted CQ, the IO resources allocated to the guest domain. In preferred embodiments, the allocation of IO resources to each guest domain is performed by a privileged virtual switching element. In some embodiments, the smart IO device is a HCA and the privileged virtual switching element is a Hypervisor. |
| US08196142B2 |
Use of external services with clusters
A method, apparatus, and system are directed toward managing a system that includes a cluster and an external resource. The external resource may be part of a second cluster that is collocated on the same hardware platforms as the cluster. A proxy resource is used to enforce a dependency relationship between a native resource of the cluster and an external resource, such that a dependency with the proxy resource serves to enforce a dependency with the external resource. The cluster framework may maintain states of the proxy resource, including an offline state, an online-standby state, and an online state. The online-standby indicates that the proxy has been started, but it has not determined that the associated external resource is enabled. The proxy may determine whether the external resource is enabled or disabled and, in response, notify the cluster framework. |
| US08196138B2 |
Method and system for migrating virtual machines between hypervisors
A method for migrating virtual machines between hypervisors is disclosed. Initially, metadata describing a virtual machine are automatically scanned and parsed. The structure of the metadata of a source virtual machine are automatically analyzed. Elements of this structure are mapped to corresponding entries of a target virtual machine. A target metadata descriptor to be used as part of the target virtual machine is generated. A predefined layout description of the data stored in a file system image of the source virtual machine read. A predefined layout description of the data to be stored in a file system image to be used at the target virtual machine is also read. The data are extracted from the source virtual machine. A template of a file system image for the target virtual system is generated. Storage space corresponding to the target virtual machine is allocated, and the extracted data are inserted into the allocated storage space. |
| US08196137B2 |
Remote auto provisioning and publication of applications
Techniques for auto provisioning and publication of applications are described. The auto provisioning process enables automatic installation of applications having their respective file packages pre-stored in the server. Subsequently, publication of these applications is conducted automatically. By employing such an automatic process, the latency involved in provisioning and publication of remote applications is reduced, thereby making the process more efficient. |
| US08196136B2 |
Configuration and change management system with restore points
A configuration and change management system may have installation and configuration processes that include a discovery mechanism for discovering incomplete installations or configuration changes, a cleanup mechanism for placing the system in a state to continue, an installation or configuration mechanism, and a rollback mechanism for rolling back to a defined restore point if a problem is detected. The configuration and change management system may be used for initial installation, as well as configuration changes after installation. The system may be used in a multiple server environment with interdependencies between devices, as well as a multiple services environment with interdependencies between applications and services, including services provided over the Internet. |
| US08196133B2 |
Software change modeling for network devices
A method for software change modeling for network devices provides dynamic (on the device) and static (computer) change modeling. The same source code and libraries are used for both modeling applications, allowing a user to see the impact of activating or deactivating specific software modules without affecting the actual node. A master node passes a node the identity of the software package(s) to be updated and the dependencies. The node notifies its running processes about the update. If any of the processes determine that the update will degrade or have a negative impact on the operation of the node, it returns a veto to the node which sends a list of the processes that are impacted along with the reasons why to the master node. |
| US08196125B2 |
Optimization of policy enforcement
Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for improving the efficiency of policy enforcement. According to one embodiment, a method for improving efficiency during enforcement of a policy can comprise determining a topology for the policy. A plurality of equivalent topologies for the policy can then be determined. A cost function can be applied to each of the plurality of equivalent topologies and one of the plurality of equivalent topologies can be selected based on the cost function. |
| US08196123B2 |
Object model for transactional memory
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for providing an object model for transactional memory. The object model for transactional memory allows transactional semantics to be separated from program flow. Memory transaction objects created using the object model can live beyond the instantiating execution scope, which allows additional details about the memory transaction to be provided and controlled. Transactional memory can be supported even from languages that do not directly expose transactional memory constructs. This is made possible by defining the object model in one or more base class libraries and allowing the language that does not support transactional memory directly to use transactional memory through the object model. |
| US08196122B2 |
Data flow analysis of transactional processes
A XLANG/s compilation method is provided that uses data flow analysis of a program's flow graph to determine lifetimes of a data object. A flowgraph is created according to abstract computer instructions. A depth-first order is assigned to basic blocks and a dominance relationship between the basic blocks is determined. A determination is made as to whether any loops are present within the flowgraph and, if so, the loops are identified. A creation point, destruction point and lock point for the data object is determined. Instructions are inserted into the computer code to create the at least one data object at the creation point, to destroy the data object at the destruction point and to lock the data object at the lock point. |
| US08196117B2 |
Merging sample based profiling data
In one embodiment, a computer system comprises one or more processors, and a memory module communicatively connected to the one or more processors. The memory module comprises logic instructions stored on a computer readable medium which, when executed on the one or more processors configure the one or more processors to normalize data from a first data set comprising sample based profiling data to form a first normalized data set, normalize data from a second data set comprising sample based profiling data to form a second normalized data set, combine the first normalized data set and the second normalized data set to form a merged data set, and present a portion of the merged data set on a user interface. |
| US08196115B2 |
Method for automatic detection of build regressions
A method and apparatus for automatically performing regression processing on trace data are provided. With the apparatus and method, call tree data structures are generated for two or more executions of two or more builds of a computer program. The apparatus and method perform a “tree-minimization” operation on each set of call tree data structures for each of the builds to generate minimized call tree data structures for each build of the computer program. The minimized call tree data structures are then subtracted from one another to generate a subtracted minimized call tree data structure. From this subtracted minimized call tree data structure, the portions of the computer program that are different from build to build and which appreciably and consistently affect the difference in execution of the computer program from build to build may be identified. Thus, the analyst's attention is directed to these areas of the computer program code which may be optimized in order to obtain better execution of the computer program. |
| US08196113B2 |
Realtime creation of datasets in model based testing
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that tests a software program. During operation, the system creates a behavioral model of the software program using branches, decisions, and options. Next, the system applies a weight assignment technique to the behavioral model to create a set of global identifiers (IDs), which correspond to test cases of the behavioral model. The system then generates a test case from the behavioral model and executes the test case on the software program. Finally, the system analyzes an output of the executed test case to determine a validity of the software program. |
| US08196112B1 |
Systems and methods for testing widgets in computer environments
Widgets or other code modules for applications written in structured languages such as HTML can be tested advantageously by separating the extraction and validation logic. To test the functionality of a widget in response to an action, widget features of interest are identified. Context and feature nodes for these features are extracted from a page tree structure to generate a property vector that is representative of the state of the widget. After performing the action, context nodes for the features are attached to the new page tree for the newly loaded page, and an observed property vector is generated that represents the state of the widget after the action. The previous property vector is used with updated state information to generate an expected property vector. The observed property vector is compared with the expected property vector, and if the vectors match the validation is claimed to be successful. |
| US08196109B2 |
Common debug adaptor in a multiple computer programming language environment
Software developers working on multi-language systems with various debug tools (BPEL, AE, Java, etc.) can use a common debug adaptor (CDA). The CDA implements a method of debugging in a multi-computer program language environment. The method includes registering various debug tools associated with different programming languages in the multi-computer program language environment, each one of the plurality of debug tools providing suspended threads and stack frames in response to a debug event in the multi-computer program language environment. The method can further include receiving the suspended threads and stack frames from the plurality of debug tools. The method can further include correlating the received suspended threads and stack frames under a common suspended thread; and providing the common suspended thread in a debug view. Such a method can have a number of attributes intended to assist developers facing debugging problems in multi-language systems. |
| US08196104B2 |
Systems and methods for testing application accessibility
Systems, methods, and computer program products consistent with the invention expose semantic information for the user interface elements of an application at runtime as part of a rich object model and check accessibility requirements compliance, such as Section 508 compliance, for each user screen or other user-interface that the application presents. In some embodiments, accessibility checks are based at least in part on the context of the user interface elements as exposed through the object model. |
| US08196102B2 |
Software supportability certification
A method for certifying a software product for supportability is disclosed in which the software product is identified, wherein the software product is configured to receive and process one or more user interactions. One or more anticipated log messages corresponding to each of a plurality of predetermined user errors which the software product is anticipated to generate on a logging framework associated with supporting the software product are identified. It is required that the software product perform each of the plurality of predetermined user errors responsive to the one or more user interactions. It is determined that the software product generates, for each of the plurality of predetermined user errors, one or more log messages on the logging framework, and the software product is certified for supportability based on a comparison of the anticipated log messages with the generated log messages. |
| US08196099B2 |
Updating application design
A method and system for updating templated application design, which facilitates the later ‘undoing’ of the design update is provided. The method intercepts all design update requests and automatically creates and stores a description of the pre-update version of the application. When a developer intends to apply an update to a design of an application, the application is first asked to provide a description of itself, e.g. a template. If the application comprises a plurality of components, each application component provides a description. Thus a point-in-time design description of the application is created. This is stored and can later be used for an undo method or even multi-level rollback, as required. |
| US08196096B2 |
.Net ribbon model for a ribbon user interface
An object model is provided that allows .NET developers to customize the Office Ribbon user interface according to a .NET Ribbon model rather than the Ribbon XML/callback model of Office applications. The .NET Ribbon model implements the IRibbonExtensibility interface and provides properties and events for Ribbon components. At runtime, the .NET Ribbon model generates and provides an Office application or document with the XML needed to render the custom Ribbon user interface. A visual designer tool uses the .NET Ribbon model to provide .NET developers with a component view architecture that allows developers to set component properties and generate events. |
| US08196095B2 |
Mobile marketing application
Disclosed is a method for facilitating quick mobile website creation by mobile advertisers, including providing access to an advertiser of a mobile marketing application that interfaces with an ad server, wherein the advertiser is authenticated for access to the ad server; enabling the advertiser to input to an interface of the application a plurality of content items selected from the group consisting of a descriptive text, an image, a phone number, and a hyperlink; presenting the advertiser with a go live option; automatically creating the mobile website to include the submitted content items when the go live option is selected, wherein the application facilitates rapid creation by the advertiser of a mobile website having a plurality of web pages, and the mobile website is optimized for mobile delivery; subjecting the created mobile website to a plurality of error checks; and publishing the mobile website to a network through a mobile service provider system. |
| US08196091B2 |
Computer method and apparatus for improving programming modeling with lightweight stereotypes
Computer method and apparatus provides lightweight stereotypes in a programming model. An alternative to applied profiles is disclosed. A keyword list or list of strings is recorded as an annotation to a model element. The keywords are indicative of applied stereotypes of the model element, where the stereotypes are empty or are used as labels. The list of strings effectively augments the collection of applied stereotypes of the model element. |
| US08196087B2 |
Chip area optimized pads
An optimized semiconductor chip pad configuration. The pad includes a pad circuit area Ap, a first dimension x and a second dimension y, in a chip having N number of pins on each side. The pins include a longitudinal axis, and the chip includes a chip core of length Lc. The method includes determining the first dimension x by dividing the length Lc by the N, determining the second dimension y by dividing the pad circuit area Ap by a result of a division of the length Lc by the N, and creating a semiconductor area pad that includes pins with the longitudinal axis positioned parallel to the chip core. A stack of circuits is designed in the chip to fit in the pad based on the first dimension x and the second dimension y. |
| US08196082B1 |
Signal routing and pin placement
A method is provided for assigning signals to input pins of a component subject to asymmetric delays. A latency is determined for each signal-pin combination of the plurality of signals and plurality of input pins. The latency is determined as a function of an arrival time of the signal, a time to route the signal from to the input pin, and a time attributable to processing by the component. A latency threshold is selected. Signal to pin assignments using only signal-pin combinations having latencies less than or equal to the latency threshold are analyzed to determine if a one-to-one signal-to-pin assignment exists that includes all signals. The latency threshold is increased and the analysis is repeated until a valid one-to-one signal-to-pin assignment is found. |
| US08196078B2 |
Method for predicting and debugging EMI characteristics in IC system and related machine-readable medium
A method for predicting and debugging electromagnetic interference (EMI) characteristics of an integrated circuit (IC) system includes the following steps: selecting a frequency domain range according to transformed raw data of the IC system to generate a blocking frequency analysis result, wherein the transformed raw data are transformed by a time-frequency waveform transformation; setting criteria data; comparing the blocking frequency analysis result with the criteria data to generate at least one comparison result; and generating a pass analysis report when a processing unit determines that each comparison result is passed; otherwise, executing an EMI design time-frequency analysis. |
| US08196076B2 |
Optimal flow in designing a circuit operable in multiple timing modes
A design approach provided according to an aspect of the present invention consolidates the constraint files of respective modes into consolidated information and performs place-and-route using such consolidated information. The resource requirements may be reduced as result. Another aspect of the present invention provides a programmatic approach to consolidating timing constraint files of different timing modes into consolidated information. |
| US08196074B2 |
Heuristic clustering of circuit elements in a circuit design
An apparatus, program product and method utilize heuristic clustering to generate assignments of circuit elements to clusters or groups to optimize a desired spatial locality metric. For example, circuit elements such as scan-enabled latches may be assigned to individual scan chains using heuristic clustering to optimize the layout of the scan chains in a scan architecture for a circuit design. |
| US08196068B2 |
Modeling critical-dimension (CD) scanning-electron-microscopy (CD-SEM) CD extraction
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a process that models critical-dimension (CD) scanning-electron-microscopy (CD-SEM) extraction during photolithography process model calibration. During operation, the process receives measured CD values which were obtained using a CD-SEM extraction process, wherein the CD-SEM extraction process determines a measured CD value for a feature by measuring multiple CD values of the feature along multiple electron beam scans. The process then determines simulated CD values, wherein a simulated CD value is determined based at least on a set of CD extraction cut-lines evenly placed around the target feature. During subsequent photolithography process model calibration, the process fits a parameter that models an aspect of the photolithography process based at least on both the measured CD values and the simulated CD values. |
| US08196064B2 |
Method, system, and computer program product for managing controlled residential or non-residential environments
A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of devices connected via a wired and/or wireless communications network. The devices include audio/visual devices (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). The control server supports video/audio serving, telephony, messaging, file sharing, internetworking, and security. A portable controller allows a user to access and control the network devices from any location within a controlled residential and/or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The controllers are enhanced to support location-awareness and user-awareness functionality. |
| US08196061B1 |
Method and system for providing scroll bar enabled bookmarks in electronic document displays
A system and method for providing scroll bar enabled bookmarks in electronic document displays whereby a bookmark enabled scroll bar is provided as a feature associated with a displayed electronic document. The bookmark enabled scroll bar includes one or more bookmark sequencing buttons. When a user desires to mark a portion of an electronic document for future reference, the user activates the bookmark enabled scroll bar and places/creates a bookmark/breakpoint at a location in the bookmark enabled scroll bar corresponding the portion of the electronic document the user wishes to bookmark for future reference. Once the user activates the bookmark enabled scroll bar and creates the bookmark, a visual indicator appears in the bookmark enabled scroll bar at the selected location corresponding to the portion of the electronic document the user wishes to bookmark for future reference. Then when the user desires to return to the portion of the electronic document the user bookmarked for future reference, the user activates one of the one or more bookmark sequencing buttons and the user is taken to the corresponding portion of the electronic document the user had bookmarked using the bookmark enabled scroll bar. |
| US08196060B2 |
Method of displaying planar image
A planar image and a mark are displayed on a display having an outer periphery. A region is provided on the display. The region has a boundary distanced from the outer periphery of the display. The mark is moved with respect to the planar image on the display when the mark is positioned in the region. The planar image is scrolled in a direction directed from the region to the mark on the display when the mark is positioned at an outside of the region. This method allows the mark to be positioned efficiently. |
| US08196059B2 |
Switch and on-screen display systems and methods
A system with switch and on-screen display function includes a display device and a switch device. The display device includes a display panel and a display circuit. The display circuit is coupled with the display panel and is configured to control the display device. The display circuit includes an on-screen display generating circuit. The switch device is coupled with the display device and is configured to switch an access to one of at least two computers. The on-screen display generating circuit includes a signal receiving circuit, a processing circuit and a signal outputting circuit. The signal receiving circuit is configured to receive command signals from the switch device. The processing circuit generates first on-screen display menu signals for providing a first on-screen display menu in response to the received command signals. The signal outputting circuit of the on-screen display generating circuit provides the first on-screen display signals to the display panel. |
| US08196058B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image data list display method
An image processing apparatus includes an image data storage unit, an operation unit, a generation unit, a display unit and a control unit. The image data storage unit stores plural pieces of image data. The operation unit allows a user to input an instruction. The generation unit outputs one of a first list of the stored image data in a first display form and a second list of the stored image data in a second display form according to the instruction. The control unit controls the display unit to display the one. When the generation unit switches from outputting the one to outputting the other in accordance with the input instruction, the control unit controls the display unit to display the other so that image data, which is displayed at a particular position in a previous display form, is displayed at a particular position in a current display form. |
| US08196054B2 |
On-site system building support tool
An on-site system building support tool for assisting a user in building an on-site system by displaying a layout creation screen having an icon area for displaying icons, each of which represents any of various kinds of machines that can be used, and a canvas area in which a virtual system is built. The icons are displayed in the canvas area and connected to each other through an association line. A model setting screen is used to display the icons, and on the basis of setting conditions displayed on the model setting screen, a load on the virtual system built on the canvas area is calculated and displayed which applies to the environment. This enables checking of an environmental load on the basis of various kinds of conditions of the site. |
| US08196045B2 |
Various methods and apparatus for moving thumbnails with metadata
Various methods, apparatuses, and systems are described for a moving thumbnail generator. The moving thumbnail generator generates one or more moving thumbnails that are tagged and time-stamped to arbitrary video trigger events that take place in an associated original video file. Each of the moving thumbnails has two or more moving frames derived from its associated original video file at a portion in the original video file that is tagged and time-stamped to one or more relevant video trigger events in order for the generated moving thumbnail to summarize a visual content of the associated original piece of video file to a user. The tag carries information about content that takes place in the original video file and metadata about that content including a time reference to frames that are contextually relevant to the reason why a viewer of the thumbnail might be interested in viewing that thumbnail. |
| US08196044B2 |
Configuration of user interfaces
Configuration of user interfaces is described. In an implementation, a method includes receiving a query from a device. The query is for a user interface (UI) from a client. The UI, when executed by the device, is configured to form a request for execution of a control function by the client. A processing of the request determines whether the execution by the client of the control function is permitted. The processing is performed at a head end by using client state data. The hardware and/or software capabilities of the device to execute the UI are detected. The UI is configured based on the hardware and/or software capabilities of the device. |
| US08196043B2 |
User interface for presenting media information
A user interface and methods for using a user interface for controlling processing of time-based media files. In one exemplary method, a graphical representation of a time line for a time-based media is displayed along with a graphical representation of a current time along the graphical representation of the time line. A start graphical indicator and a stop graphical indicator is also displayed along the graphical representation of the time line. A portion of the time-based media may be selected for presentation by dragging or positioning at least one of the start graphical indicator and the stop graphical indicator along the graphical representation of the time line. In another aspect of the invention, an exemplary method allows for the adaptive control of a portion of the interface which indicates time relating to a time-based media. An input speed is determined where this input is to change the portion and the rate at which the change to this portion occurs is dependent upon the input speed. Other aspects of the present invention relating to the interface for controlling the processing of time-based media files are also described. |
| US08196042B2 |
Self-revelation aids for interfaces
Systems and/or methods are provided that facilitates revealing assistance information associated with a user interface. An interface can obtain input information related to interactions between the interface and a user. In addition, the interface can output assistance information in situ with the user interface. Further, a decision component that determines the in situ assistance information output by the interface based at least in part on the obtained input information. |
| US08196040B2 |
Color management system and method using natural language description of color differences
Disclosed are embodiments of a color management system and an associated method that display a visual representation of a digital version of a document and further annotate selected object(s) in the visual representation with corresponding statement(s) containing a natural language description of any color differences between the selected object and the same object in a different digital version of the same document. For example, a visual representation of the print-preview version of a document can be displayed and a selected object within the visual representation can be annotated with a statement containing a natural language description of any color differences between the selected object and the same object in the selected-for-print-preview version of the document. By annotating selected object(s) on the display in this manner, the embodiments provide an accurate indication of color variations between the two versions even in a non-calibrated and/or non-optimal viewing environment. |
| US08196038B2 |
System, method and graphical user interface for managing contacts and calendars within an online card system
A system, method and graphical user interface (GUI) are described for managing a contacts and calendar database within an online stationery/card service. For example, a system implemented by an online stationery/card service allowing a user to personalize and send non-electronic stationery/cards is described, the system comprising: a graphical user interface for personalizing and sending non-electronic stationery/cards comprising: a reminder list comprised a plurality of reminder entries, each of the reminder entries identifying an upcoming event including events generated based on a specified relationship between the user and one or more contacts stored in a contacts database of the user; a recommendation region comprising a plurality of stationery/card design recommendations, the recommendation region populated with stationery/card designs associated with a specified one or the one or more entries in the reminder list, including the events generated based on the specified relationship between the user and each of the contacts; and a stationery/card personalization engine executed in response to the user selecting one of the stationery/card design recommendations from the recommendation region, the stationery personalization engine providing the end user with a set of personalization options related to the selected stationery/card design, and generating personalized stationery with the selected stationery/card design based on user input. |
| US08196036B2 |
Method and system for converting hypertext markup language web page to plain text
A method for converting an HTML web page to plain text includes extracting from HTML source code of the HTML web page a portion containing a plurality of character strings and tags, calculating length and position of each character string in the extracted portion so as to find a first predetermined percentage of the character strings with the longest lengths, analyzing a number of position intervals between adjacent ones of the character strings belonging to the first predetermined percentage of the character strings with the longest lengths, labeling the corresponding character strings as belonging to a same block if the number of position intervals is not greater than a second predetermined value so as to find a largest character string block, and deleting the tags in the largest character string block so as to obtain main content of the HTML web page in plain text. |
| US08196034B2 |
Computer system and method for reducing power consumption of storage system
A disk rotation control part for controlling the rotations of a plurality of disk devices is provided. The configuration is such that a disk of a disk device for which an access will not be generated is rotated at a second rate of speed, which is faster than 0, and slower than a first rate of speed, which is the rotation speed at access time. DB management information comprises information denoting which DB schema inside a DB is stored in which location. The disk rotation control part, based on a query plan of a query received by the DBMS, and DB management information, specifies the storage location of a DB schema to be accessed when this query is processed, and rotates a disk of the disk device comprising the specified storage location at a first rate of speed. |
| US08196032B2 |
Template-based multimedia authoring and sharing
Systems and methods for template-based multimedia authoring and sharing are described. In one aspect, media content is selectively applied to a content description template to author media in a content description. The content description template provides a temporal structure for the applied media content. A content representation template is selected and combined with the temporally structured media in the content description to specify rendering criteria and generate a content description and representation for one or more of rendering, sharing, and exporting the temporally structured authored media. |
| US08196030B1 |
System and method for comparing and reviewing documents
A document processing system for accurately and efficiently analyzing documents and methods for making and using same. Each incoming document includes at least one section of textual content and is provided in an electronic form or as a paper-based document that is converted into an electronic form. Since many categories of documents, such as legal and accounting documents, often include one or more common text sections with similar textual content, the document processing system compares the documents to identify and classify the common text sections. The document comparison can be further enhanced by dividing the document into document segments and comparing the document segments; whereas, the conversion of paper-based documents likewise can be improved by comparing the resultant electronic document with a library of standard phrases, sentences, and paragraphs. The document processing system thereby enables an image of the document to be manipulated, as desired, to facilitate its review. |
| US08196029B1 |
System and method for enabling simultaneous multi-user electronic document editing
A document management system and method are provided to support simultaneous multi-user editing of a single document. The system and method do not require the use of a new file format or the use of a central document repository to limit user access to the document. When a user attempts to open the document and a determination is made that the document is in use, then an alert is presented to the user that informs the user that the document is locked for editing. The user may select to receive a notification when the original document is no longer in use. If the user selects to make a local copy and subsequently merge the changes, the local copy will be made and the path of the original document will be stored so that the original document location can be determined at the time that the changes are merged. When the original document becomes available, the user's changes can be merged into the original document. The original document is located using the original path that was stored when the local copy was created. Of course, any time that a merge is attempted, and a conflict exists (i.e., the changes in the local document are inconsistent with the changes made to the original document), an alert can be generated to inform the user of the conflict and the user can be prompted to reconcile the conflict to complete the merge. |
| US08196026B2 |
Method and computer unit for error detection and logging in a memory
In a method for detecting errors in computer data in a memory, a check sum is calculated in runtime and compared to a stored check sum. In this method, the computer data is being subdivided into at least two logical blocks and a check sum is calculated for each logical block. Also provided is a computer unit having a processor and a memory which has a ROM in which firmware is stored, and/or which has a RAM, the memory having at least two logging functions for logging established memory errors, e.g., errors in the ROM and/or the RAM. |
| US08196025B2 |
Turbo LDPC decoding
An iterative low-density parity-check (LDPC) decoding system comprises a first shift register for storing bit estimates, a plurality of parity-check processing node banks configured for processing the bit estimates for generating messages, combiners configured for combining the messages with the bit estimates for generating updated bit estimates, and fixed permuters for permuting the updated bit estimates to facilitate storage and access of the bit estimates. A second shift register is provided for storing the messages, and a subtraction module subtracts messages generated a predetermined number of cycles earlier from the updated bit estimates. |
| US08196024B2 |
Demapper using floating-point representation of soft bits
The subject matter disclosed herein provides methods and systems for converting fixed-point soft bit values, provided by a demapper, into floating-point soft bits values. In one aspect, there is provided a method. The method may include receiving, from a demapper, soft bits formatted as a fixed-point value. Moreover, the soft bits may be converted from the fixed-point value to a floating-point value. The floating-point value is punctured to remove a bit. The converted soft bits are provided to a buffer to enable decoding of the buffered soft bits. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described. |
| US08196023B2 |
Encoder and optical disk recording apparatus
An encoder includes an information holding section which stores flag bytes and an initial address, a data generation section which generates sets of first parity symbols from the initial address and the flag bytes, a parity generation section which generates and outputs sets of second parity symbols, for each column of data units included in the block, from the columns of data units included in the block and input user control data. The data generation section generates the addresses and the sets of first parity symbols, required to generate the columns of data units included in the block, based on the initial address and the flag bytes, selects necessary portions from the flag bytes and the addresses and the sets of first parity symbols generated, and outputs the portions to the parity generation section, as the columns of data units included in the block. |
| US08196014B2 |
Check matrix generating device, check matrix generating method, encoder, transmitter, decoder, and receiver
When arranging J cyclic permutation matrices I(pj,l) with p rows and q columns (0≦j≦J−1, 0≦l≦L−1) in a row direction and also arranging L cyclic permutation matrices I(pj,l) in a column direction so as to generate a regular quasi-cyclic matrix having uniform row and column weights, a quasi-cyclic matrix generating unit 31 configures the regular quasi-cyclic matrix by combining cyclic permutation matrices I(pj,l) in each of which matrix elements whose row number is r (0≦r≦p−1) and whose column number is (r+pj,l) mod p are “1”s, and other matrix elements are “0”s in such a way that a plurality of cyclic permutation matrices I(pj,l) arranged at, e.g., the 1st row differ from one another. |
| US08196013B2 |
Supporting global input/output interconnect features on ports of a midpoint device
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a method for operating a midpoint device utilizing an Input/Output (I/O) interconnect is provided, wherein the midpoint device contains a plurality of ports, the method comprising: receiving a request to initiate a session between a device on a first port of the midpoint device and a device on a second port of the midpoint device; retrieving information regarding whether the first port supports a feature, and information regarding whether the second port supports the feature; and when the first port supports the feature and the second port does not support the feature, permitting the session to be initiated, such that communications between the first device and the second device are performed partially using the feature, independently of support of the feature on other ports. |
| US08196010B1 |
Generic encoder for low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes
Systems and methods are provided for encoding data based on an LDPC code using various inversion mechanisms to obtain parity bits. In some embodiments, an LDPC encoder may compute parity bits using a speculative recursion and correction mechanism. In these embodiments, the LDPC encoder may initiate a recursion using at least one speculative value in place of the actual value for a parity component. The speculative values may then be corrected using a correction factor. In other embodiments, an LDPC encoder is provided that can perform a blockwise inversion mechanism. This mechanism may be used on LDPC codes with parity check matrices having a parity portion composed partially of a large triangular matrix. In still other embodiments, a generic LDPC encoder is provided. The generic LDPC encoder can implement a variety of different encoding techniques, such as different inversion mechanisms, and may be processor-based or finite state machine-based. |
| US08196007B2 |
Frequency-diversity 8-VSB AM broadcasting to mobile/handheld receivers
A system for broadcasting the same data in concatenated convolutional coded (CCC) form from a network of 8-VSB amplitude-modulation transmitters operated with different radio-frequency carrier waves assigns the coded data to time-interleaved ones of time slots that are universal throughout the network. Therefore, a mobile/handheld (M/H) receiver with a single frequency-agile tuner can provide frequency-diversity reception of the time-interleaved data in CCC form. Alternatively, an M/H receiver with two tuners is used to provide frequency-diversity reception of the time-interleaved data in CCC form. The system for a network of 8-VSB AM transmitters that broadcast the same data in CCC form can further provide for each 8-VSB AM transmitter to make repeated transmissions of data in CCC form, to facilitate iterative-diversity reception of those transmissions by M/H receivers. |
| US08196006B2 |
Modified branch metric calculator to reduce interleaver memory and improve performance in a fixed-point turbo decoder
A turbo decoder that calculates alpha, beta and gamma (branch metric) values does not normalize the branch metric but instead applies the normalization factor to the newly calculated extrinsic values before writing them to interleaving memory, resulting in use of less memory than in prior turbo decoders. A compensating factor is applied when the extrinsics are read from interleaving memory. The absence of normalization in the gamma calculation not only conserves memory but also enhances decoder sensitivity. |
| US08196004B1 |
Fast erasure decoding for product code columns
A method, computer-readable medium storing instructions, and apparatus for decoding column codewords of a two-dimensional product code having intersecting row and column codewords is presented that reduces the number of computations needed to decode a column codeword. The method includes computing an error location polynomial for all column codewords based on known failure locations in intersecting row codewords, computing a syndrome polynomial for each column codeword, and correcting errors in the column codeword according to error evaluation values generated based on the syndrome polynomial and the stored error location polynomial. |
| US08196003B2 |
Apparatus and method for network-coding
Provided are a network-coding apparatus and method which can increase a data communication capacity in a communication environment to which an error-correction code (ECC) is applied. The network-coding apparatus includes a received signal processing unit receiving at least two signals, and decoding the at least two received signals; and a transmission signal processing unit receiving the at least two decoded signals from the received signal processing unit, merging the at least two decoded signals, and generating a merged transmission signal. |
| US08196002B2 |
Systems and methods for joint LDPC encoding and decoding
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for LDPC encoding and decoding. For example, a system for performing LDPC encoding and decoding is disclosed that includes a joint LDPC encoder/decoder. The joint LDPC encoder/decoder includes both an LDPC decoder and an LDPC encoder that each utilize a common LDPC decoder circuit to perform the respective functions of encoding and decoding. |
| US08196001B2 |
Identification of potentially erroneous and/or erased data
Systems for identifying potentially erroneous and/or erased data are provided. Systems have a bit detector, an accumulator, and a data reconstruction processor. The bit detector assigns values to bits read in a data signal. The bit detector illustratively assigns multiple values to each of the bits. The accumulator accumulates a count of the multiple values assigned by the bit detector for each of the bits. The accumulator associates each bit with a particular value based at least in part on its accumulated count. The data reconstruction processor determines for each of the bits a confidence level of the particular value associated to it. The data reconstruction process sets flags for a portion of the bits. The flags identify the portion of the bits as possible erased or erroneous data. The flags are set based at least in part on the confidence levels of the portion of the bits. |
| US08195996B2 |
Apparatuses, systems and methods for detecting errors in data streams on point-to-point serial links
Methods, apparatuses and systems for physical link error data capture and analysis. A receiver is coupled to receive a data stream via a point-to-point serial link. A control circuit is coupled with the receiver to cause the receiver to selectively sample the data stream according to an offset parameter and an interval parameter. Comparison circuitry compares the data stream sample to expected data values to determine a bit error rate. |
| US08195995B2 |
Integrated circuit and method of protecting a circuit part of an integrated circuit
A integrated circuit comprises a circuit part to be protected and protective lines located at least one wiring level of the integrated circuit. In addition, the integrated circuit comprises logical gates coupled to the protective lines, whereby a logic circuit is formed, and a processing unit implemented to detect a manipulation of the integrated circuit by applying test patterns to the logic circuit and verifying a logic output value of the logic circuit responsive to the test patterns. |
| US08195989B1 |
Detection of ethernet link failure
A device may detect and report failure in point-to-point Ethernet links. In one implementation, the device may determine, based on a periodic timing signal, whether at least one packet was received on an incoming Ethernet link during a previous period of the periodic timing signal. The device may update an entry in a circular buffer to indicate whether the at least one packet was received during the previous period of the periodic timing signal and analyze the circular buffer to determine whether there is a signal failure on the incoming Ethernet link. |
| US08195987B2 |
Hang recovery in software applications
Various embodiments provide a guard mechanism that is configured to prevent transmission of synchronous function calls to hung application components. In at least some embodiments, the guard mechanism receives a synchronous function call that is intended for an application component. Before permitting the synchronous function call to be transmitted to the application component, the guard mechanism determines whether the component is hung. Responsive to determining that the component is not hung, the guard mechanism permits the synchronous function call to be transmitted to the component. If, however, the guard mechanism determines that the application component is hung, a hung component recovery process is initiated. |
| US08195976B2 |
Fault-tolerance and fault-containment models for zoning clustered application silos into continuous availability and high availability zones in clustered systems during recovery and maintenance
A cluster recovery and maintenance technique for use in a server cluster having plural nodes implementing a server tier in a client-server computing architecture. A first group of N active nodes each run a software stack comprising a cluster management tier and a cluster application tier that actively provides services on behalf of client applications running in a client application tier. A second group of M spare nodes each run a software stack comprising a cluster management tier and a cluster application tier that does not actively provide services on behalf of client applications. First and second zones in the cluster are determined in response to an active node membership change involving active nodes departing from or being added to the first group as a result of an active node failing or becoming unreachable or as a result of a maintenance operation involving an active node. |
| US08195968B2 |
System and method for power reduction by sequestering at least one device or partition in a platform from operating system access
In some embodiments, the invention involves a system and method relating to managing power utilization in partitioned systems. In at least one embodiment, the present invention is intended to control the sleeping/wakefulness of devices, as necessary, to minimize power utilization of devices whose accesses are routed away. Inter-partition communication is used to utilize devices in a sequestered partition while devices in the OS partition are put into a sleep state to save power. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08195963B2 |
Circuit for controlling time sequence
A circuit for controlling time sequence of a motherboard to supply power for a motherboard component includes a control circuit, a switch circuit, and a power conversion circuit. The control circuit is configured for receiving a startup signal during turning on the motherboard. The startup signal is configured to turn off the control circuit to delay a first voltage signal received by the first power receiving terminal for a period of time before outputting a new voltage signal. The switch circuit is configured for being turned off under the control of the new voltage signal. The power conversion circuit is configured for converting a second voltage signal into a supply voltage in response to the switch circuit being turned off, to provide the supply voltage to the motherboard component. |
| US08195958B2 |
Security module for encrypting a telephone conversation
A telephone conversation between one or several first telecommunication terminals in a packet oriented data network and telecommunication terminals in an analog and/or digital network is encrypted by a module which enables the use of protocols from a LAN network to a TDM network to carry out end-to-end encryption. |
| US08195956B2 |
Re-keying data in place
A system comprises an encryption engine and a host processor coupled to the encryption engine. The host processor determines when a time period has expired for a unit of data. Upon determining that the time period has expired, the host processor causes the encryption engine to re-key the unit of data in place. |
| US08195950B2 |
Secure and seamless wireless public domain wide area network and method of using the same
A wireless public domain Wide Area Network (WPDWAN) is a system and method of providing high throughput data services to public domain customers through the use of encoded 2.4 Ghz microwave transmissions. Connecting computers to multi-point wireless bridges USi11g the 2.4 Ghz spectrum has been available for many years. However, the concept of opening the service to public domain has long been limited due to authentication, security and inevitable routing concerns. With the incorporation of a wireless router, methods of authentication through the use LDAP MAC authentication with route control and logical segmentation to preclude sniffing actions. This problem has been addressed with WPDWAN. The WPDWAN provides high data throughput connection rates to residential, commercial and mobile customers. The WPDWAN allows users to connect to the Internet backbone using a 2.4 Ghz 802.IIb standard PCMCIA card. These cards function at rates of at least 2 Mbps. The wireless card connects the computer to the Internet backbone and allows the customer to remain either stationary or be mobile within the area of coverage. |
| US08195949B2 |
Mechanism for generating message sequence order numbers
In one embodiment, a mechanism for generating message sequence order numbers is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a timestamp value, and calculating a message authentication code (MAC) using as inputs the timestamp value, public information of an intended recipient, and a shared secret key kept between a broadcaster and the intended recipient. In addition, the method includes extracting, according to a pre-determined process agreed to between the broadcaster and the intended recipient, a required number of bits that define a size of an initial sequence number from the MAC. Lastly, the method includes using the extracted result as the initial sequence number. |
| US08195948B2 |
Hybrid signature scheme
A signature scheme is provided in which a message is divided in to a first portion which is hidden and is recovered during verification, and a second portion which is visible and is required as input to the verification algorithm. A first signature component is generated by encrypting the first portion alone. An intermediate component is formed by combining the first component and the visible portion and cryptographically hashing them. A second signature component is then formed using the intermediate component and the signature comprises the first and second components with the visible portion. A verification of the signature combines a first component derived only from the hidden portion of the message with the visible portion and produces a hash of the combination. The computed hash is used together with publicly available information to generate a bit string corresponding to the hidden portion. If the required redundancy is present the signature is accepted and the message reconstructed from the recovered bit string and the visible portion. |
| US08195946B2 |
Protection of data of a memory associated with a microprocessor
A method and a circuit for checking the coherence between data read from a first area of a memory of a microcontroller and the address of these data, including calculating a current digital signature of the read data by a function also taking into account the address of these data in the memory, and checking the coherence between the current signature and a previously-recorded signature. |
| US08195942B2 |
Network security authentication method
An authentication method for network security includes: configuring a Media Gateway (MG) with an authentication key and setting a security data package on a network protocol by a Media Gateway Controller (MGC); during a security authentication, sending, by the MGC, security authentication request data to the MG using the data package; receiving by the MGC a calculation result obtained by performing an encryption calculation on the request data using the authentication key by the MG; and determining by the MGC whether the MG is legal according to the calculation result. |
| US08195940B2 |
Key updates in a mobile wireless system
This disclosure describes a key update scheme for use in a mobile IP network. The update scheme may be implemented to facilitate key updates between a mobile device and a server computer that authenticates the mobile device. The techniques described herein can facilitate key updates in a manner that accounts for potential message loss during the update routine, mobile device failure during the update routine, or other problems typically encountered in a mobile network settings. In this manner, the techniques can provide a robust scheme for key updates and may improve network security. |
| US08195939B2 |
Systems and methods for protecting sensitive data
Methods and systems are disclosed for protecting sensitive data. In one implementation, a message is received that includes a plurality of information elements, at least one of the plurality of information elements having message information and belonging to at least one of a plurality of predefined classes of information elements. At least one of the plurality of information elements may be selected that belongs to a predefined class corresponding to a target class, the target class including classes of information elements selected for removal. Further, any message information corresponding to the selected information elements may be removed to protect sensitive data. |
| US08195938B2 |
Cloud-based application whitelisting
Systems and methods for allowing authorized code to execute on a computer system are provided. According to one embodiment, an in-memory cache is maintained having entries containing execution authorization information regarding recently used modules. After verifying a module, its execution authorization information is added to the cache. Activity relating to a module is intercepted. A hash value of the module is generated. The module is verified with reference to a multi-level whitelist including a global whitelist, a local whitelist and the cache. The verification includes first consulting the cache and if the module is not found, then looking up its hash value in the local whitelist and if it is not found, then looking it up in the global whitelist. Finally, the module is allowed to be executed if the code module is approved by the multi-level whitelist database architecture. |
| US08195935B2 |
Systems, methods and computer-accessible media for acquiring and authenticating public key certificate status
Exemplary embodiments of systems, methods and computer-accessible medium can be provided for obtaining and verifying a public key certificate status. In particular, it is possible to construct and send a certificate query request, construct and send a combined certificate query request, construct and send a combined certificate status response, deliver a certificate status response, perform a verification by the general access point, and/or perform a verification by the user equipment. The exemplary embodiments address some of the deficiencies of conventional methods which have a complicated implementation as well as likely inability of such conventional methods to be applied to the network architecture of user equipment, a general access point and a server. The exemplary embodiments of the systems, methods and computer-accessible medium can obtain a user certificate status to provide certificate statuses of the user or the user equipment and the general access point when the user equipment accesses the network via the general access point. Message exchanges can be reduced, bandwidth and calculation resources can be saved, and higher efficiency can be achieved. According to another exemplary embodiment, by way of adding random numbers into the certificate query request and the combined certificate query request, as well as the message m, freshness of the certificate status response can be facilitated and even ensured, and security protection can be enhanced. |
| US08195934B1 |
Systems and methods for managing certificates
Systems and methods for managing certificates are described. A system comprises modules to receive requests related to a digital certificate, receive responses related to authorization of the digital certificate related to the requests, and store the requests and responses. A system comprises modules to communicate audit requests, receive responses related to the audit requests, and store the responses. A system comprises modules configured to communicate audit requests related to different certificate authorization entities, receive responses related to the audit requests, and store the responses. Other embodiments are described. |
| US08195929B2 |
Controlling file systems sharing among two or more operating system
Methods, systems, apparatuses and program products are disclosed for managing, activating and controlling file systems sharing among two or more O/S (Operating Systems) and/or the like within a computing apparatus or within a single computer operational session or context.Provision is made for journaling and resynchronization of file systems even where at least one of the O/Ses has no features for taking account of the presence of the other O/S. |
| US08195924B2 |
Early instruction text based operand store compare reject avoidance
A method and system for early instruction text based operand store compare avoidance in a processor are provided. The system includes a processor pipeline for processing instruction text in an instruction stream, where the instruction text includes operand address information. The system also includes delay logic to monitor the instruction stream. The delay logic performs a method that includes detecting a load instruction following a store instruction in the instruction stream, comparing the operand address information of the store instruction with the load instruction. The method also includes delaying the load instruction in the processor pipeline in response to detecting a common field value between the operand address information of the store instruction and the load instruction. |
| US08195923B2 |
Methods and mechanisms to support multiple features for a number of opcodes
Systems and methods for efficient instruction support of an multiple features for opcodes of an instruction set. A processor detects a fetched instruction of a computer program comprises an opcode corresponding to a plurality of functions. Each function corresponds to a different type of operation. The processor determines the received instruction corresponds to a feature requested by the computer program, such as a cryptographic algorithm. A determination is made as to whether hardware support exists for the feature. If hardware support exists for the feature, the instruction is executed on-chip by the hardware. Otherwise, software performs the operation corresponding to the instruction. |
| US08195922B2 |
System for dynamically allocating processing time to multiple threads
A pipeline processor architecture, processor, and methods are provided. In one implementation, a processor is provided that includes an instruction fetch unit operable to fetch instructions associated with a plurality of processor threads, a decoder responsive to the instruction fetch unit, issue logic responsive to the decoder, and a register file including a plurality of banks corresponding to the plurality of processor threads. Each bank is operable to store data associated with a corresponding processor thread. The processor can include a set of registers corresponding to each of a plurality of processor threads. Each register within a set is located either before or after a pipeline stage of the processor. |
| US08195916B2 |
Apparatus and method to translate virtual addresses to physical addresses in a base plus offset addressing mode
An apparatus and method to translate virtual addresses to physical addresses in a base plus offset addressing mode are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes performing a first translation lookaside buffer (TLB) lookup based on a base address value to retrieve a speculative physical address. While performing the TLB lookup based on the base address value, the base address value is added to an offset value to generate an effective address value. The method also includes performing a comparison of the base address value and the effective address value based on a variable page size to determine whether the speculative physical address corresponds to the effective address. |
| US08195914B2 |
Mechanism for remapping post virtual machine memory pages
According to one embodiment, a computer system is disclosed. The computer system includes a processor, a chipset coupled to the processor and a memory coupled to the chipset. The chipset translates partitioned virtual machine memory addresses received from the processor to page level addresses. |
| US08195913B2 |
Data storage control on storage devices
An object of the present invention is to improve the usage efficiency of a storage extent in a storage system using the Allocation on Use (AOU) technique. A controller in the storage system allocates a storage extent in an actual volume to an extent in a virtual volume accessed by a host computer, detects any decrease in necessity for maintaining that allocation, and cancels the allocation of the storage extent in the actual volume to the extent in the virtual volume based on the detection result. |
| US08195905B2 |
Systems and methods of quota accounting
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to incremental computing. Specifically, embodiments of the invention include systems and methods that provide for the concurrent processing of multiple, incremental changes to a data value while at the same time monitoring and/or enforcing threshold values for that data value. For example, a method is provided that implements domain quotas within a data storage system. |
| US08195904B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling access to storage device
The storage system includes a controller receiving a plurality of access commands from a plurality of host computers, a plurality of disk drives being coupled to the controller, and a panel adapted to display host group identifiers and logical storage regions so that security information can be set for a logical storage region by a user on a host computer basis or on a host group basis. |
| US08195898B2 |
Hybrid transactions for low-overhead speculative parallelization
A method and apparatus for a hybrid transactional memory system is herein described. A first transaction is executed utilizing a first style of a transactional memory system and a second transaction is executed in parallel utilizing a second style of a transactional memory system. For example, a main thread is executed utilizing an update-in place Software Transactional Memory (STM) system while a parallel thread, such as a helper thread, is executed utilizing a write buffering STM. As a result, a main thread may directly update memory locations, while a helper thread's transactional writes are buffered to ensure they do not invalidate transactional reads of the main thread. Therefore, parallel execution of threads is achieved, while ensuring at least one thread, such as a main thread, does not degrade below an amount of execution cycles it would take to execute the main thread serially. |
| US08195895B2 |
Shared object control for controlling information read/write processing
Methods, systems, and computer program products for controlling information read/write processing. The method includes assigning a plurality of division areas to a shared storage area for storing a shared object: specifying a division area used for read/write processing in accordance with user identification information for identifying a user; and executing the read processing for reading information from a specified division area and the write processing for writing information to the specified division area. The shared object is shared among a plurality of processes. |
| US08195891B2 |
Techniques to perform power fail-safe caching without atomic metadata
A method and system to allow power fail-safe write-back or write-through caching of data in a persistent storage device into one or more cache lines of a caching device. No metadata associated with any of the cache lines is written atomically into the caching device when the data in the storage device is cached. As such, specialized cache hardware to allow atomic writing of metadata during the caching of data is not required. |
| US08195886B2 |
Data processing apparatus and method for implementing a replacement scheme for entries of a storage unit
A data processing apparatus and method are provided for implementing a replacement scheme for entries of a storage unit. The data processing apparatus has processing circuitry for executing multiple program threads including at least one high priority program thread and at least one lower priority program thread. A storage unit is then shared between the multiple program threads and has multiple entries for storing information for reference by the processing circuitry when executing the program threads. A record is maintained identifying for each entry whether the information stored in that entry is associated with a high priority program thread or a lower priority program thread. Replacement circuitry is then responsive to a predetermined event in order to select a victim entry whose stored information is to be replaced. To achieve this, the replacement circuitry performs a candidate generation operation to identify a plurality of randomly selected candidate entries, and then references the record in order to preferentially select as the victim entry a candidate entry whose stored information is associated with a lower priority program thread. This improves the performance of the high priority program thread(s) by preferentially evicting from the storage unit entries associated with lower priority program threads. |
| US08195881B2 |
System, method and processor for accessing data after a translation lookaside buffer miss
Data is accessed in a multi-level hierarchical memory system. A request for data is received, including a virtual address for accessing the data. A translation buffer is queried to obtain an absolute address corresponding to the virtual address. Responsive to the translation buffer not containing an absolute address corresponding to the virtual address, the absolute address is obtained from a translation unit. A directory look-up is performed with the absolute address to determine whether a matching absolute address exists in the directory. A fetch request for the requested data is sent to a next level in the multi-level hierarchical memory system. Processing of the fetch request by the next level occurs in parallel with the directory lookup. The requested data is received in the primary cache to make the requested data available to be written to the primary cache. |
| US08195880B2 |
Information handling system with immediate scheduling of load operations in a dual-bank cache with dual dispatch into write/read data flow
An information handling system (IHS) includes a processor with a cache memory system. The processor includes a processor core with an L1 cache memory that couples to an L2 cache memory. The processor includes an arbitration mechanism that controls load and store requests to the L2 cache memory. The arbitration mechanism includes control logic that enables a load request to interrupt a store request that the L2 cache memory is currently servicing. The L2 cache memory includes dual data banks so that one bank may perform a load operation while the other bank performs a store operation. The cache system provides dual dispatch points into the data flow to the dual cache banks of the L2 cache memory. |
| US08195875B2 |
Method and system for responding to file system requests
A system for responding to file system requests having file IDs comprising V, a volume identifier specifying the file system being accessed, and R, an integer, specifying the file within the file system being accessed includes D disk elements in which files are stored, where D is greater than or equal to 2 and is an integer. The system includes a switching fabric having a first switching element and a second switching element, each of which are connected to each of the D disk elements. The system includes N network elements, each of which is connected to each of the switching elements of the switching fabric, where N is greater than or equal to 2 and is an integer and N+D is greater than or equal to 4. |
| US08195867B2 |
Controlled shut-down of partitions within a shared memory partition data processing system
Controlled partition shut-down is provided within a shared memory partition data processing system including a shared memory partition, a paging service partition, a hypervisor and a shared memory pool within physical memory. The hypervisor manages access to logical pages within the pool and page-out of pages from the pool to external paging storage via the paging service partition. A respective paging service stream exists between the paging service partition and hypervisor for each shared memory partition, with each stream including a stream state. The control method includes: responsive to a shut-down initiating event, notifying the paging service partition to shut down, and determining whether a shared memory partition is currently active, and if so, signaling the hypervisor to complete paging activity for the active memory partition and waiting for its stream state to enter a suspended or a completed state before automatically shutting down the paging service partition. |
| US08195866B2 |
Adjusting available persistent storage during execution in a virtual computer system
The amount of virtual disk space that is available for use by software executing within a virtual machine may be dynamically adjusted while the virtual machine is running in a virtual computer system. According to one aspect, a method for flexible run-time reservation of disk space from a virtual machine is provided. The method includes designating for use by a first virtual machine, a fixed portion of disk space accessible by a computing system. The first virtual machine is activated. During operation of the first virtual machine, a portion of the fixed portion of the disk space designated for use by the first virtual machine is reserved from within the first virtual machine. Use of the reserved portion is controlled from outside of the first virtual machine. |
| US08195860B2 |
Computing device with handheld and extended computing devices
A handheld computing unit includes a processing module, memory, a transceiver, a first extended computing unit interface, a second extended computing unit interface, and an interconnection structure operably coupled to the processing module, the memory, the transceiver, and the first and second extended computing unit interfaces. The first extended computing unit interface couples to a first extended computing unit and the second extended computing unit interface coupled to a second extended computing unit such that the handheld computing unit and the extended computing units constitute a computing device. |
| US08195854B1 |
Method and mechanism to provide high availability storage solution by load balancing and fault tolerance support in the storage controller cards and HBAs
Disclosed is a method and mechanism for virtualizing the resources of multiple physical storage controller cards/HBAs available to a host computer system into a single virtual controller. An Advanced Storage Driver (ASD) may be inserted in a layer above the base device drivers of the storage controllers/HBAs and act as a single virtual controller for access to the end target devices connected to the multiple physical storage controllers/HBAs so that at any point in time the resources of each of the controllers/HBAs may be dynamically allocated to the various requested operations. The ASD may have bi-directional communication with each controller/HBA firmware directly and/or with the base device driver associated with each controller/HBA in order to permit both direct and base device driver controlled communication with each of the physical controllers/HBAs. The ASD may further provide load sharing between the controllers/HBAs as well as fault tolerance functionality to reroute communications through a different controller/HBA in the event of a failure of one or more of the controllers/HBAs. |
| US08195853B2 |
Keyboard-video-monitor-periphery (KVMP) switch
Embodiments of the present invention describe KVMP switch system that can individually control each peripheral device and KVM ports connected to the KVMP switch system and methods of operating the same. In one embodiment, a KVMP switch system for switching includes a plurality of console and peripheral devices with any one of a plurality of computer servers includes a plurality of computer connector zones, each computer connector zone having a plurality of computer ports adapted to connect to a computer server, a console port zone having a plurality of console ports adapted to connect to at least a console device and a peripheral device, and a control zone having a plurality of selector switches and a toggle switch, the toggle switch having at least two operable positions, each selector switch associated with a respective one of the computer connector zones and operable to couple one or more selected computer ports of the associated computer connector zone to an associated the console port, the toggle switch operable to determine which computer ports are selected for switching by the selector switches. |
| US08195852B2 |
Configurable connector for system-level communication
A host device comprises a controller and a connector. The host connector comprises fixed-function and multi-function pins. A first group of host connector pins comprises one or more of the fixed-function pins and a second group of pins comprises the remainder of the fixed-function pins and the multi-function pins. The host connector can be releasably attached to a connector of an accessory device. The first group of host connector pins can be used to discover the functions of the accessory connector. The host device can select functions to be enabled at the host and accessory connectors from among the functions mutually supported by the two connectors. The host can enable the selected functions at the host connector and can instruct the accessory to enable the selected functions at the accessory connector. The host can reconfigure host connector functions in response to a different accessory being attached to the host. |
| US08195851B1 |
Personalized multimedia display/digital TV for multi-tasking
A display, possibly in combination with a computer, is used to manage the shape and position of various inputs, so that the inputs can be presented in combination. Possible combinations include displaying a subset of one input with another input, either overlapping or adjacent, displaying a temporal subset of one input, and using conditions to automatically control the selection of inputs. |
| US08195850B2 |
Universal bidirectional serial data transport interface and its data transport method
A UTI (Universal Transport Interface) is provided in the invention, the UTI comprising a transceiving unit, configured to receive and transmit data which accords with USB (Universal Serial Bus) specification; a detecting unit, configured to detect the data received by the transceiving unit to determine whether to convert the received data into data which accords with a particular specification; and a conversion unit, configured to convert the received data into the data which accords with the particular specification when determining that the received data should be converted into the data which accords with the particular specification, and to convert the transmission data which accords with the particular specification into data which accords with the USB specification for transmission via the transceiving unit. With the UTI provided in the invention, service cards may be separated from devices for DTV and various value-added services may be provided. |
| US08195848B2 |
Medical device created through resource leverage of a host processing system and method
A method, system, and apparatus of medical device created through resource leverage of a host processing system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of a medical component includes automatically communicating a medical operating system to a host processing system from a memory location of the medical component when it is determined that the host processing system does not include a medical operating system optimized to operate with the medical component, processing a confirmation from the host processing system that the medial operating system has repurposed the host processing system of the host processor and that the medical operating system is now active on the host processing system, capturing a patient reading through the medical component, and leveraging at least one of a processing resource and an input-output (I/O) resource of the host processing system in providing a measurement of the patient reading to a user. |
| US08195825B2 |
UDP broadcast for user interface in a download and configuration gaming method
A method is disclosed for implementing a modified form of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) multicast notification system in a client-server architecture that otherwise allows only client initiated messages. The method including: sending a registration message to a server from a client with a client IP address in the registration message, wherein the registration message includes types of notifications desired to be received by the client; adding the client IP address to a list in a registration message database; requesting a port number from the server by the client; and responding with the port number on which the client should listen by the server. |
| US08195820B2 |
System and method for dynamic security provisioning of computing resources
The present invention facilitates the dynamic provisioning of computing and data assets in a commodity computing environment. The invention provides a system and method for dynamically provisioning and de-provisioning computing resources based on multi-dimensional decision criteria. By employing specialized computing components configured to assess an asset and requestor of an asset, a provisioning engine is able to transform the input from the computing components into a specific configuration of computing resource provisioning and security controls. According to the rules and policies applying to a security domain, the provisioning engine may dynamically allocate computing resources in a manner that is both safe and efficient for the asset. |
| US08195819B1 |
Application single sign on leveraging virtual local area network identifier
A processor-implemented method for providing application single sign on leveraging a virtual local area network identifier is provided. The method comprises an authentication server providing a client device access to a network via association with a virtual local area network and a credential. The method also comprises the device invoking an application hosted on an application server and the application server identifying a virtual local area network tag associated with the device. The method also comprises the application server sending a message to the authentication server requesting linkage of the tag with a user identification associated with the device. The method also comprises the authentication server linking the tag with the user identification associated with the device and sending a message to the application server containing the identification. The method also comprises the application server using the identification to authenticate the device with the application and the device receiving access. |
| US08195815B2 |
Efficient network monitoring and control
In one embodiment, a method for monitoring traffic associated with users in a network includes assigning a trust level to each of the users, monitoring traffic associated with each of the users, and analyzing the monitored traffic. A level of monitoring is based on the trust level of the user. A user's trust level is modified if the analyzed traffic indicates that the user is operating outside of specified network usage parameters. An apparatus for monitoring traffic associated with users in a network is also disclosed. |
| US08195811B2 |
Policy co-ordination in a communications network
In order to address the problem of allowing a GGSN of a UMTS core network to work towards multiple Policy Control Functions (PCFs) co-located with P-CSCF nodes using the COPS protocol, a policy control function coordinator (PCF-C) is implemented between the GGSN and the P-CSCF. A single COPS connection is established between the GGSN and the PCF-C while a COPS connection is established between the PCF-C and each of the P-CSCF nodes. Decisions made at the PCFs are routed to the GGSN via the PCF-C, and responses generated at the GGSN are routed to the appropriate PCFs via the GGSN. This architecture avoids conflicts which might otherwise arise with the COPS protocol. |
| US08195809B2 |
Multigame multiplayer party session
A computing device for executing multiplayer game software applications playable with one or more remote peers, the computing device may include a multigame party module that is configured to create a party session that is joinable by the one or more remote peers, the party session may be hosted by the multigame party module. The multigame party module may be configured to establish a peer-to-peer connection between the computing device and a peer computing device of a remote peer in response to a request from a remote peer to join the party session, and place one or more selected party session members into a first game session of a first multiplayer game software application. |
| US08195807B2 |
System and method for providing a distributed virtual mobility agent
An indication is received from the mobile station (114) indicating that the mobile station (114) is moving from an originating mobility agent (106) to a destination mobility agent (108). An identity of the destination mobility agent (108) is determined using the indication. Routing information is sent from the originating mobility agent (106) to the destination mobility agent (108) using the identity. Incoming data is routed to the mobile station (114) using the routing information. |
| US08195805B2 |
Device configuration and data extraction using a portable transaction format
Method for performing a data transaction (200) with a server (108) using a portable computer (106). The method includes receiving (402) in the portable computer a portable transaction file (104-1, 104-2, 104-3, 104-n) in a predetermined portable transaction file format (500) that includes two or more data fields. The data fields can contain a set of transaction parameters that define a type specific server protocol for a data transaction session with a particular server type (108-1, 108-2, 108-3, 108-n). By using a generic data transaction engine (302, 303) a data transaction session can be performed with any type of server for which a portable transaction file has been provided. |
| US08195803B2 |
Method and apparatus for modeling and managing quality of service (QoS) in a service-oriented architecture (SOA) environment
A method is provided for implementing data-driven QoS control in design and development of an SOA solution. The method comprises implementing a QoS layer having a first set of architectural building blocks (ABBs) and configured to specify a QoS requirement definition to be propagated through a set of components of the SOA solution to generate QoS data for controlling and managing QoS in a unified form; and implementing a data architecture layer having a second set of ABBs and configured to facilitate propagation of generated QoS data through the set of components in the SOA solution. |
| US08195799B1 |
Smart test article optimizer
A method and apparatus to compare a control article against a test article to support a product or service is disclosed. A client indicates a selection of the test article to be compared with the control article. The articles are fed to multiple end users in response to requests from the end users. The requests or responses are tracked to determine whether the control article or test article has more negative or positive responses. The control article may then be replaced with the test article as a primary article to support the product or service if the test article has a predetermined amount of positive or negative responses when compared with the control article to increase efficiency in supporting the product or service. |
| US08195790B2 |
Optimization of a message handling system
A data processing method for optimizing one or more parameters of a message handling system comprises defining a test workload comprising a plurality of messages, simulating the normal operation of the message handling system, processing at least a portion of the test workload, changing one or more parameters of the message handling system, monitoring the performance of the message handling system, and generating an optimization of at least one parameter based upon the performance of the message handling system. |
| US08195789B2 |
System, apparatus and method for characterizing messages to discover dependencies of services in service-oriented architectures
A system, apparatus, computer readable medium and method are disclosed for identifying underlying services of transactions in a service-oriented architecture (“SOA”)-based computer network. In one embodiment, a computer readable medium includes executable instructions to characterize messages communicating among services to form characterizations of the messages. Also included are executable instructions to determine dependencies using the characterizations of messages within a subset of the services. These dependencies can be represented as dependency links interconnecting the subset of the services that effectuate a transaction of interest. By identifying the dependency links, the underlying services in SOA-based networked computer system can advantageously be determined for managing the behavior of the subset of the services and other distributed services of the SOA-based networked computer system. |
| US08195784B2 |
Linear programming formulation of resources in a data center
An exemplary method for performing work in a data center includes receiving a request for resources in a data center, solving a linear programming formulation that accounts for the request and at least some of the resources in the data center and performing work the request based at least in part on the solving of the linear programming formulation. Such a method can include a linear programming formulation that accounts for multi-core chips and DRAM systems. Various other method, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. |
| US08195772B2 |
Configuration setting
A method of defining customization for electronic content retrieved over an electronic connection (100, FIG. 1), which retrieves electronic content from a remote server (110) to a local client (102); edits the content at the local client by a user using a WYSIWYG editor, wherein said editor is a standard software used for displaying of content and wherein said editing does not require installation of software requiring user authorization; and automatically generates at least one customization definition based on said editing, said customization definition suitable for automatic applying to said content. |
| US08195768B2 |
Remote slide presentation
Techniques for remotely viewing a presentation are disclosed. In accordance with these techniques, a host device executing a presentation application makes a presentation available over a network. In one embodiment, a remote device receives presentation data corresponding to a currently displayed slide of the presentation. The remote device may then display a representation of the currently displayed slide at the remote location. |
| US08195765B2 |
System and method for remotely controlling network resources
A personal network may be established by interconnecting a plurality of satellites as part of the personal network. Each satellite may be configured to communicate with one or more other satellites. On any given one of the plurality of satellites, data indicating a connectivity status for the one or more other satellites is automatically received, and information indicating a capability of the one or more other satellites is automatically received. The given satellite may be configured to enable at least one other corresponding satellite in the plurality of satellites to be made available for use, so that a capability of the at least one other corresponding satellite is made available for the given satellite. |
| US08195763B2 |
Secure method of synchronizing cache contents of a mobile browser with a server
A method of securely synchronizing cache contents of a mobile browser with a server includes initiating a session between the browser and server, including transmission of browser state information regarding the cache contents and an authentication key to the server; maintaining a record of data sent from the server to the browser for storage in the cache; maintaining a record of the state information regarding the cache contents transmitted from the browser to the server; and transmitting data requests from the browser to the server, in response to which the server uses the key as a seed generation function and accesses each the record of data and returns only data that does not already form part of the cache contents, and wherein the data includes a result of a hash of data generated by the generation function for authentication by the browser before updating the cache contents with the data. |
| US08195761B2 |
Prefetching web resources based on proxy triggers
Web pages are prefetched upon activation of one of three server-side triggers: a service trigger, an access based trigger, and a timed trigger. The service trigger is a subscription service in which the web server agrees to notify the proxy when webpages in the web server are modified. The access based trigger uses logs/metrics to analyze a plurality of users' browsing habits. When the log/metrics database noticeS that a particular webpage experiences heavy requesting traffic during a particular time period, the log/metric creates an access based trigger to prefetch the requested webpage. The timed trigger is a prefetching mechanism that occurs on a regular interval. Configuration data instructs the timed trigger to prefetch a certain webpage a certain times throughout the day. |
| US08195759B2 |
Performing externally assisted calls in a heterogeneous processing complex
A mechanism is provided for accessing, by an application running on a first processor, operating system services from an operating system running on a second processor by performing an assisted call. A data plane processor first constructs a parameter area based on the input and output parameters for the function that requires control processor assistance. The current values for the input parameters are copied into the parameter area. An assisted call message is generated based on a combination of a pointer to the parameter area and a specific library function opcode for the library function that is being called. The assisted call message is placed into the processor's stack immediately following a stop-and-signal instruction. The control plane processor is signaled to perform the library function corresponding to the opcode on behalf of the data plane processor by executing a stop and signal instruction. |
| US08195757B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program for controlling retention of publications
For managing the retention of publications in a publish/subscribe system, a publisher sends a new publication to a publish/subscribe broker with an indication of whether the new publication should be retained in association with a previous retained publication. The publish/subscribe broker responds to such indications by retaining the new publication with the previous retained publication. The contents or ‘payload’ of the new published message may be appended to a previous retained message, resulting in a single retained message that contains information from multiple published messages. |
| US08195756B2 |
Method and computer program product for sending messages
A method and computer program product includes displaying a plurality of recipient databases for enabling a user to select a recipient database. The recipient databases at least include contact names associated with elected offices and profiles of the contact names. Contact names contained within a selected recipient database are displayed for enabling the user to select at least one contact name from the recipient database to receive a message. A profile associated with a selected contact name is displayed. A plurality of communication templates is displayed for enabling the user to select a communication template for generating the message. A selected communication template is displayed for editing by the user. A plurality of delivery options is displayed for enabling the user to select a delivery option for the message. |
| US08195755B2 |
Message delivery in mobile networks
When a device is switched off, all messages for that device are stored in different distributed service centers. For example, the message from user A may be stored in SMSC A and a message from user B in SMSC B where both subscribers and respective SMSCs can even belong to different networks. When the device is switched on again it notifies its presence to the network (performed by the MSC indicating this to the HLR). As a result of this alert, different service centers that have messages pending for that device will be notified that the device has come on-line again (performed by the HLR notifying SMSC A and SMSC B). Instead of directly sending out all messages, as in the prior art, each service center instead schedules the messages in an internal queue for delivery according to a local control scheme, which achieves synchronized delivery from multiple distributed SMSCs even though there is no centralised control. Each service center maps the ‘age’ of the message on its time axis as the time-to-deliver the message to the device. The deliveries are then sent out according to the derived schedule. As independent service centers all will base their decisions on the same length of the delivery schedule and same maximum retention time, the message deliveries of the different service centers will be interleaved with one another. This ensures that for significant time differences, messages from different service centers will still arrive in order at the device. |
| US08195754B2 |
Unsolicited message communication characteristics
A mail server makes use of characteristics of the transport and/or application layer flow (e.g., TCP and SMTP) of received email to determine whether those characteristics are consistent with spam, for example, exhibiting behavior consistent with traffic competing for link access, large round trip times and resource constrained hosts. In some examples, a statistical technique is used to process flow characteristics of a message, optionally with other characteristics of the message, to characterize the message as spam versus a valid message. |
| US08195753B2 |
Honoring user preferences in email systems
In a distributed email system, user preferences respected more effectively by presenting messages marked for deletion to secondary messaging servers having access to user preferences. Messages marked for deletion by inbound servers are presented to secondary level servers having access to user white lists and the choice of whether to delete the suspect message is made by the secondary server. |
| US08195741B2 |
Cached and server views with automatic caching and smooth scrolling
On a client computer, customer relationship management software is integrated into a messaging application that includes a user interface. Customer relationship management (CRM) information is received from a server computer. An automatic determination is made as to whether the received CRM information is to be cached on the client computer. When it is determined that the CRM information is to be cached on the client computer, the CRM information is cached in a cache on the client computer. When at least some of the CRM information is cached on the client computer, the cached CRM information is displayed as a view on the client computer. The display of the CRM information is integrated into the user interface of the messaging application program. |
| US08195738B2 |
Systems and methods for communicating from an integration platform to a profile management server
A method for communicating from an integration platform to a profile management server includes receiving user-entered information at the integration platform. The integration platform generates an event based on the user-entered information and publishes the event on a channel subscribed to by a connector associated with the server. The connector receives the event information, transforms the event information to a format compatible with the server and establishes communications with the server via hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). The connector downloads the information to the server and the server updates its database. The connector may also determine whether at least one other system received the event information before downloading the information to the server. |
| US08195734B1 |
Combining multiple clusterings by soft correspondence
Combining multiple clusterings arises in various important data mining scenarios. However, finding a consensus clustering from multiple clusterings is a challenging task because there is no explicit correspondence between the classes from different clusterings. Provided is a framework based on soft correspondence to directly address the correspondence problem in combining multiple clusterings. Under this framework, an algorithm iteratively computes the consensus clustering and correspondence matrices using multiplicative updating rules. This algorithm provides a final consensus clustering as well as correspondence matrices that gives intuitive interpretation of the relations between the consensus clustering and each clustering from clustering ensembles. Extensive experimental evaluations demonstrate the effectiveness and potential of this framework as well as the algorithm for discovering a consensus clustering from multiple clusterings. |
| US08195733B2 |
Systolic array
Disclosed is a one-dimensional MFA systolic array for matrix computation using an MFA (modified Faddeeva algorithm), in which downward square MFA array processing and upward square MFA array processing are mapped to a one-dimensional array in horizontal directions, respectively. In each PE in the one-dimensional array, downward and upward MFA matrix calculations for two threads are executed. An input and an output are provided for each of PEs at both ends of the one-dimensional array. |
| US08195732B2 |
Methods and apparatus for single stage Galois field operations
Techniques for single function stage Galois field (GF) computations are described. Such a single function stage GF multiplication technique may utilize only m-bits per internal logic stage, a savings of m−1 bits per logic stage that do not have to be accounted for as compared with a previous two function stage approach. Also, a common design GF multiplication cell is described that may be suitably used to construct an m-by-m GF multiplication array for the calculation of GF[2m]/g[x]. In addition, these techniques are further described in the context of packed data form computation, very long instruction word (VLIW) processing, and processing on multiple processing elements in parallel. |
| US08195731B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for determining at least one root of an n-dimensional function utilizing triangulation
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for determining at least one root of an n-dimensional function, utilizing triangulation. In operation, an n-dimensional function is received. Additionally, at least one root of the n-dimensional function is determined utilizing triangulation. |