| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08240893B2 |
LED lamp with clamp attachment element
A lamp has a housing and a connecting device. The housing has at least one LED, a connecting section and a through hole. The at least one LED is mounted on the housing. The connecting section protrudes from the housing beside the at least one LED. The through hole of the housing is defined through the connecting section. The connecting device is connected with the connecting section and has a rod section which is mounted through the through hole of the housing. |
| US08240891B2 |
Lamp arrangement mounting system for cabinets
A lamp arrangement with a lamp housing with at least one housing surface having at least one module connecting device, and at least one module set including at least two housing connecting modules. The housing connecting modules have a correspondingly configured connecting device for connection to the module connecting device. |
| US08240890B2 |
Lamp holder
A lamp holder includes a holder body. The holder body includes a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a first side surface and a second side surface arranged between the first surface and the second surface. The holder body defines a first groove and a second groove at the first side surface of the holder body. The first groove and the second groove communicate with the first and second surfaces of the holder body. The first groove and the second groove are configured for receiving connectors of a lamp. A fool-proofing member is arranged at a first bottom surface of the first groove. |
| US08240887B2 |
LED light module
A light module includes a light engine having a printed circuit board and an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) coupled to the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has a power connector interface defining a separable interface for coupling with a power connector of the light module. A base ring holds the light engine and has side walls defining a cavity. The side walls have a securing feature. An optical component is received in the cavity and is positioned to receive light from the LEDs. The optical component has a predetermined lighting characteristic and emits the light generated by the LEDs in accordance with the predetermined lighting characteristic. A top cover is coupled to the base ring and has a securing feature engaging the securing feature of the base ring to couple the top cover to the base ring. A compression ring is positioned between the base ring and the optical component. The compression ring is compressed between the base ring and the optical component when the top cover is coupled to the base ring. |
| US08240883B2 |
Lighting system
A lighting system includes a plurality of circular or disk-shaped lighting rings suitable for installation on a Christmas tree. The lighting rings include lights affixed to a webbing or net, and slits and trunk apertures to facilitate their placement around the Christmas tree trunk. For connection to an electrical power source, the lighting rings include electrical connectors including female electrical and male electrical connectors. |
| US08240878B2 |
Waterproof LED diffuser
An LED waterproof diffuser has an LED substrate housing, a diffusing portion and an embedded locating portion. The housing is of a 3D holding space formed by an end wall and a periphery. An LED inlet is formed at the other end of the periphery. The hollow diffusing portion is protruded from the center of the end wall of the LED substrate housing in a reducing pattern. The embedded locating portion is formed externally onto the diffusing portion, and can also be embedded securely into the hole of an existing shell plate. The diffuser allows one to assemble a single or several LED units, thus reducing the manufacturing cost and realizing excellent waterproofing effects, while enabling partial replacement or maintenance of LED elements. Moreover, since the outer diameter of the diffusing portion is smaller than that of the LED substrate housing, a smaller hole area for assembly can be obtained. |
| US08240874B2 |
Multi-mode portable illumination device
A multi-mode portable illumination device includes a switch structure featuring a substantially planar member and a mechanical switch which requires a relatively small amount of force and a short stroke distance to actuate. The mechanical switch is attached to a member which contains circuit(s) adding additional functionality to the multi-mode portable illumination device. The member has conductive springs attached to either end that are used to complete the electrical circuit with the battery and the lamp, while their compressive force is absorbed by a housing protecting the switch structure. A conductive strip is used to improve the conductivity of the circuit in a metal multi-mode portable illumination device which has been provided with an electrically resistive protective coating. |
| US08240869B2 |
Equestrian light apparatus
The present invention is an equestrian light device comprised of a plurality of lighting elements which can be secured to the bridle, saddle, stirrups and other pieces of tack, and which provides a rider with the ability to view a path before the turning of a horse to go down the path, in addition to illuminating a zone of safety to provide a rider with adequate visibility to discern obstacles that may impede the progress of a horse on a path, or which may startle or injure the animal or rider. |
| US08240868B1 |
Locket with illumination source
A locket with an illumination source utilized in combination with a neck chain. The locket includes an upper member containing a battery-operated illumination source such as a LED, a lower member including an open button and a clip receptacle, and a hinge, preferably a ratcheting-type hinge, connecting the upper member and the lower member. The open button disengages a locking clip disposed in the upper member from the clip receptacle to open the locket and can be in operational communication with the light emitting diode to activate the light emitting diode when the locket is in any open position. An aperture in the hinge removably slidably receives a neck chain therethrough. The ratcheting type first hinge selectively temporarily locks the locket in a selected open position. The locket also includes a magnifying glass pivotally disposed between an upper member and a lower member of the locket. |
| US08240867B2 |
LED lamp for aquarium
An LED lamp for an aquarium is disclosed, wherein a shade mounted therein with an LED lamp pipe, a grooved edge of the shade is formed thereon a front slide groove and a rear slide groove, the front slide groove is inlaid therein with a lamp pipe clamp, the rear slide groove is inlaid therein with at least two magnetic blocks; by taking advantage of the magnetic attraction of the two magnetic blocks and the outer magnetic attraction blocks provided outside of the aquarium, the entire LED lamp pipe can be fixed at any position in the aquarium, and can suit various aquariums of different sizes to provide illumination. |
| US08240866B2 |
Supporter of diffuser plate in backlight unit
Disclosed is a supporter of a diffuser plate for a backlight unit. The supporter functions to support a diffuser plate and includes: a frame located in a lower portion thereof; a supporting member of which a portion penetrates the frame; and a cap damper of which a portion penetrates the inside of the supporting member. |
| US08240865B2 |
Light unit and display apparatus having the same
Disclosed are a light unit and a display apparatus having the same. The light unit comprises a bottom cover; a light source module comprising light emitting diodes on and/or inserted under the bottom cover; a dispersion member that disperses light which is generated from the light emitting diode, on the light source module; and an optical plate on the dispersion member. |
| US08240858B2 |
Protective cover module for lens
A protective cover module includes a housing, a first positioning element, a second positioning element, and a plate. The housing defines a receiving hole. The second positioning element attaches to the housing and attracts the first positioning element positioning element by magnetic force. The plate slidably attaches to the housing, and configured to mount the first positioning element and cover the receiving hole. |
| US08240857B2 |
Composite chassis for imaging systems with matching coefficient of thermal expansion
An expanding chassis for an imaging unit is provided, the expanding chassis for use in imaging systems having a plurality of imaging units arranged in an array. The expanding chassis comprises a rigid frame for housing a light engine and related circuitry, and for mounting a screen on a front surface of the rigid frame for use with the light engine. The expanding chassis further comprises at least one expandable interface pad on at least one side of the rigid frame. The rigid frame and the expandable interface pad have a combined thermal expansion characteristic that provides an overall expansion in the expanding chassis that substantially matches the expansion of the screen. |
| US08240856B2 |
Compact projector
A compact projector includes a main control board, an optical engine positioned on the main control board, a heat dissipation assembly, a light source control board, and a digital-micromirror-device control board. The optical engine includes a light-shading member and a projection lens module. The light-shading member includes a first plate and a second plate. The first plate and the projection lens module are approximately perpendicular to the second plate to form a U-shape. The heat dissipation assembly is positioned adjacent to the first plate. The light source control board is positioned on one side of the main control board adjacent to the second plate. The digital-micromirror-device control board is positioned on one side of the main control board perpendicular to the light source control board. |
| US08240850B2 |
Method for determining the configuration of an ophthalmic lens, ophthalmic lens produced according to said method, and method for producing said lens
The invention relates to a method for making an ophthalmic lens intended to correct the visual acuity of a user, comprising the steps of determining the shape of a base optical corrective element, determining the profile of a phase element structure, said determination comprising the steps of defining a desired depth of focus of said ophthalmic lens; calculating the phase distribution to be created at the entrance pupil of the lens, selecting a phase distribution and performing an iterative calculation to obtain the depth of focus, finding the phase which minimizes the differences between the effective phase distribution and the desired phase distribution and of converting the phase data into geometrical data to define the profile of the phase distribution structure and juxtaposing the resulting phase element structure and the base optical corrective element. |
| US08240847B2 |
Means for controlling the progression of myopia
A contact lens (10) for use in controlling or retarding the progression of myopia in an eye has a central optical zone (20) approximating the normal diameter of the pupil of the eye (22) that gives clear central vision at distance for the wearer. An annular peripheral optical zone 24 that is substantially outside the diameter of the pupil is formed around the central optical zone (20) with greater refractive power than that of the central zone (22) so that oblique rays entering the eye through the peripheral optical zone (24) will be brought to focus at a focal plane that is substantially on or anterior to the peripheral region of the retina. Preferably, the rear surface (16) of the lens is shaped to conform to the cornea of the eye and the front surface (18) of the lens (10) is shaped to provide—in conjunction with the rear surface (16)—the desired optical properties of the central and peripheral optical zones. The front surface (18) is also preferably contoured to form a smooth transition (30) between the junction of the central optical zone (20) and the peripheral optical zone (24), with or without designed optical properties such as progressive power. |
| US08240846B2 |
Eyeglass earstem with enhanced performance
An earstem for an eyeglass is provided that can exhibit a dampening effect as the earstem is over-rotated or deflected from a deployed position to a deflected position. In some embodiments, a suspension component of the earstem can be operative to pivot relative to the frame until reaching a deployed position. The rigid elongate body can be operative to pivot relative to the frame beyond the deployed position. In this regard, the suspension component can be attached to the rigid elongate body along a posterior portion of the suspension component such that pivoting of the rigid elongate body beyond the deployed position causes deflection of the suspension component to dampen further pivoting of the rigid elongate body. |
| US08240845B2 |
Eyeglasses
A pair of eyeglasses includes a pair of lenses, an outer border, and a pair of temple arms. The outer border includes two symmetrical mounting portions and a bridging portion linking up the two mounting portions. Each of the mounting portions defines a first through-hole. The outer border further includes a pair of alignment recesses respectively encircling each of the first through-hole and a pair of fixing portions, wherein each of the fixing portions is next to one of the alignment recesses, and the lenses are anchored at the alignment recesses. The eyeglasses further include a pair of inner borders respectively anchored at each of the fixing portions. When the lenses are installed in the alignment recesses, each of the inner borders is anchored at each of the fixing portions and exerted to the edge of the lenses. |
| US08240844B2 |
Post-imaging punching apparatus and method
An imaging and punching system and related method for a plate imaging system that can record an image on recordable media and punch the imaged media. The imaging and punching system includes a punching apparatus that is a part of the imaging and punching system that can precisely punch an imaged plate in a punch area. The system also includes a transfer assembly, including the imaged media support, having a pivot for moving the imaged media from the imaging system to the punching system. The pivot having a fixed relationship to said imaging system and said punching system and movable about the pivot between a first position proximate the imaging system and a second position proximate the punching system. |
| US08240843B2 |
Media roll winder for digital web press
A dual web winder device for a web press includes a pair of drive motors and a pair of shafts. Each shaft is coupled to one of the drive motors and configured to carry a roll of web media. The shafts and drive motors are synchronized to simultaneously unwind a first roll of web media from one shaft and rewind a second roll of web media on the other shaft. |
| US08240842B2 |
Ink-jet recording apparatus
An ink-jet recording apparatus, including a movable support member which includes a supporting portion that supports a recording medium fed on a platen and which is slid in a feeding direction so as to the recording medium, wherein the movable support member includes an ink receiving portion which is provided such that a clearance is formed between the ink receiving portion and the supporting portion, which is relatively low in height, and which receives ink droplets ejected to an outside of the recording medium, or wherein the supporting portion includes: a step portion having a transfer preventing face which prevents adhering ink from transferring upward; and an ink receiving face continuous to the transfer preventing face and extending in a generally horizontal direction so as to receive ink droplets ejected to an outside of the recording medium. |
| US08240840B2 |
Liquid ejecting apparatus and liquid ejecting method
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an array of nozzles and a light-emitting portion that emits ultraviolet light. A control portion alternately and repetitively transports a medium in a transporting direction relative to the nozzles. The control portion forms a dot group in the transporting direction on the medium by ejecting a liquid toward the medium from the nozzles. The control portion also performs a light-emitting operation every time the control portion forms a dot group. The light-emitting operation is performed by causing the light-emitting portion to emit the ultraviolet light toward the dot group to cure the dot group. During the light-emitting operation, at least one of two ends of the dot group in the transporting direction is exposed to the ultraviolet light at a time later than the time at which a midsection of the dot group in the transporting direction is exposed to the ultraviolet light. |
| US08240839B2 |
Image forming method and apparatus
The image forming method forms an image on a recording medium by using aqueous ink and treatment liquid. The ink contains coloring material, and the treatment liquid contains a component which reacts with the coloring material. The image forming method includes: a treatment liquid deposition step of depositing the treatment liquid onto the recording medium; an ink deposition step of ejecting and depositing droplets of the aqueous ink in accordance with image information, onto the recording medium on which the treatment liquid has been deposited in the treatment liquid deposition step; an ink drying step of drying an ink layer which has been formed on the recording medium by reaction between the treatment liquid deposited in the treatment liquid deposition step and the aqueous ink deposited in the ink deposition step, such that an amount of water originating from the aqueous ink and still remaining on the recording medium after the ink drying step is not more than 4.0 g/m2; and a fixing step of fixing the ink layer which has been dried in the ink drying step on the recording medium by applying heat and pressure to the ink layer. |
| US08240836B2 |
Recording ink, ink media set, ink cartridge, ink recorded matter, inkjet recording apparatus, and inkjet recording method
A recording ink containing: a solid component containing a colorant, and a resin, and being solid in ink at 25° C., a liquid component having a boiling point higher than that of water and being liquid in ink at 25° C., and water, wherein the total amount of the solid component contained in the recording ink is equal to 8.5% by mass or higher and less than 15% by mass, a ratio (A/B) of the total amount of a water-soluble organic solvent (A), which is contained in the liquid component and has a high-boiling point of 280° C. or higher (A), to the total amount of the solid component (B) contained in the recording ink is 1.1 to 2.5, and a ratio (C/B) of the total amount of the liquid component (C) in the recording ink to the total amount of the solid component (B) in the recording ink is 1.85 to 3.10. |
| US08240835B2 |
Inkjet recording apparatus
A inkjet recording apparatus includes a first inkjet head which ejects color ink having one of a hydrophobic property and an aqueous property; a second inkjet head which ejects colorless ink having the remaining the other property; and an ejection controller which controls the first inkjet head to eject the color ink on an image region and controls the second inkjet head to eject the colorless ink on an ejection region contacting the image region with a boundary therebetween. The ejection controller controls the first and second inkjet heads so that the colorless ink ejected from the second inkjet head reaches a second minute segment in the ejection region, the second minute segment adjacent to a first minute segment in the image region with the boundary interposed therebetween, before the color ink ejected from the first inkjet head reaches the first minute segment in the image region. |
| US08240833B2 |
Liquid ejecting head, method of manufacturing the same, and liquid ejecting apparatus
A liquid ejecting head includes: a first supply member and a second supply member, each of which has a liquid supply passage formed therein; a filter that is held between the first supply member and the second supply member in correspondence with the liquid supply passage; a thermally welded portion that is welded to the filter so that the first supply member melts and soaks into the filter in a region that surrounds the liquid supply passage; a bonded portion at which the second supply member is bonded to the filter by the thermally welded portion; and a bonding resin that is formed by being poured into an outer region between the first supply member and the second supply member and outside the thermally welded portion and bonded portion with respect to the liquid supply passage. |
| US08240831B2 |
System and method for controlling insertion of solid ink sticks into a printer
A solid ink printer selectively enables solid ink sticks to be inserted into an insertion port. The solid ink printer includes a plurality of feed channels, each feed channel terminating at a melting device that heats solid ink sticks to a melting temperature at one end of the feed channel, an insertion port operatively connected to another end of each of the plurality of feed channels, the insertion port being configured with an opening through which solid ink sticks are inserted for movement through one of the feed channels operatively connected to the insertion port, a member positioned proximate the opening in the insertion port, an actuator operatively connected to the member and configured to move the member with respect to the opening of the insertion port, and a controller operatively connected to the actuator, the controller being configured to detect at least one event and operate the actuator to move the member to block solid ink sticks from entering through the opening of the insertion port. |
| US08240828B2 |
Fluid ejection cartridge and method
A fluid ejection cartridge includes a body, having fluid passageways at a first spacing, a die, having fluid passage-ways at a second closer spacing, and an interposer, bonded to the body at a first surface and plasma bonded to the die at a second surface. The interposer includes fluid passageways between the first and second surfaces, which are substantially aligned with the respective passageways of the body and the die. |
| US08240826B2 |
Ink tank for liquid printing apparatus, method of manufacturing same, liquid printing apparatus with same, and method of detecting remaining ink
An ink tank capable of optically detecting ink remaining in an ink accommodation chamber with high precision is provided. A printing apparatus, a method of manufacturing the ink tank, and a method of detecting ink remaining in the ink tank are also provided. Radiated light (11) projected into an ink accommodation chamber (5A) excites an illuminant material (10) contained in ink in the ink accommodation chamber (5A) to illuminate. Based on light (12) produced by the illuminant material (10), the amount of ink remaining in the ink accommodation chamber (5A) is detected. |
| US08240825B2 |
Ink refill unit having a clip arrangement for engaging with the print engine during refilling
A printing fluid refill cartridge for a printing unit comprising an outlet arranged to be engageable with a refill port of the printing unit through which printing fluid contained in the refill cartridge is dispensable; a first engagement member arranged in the vicinity of the outlet and a second engagement member arranged in the vicinity of the refill port and configured to be removably securable with the first engagement member so as to engage and hold the refill port and the outlet together. |
| US08240824B2 |
Plug connection for an ink supply
A plug connection for an ink supply, which has an ink supply connector, allows removable connection of the ink supply to an ink-consuming component that carries a rapid action cartridge coupling that forms a fluid connection with the ink supply connector. An ink connection holder is attachable to the ink supply connector and has an opening therein receives the rapid action cartridge coupling. An unlocking element releasable holds the ink connection holder to the ink supply connector when the rapid action cartridge coupling is inserted therein. The ink connection holder has a guide for the rapid action cartridge coupling, and each of the guide and the rapid action cartridge coupling are coded, with complementary mechanical codings, so that the ink connection holder can receive only an appropriately coded rapid action cartridge coupling. |
| US08240823B2 |
Liquid droplet ejecting apparatus
A liquid droplet ejecting apparatus including: plural liquid droplet ejecting portions; supply-side individual flow paths; discharge-side individual flow paths; a supply-side common flow path; a discharge-side common flow path; first opening/closing mechanisms; second opening/closing mechanisms; a first pressure applying portion; a second pressure applying portion; a first circulating path; a third opening/closing mechanism; a second circulating path including an upstream end portion being connected to the supply-side common flow path further downstream than a connecting portion of a supply-side individual flow path connected to the supply-side common flow path at a furthest upstream side in a liquid circulating direction and a downstream end portion being connected to the discharge-side common flow path, and circulating the liquid between the supply-side common flow path and the discharge-side common flow path; and a fourth opening/closing mechanism, is provided. |
| US08240822B2 |
Liquid supply apparatus, liquid ejecting apparatus
A liquid supply apparatus supplies liquid from a liquid container through a liquid supply path to a recording head. A liquid supply pump drives when a flexible member is displaced such that a volume of a pump chamber is increased or decreased while a part of the liquid supply path is set as the pump chamber. A negative pressure chamber is divided from the pump chamber by the flexible member. A first directional valve in the liquid supply path passes the liquid in one direction toward the supply pump from the liquid container. A second directional valve passes the liquid in one direction toward the liquid ejecting apparatus from the supply pump. A pressure adjustor between the first directional valve and the second directional valve increases a volume of the liquid container when a negative pressure larger than a predetermined pressure is applied to the negative pressure chamber. |
| US08240820B2 |
Installing fluid container in fluid ejection device
A fluid ejection device ejecting a fluid, the fluid ejection device includes: a fluid ejection unit, a main chassis case, a fluid-containing pack, and a container case. The fluid ejection unit ejects a fluid onto an ejection target. The main chassis case houses the fluid ejection unit. The fluid-containing pack contains a fluid for ejection. The container case houses the fluid-containing pack. The container case is pivotably attached to the main chassis case and openable by rotation about a rotation shaft. The fluid ejection device further comprises a fluid passage, including a delivery tube with a bent section, in which fluid flows from the fluid-containing tank to the fluid ejection unit through the container case. The shape of the bent section changes by the opening and closing of the container case. |
| US08240819B2 |
Ink jet head with laser-machined nozzles and method of manufacturing ink jet head
An ink jet head includes a piezoelectric element including pressure chambers and partition walls, a nozzle plate including nozzles which are laser-machined, an adhesive which adheres the nozzle plate to the partition walls, a first protection film covering an electrode, and a second protection film which is stacked on the first protection film. The adhesive includes an excess portion which protrudes into the pressure chamber. A cut portion along a direction of radiation of a laser beam is formed at the excess portion. The second protection film includes a damage hole at an area on which the laser beam is made incident. The first protection film is exposed from the damage hole. A part of the first protection film, which corresponds to the damage hole, has a film thickness of 0.1 μm to 0.5 μm, and the first protection film has a refractive index of 1.1 to 2.0. |
| US08240818B2 |
Inkjet ejector having a polymer aperture plate attached to an outlet plate and method for assembling an inkjet ejector
A method forms apertures in a polymer aperture plate configured for use in a piezoelectric print head. The method includes bonding a polymer aperture plate to an outlet plate configured with outlets, and aligning a laser with the outlets in the outlet plate to ablate apertures in the polymer aperture plate that are aligned with the outlets. |
| US08240812B2 |
Recording apparatus
A recording apparatus includes a recording head which discharges ink, an ink absorbing member which receives ink uselessly ejected by the recording head, directly from the recording head, or indirectly through another member, and a vibration application unit which applies vibration to the ink absorbing member. |
| US08240811B2 |
Ink-jet recording apparatus
An ink-jet recording apparatus including: an ink-jet head; a feeding mechanism which includes a feeding member having a feeding surface and which is configured to feed a sheet on the feeding surface in a feeding direction; a supplying mechanism which supplies the sheet to the feeding mechanism; and a controller which controls operations of the ink-jet head, the feeding mechanism, and the supplying mechanism, wherein the controller is configured to perform a first control in which the ink is ejected directly onto the feeding surface and a second control in which the sheet is, after the first control, supplied from the supplying mechanism to the feeding mechanism such that the sheet absorbs the ink on the feeding surface that has been ejected from the ink-jet head in the first control, and in which the sheet is fed by the feeding mechanism during the ejection of the ink. |
| US08240810B2 |
Inkjet printer with maintenance roller mounted on chassis
An inkjet printer has an inkjet printhead and a printhead maintenance station. The maintenance station includes a maintenance roller which is rotatable and moveable between a first position in which a capping portion is sealingly engaged with the printhead and a second position in which the capping portion is disengaged from the printhead. The maintenance roller is mounted on a chassis which is reciprocally moveable between the first and second positions. The printer includes an engagement mechanism for moving the chassis between the first and second positions by complementary engagement with engagement formations on the chassis. |
| US08240806B2 |
Printhead firing
Printhead firing methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example printhead firing method disclosed herein comprises determining a position of a printer carriage corresponding to a location at which a first encoder strip is concatenated with a second encoder strip, and adjusting timing of printhead firing pulses when the printer carriage is determined to have reached the position as the printer carriage is moved. |
| US08240805B2 |
System for detecting offset printing using same
The invention concerns a detection system (7) for measuring at least one characteristic of an inked zone (5) comprising at least one sensor adapted to sense a light radiation reflected by said inked zone (5) and to generate a measurement signal representing at least the characteristic of the inked zone (5). Such a system further comprises at least one first optic fiber (10), adapted to convey up to the neighborhood of the inked zone (5), a light radiation emitted by a light source (11). |
| US08240802B2 |
Printing apparatus and method for adjusting printing position
By subtracting a first parameter related to the printing position deviation inherent to the printing head from a second parameter that is obtained by actually measuring the printing position deviation in a state where the printing head is mounted on the printing apparatus, a third parameter related to the printing position deviation inherent to the printing apparatus is acquired. When a new printing head is mounted on the printing apparatus, a new second parameter is computed from the third parameter and a first parameter that is of the new printing head. By this procedure, it is possible to hold down a time required for actual measurement of the printing position deviation and consumables, and even when the printing head is exchanged, it becomes possible to stably output a uniform image free from the printing position deviation. |
| US08240799B2 |
Inkjet printing apparatus and printhead control method of the apparatus
A control signal is generated to control ink discharge from a printhead. Urgency of A/D conversion of a detection signal is generated in accordance with a position represented by a signal output from an encoder. Upon determining based on the urgency to perform A/D conversion, control signal generation stops. Upon determining that a printing operation is not being performed, control is executed to A/D convert the detection signal. However, upon determining that the printing operation is being performed, control is executed to perform A/D conversion after the end of the printing operation. The stopped control signal generation is immediately resumed if it is determined that the A/D conversion has ended. Upon determining that the A/D conversion has not ended, however, control signal generation is resumed after the end of the A/D conversion. |
| US08240797B2 |
System and method for providing graphic security to a document at the time of printing
A method of printing an image having a graphic security element included therein includes receiving main image data representing a main image, receiving graphic security element data representing a graphic security element to be included in the main image, receiving a request to print the main image, responsive to receiving the request to print the main image, determining particular pixels of the main image data that are to be shifted based on the graphic security element data, and causing a plurality of ink deposits to be deposited on the print medium based on the main image data including causing the position of each of the ink deposits on the print medium that is determined to correspond to shifted pixels to be shifted relative to a normal position that would normally result from the main image data. Also, system that implements the method is provided. |
| US08240795B2 |
Printing method and printing apparatus
A printing method and a printing apparatus of the present invention are capable of performing both a vertical registration adjustment in which a range of nozzles used for printing is limited and a vertical registration adjustment in which print data is shifted. More specifically, switching is performed between the vertical registration adjustment in which a range of nozzles used for printing is limited and the vertical registration adjustment in which print data is shifted, in accordance with conditions such as a printing mode, types of printing medium, and the like. Thereby, an improvement of a throughput by a printing apparatus and an improvement of an image quality printed by the printing apparatus can be together achieved. |
| US08240782B2 |
Traction assembly
The present invention generally provides a wheel replacing traction assembly which uses, for propulsion, a longitudinally extending endless track disposed around and cooperating with a sprocket wheel, idler and road wheels, and a guide rail. |
| US08240779B2 |
Control component for hydraulic circuit including spring applied-hydraulically released brake
A control for use in a hydraulic circuit where the control can act as a valve and an auxiliary pressure source for the hydraulic circuit. |
| US08240769B1 |
Multipurpose lower extremity examination stool
A multipurpose, lower extremity, examination stool, has at least one light set in integral cooperation with at least one mirror to facilitate an examination of a foot by a person, a clinician, or a doctor. The foot examination stool preferably has a top mirror and a slide mirror. The slide mirror is slidably mounted below the top mirror and has a set of lights, to illuminate both the slide mirror and the lower extremity being tested or examined. The top mirror is illuminated by two sets of lights hingedly or rotatably mounted adjacently thereto and perpendicular to the slide mirror. |
| US08240767B2 |
Soldier platform system
A soldier platform system and method includes a soldier platform system in a vehicle. In an embodiment, the soldier platform system includes a seat assembly. The seat assembly includes a seat and straps. The soldier platform system also includes a restraint harness belt. The restraint harness belt is secured to the seat assembly. In addition, the soldier platform system includes mounting assemblies. The straps attach the seat to the mounting assemblies. The soldier platform system further includes a ratchet platform that has a platform upper assembly and a platform lower assembly. |
| US08240763B2 |
Lumbar support mechanism for vehicle
A lumbar support mechanism includes a damper having one end supported by the inside of a seat back and the other end capable of extension and contraction. Seesaw links are provided with each having one end connected to the other end and capable of extension and contraction. An intermediate portion is supported at a swing fulcrum by the seat back with the other end extending in the width direction of the seat back, and swung around the swing fulcrum. Pantograph links are connected to the respective seesaw links and are movable up and down in the back and forth direction in conjunction with the swing of the corresponding seesaw links. The lock-release lever is operated to release the lock mechanism of the damper. The extension and contraction force of the damper is transmitted to the pantograph links via the corresponding seesaw links with the pantograph links shifting the pad provided in the seat back. |
| US08240761B2 |
Lower anchor coupling
The coupling includes a main body with a fixed frame and a locking pawl. A carriage and impact member are connected in spring-biased fashion to the frame. The carriage controls locking of the pawl while the impact member continually urges the pawl in a counterclockwise direction. Pressing the release button causes the carriage to separate from the pawl permitting the impact member to rotate the pawl to permit entry and exit of a LATCH loop into locking communication with the tooth of the pawl. When the button is released, the carriage maintains the pawl open until a LATCH loop is impacted into the back of the pawl to disengage it from the carriage to lock the pawl closed. The invention includes a fail safe measure to maintain locking when any of the springs fail and the ability to accommodate loads much heavier than prior art couplings. |
| US08240758B2 |
Deformable seat pan for a tiltable vehicle seat
A tiltable vehicle seat has a tiltable metallic seat pan that tilts upon rapid vehicle deceleration. The metallic seat pan is supported for movement between a normal seating position and a tilted or deployed position. The seat pan includes a deformable anti-submarining beam that extends laterally across the seat pan. The deformable anti-submarining beam is deformable in response to a prescribed deformation force exerted from the general direction of a buttocks supporting end thereof with the seat pan in the deployed position. |
| US08240757B2 |
Coupling mechanism for headrest of vehicle seat
A vehicle seat is provided comprising a seat back frame having right and left side frames, a headrest for supporting a head of a seat occupant, and a back-and-forth movable body provided inside a backrest that is positioned at a rear of the seat occupant, wherein a backward movement of the back-and-forth movable body forwardly moves the headrest to support the head of the seat occupant. The back-and-forth movable body is attached to each side frame through a link member and is provided with a backward protrusion protruding backward, and the backward protrusion extends laterally. |
| US08240754B2 |
Motor vehicle seat having a wing rest having cover plate and seating configuration having such a motor vehicle seat
A motor vehicle seat is provided that includes, but is not limited to a backrest, which may be pivoted from an essentially upright usage position into an essentially horizontal non-usage position and which has at least one wing rest, which includes, but is not limited to a support part and a cushion part fastened on the support part. The support part is linked on a middle backrest part in such a way that the wing rest may be pivoted, in the non-usage position of the backrest, from a lower armrest non-usage position around the pivot axis extending in the seat direction into an upper armrest usage position to implement an armrest. In the armrest usage position, the cushion part is situated above the middle backrest part while implementing an intermediate space between the cushion part and the middle backrest part. The support part has a cover plate, which covers the intermediate space in one transverse direction. Furthermore, a seating configuration is provided having such a motor vehicle seat. |
| US08240751B2 |
Vehicle roof system
In a vehicle roof system for closing and opening a roof opening (2a) formed in a fixed roof panel (2) of a vehicle with a moveable roof panel (4), an onboard device (30) is located in a laterally central part of the fixed roof panel (2) adjacent to a front edge of the roof opening, and an electric motor (24) for actuating the moveable roof panel is also located adjacent to the front edge of the roof opening but in a laterally offset and longitudinally overlapping relationship with the onboard device. As the electric motor and onboard device do not overlap each other in plan view, the thickness of the roof can be minimized. As the electric motor and onboard device overlap each other in side view, the distance between the upper edge of the front windshield and the front edge of the roof opening can be minimized, and this improves the field of view of the vehicle occupants. |
| US08240750B2 |
Air duct system mating roof air ducts with headliner air ducts
An air duct system which mates an air duct attached to the roof of an automotive vehicle and an air duct attached to a nonexposed surface of a headliner is provided. The air duct system is attached to an air supply which delivers directed air and is disposed between an inner surface of the roof and the nonexposed surface of the headliner. The headliner includes an opening into the passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle. The air duct system includes a first air duct and a second air duct. The first air duct is attached to the inner surface of the roof, and the second air duct is attached to the nonexposed surface of the headliner. Upon installation of the headliner to the roof a portal on the first air duct registers with a portal on the second air duct so as to provide an air flow passage between said first air duct and said second air duct. |
| US08240749B2 |
Rear floor arrangement and frame structure of a self-supporting automotive body
A rear floor arrangement as well as a frame structure of an automotive body are provided having at least one first supporting structure component, which may be disposed in the inner or dry region of the motor vehicle and which may be directly connected to a second supporting structure component and inside the inner or dry region of the vehicle, which is mounted ahead of the first supporting structure component in the direction of travel and which extends at least in certain areas over a floor middle of the body. |
| US08240745B2 |
Construction machine
In a construction machine wherein a cab is mounted on an upper frame of an upper rotating body through an anti-vibration mount, a guard member for protecting the cab in the event of a roll over of the construction machine is mounted so as to extend from a front face portion to a ceiling of the cab, and a lower end of a front portion of the guard member which front portion covers the front face portion of the cab is fixed to a front end portion of the upper frame by a fixing mechanism which permits movement of the cab created in both vertical and horizontal directions by the anti-vibration mount. |
| US08240744B2 |
Retractable room actuation assembly for recreational vehicle having engagement mechanism for maintaining constant distance between drive members and engagement members
A slide-out or retractable room for a mobile living quarters, such as a recreational vehicle, is provided with actuating assemblies mounted on opposite side walls of the slide-out room and the adjacent wall of the main living area. The actuating assemblies include a pair of parallel gear racks mounted on the side wall, which are engaged by pinions rotated by torque shafts mounted on the main living quarters. Each torque shaft is rotated by a separate motor. A roller engages a bearing surface on the lower portion of the gear racks. Accordingly, the slide-out room is extended and retracted by rotating the torque shafts to cause the gear racks and the attached slide-out room to extend and retract. The weight of the slide-out room is supported by the rollers, thereby supporting the slide-out room off of the floor of the main living quarters as it extends and retracts. A synchronizing control operates the motors. |
| US08240742B2 |
Device for fixing the position of a lid
A device for fixing the position of a lid of a motor vehicle in the closed position, the lid being moveable between an open position and a closed position, in particular the position of the cover of a convertible top compartment, having a component attached to the body of the vehicle, and a component which is attached to the lid and which, when the component attached to the body assumes the closed position, is guided at least in one direction. The component attached to the lid or the component attached to the body has a base plate for connection to the lid or the body and an insertion element connected to the base plate. The base plate can be moved by means of a cam pivoted on the plate relative to the lid or the body. The movement of the cam is limited by two stop elements which are attached to the base plate and which are essentially opposite one another. |
| US08240738B2 |
Vehicle switch arrangement structure
A switch box includes an optical-axis-changeover switch for headlamps, an on/off-changeover switch for the headlamps and a starter switch arranged on the same operation board. A main switch can turn on and off a main electric source of an MUV 1 in cooperation with a portable key. The switch box and the main switch are arranged on the instrument panel. The switch box is partially or fully disposed in a projective area of the steering wheel in a driver's eyesight. The starter switch is made to be of a push-type, whereas the optical-axis-changeover switch and the on/off-changeover switch for the headlamps are made to be of a seesaw-type. A segment display of a meter device includes a unit indication member for switchably indicating kilometer indication and mile indication by displaying only an arbitrary display element of a plurality of display elements arranged adjacently to each other in a horizontal direction. |
| US08240735B2 |
Tailgate damping/detent system
A tailgate damping and detent system is disclosed for a vehicle, including a tailgate lift assist system with a torque rod rotationally grounded between the tailgate at a first end and a first side of the vehicle's frame at a second end. “Damping” is achieved by increasing the diameter of the torque rod. The increased torque rod diameter overcompensates for the weight of the tailgate, so that this increased load decelerates the tailgate starting from the neutral balance point to the fully open position. The speed of the tailgate approaches zero at the end of the travel of the tailgate to the fully open position, which greatly reduces the “slam” at the end of travel. The tailgate is held in the open position by a link detent system. There is a slot in the gate side of the link that a spring loaded pin latches into. |
| US08240734B2 |
Attachment element
An attachment element is provided with a central cylinder. The first end of the central cylinder has an internal thread and the other end terminates with an outer disk, where it can be screwed down, and passes through an inner disk between the outer disk and its first end. |
| US08240729B2 |
Gripper finger, gripper tool and method for adjusting a gripper tool
The disclosure relates to a gripper finger including a surface area for clamping. This area this area is covered with a membrane including at least one section, which is substantially made of a shape memory polymer (SMP). The disclosure relates also to a gripper tool including such gripper finger and a method for adjusting such a gripper tool. |
| US08240721B2 |
Cover latching mechanism
A cover latching mechanism is provided including a base member, a cover member, and a button assembly. The base member includes an elastic hook. The cover member is detachable assembled to the base member. The button assembly is fixed to the cover member and movable relative to the cover member to latch to or release from the elastic hook. The button assembly includes a button member having a positioning arm and a sleeve portion and further defining a elastic hooking hole. The elastic hook engages into the elastic hooking hole so that the elastic hook latches the button assembly with the base member. The positioning arm secures the button assembly to the cover member. The restoring member can be deformed when the button assembly pressed, so that the elastic hook releases out of the elastic hooking hole. |
| US08240719B2 |
Adaptor and method for converting standard tube fitting/port to push-to-connect tube fitting/port
An adaptor for converting to a push-to-connect tube fitting/port a standard tube fitting/port body having a threaded portion for threaded attachment of a nut/plug, comprises a coupling nut/plug having an axially inner threaded end portion for threaded attachment to the threaded portion of the fitting/port body; a tube sealing member contained within the nut/plug for sealing to a tube having a locking surface spaced from the end of the tube; and a retention device retained in the nut/plug, which nut/plug has at an axially outer end thereof a central opening through which the tube can be inserted into the coupling nut/plug, whereby the locking surface can be engaged by the retention device to prevent axial withdrawal of the tube from the coupling nut/plug once inserted; wherein sealing and retention of the tube is effected within the confines of the coupling nut/plug and separate from and without requiring modification of the standard tube fitting/port body. |
| US08240716B2 |
Quick connector coupling with pull tab verifier
A quick connector coupling for use with a fluid line includes a connector body defining a through bore extending from a male reception end of the connector body. The connector body is adapted to operably receive a male member extending through the male reception end of the connector body into the bore. A retainer is releasably coupled to the connector body. The retainer is movable relative to the connector body from an unlatched position to the latched position only when the male member is fully inserted into the body. A separable indicia element is releasably engaged to the retainer and is removable from the retainer only when the retainer is in the latched position. |
| US08240715B2 |
Connection structure of tubular connection member and joint member
In a connection structure of a tubular connection member and a joint member according to an embodiment, a joint member (20) with a cap nut (30) mounted thereon is connected to a tubular connection member (12) with a spiral ridge (14) and a flange (16). The cap nut (30) has a spiral groove formed in the inner peripheral surface and includes a detent member (35) having a movable portion (36) and an extending portion (37). A spigot portion of the joint member (20) is inserted into the tubular connection member (12), and the cap nut (30) is screwed in. Then, the extending portion (37) of the detent member (35) is locked by a locking protrusion (162) provided on the flange (16) of the tubular connection member (12). |
| US08240711B1 |
Device for lifting and attaching a truck tire and wheel to a heavy freight vehicle
A device for lifting and attaching a wide-base truck tire and wheel to the frame of a road tractor. The device includes a support structure attached to the frame of the vehicle, a channel-shaped support beam attached to a frame of a tractor, a hoist comprising a lifting mechanism, and a structure for holding a wide-base truck tire in conjunction with the channel-shaped support beam. |
| US08240709B1 |
Multi-chamber gas generating system
A gas generating system includes an outer housing portion defining a chamber therein, an end closure coupled to the housing portion to close the chamber, and a resilient seal positioned between the housing portion and the end closure to seal the chamber. The system is configured to permit a flow of pressurized gas from the chamber to an exterior of the outer housing portion along at least a portion of the seal. |
| US08240708B2 |
Side curtain airbag with fabric diffuser
An inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle, the inflatable cushion having: a first cushion section formed from a first sheet of material secured to a second sheet of material, the first cushion section having a plurality of separate inflatable cells each of which having an inlet opening for receipt of an inflation gas; an internal passageway formed in the first cushion section, the internal passageway linking and fluidly coupling to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells via the inlet opening of each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells, the internal passageway being formed by an upper portion of the first sheet of material and an upper portion of the second sheet of material; a fabric diffuser member secured in the internal passageway, the fabric diffuser member being configured to supply the inflation gas to each of the plurality of separate inflatable cells; and means for restricting fluid flow between the plurality of inflatable cells by limiting fluid flow between an exterior portion of the fabric diffuser member and an interior surface of the internal passageway proximate to an edge of the inlet openings of the plurality of inflatable cells. |
| US08240707B2 |
Inflatable curtain airbag systems
A curtain airbag system includes a sail panel. The sail panel may be attached with an inflatable curtain of the curtain airbag system. |
| US08240706B2 |
Airbag arranged on the vehicle roof
A airbag arranged on a vehicle roof for protecting the occupant located under which includes a cushion (11), a gas generator (13) and an outer cover (17) with a weakened area (45) to allow cushion (11) exit, further comprising an inner casing (23) including a fixing area (31) for fixing it to a vehicle roof header (29), an area (33) for housing the generator (33) and a diffusion channel (35) for diffusing the gas into the cushion (11), having a first portion (51) of the cushion (11) located along the inner contour of the inner casing (33) such that the gas is received in the initial area of the diffusion channel (35) and a second portion (53) located, in the folded state, in an enclosure demarcated by at least portions of the inner casing (33) and outer cover (17). |
| US08240704B2 |
Pad cover fastening structure
A bag holder has a plurality of engagement holes about parts to which an airbag device is attached. Each engagement hole has a first long inner wall surface and a second long inner wall surface that extend along a substantially tangential direction of a circle the center of which coincides with the central axis of the bag holder, or of an opening. Engagement claws of a pad cover each include an insertion portion inserted into one of the engagement holes and a claw portion protruding from the lower end of the insertion portion toward the first long inner wall surface. The bag holder has integrally formed fastening pieces, each of which includes a support portion and a pair of coupling portions. The support portion is located in the vicinity of one of the engagement holes, and the coupling portions connect the support portion to the corresponding second long inner wall surface at several positions. Each fastening piece is bent at the coupling portions so as to contact a side surface of the insertion portion on which no claw portion is provided. |
| US08240701B2 |
Mounting assemblies with wrappers for inflatable curtain airbags
Mounting assemblies can be used to retain an inflatable airbag cushion in a packaged configuration and attach the cushion to a vehicle structure. The mounting assemblies can have a mounting bracket and a wrapping member. The assemblies can also have a connecting member that connects the mounting bracket to the wrapper. The mounting bracket is attached to a vehicle structure and the wrapping member wraps and retains the cushion after it has been rolled and/or folded. During airbag deployment, the wrapping member releases the cushion so that it can be fully inflated and the mounting structure continues to anchor the cushion to the vehicle structure. |
| US08240692B2 |
Wheel-locking suspension fork assembly for a bicycle
A wheel-locking suspension fork assembly for a bicycle includes first and second cylinder members coupled by a crosspiece disposed above a wheel, and a coupling joint turnably mounted on the first cylinder member and connected to a latch rod that is moved to be retained to a first catch unit on the first cylinder member so as to permit the wheel to freely rotate, or to a second catch unit on the second cylinder member so as to position between spokes of the wheel to lock the wheel. A key-operated lock is disposed in the coupling joint to be displaceable to a locking position where the latch rod is retained in the second catch unit. |
| US08240690B2 |
Human energy transduction and storage system having a one-way clutch
An energy transduction and conservation system has a rotatable primary driving arrangement and a rotatable driven arrangement, the driving and driven arrangements cooperating through an energy storage arrangement. The driving arrangement supplies energy to the energy storage arrangement through a one-way driving system which blocks energy release from the energy storage arrangement back to the driving arrangement. Relative rotation of the driving arrangement is transferred to the energy storage arrangement through a first releasable clutch acting on a one-way rotatable hub whereby energy stored is released only through the driven arrangement. A further one-way clutch is actuated by a differential angular rotational speed to disconnect the first releasable clutch and drive the hub at the same time the energy storage arrangement drives the driven arrangement. The first releasable clutch includes release levers pivotally mounted to release the clutch and allows the inner body to rotate in the normally locking direction. |
| US08240688B2 |
Support structure for stabilizer and support method for stabilizer
Forming a recess in an intermediate section in an axis direction of an outer peripheral face of a stabilizer bush allows the contact surface pressure between an inner peripheral face thereof and an outer peripheral face of a torsion portion to be low in a section where the recess is formed. Therefore, when the torsion portion twistedly deforms, slipping against the torsion portion starts from the intermediate section in the axis direction of the stabilizer bush, and the slipping spreads to opposite end parts in the axis direction, thus enhancing the ride comfort of a vehicle. Moreover, open ends of axially opposite end parts of the stabilizer bush, where no recess is formed, are put in intimate contact with the outer peripheral face of the torsion portion, thus preventing sand and mud from entering therefrom. |
| US08240687B2 |
Wheel suspension system for a steerable wheel
A ball joint assembly includes a stud bracket having the shape of a rectangular block, a first ball joint connected to an upper surface of the stud bracket and a second ball joint connected to a lower surface of the stud bracket. The first and second ball joints extend from the stud bracket at an angular displacement of 180 degrees and with a relatively small distance defined therebetween as seen in plan view. The stud bracket comprises a bracket main body having a rectangular shape and integrally including a pair of ball studs extending from the upper and lower surfaces thereof. |
| US08240684B2 |
Medical ventilator cart
A medical ventilator cart, for use in hospitals or other medical settings, stores and transports various components of a ventilator system, such as a Breath Delivery Unit, a display monitor, and a compressor. First and second platforms are suspended above a base of the cart and allow the various ventilator cart components to be separately and independently placed on and removed from the cart without the need to move or rearrange any of the other ventilator components. One version of the cart provides an additional compressor platform attached to the base for mounting a compressor below the first platform. |
| US08240674B2 |
Seal with non-contact adjacent deflector rings
The invention relates to a seal with non-contact adjacent deflector rings, arranged concentrically to each other, about a common rotation axis, whereby, on a first deflector ring of the deflector rings, at least two axially-adjacent radial lips are embodied an said radial lips are embodied such as not to come into contact with a second deflector ring of the deflector rings and an annular hollow cavity is embodied between two axially-adjacent radial lips and the second deflector ring. |
| US08240673B2 |
Flow machine, slide ring seal thereof, body part for said slide ring seal and method of fastening said slide ring seal to said flow machine
The present invention relates to a new kind of a mechanical seal, a so called slide ring seal, which is used, for example, for sealing a shaft space of a centrifugal pump in relation to a pumping space thereof. The present invention especially relates both to centering said mechanical seal and/or fastening said mechanical seal to the casing of said centrifugal pump and a body part used for the attachment. A characterizing feature of a mechanical seal in accordance with the present invention, comprising at least one rotary slide ring unit (24, 24′, 24″), a body part by means of which said seal is attached to said casing (16), and at least one either separate counter ring unit (42, 42′) or a counter ring unit (42, 42′) stationarily attached to said body part, is that said body part (40, 40′) is provided with inclined fastening means (52), by means of which the body part (40, 40′) is tightened to the casing both axially and radially. |
| US08240672B2 |
Low breakout friction energized gasket
A mechanical seal typically includes gaskets as secondary seals therein. An improved gasket is provided which has a U cup design wherein the gasket is formed with a first spring-energized groove which opens radially and has a deflectable sealing wall which is deflectable axially, and includes a second spring-energized groove which is canted at an angle relative to the axial and radial directions wherein the groove defines a sealing leg which is deflectable at an angle relative to the axial and radial directions. A support ring supports the canted sealing leg along the major extent thereof wherein an end portion of the canted sealing leg is disposed for sealing contact with an axially-extending component surface. |
| US08240671B2 |
Roping practice apparatus
A roping practice apparatus for realistically simulating motion of the head of an animal to train a roper in roping skill. The roping practice apparatus includes: a steering unit drivable and rotatable by a power source; a transmission section rotatable in response to the rotation of the steering unit, the transmission section having a first end mounted on the steering unit and a second end; a universal actuator to which the second end of the transmission section is pivotally connected; and a driven section mounted on the universal actuator and rotatable in response to the rotation of the transmission section. A head model is connected with the driven section and drivable by the driven section to swing back and forth and left and right within a range of 360°. |
| US08240670B2 |
Apportionment of pay out of casino game with escrow
A method of a house apportionment of a bonus value is used to pay during play of a bonus game. Entry of the bonus game is achieved during play of an underlying game of chance. The method of house apportionment includes steps of awarding the player a portion of the bonus value for the bonus game and adding the remainder of the bonus value to at least one escrow account available to reward the player or subsequent players. |
| US08240665B2 |
Sheet conveying apparatus and image forming apparatus
The apparatus of the present invention is provided with: a spherical conveying rotation member that is driven to rotate in a desired direction; a driven rotation member disposed above the conveying rotation member so as to be pressed onto an upper portion of the conveying rotation member so that the driven rotation member nips a sheet in cooperation with the conveying rotation member to convey the sheet; two driving rollers press with the conveying rotation member so as to drive the conveying rotation member to rotate; and a driven roller that is made in press-contact with the conveying rotation member to be driven together therewith, and in this structure, the two driving rollers and the driven roller are disposed below the conveying rotation member so as to support the conveying rotation member by the two driving rollers and the driven roller from below. |
| US08240659B2 |
Post-processing apparatus and image forming system having post-processing apparatus
A post-processing apparatus including: a conveyance unit which conveys a sheet, having been carried-in, to a selected conveying destination among a plurality of conveying destinations; a stiffness imparting unit which imparts stiffness to the sheet being conveyed by the conveyance unit; and a control section which controls the stiffness imparting by the stiffness imparting unit, wherein the control section controls whether to impart or not to impart stiffness to the sheet, according to the selected conveying destination. |
| US08240654B2 |
Spine formation device, post-processing apparatus, and spine formation system
An spine formation device includes a sheet conveyer to transport a bundle of folded sheets with a folded portion of the bundle of folded sheets forming a front end portion, a sandwiching member to sandwich and squeeze the bundle of folded sheets in a direction of thickness of the bundle of folded sheets, and a spine formation unit disposed downstream from the sandwiching member in the sheet conveyance direction, to flatten the folded portion of the bundle of folded sheets held by the sandwiching member. The spine formation unit presses the folded portion of the bundle of folded sheets projecting a predetermined length from the sandwiching member in the sheet conveyance direction in a reverse direction of the sheet conveyance direction while moving in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the folded portion of the bundle of folded sheets. |
| US08240652B2 |
Method and apparatus for separating packages of interfolded sheets at high flexibility
A method for separating two consecutive interfolded sheets, during the production of packages of paper products, even if there is present at least one tear-off line or “tab bond”. The sheets are fed in an interfolded way from interfolding rollers on a table by means of suitable folding arms. At a predetermined height of the stack a first plurality of separators, arranged along the length of the stack and at opposite sides with respect to it, are inserted in the same stack. This introduction divides the formed stack from the growing stack. Between the separators and the table a side of a sheet stretching board is introduced. The formed stack is then arranged between the table and the sheet stretching board. These are lowered vertically and move away from each other autonomously from the separators up to cause the disengagement of the growing stack from the formed stack. |
| US08240650B2 |
Chuck with triaxial construction
A chuck with triaxial construction comprises a receiving surface for a test substrate and arranged below the receiving surface: an electrically conductive first surface element, an electrically conductive second surface element electrically insulated therefrom, and an electrically conductive third surface element electrically insulated therefrom, and, between the first and the second surface element, a first insulation element and, between the second and the third surface element, a second insulation element. A chuck for very low current measurements which can be used to prevent the occurrence of leakage currents and a triboelectric charge and which is configured favourably in terms of production, is achieved because at least one of the electrically conductive surface elements is mechanically connected to at least one insulation element and has an elasticity that compensates for an expansion difference resulting from differences in different coefficients of expansion between a respective surface element and an adjoining insulation element. |
| US08240649B2 |
Wafer chucking apparatus for plasma process
A wafer chucking apparatus for a plasma process includes a lower plate, on which a plurality of wafers are loaded, and an upper plate, which is coupled to an upper portion of the lower plate and fixes the loaded wafers. The upper plate is made of one of Teflon, ceramic and metal, and the lower plate is made of aluminum or ceramic. The lower plate includes a drilled gas feed hole through which gas is fed so as to uniformly maintain temperature of each wafer during the plasma process. One of more of an isothermal sheet and an isothermal coating layer is formed between the wafers and the lower plate so as to maintain temperature uniformity of the wafers. Thereby, the wafer chucking apparatus can improve uniformity of plasma-etched patterns at an edge zone of each wafer during the plasma process. |
| US08240646B2 |
Damping system
A damping system, in particular in the form of a hydraulic cabin spring system, has at least one hydraulically triggerable actuating part (20) and has at least one hydraulic accumulator (26) connected to the actuating part (20). By a proportional throttle valve (10), proportional damping for the actuating part (20) is achieved. Variable proportional damping which can react to events in a manner specific to the user can be implemented. |
| US08240643B2 |
Pneumatic suspension bellows
The invention relates to a combined pneumatic bellow (14) for a pneumatic suspension (10), wherein an axle-sided area (18) of pneumatic bellow (14) comprises, in a base state, a preshaped adapted from 928) and said adapted form (28) is embodied in such a manner that the axle-sided area (18) can be arranged on a protruding part (30) of a plunger 914) and the axle-sided area (18) is configured in such a manner that, in the event of the axle-sided area 918) moving towards a frame-sided area (16) of the pneumatic bellow (14), the axle-sided area (18) adapts to the adapted form (28). The invention also relates to a pneumatic suspension, a vehicle axle system wherein the inventive pneumatic bellow is used and to a method for producing said pneumatic bellow. |
| US08240642B2 |
Fluid damper with internal compression spring
A monotube shock absorber assembly includes a housing (20), a gas cup (32) slidably disposed in the interior (28) of the housing (20), and a piston (42) slidably disposed in the interior (28) of the housing (20) to define an oil compression chamber (48) between the piston (42) and the gas cup (32). A cushion (58) engages one of the piston (42) and the gas cup (32) and extends axially into the oil compression chamber (48) for intermittent contact with the other of the piston (42) and the gas cup (32). The cushion (58) is a resilient material and deforms in response to the cushion (58) contacting the other of the piston (42) and the gas cup (32). In a preferred embodiment, the cushion (58) defines a central opening (60) for decreasing the axial stiffness of the cushion (58) and engages the gas cup (32) for intermittent contact with the piston (42). In a preferred embodiment the cushion (58) presents an anchor (72) for retaining the cushion (58) against the piston (42) for intermittent contact with the gas cup (32). |
| US08240641B2 |
Isolated axial support strut for supporting an axial load and axial support strut isolator
A support strut includes a strut isolator with a first strut end member and a second strut end member, the second strut end distal from the first strut end. The first strut end member includes an outer rigid housing with an inner cavity. The second strut end member includes an inner rigid member extending into the outer rigid housing inner cavity and includes an inertial track extending in a direction from the first strut end towards the second strut end. The inertial track has a first entrance end proximate the first strut end and a second entrance end proximate the second strut end. The isolator includes a first outer tubular elastomer disposed between the outer rigid housing and the inner rigid member. The isolator includes a second inner end tubular elastomer disposed between the outer rigid housing and the inner rigid member proximate the second strut end. The isolator includes a third inner end tubular elastomer, the third inner end tubular elastomer disposed between the outer rigid housing and the inner rigid member proximate the first strut end. The isolator includes an isolator fluid in a first variable volume fluid chamber proximate the second strut end and the second track entrance end, and in a second variable volume fluid chamber proximate the first strut end and the first track entrance end. Movement of the first strut end member in a first strut direction towards the second strut end member plungers the fluid from the second variable volume chamber through the track towards the first variable volume chamber, and an opposite movement of the first strut end member in a second direction away from the second strut end plungers the fluid from the first variable volume chamber through the track towards the second variable volume chamber. |
| US08240639B2 |
Carburetor and automatic choke assembly for an engine
A carburetor configured for use with an internal combustion engine includes a body defining a passageway therein, a throttle lever including a cam surface, and a throttle valve positioned in the passageway and responsive to movement of the throttle lever. The throttle valve is configured to rotate about a first axis from a wide-open first position to a second position at least 50 degrees from the first position. The carburetor also includes a choke lever including a follower surface configured to be engaged by the cam surface and a choke valve positioned in the passageway and responsive to movement of the choke lever. One of the cam surface and the follower surface includes an arcuate segment having a constant radius centered on a second axis. The arcuate segment is sufficiently long such that the throttle valve is configured to move at least 15 degrees while the other of the cam surface and the follower surface engages the arcuate segment. |
| US08240638B2 |
Rod assembly driver
A rod assembly driver which is alternately acting in two opposing directions includes two opposing grip jaws for a rod assembly, which grip jaws are hingedly connected to one another in the form of a parallelogram by pairs of plates. |
| US08240635B2 |
Flow rate accuracy of a fluidic delivery system
Improving the accuracy of the flow rate of a valve in a fluidic delivery device in which a desired flow rate may be achieved by varying the duty cycle of the valve. The flow rate of fluid delivery from the valve over its lifetime is stabilized by minimizing the voltage OPENING time of the valve to account for valve and piezoelectric actuator drift. Also, the valve OPENING time of one or more fluidic parameters that impact on the flow rate delivery by the valve and differ among fluidic delivery devices is compensated to optimize the flow rate accuracy. |
| US08240634B2 |
High-pressure valve assembly
A high-pressure valve assembly includes a flange defining an axis. Projecting into the flange is a valve body which is sealed against the flange by a static ring seal. Provided on one side of the valve body is a spring-loaded closure member which is supported for movement in a direction of the axis to form a suction valve, and on another side of the valve body in opposition to the one side is a spring-loaded tappet which is supported for movement in the direction of the axis to form a pressure valve. A channel connects the suction valve with the pressure valve and has one end porting into a pressure chamber of the valve body adjacent to the pressure valve. The pressure chamber extends in axial direction of the tappet and is sized to extend substantially above a bottom edge of the ring seal. |
| US08240632B2 |
Beam clamp
A beam clamp releasably securable to a flange of a beam. The beam clamp comprises a clamping member connected to a base. The clamping member includes a latch. The latch has an engaged and a disengaged position. When in its engaged position the latch securing the clamping member to the flange and thereby securing the base to the beam. When it is in its disengaged position the latch permitting the base to be removed or withdrawn from the beam. |
| US08240629B2 |
Mounts for elements of water or heating installations
A mount for elements of a water or heating installations is provided that includes a base body and a retaining clip that extends around one of the elements and releasably attaches it to the body. The base body and retaining clip are shaped to fit the elements. The retaining clip is U-shaped, has two legs and is made of a resilient, sound-damping plastic. The ends of the legs are bent back in a V shape and first detent projections are formed on the outside of the leg ends. The base body has openings matched to the legs. Formed on the inner wall of the openings are second detent projections, which cooperate with the first detent projections. The ends of the legs are designed to be manipulated by hand. |
| US08240623B2 |
Lever lock slotwall storage device
A mounting bracket is provided for removably mounting a storage device on a slot track or slotwall panel having a plurality of slots having undercut sidewalls that form generally “T” shaped slats. The mounting bracket includes a support surface having a first “J” shaped hook to hook over the edge of a slat and into the undercut sidewall and a second “J” shaped hook to hook into a second slot and into the undercut sidewall. The mounting bracket includes a storage device connector attached to the support surface at a first end and has a second end. The storage device connector can include a lock rotatably mounted on the top wall adjacent the first “J” shaped hook having a locking member and an operator that is rotatable between locked and unlocked positions. A storage device can be coupled to the second end of the storage device connector. The storage device can be an actuatable holding system for a bicycle, or other storage device such as a basket or a storage shelf. |
| US08240620B2 |
Routing assembly for wires in electronic assemblies and the like
The present invention provides an assembly for routing and retaining wires or cables in an electronic assembly or the like, including: an elongate member; and a plurality of annular structures disposed in a spaced apart relationship about the elongate member, wherein each of the plurality of annular structures defines a plurality of channels about its circumference, wherein each of the plurality of channels is configured to receive and retain a wire or cable. |
| US08240619B2 |
Cable bracket
A cable bracket may be stamped from sheet material and folded to form a generally rectangular cable bracket suitable for attachment to, or within a wall or other construction space. The cable bracket may releasable secure multiple cables and or conduits. Two or more spring elements may be formed in the bracket to control and secure the cables within the bracket. A cable bracket may be secured to a metal, wood or concrete building element using any suitable fastener such as screws, nails, rivets and or bolts. |
| US08240617B2 |
Variable damping of haptic feedback for a flight-attitude changing linkage of an aircraft
The present invention relates to haptic feedback for operating at least one manual flight control device (21) for controlling the cyclic pitch of the blades (5) of a rotary wing (4) of a hybrid helicopter (1) via power assistance (27). Said operations of said control device (21) are defined according to a predetermined damping force relationship (A) that is a function of an instantaneous load factor of the hybrid helicopter (1) in such a manner that the instantaneous load factor is maintained between its minimum and maximum limit values in proportion to a position of a thrust control member (20) between its minimum and maximum thrust values (23, 22). |
| US08240616B2 |
Method and system for global flow field management using distributed, surface-embedded, nano-scale boundary layer actuation
Systems and methods to provide distributed flow control actuation to manage the behavior of a global flow field, are provided. An example of a system can include an aerodynamic structure having an outer surface, and an array of a plurality of effectors connected to the outer surface of the aerodynamic structure to be in fluid contact with a flowing fluid when operationally flowing, to induce controlled, globally distributed disturbances at a viscous wall sublayer of a turbulent boundary layer of the flowing fluid when operationally flowing and to manipulate fluid behavior of the flowing fluid to thereby substantially reduce pressure loss associated with incipient separation of the fluid flow from portions of the aerodynamic structure. |
| US08240614B2 |
Elastomer-based modular multi-axis vibration/shock isolation device
The device comprises at least three isolating modules each having two rigid pieces, one of which is fastened to the carrier structure and the other of which is fastened to the support for the vibrating equipment, these pieces being linked by at least one isolating stud made of an elastomer, which attenuates the transmission of low-amplitude vibrations from the equipment to the structure, the deformation of at least one stud in tension-compression and in shear being limited by three flexible stops each mounted on only one of the pieces and the free end of which is facing the other of said pieces and not in contact with it, at rest. Each stop comprises an elastomer element coming into contact with the facing other piece during deformations of sufficient amplitude of the isolating stud, the stiffness of the elastomer of the stop being greater than that of the stud. Application to the isolation of vibrating equipment on a satellite carrier structure. |
| US08240609B2 |
System and method for reducing viscous force between a fluid and a surface
A metamaterial has a magnetic permeability response at frequencies sufficient to generate a repulsive force between a fluid and a surface to which the metamaterial may be applied. The metamaterial may be nanofabricated such that an absolute value of the magnetic permeability of the metamaterial is substantially greater than an absolute value of an electric permittivity of the metamaterial. The metamaterial may generate a repulsive force between the surface and the fluid moving relative to the surface and thereby reduce viscous drag of the fluid on the surface. A method of reducing the viscous drag of the fluid moving past the surface includes producing relative motion between the surface and the fluid and generating the repulsive force between the surface and the fluid. |
| US08240606B2 |
Integrated aircraft floor with longitudinal beams
An integrated floor for an aircraft fuselage includes a composite panel forming a floor surface and composite beams bonded to the floor panel. The beams extend longitudinally within the fuselage and support the floor. |
| US08240604B2 |
Fireproof bidirectional decompression panel
A fireproof, bi-directional decompression panel includes a frame member and a pressure relief panel member that is releasably retained to the frame member to removably cover a decompression vent opening of an aircraft partition, such as a sidewall of an aircraft cargo compartment. During a decompression event, the pressure relief panel member is released bi-directionally in either of two opposing directions from the frame member when a predetermined pressure differential exists across the partition. The decompression panel assembly is fire resistant, and has reduced weight and fewer parts than prior conventional decompression panel assemblies. |
| US08240602B1 |
Subsea deployment of aerial payloads utilizing long-term storage of lighter than air gases
A lighter than air (LTA) balloon and payload for the LTA balloon are stored on or in an underwater launcher. The launcher provides a source for a supply of a lighter than air gas, which is operatively connected to the LTA balloon until release. On deployment, the lighter than air gas is generated. The LTA balloon is deployed by activating the launcher to fill the LTA balloon and then releases the LTA balloon. |
| US08240592B2 |
Electronic device with earphone container
An electronic device includes a base, a restricting piece, a coiling piece, and a cable. The base defines a containing space. The restricting piece is secured in the containing space. The restricting piece includes a pivot and a cable outlet. The coiling piece includes a coiling post. A side of the coiling post defines a pivot hole which receives the pivot of the restricting piece inserted therein to pivotally mount the coiling piece in the containing space. The cable is wrapped on the coiling post, and a part of the cable is inserted through the cable cutout. |
| US08240587B2 |
Gyratory crusher
A gyratory crusher includes a crushing head, which is arranged rotatably on a substantially vertical shaft and on which a first crushing shell is mounted, and a frame, on which a second crushing shell is mounted, which second crushing shell, together with the first crushing shell, delimits a crushing gap. A supporting piston is arranged inside a cavity of the shaft, which supporting piston is displaceable in the vertical direction in order to adjust the width of the crushing gap. An eccentric is, by means of at least one radial bearing, arranged rotatably about the shaft. The gyratory crusher has an oil line, arranged in the cavity and extending through a piston plate included in the supporting piston, for supplying lubricating oil to a lubricating oil chamber configured at least partially in the cavity above the piston plate, the lubricating oil chamber being connected to the radial bearing by a duct arranged in the shaft. |
| US08240579B1 |
Postal shipping label
The present invention provides apparatus, systems and methods for the computerized generation and printing of a U.S. Postal Service Shipping Label over the Internet that provides postage, shipping address, delivery address, and shipment and delivery tracking indicia. According to the invention, human-readable postage payment indicia is formatted in such a way that the actual price of shipping postage is obscured; postage payment can only be translated from the postage payment indicia by someone who knows the format template. The present invention further provides a United States Postal Service shipping label comprising a representation of paid postage, said representation of paid postage comprising a human-readable character string, said character string comprising imbedded postage price information. The present invention further provides a United States Postal Service shipping label, comprising a machine-readable representation of paid postage and a ship to address. |
| US08240576B2 |
Card with a detachable wireless antenna-based payment device
Embodiments of the invention relate to for a card that includes a detachable wireless antenna-based payment device, such as a contactless Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) payment device or the like. The card is configured so as to alleviate or eliminate production problems associated with the adhesive-protecting backing being lifted or otherwise removed during handling of the card by the embossing equipment. In specific embodiments, the detachable wireless communication device is formed vertically along the width of the card, such that the detachment line extends along the width of the card. In such embodiments, by limiting the width of the wireless communication payment device to about one-third of the length of the card, the detachable wireless communication payment device is formed outside of the center region of the card, which is the region handled during the embossing procedure. |
| US08240575B2 |
Method of multi-interfacing between smart card and memory card, and multi-interface card
A multi-interface card includes smart card interface, memory card interface, card controller and memory module. The smart card interface interfaces with a smart card host using a smart card protocol. The memory card interface interfaces with a memory card host using a memory card protocol. The card controller controls the smart card host and memory card host so that the smart card host and the memory card host simultaneously interface with the smart card and the memory card interfaces, respectively. The memory module stores data transferred from the smart card host and memory card host. The multi-interface card simultaneously supports the smart card interface and the memory card interface. Thus, the one multi-interface card can support a subscriber authentication function and a data storage function. |
| US08240572B2 |
Terminal with radio transceiver having power output
There is provided for herein a terminal having a radio transceiver, the radio transceiver having a maximum output power and an operating power. The operating power is limitable to a power limit that less than or equal to the maximum output power and is operator selectable from a set of power limit values so as to reduce interference with other devices operating in the 2.4 GHz spectrum of the ISM band. In one embodiment, the set of power limit values includes the maximum output power and a plurality of additional values. In another embodiment, the set of power limit values includes a plurality of values, the plurality of values including at least first and second values less than 16 dB apart in magnitude. |
| US08240568B2 |
Information communication system, information communication device, information communication method and computer program
Information communication includes communicating with an information storage medium having a data communication function determined by a physical communication layer. The information storage medium is accessed by determining the physical communication layer of the information storage medium, from among a plurality of potential physical communication layers. Service data describing attribute information for at least one stored application service is read from the information storage medium, attribute information regarding a desired one of the application services is acquired to confirm that the desired one of the application services is stored on the information storage medium. |
| US08240565B2 |
Information transmitting device
An information transmitting device 7 with a light source 3 provided on each container 2 which can be arranged and placed so that a surface having the light source can be hidden. Each information transmitting device judges whether or not in a condition where an own container 2 can be monitored from an imaging direction of an external imaging device and placed so as to hide the light source installed on other containers 2. When judged as affirmative, location information about the other containers is transmitted from the information transmitting device installed on the other containers, and location information about the own container is added to the received location information. This information is transmitted to a storage space which is imaged in an information receiving device 4 by controlling the light source to modulate the received information and to repeatedly flash in terms of time based on the modulated information. |
| US08240564B2 |
Mobile table for implementing clamshell-to-case association
Systems and methods are provided for associating traceability codes on clamshells with unique identifiers on containers in which the empty clamshells are packed for later use. In various methods, the clamshells are marked with traceability codes and stacked together, one traceability code is read from one of the clamshells in each stack, a unique identifier is read from a container, and the stack is placed in the container. The traceability code is stored in association with the unique identifier for later retrieval. An exemplary table for making clamshell-to-container associations comprises a scanner for reading traceability codes and rails for positioning stacks of clamshells proximate to the scanner. The table can also comprise a second scanner positioned to read unique identifiers from containers placed proximate thereto. The table can further comprise a computing system to make and store the associations. |
| US08240558B2 |
Method of processing a user data card, an interface module and a gaming system
A method of processing a user data card comprising: determining that a user data card comprising a non-compatible smart card has been entered into a card reader; obtaining a user identifier from a magnetic stripe of the user data card; and processing the user identifier to obtain data from a user record to enable further processing in respect of the user data card. |
| US08240554B2 |
System and method of financial instrument processing with duplicate item detection
A method and system for processing financial instruments in order to detect the presence of duplicate instruments. The method may include the steps of receiving discrete items of identifying information, each for a plurality of financial instruments, grouping the items into cycles and appending discrete cycle and time dependent information to each of the items to form coded items, storing each of the coded items in a database, comparing the stored, coded items to each other to find items having duplicate identifying information, marking items having duplicate identifying information for subsequent deletion and printing a report listing all items having duplicate identifying information. The system may include a mainframe, data repository and item processing applications, all interconnected by a network. The system may receive discrete items of identifying information over a network, such as the Internet or private network, such as SVPCO. In a preferred embodiment, the system may include a module that filters items from incoming strings of items to remove false positives, namely, those items that might otherwise appear to be duplicates, but in fact are not, such as rebate coupons. The remaining duplicate items may be viewed on a graphical user interface that allows a user to review attributes of each item and manually mark duplicates for subsequent deletion. |
| US08240552B2 |
Method and system for measuring traffic quality in distribution
Provided is a method and system for measuring traffic quality in distribution using test mail into which a radio frequency identity tag is inserted. The system accepts at least one test distribution piece including a tag, and collects information of test distribution by sensing a tag included with the test distribution piece at measuring points for measuring a time from acceptance to delivery of a general distribution piece. The system generates a processing rate and a delivery rate of distribution based on information of the test distribution pieces collected from the measuring points. |
| US08240548B2 |
Display control of classified content based on flexible display containing electronic device conformation
A system includes, but is not limited to one and one or more display control modules configured to direct control of display of one or more portions of the flexible display containing electronic device regarding display of second information having one or more classifications in response to the first information associated with the one or more conformations of the one or more portions of the one or more regions of the flexible display containing electronic device. In addition to the foregoing, other related method/system aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US08240543B2 |
Electronic component mounting system, electronic component placing apparatus, and electronic component mounting method
Regarding electronic component mounting in which an electronic component having plural solder bumps for external connection on its lower surface is mounted on a board, in an electronic component mounting operation of previously measuring the height position of solder paste on the board on which the solder paste has been printed, and mounting the electronic component on the board on which the solder paste has been printed by a loading head, whether the transfer of the solder paste to the solder bumps is necessary or not is judged on the basis of the measurement result of the height of the solder paste. In case that it is judged that the transfer is necessary, the transfer of the solder paste is executed, and thereafter the electronic component is mounted on the board. Hereby, it is possible to prevent the poor joint in case that a thin-sized semiconductor package which causes easily warp deformation is mounted on the board by soldering. |
| US08240539B2 |
Joining apparatus with UV cleaning
The joining apparatus includes a suction nozzle for holding an electronic component, a board stage for holding a circuit board in opposition to the electronic component, and an excimer ultraviolet lamp placed at an irradiation position between the positioned electronic component and circuit board. In such a joining apparatus, ultraviolet irradiation to Au bumps of the electronic component and ultraviolet irradiation to board electrodes of the circuit board are performed concurrently by the excimer ultraviolet lamp to execute a cleaning process of the two metallic portions. Thereafter, ultrasonic vibrations are imparted to the two metallic portions while those metallic portions are kept in contact with each other, by which metal joining between the two metallic portions is fulfilled. |
| US08240537B2 |
Surgical stapling apparatus with powered articulation
The surgical stapling apparatus includes a handle assembly, an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly, and an articulation mechanism for articulating a tool assembly. The articulation mechanism includes a first gear rotatably mounted on a transmission shaft and configured to engage a second gear, a clutch interconnecting the second gear and a main shaft; and a yoke shaft coupled to the main shaft and adapted to linearly advance a J-channel, the J-channel operatively connected to an articulation link. A motor assembly may rotate the transmission shaft of the articulation mechanism. Alternatively, the articulation mechanism may include an articulation knob. Users may manually rotate the articulation knob to articulate the tool assembly of the surgical stapling apparatus. |
| US08240532B2 |
Concealed magazine slot arrangement for chest harness, midriff harness, vest, or the like
A concealed magazine slot arrangement includes a magazine holder, a gear carrier, and a fastening device for fastening the magazine holder on the user's body. The magazine holder includes an inner panel, an outer panel, having a front operation side, overlapped thereon, and a plurality of slot dividers affixed between the inner and outer panels to form a plurality of magazine slots concealed within the inner panel, the outer panel, and the slot dividers for receiving the magazine. A gear carrier is provided on the front operation side of the magazine holder for carrying a gear thereon. Quick accessing fasteners facilitate securing magazines in magazine slots. Means for adjusting the depth of the magazine slots are provided. |
| US08240528B2 |
Universal accessory mount for vehicle control bodies
The present invention discloses a unique and novel universal vehicle accessory mounting device which attaches to either a left hand or right hand control body of a vehicle handlebar, and permits various orientations for attachment of multiple accessories. |
| US08240522B2 |
Dual function dispensing head for carbonated beverage machine
A dispensing head incorporates multiple constant flow valves for controlling the flow of multiple liquids, e.g., syrup and carbonated water fed to a dispensing nozzle. The valves are normally closed and are opened by inlet pressures above selected threshold levels. Once open, the valves maintain the liquid flows at substantially constant flow rates and pressures, irrespective of variations of liquid input pressures and viscosities. A closure mechanism serves to close the valves at inlet pressures both above and below the threshold levels. The closure mechanism may be deactivated to simultaneously allow the valves to assume their modulating functions at inlet pressures above the threshold levels. |
| US08240518B2 |
Dispensing device and container for a cosmetic liquid
The invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing a cosmetic liquid, the device having an elastic or flexible pump section. A dispensing device is provided having a compact and simple structure that is easy to use and operate such that the dispensing direction is generally different from the direction of actuation. A widening receiving area may be provided for the dispensed liquid that adjoins the outlet such that the liquid can be removed or extracted manually. The receiving area is preferably shell-shaped and open towards the top. |
| US08240515B2 |
Lockable pulser enclosure for use in a fuel dispenser
A lockable enclosure for protecting a pulser of a fuel dispenser including a pulser shaft connecting the pulser to a fuel meter, the enclosure having a first enclosure portion attached to the fuel meter, the first enclosure portion including a base wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, a front wall, a first locking plate extending outwardly from the front wall and a mounting aperture defined by the rear wall. A second enclosure portion is detachably mounted to the first enclosure portion, the second enclosure portion including an outer wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, a front wall, a second locking plate extending outwardly from the front wall and a mounting pin extending inwardly from the rear wall. When the mounting pin of the second enclosure portion is removably received in the mounting aperture defined by the rear wall of the first enclosure portion and the first and second locking plates are adjacent each other to enclose the pulser and pulser shaft within the enclosure. |
| US08240514B2 |
Powdered and liquid chemical dispensing and distribution system
The chemical distribution system (100) includes at least a first chamber that is fluidly coupled to a second chamber below it, which is in turn fluidly coupled to a manifold below it. In use, water and a powdered chemical are introduced into the first chamber. Liquid chemicals, however, are injected into the second chamber through multiple chemicals inlets in the second chamber. A pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the first chamber is used to accurately measure dosages of the liquid chemical. Once the accurate dosages have been determined, the powdered and/or liquid chemicals are distributed through one of multiple manifold outlets and along a single line (116(a), 116(b)) to one of multiple washing machines (102(a), 102(b)). |
| US08240513B2 |
Fluid dispenser with nested displacement members
A dispenser for dispensing liquids including an inner displacement member nested in an outer displacement member. The inner member is moveable between two end positions within the outer member by an actuator. The actuator is arranged to move the outer displacement member into a dispensing position when the inner displacement member is in one of its end positions. The displacement members can be pistons and/or bellows. |
| US08240511B2 |
Dispensing assembly with separate syringes and syringe holder
The dispensing assembly has a one-piece syringe holder in which two separate syringes are placed and which includes a thumb rest that acts upon the thrust plates of the syringes jointly. The integral design of the syringe holder and the thumb rest results in a synchronous dispensing of both syringes. Preferentially, the syringe holder comprises guiding and fastening means for the separate syringes. |
| US08240508B2 |
Low cost radio frequency identification (RFID) dispensing systems
A radio frequency identification (RFID) dispenser that includes low cost electronic components that can read and write to the tag of a refill cartridge. In one embodiment, the reader utilizes a multi band pass filter to convert the radio frequency identification into a digital signal that is processed by a controller to perform a dispensing function representative to the code of the tag. In another embodiment, the controller utilizes an internal comparator to convert the radio frequency identification into a digital signal that is processed by a controller to perform a dispensing function representative to the code of the tag. The dispenser in both embodiments also includes a pair of transistors that write to the RFID tag of the refill cartridge. A dispenser according to the invention also includes the capability to read and/or write to tags upon cartridges employed by the dispenser, and augmenting the operation of the dispenser as a function thereof. Additionally, a dispenser of variable size is presented that is adaptable, through adjustable partitions or a telescoping cup, to receive and maintain cartridges of various sizes. |
| US08240506B2 |
Methods and apparatus for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles
An apparatus for dispensing pharmaceutical articles includes a housing assembly and an adjustment system. The housing assembly includes a first inlet wall and a second inlet wall that is moveable relative to the first inlet wall. The housing assembly defines a hopper chamber that houses pharmaceutical articles, and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet and defines a flow path. The inlet is defined at least in part by the first and second inlet walls. The adjustment system is operable to adjust the position of the second inlet wall relative to the first inlet wall to adjust the size of the inlet to singulate the pharmaceutical articles passing through the inlet. The adjustment system includes an input mechanism and an operator feedback mechanism. The input mechanism is selectively operable by an operator to selectively move the second inlet wall relative to the first inlet wall. The operator feedback mechanism provides tactile and/or audible feedback to the operator responsive to operation of the input mechanism by the operator to indicate prescribed increments of movement of the second inlet wall relative to the first inlet wall. |
| US08240504B2 |
Container lid with printable rim
A canister includes a closure coupled to a container to close a mouth opening into an interior region formed in the container. The closure includes a lid having a plate and a rim extending around the plate. |
| US08240503B2 |
Produce keeper
A fresh produce keeper includes a vessel having a floor and upwardly extending sidewalls. Holes in the floor allow the vessel to be used as a colander or strainer to rinse produce, while a lid fits over the floor to retain water within the vessel, thereby allowing the same vessel to be used for both rinsing and service or storage. An internal divider and air vent is also provided in some examples of the invention. |
| US08240497B2 |
Dual chamber bottle and method of manufacturing the same
A bottle including a body portion having a dividing wall extending from a base portion to a connection region; a first chamber for holding a first liquid; a second chamber for holding a second liquid; and a removable oblique cap; wherein a height of the dividing wall is less than an overall height of the body portion and the connection region is configured to be a maximum height of the dividing wall. |
| US08240496B2 |
Collapsible container and hinge used for collapsible container
Disclosed is a collapsible container and a hinge used for the collapsible container. The hinge includes an inner hinge, an outer hinge, a first pivoting pin and a second pivoting pin movably and pivotally connected to the inner hinge and the outer hinge. The inner hinge and outer hinge are both provided with pivoting holes, respectively, and the first pivoting pin and the second pivoting pin are respectively inserted into the corresponding pivoting holes to pivotally connected or disconnect the inner hinge with the outer hinge. When one of the first pivoting pin and the second pivoting pin is pulled out, the outer hinge can overturn around the other pivoting pin hence to make the end wall overturn and fold towards inside or outside of the container body. When the first pivoting pin and the second pivoting pin are simultaneously located within the pivoting holes of the corresponding inner hinge and outer hinge, the end wall is fixed to the vertical state. |
| US08240494B1 |
Bulk material container with adaptable base
An adaptable bulk material container system comprises a hopper having an interior for receiving the bulk material and an upper opening and a lower opening. The hopper comprises an upper portion defining an upper portion of the interior and including an upper perimeter wall about the interior. The hopper also includes a lower portion defining a lower portion of the interior and being positioned below the upper portion. The upper portion may be separable from the lower portion such that the upper portion is removable from the lower portion. The system also includes an adaptable base supporting the hopper, with the hopper being mounted on the adaptable base. The base comprises a support frame mounted on the hopper and extending downwardly from the hopper, with the support frame forming a perimeter about the lower portion of the hopper. |
| US08240490B2 |
Anti-vibration rack, mount and feet for computer servers
A novel apparatus and system for dampening vibrational forces from servers and electronic components is provided. According to one embodiment, the present invention generally provides a rack for dampening vibration including: a top panel, a bottom panel, and two side panels positioned between the top panel and the bottom panel where the top panel, the bottom panel and the two side panels are fiberglass re-enforced plastics; the side panels have grooves along the height of the side panels that extend the full depth of the side panels designed to enable shelves or servers with attached mounts to be positioned along the side panels and pulled in and out of the rack. |
| US08240484B2 |
High loft spunbonded web
Herein are disclosed high loft spunbonded webs that are substantially free of crimped fibers and gap-formed fibers. The webs exhibit a solidity of from less than 8.0% to about 4.0% and a ratio of Effective Fiber Diameter to Actual Fiber Diameter of at least 1.40. Also disclosed are methods of making such webs. |
| US08240480B2 |
Sorting mined material
A method of sorting mined material for subsequent processing to recover valuable material, such as valuable metals, from the mined material is disclosed. The method includes a combination of selective breakage of mined material, for example, by using microwaves and/or high pressure grinding rolls, subsequent size separation, and then particle sorting of a coarse fraction of the separated material based on differential heating and thermal imaging. |
| US08240476B2 |
Package
The present invention refers to a multi-layered package, and particularly to a container including a container opening and a container bottom. Preferably, at least one outer wall includes a predetermined removable wall section, revealing an information. The feature of the package according to the present invention is that the package is formed with at least one inner wall and one outer wall. The outer wall includes a removable card that is part of the outer wall. |
| US08240471B2 |
Foldable sterile medical package
The present disclosure relates to medical packaging for the accommodation of medical supplies. The medical packaging discussed herein has a plurality of panels, including a first panel, a second panel, and a third panel, that are releasably secured together to establish a first sterile environment between the first panel and the second panel for the retention of a first medical supply, and a second sterile environment between the second panel and the third panel for the retention of a second medical supply. The panels are configured for relative movement such that movement of the first panel relative to the second panel reveals the first medical supply without compromising the second sterile environment, and movement of the second panel relative to the third panel reveals the second medical supply. The panels are arranged for sequential separation in accordance with the steps of the procedure in which the medical supplies are employed. |
| US08240467B2 |
Elastic fixing element, and coherent arrangement of such elements
An elastic fixing element and a coherent arrangement of such elements. These elastic fixing elements are intended in particular to hold together a first and a second element, rectilinear in particular, such as a vine shoot or a branch and a metal support wire. The elastic fixing element includes a closed loop, a head, and a neck connecting this head to the closed loop. This head is extended by a top stub. The closed loop is extended by a bottom stub, which facilitates the manual fitting of the elastic element around the elements to be secured. The coherent arrangement includes at least two elastic fixing elements. These elastic elements are connected together by a first link at the position of their respective top stubs. These elastic elements are connected together by a second link at the position of their respective bottom stubs. |
| US08240466B2 |
Paperboard media package
A paperboard media package is provided for at least one media disc. The media package includes a front cover, a rear cover, a spine connecting the front cover to the rear cover, at least one media well carried by one of the front cover and a rear cover and a lock. The lock is displaceable between a locked position wherein the lock engages the media disc(s) to positively secure the media disc(s) in the media well(s) when the media package is closed and an unlocked position wherein the media disc(s) may be freely removed from the media well(s) when the media package is open. |
| US08240465B2 |
Protective cover for natural fiber apparel
A protective cover for natural fiber apparel to protect the apparel from moths, moth larvae, and other pests is disclosed. The protective cover encloses not only natural fiber apparel, but also a hanger from which the apparel is hung. A substantial portion of the protective cover is made from a fabric that prevents moths and other insects from penetrating the protective cover and depositing eggs or consuming the apparel therein. At the same time, this fabric allows air to travel therethrough. A window is incorporated into the body of the protective cover to allow users to view the one or more apparel items protected by the protective cover. The protective cover also includes a zipper along its outer edge to allow access to the apparel contained within. |
| US08240462B2 |
Transport device, especially for transporting flat substrates through a coating installation
The transport device especially for transporting flat substrates through a coating installation comprises a plurality of transporting rolls, which are arranged transversely in relation to the transporting direction, and supporting rolls are also provided. |
| US08240460B1 |
Apparatus for cleaning a conveyor belt
An apparatus for cleaning a moving conveyor belt of a conveyor belt assembly. The apparatus includes an enclosed housing connectable to the conveyor belt assembly, wherein the housing has an open portion adjacent to the moving conveyor belt. A hub is rotatably connected to and within the enclosed housing, and a plurality of wipers are releasably connected to and extend outward from the hub. A driving means rotates the hub and the wipers such that the plurality of wipers at least partially engage and wipe the conveyor belt clean, as the wipers rotate through the open portion of the housing. |
| US08240456B2 |
Method of regulating a flow of products and layout for the implementation of such a method
A regulation method for ordering a flow of two lines of products includes at least: —a first step of slowing when the spacing value between a first product pertaining to one of the lines and a second product, situated immediately upstream and pertaining to another of the lines is less than a first set value; and—a second step of slowing when the value of the spacing between a downstream product of the first line and the proximal product situated immediately upstream on the second line is lower than a second set value, the first step of slowing and second step of slowing being respectively implemented selectively so as to place in phase the spacings between the products of the first and second lines according to a sequence determined as a function of the device for transferring to cavities. |
| US08240454B2 |
Machining facility using sub-pallet
Provided is a flexible machining facility using a sub-pallet, which can quickly satisfy the increasing or decreasing of units or other required specifications. It The machining facility includes a machine tool (1) having a pallet changer (47) for changing main pallets (39), a plurality of sub-pallets (3) for a workpiece to be mounted thereon, a setup station (5) for carrying the sub-pallet (3) and mounting and dismounting a workpiece on and from the sub-pallet (3), a sub-pallet stocker (7) for carrying the sub-pallet (3) thereon, and a sub-pallet conveyor system (9) for conveying the sub-pallet (3) and configured to include sub-pallet carrying parts of the machine tool (1), setup station (5), and sub-pallet stocker (7) in a workable area thereof. The sub-pallet (3) can be used to convey and machine a workpiece. |
| US08240450B2 |
Apparatus and method for depositing and/or dispensing at least banknotes having a first denomination and banknotes having a second denomination
The invention relates to an apparatus (8) for depositing and/or dispensing at least banknotes (13) of a first denomination and banknotes (13) of a second denomination having at least one input and/or output unit (22) for the input of the banknotes (13) to be deposited and/or the output of the banknotes (13) to be dispensed. The apparatus (8) further comprises a reading unit (26) with the aid of which at least the denomination of each banknote (13) to be deposited or dispensed can be ascertained. Furthermore, at least one banknote acceptor (12a to 12d) to accept the banknotes (13) is provided. In addition, the apparatus has at least one transport unit to transport banknotes (13) between the input and output unit (22) and the banknote acceptor (12a to 12d), wherein the transport unit of the banknote acceptor (12a to 12d) supplies only banknotes (13) of the first denomination and banknotes (13) of the second denomination to the banknote acceptor (12a to 12d). |
| US08240447B2 |
Drive force transmission apparatus
An armature is magnetically attracted to and is coupled with a rotor against an urging force of a resilient member by a magnetic attractive force of the rotor when a permanent magnet is placed into a first position. When the armature is coupled with the rotor, a rotational drive force of an internal combustion engine transmitted to the rotor is transmitted to a refrigerant compressor connected to the armature to rotate the refrigerant compressor. The armature is urged away from and is decoupled from the rotor by the urging force of the resilient member when the permanent magnet is placed into a second position. |
| US08240442B2 |
Lock-up device
The lock-up device includes a piston, an output rotary member, a plurality of elastic members, a support member, and a retaining plate. The piston is supported rotatably with respect to the input rotary member and movably in the axial direction. The elastic members elastically link the piston and the output rotary member in the rotational direction. The support member has an outer peripheral support component to support the outer peripheral side of the elastic members. The retaining plate has a fixed component that is fixed to the piston, and a radial support component that supports the outer peripheral support component in the radial direction. |
| US08240439B2 |
Vehicle damper of variable damping force
A vehicle damper of variable damping force including a cylinder, a piston and valves is disclosed. The valves have opening/closing parts and supporting parts. The opening/closing parts and the supporting parts are positioned separately so that a sufficient distance is obtained. Lengthening the distance from the supporting parts to the opening/closing parts makes it possible to reduce the opening and closing force of the opening/closing parts and to obtain highly responsive valves. |
| US08240433B2 |
Oil drain and suction pump
A pump providing oil suction and oil drain functions includes a barrel and a lid; a first passage is disposed on a bottom of the barrel; the lid contains a second passage, a third passage, and a fourth passage; a regulating member is disposed on the lid to connect the third passage through the second passage and to allow air to flow in sequence from an oil storage space, the third passage, the second passage, a pipe, the first passage, a ventilation pipe, and the fourth passage into the ambient air for producing suction in oil suction operation; and to connect the fourth passage through the third passage for the ambient air to flow in sequence through the second passage, the pipe, the first passage, the ventilation pipe, the fourth passage, and the third passage to enter into the oil storage space for producing pressure during the oil drain operation. |
| US08240432B2 |
Tree stand
A tree stand is provided, the tree stand including a platform support, first and second clamps rotatably attached to the platform support, and a platform attached to an upper portion of the platform support. Also provided is a climbing portion adapted to allow a user to enter and leave the tree stand. In some aspects of the invention, the various components of the tree stand can be easily assembled and disassembled for transporting and setting up the tree stand. The first and second clamps include openings for fasteners, which are used to secure the clamps to a tree. |
| US08240431B2 |
Apparatus for arresting a fall
A roofing worker safety device is provided that delivers a resistive force in response to a worker falling from an elevated work surface such as a roof via a safety cable connecting the worker to the safety device, the cable transmitting the force of the falling worker to the device to activate an arrestor arm that is forced into the surface on which the safety device is placed thereby stopping the fall of a worker from the roof. |
| US08240421B2 |
Adapter for a corvette rear differential
An adaptor for an older Corvette drive train provides a structure for coupling the drive shaft extending from a front-mounted transmission to the differential of a C5 or C6 Corvette rear suspension in which the rear mounted transmission has been removed. A housing holds a stub shaft for rotation on front (outside) and rear (inside) bearings. The shaft has a coupling yoke mounted to its front end and engages the differential gearing at its other (rear) end. The housing mounts to the differential at the five mounting points of the removed transmission. A bracket which attaches to frame mounts can be mounted to either the top or bottom front (outside) face of the housing, depending upon the suspension-to-frame geometry. A circular flange on the shaft positions and holds the inside bearing and a rearward extending boss on the yoke positions and holds the outside bearing. A crushable tubular spacer fits over a portion of the shaft and holds the front and rear bearings apart during assembly and while the shaft assembly is drawn up. Two grease ports and fittings access the interior of the peripheral sealing ring to meet and seal the differential opening. |
| US08240418B2 |
Pivot-steered vehicle
A pivot-steered vehicle, in particular a pivot-steered construction vehicle or machine, is provided. The vehicle includes a front frame and a rear frame which are connected to each other via a pivot steering gear and a steering drive. The pivot steering gear has a first and a second vertical pivot axis which are arranged opposing each other with respect to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle in a neutral position, the pivot steering gear being embodied in a first steering range for relative swiveling of the front frame and the rear frame about the first pivot axis and in a second steering range for relative swiveling of the front frame and the rear frame about the second pivot axis, the first and the second steering ranges being separated from each other via the neutral position. |
| US08240417B2 |
Snowmobile including skis with keel and runner
A snowmobile includes a body, a steering mechanism provided in the body, a steering shaft connected with the steering mechanism for associated operation with the steering mechanism, a power steering device provided in the steering shaft, a pair of skis, and a connecting section arranged to connect the skis with the body. Each of the skis includes, in its lower surface, a straight portion extending straightly; an approach portion ahead of the straight portion and curving upward; and a keel portion protruding downward to a lower position than the straight portion and the approach portion. |
| US08240413B2 |
Method and device for controlling a hybrid vehicle
A method and a device control a hybrid vehicle drive. The device contains a multiplicity of control parameter sets having different recovery torques for a conversion control device which sets a recovery torque of the electric motor in an overrun phase, which recovery torques are assigned a respective driving mode indicator. A definition device is provided for defining a current driving mode indicator, as a result of which a control parameter set corresponding to the defined current driving mode indicator can be used to control the conversion control device in an overrun phase of the hybrid vehicle drive. |
| US08240412B2 |
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
A method of operating a hybrid vehicle propulsion system includes selectively operating the engine to consume fuel stored on-board the vehicle based on a residence time of the fuel stored on-board the vehicle and further based on a profile of ambient conditions over the residence time. |
| US08240410B2 |
Patient support apparatus with powered wheel
A patient support apparatus has a first frame and a second frame supported above the first frame and movable relative to the first frame. A plurality of casters are coupled to the first frame. A wheel is movable relative to the first frame between a lowered position engaging the floor and a raised position spaced from the floor. A drive assembly is coupled to the wheel and is operable to drive the wheel to propel the patient support apparatus along the floor. A foot pedal is coupled to the first frame and is movable to raise and lower the wheel relative to the floor. |
| US08240406B2 |
Systems and methods for powering a vehicle, and generating and distributing energy
A system and method for powering of a vehicle is disclosed. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a powering assembly may include an axle, a wheel coupled to the axle, and at least one secondary coil winding affixed to the wheel. The wheel may be configured to rotate about the axle in a plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of the axle. The at least one secondary coil may be configured such that when the wheel is proximate to an embedded conductor embedded in a roadway and carrying a first electrical current, a magnetic field induced by the first electrical current induces a second electrical current in the at least one secondary coil winding. |
| US08240400B2 |
Noise-dampening shield structure for rock drilling apparatus
The invention relates to a shield structure of a rock drilling apparatus for dampening noise, the rock drilling apparatus comprising a feed beam whose one end is a drilling end, whereby the drilling end of the feed beam comprises a first shield part mounted immovably relative to the feed beam, and a second shield part mounted movably relative to the feed beam. A tubular shield flexible at least in its longitudinal direction is mounted between the shield parts, the shield being tightly attached by its ends to the first and the second shield part. |
| US08240399B2 |
Drill bit with an adjustable steering device
A drill bit is provided that includes a force application device on a body of the drill bit. The force application device includes a floating member and a force application member configured to extend from the floating member to apply a force on a wellbore wall when the drill bit is used to drill a wellbore and an actuator configured to actuate the force application member to apply the force to a wellbore wall during drilling of the wellbore. |
| US08240398B2 |
Annulus pressure setpoint correction using real time pressure while drilling measurements
A method of controlling pressure in a wellbore can include determining a real time wellbore pressure PwbRT1 at a pressure sensor in the wellbore, calculating hydrostatic pressure Ph1 at the pressure sensor, determining a real time annulus pressure PaRT, calculating friction pressure Pf due at least to circulation of the fluid through the wellbore and depth in the wellbore, calculating a friction pressure correction factor CFPf1 equal to (PwbRT1−Ph1−PaRT)/Pf, and controlling operation of a pressure control device, based on the friction pressure correction factor CFPf1. The method can further include determining a desired wellbore pressure PwbD1 at the pressure sensor, calculating an annulus pressure setpoint PaSP1 equal to PwbD1−Ph1−(Pf*CFPf1), and adjusting the pressure control device as needed to maintain PaRT equal to PaSP1. |
| US08240397B2 |
Method to control bit load
The method of controlling the load on a drill bit drilling a hole by providing differential pressure across a seal area on a drilling assembly to increase the bit load and providing a relief valve from the annular area above the seal to the bore returning fluid to the surface to limit the maximum differential pressure to limit the maximum load allowed. |
| US08240391B2 |
Single joint elevator with gripping jaws and method of hoisting a tubular member
Single joint elevator and method for releasably securing a tubular segment. A generally horseshoe-shaped body has a slot for receiving a tubular segment, and an actuator assembly that selectively moves opposing jaws from a removed position to a deployed position to grip and retain the tubular segment within the slot of the body while hoisting the body. The deployable jaws are either rotatably or translatably moved from the removed position to the deployed position and may be pneumatically, hydraulically, and/or electrically actuated. The actuator assembly may include wedges operatively coupled to actuators for selectively biasing the wedges against the jaws, or a cam ring rotationally coupled to the body and rotated by an actuator coupled between the body and the cam ring, wherein the cam ring has an inner cam surface for inwardly biasing the opposing jaws. |
| US08240389B2 |
Combined tree stab and control interface
A subsea wellhead assembly provided over a wellbore, the assembly having a wellhead housing, a tubing hanger in the housing, a production tree on the wellhead housing above the tubing hanger, and a control circuit that passes axially downward from the production tree and through the tubing hanger. A tree stab assembly may be included that is set between the tubing hanger and production tree. The wellhead assembly can also include a casing hanger landed in the housing, casing attached to the casing hanger, and tubing attached to the tubing hanger. |
| US08240386B2 |
Method for treating well bore with polyurethane composition
A method comprising providing a composition with at least one isocyanate including a blocking group able to be unblocked at or above a deblocking temperature, contacting the composition with an inactivated catalyst and at least one active hydrogen compound, exposing the composition to a trigger to activate the catalyst, creating an elastomeric gel composition, and exposing the composition to a temperature above the deblocking temperature with a second downhole tool, wherein the second downhole tool is able to generate microwaves is provided. |
| US08240381B2 |
Draining a reservoir with an interbedded layer
Methods and systems relate to recovering hydrocarbons from within formations in which hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs are separated from one another by a fluid flow obstructing natural stratum. Relative to the reservoirs, the stratum inhibits or blocks vertical fluid flow within the formation. Drilled bores arranged to intersect the stratum provide an array of fluid flow paths through the stratum. Fluid communication established by the drilled bores enables production utilizing a producer borehole deviated from vertical and processes that rely on techniques such as gravity drainage through the fluid flow paths and/or injection through the fluid flow paths. |
| US08240378B2 |
Downhole characterization of formation fluid as a function of temperature
A fluid analysis tool, and related method, comprising means for selectively varying a temperature of fluid received in a tool from a subterranean formation, means for measuring a temperature and a thermophysical property of the fluid received in the tool, and means for determining a relationship between the measured temperature and the measured thermophysical property of the fluid received in the tool. |
| US08240376B2 |
Pressure equalising devices
An electronic actuation system for a pressure equalizing device in a downhole apparatus such as a wellbore plug is described. The system includes a pressure sensor for measuring pressure in the wellbore, and means for setting a reference pressure value using a measurement from the pressure sensor. In a method of use, an applied pressure value is determined using a measurement from the pressure sensor and the reference pressure value, and the device is actuated, or opened, when the applied pressure meets a pre-determined condition, such as falling within a pressure window for certain time period. The invention allows natural changes in wellbore pressure to be accounted for when detecting a pressure actuation event. |
| US08240371B2 |
Multi-function sub for use with casing running string
A multi-function sub is connected between a top drive of a drilling rig and a casing gripper. The sub has telescoping upper and lower members that rotate with each other. A sleeve is mounted to one of the members. That sleeve is prevented from rotation with the upper and lower members by an anti-rotation device. A piston is located on the other member and reciprocally carried within the sleeve. An external pump is connected to the sleeve for supplying pressurized fluid into the sleeve to act against the piston. This fluid provides compensation for thread makeup when a new joint of casing is being secured to a string of casing. |
| US08240364B2 |
Heat exchanger tube, heat exchanger and use
According to the invention, in order to prevent a film from forming which obstructs the transfer of heat in heat exchanger pipes, the heat exchanger pipe comprises an external side which is adjacent to the external surface and which is impinged upon by a steam medium, and an inner side which is adjacent to an inner surface and which is impinged upon by a coolant, such that the outer surface is provided with a first layer which reduces the adhesion of the steam on the outer surface and/or the inner surface is provided with a second layer which reduces the adhesion of a coolant to the inner surface and which is embodied as a biocidal layer. The invention relates to a heat exchanger and to the use thereof. |
| US08240363B2 |
Heat dissipation apparatus
A heat dissipation apparatus includes a heat sink, a fan, and a fixing structure. The fan defines a number of fixing holes. The fixing structure includes a base, two resilient side panels bent from two sides of the base. The base and the side panels bound an accommodating space to accommodate the fan. An airflow opening is defined in the base for allowing air to flow between the heat sink and the fan. First ends of a number of fasteners secure the base of the fixing structure to the heat sink. Second ends of the number of fasteners protrude through the base into the accommodating space, to be accommodated in the corresponding fixing holes of the fan. |
| US08240361B2 |
Combined thermal protection and surface temperature control system
The invention relates to a combined thermal protection and surface temperature control apparatus. In one embodiment, a combined thermal protection and surface temperature control apparatus comprises a porous member having an entrance side, and a separate exit side. One or more coolant entrance channels extend through the entrance side, extend part-way through the porous member, and end within the porous member before reaching the exit side. Conversely, one or more coolant exit channels begin within the porous member, extend through a portion of the porous member, and extend through the exit side. The coolant entrance and exit channels may be parallel and may alternate. The channels may only extend across a portion of the thickness of the porous member. |
| US08240360B2 |
Fin-type heat sink for electronic component
One embodiment exemplarily described herein can be generally characterized as a heat sink for an electronic component. The heat sink may include a main body thermally contactable to an electronic component; at least one fin thermally contacted with the main body; and a confining member. The at least one fin and the confining member may be cooperatively engaged such that the at least one fin is moveable between a first position relative to a longitudinal axis of the main body and a second position relative to the longitudinal axis of the relative to the main body. |
| US08240355B2 |
Forming a cast component with agitation
A method of forming a cast component includes at least partially surrounding an investment mold in a heat-insulating packing material, feeding a molten alloy into the investment mold to provide a filled investment mold, and agitating the filled investment mold while solidifying the molten alloy. |
| US08240354B2 |
Movable partition systems and components thereof including chain guide structures, and methods of forming and installing same
Movable partition systems may include a chain guide structure extending along a curved path. The chain guide structure may have a specified maximum width, and may include attachment flanges that project laterally from a central beam beyond laterally outward ends of chain guide members of the chain guide structure by a specified minimum distance. Overhead support systems for movable partition systems may include such chain guide structures. Methods of forming overhead support systems and movable partition systems may include stretch forming a bent chain guide structure. Methods of installing overhead support systems and movable partition systems may include inserting fasteners at least substantially perpendicularly through attachment flanges of a chain guide structure to secure the chain guide structure to an overhead structure. |
| US08240353B2 |
Gripper assembly for tray sealing machine
A gripper assembly for a tray sealing machine. The gripper assembly includes a carriage movable between extended and retracted positions; at least one gripper arm attached to the carriage and movable between gripping and releasing positions; and first and second independently operable drives separate from the carriage but coupled thereto via respective first and second drive train assemblies. The first drive train assembly is adapted to move the carriage between the first and second positions in response to the operation of the first drive, and the second drive train assembly is further adapted to cause the at least one gripper arm to move between the open and closed positions in response to operation of the first and second drives at differing speeds. |
| US08240352B2 |
Group for gluing the final edge of a log
A gluing group of a final edge of a log including in succession an introducing group into the gluing group of the logs one after the other, an unwinding group of the log associated with means for identifying the final edge, an opening group of the final edge from the log and a glue transfer group on the log, in which the opening group of the final edge and the glue transfer group are housed in a slide structure that is mobile with respect to the unwinding group by a predetermined amount dependent upon the diameter of the log, with rolling transfer means of the log from the unwinding group to the slide structure being foreseen. |
| US08240349B2 |
Perforation-resistant flexible enclosure
Flexible enclosure comprising a working strip 2 and sidewalls 3, defining an envelope, and a sealing membrane 11 at least partially lining the envelope. The sealing membrane 11 is comprised of an elastic material 14 and a perforation-resistant reinforcement 15, the sealing membrane 11 being free with regard to the working strip 2 and attached to an opposite edge remote to the working strip 2. |
| US08240345B2 |
Fluid supply cap
A fluid supply includes a container, a bag within the container and a cap. The cap provides a fluid interface in communication with an interior of the bag and a pressurization interface in communication with an interior of the container adjacent an exterior of the bag. The pressurization interface has a channel that concentrically extends about the fluid interface. |
| US08240339B2 |
Existing pipe rehabilitation method
Segments are linked in the circumferential and pipe length directions to assemble a rehabilitating pipe inside an existing pipe in order to rehabilitate the existing pipe. A plurality of nuts are secured to the segments along the circumferential direction thereof. A fastening member having a screw part is provided which is screwed into the nut to fasten a first segment to a second segment to which the nut is secured, thereby linking the first and second segments in the pipe length direction thereof. The position of the nut in the first segment is offset as viewed in the circumferential direction from the nut position of the second segment. The arrangement of the fastening members and the nuts is staggered as viewed in its entirety. This allows the connection strength of the segments in the pipe length direction to be made uniform. |
| US08240332B1 |
Internally mounted/externally accessible fuel supply unit for a fuel sump
A fuel supply system including a filter removably securable within a filter housing mounted within a fuel tank and a pump removably securable within a pump housing mounted within the fuel tank and interconnected by a pipe. The filter housing includes an inner housing rotatably mounted within an outer housing. Alignable inlet openings and outlet passageways are formed in the inner and outer housings. A removable plug for closing an access opening to the inner housing includes lugs for engaging mating recesses in the inner housing such that rotation of the plug rotates the inner housing relative to the outer housing for rotating the inner housing between an aligned and misaligned orientation relative to the outer housing to control the flow of fluid through the filter housing. |
| US08240329B1 |
Fluid control valve
Disclosed is an apparatus for providing in-line, three-state, dual flow metering, high pressure relief, for use in a system utilizing compressible or incompressible media, which includes a centrally disposed magnetically homed ball with opposing axially aligned ball mating valve seats, with a high pressure relief spring deployed to control the pressure necessary to trigger high pressure relief. |
| US08240326B2 |
Faucet with assembly and retention features
The present invention provides a faucet including structure to ensure components of the faucet are properly and securely assembled together. In one embodiment, the faucet includes a valve body, a mounting tube, and a hose retainer. The valve body is operable to receive at least a portion of a cartridge assembly and to connect to at least two hoses. The mounting tube is operable to mount the faucet to a surface, to receive at least a portion of the valve body, and to connect to at least two hoses. The hose retainer is operable to interface between the valve body and the mounting tube and to connect to at least two hoses. The valve body, the mounting tube, the hose retainer, and the hoses include structure to ensure that the valve body, the mounting tube, the hose retainer, and the hoses are properly and securely assembled together. |
| US08240325B2 |
Gas flow device
A gas regulator includes a housing and a pressure regulator positioned within the housing along a first axis for controlling the pressure of gas received from a pressurized source. A flow meter controls the flow rate of the gas received from the pressure regulator. The flow meter is positioned relative to the housing along a second axis, transverse to the first axis. An outlet nozzle member has a nozzle stem and is positioned along the first axis. The outlet nozzle member receives the gas from the flow meter and delivers the gas through the nozzle stem. |
| US08240324B2 |
Method and apparatus for in situ testing of gas flow controllers
Methods and apparatus utilize a rate of drop in pressure upstream of a gas flow controller (GFC) to accurately measure a rate of flow through the GFC. Measurement of the gas flow through the many gas flow controllers in production use today is enabled, without requiring any special or sophisticated pressure regulators or other special components. Various provisions ensure that none of the changes in pressure that occur during or after the measurement perturb the constant flow of gas through the GFC under test. A pressure regulator is coupled to a gas source. The GFC is positioned downstream of the pressure regulator. A pressure transducer is measuring pressure in a volume between the pressure regulator and the GFC, wherein means are provided for increasing the pressure in the volume. |
| US08240323B2 |
Rain shielding device for use with an automobile
A rain shielding device for an automobile includes an umbrella holder, an umbrella cloth, and a power accumulator. The umbrella holder includes a first edge column mounted on a vehicle door, a second edge column mounted on a vehicle body, a plurality of main umbrella sticks between the first edge column and the second edge column, and two interlock members. The umbrella cloth is covered on the umbrella holder. The power accumulator includes a movable member, a plurality of auxiliary umbrella sticks, and an energy-storing member. The interlock members move the movable member when the vehicle door opens, and then the movable member interacts with the auxiliary umbrella sticks to push the main umbrella sticks and umbrella cloth unfolding. The energy-storing member stores energy when the umbrella cloth unfolds and releases energy when the vehicle door is closed; thus provides an auxiliary force when the umbrella cloth folds/unfolds. |
| US08240314B2 |
Method for injecting fillers into the dermis
Described is a method for injecting fillers into the dermis. The method provides a technique for arcing the needle to create a lasting support structure within a patient's dermal tissue. Described is an act of inserting a needle attached to a syringe filled with a dermal filler into a patient's facial dermis at a strategic insertion point. Once inserted, pressure is applied to hub of the needle to cause it to arc within the dermis and create pockets of space within the dermis. The needle is used to dissect the tissue in the subepidermal plane that is creating the depression showing on the epidermis. The syringe is used to release the filler into the dermis while simultaneously applying pressure to the hub of the needle while withdrawing the needle from the patient's dermis. Filler is injected strategically within the patient's dermis to raise a facial depression, wrinkle, or fold. |
| US08240308B2 |
Respiration valve
The present invention relates to a respiration valve (401) for performing respiration tests on e.g. humans, consisting of at least three ports, a first mouth port (402) and two breathing ports (403, 404). The breathing ports (403, 404) comprise pneumatic pinch valves consisting of a channel (101) with a flexible wall (201) to be used for the flow of material and molded as an integrated part of a surrounding chamber (102). The flexible wall (201) comprises two opposing angularly interconnected wall segments (202) which are angularly connected at interconnection points (203) and which flexible wall (201) is pinched by a pressure from fluid, such as air, introduced into the chamber (102). The cross sectional shape corresponds in one embodiment approximately to a elongated hexagon. The construction of the respiration valve (401) comprising these pneumatic pinch is valves enables a very small, light, hygienic, and safe yet inexpensive construction with a long life expectancy. The respiration valve (401) is preferably completely or partially made of silicone rubber. |
| US08240306B2 |
Base unit for breathing gas heating and humidification system
A base unit for use in a breathing gas heating and humidification apparatus includes a gas source configured to generate an initial gas flow, the gas source having a gas source outlet and a flow divider in fluid communication with the gas source outlet. The flow divider is configured to divide the initial gas flow into a first flow of gas and a second flow of gas. The flow divider includes a first compartment including a first gas flow path for the first flow of gas and a second compartment including a second gas flow path for the second flow of gas. A heater is disposed in the second compartment. A method for use in generating breathing gas and insulating gas from a gas source is also disclosed. |
| US08240304B2 |
Atomizer
An atomizer, a reservoir and a method are proposed for the delivery and in particular, the atomization of a formulation, particularly a powder. A pump and a spring are arranged inside the annular reservoir, the pump and the spring being moveable radially and in a sliding manner. The pump is actuated by the spring to put air under pressure for discharging powder from the reservoir. The reservoir comprises receptacles or cavities, each of which has an insert with a respective dose of the formulation. The receptacles are constructed as separate parts and/or arranged on a common or annular carrier and/or are sealed separately and/or on its outer circumferential periphery. The spring is tensioned and the air is sucked into the pump. Then, the next receptacle and a connecting element are aligned relative to each other. Finally, the aligned receptacle is pierced by the connecting element for supplying the air. |
| US08240302B1 |
Breathing mask with debris deflector
A breathing mask with debris deflector features small debris deflectors that close the gaps between the bottom profile of the eyewear worn by the user and the mask face-contacting perimeter. The debris deflectors are positioned, oriented and profiled to prevent fine debris from reaching and harming the eyes of the mask wearer without interfering with the field of vision of the wearer or causing visual glare. |
| US08240298B2 |
Abnormality diagnosis apparatus for secondary air supply assembly of internal combustion engine
An abnormality diagnosis apparatus for diagnosing abnormality of a secondary air supply assembly includes an abnormality diagnosing unit, an air-fuel ratio learning/correcting unit, a learning degree computing unit, and a prohibition unit. The abnormality diagnosing unit diagnoses abnormality of the secondary air supply assembly based on an output of the air-fuel ratio detecting unit. The air-fuel ratio learning/correcting unit learns variation of an air-fuel ratio control system of the engine and corrects variation of an air-fuel ratio based on a result of learning the variation of the air-fuel ratio control system. The learning degree computing unit computes a learning degree, by which the air-fuel ratio learning/correcting unit learns the variation of the air-fuel ratio control system. The prohibition unit prohibits the abnormality diagnosis or makes a diagnostic result invalid when the learning degree is equal to or less than a predetermined value. |
| US08240296B2 |
Lubrication device for gas engine
Providing a gas engine in which the drain oil in the blow-by gas as a lubricant is mixed into the air fuel-gas mixture, the lubricant actively lubricating the bearing surfaces of the wear parts such as the valve seats and valve guides as to the intake-air valve and the exhaust gas valve, so that the lubricating device improves the engine lubricating conditions. A lubrication device for a gas engine thereby a valve gear room 6 is formed on a cylinder head, including: a blow-by gas discharge pipe 3 through which the blow-by gas flowing into the valve gear room 6 is discharged; whereby, an oil mist separator 4 is arranged at the downstream side of the blow-by gas discharge pipe, the oil mist separator separating the drain oil and the air in the blow-by gas; the outlet regarding the drain oil from the oil mist separator communicates with an oil discharge device 1 through an oil pipe 3s, the an oil discharge device being arranged at an upstream side of a gas mixer 110 mixing the fuel gas with the intake air for the engine, the upstream being in relation to the intake air; the outlet regarding the air from the oil mist separator communicates with an air inlet of the air cleaner 25 for the engine intake air, through a breathing pipe 5. |
| US08240293B2 |
Ignition apparatus, internal-combustion engine, ignition plug, plasma equipment, exhaust gas degradation apparatus, ozone generating/sterilizing/disinfecting apparatus, and odor eliminating apparatus
Stable and highly efficient combustion/reaction is provided, even when fuel ratio of mixture is decreased and combustion/reaction of the lean mixture is performed in a heat engine such as a reciprocating engine, by controlling dielectric constant of mixture in a combustion/reaction chamber by introducing water and/or exhaust gas into the combustion/reaction chamber. A microwave radiation antenna for irradiation of the combustion/reaction chamber, and a discharge unit for igniting the mixture in the combustion/reaction chamber are provided. The dielectric constant of the mixture before the combustion/reaction of the mixture is controlled so that the resonance frequency of the mixture corresponds to the frequency of the microwave. |
| US08240291B2 |
Pressure relief valve
A pressure relief valve is disclosed. The pressure relief valve comprises a body, a valve member, and a resilient member. The body includes a guide bore, a seat surface, an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The valve member is received within a portion of the body and includes a guide portion received within the guide bore, a valve seat configured to sealingly engage the seat surface, and an internal passage. The resilient member biases the valve seat into engagement with the seat surface. The valve member is moveable between a first position in which the inlet is fluidly blocked from the first outlet and the second outlet, a second position in which inlet is fluidly coupled to the first outlet but not to the second outlet, and a third position in which the inlet is fluidly coupled to the first outlet and the second outlet. |
| US08240290B2 |
Control apparatus for internal combustion engine
In a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, when a fuel pressure detected by the fuel pressure detecting unit is not smaller than a threshold P_a, the value opening time duration of a injector is increased to a value larger than its normal value, such control as to stop fuel injection from the injector is inhibited, the low pressure fuel pump is stopped, thus quickly lowering the fuel pressure. After the fuel pressure is lowered, the valve opening time duration of the injector is returned to the normal value, and a discharge quantity of the low pressure fuel pump is changed on the basis of a difference between the fuel pressure detected by the fuel pressure detecting unit and a target fuel pressure. |
| US08240286B2 |
Torque transfer unit with sealed one way clutch for an engine starting system
A starting system for an internal combustion engine includes a pinion gear selectively driven by a starter motor, a drive plate having a set of teeth in constant meshed engagement with the pinion gear and a one-way clutch adapted to interconnect the drive plate and an engine crankshaft. The clutch assembly includes an inner race adapted to be fixed for rotation with the crankshaft. An outer race is fixed for rotation with the drive plate and has circumferentially spaced apart cam surfaces. The clutch also includes a cage for positioning rollers in circumferentially spaced apart alignment with the cam surfaces. A pair of seal plates are coupled to one of the inner race and the outer race. Each seal plate is positioned proximate to and spaced apart from the other of the inner race and the outer race. |
| US08240285B2 |
Switchable cup tappet
A switchable bucket tappet for a valve drive of an internal combustion engine, which has a bucket basic body with a ring-like base. A hollow-cylindrical projection protrudes from an inner edge of the base, and in the bore of the projection an inner body extends. Two coupler pistons lie opposite one another and, to achieve full valve stroke, engage in sections with a driver surface of the bucket basic body which run in a radial hole of the inner body. A zero valve stroke is achieved when the coupler piston is displaced completely into the radial hole of the inner body, which is baseless and free of contact with a cam. The projection has a window-like aperture, with the underside acting as the driver surface for an upper side of the coupler piston during coupling. The region of the base is an approximately symmetrical and continuously thin-walled formation. |
| US08240275B2 |
Animal conduit
An animal conduit includes a first and a second longitudinal segment. Each segment includes ridges extending inward toward a longitudinal centerline of the animal conduit. The ridges differ in a dimension extending inward and forming a first and second transverse conduit opening dimension that differ. |
| US08240268B2 |
Watercraft with stepped hull and outboard fins
A watercraft (99) having a stepped hull (100) including a forward hull portion (103), a first stepped hull portion (106), and optionally a second stepped hull portion (108). Outboard ram air fins (120) extend outwardly from the hull and downwardly along the stepped hull portions. Outboard strakes (110, 112) are fixed to the stepped hull portions, and may be tapered to define ports thereto. During planing operation the channels defined by the fins compress the incoming air which is thereby at least partially forced under the stepped hull portion. In level operation the flow through the channels tends to keep the stepped hull portions in good contact with the water. |
| US08240263B1 |
Method for selective display of yarn in a tufted fabric
A method of tufting novel loop pile carpets is provided to allow the use of four or more colors of yarn at sufficient stitch density to provide for a solid appearance of any of the selected colors at any location on the carpet. |
| US08240258B2 |
Burner for waste plastic
The present invention provides a burner which uses solid fuels, especially waste plastic fuels. Burner size is minimized by having multiple combustion chambers concentrically located around a rotating screw conveyor. Heat efficiency is improved by having air passages disposed around the combustion chambers, thus preheating air for the combustion prior to its delivery to the combustion chambers, while simultaneously thermally insulating the combustion chambers against the environment. Waste plastic is transported from a fuel hopper to the combustion chambers by a rotating screw conveyor having the spiraling auger blades. Speed of screw conveyor rotation controls the consumption of waste plastic and, thus, the amount of thermal energy generated in the burner. |
| US08240257B2 |
Article of furniture, in particular a sitting/standing table
The invention relates to an article of furniture, such as a sitting/standing table, wherein an adjustable element, such as a table top, may be adjusted by a drive unit (8) based on an electric motor. An electrical control unit (6) has a plurality of externally accessible gates and is arranged so as to meet a number of requirements for services and/or optional special functions which may be modified, activated or deactivated with a plurality of external modules (5) configured with a plug (11) when said plug is inserted into a gate (9). |
| US08240256B2 |
Gondola rail car with tub floor
A rail car with a double longitudinal tub floor. The car may comprise a car body supported on a frame, the principal element of the frame being a longitudinal center sill assembly. The frame is in turn supported on a pair of wheel trucks. The car body includes a pair of generally vertical end wall assemblies joined to a pair of generally vertical side assemblies. The box is closed on the bottom by a floor assembly. The floor assembly includes a pair of longitudinal tubs. The longitudinal tubs are divided into tub segments and supported by cross-bearer assemblies. The cross-bearer assemblies are joined to the center sill assembly. The longitudinal tubs are supported primarily by the center sill assembly, both directly by joining each tub's lateral inboard edge to the center sill, and indirectly by joining the tub's chord end edges to the cross-bearer assemblies. Diagonal braces may be attached to the cross bearer assemblies and the side assemblies to help prevent bowing of the sides. |
| US08240247B2 |
Compacting apparatus
Compacting apparatus (10) for waste material defines a feed space (14), in which material (16) for compacting is received in use, and a pressing chamber (16). The apparatus includes a moving assembly (40) for moving material from the feed space into the pressing chamber, a pressing member (20) movable within the pressing chamber to move material in use out of the pressing chamber, and a shearing arrangement (70, 72) for shearing the material as it moves out of the pressing chamber. |
| US08240243B2 |
Fluid power linear drive
A fluid operated linear drive in which on the outer periphery of a centering portion (24) fitting in a housing tube (4) at least one housing cover (5) has an annular groove (28) accommodating an annular seal (32). The outer flank (36), which is on the side of the housing tube (3), of the annular groove (28) is a component of cap part (42), which is coaxially mounted on the centering portion (24) and fixed on the housing cover (5). This division into two parts facilitates production of a flash-free annular groove (28) without fettling. |
| US08240239B1 |
Green energy mine defeat system
A semi-continuous duty, Green Technology, self-charging 14, unmanned electric vehicle providing protection and security from underground mines. A deflector blade 11 follows natural existing contours to maintain straight line paths, while simultaneously carrying a mine detector 10, a vertical reciprocating ram set 30, 32 and 33 that preloads soil while also creating forward motion, followed by an energy dissipation and containment canopy system 22, 24, 26 & 29. The comprehensive system provides protection from mines on existing pathways in desert environments using a self-sufficient energy source. In addition, the total system utilizes only Green Technology for all modes of operation. |
| US08240236B2 |
Saw guide for a saw band or a saw blade of a sawing machine
A guide for a saw band or blade of a sawing machine is provided. The guide includes a bracket and high-strength sliders, which are mounted to a bracket for a lateral guide of the saw band or saw blade and which serve for gliding contact to a side face of the saw band or blade. The sliders are high-strength guide plates, provided with an edge upstream in reference to the direction of motion of the saw blade or saw band, which is at least partially arranged in a straight manner or with a constant curve, with the edge or its tangents extending tilted at an angle from approximately 0° to 90°, preferably from 20° to 70°, in reference to the direction of motion of the saw blade or the saw band. Furthermore, several guide plates are mounted to the bracket at a distance from each other, forming clear spaces. |
| US08240233B2 |
Connecting rod of a tool head
An improved connecting rod of a tool head includes a hollow rod having an assembly end and a tool head inserting end. The tool head inserting end is recessed axially to form a slot, and a radial through-hole is placed therethrough. An internal slider is assembled into the slot in an axial sliding and non-rotating state. The internal slider has a tool head abutting end and a radial groove. A magnetic member is assembled onto the tool head abutting end. An elastic bracing member is assembled between the internal slider and the inner wall of the slot, and elastically supports the internal slider. A control bead is assembled into the radial groove of the internal slider, and shifting elastically with assembly of an elastic member. One side of the control bead is aligned with the radial through-hole of the slot, so it can be protruded in a positioning state. |
| US08240232B2 |
Screwstrip advance mechanism and feeder for a power screwdriver
A power screwdriver is disclosed including a screw advance mechanism for advancing a screwstrip, and a hinged feed track for feeding the screwstrip to the screw advance mechanism. |
| US08240226B2 |
Speed-varying device and wind turbine generator system
A speed-varying device (10A) that can give a high gear ration with a small number of stages and that can be reduced in weight is provided. The speed-varying device (10A) is configured by combining parallel gears, and an input gear (11) provided on an input shaft (Si) and an output gears (12A, 12B) provided on an output shaft (So) are coupled to each other via a plurality of pinion shafts (Sv) that are arranged in the circumferential direction. The pinion shafts (Sv) are each provided with gears (13, 14A to 14D) having teeth different in number at both ends thereof. The gears (14A to 14D) disposed on the output shaft (So) side of the plurality of pinion shafts (Sv) are engaged with the plurality of output gears (12A, 12B) alternately in the circumferential direction. The output gears being arranged so as to be shifted from one another in the axial direction of the output shaft (So). |
| US08240224B2 |
Dual clutch five speed transmission
A transmission is connectable to an input member and includes an output member, first and second shafts, first and second countershafts, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of synchronizer assemblies and a dual clutch assembly. The transmission is operable to provide at least one reverse speed ratio and a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member. |
| US08240222B2 |
Electrically driven linear actuator
An electrically driven linear actuator with a smooth motion of a ball screw provides an even load distribution as well as a stable motion of the balls and has an electric motor (5) mounted on a housing (4). A nut (8 or 16), adapted to mate with the screw shaft (7), has a pair of supporting portions (14) at an axially central position on the outer circumferential surface of the nut (8 or 16) to engage one end of a link (2). The nut (8, 16) is formed with a screw groove (8a). Oval bridge windows (10) are formed in the nut (8 or 16) through a wall with a portion of the screw groove (8a) cut out over a distance of at least two pitches of the screw grooves (8a). A bridge member (11), forming the circulating member, is fitted in each of the bridge windows (10). |
| US08240215B2 |
Non-contact pressure sensing using laser-induced dielectric breakdown
A technique for measuring pressure of a material directs one or more laser beams at the material (e.g., a pressurized fluid) to create a distribution of electromagnetic field intensity which varies over an intensity range and induces dielectric breakdown in the material. An emission pattern of broadband light from the dielectric breakdown is detected, and a value of a characteristic of the emission pattern (e.g., location of a threshold intensity or of a peak intensity) is processed (e.g., by a computer or similar electronic processor) to generate a pressure measurement signal representing a pressure of the material. Processing typically employs a pre-established calibration function which associates a set of stored values of the characteristic with corresponding known pressures of the material, obtained for example by preceding similar measurements of the same material under conditions of known pressures. |
| US08240210B2 |
Method and system for multimodal inspection with a coordinate measuring device
A method for integrating a measurement device for use in measuring a machine component includes providing a coordinate measuring device, such as a coordinate measuring machine (CMM), and integrating with a plurality of nondestructive examination (NDE) capabilities with a plurality of coordinate measuring device capabilities to form an inspection probe. The method further includes integrating the NDE inspection probe with the coordinate measuring device such that the inspection probe substantially simultaneously measures a plurality of NDE measurements and external/internal geometry and defects of machine component, which are linked to actual component dimensional information provided by CMM. The inspection data can be simultaneously linked to and/or displayed together with a CAD model to enable a direct comparison between the inspection data and the nominal requirements carried on the CAD model. |
| US08240209B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting damage to high-pressure tank
An acoustic emission sensor (AE sensor) is provided for non-destructive detection of a sign of failure that occurs upon filling a high-pressure tank with a fluid. One AE signal detected by the AE sensor is counted as one hit, the hit rate indicating the change in hits over time is found, and a sign of failure is detected from the change in the hit rate. When microcracks develop in the high-pressure tank, and a plurality of these microcracks join together and grow into a single, macroscopic crack, the hit rate of the AE signal no longer increases with respect to an increase in the internal pressure of the high-pressure tank, eventually reaching a saturation state. The hit rate in this saturation state is used to determine that there is a sign of failure. |
| US08240208B2 |
Guiding blade for a proof mass and micromachined electromechanical system using such blade
A monolithic guiding blade for a mobile proof mass in a monolithic electromechanical system micro-machined in a plate having thickness H and defining plane O,x,y, the system including a base and a measurement cell including the proof mass connected to the base by the guiding blade and capable of translation displacement along axis Oy, the blade extending along axis Ox and connected to a fixed portion of the base, the blade limiting movement of the proof mass along axis Ox, comprising: a first hinge section shaped as a parallelepiped having thickness h long axis Oz, length I1 along axis Ox and width L along axis Oy; a central section essentially shaped as a parallelepiped having thickness h long axis Oz, length It along axis Ox and width Lt along axis Oy; and a second hinge section essentially in the shape of a parallelepiped having thickness h long axis Oz, length I2 along axis Ox and width L along axis Oy. |
| US08240207B2 |
Fiber optic particle motion sensor and measuring method using the sensor
An optical sensor in which acceleration, acoustic velocity, or displacement (vibration) causes a corresponding shift in the center wavelength of the sensor output. The sensor can be coupled to a high-speed interferometric interrogator through an unbalanced fiber interferometer. The unbalanced interferometer functions to translate optical wavelength shift into phase shift, which is easily demodulated by the interrogator. A method of measuring acceleration uses the sensor. |
| US08240206B2 |
Motion detector for electronic devices
A motion detector (10) includes a chamber (102), a resilient suspension arm (104), an air bearing slider (110), at least one piezoresistive sensor (106), and an infrared sensor module (112). The chamber has a front plate (1024) and a back plate (1026) located on the opposite side of the chamber, and each of the front plate and the back plate has a first through hole (1030) and a plurality of second through hole (1032) formed therein. The resilient suspension arm is arranged in the chamber, and has a free distal end (1042). The air bearing slider is moveable coupled to the free distal end of the resilient suspension arm. The at least one piezoresistive sensor is attached on the air bearing slider. The infrared sensor module is arranged on the front plate of the chamber, for sensing infrared light. |
| US08240204B2 |
Synchronous detection circuit, sensing circuit, physical quantity measuring device, gyro sensor, and electronic apparatus
A synchronous detection circuit includes: an offset compensation circuit which generates an offset compensation voltage to compensate an offset voltage superposed on a direct current voltage signal; and a temperature compensation circuit which generates a temperature compensation voltage to compensate variation of a direct current reference voltage that depends on a temperature in a signal path of a sensing circuit. In the circuit, the synchronous detection circuit synchronously detects an alternating current signal, the offset compensation voltage and the temperature compensation voltage are respectively superposed on the alternating current signal which is input into the synchronous detection circuit, and the synchronous detection circuit synchronously detects the alternating current signal on which the offset compensation voltage and the temperature compensation voltage have been superposed. |
| US08240203B2 |
MEMS devices and methods with controlled die bonding areas
Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices and methods with controlled die bonding areas. An example device includes a MEMS die having a glass layer and a protective package. The glass layer includes a side facing the protective package with at least one mesa protruding from a recessed portion of the glass layer. The at least one mesa is attached to the protective package. An example method includes creating at least one mesa on a glass layer of a MEMS die and attaching the at least one mesa to a protective package. |
| US08240202B2 |
Hand dynamometer with improved configuration for grip strength assessment
A handle assembly mounted to a dynamometer measuring device including a base mounted to an input location of the measuring device. A plurality of arms extend in a lineal direction from the base and are arranged in spaced and gap defining fashion. The arms deflect inward relative to one another upon being exerted by a compressing force and concurrent with outputting a signal through at least one strain gauge wire extending from an interior of each arm to the measuring device. |
| US08240194B2 |
Methods and systems for diagnostics of an emission system with more than one SCR region
Methods and systems for controlling and/or diagnosing an emission control system of a vehicle having a first SCR region upstream of a second SCR region are provided herein. One exemplary method includes, indicating degradation based on a first SCR region performance during a first condition; and indicating degradation based on a second SCR region performance during a second condition, the first condition different than the second condition. In this way, different levels of degradation among different SCR regions may be used to indicate emissions levels have increased above a threshold value, for example. |
| US08240191B2 |
Universal power and testing platform
The present invention is directed to a Universal Power Platform (UPP) that powers the pump or pumps that may not be on the platform but that are in a skid subsea near the pipeline for a desired pre-commissioning method to be carried out, such as cleaning, filling, chemical treating, pigging, hydrostatic testing or dewatering the pipeline. The UPP is suspended from a vessel by an umbilical that provides the electric power for running the selected pump(s). The Power Platform also is used as a testing system for control umbilicals that usually are near the pipelines. |
| US08240187B2 |
Breath sampling device and method for using same
There is provided a breath sampling tube including an inner conduit, wherein at least a portion of the inner conduit is non-cylindrical and adapted to store liquids. There is also provided a breath sampling system including a gas analyzer and a breath sampling tube may include an inner conduit, wherein at least a portion of the inner conduit is non-cylindrical and adapted to store liquids. Also provided is a method of breath sampling including channeling breath through a tube having an inner conduit, wherein at least a portion of the inner conduit is non-cylindrical and adapted to store liquids. |
| US08240183B2 |
Method for the temperature treatment of extrusion tools
Method upon heating of extrusion tools (1) for the extrusion of metal into a profile and which extrusion tool is formed by an internal tool (5) that is receivable by a tool ring (4) and that has the intended hole-profile openings (6). In that connection, the entire extrusion tool (1) is heated, after which the temperature of the tool ring (4) only is lowered before subsequent introduction of the extrusion tool (1) into the press and the execution of the extrusion. |
| US08240179B2 |
Method and device for correcting a bevel error of a polygonal profile, in particular a flank alignment error of a toothing
The invention relates to a device for correcting a profile bevel error, in particular the tooth alignment error of the gear (V) of a workpiece (W), wherein said device (1) comprises a clamping device (3) for the workpiece (W), a tool (4) and at least one advancing device (7, 7′) generating the relative movement between the workpiece (W) and the tool (4). The inventive device is characterized in that it comprises a guide device (10, 10′) for the tool (4) and/or for the clamping device (3) which enables to carry out the rotating movement of the tool (4) and/or clamping device around the workpiece (W) axis (X) extending in an advance direction, wherein said rotating movement acts as a compensating movement. |
| US08240177B2 |
Keyed lock door handle
A door handle assembly that can be locked and unlocked using a key. The door handle assembly includes a bolt that is movable from an extended position to a retracted position. The first handle is coupled to the bolt and adapted to cause the bolt to retract when the first handle is pushed. A second handle is coupled to the bolt and adapted to cause the bolt to retract when the second handle is pulled. A key locking mechanism is coupled to the first handle. The key locking mechanism is adapted to selectively prevent the bolt from moving to the retracted position. A safety locking mechanism is coupled to the second handle. The safety locking mechanism is adapted to selectively prevent the bolt from moving to the retracted position. |
| US08240175B2 |
Drum type washing machine
A drum type washing machine having a control panel assembly which can make, not only an exterior of the drum type washing machine beautiful, but also enable the user to operate the drum type washing machine easily is provided. The drum type washing machine includes a body which forms an exterior of the drum type washing machine, a front plate secured to a front of the body, having a door mounted thereto, and a touch switch mounted to the front plate for applying a washing course. |
| US08240169B2 |
Vitreous silica crucible manufacturing apparatus
A vitreous silica crucible manufacturing apparatus includes a plurality of carbon electrodes configured to heat and melt raw material powder by arc discharge, and a value of a ratio R2/R1 of a diameter R2 of a front end of each of the carbon electrodes to a diameter R1 of a base end is set in a range of 0.6 to 0.8. Each carbon electrode has a diameter reduction portion formed at a front end position and reduced in diameter from a diameter R3 of a base end side to the diameter R2 of the front end. When a length of the diameter reduction portion is L1, the diameter of the front end is R2, the diameter of the base end is R1, an angle between the axis lines of the carbon electrodes is θ1, and X=(R1−R2)/2, a value of L1−(X/tan(θ1/2)) is set in a range of 50 to 150 mm. |
| US08240165B2 |
Liquid cooling circuits and method for electrical cabinets, drawers, bays, modules, circuit boards and electrical components using quick-disconnect fittings for interfacing to a host cooling source
A system and method for cooling heat generating components including an electronics cooling circuit loop having a liquid heat exchanger separable from a main liquid cooling circuit manifold by quick-disconnect fittings. This supports the use of different liquids in the electronics subsystem cooling circuit loop and in the main liquid manifold of the master cooling circuit. Also included are two phase loops and an optional compressor. |
| US08240164B2 |
Air conditioning apparatus having a blower downstream of the heat exchangers
An air conditioning system includes an air-conditioner casing, an air blower, a cooling heat exchanger, a heating heat exchanger, and a bypass passage. An electric motor of the blower has a rotating shaft that extends along a rotating shaft axis. An impeller of the blower suctions air from one side of the impeller along the rotating shaft axis to blow air in a radial direction of the impeller. The bypass passage causes cold air to bypass the heating heat exchanger. The air blower is located downstream of the cooling heat exchanger and the heating heat exchanger in a flow direction of air. The cooling heat exchanger and the heating heat exchanger are arranged in parallel with each other. The air blower is positioned on an imaginary extension of the heating heat exchanger. The rotating shaft is disposed in parallel with the heating heat exchanger. |
| US08240159B2 |
In-door fluid drainage system for a refrigerator
An in-door fluid drainage system for a refrigerator is disclosed. The drain fluid transfer system is described as extending from the door of a refrigerator to the lower compartment for transfer of drain fluid from the door to a drain fluid removal system. Also described is a drain fluid transfer system which comprises one or both of a transfer tube at least partially enclosed in a hinge assembly, and a valve assembly positioned at the lower portion of the door. |
| US08240158B2 |
Modified atmosphere for food preservation
An appliance system including a module removably mounted to an appliance, one or more removable gas canisters operably connected to the module, and a food retaining enclosed space operably connected to the module. The one or more gas canisters supply a modified atmosphere in the food retaining enclosed space to produce a modified atmosphere that enhances preservation of the food contained in the food retaining enclosed space. A method of modifying the atmosphere in a food storage space for food includes the steps of: providing a module capable of being removably engaged to an appliance and typically receiving power from the appliance and at least one removable gas canister; operatively connecting or otherwise engaging the module with the appliance; operatively connecting or otherwise engaging the module to a food storage area having an existing atmosphere; and removing at least a portion of the existing atmosphere from the food storage space and replacing it with a modified food storage atmosphere using at least one of the at least one removable gas canisters to supply the modified atmosphere to the food storage area. |
| US08240157B2 |
Climatic chamber and control method therefor
A climatic chamber for rapidly reaching and maintaining a predetermined air humidity and/or a predetermined temperature.The air in a sample space is conveyable by at least one fan from an outlet of sample space at least partially via a bypass branch and/or at least partially via a drying branch back to an inlet of sample space.The air is circulated continuously by the fans in a substantially self-contained circuit. The air is guided by guide elements through the bypass branch and/or drying branch. |
| US08240155B2 |
Method of presenting beer
A method for serving beer from a font includes the steps of first chilling a glass for the beer to a temperature of below, at least, −5° C. and then filling the glass with beer from the font, so that crystals of frozen beer are present in the drink below the head of foam on the beer that is created when the beer is poured. |
| US08240154B2 |
Cryopump, sputtering apparatus, and semiconductor manufacturing apparatus
A cryopump includes a thermal shield where a first condensing panel is provided; and a cryocooler connected to the thermal shield; wherein the thermal shield is divided into a plurality of members including a first member and a second member; the first member forms a thermal path between the first condensing panel and the cryocooler; the second member does not form the thermal path; the first member is made of a material having a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of a material of the second member; and a material, having a heat capacity smaller than a heat capacity of the first member in a case where the heat capacity of the first member and the heat capacity of the second member are compared with each other under the conditions of the same volumes, is used as the material of the second member. |
| US08240152B2 |
Control systems and method for controlling a load point of a gas turbine engine
Control systems and a method for controlling a load point of a gas turbine engine are provided. A control system includes a controller that receives a temperature signal and a pressure signal associated with exhaust gases from the gas turbine engine. The controller is further configured to generate the fuel control signal. The controller is further configured to generate an actuator control signal such that flow restriction member is moved from the first operational position to the second operational position to restrict the flow path such that the exhaust gases have a temperature level within a desired turndown temperature range, the pressure level in the exhaust gases is less than a threshold pressure level, and the load point of the gas turbine engine is adjusted to toward a target load point. |
| US08240151B2 |
Fuel injector nozzles for gas turbine engines
A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine comprises a housing stem and a nozzle, the nozzle including an internal wall in heat transfer relation with fuel flowing through the nozzle, and an external wall in heat transfer relation with ambient air. The internal and external walls have downstream tip ends that are relatively moveable at an interface due to relative thermal growth during operation of the engine. An internal insulating gap is disposed between the internal and external walls to provide a heat shield for the internal wall, and a bellows internal to the injector has an upstream end sealingly attached to an upstream portion of one of the internal and external walls, and a downstream end sealingly attached to a downstream portion of the other wall to fluidly separate the insulating gap from any fuel entering into the nozzle through the interface. |
| US08240149B2 |
Organic rankine cycle system and method
An ORC system configured to limit temperature of a working fluid below a threshold temperature is provided. The ORC system includes a heat source configured to convey a waste heat fluid. The ORC system also includes a heat exchanger coupled to the heat source. The heat exchanger includes an evaporator configured to receive the waste heat fluid from the heat source and vaporize the working fluid, wherein the evaporator is further configured to allow heat exchange between the waste heat fluid and the vaporized working fluid at an elevated temperature and further produce an evaporator outlet flow including a lower temperature waste heat fluid. The heat exchanger also includes a superheater configured to receive the lower temperature waste heat fluid from the evaporator, wherein the superheater is further configured to allow heat exchange between the lower temperature waste heat fluid and a relatively higher temperature working fluid contained in the superheater and further produce a superheater outlet flow comprising an elevated temperature waste heat fluid. The heat exchanger further includes a preheater configured to receive the elevated temperature waste heat fluid from the superheater and allow heat exchange with a relatively lower temperature working fluid in a liquid state contained in the preheater. |
| US08240143B2 |
Hydraulic energy recovery system
A circuit having at least one hydraulic motor, two main ducts for feeding or discharging the at least one motor, a low-pressure fluid source, and a high-pressure accumulator forming a high-pressure fluid source. The circuit is suitable for operating in an energy recovery mode in which the feed main duct is connected to the low-pressure fluid source and the discharge main duct is connected to the high-pressure accumulator, and in an energy delivery mode in which the connections are inverted. The low-pressure fluid source has a high-flow-rate booster pump suitable for delivering a flow-rate of fluid that is sufficient to feed fluid to the at least one hydraulic motor while the motor is at maximum speed in energy recovery mode, and an adjustable pressure limiter suitable for being controlled so as to cause the pressure of the fluid at the outlet of the low-pressure fluid source to vary. |
| US08240139B2 |
Method for purifying nitrogen oxide in exhaust gas and exhaust system operating the same
An exhaust system may include an injector mounted at an exhaust pipe or an engine and additionally injecting fuel, a diesel fuel cracking catalyst mounted at the exhaust pipe downstream of the injector and converting additionally injected fuel into a high-reactivity reducing agent through thermal cracking, a DE-NOx catalyst mounted at the exhaust pipe downstream of the diesel fuel cracking catalyst, storing the nitrogen oxide contained in the exhaust gas, and releasing the stored nitrogen oxide by the additionally injected fuel so as to reduce the nitrogen oxide through oxidation-reduction reaction with the high-reactivity reducing agent, and a control portion controlling an additional injection of fuel according to driving condition of the engine, wherein the control portion may control the injector to additionally inject the fuel according to a predetermined injection pattern in a case that driving condition of the engine satisfies an additional injection condition of the fuel and an additional injection timing condition of the fuel. |
| US08240138B2 |
System and method for reducing particulate matter emission in diesel exhaust gas
An aftertreatment system is provided for reducing particulate matter emission and chemical emissions in diesel engine exhaust gas. The system includes a diesel particulate filter including a plurality of diesel particulate filter units configured to engage respective cross-sectional regions of the diesel engine exhaust gas including particulate matter. Each diesel particulate filter unit includes a plurality of channels aligned in a flow direction of the diesel engine exhaust gas. The channels are selectively configured with a distinct cross-sectional area density. Additionally, each diesel particulate filter unit includes a plurality of walls separating adjacent channels of the plurality of channels, where the walls have a respective thickness. A plurality of pores are configured to vacate a distinct ratio of the area of the walls. |
| US08240137B2 |
Reductant injection and decomposition system
According to one embodiment, a reductant injection apparatus includes an injector attachment portion to which a reductant injector is coupleable. The apparatus also includes a perforated tubular portion coupled to the injector attachment portion. The perforated tubular portion includes an inlet, an outlet, and a diverging sidewall extending from the inlet to the outlet. Additionally, a plurality of perforations is formed in the sidewall. A reductant spray can be injected into the perforated tubular portion via the inlet. Further, a portion of a bulk exhaust gas stream can be diverted into the perforated tubular portion through the plurality of perforations, through the perforated tubular element, and out of the perforated tubular portion through the plurality of perforations. The portion of exhaust gas stream can then be rejoined with the bulk exhaust gas stream downstream of the perforated tubular portion. |
| US08240135B2 |
Exhaust system mixing device
A mixing device comprises a circular disc of fin sections positioned so as to create openings in the inner and outer regions of the mixing device that generate oppositely rotating flows of exhaust gas. Each fin section may be identical, and may be created by a stamping process. The smooth surface of each fin section reduces creases, and thus, is less prone to urea buildup. |
| US08240134B2 |
Engine with exhaust cooling and method
An engine arrangement includes an engine, an exhaust line downstream of the engine, an aftertreatment device in the exhaust line, and a conduit between a source of fluid and a point in the exhaust line upstream of the aftertreatment device. A method is also disclosed. |
| US08240127B2 |
Method for the voltage-controlled performance regulation of the heating of an exhaust-gas probe
The invention relates to a method for the voltage-controlled performance regulation of the heating of an exhaust-gas probe in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. The aim of the invention is to provide a method in which the operating temperature of the probe is achieved in the shortest possible time without damage to the probe. To achieve this, the heating voltage during the heating phase of the probe is rapidly brought up to a high temperature in a start phase in relation to a subsequent phase, or a dramatic leap in temperature is achieved, preferably up to the full operating voltage and the heating voltage is then continuously or quasi-continuously reduced. |
| US08240124B2 |
Method of taking off auxiliary power from an airplane turbojet, and a turbojet fitted to implement such a method
A method for producing the electrical power required for equipment on board an airplane is disclosed. Auxiliary power is taken off by a shaft driven by the high pressure turbine and, when idling, the efficiency of the low pressure turbine is degraded so as to enable the high pressure turbine to operate at a speed that is sufficient for delivering the required auxiliary power. |
| US08240120B2 |
Vibration management for gas turbine engines
Systems and methods involving vibration management of gas turbine engines are provided. In this regard, a representative method includes: detecting vibrations of a gas turbine engine; automatically adjusting rotational speed of a component of the gas turbine engine in order to attempt to reduce the vibrations to within predefined vibration limits; and automatically adjusting operating parameters of the gas turbine engine such that, if the vibrations are reduced to within the predefined vibration limits, thrust of the gas turbine engine is set to an amount of thrust corresponding to the amount of thrust provided prior to the adjusting of the rotational speed of the component. |
| US08240119B2 |
High-strength cable
A high-strength cable having a twisted layer of non-metallic reinforcing elements in outer coatings is disclosed. The reinforcing elements include coating elements, fiber elements of copolyparaphenylene-3,4′-oxydiphenyleneterephthalic amide disposed in the coating elements, and filling materials filled between the fiber elements, respectively. The lateral compression stress of the fiber elements of the copolyparaphenylene-3,4′-oxydiphenyleneterephthalic amide is 75 cN/dtex or more. |
| US08240117B1 |
Pickup helper feeding roll
A crop pickup apparatus for a round baler in which the pickup apparatus substantially wider than the bale chamber inlet opening. The pickup includes a pair of large crop converging augers situated along a common axis, one each on opposing sides of the crop inlet, and forwardly adjacent to the bale chamber infeed throat. The pickup apparatus also include a secondary crop feeding roll having a plurality of generally radially extending fingers that upwardly extend into the crop mat in an area adjacent to the converging augers to convey crop material from a forwardly disposed pickup tine reel to the inlet opening. The fingers are arranged to partially overlap with tines on the tine reel so that the crop material is generally continuously urged along the entire longitudinal feed path into the inlet opening. |
| US08240114B2 |
Crop harvesting header with rotary disks and impellers for transferring the crop inwardly to a discharge opening
A crop header has generally horizontal flail disks mounted for driven rotation about generally upright axes. A pair of conditioner rolls is mounted in a discharge opening and a transfer roller is mounted behind the disks and in front of the nip. At each end, two disks are mounted outwardly of the discharge opening each rotating so that its blade moves inwardly and each carries an impeller to carry the crop inwardly. A third disk is arranged so that a line forward of the end of the discharge opening intersects the third disk inward of the axis of the third disk. The third disk rotates so that its blade moves outwardly so that the crop tends to pass between the second and third disks. A pair of impellers are mounted behind the second disk and move inwardly to carry the cut crop to the discharge opening. |
| US08240113B2 |
Wedge apparatus for a stirrup to alleviate knee pain in horseback riders
A wedge apparatus for a stirrup for reducing alleviating pain on a horseback rider's knees and ankles, the stirrup comprising a pair of opposing side bars, a hangar bar portion and a footrest bar, the wedge apparatus comprising (a) a wedge associated with the footrest bar, the wedge having a lateral portion and a medial portion, the lateral portion being thicker than and tapering toward the medial portion; (b) an impact-absorbing material; and, (c) an attachment mechanism for attaching the wedge and the impact-absorbing material to the footrest bar. |
| US08240105B2 |
Positive connector
There is disclosed a method of connecting a geogrid to a segmental retaining wall with the use of positive connectors between upper and lower blocks. |
| US08240100B2 |
Laminated shingle with wider nailing zone
A multiple-layer laminated shingle and a method of making the shingle are provided, in which at least one adhesive of high temperature resistance is applied for securing the shingle layers together, to reduce reliance on a roofer having to fasten (via nails, staples or other fasteners) through a narrow headlap zone of a posterior shingle layer in order to secure the posterior shingle layer to a roof; such that a vertically wide portion of the headlap area of the anterior shingle layer is presented to the roofer as a nailing zone. |
| US08240099B2 |
Architectural panel system
An architectural panel system including a plurality of architectural panels, a first mounting extrusion attached to a first architectural panel, and a second mounting extrusion attached to a second architectural panel, as well as a first anchor clip including a first attachment configuration that enables the first mounting extrusion to be slidably attached thereto, and a second anchor clip including a second attachment configuration that enables the second mounting extrusion to be slidably attached thereto. The system also includes a panel joint filler strip. The first mounting extrusion includes a first pocket portion, and the second mounting extrusion includes a second pocket portion that is shallower than the first pocket portion. The first and second pocket portions cooperate with each other to seat the panel joint filler strip. Also disclosed are methods of installing the panel system and of replacing a damaged panel of an installed array of panels. |
| US08240098B2 |
Molding profile and molding profile assembly
A molding profile assembly has a first and second molding profile. The first molding profile, whose upper surface is to form the upper surface of the molding profile assembly, has a groove formed into an under-surface of a first arm and a groove formed into a foot perpendicular to the arm. The second molding profile has first and second tabs which fit snugly into the first and second grooves of the first molding profile, respectively, interlocking the first and second molding profiles together. The molding profiles do not require scraping, stripping or other permanent alteration in order to be assembled together. |
| US08240095B1 |
Deck assembly with liner panel
A deck system is made by joining deck units, each having a hat-shaped profile fastened to the topside of a profiled bottom panel. The bottom panel has nestable or interlocking side laps and one or more “dove-tail” shaped recesses formed therein. These recesses, which may be concave upward or downward, give the deck unit additional strength as a defined, confined location for use to run conduit and to provide vertical support for vertical loads. The deck system may be combined with a layer of concrete for use as a floor or roof. |
| US08240088B2 |
Regulation mechanism for sliding doors
The invention relates to a regulation mechanism for built-in sliding doors of the type comprising a sliding leaf (4), a guide (6) in the lower part of said sliding leaf (4) and a fixed stop (16) inside said guide (6), comprising a cover (1) fixed at the end of the sliding leaf (4), a mobile stop (2) slidable through the inner part of the guide (6) situated between the cover (1) and the fixed stop (16), and an adjustment screw (3) traversing the cover (1) and the mobile stop (2) by means of which the relative position between both elements (1) and (2) is regulated. |
| US08240087B2 |
Sliding window assembly having an encapsulation with a silicone-based polymer
A sliding window assembly for a vehicle includes a sliding panel and a rail. The rail defines a channel for receiving the sliding panel. The sliding panel is movable between a closed position and an open position along the rail. An encapsulation at least partially encapsulates the sliding panel. The encapsulation includes a silicone-based polymer that has a minimal coefficient of friction. The encapsulation provides operational advantages to the sliding window assembly. |
| US08240086B2 |
Window lift apparatus, door module, motor vehicle door and method for installation of a window lift apparatus
A window lift arrangement with a driver for a window pane, an inner door panel, positioning instruments for positioning the driver relative to the inner door panel in an installation position for installation of the window pane, wherein the positioning instruments can assume a first and a second position, wherein the positioning instruments in the first position define the installation position and wherein the positioning instruments in the second position enable a movement of the driver for opening and closing the installed window pane. |
| US08240077B2 |
Range finder for weapons
A range finder includes housing, circuitry, a lens, a display, and a plurality of threaded apertures. The housing has a front end, a rear end, and a bottom portion extending between the front end and the rear end. The range finder circuitry is located within the housing. The lens is located at the front end of the housing. The display is located at the rear end of the housing. The plurality of threaded apertures are located in the bottom portion of the housing. |
| US08240076B2 |
Cover for a telescopic sight
A covering device for an elongated telescopic sight that is mounted on a gun shaft, wherein the elongated telescopic sight has a first end and a second end, the covering device comprising a first pocket having an opening and a coverable end and a second pocket having an opening and a coverable end, wherein the first pocket is coupled to the second pocket by an intermediate member, oriented non-linearly relative to the second pocket, and is facing in at least a substantially opposite direction as the second pocket; wherein the first pocket is coverable upon the first end of the telescopic sight, the intermediate member is wrappable around, underneath or over at least a portion of the gun shaft and the second pocket is coverable upon the second end of the telescopic sight. |
| US08240072B2 |
Groove-mount fabric display system with two-part frame
A groove-mount fabric display system with two-part frame comprises an outer frame element, an insert frame element and one or two flexible display panels. The two-part frame is quickly assembled by inserting and deploying the insert frame element within the rigid outer frame element. The frame elements can be manufactured from flat stock materials which are relatively inexpensive to purchase and shape. The interface of the frame elements forms one or more grooves near the perimeter of the resulting two-part frame. The grooves accept mounting gaskets connected at the peripheries of each display panel. Embodiments may include one or more internally-positioned compression tubes to help maintain internal structural rigidity and the integrity of the grooves. What results is a more cost-effective, robust, three-dimensional display capable of supporting fabric display panels in tension over extended periods of use. |
| US08240069B2 |
Snow shovel with spring loaded shovel head
The manually powered wheeled-levered shovel/launcher device for the purpose of snow removal, which has a handle, and shovel shaft pivoted to the handle at one end and a snow shovel head at the other end of the shovel shaft. A collapsible foldable wheel assembly acts as a fulcrum is attached to the device for easy handling a snow load. The shovel head is able to tilt downward against a spring-loaded mechanism for the purpose of altering the launch direction from upward direction due to centrifugal force around the wheel resting on the ground to forward direction when a sudden force downward is applied on the handle. |
| US08240068B1 |
Accessory for protecting boots from wear and tear
A boot accessory for attaching to a side of a boot comprising an elongated bar having an outer face and an inner face; wherein a first indentation is disposed in the outer face at a first end of the bar and a second indentation is disposed in the outer face at a second end of the bar; wherein the inner face is attached to the side of the boot such that the outer face extends outwardly from the boot; wherein a first screw is driven from the first indentation through the bar and into the side of the boot and a second screw is driven from the second indentation though the bar and into the side of the boot. |
| US08240064B2 |
Dryer with recirculated air proportion and method for its operation
A dryer includes a drying chamber for the articles to be dried, a supply air duct, a process air duct, a heater in the process air duct for heating process air, a blower that guides the heated process air over the articles to be dried, an exhaust air duct that directs exhaust air to an exhaust air outlet, and an internally and/or externally cleanable lint filter in a recirculated air duct that splits at a branching-off point from the process air duct to the heater and the exhaust air duct which leads to the exhaust air outlet, and wherein the recirculated air duct joins the supply air duct upstream of the heater. |
| US08240057B2 |
Self-aligned stylus with high-sphericity and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a self-aligned stylus with high sphericity includes the steps of: forming a polymeric layer on a substrate; placing a sphere on the polymeric layer; softening the polymeric layer to make a portion of the sphere sink into the polymeric layer; forming a specific light absorbing layer on the polymeric layer; illuminating the sphere and the specific light absorbing layer with specific light such that the specific light is focused by the sphere to expose the polymeric layer to form an exposed portion and an unexposed portion; removing the specific light absorbing layer; and baking the polymeric layer and then removing the unexposed portion. A self-aligned stylus with high sphericity is also disclosed. |
| US08240056B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring bevel perimeter of spectacle lens
A bevel perimeter measurement apparatus (1) includes a retractable slider (3), a stylus holder (5) disposed to be vertically movable on the slider (3), a stylus (13) which has a bevel measurement groove (30) formed on its outer periphery and is provided on the stylus holder (5), a pressing force application device (14) which moves the slider (3) forward at the time of bevel measurement to press the stylus (13) against the edge surface (50c) of a spectacle lens (50), and a retracting device (19) which holds the stylus holder (5) at the retraction position during non-measurement. When the stylus holder (5) is released from the retracting device (19) at the time of measurement, it ascends using the spring force of biasing springs (27) to engage the bevel measurement groove (30) in the stylus (13) with a bevel (52) of the spectacle lens (50). |
| US08240053B1 |
Ramp assembly installation method
Exemplary methods are provided for installing a ramp assembly into a vehicle. The vehicle includes a floor, a vehicle well disposed in the floor, an inboard and outboard ramp support members. In one embodiment, ramp assembly mounts, such as mounting blocks, are utilized for installing the ramp assembly into the vehicle. |
| US08240049B2 |
Tube stub removal apparatus
An improved apparatus and method of removing tubes and/or tube stubs from structures comprising multiple tubes wherein induction heating is utilized to heat the tube stub prior to removal. |
| US08240044B2 |
Method for adjusting unevenness of top flange of wind turbine generator tower
The unevenness of the upper surface of a top flange of a wind turbine generator tower is adjusted by arranging shim plates on the upper surface of the top flange and by adjusting the thicknesses and/or number of the shim plates to be disposed at individual positions. First, the roughness levels of the upper surface of the top flange are measured at a plurality of measuring points in a state in which a nacelle of the wind turbine generator is not mounted on the tower, which is vertically erected. Next, the thicknesses and/or number of the shim plates to be disposed on the individual plurality of measuring points to adjust the unevenness of the upper surface of the top flange are determined in accordance with the measured roughness levels of the upper surface of the top flange. |
| US08240043B2 |
Method of forming a windage cover for a gas turbine engine the method including forming a continuous ring from a sheet of metal and bending and cutting the continuous ring to form at least two arcuate segments
A stator assembly having a windage cover for structure adjacent to a cavity bounded by rotating elements in a rotary machine is disclosed. Various construction details are developed for damping vibrations in the windage cover as the windage cover bounds a cavity having swirling high velocity gases that are capable of transmitting acoustic energy and kinetic energy to adjacent structure. In one detailed embodiment, the windage cover in the uninstalled condition has diverging arms that are resiliently compressed during installation to exert a frictional force on the adjacent structure. |
| US08240039B2 |
Method for producing piston for internal-combustion engine
A method is provided for producing a piston for an internal-combustion engine of the structure in which a piston body which is composed of a crown having a groove for fitting a piston ring into an outer circumference surface and a skirt in connection with the bottom of the crown is provided with an annular cavity for flowing cooling liquid on an inside of the groove, the method comprising the steps of: forming the crown and the skirt individually; forming an annular groove for the annular cavity in the inner bottom of the crown and an annular rib in connection with the open edge of the annular groove before the crown and the skirt are joined together; bending the rib toward the opening of the annular groove by application of pressure to close the opening of the annular groove to thereby form the annular cavity; and joining the crown and the skirt together. |
| US08240037B2 |
Process for producing a circuit module
A process for producing a circuit module including, carried out in this order, preparing a ceramic carrier substrate having ceramic substrate pads for mounting electronic parts, forming solder paste layers on the ceramic substrate pads, forming precoated solder layers by heating the ceramic carrier substrate having the solder paste layers on the ceramic substrate pads to melt the solder paste layers, and then cooling for solidifying the solder, preliminarily fixing stepped lid having protrusions adjacent to a cavity and dents adjacent to the cavity with the protrusions intervening therebetween to the precoated solder layers of the ceramic carrier substrate and joining the stepped lid to the ceramic carrier substrate with solder by placing the ceramic carrier substrate having the stepped lid preliminarily fixed to the precoated solder layers in a reflow furnace. |
| US08240036B2 |
Method of producing a circuit board
An object of an aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of producing a circuit board that allows highly accurate preservation of the circuit profile and gives a circuit having a desired depth in preparation of a fine circuit by additive process.The method of producing a multilayer circuit board in an aspect of the present invention includes a film-forming step of forming a swellable resin film on the surface of an insulative substrate, a circuit groove-forming step of forming circuit grooves having a depth equal to or greater than the thickness of the swellable resin film on the external surface of the swellable resin film, a catalyst-depositing step of depositing a plating catalyst or the precursor thereof on the surface of the circuit grooves and the surface of the swellable resin film, a film-separating step of swelling the swellable resin film with a particular liquid and then separating the swollen resin film from the insulative substrate surface, and a plating processing step of forming an electrolessly plated film only in the region where the plating catalyst or the plating catalyst formed from the plating catalyst precursor remains unseparated after separation of the swellable resin film. |
| US08240030B2 |
Method for manufacturing electronic device
To provide a method for forming an opening with high accuracy in an insulating film obtained by curing a prepreg including a reinforcing material in a step of exposing a terminal portion sealed with the insulating film, with the use of a means other than laser beam irradiation. A protrusion is formed using a conductor. An uncured prepreg including a reinforcing material is closely attached to the protrusion and the prepreg is cured, so that an insulating film including the reinforcing material is formed. A portion of a top surface of the insulating film protrudes due to the protrusion. The protruding portion is preferentially removed together with the reinforcing material to form an opening in the insulating film by grinding treatment or the like, so that an opening which exposes the protrusion is formed in the insulating film. |
| US08240026B2 |
Method of manufacturing a magneto-resistive device
A method for manufacturing a magneto-resistive device. The magneto-resistive device is for reducing the deterioration in the characteristics of the device due to annealing. The magneto-resistive device has a magneto-resistive layer formed on one surface side of a base, and an insulating layer formed of two layers and deposited around the magneto-resistive layer. The layer of the insulating layer closest to the base is made of a metal or semiconductor oxide. This layer extends over end faces of a plurality of layers made of different materials from one another, which make up the magneto-resistive device, and is in contact with the end faces of the plurality of layers with the same materials. |
| US08240023B2 |
Method for manufacturing a quartz crystal unit
A method for manufacturing a quartz crystal unit comprises the steps of forming a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator vibratable in a flexural mode of an inverse phase and having a quartz crystal tuning fork base and first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines connected to the quartz crystal tuning fork base, forming at least one groove having at least three stepped portions in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines, disposing an electrode on a surface of one of the at least three stepped portions of the at least one groove and an electrode on one of opposite side surfaces of each of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines, mounting the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator on a mounting portion of a case, and connecting a lid to the case to cover an open end of the case, wherein the step of forming the quartz crystal tuning fork base and the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines is performed before the step of forming the at least one groove having the at least three stepped portions. |
| US08240022B2 |
Methods of connecting an antenna to a transponder chip
Method of connecting an antenna wire to a transponder chip. A transponder chip or chip module in a recess in a substrate, and an antenna wire mounted to the surface of the substrate and having end portions spanning the recess. The end portions are spaced wider than the chip, to allow the chip to be inserted (installed) into the recess from the same side as the antenna past the end portions of the antenna wire. The chip may be moved in the recess so that its terminals are under the wires, or the wires may be repositioned to be over the terminals, for subsequently bonding thereto. Prior to installing the chip in the recess, insulation may be removed from the end portions of the antenna wire, which may also be flattened to improve bonding. |
| US08240020B2 |
Stent retention mold and method
A stent retention mold includes two half-molds, each half-mold including a stent supporting surface, and a plurality of protrusions disposed on at least one of the stent supporting surfaces. A stent retention method includes retaining a stent to a balloon using a split mold that includes a stent supporting surface having a plurality of protrusions, so that a portion of the balloon extends through a gap of the stent into a space between two protrusions. |
| US08240019B2 |
Trunnion painting fixture
A painting tool for painting a vehicle wheel is disclosed. The tool includes a base and a plurality of idler wheels rotatably coupled to the base. The wheels are disposed about the base to rotatably support a workpiece. A motor is coupled to the base and includes a motor output disposed to engage the workpiece and to rotate the workpiece on the plurality of idler wheels about a workpiece axis. A mask is operatively coupled to the base. The mask is movable between an engaged position wherein the mask obscures a portion of the workpiece and a disengaged position wherein the mask is disposed away from the workpiece. A method of painting a vehicle wheel is also disclosed. |
| US08240018B2 |
Device for pulling out a terminal clamp
The invention relates to a device for pulling out a terminal clamp with a fastening section for fastening the device to the terminal clamp and a grip section. The fastening section and the grip section are connected by a pivotable connection. A second fastening device for detachable fastening of the grip section to the terminal clamp is provided on this grip section. |
| US08240017B2 |
Releasable pry bar
An apparatus for releasably attaching a pushing tool to one work piece such that a pushing force can be applied to a second work piece and allow alignment of the two work pieces for joining the work pieces together. |
| US08240011B2 |
Device for fastening interchangeable watchstraps with sliding lock mechanism
A device for fastening interchangeable watchstraps with sliding lock mechanism, in particular for a watchcase, including a middle (1) and two pairs of horns (2), each horn being provided on its inner face with a skid (8) with one bevelled edge and a gap (10). Each watchstrap strand (3) includes a first link (4) on the lateral faces of which are found two grooves (5) adapted to the shape of the skids (8). Each groove contains a pin (6) connected to a head (7) and to a spring. The fastening takes place when the skids (8) engage in the grooves (5) of the first link (4) until locking of the pins (6) in the gaps (10). The watchstrap can be released by acting on the two heads (7) which retract the pins (6) from the gaps (10), making it possible to withdraw the watchstrap strand (3). |
| US08239994B2 |
Scraping element for a pipeline pig
A scraping element for a pipeline pig, includes a moulded body having a circular peripheral scraping edge circumscribing the body and adapted to engage an interior surface of a pipeline. The body is adapted to be mounted to a pipeline pig. A wear resistance material embedded in the scraping edge of the body. |
| US08239991B2 |
Electric-electronic toothbrush
An electric-electronic toothbrush carries a brush driven to vibrate, and arranged to flow an electric current into a user's oral cavity for promoting removal of tooth plaque. The electric-electronic toothbrush has a shaft driven to vibrate along and/or about an axis of the shaft, and a battery supplying the electric current. The shaft is electrically conductive to flow the electric current into a brush electrode of a brush head. The shaft is electrically connected to the battery by way of an extendible electrically conductive coupler within the handle. The electrically conductive coupler has its one end secured to the shaft, and the other end to an electrically conductive member connected to one of poles of the battery, so as to absorb the vibration of the shaft. The handle is provided on its outer peripheral surface with a touch electrode. The electric-electronic toothbrush is arranged to give predetermined electric potentials respectively to the brush electrode and the touch electrode, so as to flow a microelectric current onto the tooth surface for removal of tooth plaque during user's tooth brushing due to vibration of a brush. |
| US08239990B2 |
Apparatus and method for machine washing
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for machine washing that includes a sterilizer capable of continuously exhibiting antibiotic and sterilization functions during washing and rinsing processes and reducing the consumption amount of Ag. The washing machine comprises a water reservoir to contain washing water, a sterilizer sterilizing the washing water through an electrolysis process, and a circulator circulating the washing water in the sterilizer. |
| US08239989B2 |
Method for removing odor of laundry in washing machine
A method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine comprises inputting laundry into an inner tub, supplying steam to the laundry, and rotating the inner tub. Odor of the laundry is rapidly and easily removed without performing a cleaning process using water, and the fabrication cost is reduced. |
| US08239988B2 |
Leg elevating device, system and method
The present disclosure describes devices, methods, and systems for leg elevation. The leg elevating device includes a leg support platform, a base platform positioned adjacent the leg support platform, and a first and second lift positioned between and coupled to the leg support platform and the base platform. The leg support platform can have a first horizontal position relative the base platform when the first and second lift are in a first position, an angled position relative the base platform when the first lift is in a second position and the second lift is in the first position, and a second horizontal position relative the base platform when the first and second lift are in a second position. Also, the leg support platform can be a predetermined height above a floor surface when in the first horizontal position, such that the leg elevating device is locatable under furniture. |
| US08239978B2 |
Vision through photodynamic therapy of the eye
Photodynamic therapy of conditions of the eye, especially those conditions characterized by unwanted neovasculature, such as age-related macular degeneration, results in enhanced visual acuity for treated subjects. |
| US08239977B2 |
Automatic retractable hot tub cover apparatus and system
An automatic retractable and advanceable hot tub cover system comprising: a rear cross member, with a first end and a second end; a first boot assembly, in rotatable and slidable communication with the first end of the rear cross member; a second boot assembly, in rotatable and slidable communication with the second end of the rear cross member; a first rear main lift arm fixedly attached to near the first end of the rear cross member, the first rear main lift arm having a first angled end; a second rear main lift arm fixedly attached to near the second end of the rear cross member, the second rear main lift arm having a second angled end; a shackle connector with a first shackle connector end, and a second shackle connector end, the first shackle connector end rotatably attached to the first angled end; a front cover lift arm, with a front cover lift arm angled end, the front cover lift arm angled end rotatably attached to the first shackle connector end; a front cover actuator, with a front cover actuator rod, the front cover actuator rotatably attached to the first rear main lift arm, and the front cover actuator rod rotatably attached to the second shackle connector end; a front actuator/cover connector-damper, with a damper rod, the front actuator/cover connector-damper rotatably attached to a distal end of the front cover lift arm, and the damper rod rotatably attached to the second shackle connector end; and a right cover lift actuator, with a right cover lift actuator rod, the right cover lift actuator rotatably attached to the first boot assembly, and the right cover lift actuator rod rotatably attached to the first rear main lift arm. |
| US08245318B2 |
Sidewall tracing nanoprobes, method for making the same, and method for use
Sidewall tracing nanoprobes, in which the tip shape of the nanoprobe Is altered so that the diameter or width of the very tip of the probe is wider than the diameter of the supporting stem. Such side protruding probe tips are fabricated by a subtractive method of reducing the stem diameter, an additive method of increasing the tip diameter, or sideway bending of the probe tip. These sidewall tracing nanoprobes are useful for inspection of semiconductor devices, especially to quantitatively evaluate the defects on the side wall of trenches or via holes. |
| US08245314B2 |
System and method for the prevention of malicious file copying
A system and method for the prevention of malicious file copying detects a file copy operation indicative of copying a file to an electronic clipboard. If the file copy operation is detected, the computer reads file contents of the copied file, and scrambles the file contents. If a file paste operation indicative of the copied file being pasted to a designated file system path, the computer pastes the scrambled file to the designated file system path. File attributes of the scrambled file are the same as file attributes of the copied file. |
| US08245313B2 |
Document management system, document management program, document management system configuration method, and server computer
There is provided a system or the like capable of managing a document not printed on a paper medium so that an administrator of the document may be identified. According to the document management system of the present invention, a first processing unit 110 recognizes an identifier to identify a user or a department to which the user belongs. Moreover, a second processing unit 120 recognizes a document specified by the user. Then, an image processing unit 130 prepares an image including the specified document recognized by the first processing unit 110 and the identifier recognized by the second processing unit 120 while adjusting the arrangement of the identifier and the specified document, and causes an information processing terminal 200 to display the image. Thus, when the document displayed on the information processing terminal 200 is photographed, the identifier is also photographed, therefore, if the photograph is copied illegally and distributed, the document leak source can be identified based on the identifier. |
| US08245306B2 |
Digital rights management printing system
A print management system for production of printed documents, said system comprising a policy editor component capable of receiving a document file, and applying a level of protection to said document file to produce a protected document file a policy enforcement component, operable for enforcing a document management policy for said protected document file; and at least one printer device, said printer device operable to receive said protected document file, refer to said policy enforcement component, and in response to an authorization signal received from said policy enforcement component, to print at least one printed document. |
| US08245304B1 |
Autonomous system-based phishing and pharming detection
Methods for detecting an attempt to perpetrate fraud on a user utilizing a client-supplied link and a client-supplied IP address from a user computer. The method ascertains a first autonomous system number (“first AS number”) from the client-supplied IP address and a second autonomous system number (“second AS number”) from the client-supplied link. If the first AS number and the second AS number are not AS group peers, a pharming attempt is detected. Alternatively or additionally, the method includes analyzing a content of a webpage that is accessed using the client-supplied IP address to ascertain an identity of an apparent owner of the webpage and ascertaining a third autonomous system number (“third AS number”) from the identity of the apparent owner of the webpage. If the first AS number and the third AS number are not AS group peers, a phishing attempt is detected. |
| US08245301B2 |
Network intrusion detection visualization
A network activity visualization system can include a minimum description length (MDL) based network intrusion detection system having an MDL grammar database adapted to store a plurality of MDL grammars, and a pattern matching module adapted to match a received network activity data set against the MDL grammars by calculating a distance of the network activity data set from each MDL grammar. The system can also include an intelligent icon module coupled to the MDL-based intrusion detection system and adapted to receive the MDL grammars and distances of a network data set from each respective MDL grammar, and adapted to generate intelligent icons based on the MDL grammars and distances. The system can further include a display system adapted to display the intelligent icons so as to provide a visual indication of network security. |
| US08245296B2 |
Malware detection device
An exemplary malware detection device includes a data pathway provided between a first data transfer device and a second data transfer device and a processor attached to the data pathway. A memory accessible by the processor contains at least one malware signature and instructions for controlling the processor to interconnect the first and second data transfer devices, direct at least a portion of a data transfer across the data pathway to the processor for analysis, independently analyze the portion of the data transfer using the malware signature, identify malware contained in the portion of the data transfer, and interrupt the data transfer based on the identification of malware. |
| US08245288B2 |
Method and arrangement for providing security through network address translations using tunneling and compensations
This invention provides a method for providing network security services, such as those provided by the IPSEC protocol, through network address translation (NAT). The method is based on determining the transformations that occur on a packet and compensating for the transformations. Because only TCP and UDP protocols work through NATs, the IPSEC AH/ESP packets are encapsulated into UDP packets for transport. Special operations are performed to allow reliable communications in such environments. |
| US08245287B2 |
Server message block (SMB) security signatures seamless session switch
The present invention relates to systems, apparatus, and methods of securely transmitting data between a client and a server. The method includes receiving an initial security message from the client. The security message is to establish security between the server and the client. Further, the client's security parameters are set to enabled and not required. The method further includes forwarding the initial security message to the server and intercepting a security response from the server. The response includes security data and security parameters set to enabled and required. The method includes extracting the security data from the security response, and using the security data to establish a secure socket connection between the proxy server and the server. Furthermore, the method alters the request by changing the security parameters to not enabled and not required, and transmits the altered request and establishes a non-secure socket connection. |
| US08245284B2 |
Extensible network discovery
A computer system that can configure itself to establish a network connection. Configuration is performed by identifying a connection profile with information from a combination of sources. Information may be obtained from user input, network traffic monitoring and a discovery process involving attempts to establish a connection with different profiles. The computer system may perform the configuration process under the control of software that performs an automated configuration process is adapted to receive extensions for operation on computers with hardware components that have non-standardized configuration options. Extensions for networks operating according to non-standardized security protocol extensions are also possible. |
| US08245283B2 |
Region access authorization in a virtual environment
The passage of avatars into and out of regions in a virtual universe is regulated through the use of secure communications between and among the avatar, an authority managing of the region and a trusted third party who maintains a database of avatar characteristics. Permission to move from one virtual region to another is determined based upon the avatar characteristics. |
| US08245280B2 |
System and method for user access control to content in a network
A method of unifying the different, device-specific and platform-specific access control lists (ACL) for different users and user groups in a home network. The home network has networked heterogeneous devices and hosting where a user is presented with a consistent, single view of ACL on home-wide users and user groups. Users in the home network, therefore, do not need to control ACL for device-specific users and user groups on each individual device. Instead, a user controls the home-wide ACL for home-wide users and user groups. The changes to home-wide ACL for home-wide users and user groups are propagated to individual devices. Further, changes on individual devices can be made to device-specific ACL for device-specific users and user groups. Such changes are subsequently propagated to the home-wide ACL for home-wide users and user groups. |
| US08245275B2 |
Electronic device, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program, and circuit chip
The present invention relates to data transfer to an external storage device disposed on or connected to an electronic device and can accelerate the data transfer. The present invention relates to an electronic device (portable terminal device) connected or disposed with an external storage device, includes a transmission channel connected to an external device (personal computer) that is a data source to transmit data, and simplifies a data transmission path intervening between the transmission path and the external storage device to accelerate the data transfer and accelerate the writing of data into the external storage device. |
| US08245271B2 |
Scope-centric access control model
Apparatus, methods, and computer program products are disclosed that maintain an association graph made up of association tuples. Each of the association tuples belongs to an access-control-policy scope that imposes an access control policy. On receipt of a client reference and a supplier reference a scope-defining entity is identified from the client reference. The scope-defining entity has an explicit access control policy. An effective supplier reference is retrieved from a set of the association tuples matching the scope-defining entity and is presented. |
| US08245270B2 |
Resource based dynamic security authorization
Access to a resource by sandboxed code is dynamically authorized by a client security system based on a resource based policy. A sandboxed application running on a client is granted access to a resource based on a resource based policy despite denial of the access based on a static policy associated with the client security system. The granting of access coincides with the determination that the threat to a user or the user's information is not increased should the access be granted. |
| US08245262B2 |
System and method for synchronization of television signals associated with multiple broadcast networks
Embodiments include a system and method of synchronizing broadcast signals from multiple broadcast networks on televisions or other media devices. One embodiment includes a method comprising receiving signatures or other data indicative of each of a plurality of video frames from each of a plurality of video devices, each of the video devices having received the frame from a video broadcast. At least one of the video frames is identified as being received by each of the video devices based on the received data. A request or other data indicative of a time to display the one of the video frames is communicated to each of the plurality of video devices. Other embodiments include media devices configured to send such frame data and to display video frames at the indicated time. |
| US08245260B1 |
Video server
A method of and apparatus for efficiently providing video on demand services to a cable television subscriber. The provider system consists of two major subsystems. The first subsystem, called a video server, streams video to video on demand subscribers through the cable television network. The second subsystem, called the transaction server, performs virtually all remaining provider functions including, security, accounting, storage and spooling of video data, etc. The video server is preferably uses a Unisys CMP memory platform into which the transaction server spools requested video programs. One or more industry standard processors operating under a standard operating system stream the video data from the memory platform to the subscriber. |
| US08245258B2 |
Method for providing video telephony using broadcast receiving apparatus
A method for providing video telephony is presented. By the method, a telephone directory of a broadcast receiving apparatus can be updated by receiving a telephone directory of a connected external device is provided. A call request signal can be transmitted to an information communication terminal of the user of an external broadcast receiving apparatus when the external broadcast receiving apparatus is turned off. A video telephony mode can change according to whether or not audio signals are transmitted and received when video telephony is connected. The volume of a plurality of windows can each be adjusted separately. As a result, users can utilize video telephony more conveniently. |
| US08245257B1 |
System and method for dynamic electronic program guide (EPG) data downloads
Set top boxes (STBs) query a source of electronic program guide (EPG) data to request only the EPG data that it needs. Thus, instead of downloading the entire set of EPG data, the STBs query the source for only a limited amount of EPG data, such as data for the next 2-3 hours of programming. STBs can dynamically request additional EPG data if it needs to do so while a user is perusing the EPG, such as when the user requests additional EPG data that may not have been previously downloaded. Updates and corrections to pieces of EPG data can be efficiently made and sent to the STB, when that EPG data is needed, rather than being sent only during regularly scheduled times along with the entire set of EPG data. |
| US08245255B2 |
Program guide navigation
Systems and methods that provide a first electronic program guide (EPG) screen having a plurality of channel identifiers, program information, and an icon corresponding to increasing scroll speed, and responsive to a user selection corresponding to the icon, enable a user to scroll among the plurality of channel identifiers at the increased scroll speed. |
| US08245254B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method, and recording medium
An information processing apparatus includes an obtaining unit configured to obtain program information on programs that are to be broadcast in a predetermined time period; an extraction unit configured to extract keywords indicating the content of the programs from text data contained in the program information; a storage unit configured to prestore theme definition information containing information on the keywords; a theme identifying unit configured to identify which theme a predetermined program belongs to on the basis of the keyword and the theme definition information; and a rate-of-change computation unit configured to compute, for each of the identified themes, a rate of change of the number of times a program belonging to the identified theme is broadcast on a first day in the predetermined time period to the number of times the program is broadcast on a second day. |
| US08245252B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for selective replacement of objectionable program content with less-objectionable content
A system, method, and computer program product is provided for the selective replacement of objectionable content in a program with less-objectionable material. The selective replacement of objectionable content in a program with less-objectionable material is accomplished by applying an encoding process and a decoding process to the audio and/or video signal of the program. The encoding process includes marking potentially objectionable material in the program with replacement information that identifies the type (e.g., audio, violent content, sexual content, etc.) and intensity level (e.g., mild, graphic, extreme, etc.) of the potentially objectionable material using replacement codes. The decoding process includes comparing, during the presentation of the program to the user and prior to outputting the audio or displaying the video, the replacement information to a replacement criterion, which includes user supplied replacement settings, to determine whether replacement of the potentially objectionable content (i.e., audio and/or video) should be performed. If replacement is to be performed, the objectionable content in the program is replaced according to the replacement information which, in the preferred embodiment, identifies the start and duration of the replacement and, for replacement of the video of the program, also identifies the display area of the video to be replaced. |
| US08245243B1 |
Transforming device drivers to improve efficiency
Efficiency is improved for device drivers. A first library is input that includes a first version of the device drivers. First metadata is input that specifies the devices of the computing arrangement and associates each device with the first version of a corresponding device driver. The first version of the corresponding device driver for each device is transformed into a second version of the corresponding device driver. The first version of the corresponding device driver indirectly accesses the device and the second version of the corresponding device driver directly accesses the device. A second library is output including the second version of the corresponding device driver for each device. |
| US08245242B2 |
Systems and methods for managing policies on a computer
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for managing policies on a computer having a foreign operating system. Policies may specify hardware or software configuration information. Policies on a first computer with a native operating system are translated into configuration information usable on a second computer having a foreign operating system. In an embodiment, a translator manager manages the association between the policy on the first computer and the translator on the second computer. Computer management complexity and information technology management costs are reduced by centralizing computer management on the native operating system. Further reductions in management complexity are realized when the present invention is used in conjunction with network directory services. |
| US08245240B2 |
Extended dynamic optimization of connection establishment and message progress processing in a multi-fabric message passing interface implementation
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a system that can optimize message passing by, at least in part, automatically determining a minimum number of fabrics and virtual channels to be activated to handle pending connection requests and data transfer requests, and preventing processing of new connection requests and data transfer requests outside of a predetermined communication pattern. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08245237B2 |
Providing resources to a job comparing estimated execution time on currently available nodes and estimated execution time on nodes available after completion of a currently executing job
A network system includes an application service provider (ASP) which is connected to the Internet and executes an application, and a CPU resource provider which is connected to the Internet and provides a processing service to a particular computational part (e.g., computation intensive part) of the application, wherein: when requesting a job from the CPU resource provider, the application service provider (ASP) sends information about estimated computation time of the job to the CPU resource provider via the Internet; and the CPU resource provider assigns the job by correcting this estimated computation time based on the estimated computation time sent from the application service provider (ASP). |
| US08245232B2 |
Software-configurable and stall-time fair memory access scheduling mechanism for shared memory systems
Systems and methodologies for stall-time fair memory access scheduling for shared memory systems are provided herein. A stall-time fairness policy can be applied in accordance with various aspects described herein to schedule memory requests from threads sharing a memory system. To this end, a Stall-Time Fair Memory scheduler (STFM) algorithm can be utilized, wherein memory-related slowdown experienced by a group of threads due to interference from other threads is equalized. Additionally and/or alternatively, a traditional scheduling policy such as first-ready first-come-first-serve (FR-FCFS) can be utilized in combination with a cap on column-over-row reordering of memory requests, thereby reducing the amount of stall-time unfairness imposed by such traditional scheduling policies. Further, various aspects described herein can perform memory scheduling based on thread weights and/or other parameters, which can be configured in hardware and/or software. |
| US08245227B2 |
Virtual machine execution using virtualization software with shadow page tables and address space interspersed among guest operating system address space
In a computing system having virtualization software including a guest operating system (OS), a method for operating wherein virtualization software address space is distributed in guest OS address space that includes: granting the guest OS execute, but not read or write, access, to pages in the virtualization software address space. |
| US08245226B2 |
Offline migration from prior operating system installation
Migration of data relevant to, or associated with, one or more users from a prior operating system installation to a new operating system installation can be performed with reference to an archive of some or all of the data on a storage media made prior to the installation of a new operating system. Manifests associated with operating system components can be referenced to identify data to be transferred from those operating system components to new versions of those components. Independently generated manifests can also be referenced to migrate the files and data for one or more application programs, such as popular or commonly found application programs. User data and files to be migrated can be identified by loading registration database files from the offline operating system in the new operating system, or otherwise parsing a similar construct from the offline operating system. |
| US08245221B2 |
Content formatting and installation techniques
Content formatting and installation techniques are described. In an implementation, a method includes receiving one or more inputs for initiating an installation process of one or more content items and performing the installation process without user intervention. The performing of the installation process includes obtaining a content package, from over a network, which includes a manifest which describes a content type for each of the content items. Each of the content items is installed for use by an application module based on a respective content type. |
| US08245220B2 |
Method and apparatus for updating software in radio terminal device
A method for updating software in a radio terminal device of a mobile communication system, wherein a base station and radio terminal devices are connected mutually through radio communication channels, including the steps of notifying version information on a control-software of the radio terminal device to a software-supply device connected to a network by the radio terminal device, determining a necessity of updating the control-software by comparing the version information received from the radio terminal device with latest version information stored in and managed by the software-supply device, and downloading new control-software that is appropriate to update the version of the control-software to the radio terminal device by the software-supply device if updating of the control-software is needed. |
| US08245216B2 |
Patch management system
Patch management system can be used for maintaining patches downloaded for software. The patch management system can ensure that there are no conflicts between the installed patches. |
| US08245213B2 |
Method for determining a close approximate benefit of reducing memory footprint of a Java application
Changes in performance in a Java program are deduced from information related to garbage collection events of the program. Assumptions are made about the system, the application and garbage collection, and changes in performance that will result from modifying the program are deduced. |
| US08245208B2 |
SIMD code generation for loops with mixed data lengths
Generating loop code to execute on Single-Instruction Multiple-Datapath (SIMD) architectures, where the loop operates on datatypes having different lengths, is disclosed. Further, a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a novel technique to efficiently realign or shift arbitrary streams to an arbitrary offset, regardless whether the alignments or offsets are known at the compile time or not. This technique enables the application of advanced alignment optimizations to runtime alignment. Length conversion operations, for packing and unpacking data values, are included in the alignment handling framework. These operations are formally defined in terms of standard SIMD instructions that are readily available on various SIMD platforms. This allows sequential loop code operating on datatypes of disparate length to be transformed (“simdized”) into optimized SIMD code through a fully automated process. |
| US08245207B1 |
Technique for dynamically restricting thread concurrency without rewriting thread code
A method for executing uniprocessor (UP) coded workloads in a computer capable of concurrent thread execution is disclosed. The method identifies threads in the uniprocessor coded workloads (UP-workloads) which can execute concurrently, and identifies threads in the UP-workloads which cannot execute concurrently. First threads which cannot execute concurrently are assigned to a first concurrency group. Second threads which cannot execute concurrently are assigned to a second concurrency group. Any thread in the first concurrency group can execute concurrently with any thread in the second concurrency group. The computer capable of concurrent thread execution then executes the UP-coded workloads in the first concurrency group at substantially the same time as executing the UP-coded workloads in the second concurrency group. |
| US08245204B2 |
Parameter management using compiler directives
Managing program function parameters using compiler directives is provided. A parameter management system can include a compiler coupled to a primary symbol-type dictionary and a supplemental symbol-type dictionary containing parameter data for specific function calls of corresponding generic type functions. Notably, directive processing logic can be configured both to populate the supplemental symbol-type dictionary based upon processor directives embedded in source code, and also to substitute specific function calls for generic function calls in the source code as specified in the supplemental symbol-type dictionary. |
| US08245203B2 |
Logging system and method for computer software
The present invention provides a computer-implemented method to generate a logging dictionary for a compilation of a source code that has a logging statement and associated source code static data, comprising: selecting part of the source code that includes the logging statement; determining source code static data associated with the logging statement; generating a combined data element from the associated source code static data; correlating the combined data element with the logging statement; wherein if the combined data element does not occur in the logging dictionary correlated to said logging statement; assigning a log index value to the combined data element; and adding the log index value, correlated to the logging statement, to the log dictionary. |
| US08245199B2 |
Selectively marking and executing instrumentation code
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for executing instructions. A determination is made as to whether a set of instructions are a set of instrumentation instructions in response to identifying the set of instructions in instructions for execution. A further determination is made as to whether a processor executing the instructions is in an instrumentation mode if the set of instructions are instrumentation instructions. The processor executes the set of instrumentation instructions only if the processor is in the instrumentation mode. |
| US08245195B2 |
System and method for debugging a computer program
A method for debugging a computer program is provided. The method pushes a plurality of registers into a stack, and calculates a jump-from address and a jump-to address for each jump according to values of the registers. The jump-from address and the jump-to address are then stored into a storage system. The method may monitor the execution of the computer program in system management mode (SMM). |
| US08245193B2 |
Automatic creative proposal generating and filtering system and manufacturing method thereof and multiple components combining method
The present invention discloses an automatic method and system for generating and filtering out the innovation proposals. Particularly, it is about a system, which generates all the possible element code sets, compares them to the code sets of existing objects or documents, and then filters out the novel element code sets. The system comprises a standard element depository, a permutation and combination module, a testing object processing module, a matching module, a sifting module, and an output module. |
| US08245192B1 |
Independent software development zones
A system is provided comprising a computer and application that creates a development zone in response to a first message. The zone comprises a recording of state-based references to files and folders of a master production build in read-only and read-write copies of the build. The system receives another message containing a request to commit changes to the build. The changes comprise updating the build with changes to the read-write clone. The system compares the read-only snapshot with the current build to determine changes committed after the zone creation. The system compares changes to the read-write clone and changes committed to the build after zone creation. The system identifies files and folders changed in the read-write clone and commits the changes made to the read-write clone to a staging build and the master production build. |
| US08245191B2 |
Policy application rules for automated configuration of software components
A method, system and article of manufacture are disclosed for configuring software application components. The method comprises the steps of developing a set of policy application rules, assembling unconfigured software components into one or more software applications, and applying said application rules to the unconfigured software components to configure said software components. In the preferred embodiment, the applying step includes the steps of passing the unconfigured software components to a policy rule engine, and using said policy rule engine to apply said application rules to the unconfigured software components to produce the configured components. In addition, the method may be done to resolve ambiguities in the software components. In particular, the application rules may be designed to resolve ambiguities in the application of these rules to the unconfigured software components. Also, each application rule preferably includes a condition, an application template, and a policy. |
| US08245173B2 |
Scheduling for parallel processing of regionally-constrained placement problem
Scheduling of parallel processing for regionally-constrained object placement selects between different balancing schemes. For a small number of movebounds, computations are assigned by balancing the placeable objects. For a small number of objects per movebound, computations are assigned by balancing the movebounds. If there are large numbers of movebounds and objects per movebound, both objects and movebounds are balanced amongst the processors. For object balancing, movebounds are assigned to a processor until an amortized number of objects for the processor exceeds a first limit above an ideal number, or the next movebound would raise the amortized number of objects above a second, greater limit. For object and movebound balancing, movebounds are sorted into descending order, then assigned in the descending order to host processors in successive rounds while reversing the processor order after each round. The invention provides a schedule in polynomial-time while retaining high quality of results. |
| US08245172B2 |
Methods and apparatus for defining Manhattan power grid structures having a reduced number of vias
A method for defining and producing a power grid structure (having stripe, rail, and via components) of an IC. The method reduces the number of vias in the power grid structure and the diagonal wiring blockage caused by the vias while still meeting design specifications. Other embodiments provide a method for locating vias in the power grid structure in such a way as to be especially beneficial to 45° or 135° diagonal wiring paths. The method includes processes of a power grid planner, power grid router, power grid verifier, and global signal router that are used iteratively to define and produce a power grid structure. Other embodiments of the invention provide for arrangements of vias in via arrays where diagonal wiring paths are facilitated near the edges of the via arrays. A bounding box enclosing these via arrays have an aspect ratio that is approximately equal to 1. |
| US08245169B2 |
Generating capacitance look-up tables for wiring patterns in the presence of metal fills
A computer system selects a signal conductor from an electronic circuit design layout and assigns a first potential to the selected signal conductor. Next, the computer system assigns a second potential to other signal conductors included in the electronic circuit design layout. The computer system then selects a metal fill from the electronic circuit design layout, which is void from carrying an electrical signal, and generates a zero charge equation for the selected metal fill. The zero charge equation establishes that a total charge residing on the selected metal fill is equal to zero. The computer system includes the zero charge equation in a system of equations, which includes grid point potential equations, and solves the system of equations. In turn, the computer system computes capacitance values for the signal conductors based upon the system of equation solutions, and simulates the electronic circuit design layout using the computed capacitance values. |
| US08245167B1 |
Branch and bound techniques for computation of critical timing conditions
In one embodiment of the invention, a method for electronic circuit design is disclosed. The method includes analyzing a hierarchy of a netlist of a circuit to determine primary inputs and primary outputs of the circuit at an upper level, and internal vertices of the circuit at lower levels between the primary inputs and the primary outputs; forming a timing graph of the circuit including a plurality of timing delay edges representing timing delay between the primary inputs, the internal vertices and the primary outputs to form a plurality of paths of a path space from the primary inputs to the primary outputs; and in response to the timing delay of the plurality of timing delay edges, dynamically pruning paths of the plurality of paths using branch and bound techniques on bounds of timing delay that are a function of one or more circuit parameters to reduce the path space down to one or more critical timing paths of the circuit with a worse case metric of timing delay between the primary inputs and the primary outputs. Additionally or alternatively, timing in the circuit may be analyzed to determine a bound of timing delay of the circuit for one or more parameter corners in a parameter space and if the bound of timing delay is worse than a threshold time delay then one or more parameter corners may be pruned from the parameter space using branch and bound techniques. |
| US08245165B1 |
Methods and apparatus for waveform based variational static timing analysis
A system and method are disclosed for waveform based variational static timing analysis. A circuit is divided into its linear circuit parts and non-linear circuit parts and modeled together, by a combination of linear modeling techniques, into linear equations that may be represented by matrices. The linear equations in matrix form may be readily solved by a computer such that an input waveform to an input pin of the circuit can be sequentially “pushed” through the various interconnects and logic networks of the circuit to an output pin. Output voltage waveforms are obtained at each stage of the waveform pushing and may be used to perform static timing analysis. |
| US08245162B2 |
Write-pattern determination for maskless lithography
A method for generating a write pattern to be used in a maskless-lithography process is described. During the method, a computer system determines a one-to-one correspondence between pixels in the write pattern and at least a subset of elements in a spatial-light modulator used in the maskless-lithography process. Furthermore, the computer system generates the write pattern. Note that the write pattern includes features corresponding to at least the subset of elements in the spatial-light modulator, and the generating is in accordance with a characteristic dimension of an element in the spatial-light modulator and a target pattern that is to be printed on a semiconductor wafer during the maskless-lithography process. |
| US08245155B2 |
Computer implemented display, graphical user interface, design and method including scrolling features
An information processing apparatus includes a display unit and a control unit. The display unit is configured to display a dividing region dividing a main display region into two sub regions. The control unit is configured to control the display unit to display a plurality of icons in the dividing region, to change position of the dividing region in the main display region based on user input, and to display, when an icon of the plurality of icons is selected, information corresponding to the icon in at least one of the sub regions. |
| US08245154B2 |
Most-recently-used task switching among parent and child windows
Task switching among windows on a graphical user interface. Responsive to user action (such as simultaneously pressing the ALT and TAB keys), a task selection window is displayed in which an iconic representation is provided for a plurality of windows, including at least one child window, and the iconic representations are arranged according to how recently the associated window had focus. Responsive to user action (such as pressing the TAB key while the ALT key remains depressed), a selection indicator moves through the selectable iconic representations in the order of the recency of the focus. |
| US08245149B2 |
Associating an object with a print driver on a display
The convenience for a user can be improved when a printer apparatus is used through an information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes: an associating unit for associating an object with a printer driver corresponding to a printer apparatus and a network port relating to a communication with the printer apparatus when the communication with the printer apparatus is established, and releasing the association between the object and the printer driver corresponding to the printer apparatus and the network port relating to the communication with the printer apparatus when the communication with the printer apparatus is not established; and an object control unit for performing control to display on a display apparatus a first object associated by the associating unit with a printer driver corresponding to a first printer apparatus and a network port relating to a communication with the first printer apparatus, and a second object associated with a printer driver corresponding to a second printer apparatus different from the first printer apparatus and a network port relating to a communication with the second printer apparatus as the same object. |
| US08245148B2 |
History display apparatus, history display system, history display method, and program
According to an operation of a frame on an arrangement of history information displayed in a sequence, shared history information including action information which relates to action information having a first identifier selected by the frame and has a second identifier is obtained from a server. Identifiers included in action information items included in the shared history information are displayed in the sequence, in parallel with the arrangement of the history information so that the second identifier is displayed adjacent to the first identifier. Via the first and the second identifiers, the frame is moved between the arrangements of the history information and the shared history information, and according to an operation of the frame in the before-after direction of the sequence on the arrangement to which the frame is moved, an identifier included in an action information item in the before-after direction of the sequence is displayed. |
| US08245146B2 |
Map display device and method for controlling indication of map
A storage medium stores map data divided into unit areas. A control circuit indicates a map on an image display unit according to the map data. The map data includes name records, which respectively correspond to names to be indicated in the map. Each of the name records includes information specifying a character string of corresponding one of the names and information specifying an indication range of the character string in the map. An updating unit updates a part of the unit areas of the map data. An extracting unit extracts a pair of the same character strings, which are overlapped and indicated in the map or closely indicated in the map, with reference to the name records, after update of the part of the unit areas of the map data. A prohibiting unit prohibits indication of one of the extracted pair in the map. |
| US08245143B2 |
Method and handheld electronic device having a graphical user interface which arranges icons dynamically
A method and handheld electronic device having a graphical user interface which arranges icons dynamically are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method for providing an icon menu with dynamic icon arrangement within a graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on a display screen of a handheld electronic device, the method comprising: (i) determining a screen orientation of the GUI in accordance with a device orientation; (ii) rendering a first user interface screen in a portrait screen orientation comprising a reduced icon menu having a plurality of icons and a secondary input area adjacent to the reduced icon menu when the screen orientation is a portrait screen orientation; (iii) rendering a second user interface screen in a landscape screen orientation comprising a first expanded icon menu having a plurality of icons when the screen orientation is a landscape screen orientation, wherein the first expanded icon menu has more icons than the reduced icon menu; and (iv) displaying the rendered first or second user interface screen on the display screen. |
| US08245142B2 |
Method and system for displaying data on a mobile terminal
The present invention provides a method and system for acquiring, storing and displaying content on a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal is adapted to acquire content from content providing devices or sources such as the Internet, e-mail, or direct download from a PC to the mobile terminal for display. Content providing devices of the system are stand-alone devices which store content, such as location based advertising information, for downloading by a mobile terminal in close proximity to the content providing device. An application resident on the mobile terminal can provide scrolling player functionality to enable stored data content to be easily viewed. |
| US08245135B2 |
Producing a visual summarization of text documents
A method and system of producing a visual text summarization. According to the method, a plurality of topics may be extracted from a collection of text documents, where each of the topics comprises a distribution of topic keywords. An importance ranking for each of the topics may be determined, and an importance ranking for each of the topic keywords of a topic may also be determined. A graph may be displayed having a plurality of stacked layers representing a group of topics selected from the plurality of topics based on the importance ranking of the topics. A keyword cloud within each layer of the graph may also be displayed, where the one keyword cloud is a group of topic keywords selected from the extracted topic keywords based on the importance ranking of the extracted topic keywords. |
| US08245129B2 |
Method and system for providing synchronization of directory data
Methods and systems for providing synchronization of directory data between directory servers are provided. Example embodiments provide a Application Workspace System “AWS,” which enables users to access remote server-based applications using the same interface that they use to access local applications, without needing to know where the application is being accessed. In one embodiment of the AWS, every data entry in the LDAP is automatically replicated to the other directories using XLDAPS technology. In one embodiment, XLDAPS uses XSLT transformation rules to synchronize LDAP changes to different LDAP Directories which may have a different LDAP Schema and a different LDAP Directory Information Tree structure This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US08245124B1 |
Content modification and metadata
A content manager receives digital content. The content manager modifies original digital content in accordance with a set of effects to produce modified digital content. Application of the set of effects modifies how the digital content is subsequently played back by one or more media player applications. In addition to applying effect, the content manager creates metadata identifying the set of effects applied to the original digital content to produce the modified digital content. The content manager then initiates distribution of the modified digital content and the corresponding metadata over a network. The metadata associated with the digital content identifies the set of effects applied to the received digital content prior to the distribution. Accordingly, other entities in a network environment can identify which effects have been applied to a corresponding set of digital content. |
| US08245118B2 |
Architecture and control of reed-solomon error identification and evaluation
Systems and methods are provided for implementing error identification and evaluation for a Reed-Solomon (RS) error-correction code (ECC) system. The BMA algorithm and/or list decoding may produce one or more error locator polynomials that are related to a decision-codeword. An accelerated Chien search can be used to more quickly evaluate the one or more error locator polynomial. If the accelerated Chien search identifies a valid error locator polynomial, a normal Chien search can be used to identify error locations, and Forney's algorithm or an equivalent technique can be used to evaluate the error values. A RS ECC decoder can include a computation circuit that evaluates an error locator polynomial or an error evaluator polynomial. The computation circuit can include computation components that receive the coefficients of the polynomials. |
| US08245117B1 |
Low complexity chien search in chase-type decoding of reed-solomon codes
Data is processed by obtaining a length of an error locator polynomial. It is determined whether the length of the error locator polynomial is greater than a threshold. In the event the length of the error locator polynomial is greater than the threshold, performance of a Chien search on the error locator polynomial is skipped. In the event the length of the error locator polynomial is less than or equal to than the threshold, the Chien search is performed on the error locator polynomial to determine one or more roots of the error locator polynomial, where the roots correspond to one or more error locations. |
| US08245113B2 |
Convolution-encoded RAID with trellis-decode-rebuild
A Redundant Array of Independent Devices uses convolution encoding to provide redundancy of the striped data written to the devices. No parity is utilized in the convolution encoding process. Trellis decoding is used for both reading the data from the RAID and for rebuilding missing encoded data from one or more failed devices, based on a minimal, and preferably zero, Hamming distance for selecting the connected path through the trellis diagram. |
| US08245112B2 |
Flash memory organization
A flash-memory system is organized into a plurality of blocks and a plurality of pages in each block, each page having 2N data locations and K spare locations. At least one page in the memory has 2M−1 user data sectors and each sector has 2N-M+L locations therein. Error-correction code (ECC) data related to the user data is calculated and stored in at least the 2M user data locations unused by the 2M−1 user data sectors. Because L is at least 1 but less than 2N-M (N>M), at least a portion of one user data sector is stored in the spare memory locations. Additional locations in each page are available to allow for the ECC data to have additional redundancy bits added per sector, thereby making the flash memory system more robust and reliable. |
| US08245108B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method for driving the same
A semiconductor memory device includes: a first bank and a second bank; one or more first data input/output pads disposed at one side of the first bank and used in access to data of the first bank; one or more second data input/output pads disposed at one side of the second bank and used in access to data of the second bank; a first cyclic redundancy code (CRC) generation circuit for generating a first CRC using a plurality of data output from the first bank and outputting the generated first CRC through the first data input/output pads; and a second CRC generation circuit for generating a second CRC using a plurality of data output from the second bank and outputting the generated second CRC through the second data input/output pads. |
| US08245107B2 |
Techniques for enabling simplified LDPC encoding and decoding
A method for low density parity check (LDPC) encoding comprises concatenating a predetermined number of zero bits to a scrambled input data word to generate a concatenated binary sequence; computing parity bits to be added to the concatenated binary sequence, wherein the computing is performed using an LDPC encoder; producing an encoded codeword that consists of the concatenated binary sequence and the parity bits; and replacing the predetermined number of zero bits in the encoded codeword with a scrambled binary sequence, thereby discarding the zero bits. |
| US08245105B2 |
Cascade interconnect memory system with enhanced reliability
A hub device, memory system, and method for providing a cascade interconnect memory system with enhanced reliability. The hub device includes an interface to a high-speed bus for communicating with a memory controller. The memory controller and the hub device are included in a cascade interconnect memory system and the high-speed bus includes bit lanes and one or more clock lanes. The hub device also includes a bi-directional fault signal line in communication with the memory controller and readable by a service interface. The hub device also includes a fault isolation register (FIR) for storing information about failures detected at the hub device, the information including severity levels of the detected failures. In addition, the hub device includes error recovery logic for responding to a failure detected at the hub device. |
| US08245100B2 |
Error recovery storage along a nand-flash string
Apparatus and methods store error recovery data in different dimensions of a memory array. For example, in one dimension, block error correction codes (ECC) are used, and in another dimension, supplemental error correction codes, such as convolutional codes, are used. By using separate dimensions, the likelihood that a defect affects both error recovery techniques is lessened, thereby increasing the probability that error recovery can be performed successfully. In one example, block error correction codes are used for data stored along rows, and this data is stored in one level of multiple-level cells of the array. Supplemental error correction codes are used for data stored along columns, such as along the cells of a string, and the supplemental error correction codes are stored in a different level than the error correction codes. |
| US08245094B2 |
Rank modulation for flash memories
We investigate a novel storage technology, Rank Modulation, for flash memories. In this scheme, a set of n cells stores information in the permutation induced by the different charge levels of the individual cells. The resulting scheme eliminates the need for discrete cell levels, and overshoot errors when programming cells (a serious problem that reduces the writing speed), as well as mitigate the problem of asymmetric errors. We present schemes for Gray codes, rewriting and joint coding in the rank modulation paradigm. |
| US08245091B2 |
Methods and devices for generating dots of an image by using two error row memories
Disclosed are devices and methods for generating dots of an image by using two error row memories, which are capable of reading and writing data synchronously. A device disclosed comprises: a buffer memory A; a buffer memory B; and a memory controller. The memory controller may comprise a read-write control circuit for the buffer memory A, a read-write control circuit for the buffer memory B, and a buffer memory selection circuit. The buffer memory selection circuit is used to generate a read-write selection signal for the buffer memory A and the buffer memory B. The read-write control circuit for the buffer memory A is connected to the buffer memory A and used to implement a read operation or a write operation on the buffer memory A according to the read-write selection signal. The read-write control circuit for the buffer memory B is connected to the buffer memory B and used to implement a read operation or a write operation on the buffer memory B according to the read-write selection signal. The devices and methods are capable of implementing read and write operations on memories synchronously, which can improve the speed of error diffusion during use. |
| US08245090B2 |
Apparatus for formatting information storage medium
An apparatus according to the present invention is designed to perform formatting processing on an information storage medium. The storage medium has a data storage area including a user data area and a spare area. The user data area is provided to write user data on, while the spare area includes a replacement block to be used as a replacement for a block that has been detected as a defective block. The replacement block stores instruction information that instructs to read data from the defective block when data is read from the replacement block. The apparatus includes a control section for controlling the formatting processing. In performing the formatting processing, the control section updates information stored in the replacement block such that when data is read from the replacement block, the data is not read from the defective block. |
| US08245083B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus to debug a network application
Methods and apparatus to debug a network application are described. A described example network includes a live control network to collect control messages to create a history of network states, the history of network states reflecting an order in which control messages are processed, the live control network to roll back from a current state to a past state upon detection of an improper sequence of messages and to process the messages in a corrected sequence, the corrected sequence to be stored in the history. The described example network further includes a virtualized network corresponding to the live control network, the virtualized network responsive to a command from an operator to step through the history to facilitate debugging. |
| US08245081B2 |
Error reporting through observation correlation
A software component is executed to carry out a task, the task including a subtask. An external function is called to perform the subtask, the external function executing in a separate thread or process. The component receives an observation recorded by the external function, the observation including an identifier of a possible error condition and instance data associated with the possible error condition. The possible error condition being a cause of the failure of the external function to carry out the subtask. If the task cannot be completed, then a new observation is recorded along with the received observation, the new observation being related to a possible error condition of the component, which is a cause of the failure of the component to carry out the task. When the task can be completed despite the failure of the external function, the observation recorded by the external function is cleared. |
| US08245080B2 |
Model-based testing of an application program under test
A software testing system includes a test interface and a verification interface. The test interface receives a first processing request for the application program under test. The test interface generates a second processing request equivalent to the first processing request, and communicates the first and second processing requests to the application program under test and a model of the application program, respectively. A verification interface compares a first and a second response data set received, respectively, from the application program under test and the model. The verification interface generates an error indication if a difference is determined from the comparison of the first and second response data sets. If a difference is not determined from the comparison, then the verification interface generates a success indication. The verification interface communicates either the success or error indication to the test interface. |
| US08245078B1 |
Recovery interface
A user interface is provided through which a user may specify a container for data recovery. In response to the specification of a container for recovery, another user interface is provided through which the user can select a consistency group or a journal file to be utilized for recovery. In response to receiving a selection of a journal file for data recovery, a user interface is provided through which a user may specify a point in time, an event, or a snapshot at which time recovery for the corresponding volume should occur. In response to receiving a selection of a consistency group for recovery, a user interface is provided through which a user may specify a snapshot performed across two or more volumes of the consistency group that should be utilized for recovery. |
| US08245076B2 |
Method and apparatus for initiating corrective action for an electronic terminal
A method and device are provided for initiating corrective actions for a terminal, such as an ATM. A method of initiating corrective actions for a terminal comprises, monitoring a fault status of a first component, detecting a fault status of the first component with a first trigger plug-in, activating a first action plug-in based upon the detected fault status of the first component, and recycling the first component. |
| US08245075B2 |
Overclocking CPU with stepwise increase in frequency by BIOS gaining control upon interrupt generated at predetermined intervals
A method for overclocking a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer motherboard is disclosed. Step A is to set a second frequency of front side bus (FSB) by an operating interface of BIOS. Step B is to determine FSB frequency Fn at each of N stages according to a difference between a first frequency and the second frequency. Step C is to load the CPU with an operating system by booting the CPU at the first frequency of FSB, and send an interruption signal to the CPU from a chipset at predetermined intervals upon completion of the loading of the operating system so as to allow the BIOS to gain control over the CPU, and execute step D by the CPU on each of N occasions of interruption until the FSB frequency of the CPU is changed to the second frequency. Step D is to execute the BIOS by the CPU on the nth occasion of interruption such that the CPU operates at the FSB frequency Fn, and allow the operating system to resume control over the CPU. |
| US08245065B2 |
Power gating processor execution units when number of instructions issued per cycle falls below threshold and are independent until instruction queue is full
A method of power gating a microprocessor having an instruction scheduling unit for receiving issued instructions from an instruction decode unit; an execution unit coupled to receive and send signals from and to the instruction scheduling unit; and a state machine located within the execution unit, the method comprises: obtaining a number of instructions per cycle being issued to the instruction scheduling unit; determining, subsequent to obtaining the number of instructions per cycle, if the number of instruction per cycle being issued to the instruction scheduling unit is less than a threshold level, and then determining if at least two of the instructions being issued to the instruction scheduling unit are independent of each other only when the instructions per cycle is less than the threshold level; determining when at least two of the instructions being issued to the instruction scheduling unit are independent of each other; and power gating the microprocessor to gate off power to idle macros with a signal from the state machine when the instructions are independent of each other without incurring significant loss of performance until an issue queue in the instruction scheduling unit is filled with instruction data. |
| US08245064B2 |
Power conservation during a power mode transition
An apparatus and associated method to begin performing a power reduction enablement sequence based on a first predetermined value of elapsed time after an execution of a data access command is completed. The power reduction enablement sequence is performed at an adaptively selected rate that is related to a second predetermined value of elapsed time after the execution that calls for a switch to a reduced power mode for the apparatus. |
| US08245061B2 |
Systems and methods for operational power management utilizing power islands
Various systems and methods for power management are disclosed herein. For example, a synchronous semiconductor circuit is disclosed that includes two or more clock sources and a power management controller. The power management controller is operable to apply power to one of the clock sources and to select another of the clock sources for synchronization of the circuit. Then, upon stabilization of the first clock source, it is selected by the power management controller to synchronize the circuit. |
| US08245058B2 |
Serial port connector with power output function
A serial port connector with power output function includes a serial port having a plurality of pins. Under the existing EIA-RS-232, EIA-RS-422, and EIA-RS-485 standards for connectors, the definition of the pins of the serial port are altered, so that a pin that was originally defined as floating or for serial data communication signal is now changed to a power output specification. Thus, when the connector is connected via the same one cable to a serial port peripheral device, the connector can provide both functions of serial data communication signal transmission and power transmission to thereby largely increase the usability of the connector. |
| US08245053B2 |
Methods and systems for binding a removable trusted platform module to an information handling system
Methods and systems for binding a removable trusted platform module (TPM) subsystem module to an information handling system to provide a core root of trust for the information handling system without requiring soldering down or other hard and permanent (non-removable) attachment of a TPM device to the information handling system planar (e.g., motherboard). The removable TPM subsystem module may be a plug-in module that may be removed from the information handling system planar (e.g., motherboard), while at the same time maintaining the transitive chain of trust, and being capable of remotely attesting its trusted state. An information handling system platform may be provided that has the capability and flexibility of supporting multiple TPMs on the same system planar. |
| US08245051B2 |
Extensible account authentication system
Systems and methods directed at enhancing the capability of a federated authentication system by configuring the system with extensibility points for adding new account stores and customizing claim transformations. The federated authentication system includes accounts stores, a security token service (STS), and custom claim transformation modules. The account stores are configured to maintain data associated with accounts and to provide security claims in an intermediate format. The STS is configured to retrieve the security claims provided by the account stores and includes built-in transformations for transforming each security claim from the intermediate format to formats associated with resource providers. The STS is further configured to provide extensibility points for custom claim transformations that are not available from the built-in transformations. The custom claim transformation modules are configured to perform at least one custom claim transformation. Each custom claim transformation module is further configured to interact with the STS through at least one of the extensibility points. The STS may be configured to provide extensibility points for interacting with account stores that the STS does not explicitly recognize. |
| US08245047B2 |
Group signature scheme with improved efficiency, in particular in a join procedure
A method for managing a group signature scheme includes in a setup procedure for group initialization, generating, by a group manager, a group public key. In a join procedure for the group manager to add a new member to the group, the method includes generating by the new member, user information, and providing the generated user information to the group manager, and computing, by the group manager, membership information for the new member based on the user information received by the new member and on the group public key, and providing to the new member the computed membership information. In particular, the membership information is computed, by the group manager, as a function of the inverse of a given hash function of the user information. In a signing procedure for a group member to sign a message on behalf of the group, the method includes: using, by the group member, the membership information and the user information. The method further includes the use of digital certificates, in order for the group member to prove to the group manager the possession of said user information. |
| US08245045B2 |
Computer-implemented methods, systems and computer program products for generating and verifying signatures
The present description refers in particular to example computer-implemented methods, example computer program products, and example computer systems for automatically generating or verifying a digital signature for a message. The message may be representable in a hierarchical tree structure. An example computer-implemented method may comprise: selecting, from a message MT, a sub-message M to be signed, the sub-message M comprising at least one element; generating a well-formed context CMt for the sub-message M, wherein the well-formed context CMt defines a derivation path to the element in the message MT at a time t, the element being marked [M] in the well-formed context CMt; generating a message digest δM from the sub-message M and a context digest δC from the well-formed context CMt; and generating a signature S by applying a secret key SA of a user A to the message digest δM and to the context digest δC. |
| US08245041B2 |
System and method for secure authentication of a “smart” battery by a host
Systems and methods for providing a battery module 110 with secure identity information and authentication of the identity of the battery 110 by a host 120. In one embodiment, the system for providing a battery module with secure identity information includes: (1) a tamper resistant processing environment 200 located within the battery module 110 and (2) a key generator configured to generate a key based on an identity of the battery module 110 and cause the key to be stored within the tamper resistant processing environment 200. |
| US08245038B2 |
Method and apparatus for verifying integrity of redacted documents
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system which allows a document owner to redact content from a document and allows a recipient of the redacted document to challenge the appropriateness of the redaction. During operation, the system allows the document owner to redact a string Mi from location i in the document. In doing so, the system produces a commitment Ci=C(Mi, Ri) based on string Mi and a string Ri used as randomness and communicates Ci to the recipient. When the recipient challenges the redaction, the system receives a topic string T from the recipient, and produces a string RT. The system then communicates RT to the recipient, thereby allowing the recipient to produce a commitment CT=C(T, RT) based on strings T and RT, and compare CT with Ci. Comparing commitment CT with Ci allows the recipient to test redactions for string equality. |
| US08245037B1 |
Encryption key management
Secure information is managed for each host or machine in an electronic environment using a series of key identifiers that each represent one or more secure keys, passwords, or other secure information. Applications and services needing access to the secure information can specify the key identifier, for example, and the secure information currently associated with that identifier can be determined without any change to the code or manual input or exposure of the secure information on the respective device. Functionality such as encryption key management and rotation are inaccessible and transparent to the user. In a networked or distributed environment, the key identifiers can be associated with host classes such that at startup any host in a class can obtain the necessary secure information. Updates and key rotation can be performed in a similar fashion by pushing updates to host classes transparent to a user, application, or service. |
| US08245028B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamic, seamless security in communication protocols
Communication nodes, acting as intermediate routers for communication packets transmitted between a source node and a destination node, are provided with different access rights to the fields of the routed communication packets. Routes of intermediate routers between the source node and the destination node are discovered and the identities of intermediate routers on the discovered routes are collected. The aggregate trust levels of the intermediate routers are computed allowing the most trusted route to be selected. Encryption keys are securely distributed to intermediate routers on the most trusted route based on the trust level of the intermediate routers and fields of the communication packets are encrypted with encryption keys corresponding to the assigned trust level. Intermediated nodes are thereby prevented from accessing selected fields of the communication packets. |
| US08245026B1 |
Securing the contents of data storage devices within a computer
Each data storage device that supports the standard security features and is enabled with a security password may be locked when power is removed from the device. When power is returned, a determination is made as to whether the data storage device is locked and returning from a powered off state or a hardware reset. If locked, a password may be received from a user. After the security password is received, the data storage device is unlocked, allowing access to the data on the device. A setup utility is provided for manipulating the security and backup passwords for each device. Other features include: presenting locked devices to the operating system, the use of a backup password to unlock a device in lieu of the security password, requiring or not requiring password entry from a user to unlock a device when returning from a sleep state, setting maximum or high security, an automatic hardware reset upon exiting the setup utility, and disabling change password capabilities for devices without an enabled security password. |
| US08245024B2 |
Booting in systems having devices coupled in a chained configuration
The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for booting in systems having devices coupled in a chained configuration. One or more embodiments include a host and a number of devices coupled to the host in a chained configuration, wherein at least one of the number of devices is a bootable device and the at least one bootable device is not directly coupled to the host. |
| US08245022B2 |
Method and system to support ISCSI boot through management controllers
An information handling system includes a host including a central processing unit, a management controller enabled to communicate with the host, a network interface resource in communication with the host and operable to enable the information handling system to communicate via an external network, and a target system in communication with the host through the network interface resource. The management controller comprises an iSCSI initiator operable to generate a request to the target system for an initial OS image. |
| US08245019B2 |
Method, program and system to update files in a computer system
Provided is a method, program and system to update files in a computer system. A patch is received for an installed program in a computer and message from a server over a network. Program files for the installed program are updated with contents of the patch. A determination is made as to whether the message indicates to automatically reboot the computer. Information is generated to a user indicating that the computer will be automatically rebooted. Operations are initiated in the computer to reboot the computer after a delay period to provide the user opportunity to close files and applications before the reboot. |
| US08245017B2 |
Pipelined microprocessor with normal and fast conditional branch instructions
A microprocessor includes a first branch condition state and a second branch condition state. The microprocessor also includes a conditional branch instruction of a first type that instructs the microprocessor to wait to correctly resolve the conditional branch instruction of the first type based on the first branch condition state until other instructions within the microprocessor that update the first branch condition state and that are older than the conditional branch instruction of the first type have updated the first branch condition state. A conditional branch instruction of a second type instructs the microprocessor to correctly resolve the conditional branch instruction of the second type based on the second branch condition state without regard to whether other instructions within the microprocessor that update the second branch condition state and that are older than the conditional branch instruction of the second type have yet updated the second branch condition state. |
| US08245012B2 |
Adaptively preventing out of memory conditions
A computer-implemented method of preventing an out-of-memory condition can include evaluating usage of virtual memory of a process executing within a computer, detecting a low memory condition in the virtual memory for the process, and selecting at least one functional program component of the process according to a component selection technique. The method also can include sending a notification to each selected functional program component and, responsive to receiving the notification, each selected functional program component releasing at least a portion of a range of virtual memory reserved on behalf of the selected functional program component. |
| US08245010B2 |
Method for memory address arrangement
A method for memory address arrangement is provided. Data of different Y coordinates is moved to operation units divided by different X coordinates, or data of different X coordinates is moved to operation units divided by different Y coordinates, so as to realize the function of simultaneously longitudinally and laterally reading and writing a plurality of batches of data, thereby preventing the limitation of only longitudinally or laterally reading and writing a plurality of batches of data. |
| US08245009B2 |
Simulating memory hot add
Memory is logically partitioned into two regions. A first region may be a similar size relative to the second region or the first region may be a small subset of the memory. The first region of memory is initialized and an operating system utilizes the first region. A system handler simulates a physical hot add of the second region. After the simulated physical hot add, the operating system may utilize the second region as if it were newly added physical memory and/or may utilize both the first region and second region. |
| US08245007B2 |
Storage subsystem
There is provided a storage subsystem having a virtual volume and a page volume which has a page physical area allocated to the virtual volume. The storage subsystem divides an address space of the virtual volume into a plurality of pages, classifies each of the pages into one of a plurality of states including at least a first state and a second state, and further divide a page which is classified into the second state into a plurality of segments to managed the page classified into the second state. The first state is a state in which a page physical area is allocated to the page from the page volume, and the write data is stored in the page physical area. The second state is a state in which the predetermined pattern data and the segment are managed, in the memory, by correlating with each other. |
| US08245002B2 |
Call stack protection
Call stack protection, including executing at least one application program on the one or more computer processors, including initializing threads of execution, each thread having a call stack, each call stack characterized by a separate guard area defining a maximum extent of the call stack, dispatching one of the threads of the process, including loading a guard area specification for the dispatched thread's call stack guard area from thread context storage into address comparison registers of a processor; determining by use of address comparison logic in dependence upon a guard area specification for the dispatched thread whether each access of memory by the dispatched thread is a precluded access of memory in the dispatched thread's call stack's guard area; and effecting by the address comparison logic an address comparison interrupt for each access of memory that is a precluded access of memory in the dispatched thread's guard area. |
| US08244999B1 |
Maintaining data consistency in mirrored cluster storage systems with write-back cache
Techniques for maintaining mirrored storage cluster data consistency on systems with write back cache can employ write-intent logging and periodic log clearing. The techniques can track any outstanding I/Os, data in caches, and data that has gone out of sync between mirrored nodes due to link failures. The techniques can ensure that a power failure on any of the storage nodes does not result in inconsistent data among the storage nodes. The techniques can use gate bitmaps to log outstanding I/Os. The gate bitmaps may be periodically cleared. The clearing period may be selected as to allow enough time for all caches to be flushed and for all synchronizing I/Os to complete. Efficient queuing of I/O requests in conjunction with the efficient operation of multiple gate bitmaps can reduce performance impacts of the gating or logging operations. |
| US08244998B1 |
Optimized backup for a clustered storage system
A system and method for backing up data from a clustered storage system are described herein. The method may operate to automatically determine the configuration of the clustered storage system, e.g., by detecting each storage node in the clustered storage system, detecting the storage volumes hosted by each storage node, and detecting the backup storage devices to which each storage node is connected. The method may operate to backup the plurality of storage volumes by performing a plurality of backup tasks. Performing each respective backup task may comprises selecting a particular storage volume to backup from a particular storage node to a particular backup storage device depending upon the configuration information and information indicating currently active backup tasks in the clustered storage system. |
| US08244996B2 |
Hierarchical storage apparatus, control device, and control method
A storage apparatus includes a first storage device that primarily stores data, a second storage device, having a property differing from the first storage device, that secondarily stores the data, and a control device that controls a data migration between the first storage device and the second storage device. The control device includes a storage section that stores attribute information on the data stored in the first storage device, a priority determination section which, based on the attribute information, determines a priority for the data migration from the first storage device to the second storage device, and a data migration section which, based on the priority, causes the data to migrate from the first storage device to the second storage device. |
| US08244993B2 |
Memory chain
A memory system having a plurality of memory devices and a memory controller. The memory devices are coupled to one another in a chain. The memory controller is coupled to the chain and configured to output a memory access command that is received by each of the memory devices in the chain and that selects a set of two or more of the memory devices to be accessed. |
| US08244990B2 |
Obstruction-free synchronization for shared data structures
We introduce obstruction-freedom—a new non-blocking condition for shared data structures that weakens the progress requirements of traditional nonblocking conditions, and as a result admits solutions that are significantly simpler and more efficient in the typical case of low contention. We demonstrate the merits of obstruction-freedom by showing how to implement an obstruction-free double-ended queue that has better properties than any previous nonblocking deque implementation of which we are aware. The beauty of obstruction-freedom is that we can modify and experiment with the contention management mechanisms without needing to modify (and therefore reverify) the underlying non-blocking algorithm. In contrast, work on different mechanisms for guaranteeing progress in the context of lock-free and wait-free algorithms has been hampered by the fact that modifications to the “helping” mechanisms has generally required the proofs for the entire algorithm to be done again. |
| US08244989B2 |
Secure erasure of a target digital file including use of replacement data from used space
One or more target files are securely erased from a host storage medium such as a disk by overwriting the target files not just with “O's,” “1's” and/or random data, but also (or instead) by overwriting them with portions of other, selected, innocuous files found on the same medium. By booting the host using a secondary, preferably external mechanism, before the host operating system is allowed to load, logging of file accesses and process execution by the host OS is circumvented. Post-replacement fragmentation and defragmentation may also be used to further reduce the detectability of the erasure, and the success of the process may be evaluated using statistical analysis. |
| US08244982B2 |
Allocating processor cores with cache memory associativity
Techniques are generally described related to a multi-core processor with a plurality of processor cores and a cache memory shared by at least some of the processor cores. The multi-core processor can be configured for separately allocating a respective level of cache memory associativity to each of the processing cores. |
| US08244980B2 |
Shared cache performance
A method and apparatus for improving shared cache performance. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a cache having multiple ways. A locality tester measures a first locality of a first process and second locality of a second process. A first set of multiple ways stores the data used by the first process and a second set of multiple ways stores the data used by the second process, where the second set is a superset of the first set. |
| US08244979B2 |
System and method for cache-locking mechanism using translation table attributes for replacement class ID determination
A system, method, and program product are provided that identifies a cache set using Translation LookAside Buffer (TLB) attributes. When a virtual address is requested, the method, system, and program product identifies a cache set using buffer attributes. When a virtual address is received, an attempt is made to load the received virtual address from a cache. When the attempt results in a cache miss, a page is identified within a Translation LookAside Buffer that includes the virtual address. A class identifier is then retrieved from the identified page, with the class identifier identifying a cache set that is selected from the cache. |
| US08244978B2 |
IOMMU architected TLB support
Embodiments allow a smaller, simpler hardware implementation of an input/output memory management unit (IOMMU) having improved translation behavior that is independent of page table structures and formats. Embodiments also provide device-independent structures and methods of implementation, allowing greater generality of software (fewer specific software versions, in turn reducing development costs). |
| US08244975B2 |
Command queue ordering by flipping active write zones
A data storage system is provided with a storage domain having an active zone subportion of storage space, and a command queue controller configured for short-stroking an actuator directed to the active zone. A method is provided for virtualizing a storage space to store user data in a first domain and redundant data in a second domain, partitioning each of the domains into active and inactive subportion storage zones, and executing a retrieve access command from one of the first and second domains depending on which domain's active zone contains an LBA associated with the retrieve access command. |
| US08244974B2 |
Method and system for equalizing usage of storage media
A method is presented for using a hard disk drive which contains a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) and a computer-usable disk medium. A usage value is maintained for the number of accesses to the computer-usable disk medium, and the usage value is stored within the NVRAM. In a system that is connected to multiple hard disk drives, the usage values for the hard disk drives can be compared to determine a youngest disk drive or a lowest amount of usage amongst the multiple hard disk drives. When data needs to be mirrored or backed-up to one of the hard disk drives, it can be copied to the youngest or least-used hard disk drive. If an operating system installation needs to be performed, the operating system files can be stored on the youngest or least-used hard disk drive. |
| US08244973B2 |
Relay apparatus and data control method
When a data word is designated through a network search engine, a FIFO unit, and the like, a relay apparatus according to the invention searches for an associative memory address corresponding to the data word. Even when the associative memory address is internally converted to a contents memory address, the relay apparatus stores the contents memory address by causing it to correspond to a search result corresponding to the contents memory address as well as outputs the associative memory address together with the search result. |
| US08244972B2 |
Optimizing EDRAM refresh rates in a high performance cache architecture
Controlling refresh request transmission rates in a cache comprising: a refresh requestor configured to transmit a refresh request to a cache memory at a first refresh rate, the first refresh rate comprising an interval, the interval comprising receiving a plurality of first signals, the first refresh rate corresponding to a maximum refresh rate, and a refresh counter operatively coupled to the refresh requestor and configured to reset in response to receiving a second signal, increment in response to receiving each of a plurality of refresh requests from the refresh requestor, and reset and transmit a current count to the refresh requestor in response to receiving a third signal, wherein the refresh requestor is configured to transmit a refresh request at a second refresh rate, in response to receiving the current count from the refresh counter and determining that the current count is greater than a refresh threshold. |
| US08244966B2 |
Self-adaptive control method for logical strips based on multi-channel solid-state non-volatile storage device
A self-adaptive control method for logical strips based on a multi-channel solid-state non-volatile storage device is provided. The method includes the following steps. Storage space of every channel is divided into a plurality of storage units of equal size. At least one logical strip is set by which the storage units with discrete physical addresses across the channels are organized into a continuous logical space, and a logical strip variable is set for determining the storage units organized by the logical strip. Historical operation information of the storage device is obtained statistically, and the logical strip variable is dynamically adjusted according to the obtained operation information. During data interaction, the data is divided according to the logical strip variable, the divided data is mapped to the storage units of every channel, and parallel reading and writing operations are performed among the channels. |
| US08244963B2 |
Method for giving read commands and reading data, and controller and storage system using the same
A method for giving a read command to a flash memory chip to read data to be accessed by a host system is provided. The method includes receiving a host read command; determining whether the received host read command follows a last host read command; if yes, giving a cache read command to read data from the flash memory chip; and if no, giving a general read command and the cache read command to read data from the flash memory chip. Accordingly, the method can effectively reduce time needed for executing the host read commands by using the cache read command to combine the host read commands which access continuous physical addresses and pre-read data stored in a next physical address. |
| US08244961B2 |
SSD with distributed processors
In one embodiment, a system includes a serial data bus, a plurality of processors of a first type, and a processor of a second type. The serial data bus is configured to be coupled to a corresponding serial data bus of a host device. Each of the plurality of processors of the first type is coupled to a respective flash memory device. The processor of the second type is configured to manage the access that the plurality of the processors of the first type have to the serial data bus. |
| US08244956B2 |
Mechanism for automatic adjustment of virtual machine storage
A mechanism for automatic adjustment of virtual machine (VM) storage is disclosed. A method of embodiments of the invention includes stopping, by a host computing device, a virtual machine (VM) hosted by the host computing device from running upon detecting a write error due to lack of storage on the VM, communicating, by the host computing device, an out-of-storage notification from a hypervisor of the host computing device to a host management agent, and sending, by the host computing device, data associated with the out-of storage notification and the VM to a host controller that manages the host computing device, wherein the host controller causes storage for the VM to be increased. |
| US08244951B2 |
Method and apparatus to facilitate system to system protocol exchange in back to back non-transparent bridges
A dual host system and method with back to back non-transparent bridges and a proxy packet generating mechanism. The proxy packet generating mechanism enables the hosts to send interrupt generating packets to each other. |
| US08244950B2 |
Buffering non-posted read commands and responses
An improved interface technique for use in a southbridge or I/O hub or in similar devices is provided where non-posted read requests are received from at least one requestor, and upstream commands based on these requests are transmitted. Response data is received in reply to commands that were previously transmitted, and responses are transmitted to the at least one requester based on the response data. A buffer unit is provided for storing command identification data that identifies commands that were already transmitted or that are still to be transmitted, and response availability data that specifies response data that has been received by the receive engine. The improvement may enable multiple outstanding read requests. |
| US08244948B2 |
Method and system for combining multiple SAS expanders into a SAS switch
A first SAS expander including at least phys is operably coupled to a first and a second SAS wide port. A second SAS expander including at least two phys is operably coupled to the first and the second SAS wide port. The first and the second SAS wide port each include at least two lanes, one of each at least two lanes designateable as a connection request lane. The connection request lane of each SAS wide port is operably coupled to a different SAS expander. |
| US08244946B2 |
Interrupt moderation
A technique for interrupt moderation allows coalescing interrupts from a device into groups to be processed as a batch by a host processor. Receive and send completions may be processed differently. When the host is interrupted for receive completions, it may check for send completions, reducing the need for interrupts related to send completions. Timers and a counter allow coalescing interrupts into a single interrupt that can be used to signal the host to process multiple completions. The technique is suitable for both dedicated interrupt line and message-signaled interrupts. |
| US08244945B2 |
Efficient handling of interrupts in a computing environment
A method for efficiently handling interrupts in a virtual technology environment with integrity services is provided. The method comprises assigning an interrupt to a virtual machine that is running a software agent; suspending the software agent; invoking a protected interrupt handler; copying the interrupt's memory content to a protected location, in response to successfully verifying the integrity of the content; replacing the interrupt's return address with a return address for a protected function; switching from the software agent's protected context to its active context; executing the original interrupt handler; returning control to the protected function to ensure that execution of the software agent resumes safely; switching back to the software agent's protected context, in response to successfully verifying the integrity of the content; and passing control back to the software agent to resume execution. |
| US08244944B1 |
Priority arbitration of coexisting wireless topologies
A wireless network device including an antenna, a first communication module, and a second communication module. The first communication module is configured to transmit or receive packets of data in accordance with a first communication standard, and the second communication module is configured to transmit or receive packets of data in accordance with a second communication standard. The wireless network device further includes an arbitration module configured to grant access of each of the first communication module and the second communication module to the antenna so that the first communication module and the second communication module can respectively transmit or receive data packets in accordance with the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol. |
| US08244940B2 |
Peripheral device and method of connecting peripheral device with host device
A peripheral device of the invention is capable of data communication with a host device via one of a first-type interface and a second-type interface having different data communication-related specifications. The peripheral device has a single connector for making electric connection selectively with a first-type connector or a second-type connector. The peripheral device also has a controller for performing an initial connection process that makes a logical connection between the peripheral device and the host device via the first-type interface or the second-type interface. While the physical connection is maintained, the controller breaks the logical connection established by the initial connection process and subsequently makes another logical connection between the peripheral device and the host device. |
| US08244939B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically allocating queue depth by initiator
A method for maximizing I/O requests to a target port is provided. The method includes a storage controller obtaining an initiator allowed queue depth, receiving an I/O request and a current sequence identifier from an initiator logged into the target port, and determining if the initiator allowed queue depth is equal to a first queue depth corresponding to the initiator. If the initiator allowed queue depth is equal to the first queue depth then returning a queue full indication and a maximum sequence identifier equal to the current sequence identifier to the initiator. If the initiator allowed queue depth is not equal to the first queue depth then placing the I/O request on a queue, incrementing the first queue depth, and adjusting the maximum sequence identifier. Adjusting the maximum sequence identifier includes adding the current sequence identifier to the initiator allowed queue depth and subtracting the first queue depth. |
| US08244936B2 |
Data communication apparatus for stabilizing the connection of a communication line between data communication apparatuses and program therefor
A data communication apparatus 1 has a processing section (CPU) 10 that executes at least a part of communication processing of a communication controller 2 and that executes processing other than the communication processing, whereinThe data communication apparatus 1 has an interrupt request blocking section 20 that blocks, during execution of a processing relevant to information exchange concerning a communication condition for the communication controller 2 to carry out a communication processing, an interrupt request to the processing section 10 with priority over the processing relevant to information exchange. With this arrangement, even when additional operation is carried out to execute an interrupt processing during execution of a processing concerning a communication condition such as a modulation system of a modem and a communication speed, the processing can be executed securely and a stable connection of a communication line can be maintained. |
| US08244932B2 |
Dynamic stabilization for a stream processing system
Disclosed are a method, upstream processing node, and computer readable medium for dynamically stabilizing a stream processing system. The method includes receiving at least one computing resource allocation target. The method further includes determining that an input data flow rate of at least one upstream processing element varies. The computing resource is dynamically allocated to the upstream processing element in response to the input rate of the upstream processing element varying. Data flow is dynamically controlled between the upstream processing element and at least one downstream processing element. |
| US08244927B2 |
Method of detecting accessories on an audio jack
An apparatus comprises an audio or video jack connector configured to receive an audio or video jack plug of a separate device, a detection circuit in electrical communication with the connector, and a processor communicatively coupled to the detection circuit. The connector includes an electrical contact for connection to a conducting terminal of the plug. The detection circuit is configured to determine a resistance at the conducting terminal. The resistance is a resistive load of the separate device at the conducting terminal of the plug. The processor is configured to identify a function of the separate device according to the determined resistance, and configure an operation of the apparatus according to the determined function. |
| US08244926B2 |
Data processing system and data processor
One data processor is provided with an interface for realizing connection with the other data processor. This interface is provided with a function for connecting the other data processor as a bus master to an internal bus of the one data processor, and the relevant other data processor is capable of directly operating peripheral functions that are memory mapped to the internal bus from an external side via the interface. Accordingly, the data processor can utilize the peripheral functions of the other data processor without interruption of the program being executed. In short, one data processor can use in common the peripheral resources of the other data processor. |
| US08244925B2 |
Circuit board and liquid crystal display includes changing EDID information
Provided are a circuit board that stores Extended Display Identification Data (EDID) information provided externally and a liquid crystal display (LCD) comprising the same. The liquid crystal display comprises a circuit board and a liquid crystal panel. The circuit board comprises a first connector which receives an externally provided video signal, a second connector which receives an externally provided EDID signal, a memory coupled to the second connector that receives and stores the EDID signal, and a timing controller which receives the video signal from the first connector and generates a video data voltage by using the EDID signal. The liquid crystal panel responds to the video data voltage and displays a video image. |
| US08244918B2 |
Resource sharing expansion card
An expansion card is provided that allows resources allocated to the expansion card to be shared with a different card. The expansion card comprises a coupling device that couples the expansion card to a data processing system. The expansion card also includes an identifier data structure that when queried by the data processing system, identifies the expansion card as a resource sharing expansion card. The data processing system reallocates one or more resources allocated to the expansion card to a different card coupled to the data processing system. |
| US08244916B1 |
Method and apparatus for enabling a network interface to support multiple networks
An apparatus capable of communicating data with a second apparatus using one of multiple networks comprising first and second networks comprises a host specifying a preferred one of the multiple networks; a first physical layer device arranged to communicate the data over the first network, wherein the first physical layer device determines a first status of the first network; a second physical layer device arranged to communicate the data over the second network; a first media access controller to facilitate communication of the data from the host over the first network using a single media access controller address via the first physical layer device; and a second media access controller to facilitate communication of the data from the host over the second network using the single media access controller address via the second physical layer device; and a controller in communication with the first and second physical layer devices and the host to provide the first and second status to the host, wherein the host controls the controller to communicate the data using the first media access controller if the first network is the preferred one and the first status is available. |
| US08244915B1 |
Systems and methods to uniquely identify assets in a federation
Some embodiments provide different frameworks that implement conflict avoidance systems and methods for ensuring uniqueness in identifying assets for different customers that are deployed to server capacity of one or more distributed platforms participating in a federation. Specifically, different frameworks are provided whereby the distributed platforms authorize use of a domain before configuring the domain to identify assets of a customer. A method performed in one such framework includes receiving a domain that is specified for identifying assets of a first customer belonging to a first distributed platform of the federation. The method determines whether the domain conflicts with a domain that is configured by a second distributed platform of the federation. The method then communicates with the first distributed platform (i) to configure the received domain when there is no conflict and (ii) to prevent the first distributed platform from configuring the received domain when there is a conflict. |
| US08244914B1 |
Systems and methods for restoring email databases
A method may include creating a backup image of an email database. The method may also include archiving a set of email objects in the backup image by, for each email object in the set of email objects: (1) moving the email object from the backup image to an archival data store; and (2) providing, in the backup image, a shortcut that identifies a location of the email object in the archival data store. The method may further include receiving a request to restore the email database and restoring the email database from the backup image by, for each email object in the set of email objects, restoring the shortcut to the email object instead of restoring the email object. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08244913B1 |
Replication horizon determination with an independent distributed database system
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the replication horizon and other data propagation-related information is tracked through the use of a “pulse” and “echo” approach. |
| US08244911B2 |
Method and apparatus for concurrent and stateful decompression of multiple compressed data streams
A method for decompressing multiple data streams includes receiving a packet of data of a compressed data stream, directing the received packet to a selected one of a plurality of decompression functional units within a hardware-based decompression accelerator unit, obtaining decompression state information pertaining to the compressed data stream, and decompressing the received packet using the obtained decompression state information. |
| US08244905B2 |
Routing mechanisms for messaging applications using an enhanced gateway control function
Exemplary method and apparatuses for routing messaging traffic from a calling party in an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network to a server in a destination network that serves a called party via the most direct route are provided. A telephone number mapping (ENUM)/Domain Name System (DNS) database, pre-provisioned to receive and respond to query messages based on an identifier of the called party and an application specific service type, e.g., short message service (SMS) or instant messaging (IM), may be accessed by a node in the calling party's IMS network to determine an address of the server in the destination network. Messaging traffic may be routed to the destination network or server based on content type or destination digits when ENUM/DNS database based routing mechanisms fail. Furthermore, routing of messaging traffic originating in an enterprise network and routing through the public switched telephone network (PSTN) is enabled. |
| US08244895B2 |
Method and apparatus for applying receiving attributes using constraints
A method and apparatus for applying at least one receiving attribute at a receiving destination is provided. The design specifies receiving attributes based on constraints on definable multivariate functions, the definable multivariate functions including either linear combinations of products of univariate functions of attribute values or stack functions. The method may process predetermined specified functions at a format independent adaptation engine in a network using XML syntax by specifying an expression for the function using an ordered list of numeric constants, variables, arguments, and operators pushed into an expression stack to evaluate the expression. |
| US08244886B2 |
Systems and methods for providing content and services on a network system
Systems and methods for managing and providing content and services on a network system. Aspects of the invention include location-based determination of network content and services that may be provided to client computers. Other aspects of the invention include authorization and authentication components that determine access rights of client computers. Additional aspects include systems and methods for redirecting client computers to different network content. The disclosed systems and methods may be used in numerous network system applications. |
| US08244884B2 |
Method and apparatus for file sharing between a group of user devices with crucial portions sent via satellite and non-crucial portions sent using a peer-to-peer network
A communication system 100 includes a group of user devices 110, a satellite 106 and a content delivery network 120 in communication with the group of user devices 110. The content delivery network 120 selects a plurality of user devices 110 from the group of user devices 110, divides content into a crucial portion and non-crucial portions, communicates the non-crucial portions to the plurality of user devices using a peer-to-peer network until all non-critical portions are received. After communicating the non-crucial portions, the content delivery network 120 communicates the crucial portion to the plurality of user devices 110 through the satellite. The plurality of user devices assembles the crucial portion and the non-crucial portions to form the content. In addition, security information may be first transmitted through the satellite to the user devices so that a peer-to-peer network may be established. Thereafter, the non-crucial portion are exchanged through the peer-to-peer network. |
| US08244883B2 |
Systems and methods of for providing multi-mode transport layer compression
Systems and methods are disclosed for communicating compressed and uncompressed content over a transport layer connection established by an appliance between a client and a server. One method comprises the steps of: establishing, by an appliance, a transport layer connection between a client and a server, and receiving, by the appliance, a first response from the server to a first client request, and a second response from the server to a second client request The first response and the second response has uncompressed data. The method includes transmitting, by the appliance, the first response to the client. The appliance identifies first type of compression from a plurality of compression types for compressing the second response to the client, compresses the second response based on the identified compression type, and transmits the compressed second response to the client. |
| US08244882B2 |
On-demand instantiation in a high-performance computing (HPC) system
In one embodiment, a method for on-demand instantiation in a high-performance computing (HPC) system includes receiving a connection request from a client specifying a first port number and a first host name advertised externally with respect to an HPC server including a cluster of nodes, identifying a service at the HPC server corresponding to the first port number and the first host name, determining whether the identified service is available, and, if the identified service is available, instantiating a host providing the identified service at one or more nodes in the cluster. |
| US08244880B2 |
Connection management method, system, and program product
The invention provides a method, system, and program product for managing a connection. In particular, the invention manages connection information in memory based on an expected usage of the corresponding connection. Connection information can be stored in faster memory, such as cache memory, when the connection is expected to have numerous additional messages. Similarly, the connection information for a connection not expected to have many additional messages can be swapped out of the cache memory and stored in relatively slower memory. As a result, the connection information that is more frequently used is more likely to be available in a faster memory. |
| US08244878B2 |
User experience for multiple simultaneous connections on an instant messaging program
Methods, computer-readable storage media, and systems for establishing multiple simultaneous connections on an instant messaging program to enhance the user experience. The user receives notifications of request to communicate, an email, or an alert on communication devices. By choosing which communication device to respond on, that particular communication device becomes active, continuing the communication to transmit to and receive from on that communication device. The process also includes mirroring the communication on the other communication devices that are alive (connected) and non-mobile. Furthermore, the other communication devices are kept alive to allow the user to switch from one communication device to another during communication. |
| US08244872B2 |
Educational adaptive provider architecture
The educational adaptive provider architecture described herein provides a way for an educational services framework to be built on varying underlying existing technologies without any changes in the object model and services. The provider framework supports the ability to have multiple types of providers for various services, such as, for example, for authorization, authentication, communication, grouping, scoring, social-networking, storage and user functions. The educational adaptive provider architecture provides easy integration of existing institutional and educational service deployments. |
| US08244870B2 |
Distributing traffic to multiple GNS devices
In one embodiment, a system for communicating traffic comprises a plurality of global namespace (GNS) devices and a network switch. The GNS devices aggregate mount points of file systems as an aggregated mount point. The network switch has a host-side interface, a storage-side interface, and a load balancer. The host-side interface has one or more host-side ports that communicate with a computing host. The storage-side interface has a plurality of storage-side ports that communicate with the GNS devices. The load balancer presents a virtual address to the computing host, and distributes traffic from the computing host to the GNS devices through the storage-side ports. |
| US08244868B2 |
Thin-provisioning adviser for storage devices
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for thin-provisioning of storage in a storage system by an adviser is provided. A workload profile of the storage is created from performance data. The workload profile includes a measurement of changed data per a predetermined time and resource utilization data over a period of time. A capacity estimate is derived from the measurement of changed data per a predetermined time. A placement estimate is derived from the resource utilization data obtained over a period of time. A target capacity is recommended to a user based on the capacity estimate. A placement location is recommended to a user based on the placement estimate. A predicted resource utilization is provided to the user based on the capacity estimate or the placement estimate. |
| US08244867B2 |
System and method for the location of caches
A method for selecting a preferred cache for the download of digital data from a plurality of caches is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of requesting an address of the preferred cache and selecting the preferred cache from the plurality of caches. The selection of the preferred cache is derived from a location identifier of a client requesting the download of the digital data. |
| US08244864B1 |
Transparent migration of TCP based connections within a network load balancing system
A method and system for enhancing a network load balancing system's ability to distribute connection information and data amongst the plurality of nodes within the system is presented. A client connection request is redirected to a load balancing service residing on a receiving node by modifying the destination port information contained within the packet. The receiving node can be any node within the load balancing system, and is determined from amongst the plurality of nodes that comprise the system by a conventional means. A transparent connection is then established between the client and the load balancing service residing on the node by modifying subsequently transmitted connection setup packets sent by the receiving node and the client. A target node is determined according to resource specific information contained within initially received data packets from the client. The target node determined this way could be the local node or another node. If it is another node, the connection parameters and the data received over the connection are passed to a peer load balancing service residing on the target node. The target load balancing service then instructs TCP/IP to create a Transmission Control Block for the connection and TCP/IP indicates the connection to the appropriate client resource. The target load balancing service sends a “migration completed” message to the receiving node. Upon receiving this notification, the receiving load balancing service instructs a corresponding load balancing driver to stop handling subsequent packets received from that particular client, while the target node is enabled to accept the packets. |
| US08244861B2 |
Network event notification and delivery
Described are a main host system of the client computer, and a network event notification system, including a networking subsystem that communicates with a network server to act as a proxy for the client computer when the main host system of the client computer is in a sleep state. The networking subsystem may await a synchronization packet initiated by the network server, or may occasionally poll the network server to determine whether data is available. To this end, the computing device operates an associated network subsystem while the main host system of the computing device is in a sleep state, and receives data via the network subsystem indicating that content is available to the computing device. Policy is then invoked policy to determine whether to wake at least part of the main host system to handle the content. A target duty cycle mechanism is also provided to control the average power consumption during wake and sleep cycling. |
| US08244854B1 |
Method and system for gathering and propagating statistical information in a distributed computing environment
Method and system for gathering and propagating statistical information about resources in a distributed computing grid. Data relating to a resource in the first group of resources on the distributed computing grid is received by a gatherer. The received data is provided to other resources in the first group, and a statistical model is determined or generated for each resource in the first group based on the received data. A second group of resources on the grid is called, and the statistical information from the first group is propagated to the second group. |
| US08244848B1 |
Integrated social network environment
In one embodiment, a system includes one or more computing systems that implement a social networking environment and are operable to access stored information including a plurality of nodes including a first set of user nodes that each correspond to a respective user and a second set of concept nodes that each correspond to a respective concept. The stored information further includes a plurality of edges that each define a connection between a corresponding pair of nodes including a first set and a second set of edges. Each edge from the first set defining a connection between a pair of user nodes and representing a social relationship between the users corresponding to the user nodes. Each edge from the second set defining a connection between a user node and a concept node and representing an interest of the user of the user node with respect to the corresponding concept node. |
| US08244846B2 |
Balanced consistent hashing for distributed resource management
A method, system, computer-readable storage medium and apparatus for balanced and consistent placement of resource management responsibilities within a multi-computer environment, such as a cluster, that are both scalable and make efficient use of cluster resources are provided. Embodiments reduce the time that a cluster is unavailable due to redistribution of resource management responsibilities by reducing the amount of redistribution of those responsibilities among the surviving cluster members. Embodiments further provide redistribution of resource management responsibilities based upon relative capabilities of the remaining cluster nodes. |
| US08244844B2 |
Tool for data generation for simple network management protocol (SNMP)
A tool is provided for automated SNMP data generation. The tool includes a special header file operable to contain standard header file data and special comment data. The tool also includes an extractor, a MIB generator component, and an OIDInformation file. The extractor component is operable to convert the special header file into a managed object structure description file. The MIB generator component is operable to convert the managed object structure description file into a management information base file. The OIDInformation generator component is operable to convert the managed object structure description file into an OIDInformation file. The OIDInformation file is operable to retain and provide data related to a network resource. |
| US08244842B1 |
Computer management
A management adapter is provided for a computer management system. A data acquisition layer provides a mapping between platform-specific instrumentation interface and platform-specific component tables. A management model transformation layer provides a mapping between the platform-specific component tables and generic component tables. A presentation mapping layer provides a mapping between the generic component tables and a management protocol schema. |
| US08244840B2 |
Simplified walk-up enablement of inter-based, personalized access to retail imaging devices and services
An apparatus and method for loading and configuring an imaging device driver to facilitate turnkey remote access via the interne to the complete and explicit feature set and capabilities provided by a specific, user selected, retail imaging kiosk or digital photofinishing system. |
| US08244837B2 |
Central administration of one or more resources
A central administration tool or manager supports entry or selection of attribute data or datum (e.g., an attribute value) associated with at least one of a resource and a user. The entered or selected attribute data is arranged into a data structure (e.g., a file) for transmission over a communications network. The data structure is transmitted over the communications network to a directory interface. The transmitted data structure is processed to be compatible with interpretation by a directory services system. The directory services system is invoked consistent with the contents of the data structure (e.g., the file) and the previous processing of the data structure. Resources (e.g., applications) that are under the control of the directory services are managed consistent with the contents of the data structure. |
| US08244832B1 |
Providing location information to website providers
A system, a method and computer-readable for providing the location of client devices to website providers. An application residing on a client device is provided. The application may present content, such as a web page, received over a communications network. The application is configured to generate a request for information describing the location of the client device. In response to this request, a location service may obtain the location of the client device and may communicate this location to a website provider. The website provider may generate a web page for display by the application. This web page may contain content selected based on the location of the client device. |
| US08244831B1 |
Method for the preemptive creation of binary delta information within a computer network
Data can be transferred between computers at remote sites by transferring the data itself, or by transferring files showing how data at an originating site can be recreated from data already present at a receiving site. As part of the data transfer, a determination can be made as to what is the most appropriate way for the transfer to take place. Further, in cases where data is not transferred directly between originating and receiving sites, it is possible that some preparatory steps might be performed to improve the efficiency of the transfers to the receiving sites when they do take place. Additional efficiencies can be obtained in some cases by using the parallel processing capabilities provided by a cloud based architecture. |
| US08244830B2 |
Linking users into live social networking interactions based on the users' actions relative to similar content
A system and method that uses interne content and/or content metadata as a means to establish social networks. Examples include linking internet users, searchers, viewers and/or listeners of the same and/or similar internet content to each other via a platform that enables any of the following in n-dimensional environments: social networking, communications, sharing, e-commerce, advertising, search, hosting and registry services, push and pull applications, anonymous communications, and rich presence. |
| US08244829B2 |
Data transmitting apparatus, data receiving apparatus, data transmitting method and data receiving method
A data transmitting apparatus, which implements a RESUME function which is capable of properly setting a resume position and capable of setting plural resume positions, executes a Java™ application program and includes: a memory for storing content and content attribute information; a network unit which transmits a content to a data receiving apparatus; an action request receiving and responding unit which receives an update request indicating a resume position, from the data receiving apparatus; and a resume position managing unit which updates content attribute information stored in the memory in accordance with the received update request, so that such resume position and a resume position identifier are included in the content attribute information. |
| US08244827B2 |
Transferring a logical partition (‘LPAR’) between two server computing devices based on LPAR customer requirements
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for transferring a logical partition (‘LPAR’) between two of a plurality of server computing devices based on LPAR customer requirements, the plurality of server computing devices connected together through a data communications network, the LPAR installed on one of the plurality of server computing devices, each server computing device having server operating capabilities, each server computing device associated with LPAR hosting costs for supporting LPARs, that include: identifying LPAR customer requirements for the LPAR, the LPAR customer requirements specifying customer criteria for operating the LPAR; selecting, from among the plurality of server computing devices, a server computing device to which to migrate the LPAR in dependence upon the server operating capabilities and LPAR hosting costs for at least one of the server computing devices and the LPAR customer requirements for the LPAR; and migrating the LPAR to the selected server computing device. |
| US08244826B2 |
Providing a memory region or memory window access notification on a system area network
Mechanisms for providing a memory region/memory window (MR/MW) access notification on a system area network are provided. Whenever a previously allocated MR/MW is accessed, such as via a remote direct memory access (RDMA) read/write operation, a notification of the access is generated and written to a queue data structure associated with the MR/MW. In one illustrative embodiment, this queue data structure may be a MR/MW event queue (EQ) data structure that is created and used for all consumer processes and all MR/MWs. In other illustrative embodiments, the EQ is associated with a protection domain. In yet another illustrative embodiment, an event record may be posted to an asynchronous event handler in response to the accessing of the MR/MW. In another illustrative embodiment, a previously posted queue element may be used to generate a completion queue element in response to the accessing of the MR/MW. |
| US08244823B2 |
Method, system, server and user equipment for obtaining default notification message
The present disclosure discloses a method, server, and UE, to be applied to a DVB-H system, for obtaining a default notification message. The method includes obtaining a data structure carrying a unique default notification access parameter corresponding to a default notification message, obtaining the default notification access parameter from the data structure, and obtaining the default notification message at the location indicated by the default notification access parameter. The method provided by the disclosure may enable a UE to obtain the unique default notification access parameter in a DVB-H system and obtain the default notification message based on the default notification access parameter. Moreover, because the default notification access parameter obtained by the UE is unique, the disclosure overcomes the problem in the prior art that default notification session access parameters may be inconsistent and no data redundancy will be caused in the UE. |
| US08244821B2 |
Method, system, graphical user interface, and data structure for creating electronic calendar entries from email messages
A method, system, and data structure for creating electronic calendar entries are disclosed. One aspect of the invention involves a computer data structure that includes an email message with an embedded link. The embedded link contains event information corresponding to multiple parameters for an event described in the email message. The embedded link is configured, upon activation, to initiate generation of an electronic calendar entry form with multiple fields. A plurality of the multiple fields contain event information from the embedded link. |
| US08244820B2 |
System and method for processing messages being composed by a user
A system and method for processing messages being composed by a user of a computing device (e.g. a mobile device). Embodiments are described in which the performance of certain tasks is initiated before a direction is received from a user to send a message being composed by the user. This may involve, for example, “pre-fetching” security-related data that will be required in order to send a message that is in the process of being composed by the user securely. Such data may include security policy data, certificate data, and/or certificate status data, for example. |
| US08244819B2 |
E-mail tool management shell command set
A method to execute verb-noun cmdlets to retrieve mailbox information or receive connector information from an e-mail server includes opening an e-mail management tool and receiving and parsing at least one cmdlet having a verb-noun syntax. A get-mailbox cmdlet may retrieve mailbox information from an e-mail server and a get-receiveconnector cmdlet may retrieve receive connector information from the e-mail server. Both cmdlets may have parameters that allow the retrieval of all, one or many mailboxes or receive connectors associated with the e-mail server. One implementation of the e-mail management tool is in a WINDOWS™ computing environment where the management host executes in a POWERSHELL™ scripting environment. |
| US08244815B1 |
Enabling electronic logging through an instant message system
Enabling electronic logging using an instant message system includes identifying an interactive agent to an instant message (IM) host system under a first screen name, receiving multiple IMs addressed to the first screen name, the IMs being received from multiple users identifiable to the IM host system, and for each of at least some received, IMs addressed to the first screen name determining which one of the multiple users sent the IM, identifying a web log associated with the user who sent the IM, and adding the contents of the IM to the identified web log. |
| US08244806B2 |
System and method for effecting simultaneous control of remote computers
A system and methodology for controlling multiple devices simultaneously from one control device. The control device is provided with a display having a plurality of windows, each having a visual representation related to the activity of the multiple devices. By relaying commands effected at the control device through an intermediary server, it is possible to simultaneously effect a corresponding processing of the same commands at each of the multiple devices. On effecting a command the multiple devices relay back, through the server, an image representative of the result of the processing of that command to the control device for display. |
| US08244803B2 |
Method and apparatus for distributing data to a plurality of game devices
Striped Multiplexing Download Queue software facilitates and increases throughput for client-server downloads through a limited communication device. In the “DS Download Station” application, this is used to queue many requests and to broadcast download segments to requesters seeking the same data. This works by employing a “download stripe” on both the server and client. The download stripe on the server side tracks acknowledgements from clients per download segment. On the client side, the stripe tracks received segments to account for duplicate data. Requesters are queued on a first-come first-serve basis. Requesters in the queue may receive segments of downloads while waiting in queue, if the client at the front of the queue is downloading the same file. This recursively saves waiting time for clients in the queue. |
| US08244801B2 |
System for digital yearbook delivery with multi-media data
An application for a system for providing a digital yearbook includes a server, a terminal device and a database. The database is interfaced to the server and a yearbook is captured at the terminal device and transferred to the server. The yearbook data is filtered based upon a user profile and delivered to the user. After initial delivery of the yearbook data, updated yearbook data is delivered to the user and integrated with the initial yearbook data originally delivered to the user. |
| US08244800B2 |
Virtual space system, method and program
In a virtual space including a plurality of islands, location of the islands is mapped in two dimensions, preferably using multidimensional scaling such as Kruskal method, to keep the order of the distances between the feature vector including the information of profile and preference of the user and the feature vectors including the profiles and event information of the respective islands. The map server uses the mapping information to provide the user with the islands arranged in a manner more conforming to the user's feature vector, which allows the user to conveniently visit the islands suited to the user's preference, and hence, increases utilization of the virtual space. |
| US08244799B1 |
Client application fingerprinting based on analysis of client requests
Processes are disclosed for fingerprinting and identifying client applications based on the analysis of client requests. In an HTTP-based embodiment, a fingerprint is constructed based on the presence and order of HTTP headers included in a request from a client application or device. This fingerprint may then be compared to known fingerprints associated with particular client applications to identify the particular client application and/or to assess whether the client application is malicious. The results of this analysis may, for example, be used to determine how to respond to the current request and/or subsequent requests. |
| US08244797B2 |
Information supplementing device, system, method and program
With an operation information supplement instructing unit (16), a service progress dependent information storage unit (11), a service progress dependent information search unit (12) and a service progress dependent information answering unit (13) provided, when the operation information supplement instructing unit (16) is pressed, the service progress dependent information search unit (12) searches the service progress dependent information storage unit (11) for supplemental contents recorded in pair with the same service progress as a current service progress (information indicating how far service progresses) and presents the searched supplemental contents to a user through the service progress dependent information answering unit (13). |
| US08244796B1 |
Method and apparatus for customizing presentation of notification lists
Embodiments for customizing the presentation of a notification list are disclosed. In one example implementation, a method is provided for assembling a notification list including a plurality of tags to specify at least in part how the notification list is to be displayed by a client, and then causing the notification list to be transmitted to the client. In one example implementation, a method is provided including receiving, by a client, a notification list, where the notification list includes a plurality of tags to specify at least in part how the notification list is to be displayed, and causing the notification list to be displayed by the client in a manner specified at least in part by the plurality of tags. |
| US08244794B2 |
Consolidated business service for integrating service oriented architecture services with customer resources
A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product integrate Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) services with resources at multiple enterprises. A processor receives and aggregates trapped messages, from an affected resource, which describe an event. The trapped aggregated message describes redundant messages about a same event. The trapped aggregated message is transcribed to create a transcribed trapped aggregated message, which is transmitted to the SOA response service to request the pre-set response. The pre-set response is translated into a protocol needed to initiate the pre-set response in an electronic element referenced by the pre-set response, and is then transmitted to the electronic element. |
| US08244792B2 |
Apparatus and method for information recovery quality assessment in a computer system
An apparatus and method for information recovery quality assessment in a computing environment is disclosed. This includes a group of inter-related software modules and associated data structures that analyze and assess the recoverability of the network data through the data protection configuration setup and a previously performed data protection process. It examines in a comprehensive manner the recoverability perspective across a pre-defined data protection domain, such as a computer network with an organization. The results of the examination provide for the display of inconsistencies of data protection configuration and previously performed data protection processes that consequently result in problems of recovering the network objects in an appropriate manner. |
| US08244790B2 |
Multiplier and cipher circuit
A multiplier circuit is disclosed including a Wallace tree block and a carry propagation adder. The Wallace tree block includes a sum calculation block adding partial products for each digit and a carry calculation block adding carries obtained in the addition by the sum calculation block. In the case of multiplication over an extension field (finite field GF(2n)) of two, a result of calculation by the sum calculation block is outputted. The carry propagation adder adds the result of calculation by the sum calculation block and a result of calculation by the carry calculation block. In the case of multiplication for integers (finite field GF(p)), a result of calculation by the carry propagation adder is outputted. |
| US08244788B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device having a plurality of photo detectors and processing elements
A semiconductor integrated circuit device, having a plurality of processing elements accommodated on a single semiconductor chip, has a latch circuit and a selecting circuit. The latch circuit is provided at an output of each of the processing elements. The selecting circuit selects an input source from a group consisting of upper, lower, left, and right processing elements and a zero signal. |
| US08244780B1 |
Parameter oriented automated database command
A method for performing a data store operation is provided. The method comprises invoking a command to execute on a processor in a computer that identifies an input file, determining a structure of a data table stored in a database and reading rows of data out of the data table based on the input file. For each row comparing data read out of the data table to a corresponding row of data in the input file. When the row of data read is identical to the corresponding row of data in the input file, not updating the row of data in the data table. When the row of data read is not identical to the corresponding row of data in the input file, updating the row of data stored in the corresponding row of data in the input file based on the structure of the data table. |
| US08244779B2 |
Method and system for monitoring a mobile equipment fleet
A method is disclosed. The method includes receiving a message from a remote device. The message includes data. The method further includes analyzing the data using a set of rules. The analyzing includes performing a maintenance analysis by analyzing the data using a set of asset maintenance rules and a set of asset usage rules. Responsive to the analyzing the data using the set of rules, an alert is sent. |
| US08244778B1 |
Customization of types using default aspects
Managing stored content is disclosed. It is determined that a new or modified attribute is to be associated with future-created instances of an object type but not with at least some previously-created instances of the object type. A default intra-type customization that associates the new or modified attribute with future-created instances of the object type, in a manner that results in the new or modified attribute being stored in a database structure that is separate from a type-specific structure configured to store one or more type-based attributes common to both the at least some previously-created and future-created instances of the object type, is associated with the object type. |
| US08244777B1 |
Model driven compliance management system and method
A compliance lifecycle management system is provided that addresses policy management issues at each stage of policy maturity throughout a policy lifetime. The compliance lifecycle management system provides functionality for policy control at initialization by enabling specification and creation of policies including identifying redundant and sub/super sets of policies across domains. As an infrastructure and its associated policies mature and change, the compliance lifecycle management system monitors compliance to dynamic policies to check for policy conflicts. The compliance management process may further be used to simulate the introduction of policies into the infrastructure to view the resultant impact that a new or updated policies may have on a network. With such an arrangement, policy management practices become more responsive, predictable and efficient. |
| US08244772B2 |
Method for creating a scalable graph database using coordinate data elements
Embodiments of a method for creating a graph database which is arranged to store data in the form of graph tuples comprising n-parts, are described. In an embodiment, each tuple-part is encoded into a unique part identifier (UPI). A geospatial UPI is defined for two-dimensional data elements that include a plurality of data points defined by respective pairs of an X-ordinate and a Y-ordinate. A two-dimensional data space is divided into a plurality of uniform Y strips of defined widths. The Y-strip width is selected to correspond approximately to an anticipated Y dimension of a typical search region of interest. The geospatial UPI encodes a plurality of coordinate points in a two -dimensional data space into a single datum that includes respective pairs of an X-ordinate and a Y-ordinate. The geospatial UPI comprises a data structure arranged in order of sort priority by the geospatial UPI type code, geospatial subtype, and Y-strip identifier followed by the X-ordinate data and Y-ordinate data. The component fields of the data structure are arranged so that the datum can be sorted linearly as a single unsigned integer, thus facilitating a search over a two dimensional region of the data by allowing a search process to linearly scan a limited identifiable region of each of the several strips overlapping the search region of interest. |
| US08244770B2 |
Image tile server
An image tile server importantly includes an image tile cache, to support a tiled map display in a user device. Instead of the conventional user device client (e.g., an Ajax client) making image requests directly to a mapping server (MS), a display device initiates an image request of a tile server (TS), and the tile server returns the requested image. However, importantly, the tile server (TS) also retains a cached copy of the returned image for faster retrieval at a later time relating to another image request by the same or different user device. |
| US08244764B2 |
Stashing of locally persisted data to network accessible storage
Techniques are disclosed for identifying and stashing all or portions of application data to a network accessible storage device or location. Identifying and stashing are accomplished in a fashion that is transparent to a user such that a user is not burdened by the process of managing and stashing a full or partial set of application data. The system, the application, or a combination of system components and the application persist and manage data locally and stash portions of the local data to one or more network accessible storage devices or locations. One or more links are provided in place of the stashed portions of data. The application uses the links in a same or similar fashion as handling local data while providing little to no loss of functionality due to all or portions of the local data being stashed. |
| US08244763B1 |
Wiki-facilitated enterprise architecture repository
An enterprise architecture storage and organization system is provided which includes user-editable webpages to display enterprise architecture content. The webpages are organized in a framework, such as the Zachman Framework. The framework may comprise a plurality of units grouped into a plurality of levers and a plurality of categories. Each unit may have a user-editable webpage associated with it. The level of detail included within each user-editable webpage is variant depending upon the location of its associated unit in the framework. Units at the top of the framework contain broad or general information and the level of detail downwardly increases. Users may selectably edit the content of the user-editable webpages using an editor. Users may edit the text and edit and attach graphics. In some embodiments, wiki-type functionality may be utilized. |
| US08244756B2 |
Method and device for searching for music file of mobile terminal
A method and device for searching for a music file of a mobile terminal are provided. The method of searching for a music file of a mobile terminal includes, receiving at least one input key signal in an idle state of the mobile terminal, setting a search word by combining characters mapped to the received at least one input key signal, determining whether a music file that includes the search word exists within the mobile terminal, and requesting, if it is determined that a music file that includes the search word does not exist within the mobile terminal, a search for a music file that includes the search word to a preset web server. |
| US08244754B2 |
System and method for object searching in virtual worlds
A system and method enabling the search for a three-dimensional virtual world object across the universe of virtual worlds by utilizing a two-step search process to first identify the object and second, to actively locate and generate a URI to all presently manifest instances of that object. |
| US08244749B1 |
Generating sibling query refinements
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for identifying query refinements from sibling queries. In one aspect, a method includes associating each of a plurality of parent queries with a respective group of one or more child queries for the parent query, identifying one or more candidate sibling queries for a particular child query, selecting one or more final sibling queries for the particular child query from the one or more candidate sibling queries, and associating the final sibling queries with the particular child query as query refinements. |
| US08244746B2 |
Parallel linking system and parallel linking method
A method for use in a computer including a storage to store a trace record including a pair of a key character string and a value in a message and a message that has not yet been subjected to linking. The method includes identifying, from a received message or trace information received from a different linking apparatus, pairs of a key character string and the value thereof, pairs of a key character string and a value included in messages that have not yet been subjected to linking and that are to be subjected to linking and registering the identified pairs in the storage. |
| US08244743B2 |
Scalable rendering of large spatial databases
Aspects of the invention provide a service for data management and integration across a wide range of applications. Clustered computers may be arranged in a cloud-type configuration for storing and handling large amounts of user data under the control of a front-end management server. Communities of distributed users may collaborate on the data across multiple enterprises. Very large tabular data files are uploaded to the storage facilities. The data files are maintained as tables, and a composite table of related information is created and maintained in response to user queries. Different ways of visualizing the data are provided. Depending on the amount of information that can be displayed, features in a spatial index may the thinned for presentation. Spatial and structured queries are processing and results are intersected to obtain information for display. |
| US08244738B2 |
Data display apparatus, method, and program
A display apparatus includes: a first memory to store a plurality of contents and pieces of content information including a plurality of elements; an element selector to select at least part of the plural elements correspond to a first content; a determine unit to determine whether or not the selected element matches the plural elements correspond to the contents; a generator to generate corresponding information for each of the contents based on a result of the determination; a second memory to store pieces of the corresponding information; a content selector to select a second content; a calculator to calculate degrees of association to the second content; a deciding unit to decide a arrangement positions of the plural contents except the second content according to the degrees of association calculated by the calculator; and a display unit to display the contents at the arrangement positions decided by the deciding unit. |
| US08244736B2 |
Electronic brokerage system and methods of performing the same
A method of determining an optimized supplier list for a consumer using a web based client-server system is described. The method provides for receiving a query from a user and assigning a policy to the query. A search step and an evaluation step are then performed. Additional optional operational steps are provided to enhance the users buying efficiency. |
| US08244732B2 |
Named entity marking apparatus, named entity marking method, and computer readable medium thereof
A named entity marking apparatus, a named entity marking method, and a computer program product thereof are provided. The named entity marking apparatus comprises a processor and a storage unit, wherein the processor is electrically connected to the storage unit. The storage unit is stored with an electronic document and a named entity database. The processor marks the electronic document into a first marked document by a first set of the named entity database. The processor decides a second set of the named entity database according to the first marked document. The processor re-marks the electronic document into a second marked document by the second set of the named entity database. |
| US08244728B2 |
Method and apparatus for data exploration
A method and apparatus for data exploration in a data processing system. An apparatus according to an embodiment includes: an analyzing component for analyzing a data model to identify a first and a second data entity and a relationship between the first and the second data entity; a generator component for creating a first and second atom data entity associated with the first and the second data entity; a generator component for creating a link data entity associated with the relationship between the first and second data entity; and an assignor component for assigning a behavior to one of the atom data entities or the link data entity, wherein the atom data entity exhibits a behavior associated with the link data entity and wherein the link data entity exhibits a behavior associated with one of the atom data entities. |
| US08244724B2 |
Classifying documents according to readership
One embodiment is a computer-implemented method for classifying documents in a collection of documents according to their intended readerships. The method comprises using a computer to select a document in the collection of documents; and using a computer to determine a characteristic of the selected document, the characteristic being: misleading when the document includes one or more features that are determined to be for a purpose other than reading the document; commercial when the document includes features that are presented for a commercial purpose; or personal when the document includes features of a personal opinion. The method further includes using a computer to classify the selected document as misleading, commercial, or personal according to its determined characteristic; and using a computer to repeat the steps of select document, determine a characteristic of the selected document, and classify the selected document for additional documents in the collection. At least some documents are classified as misleading, at least some documents are classified as commercial, and at least some documents are classified as personal. Other methods and computer program products are also disclosed according to even more embodiments. |
| US08244720B2 |
Ranking blog documents
A blog search engine may receive a search query. The blog search engine may determine scores for a group of blog documents in response to the search query, where the scores are based on a relevance of the group of blog documents to the search query and a quality of the group of blog documents. The blog search engine may also provide information regarding the group of blog documents based on the determined scores. |
| US08244712B2 |
Localized viewing of file system names
The elements of a file system contain information that provides language-specific views of the file system. An indicator in each element enables a quick determination to be made whether that element is localized. These indicators can take the form of a key-value pair in a properties list, a special file in the element, such as an empty file, or a special extension on the name of the file. If the element is localized, the localization information can be stored as part of the element, or in a central location for use with multiple different elements. A library of APIs associated with the file system performs methods to determine whether a requested file system element is localized, and to retrieve the localized name in that case. |